Angel's Touchd by Siri Caldwell

Publisher:       Bella Books

Angel’s Touch is a paranormal story that brings together familiar themes – financial interests versus preservation.  In this case, it’s the preservation of sacred land near a spa.

Kira Wagner specializes in developing property, selling it and moving on to the next place.  This time she has settled in Piper Beach where she wants to renovate a hotel and build a spa for women.  Megan McLaren is the best masseuse in town and Kira wants to hire her for the spa. 

Megan agrees to consult with Kira on the building of the spa, but her reason is to protect the ley lines, power lines where angels gather, that run through the property.  Megan believes in angels, past lives and soul mates.  She uses that knowledge to deliver a healing touch with her massages, but she also knows there is a downside.  She and Kira have known each other before, more than once, and the endings have never been happy.  As the women develop feelings for each other the problem becomes that Kira cannot understand Megan’s resistance and Megan doesn’t know how to explain what she experiences to Kira or why the land is so important.

Angel’s Touch is a well written romance with a slightly different plot line.  The reader isn’t required to suspend much belief to feel the story is realistic. The characters are interesting and the book is well produced.  The book was quick to read and provided a few hours of good entertainment.  Overall it was quite enjoyable.

Skulls & Crossbones edited by Andi Marquette and R.G. Emannuelle

Publisher:               Bedazzled Ink Publishing

Skulls & Crossbones is a collection for people who enjoy pirate stories.  It contains twenty tales by different authors, many of whom have been published in other anthologies or who have books of their own.  There is a biography of each author provided at the end of the book.  The stories are arranged in chronological order ranging from Viking raiders to space marauders in the future and they vary in length, from five to eighteen pages.  They demonstrate that the definition of a pirate is not standard as some of them feature blood-thirsty killers, some privateers and some characters who see piracy as a way to help people who are less fortunate.  Happy endings are not guaranteed in these stories, but pirates seldom have happy endings.

One of the unique aspects of this book is that the stories don't vary in quality.  Usually in an anthology, some stories are weak, some are strong and a lot fall in the category of alright.  This book doesn't have any poorly written stories, but none of them stand out as especially interesting either.  A couple of them are difficult to understand because they drop the reader into the middle of a story or make references to events that the reader has no knowledge of.  One positive for the book is that it is well edited.

This is a perfect book for sitting on the night stand.  You can read one story at a time and not have to worry about remembering plot points.

On Azrael's Wings by D. Jordan Redhawk

Publisher:             P. D. Publishing


D. Jordan Redhawk's book On Azrael's Wings follows in the vein she is known for, a story with some historical reference and some fantasy worked in. 

In Middle Eastern theology, Azrael is the angel of death. How appropriate that this is the name of General Azrael of the Third Army. She is the enforcer for her brother, King Shonal, and she does it with brutal efficiency. When she is sent on a mission to destroy a village of dissidents, she does a thorough job. However, Azrael does have a code of honor and she expects her troops to adhere to it, so when she finds three soldiers trying to rape a woman, her punishment is swift and deadly. 

As a slave, Ursula understands that she has no value, which is why she is surprised when Azrael not only saves her, but takes her as a body slave. What starts out as a relationship based on fear grows into one of mutual trust and Ursula discovers the woman who lives behind the hard façade is more complex than her legend represents. For her part, Azrael can't understand the feelings she has for Ursula, but she knows they can be dangerous for both of them. Her society doesn't tolerate the idea of royalty and slaves mixing, but she can't deny her growing feelings for Ursula. Azrael also learns she has a problem when rumors reach her that her brother doesn't trust her and suspects she wants his throne. Azrael would like to retire to her estates and enjoy life there with Ursula, but things come to a head when King Shonal seizes Ursula and claims her as his property. Azrael has to decide which comes first: loyalty to duty or loyalty to love.

On Azrael's Wings is not true history, but it has the feel of a story about times in early Europe or Asia. The fantasy comes from the idea that an army in that time would accept a woman general to lead it, but it works in the book.  The story flows well and is an entertaining romance with a little adventure thrown in. It would have easily made one of the old swashbuckling stories from 1930's movies, except that both stars would be women. The characters are well developed, not complex, but likeable. This book isn’t a bad way to spend a few hours.

Nightshade by Shea Godfrey

Publisher:               Bold Strokes Books

Shea Godfrey's Nightshade is a strong entry to the fantasy genre.

Princess Jessa of Lyoness is sent to her country's arch enemy Arravan to see if the crown prince will accept her as his bride and bring peace between the countries.  From the beginning though Jessa suspects that something else is going on because Prince Malcolm doesn't show much interest in her.  Jessa suspects that her brother and Malcolm are plotting something else with her as the pawn in the game, but she's enjoying her time with the Durand family too much to care, especially the time she gets to spend with Princess Darrius.  Darry is the king's youngest child and, in the language of her people, "backward" because she loves women.  Darry also serves in the army as an officer, which shocks polite society.  Darry knows she must hide her interests to protect her father's throne, but the friendship that grows between Darry and Jessa threatens that attitude.  The women share more than one secret in that both of them are gifted with special forms of majik.  Responding to their natural feelings could cause their deaths and war between their countries.

This book is rich in detail and feels like it should be actual history, though it isn't.  It's fantasy that reads like reality.  The story gradually draws the reader in with extremely appealing characters and interesting events.  It's the type of book that is hard to put down and the reader is allowed to develop a relationship with the major characters as their situation develops at a very acceptable pace.

The irony of this book is that it falls apart in the last chapter.  The end is suddenly rushed and the book concludes with a number of plot lines unresolved.  It seems as if the story is just cut off with more to come.  If this is the beginning of a series, then leaving the plot lines open is understandable.  If there is no series, then the reader is probably going to be irritated.  The book shouldn't have been left hanging though no matter what the future plan is.  A skillful editor could have helped Godfrey craft something that would be more satisfying to the reader.

Nightshade is an excellent story right up until the end.  The reader should give it a try and then hope that Godfrey intends to provide another book.

Wolfsbane Winter by Jane Fletcher

Publisher:               Bold Strokes Books

Wolfsbane Winter is about two women who end up in a place they don't want to be, dealing with situations they didn't create and falling into a relationship that neither is sure she wants.

Deryn has dreamed most of her life of joining the Iron Wolf mercenaries and working on the Misery Trail guarding travelers.  A profound tragedy early in her life has convinced her that it's best not to have any ties to anyone or stay in one place too long.  Sometimes she makes unwise decisions and one of them results in her agreeing to work in a settlement in the middle of nowhere.  Alana comes from a noble family and is discovered to have a magical ability that results in her being exiled to the same community.  There she becomes a healer and vet and tries to hide her family ties since they could get her killed.  Each of the women tries to protect the community in the way she knows best and they find themselves often working together.  As they confront marauders, magic and legends from the Time of Chaos, Deryn and Alana develop a deeper relationship which threatens the lives that both of them would prefer to live.  Each has to decide if she wants to continue an empty life that suits her needs or take a chance on something that offers more, including the possibility of being hurt.

Jane Fletcher is known for her fantasy stories that take place in a world that could almost be real, but not quite.  Her books seem like an alternative version of history and contain rich atmospheres of magic, legends, sorcerers and other worldly characters mixed in with ordinary people.  The way she writes is so realistic that it is easy to believe that these places and people really exist.  Wolfsbane Winter fits that mold perfectly.  It draws the reader in and leads her through the story.  There is enough excitement that this is a book that is hard to put down and begs for a sequel.  Very enjoyable.

Journeys: An Anthology of Life by A.L. Hotchkin

Publisher:               L-Book

Journeys: An Anthology of Life is a collection of stories about various subjects.  Some are about regular humans and others are about fallen angels, vampires and other creatures.  The themes deal with death, dying, love and the battle for humanity.  The longest story in the collection is about a battle between the angels for the existence of mankind.

This book is perplexing.  The description on the back of the book says that it's about the author's journey through life and that each one shows a window into her world.  A couple of the stories are about normal people, but the bulk of the book is about Fallen Angels doing battle with other supernatural beings and one story is about vampires.  It's not clear how those stories relate to anyone's life.  There's no theme that seems to tie the stories together and sometimes it's not clear exactly what a story is about.  The writing is good, but some of the stories seem obtuse.

Journeys: An Anthology of Life is one of those books that has to be judged by the individual reader.  Each one may find something different to take away from it.

Broken Wings by L-J Baker

Publisher:                Bold Strokes Books


When is a fantasy not really a fantasy? When it is a book that appears to be a fantasy, but really deals with some very serious themes. If you have not read Broken Wings because the write up says it's about fairies and dryads, it would be a good idea to rethink your decision. 

Rye Woods lives a precarious life. Years before, she escaped from Fairyland with her younger sister Holly and now she lives in terror that they will be discovered before Holly can reach the age of maturity. Fairyland is dominated by religious fanatics who tolerate no deviations from the "norm" and won't hesitate to use abuse to enforce their beliefs. Rye wants to spare Holly from having to deal with that, so she painfully binds her wings every day to hide the fact that she is a fairy, lives a life of poverty, and works two and three jobs as a laborer to put her sister through the best school available. Holly, like many typical teenagers, doesn't always appreciate what Rye is trying to do for her and, because she was young when they fled, doesn't understand Rye's great fear about keeping their identities secret.

Holly has some talent in the field of design and that brings her and Rye in contact with Flora Withe, a dryad who is a wealthy and respected artist living a life of privilege. Although Flora is obviously drawn to Rye, Rye is convinced that Flora is just having a fling, slumming with a woman who is so different from what she is used to. Rye can't accept that a woman who has so much can be interested in one who has so little. As their relationship grows, so does Rye's fear of discovery and her concern that Holly's irresponsible behavior may ruin everything. To have a future with Flora, Rye has to overcome many barriers, maybe more than are possible.
 
A reader might wonder why Broken Wings was written as a fantasy. Although the book is populated with fairies, dryads, gnomes and other mythical creatures, they behave just like human beings. They have no special powers or abilities that make a fantasy world necessary. The answer may be that the book deals with some very serious themes. Rye's experiences in Fairyland deal with slavery, abuse, discrimination, and religious intolerance. She faces the consequences of homophobia and classism on several levels. The fantasy aspect might make these themes more palatable, but it isn't necessary. The themes are handled in a very deft manner, making their points without being preachy or heavy-handed. It's a worthwhile telling of struggle, adversity and the possibility of the good person winning in the end. Even if you're not a fan of fantasy writing, you should give Broken Wings a chance.

Bourn's Edge by Barbara Davies

Publisher:                 Bedazzled Ink

Cassie Lewis tried to do the right thing by testifying against her corrupt landlord and now people are trying to kill her.  In a panic, Cassie flees from her home, traveling across the country with no plan in the hope that it will throw off the killers.  That's how she comes to Bourn's Edge, a quaint village on the outskirts of an ancient forest.  Among the unique people she meets there is Tarian Brangwen.  To the people of the town Tarian is an eccentric artist, but she's also a Fae who has been exiled from Faerie by Queen Mab.  Tarian wants to lead a quiet life of isolation, but when she senses that people have come to the town to kill Cassie, she has to respond.  Fae and mortals are not supposed to mix well, but Tarian and Cassie discover that isn't a problem for them, but dealing with people in both of their worlds could get them killed.

Bourn's Edge is presented as three short stories instead of a book length  story.  Part I explains how Cassie and Tarian meet and become partners.  Part II, called "The Doll Hospital," involves them in trying to undo the work of a changeling and freeing the human whose place he took.  This one has permanent consequences for Tarian that require her to make a great sacrifice.  Part III, "The Raggedy Bush," requires Tarian to battle an old enemy to save Cassie and brings the women in contact with magic that is older than even the Faeries possess.   

The book is enjoyable, but breaking up the story means it doesn't have a consistent pace.  The reader is also left with the feeling that there are pieces of information about the characters that are missing.  They hop from adventure to adventure and lose some development in the process.  For example, there is a relationship between Tarian and her two wolf hounds that indicates something more is going on between them than just a relationship between a mistress and her pets, but what the situation is rests just beyond the reader's grasp.  These are the types of stories that could easily lead to a series revealing more about the characters and their world.

Bourn's Edge will appeal to people who like stories about faeries interacting with humans.  The stories are just the length for an hour or so of reading and then the book can be put down.  One note is that the author is British and sets the stories in the area between England and Wales, so she stays true to British spellings and references.  US readers particularly will have to adjust to seeing words like tyre and kerb and references to foods they may not recognize.

Banshee's Honor by Shaylynn Rose

Publisher:                P. D. Publishing


If you are a fan of J.R.R. Tolkein's Ring trilogy, Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time series or Marion Zimmer Bradley's books, then Banshee's Honor by Shaylynn Rose is the book for you. This is the story of an epic struggle, told in one volume.

Azhani Rhu'len is a hunted woman. The half-elf rose to the position of Warleader of the kingdom of Y'Dan, but evil forces came to power and stripped her of her honors, declared her an outlaw and killed the love of her life. Azhani won her freedom through a very bloody ritual that left her body almost as broken as her spirit and is hoping to hide out at her childhood home while she plots her revenge, but that isn't how the situation works out. 

A chance encounter brings Stardancer Kyrian of the kingdom of Y'Syria into Azhani's life when the warrior rescues Kyrian from a kidnapper. Kyrian is a priestess of Astariu who has the power to heal people, but is haunted by fear stemming from her own violent encounters. Forced to share a bitter winter together in Azhani's cabin, the women form a friendship that allows both to start healing their wounds, but they soon find themselves pulled into a cosmic struggle for their world. 

A prophecy says that a great evil will rise to challenge the gods and Azhani and Kyrian know instinctively that they are key to the outcome. As they rally the forces of the surrounding kingdoms, there are battles with demons, ruthless mages, political intrigue, a perverted religious force and more than one blooming love affair. Add to that a supporting cast of heroic and evil kings, strong willed women and quirky individuals and this is a book with a broad scope.


Banshee's Honor has obviously been influenced by the legends of knights fighting to save kingdoms and ladies in distress. Except for the fact that half of the characters are elves or mixtures of other species that have unique powers, this story would fit very suitably into the Medieval period. The story is character driven, so descriptions of other items are sometimes shallow. The creation and purpose of the rimmerbeasts, the biggest demon threat, is somewhat sketchy, but not enough to hinder the story. Some events that impact heavily on the story but that occurred in an earlier period are mentioned superficially, but the book could have been lost in endless details filling in all of the whats, whys and wheres of what led to the main events. 

What is more important is the detail that is spent on creating cultures, customs and landscape that don't exist, yet feel familiar. Azhani and Kyrian's behavior towards each other becomes a little cloying as the story progresses, but is appropriate for what is expected of a romance. There are also subtle messages here about racism, women's rights and religious fanaticism that, while they aren't overbearing, will cause the reader to think.

Overall Banshee's Honor is good escapist reading. The reader will find it easy to step into the world that is created and connect with appealing characters. Because of its length, it will take several hours to complete the book, but it's a story that you try to avoid finishing because it's so satisfying. Warning – if you can't believe in magic, interventions at crucial moments by gods or the existence of dwarves, elves and such, then this isn't your book, but those who have no trouble accepting the possibility of Hobbits, Tinkerbell and King Arthur will enjoy it.

Adijan and Her Genie by L-J Baker

Publisher:             Bedazzled Ink Publishing


Calling L-J Baker’s books fantasies may be a mistake, because people who don’t like that genre will miss a terrific reading experience if they don’t read her books. Although there’s often an aspect of fairy tales in her stories, at their hearts they are adventure books. Adijan and Her Genie is about a hero on a quest told with a touch of The Arabian Nights.

Adijan is a screw-up. She has big dreams, but everything she does turns out to be a fiasco and often treads on the other side of the law, so she covers her inadequacies with liquor and dwells in poverty. The only correct thing she has done in her life is marrying Shalimar, who she loves desperately, but Shali’s brother is determined to break the union apart and marry her off to someone who can do him some good financially. 

One of her trips to deliver questionable goods leaves her in possession of a locket that contains an enchanted woman named Zobeide. Typical for Adijan’s luck, this woman has no magic power at all to create wealth or good fortune and, when she’s out of the locket, she’s arrogant, self-centered and a real pain in the posterior.
When Shali’s brother manages to separate Shali from Adijan and accomplish a fraudulent divorce, Adijan becomes frantic to win her back before she can be shoved into another marriage. Her only hope seems to be to take Zobeide back to her hometown where she can be freed from her enchantment and pay Adijan the reward that will help her overcome her ex-brother-in-law’s plans. The journey is long and complicated but rewarding for Adijan in ways that she did not anticipate. She learns to face some of her own weaknesses and discovers strengths in her character that she didn’t realize she possessed. She also stands as an example of what the power of love can do as an incentive. The only question is if she can complete her journey in time for any of it to ultimately do her and Shalimar any good. 

Although Baker never specifically sets this story in the ancient Middle East, anyone who has read the stories of Sinbad that Sailor and Ali Baba will recognize the tone and the surroundings. Though there is the touch of fantasy, one of the strengths of the story is that it seems totally plausible. Many of the escape scenes would fit just as easily into a Mission Impossible setting or Bourne movie.
The greatest strength however is the way Baker deals with character development. Adijan is not a very admirable person when the story begins, but she grows through the story and acquires traits that transform her into a true hero. Zobeide, who is originally totally unlikable, becomes an appealing person as she learns to amend her attitudes and perceptions. The interesting twist is that she learns these lessons from Adijan, a person she starts out totally despising.
At heart, Adijan and Her Genie is an adventure story with plenty of crises, triumphs and near disasters, but it’s also an encouraging lesson in how a person can change, improve and come to live up to her true potential. This is one of those books that can be read to just enjoy a tale, but also has something to teach in the process.