Book Review: The Kure by Jaye Frances

The Kure
By: Jaye Frances

Ebook: 318 pages

Publisher: Createspace

ISBN: 9781466262966

Source: author for an honest review

Genre: Dark Historical Fantasy

Series: Yes

Stars: 4

Flames: 2

Summary from Goodreads
"In vain thou shall use many medicines, but thou shalt not be kured. And even though you search for a virgin to lay upon her balm, there is no healing for you. You multiply your remedies in vain as your cries fill the earth, and you will stumble, one over the other, and both will fall down together." - The Book of Eternal Regret

John Tyler, a young man in his early twenties, awakens to find a ghastly affliction taking over his body. When the village doctor offers the conventional, and potentially disfiguring, treatment as the only cure, John tenaciously convinces the doctor to reveal an alternative remedy—a forbidden ritual contained within an ancient manuscript called the Kure.

Although initially rejecting the vile and sinister rite, John realizes, too late, that the ritual is more than a faded promise scrawled on a page of crumbling paper. And as cure quickly becomes curse, the demonic text unleashes a dark power that drives him to consider the unthinkable—a depraved and wicked act requiring the corruption of an innocent soul.

Ultimately, John must choose between his desperate need to arrest the plague that is destroying his body, and the virtue of the woman he loves, knowing the wrong decision could cost him his life.

This book is best suited for a Mature YA/New-Adult or Adult reader. For more information and background about the dark historical practices that inspired the story, visit my website link below:

http://www.jayefrances.com/The_Kure

Review

Out of the three books of Jaye’s that I have read so far this is more the type of book that I mainly read. It is an adult story with dark overtones. I would not recommend this book for anyone who is squeamish due to some descriptions contained within. I give the book 4 stars.

The story was interesting. I can't wait to hear more on this dark tale. I admit the details of the main characters affliction’s description was gross but you also needed to know about it to know how desperate of a situation he was in. The only problem I had in the story was the storyline kind of lost me with all the descriptions and build up for a few pages in the middle of the story. I found myself skimming that part and then had to make myself re-read it.

The characters are wonderfully written and I can’t really blame John for some of his decisions given how desperate he was. John set out looking for a way to be cured and ended up finding a woman he found himself falling in love with but with decisions made and The Kure to deal with we are unclear by the end of the book if they will be together and all will be forgiven or not. Sarah is a very strong character also and I admire how much she wanted to help even when most people would have ran the other way.

As I am no expert on this subject matter I can’t say for sure but the story felt that it was well researched and definitely well written by Jaye. I would like to read the next in the series to see what happens with John and Sarah and also what payment will be demanded for using The Kure.

Review: Vixen and the Pea by Lila Shaw

Vixen and the Pea (goodreads.com)

By: Lila Shaw (author website)

ebook, 70 pages

Published June 26th 2012 by Evernight Publishing

ISBN 13: 9781771300629

Source: Author, for the purpose of an honest review

Genre: Erotic Romance

4 Stars

5 Flames

Vixen and the Pea by Lila Shaw is a very naughty take on a fairy tale which explodes off the pages.  The tale centers are a very brash and bored Prince Koldo who according to his parents has been dodging the marriage bed, producing an heir, and avoiding the throne, all in the name of sowing his wild oats.  In order to do this Koldo has taken on another persona by the name of Bero and travels outside of his kingdom to deflower as many as possible.

Lady Otsana’s goal in her life is to have sex, and plenty of it, with whomever she chooses.  She does this under the disguise of a whore named Fleur, which proves very easy as maidens are completely covered and no one views their faces.  Otsana is not one for the archaic ways of the kingdom where women with an ounce of intelligence are not necessarily desirable and should be brood mares to produce heirs.  According to Otsana, this is not the life she sees for herself and does not want to be saddled with a husband.

Bero and Fleur meet in a tavern as both search for sexual gratification. Fleur knows exactly who Bero truly is yet he does not know she is the Lady Otsana. Ms. Shaw melts the pages of the book with the sexual exploits of the two.  Her descriptors leave nothing to the imagination as she details every wicked deed between Bero and Fleur. This is not your ordinary fairy tale as she invents a new way to utilize the pea and gives new meaning to the word naughty. Hot, supple bodies and steamy sex are definitely in order for Vixen and the Pea; a fairy tale for adults and not the faint of heart.  A recommended read with an HEA that will not disappoint.

Review: Heart of Rock by Karyn Gerrard

Heart of Rock (goodreads.com)

By: Karyn Gerrard (author website)

eBook, 118 pages per Kindle

Published June 30th 2012 by Silver Publishing

ISBN 13: 9781614955016

Source: Author, for the purpose of an honest review

Genre: Erotic Romance

4 Stars

5 Flames

Heart of Rock by Karyn Gerrard is the story of Brogan Byrne, Irish rock star, his rise to fame in the 1970’s and his tortured soul. We meet Brogan in 1970, an Irish Protestant in Ireland who is in love with Tarrah, an Irish Catholic.  The lover’s relationship is cut short when tragedy befalls them leaving Brogan with a heart of rock.

Fast forward the story four years and Brogan is leading a life a wild sexual orgies, drugs and alcohol to numb the pain he feels towards the responsibility of Tarrah’s death. His band is beginning to hate him, his brothers want nothing to do with him, his current girlfriend leaves him, and his record company has just assigned a new manager to him, as his old manager quit.  Carly Montgomery is tasked with keeping Brogan in line; away from the women who throw themselves at him, as well as the drugs and alcohol.  Carly realizes this will not be an easy task to accomplish as all three are readily available to him, and to complicate matters, she finds herself falling in love with the gruff, charismatic Irishman.

Ms. Gerrard’s story had me running the gambit of emotions, lust, love and hate as I read the story.  The sex was explosive; lewd between Brogan and the whores who threw themselves at him, and tender and fiery between him and Carly. I wanted to dislike Brogan for his crude mannerisms and his debauchery, but I could not help but feel tenderness towards him as he attempted to mask the pain in his heart and soul with the behavior he exhibited.  I cheered for him and Carly to be able to work out their lives in order to become a couple with a happily ever after.

I appreciated that Ms. Gerrard gave the story a true feel for those in the limelight, along with all the trappings that come with fame.  The sense of reality was well written throughout the tale.  She did not sugar coat the story in any way and never lead us to believe that the HEA could not be attained unless both Brogan and Carly worked hard to achieve their dreams. Her writing left me satisfied that through hard work and a heavy dose of love, anything could be possible.

Review: Bossy and the Brat by Daisy Harris

Bossy and the Brat (goodreads.com)

By: Daisy Harris (author webpage)

eBook: 118 pages per Kindle

Published July 28th 2012 by Siren-Bookstrand

ISBN 13: 9781622412372

Source: Author, for the purpose of an honest review

Genre: M/M Romance

Series: Menof Holsum College, book #5

Best read in order: No, each works as a stand alone

4 Stars

5 Flames

Daisy Harris hands us another winner featuring the men of Holsum College in Bossy and the Brat. Bossy and the Brat is the fifth book in the series and leads us through the trials and tribulations of Cal and Tyler.  Cal used to be the RA of the dorm and as such all freshmen are off limits as potential love interests.  Tyler used to be one of those freshmen but we are now in the summer after Ty’s freshmen year and Cal has it bad for him, even if he does not fully want to admit it.  Once Tyler notices that Cal has broken up with his hometown girlfriend and sees Cal watching him closely, Ty sets his sights on conquering Cal; or maybe Cal sets his on Tyler.  The fun then begins.

Ms. Harris takes us through the emotional turmoil of Cal, from a small town where homosexuality is simply not accepted and marrying a good girl is the norm.  Cal’s feeling for Tyler are both wonderful and confusing as he comes to terms with not only his homosexuality, but the fact that love and relationships are a “for-ever” and not to be taken lightly.  If he truly accepts himself and Tyler, can he have the happily ever after?

Ms. Harris also explores Tyler’s insecurities.  Tyler is known for getting around, but never in a committed relationship; always waiting for the other man to call and being available for that call.  In Cal, Tyler sees security, love and a deep-seated connection, which all scare him.  But, this is something that he wants and will even sacrifice people knowing they are dating to have whatever bone Cal will throw his way.  Through Ms. Harris’ writing, I felt Tyler’s emotional state and need for love as it radiated through the pages allowing me to cheer for the boys and hoping their love could withstand any roadblocks thrown their way.

Eventually, with a little nudge from Cal’s ex-girlfriend, Nicole, Cal comes to terms with his love for Tyler and allows the chips to fall where they may.

As the two men explore their relationship, both emotionally and physically, you will laugh at their antics as the Brat tries to dominate the Boss and vice versa.  Who comes out on top is truly not the issue, as both men find love and acceptance in each other’s arms. Daisy Harris’ Men of Holsum College series is a wonderful addition to anyone’s reading list and Bossy and the Brat does not disappoint.

BookStrand.com buy link

Review: Dark Dates by Tracey Sinclair

Dark Dates, The Cassandra Bick Chronicles, 1

Author: Tracey Sinclair

EBook – 226 Pages

ASIN#:  B007RH5PF4

Source: Author, for purpose of Honest Review

Genre:  Paranormal Romance

Series: The Cassandra Bick Chronicles, book #1

Stars: 4

Flames: 3, Moderate sex scenes, adult language

Book Description: All Cassandra Bick wants is to be left to get on with doing her job. But when you’re a Sensitive whose business is running a dating agency for vampires, life is never going to be straightforward – especially when there’s a supernatural war brewing in London, a sexy new bloodsucker in town and your mysterious, homicidal and vampire hating ex-lover chooses this moment to reappear in your life…

Witty, sharp and entertaining, Dark Dates is a heady mix of vampires, witches and werewolves – with the occasional angel thrown in – and introduces Cassandra Bick, a likeable heroine destined to join the ranks of fantasy’s feistiest females.

Now - the review:

The story begins with the statement “you didn’t pick this up because the shop was out of Jane Austen and this looked like the next best thing”.   So many times authors work hard to create a background story to convince us of the existence of supernaturals and paranormals. I don’t know if it is also a way to convince us that their stories are valid and worth a read, or just how they feel it needs to be done.  We read the genre because of the “mights” we enjoy the possibilities of the different. Perhaps in one hundred years there will be paranormal genre books thought of as classics – but does it matter? We read because we enjoy it, and that is the best reason of all. Refreshingly honest and humorous both provide a unique take and a nice introduction that had me hooked at the start.

As always, I do need to say that I received a PDF copy of the book for the purpose of honest review from the author.  I was not compensated for the review, and all conclusions are given freely and honestly, and are my responsibility.

Cassandra is a “Sensitive”, which enables her to sense the existence of others, even those who appear human.  In her attempt to make this “gift” work for her, she has started a dating agency for vampires, running speed dating events and mixers, enabling vampires to meet willing humans for love and ‘other things’. 

Unfortunately, there is a very ancient and powerful vampire that wishes to return to the old status quo, where vampires were feared, hidden and “took” their food, rather than negotiated and bargained for it.  And here I will stop describing the storyline – more would bring spoilers.

There is a solid grounding of humour in this story when Cassandra gets angry or afraid, she sarcastically and humorously uses references from television, movies, other authors and storylines to make her point; which often stuns others into silence.  Where Cassandra also believes that vampires are just like humans, she also dispels the image that they are all ‘romantic, sexy, sparkly, beautiful and brilliant beings’;  like humans they have their fair share of boring, mundane, and stupid. And that is where the author has done a credible job in sharing her view and vision. This isn’t your ‘run of the mill’ vampire story where all the characters are self-important and instantly attracted to the dark side.  In fact, many of the popular references to vampires we all know now, are noted, some skewered, and most put into a new perspective.

The book is written in the first person, done with flair and skill with an occasional nod to the audience.  In many ways, you are drawn into the story sooner with her acknowledgement of the differences in this vampire story from all that came before, and that was a refreshing twist. I will note that if you are not a paranormal / vampire fan, that some of the references will not make sense, although a concerted effort seems to have been made to incorporate references from the most popular and widespread stories.  Each of the characters are created and explained with details that unfold as the story and action increase, with details shared as they become important to the flow and pacing of the story.  The book is set in London and the humor is presented with “Brit flair”, but even if you are not familiar with the slang, it is clearly integrated to avoid confusion. 

As I said, I was hooked from first page to last. There were some minor errors with words misspelled, but as I was more drawn into the story, these became inconsequential and did not distract from the pacing.  There are a few issues with the flashbacks, they provide a needed background; they don’t always fit in as well to the current action.  I understand the ‘humor as a defense mechanism” that Cassandra employs, although occasionally that does feel forced and unrealistic given the life-threatening situations.  And there were times when her hormones reacted before her brain was engaged, but not so often as to turn me away from the story.

I can’t wait to see what the next chapter in Cassandra’s life brings, and only hope that it was as satisfactory and enjoyable as the first. 

Review: The Warrior Prince by Michelle M Pillow

The Warrior Prince (goodreads.com)

By: Michelle M Pillow (author website)

eBook, 262 pages

Published March 8th 2011 by Createspace (first published 2005)

ISBN13: 9781460959725

Source: Publisher, for the purpose of an honest review

Genre: Sci Fi/Fantasy Romance

Series: Dragon Lords, book #4

Best read in order: yes

Stars: 4

Flames: 3

The fourth installment in the Dragon Lords series centers around Pia Korbin and Zoran of Draig.  Pia is an assassin with burns covering most of her body.  Forced on the run for killing in self-defense, she goes to the Galaxy Brides Corporation for free surgery in exchange for being a bride.  After intensive surgery that removes her scars she participates in the Breeding Festival on planet Qurilixen where women are few and warrior men abound.  She is chosen as a bride by Zoran of Draig, the second son of the King and Captain of the guard. 

This has been my favorite couple to this point.  I loved how Pia is so humble about her appearance to the point she vehemently denies being attractive (although that did get a little old after 200 page of people telling her she was attractive but I do understand her perspective).  She is very self-assured in her combat skills but she feels useless to Zoran because he doesn’t seem to value her skills or opinion.  Also, Zoran is so ready to lay the world at Pia’s feet but she is so unsure of herself and Zoran that she doesn’t trust her feelings for him and constantly pushes him away.

This book has some really great sexual tension and verbal sparring between the main characters.  I really enjoyed seeing how Pia and Zoran circled each other before finally opening up their feelings.  

As with the other books in the series, it follows the same series of events leading to the conclusion, however, we are again given a new perspective. We also get a little epilogue at the end to catch up with all four brothers and their wives. 

Review & Giveaway Love's Captive by a Myra Nour

Love's Captive
By: Myra Nour

ebook: 217 pages
Published March 2004 by New Concepts Publishing (first published May 2001)
IBSN: 1586083937 (ISBN13: 9781586083939)
Series: Volran Chronicles, book #1
Source: Author, for the purpose of an honest review
Genre: Adult Fiction
Stars: 4
Flames: 3

Synopsis:

     When Serena awakes, after a close and unpleasant encounter with some sort of stun gun, she very quickly learns that resistance is futile and escape only a yearned for dream. She, and the other Earth women Serena meets aboard ship with her, have been captured by the Moyds, interstellar merchants ….their mission, to procure fertile wives for the men of Volarn, where their race is endangered due to the wide-spread sterility of their own women. Learning this is at least some relief to the captured women, but Serena is disgusted to realize that they are nothing in these men’s eyes but baby makers. Regardless, she knows she has no choice but to face the fate that awaits her with as much dignity as she can muster.

     Once they arrive on Volarn, Serena learns that her assessment has not been entirely accurate. Using their power crystals in the Tarthra Ritual, the warriors approach the women with their crystals to find the mate most suited to them….a woman to love who can love them. Serena is chosen to become King Rhamus’ queen, but, just as she feels herself weakening to Rhamus’ romantic, passionate nature, Rhamus’ enemy, Xarath, abducts her.

My Review:

     From the start this book grabbed my attention and wouldn't let up. I mean "pink pig men"? If I was kidnapped by aliens and the looked like that I'll probably laugh at them. But then they did have some wicked gadgets.

     I really liked this world where that are many different but alike things to earth. Specially liked the strange looking flower that was kind on dandelionish looking but smelled like roses and stick all over the flesh. I'll say that was one of my favorite scenes. Now what I mean? *wink wink*

     Also like the Volarnian women's cycle! I mean no mess to talk about? Yeah how can I change genetics? *lol* As for their method in choosing their mates...OMG can I get one of those? I'm in desperate need in a mate for my heart.

     What I loved about this book is that there was no boring play by play of the situations or places. Don't get me wrong. Descriptions are extremely important when writing a book but not to the extreme as to put every single detail of what is on the picture. (This is in my opinion, you might like it different but I don't judge)

     I also like the story as a whole. Is different and unique. Not your typical romance. And let's face it...who's not a sucker for happy endings, and that ending was definitivelyppy one. Go red-heads! I'm definitively reading the next one!

Myra and all of her awesomeness is giving away a PDF copy of Love's Captive. To enter just comment below with email address. I will email the winning notification on August 24.