Sharon E. Cathcart

Books by internationally published author Sharon E. Cathcart provide discerning readers of essays, fiction and non-fiction with a powerful, truthful literary experience.

A former journalist and newspaper editor, Sharon has written for as long as she can remember and generally has at least one work in progress.

Sharon lives with her husband and an assortment of pets in the Silicon Valley, California.

Website: http://sharonecathcart.weebly.com
Twitter: SharonCathcart
Facebook: Facebook profile
Blog: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2962472.Sharon_E_Cathcart/blog

http://treasurelinebooks.com/SharonCathcart.aspx

adolescence    animals    autobiography    bullying    depression    diary    domestic abuse    education    equestrian    fantasy    fantasy fiction    fiction general    friendship    glbt issues    historical    life coaching    london    marriage equality    memoir    mental illness    music    opera garnier    oregon    paranormal    paris    personal growth    phantom of the opera    portland    punk rock    religion and politics    san francisco    short stories    sociology    spirituality   

Abner Senires
Latest book: 30 Minutes or Less. Published on January 24, 2012.
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Darcia Helle
Latest book: Quiet Fury: An Anthology of Suspense. Published on October 28, 2011. (5.00 from 1 review)
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View their blog. Latest post: "A Murderer’s Heart"

Edward C. Patterson
Latest book: Swan Cloud - Southern Swallow Book III. Published on November 2, 2011.
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j guevara
Latest book: The Keepers of Himal. Published on June 27, 2010. (5.00 from 2 reviews)
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J. Timothy King
Latest book: "Disorder" and 7 Other Flashes of Character. Published on March 9, 2011.
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Jaimey Grant
Latest book: Redemption. Published on March 29, 2009. (4.00 from 2 reviews)
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View their blog. Latest post: "Cowards, Giveaways, and Gothic Intrigue! Oh my!"

Jaleta Clegg
Latest book: Have You Seen Tarum?. Published on November 15, 2010. (5.00 from 1 review)
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John Buffalo Mailer
Latest book: Music, Food, and Death (The State Of New Orleans Through The Eyes Of The Strippers). Published on March 11, 2010. (5.00 from 2 reviews)

Lori Osterman
Latest book: Looking To Be Seen. Published on January 3, 2010. (4.00 from 1 review)
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Mark Stevens
Latest book: Broadmoor Revealed: Victorian Crime and the Lunatic Asylum. Published on July 4, 2011. (5.00 from 2 reviews)
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Molly Burke
Latest book: The Little Book of Confidence. Published on May 31, 2011. (5.00 from 1 review)
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Stacia Pierce
Latest book: The Weight is Over. Published on August 10, 2010.

Susan Helene Gottfried
Latest book: ShapeShifter: The Demo Tapes: Year 3. Published on June 12, 2011. (4.00 from 2 reviews)
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T. E. MacArthur
Latest book: The Volcano Lady: Vol. 1 - A Fearful Storm Gathering. Published on November 8, 2011. (5.00 from 1 review)
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• Dream Catcher - Romance Short Story on June 12, 2009
  
  Nice premise. Author has a lot of potential. Recommend a solid proofreader; otherwise quite good.
  
• Spellbound on Aug. 25, 2009
  
  Regency author Jaimey Grant has done it again with "Spellbound." In this novel, Ms. Grant has brought more of her interesting (and interconnected) characters together in a plot filled with intrigue and suspense. In this tale, Tristan hires a retired actress, Raven, to pretend to be his fiancee so that he can stop his grandmother's nagging at him to get married. Needless to say, they fall in love despite themselves, but (as the saying goes), the course of true love ne'er did run smooth. There are obstacles to be overcome and intrigues to resolve. Ms. Grant's characters are well-drawn and believable, and I particularly like seeing minor characters from another of her tales being given an opportunity to tell their own stories in each book.
  
• The Jade Owl on Oct. 23, 2009
  
  I became acquainted with Edward C. Patterson via Operation eBook Drop: he founded the project and I'm a participating author. It seemed a natural progression to likewise acquaint myself with his work. "The Jade Owl" is a science fiction/fantasy novel that starts out with Sinologist Rowden Gray being denied a job originally offered to him at San Francisco's Asian Art Museum. A passerby in the museum picks up the telegram Gray discards, and then leads Gray on a search for the artifact that obsessed Gray's late mentor (the eponymous owl). Patterson's research into Chinese culture and traditions is first-rate (his MA in the field bears that out). Throw in a tremendous gift for phrasing that makes his prose read like poetry, the ability to draw fascinating characters (I am no expert on LGBT literature, but I felt like I had met every one of his characters -- gay or straight -- out in the real world), and a fascinating mystery to be solved. Patterson's work is sure to find fans across many genres.
  
• Betrayal on Nov. 05, 2009
  
  I've said before that I'm a walk-away from the romance genre. I had begun to feel like I was reading the same book over and over again. Then I had the good fortune to meet author Jaimey Grant when we both entered a writing contest. She asked me if I would review one of her books, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. It says a lot that I would not only read one of her books but have just finished a third one; Jaimey's characters are well-developed and her plots are entertaining. Minor characters from some of her titles have major roles in others. I think "Betrayal" is the best of Jaimey Grant's books that I have read so far. Her heroine, Brianna, is not the typical Regency novel bluestocking; she has spent time in a madhouse and in prison. The hero, Adam Prestwick, is hired by her family to return her to them because she has the fortune that they want to spend. Naturally, Adam and Brianna fall in love (this is a romance novel), but there are many obstacles to be overcome during the course of the story. Jaimey doesn't pull punches about hard situations, even while she writes a "clean" romance. I cannot recommend her books highly enough to fans of the genre ... including my fellow walkaways.
  
• Come, Wewoka & Diary of Medicine Flower on Dec. 10, 2009
  
  Ed Patterson has written some glorious poetry with evocative imagery in the first half of this book. "Come, Wewoka" consists of numerous pieces discussing aspects of the Trail of Tears and describing the history of the Cherokee nation. "Diary of Medicine Flower" is a delightful series of philosophical essays on a variety of topics. I particularly enjoyed the essay about the spirit pouch, which contains items that touch an individual's soul, and how we should always have a spirit pouch (I presume in a figurative sense) to remind of us of who we are. Highly recommended for admirers of poetry or those interested in Native American thoughts and culture.
  
• The Closet Clandestine: a queer steps out on Jan. 05, 2010
  
  As always, Ed Patterson's poetry is outstanding for its vocabulary and meter. I liked some poems better than others, but that is frequently the case with an epic anthology of this sort. I found Ed's treatment of issues surrounding "coming out" to be very sensitive. Not for younger readers due to subject matter and occasional vulgar language.
  
• The Fox on March 05, 2010
  
  Arlene Radasky's "The Fox" is a fascinating crossover between historical fiction and fantasy. Her heroine, Aine, is an archaeologist who is visited by Jahna, an ancient Pictish Druid who lived at the site Aine is exploring. Radasky has clearly researched not only bog archaeology but Celtic mythology, Druidic practices and life in the ancient British Isles. Her facts are spot-on (this is an area of interest for me). On top of that, she has created interesting characters in both the modern and ancient world. Archaeologists and ancients alike are well-rounded, multi-dimensional characters. Even the "villains" are well thought-out and complex. I enjoyed the book thoroughly and recommend it to fans of fantasy, archaeology procedural stories and historical fiction alike.
  
• Bobby's Trace on March 11, 2010
  
  In "Bobby's Trace," author Edward C. Patterson has created a ghost story with some rather unusual twists. Protagonist Perry Chaplin is just back after a bereavement leave disguised as a vacation. His partner, Bobby, has been gone a month at the time the book's events occur. Perry's co-worker, Mary, tells him to go on a blind date and gives him a phone number. His boss, Mrs. Wickersham, tells him to go to church and see a priest. When Perry dials the number for the blind date, he sets in motion a series of events with entertaining twists and turns. Bobby doesn't want to be dead, Perry's date turns out to be more than he bargained for ... and all of the plot points converge in an unexpected and compassionate manner.
  
• Music, Food, and Death (The State Of New Orleans Through The Eyes Of The Strippers) on March 30, 2010
  
  Author John Buffalo Mailer (son of Norman Mailer) was once commissioned by Playboy to write an article about post-Katrina New Orleans. Numerous editorial policy changes ensued, and the article eventually reverted to him. Mailer chose to publish this gritty look at New Orleans exclusively as an eBook, and I feel privileged to have read it. His prose is evocative, and the interviews with the strippers and bartenders show the gritty underbelly of a city that is still trying to recover from disaster. I will say that this book is not for the faint of heart. There are discussions of murders, sex, prostitution and drug use. Mailer pulls no punches in showing the darker side of recovery in a devastated city. A short read, and well worth exploring.
  
• 100 Stories for Haiti on April 19, 2010
  
  "100 Stories for Haiti" is an anthology of short tales, collected to raise money for relief in the aftermath of the recent earthquake. Each of the stories is enjoyable in its own right, although I preferred some to others (this is to be expected in a collection of this type). Overall, a splendid effort on the part of diverse writers to raise money in a good cause.
  
• The Virtuous Woman on June 02, 2010
  
  I'm not sure what to think of this book. The plot is good: an actress (the strong implication is that she's in porn) named Celia is trapped in a violent relationship and, though pregnant, is trying to figure out how to leave. However, there were a lot of puzzles for me. There are numerous run-on sentences, and I couldn't decide whether this was an intentional thing. Perhaps the author was going for a Kerouac stream-of-consciousness type of writing? There are also homonym disagreements ("erroneous zones" is not the same as "erogenous zones"), some downright puzzling vocabulary choices ("She went to an allude place deep inside") and misuse of "were" vs. "was." The unfortunate result of this was that I had a hard time focusing on the story. I kept getting hung up on the grammar and sentence structure, trying to figure out what the author was trying to tell me. It's a pity, because the overall premise had a great deal of potential. I had to take off stars for grammar and vocabulary problems, and I never enjoy doing that.
  
• Surviving an American Gulag on June 10, 2010
  
  I've liked all of the books I've read by Edward C. Patterson. "Surviving an American Gulag" is the first one that actually made me cry. Patterson's protagonist, Private Winslow Gibbs, is an overweight draftee soldier during the Vietnam era. He is assigned to a special training unit at Fort Gordon in hopes of returning to regular basic after he has lost some weight. Gibbs' interactions with the other soldiers on the STU range from the antagonistic to the friendly as he becomes more physically fit and gets to know himself better in the process. The additional short story at the end of the book, "Dime a Dip," is particularly poignant as it deals with migrant workers. In today's political environment, this compassionate look at those in need should not be overlooked.
  
• The Widow's Granddaughter on June 14, 2010
  
  Author J. Timothy King's short story, "The Widow's Granddaughter" is a poignant and entertaining tale about a man doing the right thing for the wrong reasons. I thoroughly enjoyed each character and the perspective that they brought to the situations. In this story, even the stereotypical used car salesman can make good. Well done!
  
• ShapeShifter: The Demo Tapes: Year 1 on June 15, 2010
  
  I used to be in the music business, back in the dark recesses of time. With this collection of short stories, author Susan Helene Gottfried provides an entertaining and accurate description of life on the road, conflicts among band members, and even burgeoning family life. The members of ShapeShifters, Gottfried's fictional band, and their families are drawn with depth and sensitivity. Very entertaining and highly recommended. I can't wait to read "Demo Tapes (Year 2)."
  
• Eagle Quest on June 21, 2010
  
  In this well-researched YA novel, middle school students Billy, Hap and Fiona make friends with Mitch, the proverbial new kid in town (Klamath Falls, OR). Mitch is adopted, but has been told that his mother was Native American. He is very much interested in learning about his cultural heritage and, as part of that, wishes to go on a vision quest. Mitch enlists the aid of his newfound friends, and the four go into the Bear Valley Bald Eagle Refuge for an illegal overnight camping trip that will allow Mitch to get the lay of the land for his own solo venture. The kids' families are frantic, of course ... and they do run into some troublesome situations. Everything comes out well, of course, and the kids all learn some lessons. Author Marva Dasef includes useful appendices with information on bald eagles, Native American spirituality, the tribes mentioned in the book ... and some writing prompts for YA readers to consider their own quests and adventures. Highly enjoyable and entertaining.
  
• ShapeShifter: The Demo Tapes (Year 2) on June 29, 2010
  
  I've read both sets of "Demo Tapes," and enjoyed them thoroughly. I used to work in the music business, and Susan's characters are true-to-life, entertaining and well-developed. Brava to the author for an outstanding collection of short stories.
  
• No Irish Need Apply on July 08, 2010
  
  Well-written and moving, "No Irish Need Apply" is a coming of age story about two gay youths, Kevin and Louis. They meet in school as assigned study partners and eventually discover that they feel more for one another than friendship. Patterson treats the challenges of gay youth (dealing with homophobic students, coming out to family, etc.) with a gentle and honest hand. Highly recommended for GLBT people, their families and allies, and members of PFLAG/GLSEN and similar organizations.
  
• Turning Idolater on July 13, 2010
  
  I was initially uncertain what to make of Turning Idolater. I'm a great admirer of Edward C. Patterson's work, but I just could not imagine how a book about a gay man who strips on the Internet, whilst obsessing over the language of Moby Dick, could somehow intertwine with information about the rare book trade and a murder mystery. Yet, in the end, that story turned out to be absolutely brilliant. As always, Patterson's prose is gorgeous; the descriptions of whales, gulls, a cat and a dog in Provincetown are particular standouts in that regard. His protagonist, Philip, is a sympathetic fellow -- not without his flaws, certainly, which make him human instead of a cardboard caricature. There's more to Philip than meets the eye, which we learn as the tale progresses. Highly recommended for those who enjoy a good literary novel.
  
• Look Away Silence on July 15, 2010
  
  Keep tissues handy when you read this beautiful love story that takes place in the early days of HIV/AIDS. I wept many times. Edward C. Patterson's "Look Away Silence" is a story about many kinds of love besides the romance between Matt and Martin; it is about loving communities and families, and volunteers who take on the difficult duties in order to provide respite to caregivers. It is about people who find strength during crises that they believe will take them down: people who are phenomenally courageous. I have admired Patterson's novels for some time now, but honestly believe this one to be his best. Inspiring, though-provoking and, yes -- one that will make you cry.
  
• Banshee Angel Of Judgement on July 16, 2010
  
  Two things kept me from giving this novella a full five stars. First, there were numerous run-on sentences with commas placed so poorly that they almost made no sense. The second problem was my grounding in Celtic mythology; the banshee (or bean sidhe) is not a vengeful mortal soul, but a fairy harbinger of death. All of that said, Billy Young's novel has a good premise -- the vengeant spirit of a woman falsely accused of witchcraft visits her judgment on all who offend her from the time of her initial demise in the late 17th century until three hundred years in the future. The most interesting, and best developed, parts of the novel focus on Helen's accusation and trial for witchcraft. Young has a good understanding of why most women were accused of witchcraft: their property became forfeit to the local government. He describes the various "tests" that women were put through: tortures that would make people confess to anything in order for the abuse to stop. The parts of the tale that take place in modern times, focused on two amusement park employees who pass by the "witch's house" every day on their way home almost feel tacked on by comparison. Complaints aside, this was an entertaining short read. Horror/thriller buffs are likely to enjoy it very much.
  
• Warped & Wired on Aug. 10, 2010
  
  I wish I could explain how very much I wanted to like this book. It's a YA fantasy/sci-fi, with two female protagonists (one a teenaged human, one a "Wryter," a race of long-lived magic users -- this one is 42, but looks like a teen herself). Thrust together by circumstance, they need to go after a user of dark magic in order to foil certain plots. Things went downhill quickly, though. We had plagiarism from Star Wars (with Uncle Vi'son, the wise, old being who speaks like Yoda), Disney (a red-haired mermaid named Arielle Aerielis, married to the human Prince Eric), and H.P. Lovecraft (when the bad guy transforms into a bat-winged, tentacle-faced, clawed demon). That's to say nothing of the numerous grammar gaffes, such as your/you're confusion, "her and her mother," etc. The book would have strongly benefited from having an experienced editor review the manuscript before publication. It's all very sad, because this could have been a really outstanding story if the author had stuck to his own ideas instead of just taking them from others.
  
• The First Dragoneer on Aug. 23, 2010
  
  The premise of "The First Dragoneer" is a good one. Bren and March are two good friends going on their last hunt before one of them leaves the village. They run into some unanticipated adventures in the process. M.R. Mathias starts off with a really good idea. However, I found myself distracted by homonym problems (e.g., arrows are properly referred to as "nocked," not "knocked" and one lights a fire using a "tinder box," not a "tender box."). There were several other similar issues that gave away Mathias' using his spellchecker instead of a human proofreader to look at his manuscript. This kind of stuff leaps out at me, as I was a newspaper copy editor for a long while and still do editing on a freelance basis. The editorial problems caused me to take a star off of the rating because they were so pervasive. This novella also includes a two-chapter preview of "The Royal Dragoneers," for which "The First Dragoneer" is a prequel. I think that Mathias has a great idea for a series, and am hopeful that some judicious editing will lead to success for him.
  
• Where the Sun Sets on Dec. 28, 2010
  
  I couldn't even finish this, I'm sorry to say. Between physicians handing medical records to people without even knowing their names ("did you come in with the gunshot victim? OK" -- and the OK thing really got on my nerves, as people say "okay," not "ok"), nurses handing out pain pills willy-nilly without a prescription, no one in a school -- where teachers are mandatory reporters under the law -- reporting child abuse to the police (and the parent who le...moreI couldn't even finish this, I'm sorry to say. Between physicians handing medical records to people without even knowing their names ("did you come in with the gunshot victim? OK" -- and the OK thing really got on my nerves, as people say "okay," not "ok"), nurses handing out pain pills willy-nilly without a prescription, no one in a school -- where teachers are mandatory reporters under the law -- reporting child abuse to the police (and the parent who learns about it and sees the injuries leaving his child in the school), and municipal police departments that apparently send home their *full dossiers* (which police departments do not keep) to live with retired officers at the end of their careers, I could not make it past the middle of chapter 8. The characters are cardboard cut-outs and the action is completely unrealistic. My rating profile skews pretty high, with an average of 4.35, and it takes a lot to get me to abandon a book. A lot of the problems that I've seen so far could have been resolved with a minimal amount of research into things like HIPAA laws and police procedures. How very unfortunate.
  
• My First Ninety Years on Jan. 06, 2011
  
  I really wanted to rate this book much higher. Mary Jane Baird's tone reminded me very much of when my own grandmother would talk about her time growing up during the Depression, and I was so excited as the book started. Even knowing how brief the book was, I had hoped for more detail. Yet, Baird says at the end of the book that she knows she glossed over a lot of "little details," but that it's her belief that the book would not be worth reading if she included them. I wholeheartedly disagree. While the few anecdotes Baird shares are fascinating, the main gist of this short eBook seemed to be "we lived here, and they were born there" -- a travelogue without much color. I would love to have known more about her life as a minister's wife other than the number of household moves that it entailed. I did enjoy it, and it's a fun, albeit short, read. I just wanted more.
  
• Dead Man's Eye on Jan. 09, 2011
  
  MILD SPOILER ALERT ******************************************* If ever there was an argument to be made in favor of intraocular lenses instead of organ donor transplants, Shaun Jeffrey presents it beautifully in "Dead Man's Eye." Jeffrey's protagonist, is the recipient of a cornea from a deceased priest -- and the tissue allows her to see evidence of demonic possession. As an entire London hospital is taken over by demons, only she seems to understand. Needless to say, authorities are not particularly interested in hearing what she has to say about the matter. And herein lies the tale, as she tries to let people know what is happening only to have the rug yanked out from under her time and again. Jeffrey spins out a well-considered tale, with twists and turns galore. I enjoyed reading this eBook edition and hope to see more from this author.
  
• Incident at Walter's Creek on Jan. 21, 2011
  
  Mark Jacobs' short story, "Incident at Walter's Creek," reminds me a little bit of Steven King's "The Body." A group of young boys are telling stories to frighten one another as they creep up on the local "haunted house." As is always the case with such stories, there is more to the situation than meets the eye. Jacobs pulls the reader in with dialect, entertaining characters and situations ... and some surprising twists and turns. Nicely done!
  
• Dandelions In The Garden on Feb. 07, 2011
  
  Overall rating: 3.75 I will say right upfront that it's obvious Charlie Courtland has done her research. I looked up some items about which I had questions, and found that she was spot-on for the period in those matters. There were some others, though, where it did not go so well in her telling of Elizabeth Bathory's story. The well-constructed epic novel about the notorious Blood Countess faltered in some tiny details (e.g., describing the use of envelopes during a time when letters were written on parchment or vellum, folded into quarters, addressed and sealed with wax rather than using a separate paper to carry them). I found these and other minutia a little distracting. Some Hungarian names were Anglicized (e.g., Gyorgy Drugeth, an historical personage, became George) while others were not (Sir Draco Lorant ... who was referred to as Sir Lorant several times; knights are Sir Firstname). Admittedly, my nitpicking is a minor point. Courtland has created an intriguing world of romance, revenge and intrigue. Told through the eyes of Amara, one of Bathory's ladies-in-waiting, "Dandelions in the Garden" is a fascinating look at 16th C. Austro-Hungarian culture. Courtland writes with both compassion and frankness about Bathory and the legends that surround her. At the end of the book, we find Bathory on her way to Vienna. Embarking on new adventures that are only revealed in [book:The Hidden Will of the Dragon|8292510], the young "Blood Countess" is just starting the period that gave rise to the folk tales about her. I am given to understand that a new edition of "Dandelions," which corrects some of the editorial issues in this version, is forthcoming. Overall, I would recommend this book to historical fiction buffs with the caveats that I mentioned firmly in place.
  
• A Valentine For Victoria on Feb. 15, 2011
  (no rating)
  I have removed my previous review. Thank you to the author for posting a trigger warning about this sensitive issue.
  
• The First Kill on March 07, 2011
  
  Darcia Helle's "The First Kill" is not for the faint of heart. This is a brief, but graphic, crime story reminiscent of British gangster films. Her main character, Sean, is an assassin for hire ... and he is plying his art with aplomb in this tale. Crime fiction fans should investigate this story.
  
• Noisy Neighbor on March 08, 2011
  
  There's a lot to like about a mystery with the guts to start out with "It was a dark and stormy night." The protagonist in this short story is an author, trying to write a mystery novel -- but she is constantly distracted by her neighbor's loud stereo. When she goes to confront him, she finds his unlocked apartment ... and his corpse. The story was set up well, but it felt as though the ending was a trifled rushed. Sure, it's a short story ... but I felt there was still some room for development. Nevertheless, I found the book entertaining.
  
• Dawn of Avalon on March 09, 2011
  
  "Dawn of Avalon" is a prequel novella to Anna Elliott's "Twilight of Avalon" series. In this story, we have Merlin and Morgan meeting in the earliest days of the Arthurian sagas -- with Merlin imprisoned by Vortigern. As a long-time reader of Arthurian legends (and a former member of the International Arthurian Society), I can say with certainty that Elliott has researched the tales and the time period very carefully. She understands all of the relationships (which are convoluted indeed) between the characters populating the lore. She even starts where many books do not: with Vortigern's plans to sacrifice a Druid because his planned tower keeps collapsing. I enjoyed the book, although I found some of the prose a trifle clumsy (which is why I took off one star). It's a tricky thing to write description in historical fiction where the spoken word is more archaic; sometimes authors make descriptions archaic as well, which can cause a reader to stumble a bit. Fans of Arthurian legend are sure to enjoy this tale.
  
• Arms of an Angel on March 17, 2011
  
  Linda Boulanger certainly knows how to construct a romance. She starts with a troubled woman, Claire, and puts a kindly man (Garrett) in her path through a set of unusual circumstances. "Arms of an Angel" is the story of Claire and Garrett's difficult courtship, and of Claire's personal issues. There's a lot of story crammed into this brief novella. I don't want to give away spoilers; suffice it to say that at one moment I teared up, which surprised me.
  
• Who Censored Roger Rabbit? on March 24, 2011
  
  "Who Censored Roger Rabbit" has far more in common with the hard-boiled detective tales of yore than it does with the Disney film based upon it. Gary K. Wolf has created a world in which humans and Toons live side-by-side in only the worst parts of town: a segregated universe with different laws and even separate law enforcement. His protagonist, private detective Eddie Valiant, is initially hired by Roger Rabbit to help get his wife, Jessica, off the hook for the murder of Rocco deGreasy. Then Roger himself is killed, and his doppelganger continues alongside Valiant on both cases. There's none of the slapstick humor that I anticipated; instead, there's some solid detective novel goodies in these pages. Highly recommended.
  
• Trevor's Song on April 09, 2011
  
  Susan Helene Gottfried's ShapeShifter series is a real gem for music fans, industry insiders, and those who like a well-constructed, character-driven novel. The first two books were a collection of short stories called "The Demo Tapes," both of which I read and enjoyed thoroughly. "Trevor's Song" brings us a more successful band, with ShapeShifter touring, recording and experiencing the fruits of their labors. Bassist Trevor Wolff is the focus of Gottfried's full length novel, as he faces unanticipated medical problems that could potentially put the entire band's careers on hold. Despite Wolff's deliberate "unlikeability," he is a sympathetic character grappling with numerous issues. Gottfried's characters are multi-dimensional and interesting, and her insider knowledge of the music industry shines through to those of us who have also been there. Highly recommended.
  
• T'on Ma on April 15, 2011
  
  Magnolia Belle's "T'on Ma" details Lana Cooper's time as a homesteader's daughter. She meets and falls in love with Kiowa warrior Yi Centas (Two Hawks), who calls her T'on Ma (Water Woman) because he first sees her in the river. However, because of various pressures from her family and from society, Lana marries Liam O'Connell. Liam is a society-bred Army officer whose well-to-do family looks down on Lana and her entire family. The book is rife with conflicts between settlers and Native Americans, and rich in cultural detail about both military and Kiowa life. This is the second of Magnolia Belle's books that I have read; suffice it to say that I am now a major fan of her work. Highly recommended for fans of well-researched, character-driven historical fiction.
  
• I Saw Them Ride Away on May 09, 2011
  
  Harry Arthur Gant was a real cowboy who wound up in the motion picture industry as a cameraman on early Westerns (and, occasionally, as an actor). Working alongside Lon Chaney, Tom Mix and many others -- on both sides of his career --, Gant saw a great deal of change over the course of his life. This memoir was published posthumously, laboriously transcribed from a third-carbon tissue copy by his granddaughter and great-grandson. I applaud their efforts to preserve their raconteur relative's splendid stories. Gant's style is colloquial; he did not have much formal education beyond the eighth grade, although he was a voracious reader. I loved his stories about life on the range and in the early days of Hollywood; it was like having him sitting next to me on the porch, just relating stories of days gone by. Fans of memoirs and Westerns alike are sure to enjoy this entertaining book.
  
• Who P-p-p-plugged Roger Rabbit? on May 21, 2011
  
  It's not often that you get a chance to say this, but the sophomore entry in Gary K. Wolf's Roger Rabbit series surpasses the original! In this well-constructed hard-boiled detective novel, Eddie Valiant is hired by David O. Selznick to find a valuable box that was heisted from his office during interviews with potential leads in "Gone With the Wind." The two prime contenders? Roger Rabbit and Clark Gable. Of course, Jessica Rabbit is under consideration for the role of Scarlett O'Hara. With the good humor and hard edge that were so cleverly combined in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit," Wolf has brought another winner to the field. There are more twists to this story than a Silly Straw, and it's a great read from beginning to end.
  
• BestsellerBound Short Story Anthology on May 26, 2011
  
  As I have a story in this anthology, my review applies to the other nine tales. The "Bestseller Bound Anthology" has something for everyone. Genres range among science fiction, modern romance, historical fiction, crime and Westerns ... with a few stops in between. There are no "duds" in this collection. My favorite story of the lot was "The First Texas Twister," which incorporates elements of Western and supernatural fiction. Well-done across the board and definitely worth your time to read.
  
• Ancient Rising - Book 1 of the Rise of the Ancients saga on May 26, 2011
  
  When I review books, they always start out with five stars -- and I see what happens from there. J.C. De La Torre has a fascinating speculative fiction idea, with an author getting involved in an archaeological team studying Atlantis. When Hermes shows up (and speaks some bad, Harry Potteresque fake Latin instead of either the real deal or Greek, which bothered me) and starts providing clues for the team to raise the lost city, things should get interesting. I really liked the concept of this book, but found myself distracted by poorly rendered dialect (Glaswegian is *difficult,* admittedly, but it is not rendered at all correctly here -- if you can't render dialect, don't try) and some egregious errors of fact in terms of archaeological process (like shining bright lights on ancient documents ... which is destructive). With a bit more research, this book could have been outstanding. I just had a hard time getting past the issues that bothered me.
  
• Fuzzical Therapy: The Tao of Charlie on May 27, 2011
  
  A brief, but very sweet read that left me with a warm heart and a tear in my eye. Coinneach Fitzpatrick writes about four life lessons he learned from his Ragdoll cat, Charlie, by observing her interactions with humans and her fellow felines. For those of us who are interested in animal welfare and the human-animal bond, this short read is an excellent addition to the bookshelf. Highly recommended.
  
• The Little Book of Confidence on June 06, 2011
  
  "The Little Book of Confidence" is a tiny toolbox. Each section has three chapters containing advice, affirmations and exercises on subjects ranging from gratitude to posture -- and clearly explaining how each one plays into issues of confidence. This book belongs on the shelf next to works like "The Law of Attraction: The Basics of the Teachings of Abraham" and "Finding Your Own North Star: Claiming the Life You Were Meant to Live" -- or in your pocketbook/briefcase to be popped open when you need a quick pick-me-up. Highly recommended.
  
• Lost and Found: Book One of the Emi Lost & Found series on June 28, 2011
  
  SPOILER ALERT********************************************** I really wanted to like this book far more than I did. The truth is that it's well-written and brings you into the characters' lives pretty well. That's why I gave it four stars. But honestly? I found that I couldn't like the characters very much. Protagonist and first-person narrator Nate is a well-to-do, trust fund baby playboy-cum-artist who is so completely spineless that when his brand-new girlfriend tells him he's no longer to speak with his best friend, Emi? He acquiesces. No real friend would do such a thing. And, of course, it's apparent to everyone but dimwit Nate that he's actually in love with Emi. By the end of the book, Emi finally gets it, too -- after being in a couple of very abusive relationships. Lori Otto leaves a cliffhanger ending on this tale, as it leads into two more books. Her writing is really outstanding, but I found her two leads so unlikeable that I don't really didn't care what happened to them. :-(
  
• Fusion on July 09, 2011
  
  Maria Savva's short fiction anthology, "Fusion," is a real treat. Unlike many such collections, wherein the quality of the stories is variable, each one of Savva's pieces is a delight. Savva manages to put a complete story -- and always with an unexpected twist -- into just a few pages. There were no "clunkers" to be found, whether it was a romance, sci-fi or even a ghost story. Highly recommended.
  
• Inspired to Succeed on July 09, 2011
  
  I must say, right off the bat, that I'll be recommending this book to a great many people. "Inspired to Succeed" contains 20 chapters, jam-packed with information, ideas you can implement right now, and inspiring stories. It's like having Dr. Stacia Pierce in your pocket for coaching sessions on a variety of matters, from style to finances. There is something here to delight anyone seeking to better him- or herself. Highly recommended for those who are ready to reach the next level of success in life.
  
• No Sunshine When She's Gone on July 19, 2011
  
  SPOILER WARNING********************************************** For me, as a humane education advocate, this book is something of a cautionary tale. When Sunshine's little girl, Lien, passes away, she is taken in her carrier to a new home -- and escapes. Sunshine lives among the feral cats, even though she tries to find her way home. The book talks about cats foraging for food, evading predators and even having kittens. While this is positioned as a children's book, probably because the animals are anthropomorphized, I would consider it for children 8 and up only and be prepared to answer some potentially difficult questions.
  
• Are You Still Submitting Your Work to a Traditional Publisher? on July 19, 2011
  
  Author Edward C. Patterson has done more than provide a "how to" guide for formatting self-published or independently published books with this work. He's also provided one of the finest primers I've ever seen on editing a novel (including pitfalls to avoid), with splendid examples. This is the kind of book that all authors can use, regardless of how long they've plied their trade. Chock full of useful information, and highly recommended!
  
• Savvy Book Marketing Secrets: 52 Experts Share Insider Tips for Selling More Books on July 20, 2011
  
  This is a good primer for new authors, with information on everything from marketing to editing. As the book is a compendium of articles, some bits are more in-depth than others. I would have liked to see more detail over-all, but it does the job.
  
• Illumination on July 25, 2011
  
  Eastwood's chapbook, "Illumination," is a paean to adolescent angst, primarily written in free verse. There are some deep pieces concerning suicide, eating disorders and addiction ... but the majority of the works seem to concern a blonde-haired, green-eyed girl who sometimes wears too much lipstick and spends a lot of time ignoring the writer. For my money, the best piece in the work is "Gemini," with its clever emphasis on the duality of man, nature and art.
  
• A Successful Life on Aug. 11, 2011
  
  I remarked early on in reading this book that I was sometimes amazed at the sychronicity with which certain teachings appeared in my life. Gabriel Lawson's "A Successful Life" came to my notice via an eBook publisher's annual promotion -- just at the time when I was studying and practicing the connection between visualization, positive thought and positive outcomes. Lawson relates the information he gleaned from speaking with patients at the hospice where he volunteers. All of them shared their life experiences, and what they wish they had done differently -- and it seemed that this last item was fairly universal. With the information in hand, Lawson sat out to study the science behind entrainment -- the heart/brain connection. Each section of the book starts with a teaching story about the chapter's theme and ends with practical worksheets for completion. All of these help to engage the reader and provide action steps for life improvement that *work.* Well worth reading.
  
• The Malice Plant on Aug. 13, 2011
  
  I have read a great many mysteries over the years, and it's a rare one in which the "whodunnit" escapes me until the author reveals it. Ainy Rainwater has written one of those rare books. Rosemary's garden club friend, Ivy, is found dead with a sprig of the (fictitious) Malice Plant in her hand ... and things actually get worse from there! With a plethora of unpleasant relatives contesting the will (in which Rosemary, to her surprise, figures), townsfolk behaving strangely and disappearing plants and property, Rosemary is in it up to her eyeballs. Rainwater has crafted an entertaining mystery with believable (if not always lovable) characters and plausible situations. I enjoyed the book thoroughly and was, in fact, reluctant to put it down. Well done indeed!
  
• Something's Fishy in Palm Springs on Aug. 14, 2011
  
  I wanted to like this book far more than I did. I found myself distracted by homophone problems ("chow" where "ciao" is meant, "b-line" for "beeline" and numerous other examples) and redundancies (e.g., "camouflage cammies"). That's really too bad, because I was so excited about reading it. As someone who has visited Palm Springs on many occasions, I recognized sites that went unnamed by Hollstein. It did make it fun to puzzle out which restaurants or hotels she was talking about. The author has a good premise, with an actress being abducted in the first chapter and a costly tropical fish taken and held for ransom. Friends Aggie and Betty are visiting Palm Springs from England and get entangled in both cases. The eventual revelation of "whodunnit" was lackluster and the loose ends were tied up in a hurried and unrelated fashion. There was a lot of potential in the tale; I just wish it had been handled with more aplomb.
  
• I Am Not My Brother's Keeper on Aug. 20, 2011
  
  I have a friend who is fond of saying that our families know how to push our buttons because they installed them. This is quite clearly the case with Amelia Bradford's family. Like me, she has a sociopath for a brother. Also like me, she has a family who keeps insisting that she should continue to give-give-give to help her brother as he is in constant trouble with the law and ripping people off financially all over the place. Unlike me, she keeps giving in. While this book is about dealing with a sociopathic family member on some levels, on others I truly think it should be an object lesson on setting and keeping solid boundaries against toxic people. I took off one star because the book is formatted as one giant chapter, which was somewhat off-putting in a work of this length.
  
• Who Killed Emmett Till? on Aug. 23, 2011
  
  This was not an easy book to read. Klopfer presents an in-depth look at the murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till, as well as the murders of civil rights activists like Cleve McDowell, Berdia Kegler and Adlena Hamlett. Klopfer began researching the Till murder when her husband accepted a job at Parchman Penitentiary, just outside the town of Drew, Missisippi (where the murder occurred). There were people still living in the town who remember the case and were willing to talk with her -- although almost always on the condition of anonymity. The two men accused of murdering Till were acquitted by an all-white jury -- and subsequently confessed what they had done in a magazine. Because of double jeopardy, they could not be retried. These are things that most people aware of the Emmett Till murder can tell you. What Klopfer brings to the table are first-person accounts of other lynchings, murders and bombings throughout the region as African-Americans asserted their right to equal protection under the law. This is an unflinching book that looks at inequality in a way that should make most people think very hard. Highly recommended.
  
• Still Life With Murder (Nell Sweeney Mysteries, Book 1) on Aug. 27, 2011
  
  When Nell Sweeney, an Irish girl with a rather dubious (and mostly unexplained, in this book) past assists her physician employer during a difficult birth in 19th century Massachusetts, she has no idea what she is getting into. The pregnant woman is a chambermaid for a Boston Brahmin family, and the child is adopted by them. Nell is hired away to be the child's governess almost at once. When baby Grace is about three years old, the family is embroiled in scandal as their eldest son, William, is accused of murder. William had been presumed dead at Andersonville ... but is very much alive. Nell's employer sets her the task of finding a way to prove William's innocence -- despite mounting evidence of his guilt. A well constructed and entertaining "whodunnit" that kept me guessing the entire time.
  
• Bobby Poe and The Poe Kats on Aug. 28, 2011
  
  I must say, I was disappointed by this book. First of all, it's written as a 'screenplay,' and leaves out a great deal of what might have been fascinating information. For example, the Poe Kats (rockabilly legend Wanda Jackson's original backup band) were an integrated group. The only thing Poe says about playing gigs under Jim Crow was to complain that they had to stay in hotels because Big Al Downing (who later became a country music star) couldn't stay in hotels. Really? Surely there were some other challenges. Poe seems to be whining a lot of the time that he was not as successful as he wanted to be, despite having some regional hits with the Poe Kats, a chart-topper in the '60s with the Chartbusters and some other experiences that most musicians would find thrilling (including playing with Jackson). Poe eventually finds success as publisher and editor of the Pop Music Survey, which is glossed over to talk about how the 'black mafia' destroyed his Soul Music Survey. Actually, everything is glossed over -- and that's what disappointed me the most. There was so much room to share insights and experiences in detail, and Poe failed to take advantage of the opportunity.
  
• The Price of Innocence on Sep. 15, 2011
  
  Wow. Where to start. First of all, I wanted to like this book. And I tried really, really hard to do so. However, early on I found myself mentally knocking off one star for a serious error in fact. While Prince Edward Albert (aka Bertie), Prince of Wales, had some rather notorious peccadilloes in Le Chabanais (the setting for a great deal of this book), he was *not* King Edward of England until 1901. Yet, he was referred to as such several times in the manuscript, where it is supposed to be 1878. There is a lot of rich scenery and interesting opportunity in this tale, although some things are confusing (like a French nun being named Mary while an Irish whore is named Annette). It's quite apparent that Ms. Hopkins put a lot of time and research into the settings of her tale, even though she completely missed the mark with Bertie. That said, this is the story of Suzette Rousseau, a young French woman who finds herself in distressed circumstances when her father passes away, and Lord Robert Holland, her English lover. I have to be honest and say that while I was able to overlook some editing issues (like "throws of passion" where throes was intended, for instance), I could not get past my dislike for Suzette. Even though she had a governess herself, it never occurs to her to look for such work. Instead, she becomes a laundress and then a prostitute -- all the time boasting about her level of education. I found her entirely two-dimensional, and I really could not dredge up much empathy or concern for what happened to her (although a great deal of the action became a little predictable). As much as I hate to say it, I will not be pursuing the other two books in the trilogy. I just don't care what happens to Suzette Rousseau.
  
• Kiwi in Cat City on Sep. 16, 2011
  
  This is a cute mystery aimed at the age 10 and up set. Youngsters Amy and James follow their cat, Kiwi, when she leaves home one night; they've been curious about where she goes. Imagine their surprise when they are turned into kittens so that they can follow her to Cat City to help her figure out why cats are being abducted from the streets. With the reverse anthropomorphism, Johnstone writes cleverly about the childrens' difficulty learning how to navigate with four legs and a tail. She also occasionally breaks the fourth wall, addressing the reader with questions like "Have you ever seen a cat in a waistcoat? Nope, me either." The book is not too scary, and things are resolved easily. The book does leave a bit of a cliffhanger to be resolved in a subsequent volume, "Kiwi and the Missing Magic." Cute book for young animal lovers and budding mystery buffs.
  
• Broadmoor Revealed: Victorian Crime and the Lunatic Asylum on Sep. 20, 2011
  
  Wow! If you are interested in psychiatric history, the Victorian era, or true crime, this book is for you. Archivist Mark Stevens works with the Berkshire Records Office and thus has access to the case histories of Broadmoor's inmates, its governors and more. This book is a sampling of case studies (including that of painter Richard Dadd, whose works hang in the Tate Gallery, and William Minor, a major contributor to the Oxford English Dictionary), births in the asylum and various escape attempts. Stevens brings both the concept of "moral treatment" (an idea developed by English Quakers to help mental health patients, which sounds like something far different from what it is) and the life of asylum patients into the light for readers in a way that is interesting and compassionate. "Moral treatment" involved nutritious food, rest and useful work at the level that each patient was able to manage. Broadmoor not only had mental health patients but also prisoners, and there were some management issues between the two very different populations. Attempts by Broadmoor's governors to deal with those issues are detailed. Stevens provides a lovely annotated bibliography at the end of this book so that readers may see the original documents on patients, the asylum's history, etc., from which he worked. I have already recommended this outstanding source to people with an interest in the subject matter, and have no doubt that I will continue to do so with regularity.
  
• BestsellerBound Short Story Anthology Volume 2 on Sep. 22, 2011
  
  The Bestseller Bound gang has done it again! This short story anthology, ably curated by Darcia Helle, brings together ten very different tales -- each of them a hit. As with any similar work, each reader will have different favorites. For me, the standouts were Joel Blaine Kirkpatrick's "Last Chance Motel and Mausoleum" (a clever paranormal tale) and Tom Gahan's "Beyond the Green Hills" (about politics and famine in early 20th century Ireland). There is something for everyone here, across a variety of genres. Highly recommended.
  
• A Matter of Some Urgency on Oct. 17, 2011
  
  In this little eBook, Maureen O'Danu continues her sensitive stories intended to help children understand the problems of homeless pets. She brings in Sunshine, the kitty who gets lost in "No Sunshine When She's Gone," having her appear before the Cat Council to talk about hunger. Ming, the leader of the Council, is asking pets with homes to help the hungry ones who have not "be-petted" a human. Imagine Sunshine's surprise when Smudge, the big alley cat, is the first one to speak up about the need to help ... and to do more than that. As with her previous work in the series, O'Danu deals with some sensitive issues here. Parents should be prepared for discussions with their youngsters.
  
• Kingmaker on Oct. 17, 2011
  
  In this little book, author Maureen O'Danu writes about animal abuse in a way that will help parents explain to their children the importance of being humane and kind. Ming, the leader of the Cat Confederation, sees a white dog being treated horribly by his human ... and figures out a way to help him escape. There is a happy ending here and a great lesson. O'Danu positions this book for the 10 and up crowd, and sensitive kids will have a lot of questions.
  
• Mannequin: A Short Story on Oct. 17, 2011
  
  I'm a big fan of Susan Helen Gottfried's work. Her characters are richly drawn and believable. In this book, Lynne is a little girl who is often dragged along with her dad on his shopping trips for clothes that he thinks will make him look impressive to others. Lynne likes to daydream about the mannequin in the window (she calls him Ken) and how different he would be from her father. On one of the shopping trips, a fellow walks into the high-end store and asks for a purple shirt -- an action which makes both Lynne and her father look at life differently by the time all is said and done. Readers of the ShapeShifter series will be delighted by this particular cameo. A brief and enjoyable read.
  
• Enemies and Playmates on Oct. 26, 2011
  
  Darcia Helle's "Enemies and Playmates" deals with a sensitive topic: domestic violence. The Covington family are all subject to the abusive father's whims. Like so many abusers, Alex Covington looks like the proverbial "nice guy" out in the world at large. Yet, within his home he is a monster. Helle's protagonist, Lauren, finds her father's wrath turned against her when she begins to date a man of whom Covington disapproves. But Jesse is no pushover ... and as the story unwinds, we learn more and more about Covington's wrongdoings and Jesse's attempts to bring him to justice. I think there is a great temptation amongst authors to make stories about domestic violence, rape and other crimes deliberately triggering. Helle avoids this trap, all the while creating a compelling picture of the emotional and physical abuse that Covington inflicts on his victims. An excellent, thought-provoking read.
  
• For Sale in Palm Springs: The Henry Wright Mystery Series on Nov. 06, 2011
  
  Overall score: 2.75 Disclosure: I added half a star back on when I discovered that the author is not a native English speaker. This would certainly explain some of the awkward construction and grammar gaffes, so I was inclined to be forgiving. All the same, this book would have been far better if professionally edited. Lots of run-on sentences, awkward phrasing and so on could have been corrected. This could have been a really outstanding murder mystery. Our protagonist, Henry, is a retired police officer from Wisconsin. He's moved to Palm Springs for the improved weather (one presumes). He's been widowed for a while, as we learn over the course of the tale. The book does start off with a literal bang; a somewhat shady Palm Springs realtor is bumped off in one of the properties he's trying to sell. The local sheriff asks Henry's help in investigating the matter, as Henry is apparently a freelance profiler for the FBI. Never mind that Henry doesn't seem to know things that a profiler would (e.g., the difference between a pedophile and an ephebephile), and that he seems to do an awful lot of blabbing about this investigation to people who are not involved. Never mind that the local sheriff talks about destroying evidence in an ongoing case ("It's been cataloged and is on its way for destruction" is a direct quote) and other improbabilities. Throw in that it was unfortunately easy to figure out whodunnit and you'll get my overall disappointment. I will hand it to Mr. Simon; he definitely knows his Coachella Valley geography, although he falls a little flat in terms of other places like Palo Alto and Los Altos ("there's not much there" came as a surprise to me, having been to Los Altos on many occasions). So, yes ... there was a great framework here that could have resulted in an outstanding tale. It just fell very flat for me.
  
• The Volcano Lady: Vol. 1 - A Fearful Storm Gathering on Nov. 18, 2011
  
  I guess I should start with a confession: I'd never read a steampunk novel before this one. I didn't think I'd like them. If they're all like "The Volcano Lady" stories, I clearly need to investigate more of them. T.E. MacArthur has created a world of amazing machines and imaginative characters, all in situations that are both wildly unlikely and highly believable. Her heroine, Dr. Lettie Gantry, is a vulcanologist trying to develop a mathematical equation to predict eruptions. In the process of her research, she runs afoul of some rather nefarious folk. To say more would be to deliver spoilers, and that is something I definitely want to avoid. MacArthur's research into the late 19th century is meticulous. She shows us manners, morals and mores while telling an entertaining tale that I honestly did not want to have end. I'm champing at the bit for Volume 2! Highly recommended for fans of science fiction, steampunk, gaslight romance and the tales of Jules Verne.
  
• To Read or Not to Read on Nov. 18, 2011
  
  A bookstore with an odd, vaguely supernatural owner who doesn't like to sell books, but rents out reading rooms for a dollar a minute ... and only for brief periods of time? Hmm. Anyone else see the twist coming? I surely did. Well written, but a trifle disappointing in its predictability.
  
• BestsellerBound Short Story Anthology Volume 3 on Nov. 28, 2011
  
  As I have a story in this collection, my review applies to the other nine tales. The latest Bestseller Bound anthology encompasses a variety of genres, from literary fiction to urban fiction, historical fiction to modern romance. There is a little something for everyone here. For me, the standouts were: Maria Savva's "Winter Blues," a literary fiction piece with an unexpected twist at the very end; J. Michael Radcliffe's "Scale of a Dragon," a fantasy tale with a likewise unanticipated turn of events, and; Cliff Ball's "The Day the Lights Went Out," which was a great example of speculative fiction. This anthology series is a great way to experience indie authors, and I cannot say enough good about it.
  
• Redemption on Dec. 01, 2011
  
  "Redemption" is one of Jaimey Grant's earlier works. In this tale, twins Miles and Darius fall in love with twins Jenny and Gwen. While this may seem a trifle cliched, Grant handles the matter deftly and has some unusual twists thrown into the mix. Miles and Dare are the sons of a gentleman while Jenny and Gwen are the daughters of a duke; therein lies the first problem. The second problem is Dare's reputation as a rakehell. As always, Grant's book is rich with Regency period detail about manners and mores, attire, furniture -- you name it. The story is well-written. Unfortunately, I had a hard time connecting with either of the purported heroines, whom I found myself describing as conniving. Others may not see them that way. By the same token, I found Dare a rather refreshing change from the standard issue Regency romance heroes. I think that Regency readers, and those who like a clean romance novel, will find a great deal to enjoy here.
  
• Honor on Dec. 06, 2011
  
  "Honor" is the story of one of my favorite characters from Jaimey Grant's Regency world, Lady Verena Westbridge. The tale begins with Verena fleeing her home rather than marry the depraved gentleman chosen by her father. As is often the case with romance novels, the story sees Verena pretending to be a lady's maid. She has the necessary skills because her father, an earl, did not see fit to provide her with one. In any event, scandal eventually ensues and Verena is whisked into a marriage of convenience by Lord Connor Northwicke. The action is fast-paced as we watch the two of them try to negotiate their way through society and life together, and as the story of Verena's past unfolds. I did see the "who caused the scandal" coming fairly easily, but that is *likewise* often the case with romance novels. The book also introduces two of my favorite characters from the series, Bri and Adam (who are featured in "Betrayal," my favorite of Ms. Grant's tales). Fans of Regency romance are sure to enjoy "Honor."
  
• The Witch Queen's Secret on Dec. 09, 2011
  
  Another of Anna Elliott's Avalon short stories, "The Witch Queen's Secret" is a different perspective on the tale of Tristan and Isolde. In this book, Dera finds herself helping Isolde as a healer ... and learns some things about the Cornish queen that she did not know. Elliott's naming conventions had me confused at one point, but once I caught on I was able to apply my knowledge of Arthurian legend to "get" who the characters were and how they fit together. An entertaining read read for Arthurians.
  
• Kiwi and the missing Magic on Jan. 02, 2012
  
  Another cute book for the 10+ set, in which Amy and James follow Kiwi back to Cat City to find out why the Magic is missing -- and to help set things right. Vickie Johnstone's clever world of reverse anthropomorphism (in which humans turn into cats) is the scene for another not-too-scary mystery, this time featuring the Land of Giant Mice. Amy, James, Kiwi and the gang have to save Cat City from the mousy menace while trying to find the missing Magic. We learn more about how Cat city functions along the way, and Johnstone provides a cute lesson about being friends with those different from ourselves. Very entertaining.
  
• Pieces of a Rainbow on Jan. 06, 2012
  
  One of the things I love most about Maria Savva's writing is that readers can expect the unexpected. This anthology is no exception. "Pieces of a Rainbow" is a collection of seven tales, each featuring a color found along the classic ROYGBIV spectrum. Sometimes it's a flower. Sometimes it's flame. Sometimes it's a character's name. The references tie the very different tales together. My favorite of the lot was "Envy," the green story in the set. It's a tale about differing perspectives of two people examining the same events. As always with Savva, the characters are well-drawn and the plots are compact. You get a full tale in a Maria Savva short story, with thought-provoking incidents and satisfying (if not always happy) conclusions. Also contains samples from Savva's novel, "The Dream," and a short story found in another anthology, "Fusion."
  
• ShapeShifter: The Demo Tapes: Year 3 on Jan. 07, 2012
  
  I'm a big fan of Susan Helene Gottfried's ShapeShifter series, and this was the only work I hadn't read. I'm so glad that I finally got around to it. This book shares little tidbits of information that fill in gaps around other stories and give us more insight into Trevor, Eric, Kerri, Mitchell and the rest of the gang. For those who, like me, have worked in the music business, the well-drawn characters (from the groupies to the harried venue manager) will all be very familiar. A fun, short read.
  
• Other Tales: Stories from The Ballad of Gregoire Darcy on Jan. 18, 2012
  
  Overall rating: 3.5 stars This book consists of three short stories intended to introduce characters from Ms. Altman's Austen spin-off. I was not crazy about the first one, which introduces Fitzwilliam Darcy's ancestors. The second one, which was my favorite of the lot, brings us the Maddox Brothers -- Brian and Daniel. Daniel is losing his vision to a cataract, and we see him through the surgery and the attendant horrors of what was then considered state-of-the-art treatment. I found these original characters very interesting and would like to know more about them. The final story presents Georgiana Bingley and a Japanese friend, Mugin (who has apparently a rather rough past). I am a little uncertain what to make of Miss Bingley in this one, as she is interested in a great many unseemly activities and manages to get Mugin-san to show most of them to her. This was a quick and entertaining read overall.
  
• Olivia's Mine on Jan. 20, 2012
  
  Overall score: 3.75 stars. If the editing were better, this would be 4.5 stars or more. "Olivia's Mine" is the story of Olivia Fitzpatrick, a young married woman living in a Canadian mining town in the early 20th century. We see her through an abusive marriage, trying to run a business of her own and find her place in what passes for society in little Britannia Beach. McCaw deals with very real issues of women's rights, coverture law, racial prejudice and more in this story. There were a great many things to like. Unfortunately, I found myself jerked out of the tale by editorial issues like using a possessive apostrophe when a plural was intended, homophone errors ("last rights" instead of "last rites") and errors like "Aryan sweater" where "Arran sweater" was intended. It's kind of a shame, because the story line was very good and kept me interested. I cared about the characters, but the poor editing was a real distraction. I hope that the author will have the book edited and re-issue it; it really is a worthwhile tale that deserves better packaging.
  
• Losing Addison on Jan. 28, 2012
  
  "Losing Addison" is a psychological suspense novella. It was a quick evening's read, and one I enjoyed very much. Lester McCubbin, the narrator, awakes in a hospital. His head is bandaged, and he has a cast on his leg. He keeps asking the doctors about his twin brother, Addison, with whom he had gone on a lengthy car trip. They must have been in accident, he decides, but no one will tell him where his brother might be. As the action unfolds, we learn about the differences between Lester and Addison going all the way back to childhood. Between hospital chapters, Lester talks about things that happened while they were growing up. I cannot say too much more about this book without getting into spoilers, which I definitely do not wish to do. Suffice it to say that fans of the genre will find much to enjoy with Marty Beaudet's gem of a tale.
  
• From Paris with Love on Jan. 28, 2012
  
  This little anthology contains five short stories, all around the theme of love and relationships. Portingale has a way with words that I enjoyed; the rhythm of his prose makes for a delightful read. My favorite story in the lot was "Roast Beef," which is a five-part tale about Graham and Johanna. Graham is a customer in the sandwich shop where Johanna is employed; their relationship is something of a comedy of errors, where each feels they are always saying the wrong thing. Yet, it comes to a most satisfactory, if ambiguous conclusion. All the way around, an entertaining read.