The Cartagena Cartel by T.C. Roberts

Archie Flynn has fled from the law, travelling to a country that does not have an extradition policy with his home country. He is struggling to mend his broken heart, as the woman he threw his life away for has chosen to remain with another man. So what else can he do but try to drown his sorrows and find other women to take his mind off of Jezebel, the woman he believes he still loves.

I am going to start off by saying that I do not believe that I was the intended audience for this novel. It is a book that can be classified as “lad-lit” and involves Archie seeking solace in drugs and the bed of women that he has only just met. This naturally gets him in trouble in Cartagena, when he runs afoul of the drug cartels and finds himself the victim of a “zombie drug” that causes him to wake up in an unknown area, wearing only his underwear, and uncertain how he got there. Everything that he had with him has been stolen, and the police seem unwilling to do anything to help him. 

I did have some issues with this book. It really could have used another round with an editor/proofreader, as while everything was spelled correctly, it wasn’t always the correct word used. I also ran across a couple of sections where the text appeared to have been repeated verbatim from partway through the previous chapter. I am uncertain if that was intentional or not as it happened more than once, but for me, it was confusing.

I also had a few instances where I found myself taking issue with actions that I could not see as being realistic given the circumstances, even for a fiction novel. Yes, I am sure that there are good people who are willing to help by loaning money to someone who has been drugged and robbed, but in a city where it sounds like it is a common occurrence and the local police are paid off by the drug cartels so are unwilling to help, it is a very real possibility that the person who has been robbed will never be able to repay a potentially significant amount loaned to them…  Well, I have  problems believing it. And given that the main character does not appear to have not learned from his misadventures, this book just was not meant for me.

While I am not the target audience for this book, those who enjoy reading about someone trying to bury his heartbreak over a woman he thought he loved by repeating the behavior that got him into trouble in the first place, or who enjoy reading books about someone’s misadventures with the law, with various women, with drugs and drug cartels, or who are simply looking for a book about someone’s misadventures in other countries, you might enjoy this book. The story itself wasn’t something I considered horrible, just highly unbelievable at times. Though I do have to say that I saw the likelihood of Archie getting “roofied” coming. That part was very believable.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

Unspoken Devotion by Chelsea Burton Dunn

Carmen and Leo, the youngest children of members of the local mafia, grew up as neighbors. They were raised to be able to defend themselves as needed, and though they did have a good childhood, each sought a life that did not involve joining the mafia themselves. After Leo returned home having been honorably discharged by the military, he was able to once again spend time with the girl he had secretly loved for years, who also happens to be secretly in love with him. But when his father uses Carmen as a means to forge an alliance with the Irish Mafia, Leo and the rest of his family need to find a way to stop her unwanted marriage from happening without alerting his dad to their plans. But can they find a way to stop it from happening without starting an all-out mafia war?

I read a review copy of this book and really enjoyed it. But I do need to warn readers that it comes with a number of trigger warnings. This book contains themes of sex-trafficking, rape, violence, and abuse. It is is not suitable for younger readers as it does contain some graphic (consensual, not rape) sex scenes.

Despite the tough themes, this is primarily the story of two people who have fallen in love, and two families who want to allow them to be together, despite Leo's father’s plan for her. Overall, I believe that the story is very well-written and if the themes won’t trigger you, one that I believe a lot of readers will enjoy. We do not “see” a rape itself happen in this book, and though there is a great deal of violence that takes place, as well as an awareness of sex-trafficking, that seems to be a secondary part of the story, and not a primary focus of it. I believe these themes were delicately handled.

The characters are all strong and smart individuals, and while they may live morally-grey lives as part of a mafia family, they do come across as good people rather than villains to be hated. In most cases, their own lives were decided by factors other than what they may have wanted, though the decisions made were their own.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

Deep Point of View by Marcy Kennedy.

This is a book in the Busy Writer’s Guide series that was required reading for a class I am taking. This book holds a lot of very useful and helpful information. It touches lightly on what the different options for point of view look like, and the differences between each of them. As this book is specifically about what a deep point of view is and what it is used for, the other point of view options are not described in great detail within this book. So if you are looking for a book that delves more deeply into each of the point of view options, you would be better off reading Ms. Kennedy's book on Point of View instead. (I have previously posted a review on that book as well.)

Deep Point of View involves experiencing things within the story from one character’s viewpoint, almost as if you were that character. This can sometimes be difficult to appropriately master as there are many pitfalls that a writer can too easily fall into. But when done correctly, it really brings a story to life.  This book offers tips and examples throughout to show us what works, what doesn’t, and why. For anyone looking to write using a deep point of view for one or more characters, this is a very good book to read.

I would recommend this book for anyone seeking to write using a deep point of view. It will help you know what to watch out for in order to spot areas where you might have accidentally slipped out of a deep point of view. It covers many issues, such as head hopping, “as you know” problems, transitions between the point of view characters, as well as other issues that may arise. It also offers potential ways to spot such problems and how they can be fixed once found.

The biggest issue I had with this book, is that like the other book in this series that was written  by Ms. Kennedy, much of the text appears to have been printed in gray ink rather than black. And that makes it difficult for me to read as it causes me some eye strain. But other than that, I feel it is a book that can be of great help to both fiction writers and editors.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

The Prince’s Priest by V.C. Willis

Dante is a Daemon and the Prince of Bloodeater’s. And on the night when he was supposed to undergo the ceremony that changes him from an ordinary Daemon to a Bloodeater Daemon, he takes the cursed dagger that is needed for the ceremony and leaves the palace. He wants to end the curse that changes his kind and created what is known as “the madness,” but underestimates Viceroy Falco’s desire for power. Dante retreated to a farm in the middle of nowhere, falling for the young nephew of the knight who owns the farm. John’s intent is to travel to the capital, where he will train to become a priest, seeking to unite all people in peace, and helping to end “the madness.” But given who each of them is and who they are meant to become, can they succeed?

I received a review copy of this book. This one is the first book in the Traibon Family series. (I had reviewed the prequel to this series and enjoyed it.) I enjoyed reading this book as well. This one focuses on Dante and his desire to break the curse and to live a life away from what was intended for him, and while he did escape with a plan to live on the farm, as you might guess, it soon becomes apparent that such is not meant to be. His past will find him eventually, and he will have to deal with the responsibilities of being the heir, while seeking to remain near the man he loves, but knows he cannot have without causing John to break his vows to the church. Dante refuses to allow that to happen, despite the clear attraction each has for the other.

I enjoyed reading this book. The story is very engaging and kept me wanting to read far too late into the night. I do need to warn readers that this book does contain some graphic male/male sexual encounters. So it is not recommended for younger readers. The sexual tension between the two men is very clear, and their story made my heart ache for them. There is quite a bit of danger that must be faced, especially once they must return to the town and Dante must once again face the fact that he is the king’s heir. 

Ms. Willis is a very talented writer, and anyone who has read her other books will enjoy this one. Anyone who enjoys M/M romance novels that do include some graphic sexual encounters as an important part of the story will also enjoy this book. There is romance, danger and all that might be expected when dealing with forbidden relationships. So if any of that interests you, I think you will enjoy this book as much as I did. (And yes, I do intend to also review the next book in this series.)

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

The Linzer Cookie Murder by Trixie Silvertale

Cindy Claus, the daughter of Santa Claus, has been living her life away from the North Pole and following her dream of owning her own bakery. Baking is her passion, but when her mother calls to let her know that her father is extremely ill and may be dying, she must return home to help save Christmas. Because if Santa isn’t able to deliver presents a few days later, Christmas will be ruined for children around the world. Can she help save both Santa and Christmas without giving up her own dream? Or will she fail to find the cause of his sudden illness and be forced to remain in the North Pole, taking up the mantle of Santa herself, and giving up her dream of running her own bakery out in the human world.

This was the third book in the Christmas Catastrophe series. I read a review copy of this book and really enjoyed seeing how Cindy dealt with the traumatic occurrence of her near-immortal father, someone who almost never became ill, suddenly so near to death. Nothing her mother was able to do seemed to help Santa, so it falls upon Cindy to determine who is seemingly trying to kill Santa Claus and why. Elves can’t lie, but things at the North Pole seem to be much more troubling than they were when Cindy had last been there. And yet, it hasn’t occurred to her mother or those around her that someone may be trying to kill Santa. There is no apparent reason for anyone to want to kill such a kind and generous man, one who embodies what can only be describes as the spirit of Christmas. And yet, something is definitely wrong at the North Pole.

This was a fun cozy mystery with some interesting twists. I truly enjoyed reading this holiday story. (For those who have read any of Ms. Silvertale’s Mitzy Moon books, you’ll be as amused as I was by the brief appearance of a familiar character from the Harper Moon series, and no, I won’t tell you who shows up in this book.)

In my opinion, one of the best parts of this series is that the author includes the recipes for the holiday treats that Cindy bakes throughout the tale at the end of the book, and while I have not as yet tried to bake any of them myself, they certainly sound very tasty to me. If I don’t wind up trying to make any of them, I’m sure that someone in my household will. (I think the mini cheesecakes sound amazingly tempting.)

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

The Violins Played Before Junston by Lou Kemp

Celwyn is an ancient and powerful magician. He has roamed the world, alone, for a very long time. On his latest adventure, he is hired to capture and deliver the automat Kang to a priest. Celwyn is led to believe that Kang is evil, and thus deserving of the fate awaiting him. But as he travels on board a ship with the man he is supposed to be hunting, it soon becomes clear that he was lied to; Kang is not evil. And in many ways, even though he is an automat, he sometimes seems more human than many living people do. And as Celwyn gets to know Kang, the two of them become friends. And soon they find themselves on an adventure across multiple countries as their group seems to expand along the way, danger following them each step of the way.

I read a review copy of this book and enjoyed this steampunk adventure. The descriptions were vibrant. You could clearly imagine everything and every place being described. The story held my interest throughout. Each of the characters had their reasons for travelling together, and while they may have started out as nothing more than convenient travelling companions, the friendship and feeling of belonging that developed among them felt quite genuine. By the end, they were a sort of found family. Like all families, they did have their disagreements and issues at times, but in the end I believe it brought them closer together.

This was a fun story, with wonderful imagery. Not only was there travel by sailing vessel, but by train as well. Danger follows them, as well as adventure. This was the first book in the series. I am looking forward to seeing what further adventures these characters will find themselves on. I believe readers will enjoy this book as much as I did. It should appeal to anyone who enjoys reading Steampunk adventures with vampires, travel, and magic having a large part in the story. I do need to add a potential trigger warning though, as there is an instance of suicide and references to past child abuse within this book.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.

The Gilded Cage, by Lyra Saenz

Val is a gender-fluid, assigned-female-at-birth, person living in 1800s America. In her time period, most people do not accept the idea of gender fluidity, so she must live her life as a woman, even on the days where she feels that “she” is actually a “he.” Val was born and raised to wealth, and though she thought she had found love early on, man she was engaged to marry committed suicide before their wedding day. Now, she is in her late 20s and has resigned herself to a pleasant-enough life as a spinster. Her father, however, has other plans. He has arranged for her to marry the son of an English Duke, and is not giving Val any choice in the matter. Upon overhearing her future husband talk about looking forward to “breaking her in” on their wedding night, Val flees the house. She finds herself in the middle of a Pagan festival, and makes the decision to choose the man she will lose her virginity with, never expecting to meet him again. Life, however, seems to have other plans.

I read a review copy of this book and I absolutely loved it. It gives the best and most easily understood description I have ever come across about gender fluidity. But I do need to warn readers that this book is not meant for younger readers as it is an erotic romance novel. It does contain graphic sex (both M/F and M/M), an attempted rape, murder, themes of gender dysphoria, suicide, abuse (both physical and emotional), domination, a forced arranged marriage, religious intolerance, magic, witches, paganism, and psychological torture/drug use. So be warned, there are more than a few trigger warnings associated with this novel.

That being said, I absolutely loved reading this book. The story was so engaging that I truly didn’t want to put it down. Given the large number of subgenres and themes in this tale, I didn’t expect it to work, and yet it did in a truly impressive way. The only issue I had with the book is that the main characters sometimes spoke in Spanish, which I do not know. And while I could make a reasonable guess as to what was meant, I still wished that a translation guide had been included for the foreign words and phrases. Despite that one extremely minor issue, I did love reading this book. The characters were very well written as were the descriptions of events.

The romance that develops between the two main characters was very tastefully done, and seeing Val find someone who can accept her as she was, on both her female days as well as his male days, was something that I felt was inspiring and something to be appreciated. In this world, there are many people who, like Val, still feel forced to hide who they are inside. Too often, people made to feel that “there is something wrong with them” will begin to believe that there is only one way to stop the pain they are experiencing. And that is something that I feel no one should have to experience, especially since it just isn't true.

In this story, the choice for Val, given the time period she lived in, was to be forced to remain in a society-defined feminine role or risk being confined to an insane asylum by her father, a man unable to accept Val as being sometimes his son rather than his daughter, I hope that those who read this book can see that people who are gender fluid or trans are not insane nor is there anything “wrong” with them.

This book is at times heartbreaking as well as heartwarming. And it is one that I would encourage anyone who is not a younger reader to read if you truly want to understand gender fluidity or have someone in your life who does not seem to fit into a society-defined specific gender role. I think that both you and they will appreciate it.

Amazon requires me to state that I have an Amazon Associates account that I use to generate the links to the books on their website. Purchasing something after following those links will earn a few pennies for me off the sale, though as of yet I have not earned anything from my Amazon Associate links.