Tag: Deirdre O’Dare

Canine Cupids by Deirdre O'Dare (2nd Edition)

Deirdre O'Dare - Canine Cupids CoverTitle: Canine Cupids

Author: Deirdre O’Dare

Genre: Contemporary

Publisher: Loose ID (14th February 2017)

Length: Novella (138pgs)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts

Blurb: Loners Caleb, Justin, and Garrett are each caught up in too many daily problems simply trying to survive and overcome past sorrows. Although they are tired of one-night stands and short-term romances, they secretly long for the perfect partners to share their lives. When fate brings Nick, Barry and Dan into their worlds, each of them fights the sudden pangs of lust and desire. They cannot help but fear the differences will be too great for a real bond to form and dread the pain sure to come when things do not work out.

It takes some clever canines to recognize their masters belong together. With a wide range of tricks and treats, several dogs work sly magic to bring their beloved humans together. When a Canine Cupid goes to work, there is no telling where those arrows will fly!

ISBN: 978-1- 68252-276-9

Product Link: http://www.loose-id.com/canine-cupids.html

Reviewer: Lisa 

Review: Maltese Terror and Rescued by Love were previously released by another publisher. A New Leash on Life is a new story.  Now I will admit that when I picked this story I did not know it was three short stories instead of one.  

The Maltese Terror

Landscape architect Nick LeGrande has never experienced a more disastrous trip! When he ends up stranded in a Colorado blizzard, he’s glad to have the company of his little canine buddy, Cedric, which circumstances forced him to bring along. Then a sexy Samaritan rescues them and Nick is introduced to a world he hardly knew existed…and is quickly enthralled. 

Caleb Storm is a loner, a rancher whose Native American blood sets him a bit apart from most of his fellows. When a spring blizzard dumps Nick LeGrande and his tiny dog into Caleb’s life, he and his old stock dog Cheyenne hardly know what to make of their visitors. Caleb finds Nick very attractive but doubts such a successful and urbane man could have any interest in him. Their dogs, however, hit it off from the start and seem to conspire to get their masters together. Can a pair of canine cupids work the necessary magic? 

Since these were previously published I decided instead of giving you a description of the story I would just give you the blurb for it.  It is a very cute little story, but the romance was to fast moving.  I don’t know of anyone that would move this fast, so with the story it just made it not believable.  However it was really adorable and I absolutely loved the dogs.  I would love to see this short story turned into a longer book.  

A New Leash on Life

Justin went from having a nice life in Phoenix, to being unemployed and pretty much homeless.  He still had his mother’s house but moving there was not the question, the question was, was his old flame still there.

Barry noticed Justin was back and so were his feelings.  Then he got even a bigger shock and now things were going to be what he wanted.  Things are going to heat up.

Now for this one, there was no blurb for this and I tried not to give anything away.  It is a cute but frustrating story.  I wasn’t too sure if I liked the characters or not.  It was too short to get anything more than a taste for it.  I do hope for a longer story that gives you more than just a tease.  

Rescued By Love

With his life torn apart by tragedy, Garrett finds a true life-saver in the Golden Retriever pup Mandy that he rescues from a local shelter. Inspired by search-and-rescue heroics he sees on television, he and Mandy become a trained SAR team. Their first big challenge comes when a series of violent storms with vicious tornadoes rip through the high plains. 

Dan has returned home from Iraq, shattered by the horrors he witnessed. Like his father and grandfather before him, he takes off on an old motorcycle to try to find peace and outrun his nightmares. Instead, he finds a storm that threatens to take his life. 

But a special SAR team comes to Dan’s rescue. And in Mandy and Garrett, Dan finds the unconditional love he desperately needs to become whole again

Now the first thing I am going to say is it needed better editing before publishing.   When I started reading this it was a very sweet story with a bit of pain in it.  I enjoyed the guys a bit more and the dog rocked.  

Overall

The stories were pretty good but to damn short to get anything more than a taste.  I will admit that if I had paid attention I would have probably skipped reading it.  I am not a fan of short stories and anthologies.  I want a story with more details and juicy bits then they usually give.  Other than my issues it is a pretty good book that I did enjoy.

Red Tails in the Sunset by Deidre O'Dare

RedTailsSunsetTitle: Red Tails in the Sunset
Series: N/A
Author: Deidre O’Dare
Genre: Contemporary/Action-Adventure/ BDSM (light)/ Interracial
Length: Novella (51 Pages)
Publisher: Amber Allure, Amber Quill Press (July 30, 2014)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts
Blurb: Former military pilot Blaine Darby carries a load of guilt and pain from the harm he may have caused in wartime. Now he seeks to earn some good karma by fighting wild land fires while holding on to his great love of flying. But reporters like young Daz Contreras scare him—one of the few things that do—because he shuns the public eye.

Freelance investigative journalist Daz Contreras is convinced terrorists are behind at least some of the wild land fires plaguing New Mexico. All he needs is enough proof to break the story. As he pursues leads, he begins to shadow pilot Blaine Darby and, in the process, develops a gigantic case of hero-worship.

When Daz is allowed to ride with Blaine one time, he hopes the adventure will help him to uncover the proof he seeks. Yet when a near tragedy unexpectedly develops and Blaine puts his life on the line to save a trapped hotshot firefighting crew, Daz realizes he’s an eyewitness to what may be a bigger story than the one he planned. But will the reclusive Blaine actually allow Daz to report the news as he sees fit, even as they grow closer?

ISBN: 978-1-61124-638-4

Product Link: http://www.amberquill.com/store/p/2003-Red-Tails-In-The-Sunset.aspx

Reviewer: Lisa

Review: This was a fascinating story with a bit more added in that I had not expected. It was a blast to read and I look forward to reading more by this amazing author. Blaine is known around as a recluse with a war record and a great standing in life. He was the leader of a group of plans that would put out fires. Ever since being a war pilot, he came back with a lot of guilt and pain, that he kept from others. That is until a sexy reporter shows up wanting help.

Daz was a freelance reporter and right this minute he wanted to help find out who was setting the fires that Blaine and the others were fighting. When he went to Blaine, he was star struck and blinded. However, he wanted to help and needed the help also. Things heat up between them both and I had a blast reading about it.

This was a fascinating story that had a bit of kink in it. It was a fascinating story with very few words put into such a dynamic story. I had a fun time reading this and look forward to some more stories by Deidre. I would recommend reading this especially if you love daredevils, excitement, danger, adventure, and gorgeous men. It gave me almost everything I could ask for in a story and my attention was caught with it.

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

Druid in Drag by Deirdre O'Dare

51n+7T6LY3LTitle: Druid in Drag

Series: The Thin Green Line 05

Author: Deirdre O’Dare

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal

Length: Novella (83pgs)

Publisher: Amber Allure (2nd December 2012)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥2 ½ Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Ren Coulter is used to working alone. As a special agent in the Paranormal Operations Unit of the border patrol, his mission is to infiltrate the compound of a reputed drug lord named Mendoza and learn the source of a dangerous and addictive new drug. He decides to go undercover in drag, disguised as a glamorous young woman in the hopes of catching Mendoza’s notorious roving eye. Yet even before Ren meets the drug lord, he encounters Darzul, one of Mendoza’s striking bodyguards. Despite his lone-wolf habits, Ren sees advantages in working together with the man.

Darzul Onaygan has been sent from his home world of Arzula to blend in with the earthlings and help them fight off the evil alien invaders. Bisexual as most Arzulans are, many even able to switch gender at will, he finds Ren attractive in both his guises. Yet Darzul knows it takes more than hot sex to build a partnership. While outside threats may force them to work together, that alone cannot forge a bond. Trust comes slowly and not without a hitch, but soon they must also rely on one another to survive.

Can Ren and Darzul live long enough to not only to accomplish their mission, but also to become real partners?

Purchase Link: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/DruidDrag.html

Review: Ren is working undercover for the Paranormal Operations Unit of the border patrol (POU) to discover the source of a new drug that’s emerged, infiltrating the compound in drag seems to be the best way to get answers, and he gets more than he bargained for when he comes into contact with Darzul, his targets bodyguard. Darzul has been sent by the council on his home-world Arzula to discover where the new evil is coming from, when he comes across ‘Rena’ and finds that ‘she’ isn’t all that ‘she’ seems they end up working together because they have the same goal. But much more than that is the attraction that builds between them; can they get to the bottom of the case, explore their attraction, and live long enough to build something together?

This story had a lot of potential with its mix of paranormal, fantasy and sci-fi and that aspect was quite satisfying although I do wish it had been slightly more developed and fleshed out. Ren is a very interesting character and even he isn’t quite sure what he is, with a mix of witch and maybe druid, being male but with a slight feminine taste but knowing he is quite happy with who he is while loving the silky slide of female clothing. Darzul is a being that while male he could also be female if he wanted, he is from Arzula and while being distantly related to the elves (Ren gulped. “Whoa. You look like a weird elf who fell into the Easter Bunny’s color kit or something.”) Darzul’s race has developed differently.

The main storyline of finding the new exotic drug and its source is interesting and I wish it had been more developed. The relationship side between Darzul and Ren was slightly disappointing. The first sex scene between them lacked build up and did absolutely nothing for me at all. I felt no connection between the characters other than the initial attraction and the later sex scenes were little better. It all felt too rushed. This storyline has great potential but needs more fleshing out and development, while the characters need to have more relationship development where we, the reader, can see it.

I will recommend this to those who love fantasy, paranormal with a dash of sci-fi, an interesting storyline and a happy ending.

 

A Different Drummer by Deirdre O'Dare

17838897Title: A Different Drummer

Series: N/A

Author: Deirdre O’Dare

Genre: Contemporary / The Arts

Length: Novella (61 pages)

Publisher: Amber Allure, Amber Quill Press (April 22nd, 2013)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥2.5~3 Hearts

Reviewer: Thommie

Blurb: Jest has been on his own since his mid-teens and still blesses the chance that allowed him to realize his dream of playing percussion in a band, one that has become his substitute family. Although he misses the close sharing, he doesn’t expect to find a partner, and certainly not one as clearly out of his element as the man, looking totally lost and friendless, who one night wanders into the club where Jest’s band plays.

Greene has struggled to build himself a life far from the undisciplined communal community in which he grew to his mid-teens. He’s lonely, though, and not sure how to remedy that, so he keeps working as a game programmer in Silicon Valley until he makes a faux pas at a party. Traveling aimlessly, he meets Jest and the other members of Taken By Storm, and is intrigued but terrified of slipping back into a disorderly world like the one of his childhood.

Opposites do attract, but can a rebel percussionist and a totally uptight game programmer find common ground for a partnership? 

Product Link: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/DifferentDrummer.html

Review: Now this story is a peculiar one. It might seem like its main character and the focus behind the plot is the drummer as the title suggests, but in my opinion, it was the game programmer.

We have Jest, a special brand of drummer. He’s the hippy look-alike, with rainbow Mohawk, tight skin jeans, and rainbow suspenders. Doesn’t strike like the peculiar kind right? Now put him in a country band that wears western clothes and same kind of crowd. Heh, that’s right. Jest is the kind of guy raised by conservative parent who threw him out of the house once they found out he was gay. He made his way toward a life that he always dreamed of and his band is his family. What he misses is a soul mate.

Greene is an oddity too. He is the exact opposite of Jest. He grew up in a New Age/Hippy community. His parents mostly stoned and his siblings and other children left to fend for themselves. So, he did. He finished high school young, got his scholarships, cut himself from his family, and made it to a big gaming cooperation as a programmer. He has nearly the life he always wanted. What he misses is a soul mate.

After a drunken proposition to one of his co-workers and a public humiliation, Greene takes his car and drives. He reaches Las Vegas and hit the first Bar & Grill he finds to get some food in him and that’s when he sees a sight he simply can’t take his eyes from.

So this is how this story starts with Jest and Greene falling in love with first sight, even if they don’t know it yet. The pair seems interesting enough, easy-going Jest inviting Greene to crash with him for the night and Greene following as if in a dream. It did seem way too easy though, so much, so that I had a voice in my head screaming come on, that just don’t happen all the time. Jest had this intuition thing going and probing Greene all the time for some reaction. When they had their first intercourse together, I just didn’t feel it. It was as if the author simply skipped the scene and just let us know that it was mind-blowing. I felt a bit cheated, you know. I’d have liked reading the mind-blowing part myself.

Furthermore, the dialogues between the two was a bit off-putting. Even in the end, they held a bit of formality that just didn’t fit with the intimacy that they were supposed to share. It somehow made me feel quite detached from the characters and viewing the story dispassionately.

As for Greene’s backstory and how the plot around it evolved, I don’t know what to make out of it. Besides being quite sad, that too was skipped and simply told later on with a clinical narration. We didn’t get to witness it and experience the emotions first hand, resulting to the whole intensity slipping right out and never reaching us. Some lost potential there. I kept expecting some “getting back” to Mickey, but boy was I wrong in that account?

So all in all it was not bad, bad it simply didn’t make me say “yeah, this is a great story,” and it’s a shame because it had some good stuff in there. Plus it kind of lost the whole “The Arts” genre with the focus staying mainly on Greene and his issues. Result? Good story, no more, no less.

 

Dark and Stormy by Deirdre O'Dare

DarkStormyTitle: Dark and Stormy 

Author: Deirdre O’Dare 

Genre: Gothic, Historical 

Length: Short (70pgs)

Publisher: Amber Allure (21st July 2013)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥3½ Hearts 

Reviewer: Pixie 

Blurb: Gently reared Martin FitzHugh finds himself adrift without means when his uncle goes bankrupt from gambling debts. Martin seeks a livelihood by taking a post as tutor to the young children of an Earl on a remote Welsh estate. Arriving on a dark and stormy night that sets the tone for his whole adventure, he falls into intrigue, mystery, and powerful new loves—for the three traumatized children and their enigmatic guardian.

Dylan Davis was called back from military service in South Africa after his elder brother supposedly found his wife with another man, killing the pair, then himself. Now, Dylan has to assume the title of earl as well as care for his nieces and nephew. He hires a young man, sight unseen, to become their tutor while he sets out to uncover the roots of the scandalous tragedy that tore apart his family. Both matters reveal surprising results, however…some tragic and some delightful…

Purchase Link: http://www.amberquill.com/AmberAllure/DarkStormy.html 

Review: Martin is a gentleman who finds himself seeking employment after his uncle gambled away the family funds, Martin finds himself taking employment as a tutor for an Earl’s children on a remote Welsh estate. Arriving on a dark and stormy night, he learns of a mysterious stranger, a devastating family tragedy, three traumatized children, and an enigmatic guardian. Dylan was called back from the military after the deaths of his brother and sister-in-law, taking on guardianship of his nephew and nieces. He hires Martin with hopes that he can tutor and help the children, while Dylan tries to get to the truth behind the tragic deaths that tore his family apart. 

This is a great little Gothic mystery story with cute kids. Martin has had to find employment because of his uncles gambling, starting his new job in Wales begins with a bang as he arrives at the door after being snatched from his carriage in the midst of a storm by a mysterious stranger. When Martin first begins his job he discovers it will be more than just teaching the children academics as they are traumatized by their parents death, Martin also discovers that he and Dylan have much more in common than he first thought. Dylan is just waiting for the person responsible for his brother’s death to make a move, he never believed the story he was first told, and now he has the support of the tutor and discovers he is a delightful companion.

I really liked this story for its mystery and the horrifying events that have traumatized the children. The kids are well written and bring more life to the story as you see the truth being unraveled; Dylan is a slightly mysterious figure who is very accepting of his new relationship with Martin. Martin hasn’t had much experience with men and the relationship he develops with Dylan is satisfying for both of them. This story is quite good and you get pulled into the setting and circumstances quite well, although Dylan and Martins relationship is quite tame it is still satisfying and the deaths of Dylan’s brother and sister-in-law are wrapped up quite nicely.

I recommend this to those who love Gothic stories set in the Welsh countryside, tragic deaths to avenge, a sweet relationship developing and kids getting justice for their parents.  

Runes of Redemption by Deirdre O'Dare

Title: Runes of Redemption

Series: The Thin Green Line 4

Author: Deirdre O’Dare

Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy

Length: Novella (94pgs)

Publisher: Amber Quill Press (Amber Allure) (9th October 2011)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥3 ½Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: As head of the U.S. Border Patrol’s Paranormal Operations Unit, Clay Chiles has found a place where he can serve with honor and a surrogate family to replace the one he never truly enjoyed. When he meets Elven warrior Arondel and begins to build the partnership he had never hoped to find, life seems good. Still, for two lifelong loners to merge their lives, hearts and minds, an occasional conflict is bound to arise.

Clay’s discovery he has not only a father but a half-brother on Arondel’s home world of Elvenheim creates new and different challenges. Can he accept and trust relatives so different from all he has known? Can they accept him?

Finally, faced with incredible tasks and dangers, Clay and Aron are torn asunder. Will the strength of their still-fragile bond be enough to bring them through hell and back to one another’s arms?

The Thin Green Line Anthology (books 1, 2 & 3) is only available as paperback at this time. Each book is sold separately in eBook format.

Review: This book is best read as part of the series. At the end of Runes of Revelation, Clay and Aron were going to hunt for gateway portals and try to seal them.   This book picks up where that one ended. Clay is starting to come to terms with the fact that he is half-elf but he still harbors resentment towards his father.   Aron is still getting used to having a partner after travelling alone for so long but he is happy that his bond with Clay is getting stronger.

I liked this story as the plot was good and it moved along well.   There was suspense, danger, backstabbing and an unexpected reunion. They are also taken on an unexpected journey to fulfill a Prophesy on another world. The descriptions were good and the characters meshed well together, we are treated to a progression of their bond as it is the merging of two souls that is tested to the brink.

I would recommend this to those who like fantasy, paranormal, twists, turns and hidden danger.