Tag: Barbara Geiger

Black Shades by Barbara Geiger

51ZsQfSAzPL._SX331_BO1,204,203,200_Title: Black Shades
Series: Past and Present Tense, #2
Author: Barbara Geiger
Genre: Other Paranormal/Ghost
Length: Novella (97 Pages)
Publisher: MLR Press (December 18, 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts
Blurb: When Peter’s boyfriend’s dead drag queen lover shows up to reenact A Christmas Carol over the Christmas holiday, the life lessons will be hard, but at least the shoes are going to be absolutely fabulous.

Colin and Peter haven’t quite made it to happily ever after. Peter’s been running for such a long time that his fight or flight response is automatic. He knows Colin wants to be his safe place to fall, but Peter’s terrified that eventually he’ll do and say the wrong thing to make Colin just like all the other men in his life.

It takes Colin’s dead former lover, Ren, a fabulous drag queen, as the ghost of Christmas past, present and future to remind him where he came from, what he’s doing right now and who he really wants to be.

ISBN: MLR-1-02014-0348

Product Link(s): http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=BGBLKSHD

Reviewer: Lisa

Review: Oh this was one fun-filled story for me. I remember the Christmas story of the ghosts of past, present and future. This was representing that type of story but with a flare it would seem.
Peter and Colin are together but they are having problems. Every time something happens Peter runs. Colin just wants some stability in his life. Peter is afraid.

Then, and this is the fun part, Colin’s boyfriend who is dead shows up to show what has happened, what is going on and what will happen. Ren was a drag queen so he is fun to learn about. He needed to show Peter the truth. This story was very touching and had me in tears throughout it all.

Now this story was not for me, but it was a great story over all. It had me wondering about life. To be hurt and afraid is just not the way to live. Normally I would say I had a blast with the story, but this one did something better. It made me wish. I won’t say I loved it but I did enjoy the story and I would recommend it.

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *

Old Traditions by Barbara Geiger

81c7jE+-OCL._SL1500_Title: Old Traditions
Series: Middlehill, #2
Author: Barbara Geiger
Genre: Paranormal/Fantasy
Length: Novella (86 pages)
Publisher: Loose Id (December 23rd, 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts
Blurb: To Matt, “making love” has always been a particularly sadistic phrase. He’s only known sex to be something that can be taken or sold. Even in Matt’s darkest years, though, Christmas was the one time he didn’t have to sell his body. Now, his new life with a man like Kevin in his bed is full of happiness and pleasure. Sex is fascinating and his body learning how good it can feel in this shiny newfangled world.

Ever since Matt met Kevin, his life has been a Faerie story. As the Fae King, the amazing life he now has with his Fae Prince should be perfect. However, Matt can’t forget that without Kevin, everything he has—from the safe place he lives in, to his brother’s future—could be taken away instantly. The Fae court is a world full of scheming manipulators, and Matt’s first holiday with Kevin that should be safe and warm is at risk, no matter what Kevin promises.

But, the Fae world isn’t all full of princes and Happy Ever Afters. Even Kevin has superiors who can use the Fae New Year celebrations for their own means. Matt would give anything he has to keep Kevin and his family safe, and a higher-ranking prince could take everything Matt has including Matt’s crown and all hope of future happiness.

ISBN: 978-1-62300-768-3

Product Link: http://www.loose-id.com/middle-hill-1-5-old-traditions.html

Reviewer: Prime

Review: There is a lot of background at the start of this one, however, you really do need to read book 1 (Changeling) in order to understand everything. I had to look back at Changeling and my review of it to remind me, but it is a complex book and Old Traditions has the same complexity. And despite my opinions, it is a well-written book.

I’m warning everyone right now: If you’ve not read Changeling, there are some potential spoilers coming up. It’s actually impossible for me to review this one without referring directly back to the first book because the books are so closely linked.

In saying all that, to be honest, although I had liked the first book a lot, I can’t be more positive than saying I liked Old Traditions for the most part. It is effectively an extension that directly follows Changeling and although it is marketed as a Christmas/Holiday book, Christmas is really just incidental to the events of this novella.

As to reacquainting ourselves with the main characters, Kevin and Matt, Kevin is a Fae prince who was sent to find the Fae king, who just happens to be Matt. There is also Sam, Matt’s little brother to whom he is guardian. Sam is still pretty much a mystery as he doesn’t feature much in this story. Since the plot hasn’t really moved on much, the characters didn’t really get much of a chance to develop beyond what we already know about them.

Okay, so one thing that has resurfaced to bug me. In Changeling, Matt had made a deal with the headmaster of the prestigious private school Sam goes to so that Sam would get a full scholarship, Matt got some cash income and the boys get a roof over their head.

Simple question because this comes up in the first page: why is Matt still going through this when he is a Fae king and with Kevin? In all fairness, I realise much of Matt’s actions are propelled by his self-doubts about the new station in life he has gained. It’s just playing on me way too much.

This book continues on with Matt learning about the Fae world from Kevin and the couple still very much in love. For anyone who has read Changeling, this one doesn’t really answer any of the questions that we were left with before. Neither does it pose too many questions.

While Matt is learning more about Fae powers and how the powers work, which is a majority of the plot, there a few more new mysteries added. Personally, this frustrated me, which is why I’ve given it a low-ish rating. Yet in saying that, one of the new mysteries concerning Fae abilities to mess with time is actually quite tantalising to me.

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *

Red Lettering by Barbara Geiger

71rCfVPl6fL._SL1425_Title: Red Lettering
Series: Scare This!, #3
Author: Barbara Geiger
Genre: Paranormal
Length: Novella (89 pages)
Publisher: MLR Press (October 31st, 2014)
Heat Level: Low
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3.5Hearts
Blurb: What was supposed to be a one-night stand for Colin, with a bit of strange, shouldn’t have been on Halloween when his departed lover still has something to say.

Colin’s boyfriend Ren was flamboyant and fabulous, in-or-out of drag. Colin has been mourning him for seven years. When Colin walks into the local diner, he doesn’t expect to see Peter the flirty waiter dressed as a waitress. Colin wants to let Peter go, but somehow he just can’t do it. It’s Halloween, the veil between the living and the dead is at its thinnest, and Ren still has a lot to say. Peter’s been hurt before, and Colin has truths of his own to face, but with Ren’s help, maybe they’ll have a hot at more than a one-night stand.

ISBN: MLR02014-0318

Product Link: http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=BGREDLTR

Reviewer: Prime

Review: Red Lettering is a standalone book in the Scare This series. So far, this is the third story I’ve read in this Halloween theme series. The premise is intriguing, although I’ve come across it before in other books. Ren, the long dead lover of Colin is playing matchmaker between Colin and Peter, showing them exactly what they need.

It’s good that this story features drag queens – Ren had been one and Peter is dressed as a waitress when Colin meets him. Colin sure knows his make up too. I say it’s good because many stories that I’ve read with drag queens are all light-hearted romps, but Red Lettering is more heartfelt and serious. Don’t be surprised if you feel the urge to shed a couple of tears!

This is a rather heartfelt and poignant story, in both the present and the flashbacks. It certainly isn’t one of those Ren literally haunting and pushing the two together, although his tragic life is certainly something entirely different from Colin’s version of Ren. Then Peter is just a kind soul, very patient, despite his own past experience. That being said I can’t say it was fun. However, it was thoroughly enjoyable, albeit intense. Even Halloween is the holiday for healing, it seems.

And the teaser, we get a “to be continued”! According to Barbara Geiger’s website, the sequel, “Black Shades”, is a Christmas novella that will feature Peter’s point of view. One thing I had thought was that there wasn’t enough Peter, so I’m relieved to see that there will be the opportunity for more!

* I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com *