#Review: The Grail Court (The Thalo Series) by Kasey Grantham

Spark of a Great Series But Falls Short

2 1/2 hearts ♥♥

Normally I post reviews of the more adult genres since that's what makes up the bulk of my TBR lists on my Kindles. I do read YA too so I thought I'd give this one a go. The blurb really didn't tell me much at all, but I was still intrigued enough to try it. 

Blurb

What if the infamous "other side" was real? What if you could escape your high school existence just by closing your eyes? 

Would you? 

What if pure evil and the fate of the rest of the world was waiting for you on the other side of your eyelids? 


Would you choose: The ordinary... or extraordinary?



Overall, I have to give this 2 1/2 stars. While the premise of the story has promise, the delivery falls flat. The formatting issues alone made it difficult to read. I have three different types of kindles and on each one the layout of the paragraphs looked terrible and choppy. I'm not sure if the use of mixed lower case and capital letters in the chapter titles ( sORT oF lIKE tHIS) was meant to be artistic or cute, but it was extremely jarring and pulled me out of the story. Multiple grammatical and style errors fill the pages in this one and could have been avoided with the help of an editor...one who knows fantasy in particular.

The teenage heroine Cassie seemed to have some spunk but she was never fully developed. None of the characters were taken further than the superficial. The author made sure we knew exactly what color hair and eyes all of them have, but never gave any insight into what makes them tick. As a reader, I couldn't get invested in the characters enough to care what happened to them...but the spark is there. The author just needs to develop her skills as a storyteller further. She has a potentially fabulous fantasy series here but as it stands now, it's lost in a world that's TOLD to us instead of SHOWN. Telling me Cassie is sitting outside listening to the night sounds is rather boring, but if the author would have described those sounds in detail, I could have pictured it all as her characters were living it.

I'd be willing to read this book again if it's rewritten and edited properly to bring out the story I know is there. Bring me into the world so I can see it in my mind and don't just assume I can see what's in yours.

My advice to this author is to invest in the cost of professional editing, join a few author groups where they critique her work so she can learn and improve her writing style, and either take the time to learn how to format a file to upload to Amazon or hire someone to do it.

I do not recommend this book as it stands now nor will I read the rest of the series if they're written like this one. 

#Review: Andrea at the Center by J.P. Kansas

There’s Something for Everyone in This Tale of Explicit Erotica

Find this on AMAZON

4 Hearts ♥♥♥♥

The author takes the reader on such a wild ride of so many sexual encounters that at times it’s hard to follow or understand why one minute the heroine is upset and talking of breaking out of The Center, and the next is writhing in ecstasy. Some of the scenes shocked me—that’s saying something!

Andrea does allow herself to explore some of her deepest fantasies in order to become who she’s meant to be sexually. As with all true erotica, it’s about the sexual journey of the main character.  J.P. Kansas takes us on one hell of a journey with Andrea.

Blurb

"You're going to here at the Center for a few months. It's going to be the most enlightening experience of your life. When it's over, you'll be returned to where you were taken from—a different woman."

Young and beautiful Andrea is, without warning, whisked away to a secret location, where a mysterious group devotes itself to the pursuit of sexual enlightenment through the use of many sensual techniques. Gradually, she's introduced to the ways of the Center by the people that gladly occupy it. Her sense of self and her understanding of sexuality are profoundly challenged, leading her to a new understanding of herself and the deepest sexual satisfaction.

Now after reading that blurb, I immediately thought of another series of books dealing with the same premise: heroine is taken against her will and “forced” to participate in some of the most outrageous and titillating sexual encounters in order to become a better person.  Ann Rice’s Sleeping Beauty trilogy is what came to mind, but this is nowhere near that caliber.  Where Rice gives us mind-blowing sex, BDSM, and appealing characters you root for throughout the books, Kansas gives us only raw, unadulterated sex—almost too much of it. 

Yes, I know you’d never thought you’d here that from The Vixen, but even I have my limits as does the human body.  There's a point your body just simply cannot have another orgasm and needs to rest, regroup and recharge the sexual engines. Same goes for readers of erotica. 

Your eyes can only take just so much before it all starts to look the same.  Before you now it, you end up skimming through to the next scene to see if there’s anything new.  I didn't want to skim any of it.  In order to give a full and honest review, I had to put it aside in order to let my eyes and mind rest a bit.  I'm not saying that's a bad thing, but it's something the reader should be aware of when they delve into this one.

Andrea at the Center details the experiences of one abducted woman as she has sex with just about anyone she comes in contact with.  You have a fetish or curious about one? It’s in there. Wonder what it would be like to be a collared slave to a bunch of women? It’s in there.  Same sex, multiple partners, urine play, food play, voyeurism, prostitution…the list goes on and on.  This is definitely not a book for those faint of heart or who get offended by any sort of detailed sex scenes. While I prefer a bit more raw language in the erotica I read for pleasure, the author did a fantastic job detailing every encounter. There was no question at all what was going on! LOL!

My only real criticism is that the author didn’t expand upon the characters fully. I wasn’t drawn in enough by the heroine, Andrea to care whether or not she ever left The Center.  The whole idea of why The Center existed isn’t explored and we never get to find out why some are there voluntarily while others, like Andrea are there involuntarily.  If there was more to the story to chop up the endless sex scenes, I’d give the book five hearts right off the bat. 

Maybe we can convince the author to write a sequel to Andrea’s story and give us the details we’d all crave. To me, having a well written STORY with characters we can connect to—along with the mind-blowing sex is what erotica is all about.  While entertaining, Andrea at the Center left me a tiny bit unfulfilled. 

With that said, I still recommend this book for those who are exploring the wonderful world of erotica and all the many subgenres.  If you want tons of hot, descriptive sex, this book's for you!

#Review of Anything You Want by @MadisonSevier

Fantasy Turns into Reality with this Brand New Series

5 stars ♥♥♥♥♥

Cheers to Madison for the debut of this new series. Not only did she tackle the life changes of her heroine with class and style, she portrayed her as a strong, independent woman not afraid to show her vulnerable side. Too often in the world of romance we have heroines hell bent on being the top bitch instead of being REAL.  Sylvia is a real, modern woman full of lust and passion just aching for the chance to erupt.  And boy does she ever!

Madison tackles the topic of adultery with ease. Life isn't over when one partner breaks the vows. Portraying the real emotions of betrayal, denial, and then finally acceptance gets the little devil kudos. Where many other authors would let their heroine play the victim, this one makes her move on to bigger and better things. 

I can't WAIT for the next book in this series! I'm so looking forward to more adventures at the River Jewel Resort and for my reunion with the hero and heroine from this book. Nothing like leaving me begging for more! This couple is HAWT!

From the above extra rating icons, you can see I really enjoyed this book. It's a fast read and right from page one it doesn't disappoint. We're introduced to Sylvia Blake right after she's separated from her lying, cheating husband. Of course the slime ball tries to convince her it will never happen again but once a dirt bag, always a dirt bag.  Our poor Sylvia has the wind knocked right out of her.

Don't count her out so fast! Giving herself just a wee bit of time to mourn the loss of a marriage she realizes wasn't all that, she takes her best friend Lexi's advice and gets out of town to an exclusive—and very expensive resort catering to your every need.  And I do mean EVERY need.  hehehe  You'll have to read this and the next books to find out exactly how they do this but it's the manager of the resort that has his eye on our Sylvia. He caught mine as well!

Manager Mark Willburn is the perfect eye candy and sets Sylvia's blood a boiling and her panties a meltin'! As she takes Mark's challenge to give the resort a try, even just for one night, we're swept away by the beauty of the resort and how happy everyone is being there...including our heroine.  When Mark checks up on her extending a bit more of a, personal touch to the hotel amenities, sparks continue to fly. Of course they hit it off, but can Sylvia overcome her hesitation and let her guard down long enough to enjoy all the resort has to offer? 

Brava, Madison Sevier! You've grabbed my attention with the start of your series, now hurry up and write more stories set on this marvelous place. I wish I could visit there for just one weekend with Mr. Vixen! :)

Blurb 

Sydney Blake thought she had the ideal life. A dashing, successful husband and dream home were all she ever wanted. But everything wasn’t as perfect as she believed. When Sydney catches her husband, Roger, screwing another woman, Sydney files for divorce and falls into a deep depression.

Her only friend, Alexandra, does everything she can to cheer Sydney up. Lexi even suggests a weekend getaway and ‘sex with a random stranger’ to get over her slimy cheating husband’s ways. But Sydney has always believed in marriage and everything it stands for. Besides, she wasn’t even divorced yet and Sydney still hoped that Roger and she would reconcile.

It became apparent Roger would never change and Sydney needed to go somewhere far away from her small town for a little while. Little did she know, she was destined to be a guest at the extravagant River Jewel Resort. After meeting the charming manager of the beautiful hotel, Mark Willburn, Sydney might just learn to let down her guard and find more than she ever knew she needed.

#Review of Amber Lea Easton's #Memoir Free Fall @mtnmoxiegirl

Heart-wrenching And Beautifully Written Memoir

5 Hearts ♥♥♥♥♥

Cheers to Amber for sharing such a personal story and her journey of finding life again after the death of her husband of ten years. The details within the pages brought me into a world I've never prepared myself to enter...no one ever has. She showed great courage reliving the most horrific moments in her life and that of her family. I just want to hug her!

The author tells a heart-wrenching, no holds barred story of how she and her children made it through the unimaginable--the loss of Easton's husband to suicide. It's all there: the questions, the anger, the denial, the despair, and finally the acceptance that life has to go on.

I cried through at least the first half of the book. I put myself in her shoes while reading her words and I just fell apart. I couldn't imagine losing my husband and have to pull myself together in order to take care of my children. If I had to deal with some of the unkind and uncaring things some of the people in her life said to her during the early stages of her grief, I wouldn't have been able to handle it with the grace she portrayed in the book.

The Easton family story is one that offers hope...there is a light at the end of the tunnel after the death of a core member of your family. It shows the grieving process is different for every individual and that's okay. It's as it should be.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has suffered such a loss or knows of anyone who has. If you didn't understand their grief before, you will after reading Free Fall.

If I could give it ten stars I would. Well done, Amber Lea Easton. Well done.  

You can find Amber's book on Amazon and Smashwords. Get your copy today and buy a few extra for those who you feel could use a bit of hope after losing someone they love.

~The Vixen

Blurb

"Understanding suffering always helps the energy of compassion to be born." ~ Thich Nhat Hanh In an instant my husband stripped away my identity as wife, stay-at-home mom, and best friend. With his suicide, our world changed forever. He'd been the center of our universe, but then he was gone. Grief is a dark journey, one often tainted with judgment and false perceptions. Add the word 'suicide' to the mix and more complications arise. 

This memoir, Free Fall, is intended for those who may be facing their own tragedy and feeling alone, hopeless, confused, scared, and misunderstood. Free Fall is the journey of piecing our lives back together—overcoming children's anxiety as we traversed the brutal grief and trauma process, learning to say the words 'widow' and 'single mom' without cringing, surviving the fall out with friends and family who simply couldn't understand our healing process, triumphing over the stigma of 'suicide', forgiving my husband, and finding peace after chaos. 

Free Fall is for widows, widowers, parents, survivors of suicide, family members or friends of one who mourns. This story is for anyone who needs encouragement that there is another side to grief. There is. We're there now. We're looking back and holding our hands out to you saying, "hang in there, you're not alone, and you'll get here, too."

#Review of #STRINGS by @kendallgrey1 #erotica #rocknovel

Many of you may have heard about the controversy surrounding the author of this book and yes I did write a few posts on the subject as well. I didn’t bash her then, nor will I bash her or her book now.  I purchased this book out of sheer curiosity when the hoopla all started and I’m so glad I did.  Below you will find my honest review of Kendall Grey’s self-proclaimed trashy novel.  ~The Vixen

Sex, Booze, Rock and Roll and More Sex. What More Can You Ask For?

5 Hearts ♥♥♥♥♥

Cheers to the author for putting right in the warning to readers EXACTLY what to expect from her “virgin” voyage into writing erotica/erotic romance. I’ve included the warning below. I laughed my ass off reading it and can see why readers downloaded this book based on the warning alone. 

times 10! LOL the heroine Letty is a smart assed, foul mouthed rocker broad who doesn’t sugar coat anything. She tells it like it is with a vulgarity that made me want to kneel and chant “we’re not worthy.” Finally, a character as foul mouthed as I am. Yum!

I stood up and cheered for Letty over and over again. She got knocked down but kept pursuing her musical dream (“The Rock”) and broke her “no strings” rule in the process.  I laughed, nearly cried, and cheered over and over again. I want the next book and I want it now!

Here’s the author’s warning on Amazon…

WARNING: STRINGS is not suitable for slut shamers, uptight stone throwers, Holier-Than-Thou prudes, humorless virgins, persons with chronic neck or back pain, pearl-clutching bitties, those who disparage crude humor or vulgarity in their many forms, closed-minded people with sticks up their asses, or anyone under the age of 18. The vile, base language and shocking, unholy sexual acts contained herein are not condoned by anyone with a lick of sense and should certainly not be reproduced without proper training and protection. The potty-mouthed and perpetually horny "heroine" (the term is used loosely) of this book does not resemble a normal, well-adjusted, or remotely believable person in any way, shape, or form. The author acknowledges that the characters in this book are shallow and two-dimensional; the plot is both ridiculous and insipid. She makes no apologies for any of it.


* Readers are strongly advised to wear latex gloves whilst reading to minimize contamination risks.

I have to disagree with the author on a few points. The heroine is entirely believable to this reader. Not only do I know people who talk like her, I happen to have a potty mouth that can at times rival hers.  The plot is exactly what you’d expect from a story about musicians trying to make it big. There’s sex, drinking, sex, touring, sex while on tour with band mates and with groupies. What’s not believable about that? Sure it’s a work of fiction, but how many real life rockers are prim and proper?  Letty Dillinger to me is a compilation what I imagine my faves were like when they were first starting out: Lita Ford and Joan Jett are the first two that come to mind.

Ms. Grey takes you right into Letty’s world and shakes the hell out of you. Under that rough and tough exterior lies a musician with a heart of gold who’d do anything for her band mates, even give up the one guy who could possibly be her perfect match sexually and musically.  The one she dubs as “Shades” turns out to be much more than she first thought and at times a bit more than her heart can handle. The dynamic between the two is what kept me reading even when I had to get back to my “evil day job.” Every single moment I got, I picked the story up and raced to the finish. 

The supporting cast continually surprised me, especially the drummer in Letty’s band. Quiet as a mouse Jinx can tear up the skins like nobody’s business and it’s on tour with Shades and the other’s in his band where she starts to come into her own. I hope Kendall let’s this one have her own book!

Now the sex in here is definitely over the top, smoking hot, down and dirty and at times messy as hell. I loved every single second of it. That’s why I gave this book the five heart it deserves.  This “trashy” novel is well written and the characters tug at your heart as well as a few other body parts. ;)  It’s EXACTLY what I want in an erotic novel about “The Rock.”

Brava, Kendall Grey. You’ve definitely found your niche in OUR genre. Keep up the fabulous work and hurry up with the next books in this series already!  Head on over to Amazon and get your own copy today. You'll be glad you did. 

~The Vixen

BLURB

Free-spirited musician Letty Dillinger adheres to a strict, "no strings attached" policy when it comes to men. After a wild night of unabashed sex in a fancy hotel room, she never expects to see the adventurous stud she dubs "Shades" again. When her all-girl rock trio books a tour at the last minute as the opening act for their archenemies, Letty's shocked to discover she knows the competition's new lead singer. Intimately. Shades is no longer a one-night stand. Now he's the guy she has to one-up on stage every night for the sake of her career.

Sharing close quarters on a bus with her sexy nemesis and his bad-boy buddies puts Letty's Golden Rule to the test. On this tour, guitar strings aren't the only things being played. And when heartstrings are pulled too hard, they're bound to snap sooner or later.

The Old Vampire a Short Story by Emma Meade

What would you do if something you wished for suddenly showed up on your doorstep one lonely Halloween night? Be careful what you wish for...

4 1/2 stars ♥♥♥♥ 1/2

I liked the twist of the "be careful what you wish for..." idea in this short story. It was both a surprise and a little sad. My heart went out to the heroine when she was faced with having her "dream" fulfilled. It really wasn't what she had expected! It wasn't what I expected either. Great job!

This is the very first short story The Vixen has reviewed and I have to say I enjoyed it. It's not easy writing a short story and not have someone make a comment that it was too short. Emma Meade moved the story along well with the back story to bring us up to what this snippet in time was going to detail. Here's the blurb.


Hailey spent her life dreaming of a dark prince falling in love with her. He never showed up, until now.
A short tale set on the spookiest day of the year, Halloween.

In her youth, it seemed like Hailey would be typical of a teen today...infatuated with vampires and wishing one day her dark prince would come by to take her away from her mortal life. Through the years she keeps wishing, hoping and waiting for her Knight in a Black Cape to arrive. Hailey would even settle for any other dark ghoul, ghost or sorcerer to cross her path in the real world. Unfortunately, as the years go by, she's continually disappointed and resigned to the fact she was probably going to die an old divorcee, never having children and now living alone at the ripe old age of seventy-two.  But for Hailey, this Halloween would turn into one she would never forget when a pale, mysterious stranger shows up at her door long after the last of the trick or treaters have come and gone.  Will he finally fulfill her heart's desire or will he bring on her worst nightmare?

This short was is also part of a collection by Ms. Meade called The Awakening and Other Stories. Based on The Old Vampire alone, I think it's worth looking into in order to add to my collection. If you're with me, click on the links and you will be taken to Amazon.