Book Review: Questions of Travel by Michelle de Kretser

Pages: 480
Publisher: Little Brown and Company
Review source: Publisher
Rating: 1
Reviewed by: Kathy Davie

A fictional tale of two completely different people with their completely different lives that finally, eventually, join towards the end. Briefly. The time span ranges from the 1960s to the 2000s.

My Take
I have absolutely no idea what the point of this story was. It's just pages and pages and pages of pointless background with pages and pages and pages of us following Laura's stream of consciousness as she picks up odd jobs here and there, slowly finding her niche in the working world. Ravi's story is more interesting but just as lacking in any depth. No, I'm not disrespecting Malini and Hiran, if anything I'm disappointed that de Kretser disrespects them. Simply using them to...what? She certainly hasn't made any points with it. It's more of an attempt to dredge up emotions by skimming through a tragedy.

I loved Charlie's observation of Balinese affection for their children as he wonders why Westerners decided such affection spoils a child.

The description of Hiran's joy in playing with his mother's hair painted a lovely picture.

What was the point of all this background about Laura's artistic talent? Why did we endure the childhood friendships, interactions at school, the Sinhalese friends and neighbors emigrating to escape the terrorism?

De Kretser has attempted tension and drama, but goes nowhere with it. She's too busy throwing in bits and pieces. The pieces do eventually connect---they certainly add to the background of each of the unconnected but primary characters. It's just too frustrating that it reads more like a journal missing chunks of time. All the possibilities for Ravi with Malini and Hiran, that de Kretser never uses. A mention here and there in case we forgot what happened to them. That's it.

Who is it who has been calling Laura and hanging up on her throughout the story? What happened to Charlie's kid? What's the point of Deepti Pieris? Sure, de Kretser uses her to attempt a bit of treachery, but she goes nowhere with it. Well, I suppose I shouldn't complain. At least going nowhere is consistent throughout the story. What was the point of the carved "RAVI"? Malini's politics had nothing to do with Ravi. Perhaps de Kretser should have developed this instead of skimming it. What was the point of destroying Freda's phone? Why bother introducing us to Hazel's neighbors if we're never going to interact with them? What's the point of Layla?

The few pluses of this story are the travel and cultural exposure: Laura in England and Naples, Ravi in Sri Lanka, and both of them living in Sydney. It's fascinating to see through their eyes, to experience the prejudices and bigotry of the other characters. I loved reading about the food while the familial interactions are universal---we're more alike than different!

I loved de Kretser's observations of how the state of the tourist was "always to arrive too late" when the countryside is spoiled, politics has gotten in the way, progress has corrupted...nothing is as good as what the tourist has missed. And ain't it the truth! She goes on to point out the silliness of it with if onlys that go back as far as the Flood!

The best of this story is de Kretser's occasional, brilliantly descriptive turns-of-phrase and the mechanics of her writing.

Because this is an ARC and there is a deadline to submit this review before it's published, the actual quotations may not be retained in the story---and that would be a shame:

"A waterfall in a forest was mourning its lost life as a cloud."

"...the Atlantic approached, slow as a slattern, to smear its gray rags along the shore."

"It is the winter in people's hearts that is hard to bear."

"The currency of childhood is wishing. Money's only what grown-ups put in its place."

"By the end of that sumer, Australia had entered Ravi. How it would keep him company no matter where in the world he went."

Unfortunately, these weren't enough of these to counter the pointlessness of Questions of Travel. It would have worked better as snippets of stories left on their own. Perhaps as entries in a journal...

The Story
On the one hand, Laura is an ugly woman with no ambition other than to explore the world, and we follow her on her meandering travels. Then we encounter Ravi Mendis beginning with his childhood, getting caught up in his wife's campaigning against Tamil terrorism against Sinhalese soldiers, police, and ministers in Sri Lanka, and following his struggle to survive.

Eventually Laura and Ravi end up working at a travel guide publishing company. And Laura needs a destination that turns out to be Ravi's homeland. It's sad that the ending merely made me feel a little bit bad. To be honest, my reaction was mostly one of relief at Laura's fate and a mild curiosity about Ravi's.

The Characters
The majority of those characters I've listed are simply pointless color. And, yes, I've left a number of characters out. It's as if de Kretser was told to develop a background for her characters, but no one told her she didn't have to put it all in the story.

Laura Fraser is the youngest, unwanted child in the family. Hester is an aunt who came to her father's rescue when his wife died, and it's her influence that encourages Laura's travels. Cameron is the only surviving schmuck of a brother who goes on to a career in commercial law; Hamish is the twin who doesn't go far. Donald Fraser is the medical director of a hospital and her father. At least in name. He marries the anesthetist---we never do learn her name. He reaps the attention he has sown.

Ravi Mendis is the middle child, a boy, fascinated by computers and ambitious to get ahead. Until he falls in love with Malini de Zilva, and they have a son, Hiran. Freda Hobson encourages Malini in her politics and aids Ravi in the aftermath.

Priya is his conventional older sister with a big chip on her shoulder; she marries Lal Fonseka, an amiable dimwit. Varunika is the youngest daughter who ends up working as a nurse in Africa. Suresh Mendis is his father, anxious to make his wife, Carmel, happy. Mrs. Andrado was their ambitious neighbor. D.S. Basnayake is a relative of the Mendis' who grudgingly helps the young couple out. Frog-Face is a professor who comes in handy.

Tracy Lacey is Laura's snobbish "friend" who occasionally pops up to be a condescending brat. Destiny is Tracy's even worse child. Charlie McKenzie was one of Laura's art school teachers, and her first long-term lover. Blanche was a landlady in England.

Theo Newman was one of her few friends in England; he introduced her to a variety of people including Bea Morley who became a lifelong friend (and has a cousin, Vivienne, who provides Laura with a great opportunity) and Meera Bryden, an editor of a travel glossy who takes on Laura (Meera's husband, Lewis, is a crude jerk). Theo's mother, Anna, was a German refugee who told her son stories of her past. Gaby Shapton is his married sister. Dr. Gebhardt (I suspect it's a slip of the pen that reveals the doctor as a woman...). is his thesis supervisor.

Roshi de Mel and Anusha are the daughters of friends who emigrate; Roshi briefly pops up again but I really don't see the point of this character. Aloysius is their father. Dudley seems to be their mentally challenged brother who gets left behind. Nimal Corea is his web designing friend who gets fed up, again and again. I liked the idea of RealLanka.

Angie Segal is the immigration lawyer in Sydney. Hazel Costigan is the woman who will rent a shed to Ravi in Sydney. Bettany is, I think, Hazel's daughter with Robbo, but she doesn't live with Hazel. It's very vague. Fair Play is a spoiled beagle-whippet, who adds color, but I wouldn't miss him if he had never appeared. Kev is Hazel's fourth, and he has Lefty, a big blond Labrador—adding more color. Russ is the third son (I think). Damo is Hazel's youngest son; he's protective of his mother and compassionate. He's also gay. Len is a husband who is mentioned twice. More color. And yet more color when we learn about Hazel's chairs. None of which has any bearing on the story.

Ramsay Publications (mostly in Sydney)
Helmut Becker works in the design office. Nadine Flanagan is the webmaster; I have no idea how Tyler Dean fits into the office other than that he's a techie, appears to be in charge, and hires Ravi as a favor to his lover, Damo. Cliff Ferrier runs the office now that the owner/founder/director and his new trophy wife are running around the globe, shopping. Quentin Husker is the head of Publishing whose sister Arabella was once married to Alan Ramsay. Crystal Bowles is obsessed with status and fashion. Jade is her sister who worked with Robyn Carr heads up Marketing. Paul Hinkel becomes the HR manager. Gina Piggott runs the London office, and she has what we first believe are delusions of grandeur.

Alice Merton. Hugo Drummond is a dead artist whose still-living lover, Carlo Ferri, needs live-in help. Rosalba is Carlo's cousin, and she shares a secret past and passion with him.

Banksia Gardens, the old folks home
Abebe Issayas is an Ethiopian nurse's aide. Hana is his sister with a daughter, Tarik.

The Cover
The cover is golden with its porthole looking out onto a slope of forested land poking out into the water.

The title would be more appropriately titled Questions of Why anyone bothered to publish this.

Book Review: Love Rehab by Jo Piazza

Pages: 230
Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
Review source: Publisher
Rating: 5
Reviewed by: Kathy Davie
A terrific romance with excellent insight into women and men.

I received this as an ARC from the publisher.

My Take
At first, I slogged along, reading and thinking, oh boy, a lame chick lit story. Was I ever GLAD I persevered. This was excellent! A very thoughtful story that probed at the ugly pain of breaking up, and then dove deeper into the traumas of women who just can't keep from revisiting the reasons for the breakup OR falling for the same type of men over and over.

Piazza makes it personal and homey with a tremendous dose of fun while being serious about AA and its twelve-step program. I loved living along with Sophie as she comes to terms with her issues, with the other ladies as they come to understand more about themselves. You'll adore their intervention for Stella! Piazza used Dr. Fisher's studies to beautifully integrate details on the physical reactions of people falling in love, which helps with Love Rehab.

It was so easy to imagine myself in Sophie's position, and I suspect it was a good thing that Facebook wasn't around when I was that young!

It's a warm cast of characters---yeah, Piazza has gone a bit overboard on a number of them. Which only makes it more fun. And a great way to learn some nasty home truths when presented so well.

I already want to re-read it!

The Story
Eleanor, a.k.a., Grandma, has died and dealing with the aftermath of her death provides Sophie with a retreat from her man problems in Manhattan where she gets caught up in Annie's problems.

Being Sophie, she just can't not share her problems at Annie's first AA meeting. One that will have tremendous repercussions on Sophie's thinking.

The relief from the burden of carrying all that anger around is a revelation to Sophie, and she realizes she's addicted to love.

That other women are addicted and need someplace "to go when they get dumped or worse".

The Characters
Sophie designs children's books for a living. Jamie is her brother. Eric was Sophie's boyfriend until Floozy McSecretary, a.k.a., Lacey, anyway.

Annie Capaletti has been Sophie's friend since second grade when she saved Sophie from social disaster. These days, Annie's an alcoholic who's lost her way and in deep denial. Matt Siggman was Sophie's boyfriend in high school. Until he discovered what was missing in his life---Robert. Dave is Annie's cousin and a total man-whore; one of the most hated men in town. Yet, he also has an excellent message that women need to understand.

Joe is "Dr. Twelve Steps" and helps Sophie set up Love Addicts Anonymous. I love his fish analogy!

Prithi cooks incredible curries---and she's pregnant. Stella is traumatized over her boyfriend's decision to be on a reality show. The so-together Jordana is Sophie's yoga teacher. "Princess" Katrina arrived with "six pieces of matching Vuitton luggage". Kirsten is an unhappy florist. Liz was one of her grandma's friends. Lila is symptomatic of them with an inability to comprehend good communication. Tito is the grandson of Sophie's grandma's gardener and in need of Love Rehab himself.

Suze Heart is a self-made love coach with great messages, and a thought-provoking analysis of why men are the way they are today. Dr. Helen Fisher wrote a book on the science of love. Megan O'Brien is Sophie's editor; she's also "a Yellow Pages, Zagat, and beauty blog all rolled into one", the go-to girl when you need to know anything at all.

Sergeants Chris Zucker and Alan Bress are friends who can't look the other way anymore. Especially with Ms. Dinkdorf's cat involved! Sheriff McNulty is another friend while Judge Turner has known Annie since childhood. Danny McMasters is the host of Husband. Jake is the jerk Stella had been practically engaged to.

The Cover
The cover cracks me up. Which I suppose is rather rude considering that this is a sad topic with an obviously insecure Sophie holding her heart balloon from which all the helium is gone.

The title is perfect, for this Love Rehab is a Love Addicts Anonymous.

Book Review: Dark Passage by Ridley Pearson

Pages: 437
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Review source: Library
Rating: 4
Reviewed by: Kathy Davie
Series: Kingdom Keepers, 6

Sixth in the Kingdom Keepers urban fantasy series for kids revolving around holograms, Disney World, and a close-knit group of kids.

My Take
We pick up where we left off in Shell Game, 5, while Finn and Willa are flying through the air just after they've jumped off the Disney Dream. And it's a mad race to survive!

This is the first time Pearson has concentrated on romance for Charlene and she's torn between two boys while Amanda is frustrated with Finn who is torn between Amanda and Storey. It's a mess. Then there's the hinted retirement from their DHI roles. It's not good.

That scene between Willa and Charlene where Charlie's questioning who makes the decisions just feels too fake. As though some readers whined that the boys had all the power, so Pearson felt a need to address the issue.

Hmm, Finn has a point about the balance of power and the part the DHIs have played in upping the stakes. And yet another hmmm when Luowski feels as though a "drain plug has been pulled". Keep an eye out for it and see if you come to same conclusion I did! Mattie has a point as well, one that she learned from Amanda and Jess, and I'm curious if it'll lead to a spin-off series or part of the KK adventures.

Clever use of hibernation---parents might find this an interesting angle to use with the kids to encourage them to learn---ya never know what school teaches that you might need in a dangerous situation…*grin*!

Whoa...it's kidnappings and the craziest chase scenes: under and over the water, through the AquaDuck, in caves---some are pretty disgusting, and over zip lines.

There are some minor loose threads in this: Dillard's fate, which I'm guessing that Pearson is saving for #7; who the other kid is that Clayton found up in the pipes; and, how Finn's mom got off the ship. And I must confess that I did not like the ending. For all its drama (and the accompanying relief), it felt disappointingly short and left me with a sense of loose ends. Besides the ones I've already whined about!

I dunno...it might be safer for the kids if they get retired…!

The Story
While the threat of replacement by the new beta version of the DHI 2.0 is hanging over the kids, they still have a mission to accomplish: prevent Maleficent, the Evil Queen, and Tia Dalma from carrying out their plans for Chernabog!

Only, Finn and Willa have jumped overboard from the Disney Dream to escape a pack of wild hyenas, and the ship is fast sailing away. If they don't reboard quickly, their holograms will fall into shadow, and they'll never awaken!

The Characters
Leadership seems to be splitting between the very intelligent Dill Philby's increasingly superior airs, who is lying, and keeping secrets, and Finn Whitman, who is questioning his role as the Kingdom Keepers' leader. He does have a secret weapon from Triton, the King of the Sea who makes a valuable ally. The physically fit---and hot---Charlene Turner, a cheerleader at school and a starter on the gymnastics team, has a wounded shoulder---and a secret pash for Finn and Terry. Isabella "Willa" Angelo has her own not-so-secret love. Terry "Donnie" Maybeck is a fifteen-year-old artist who helps his Aunt Jelly in her shop and thinks he's God's gift to girls.

There are three Fairlies (fairly human, but with unique powers) in this story: Amanda Lockhart is telekinetic, Jezebel "Jess" is clairvoyant, and Mattie Weaver has the power of touch. All three girls have been projected into the cruise by Wanda at the end to help. Amanda and Jess are still in fostercare with Mrs. Nash and trying to duck the government while Mattie is a friend of Amanda and Jess who's escaped a government facility in Baltimore. Dillard Cole is Finn's closest friend outside the Keepers and he keeps popping up on the cruise---also sent by Wanda Alcott, Wayne's daughter.

Finn's mom has been Overtaken, and they can no longer trust her while Gladis Philby, Philby's mom, is their chaperone on the trip.

Two of the six DHIs who have been created from Cast Members to augment the original Keepers have been placed onboard to help: Kenny Carlson and Bart.

Captain Cederberg is captain of the Disney Dream; Robert "Uncle Bob" Heinemann is the security officer Wayne told the kids to trust—oops; Clayton Freeman, a security wizard, has seen too much to brush the kids off without thought; Rafina is a fellow security officer; and, Storey Ming is a member of the crew helping the Keepers. Andy Meyers is a film director shooting a Disney Channel 365, and Jodi Bennett is a Disney Cruise Line executive who is managing the shoot.

Cast Members and characters of the Disney theme parks have begun to take sides. They think of Wayne Kresky, the head of the Imagineers, as the Elder. He's the one who pulled the DHIs into this troupe of fighters.

Maleficent, the nasty witch from Sleeping Beauty, the Evil Queen, and Tia Dalma are working together to bring Chernabog completely to life. Somehow Maleficent has spelled other middleschoolers to do their dirty work—recognizable by their green eyes. Greg "Lousy" Luowski is one of them! And he has embraced the mayhem. Although...they're starting to ask too much. Others who have been turned include Dixon, Victor, and Joe College.

The DHIs are Disney Host Interactives, a.k.a., Daylight Hologram Imaging, holograms which act as Park hosts for Disney. What most people don't know is that "their holograms had been engineered by Disney's Imagineers to do battle with...the Overtakers" (OTs), a dark force that includes the evil villains of Disney, eager to take over the world.

The Cover
The cover carries on from Shell Game when Finn and Willa jump from the Disney cruise ship to escape the hyenas with Finn diving right at us and Willa running in mid-air while Tia Dalma looms large over all.

The title is part of life as Maleficent intones, that Dark Passage when "one must face one's demons", but Maleficent doesn't understand that the kids have already faced one such passage, even as they must still endure the other.

Book Review: Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Pages: 462
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Review source: Publisher
Rating: 7
Reviewed by: Kathy Davie
Series: Pushing the Limits, 2

Second in the Pushing the Limits New Adult romance series with some gritty events and characters. It's based in Groveton, Kentucky.

I received this ARC from the publisher.

My Take
Oh. My. God. Good. It's a story about two young adults who are more mature than their parents that will stay with me for a very long time, and I cannot emphasize enough how excellent this was.

McGarry pulled deep for this, delving into parental pressures of all kinds—primarily those that parents place on their children with a minor look at those placed on parents by their children. Manipulating their children to satisfy their own selfish needs.

Even better, McGarry took her time to develop this story and brought in a nice range of characters to help emphasize the issues, making the most incredibly complete story. It may be a story aimed at Young Adults, but it's a story I recommend to parents as well. If you recognize yourself in this—STOP.

We learn quickly enough that this story is about Ryan and Beth---the superstar jock and the trailer trash girl---and their strengths and fears. Two people I would be proud to call friends, people from whom I could learn. The supporting characters are nicely rounded out with their own issues as people in themselves, who also support what is happening between Ryan and Beth as a couple and as individuals.

There are sections with Ryan's dad that drive me mad. How dare he! How dare he extort his own son!!? How dare he think Ryan owes him!!

I love that Ryan has the maturity to look below the surface and the patience to wait.

A bit of home truth that applies to anyone:
"Why would any girl ask a guy to give up something he loves?"

How can you not cry over: "It's our rain, Beth"?

The only quibbles I can think of is that I wish McGarry had put a bit more emphasis on Beth's biggest regret about her past, the last battle with Trent seemed gratuitous, and I do wish that McGarry had made the distinctions between chapters more obvious as to whose perspective we were viewing (she switches between Ryan's and Beth's thoughts throughout).

There may be clichés in this, but I haven't noticed them. Instead, McGarry has played this with a tremendous realism. Beth's fears ring true; it doesn't feel contrived simply to create drama or tension. Just as Ryan's anger feels real. It may not make a lot of sense, but he's still reeling from events, from the huge disruption in his life. And he's still just a teenager struggling with emotions and coming to terms with the stupidity of adults.

Oh, wow. I love the advice Scott gives Ryan making baseball his career. Then there's the scene at the end between Ryan and Beth when he asks her why. Oh...so heartrending and honest.

The drama and tension in this are perfect. And enough to make you cry for all the loss. For the lessons that Beth and Ryan, and yes, even Mark, have had to learn. For the pain that forces these lessons on so many people.

I recommend this book very highly, and hope I can get hold of the first in this series, Pushing the Limits, 1.

The Story
It's a dare that brings Beth to Ryan's attention, but it's something under all that camouflage that keeps him interested.

The Characters
Elisabeth Risk is the most loyal person, even when it's unwarranted. When she loves, she loves hard. Isaiah, a.k.a., Tattoo Guy, is Beth's best friend, her refuge from her life, her rock. Noah is their friend as well, and he's with Echo (see Pushing the Limits).

Beth's mother is a drug addict, weak and selfish with a need to get entangled with the wrong kind of guy. Shirley is her mom's enabling sister. Trent is the jerk of a boyfriend currently in mom's life. He's also managed to slip under the police radar in spite of his activities and the beatings he doles out to one and all. Scott Risk is her dad's brother. A successful, and retired, professional ball player who managed to escape his origins. Allison is his very angry wife.

Ryan Stone is in love with baseball and winning. A good thing as his father has ambitions that way. Too bad if Ryan also has a passion for writing. Mark was a loved brother, before he came out with his news. A truth his parents, Miriam and Andrew, with their passion to be the model family, can't handle. Mom loves her charity-luncheon social whirl while Dad owns his own company and is active in local politics.

Chris and the easily bored and very intelligent Logan with his need for that edge are both on the baseball team and best friends with Ryan. Lacy Harper is Chris' girlfriend, and they're very much in love—"Chris reveres her as his own personal religion." Too many years ago, she was also Beth's friend.

Gwen Knoll? Gardner? is Ryan's old girlfriend. She's moved on to greener pastures, but can't resist twisting the knife. She does come by her nastiness honestly—gets it from her mom. Mrs. Rowe is the enthusiastic English teacher. Rob Davis is a scout for the Cincinnati Reds. Pete Carson is a scout with the University of Louisville while his wife, Vickie, is the dean of the English department. It makes for a very lively recruiting session, LOL... Denny is the bartender and owner of The Last Stop, her mother's favorite watering hole.

The Cover
The cover is the only time it feels as if the publisher is purposely jerking at your heartstrings and is a metaphor for the problems that Beth and Ryan have to overcome.

The title involves several levels, beginning with Ryan's overt need to excel, particularly when his friends Dare You To do. Yet it also involves Ryan's need for his brother, and Beth's torn loyalties between her friends, her mother, and Ryan.

Book Review: Twerp by Mark Goldblatt

Pages: 288
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Review source: Publisher
Rating: 5
Reviewed by: Kathy Davie

It's six months in the life of Julian Twerski---a very bright young man in 1969.

My Take
It's good. I love the flow of Goldblatt's writing, and he really captures the mind of a twelve-year-old. It's a structured stream of consciousness as Julian writes what he thinks of his teacher, his task, and his own actions. Actions that will have a far-reaching effect on his future and his becoming a man.

You'll laugh, you'll cry. You'll shake your head. Some of it will bring back memories of your own.

It was slow to get started, but once I got a third of the way in or so, things perked up and the reading just flew by. It was so perfectly a boy's childhood with the playing, the pranks, the worries, the sister, the mishaps. And boys who are easily led.

For the most part, the boys are good kids. Sure they get up to mischief, but that Lonnie… He's a bit of a bad boy with too much charisma and leads the boys into devilry. The consequences of which seem to slide right off him. Maybe it's those minyans he keeps getting dragged off to, LOL.

It was as if one pigeon took it into its head that the far end of Ponzini would be a good place to rest for a minute, and then the entire air force joined in.

Oh man, Cyrano de Bergerac has a lot to answer for. And so does Lonnie, asking his friend to do such a thing for him. That love letter was a good effort on Julian's part, and it does at least further his friendship with a good kid.

I do love Julian's insights into Shakespeare, and how he relates his lessons to his own life. How a guy can hurt his friend by doing the right thing. That, in the long run, no one will ever know or remember Julian Twerski, that he's a quintessence of dust.

Julian is a good kid, introspective, and with a good heart. Once he quiets down away from Lonnie and his influence. he's smart and discovering an appreciation for writing.

The Story
A vicious little prank finds Julian paying for his part in it by writing a journal. It might grant him relief from Julius Caeser while Mr. Selkirk is hoping he reflects on his actions.

Typical kidstuff, back in the day before kids had to be wrapped up in cotton wool...however, did the human race survive...*grin*...

The Characters
Julian Twerski is twelve years old and hangs with his friends—mostly in Ponzini, an empty lot behind an apartment building.

His friends include Lonnie Fine, the leader of their gang and Julian's best friend; Quick Quentin is a bit slow; Eric the Red (it's his hair); Howie "Wartnose" Wurtzberg; Shlomo Shlomo (his mama…); and, Bernard and Beverly Segal---brother and sister. Bernard is "a waste of human ingredients" while Howie is in love with his sister.

I think his sister Amelia has it right about Julian. The Dongs are the Chinese couple who own the house where Julian's family rent the upstairs. Mrs. Fine is a concentration camp survivor while Mr. Fine owns a candy store.

Stanley "Danley" Stimmel is slow and attends a special school. Victor Ponzini is a year younger and unliked. Partly because he's a squealer. Jillian Rifkin is new to school and absolutely gorgeous. On the outside. Her dad is a great guy---just ask Eduardo, the Guatemalan fútbol player and orphan he takes in, who is a threat to Julian. Devlin is an obnoxious fourteen-year-old who mows lawns. Willie is another runner at school, almost fast enough to beat Julian.

Mr. Selkirk is his English teacher. Mr. Caricone is the student teacher for Mr. Loeb's social studies class. Mr. Greetham is the coach.

The Cover
The cover is an egg in your face against a red background...and the truth behind how Julian feels, he's a Twerp for having done as he did.

Book Review: Lucifer's Daughter by Eve Langlais

Pages: 79
Publisher: Indianapolis: Liquid Silver Books
Review source: Publisher
Rating: 3
Reviewed by: Kathy Davie
Series: Princess of Hell, 1

First in the Princess of Hell erotic urban fantasy series revolving around Muriel, Satan's bastard half-human daughter.

My Take
It's cute. It's got its funny bits---I did crack up over Lucifer. He's such the antithesis of the usual parent who wants to be proud of his daughter because she's still a virgin, she likes puppies, she's honest, etc., etc. Instead, Lucifer nags her because a) why is she still a virgin, b) why must she tell the truth, c) why is she nice.

It certainly humanizes Lucifer even amidst the attacks against his little girl, the wrong man chasing after her, and

"That would require manners, something you know I abhor," he retorted.

The funny bits were almost enough to make up for how inane the rest of it was with all the overdone melodrama and clichéd characterization---how does her kidnapper not see the oh-so-obvious clinker in this deal? Throw in the unreasonably fast insta-love and the way overdone oh, I must let him go excuse...gag… I'm trying to convince myself that maybe this is a satire.

"No respect, which would usually make me proud, but you're not following through with vile acts. You're making me look like a bad parent. ...My minions in Hell are laughing at me…"

Obvious much? When she lives at 666 Devil's Lane...in apartment 6?

I do wish Muriel would make up her mind. She doesn't want Auric nor does she hear him. Daddy would be so proud with how selfish she is. Then there's how very proud Muriel claims she is to be her daddy's daughter, and a few paragraphs later, she's so ashamed of it. I do wish she'd make up her mind...Langlais, that is. Then another misconnect. Auric is making her dinner---in his apartment. They eat. When they're attacked---after they've eaten dinner, mind you---he takes off his coat.

Oh, LOL, that is cute! I did enjoy Langlais' reasoning for Muriel's unexpected power amplification. Her description of Heaven is unexpectedly tragic. It makes too much sense about what keeps happening on earth, and I appreciate her point about Satan at least being honest. Oh, oh, oh, and then there's the call waiting response that Muriel gets, oh, too, too funny.

I'd read it for dad's dialog---it's the best part.

The Story
It's getting embarrassing. His daughter, one of Satan's daughters, is still a virgin. What's wrong with her? None of her sisters are virgins.

It's a conundrum, and one that Muriel herself is eager to fix. Now if only she can find a man to fall in love with...

The Characters
Satana Muriel Baphomet is the half-something, half-demon daughter of Lucifer. A twenty-three-year-old virgin! Can you see the theme here, LOL?? Anyway, she owns the Nexus, a bar, that's magic-free. Lucifer is her daddy, but did you know that God is her uncle? Buxom Bambi is one of her voluptuous half-sisters, a succubus---she keeps proudly winning the World's Biggest Slut award.

Auric is the first man to really capture her attention AND pass her tests. Now, whatever will she do with him? David, a shapeshifter, and Christopher, a wizard, are Auric's friends.

Charon, yup, the boatman, is Lucifer's best friend, and he cares for Muriel. He certainly spends enough time in her bar. His son is "not the sharpest blade", but dad's taking preemptive measures. Azazel is Lucifer's lieutenant, and he's still got the hots for Muriel.

Percy, a half-giant, is her bartender and bouncer; Sylvia, a wood nymph, and some dryads act as her barmaids.

The Cover
The cover is definitely eye candy for the ladies...with a nude Auric---flames do a lovely job of covering the...ahem...naughty bits, dang it---while Muriel is definitely hands-off in her lycra bustier and very-fitted jeans.

The title is to the point, for Muriel is Lucifer's Daughter.

Review of Deceiving the Witch Next Door

Deceiving the Witch Next Door by Misa Bourbon Ramirez

Pages: 149

Publisher: Entangled (Covet)

Review source: Netgalley

Rating: 3.5/5

Reviewed by: Stormi

Down-on-her-luck witch Storie Bell never thought the biggest threat to her future would be Reid Malone, the very man she’d run from years before. After striking it rich in Texas shale, he’s back in town, and he seems hell-bent on getting in the way of her bookstore’s grand opening.

Reid knows there’s much more to Storie than meets the eye, but right now he has only one mission: to infiltrate her shop so he can snatch the elusive secret ingredient to his father’s million-dollar moonshine recipe. Once he does, he can go back to the city and get out of his small hometown, a place in which he has no future.

But as the days go by, he can’t help falling for Storie in every way…and every encounter brings him closer to finding out what happens when you try to deceive a witch.

This is my first Misa Bourbon Ramirez novel and I enjoyed it. I am a fan of short romance novels, I know some people aren't but sometimes they are just so fun to read in between long novels. 

Storie is not your ordinary  woman next door, as she is a witch. Storie grew up with listening to people whisper and gossip about her and she never thought she would move back to her home town, but her father left her his old gas station. Storie and her friend Harper are going to fix it into a nice little cafe and bookstore. One complication she didn't expect was to find out Reid Malone was still in town.

Reid is sort of that bad boy cowboy. His father is a old fashioned moonshiner and has for the first time got a deal with Gemstone Spirits for his Apple Moonshine that could make him a millionaire. The only problem is, is that Stories father use to give him what it is that makes this moonshine taste so good. Now that Storie's father is dead he wants Reid to try and find the ingredient.  

Reid could never get that one encounter that he had with Storie eight years ago out of his head. He sure can't seem to get her out of his head now that she is next door to his bar The Speakeasy. He was hoping she wouldn't come back and that he could some how get into the building to look for his fathers missing ingredient. He doesn't like deceiving Storie, but he doesn't want to let his father down either. 

I think in this story I actually liked the H more than the h. I don't know why but  there was just something about Storie that I just didn't like. Reid on the other hand had this sexy bad boy cowboy thing going on that I just liked! 

I felt that the ending was a little strange, with the confrontation at the end that I can't mention.  Over all though I liked the story and would recommend it to those who like these types of romances.