Tag: Less Than Three Press

The Rapier Brothers by Megan Derr

Title: The Rapier Brothers

Author: Megan Derr

Genre: Fantasy/Historical/Regency type

Length: 3 Short Stories (74pgs)

Publisher: Less Than Three Press (20th April 2010)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Tales of brothers, swords, and the men they most desire…

Main Gauche—Though he was born to nobility, the loss of first his father, and then his mother, has left Dagger a peasant. His stepfather is cruel and greedy, and refuses to claim Dagger as his own. Instead of living the life for which he was meant, Dagger spends his days as the apprentice to a blacksmith. He spends his days sharpening the swords of others, rather than practicing with his own. He pines for the life he does not have–and for the handsome lord who frequents the smithy.

Then the King calls for a tournament to show off his son, the Crown Prince. The chance to be a duelist again, to see the lord he so admires but can never have, is more than Dagger can resist…

1000 Victories—Epee loathes the noble life; his heartless father, his overbearing brother, the hypocrites he must call peers. He wants the simpler, ordinary life of a peasant. It is a life he is slowly working toward, and soon to hold in his grasp, no matter the consequences.

All that holds him back is Lord Sharp, the man he has long loved but never been able to win. But, he is very close to winning his thousandth victory over Lord Sharp in the dueling ring. With that 1000th victory, Epee hopes to win at last the man he loves more than even freedom…

The Perfect Son—Sabre has always lived according to the wishes and desires of his father, to the exclusion of everyone and everything else. His father’s eldest son, he strives to be what his father wants. He is affluent, educated, a talented duelist, respected, and feared. He is everything he is supposed to be.

Except happy.

Purchase Link: http://www.lessthanthreepress.com/books/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=92&products_id=200

Review: Megan Derr has again shown us what a wonderful touch she has with gentle romance. In this trinity of stories which starts with Main Gauche (which has a Cinderfella feel to it) we are treated to some wonderful feel good stories where anything is possible.

In the Main Gauche Dagger lives with his step-father and two step brothers, everything was taken away from him when his mother died and she trusted her husband to take care of Dagger, which never happened instead he is working at a Blacksmiths dreaming about one of the customers and of being a gentleman again. Katan is the Crown Prince and he is intrigued by the mysterious Main Gauche, he wishes to get to know the man after the competition but he disappears.

A wonderful feel good story, which is a wonderful rendition of Cinderella with a very heavy male view.

In 1000 Victories we have Epee who has had a crush on Sharp for many years, he set out to prove himself to Sharp but now a figure from the past has emerged to thwart him again. Sharp used to like Epee but an allegation ruined that friendship and now a day hardly passes without them dueling. When the past comes to light Sharp realizes what has always been in front of him.

An incredible story that shows the lengths that some men will go to, to capture the men they love.

In The Perfect Son we have Sabre who has thrown his life away trying to please his father but when his father forgets his birthday it is the catalyst that sets Sabre in motion to take his own life back. Lash meets Sabre at an Inn and sets about to seduce the man, they have a couple of perfect days before Lash disappears and Sabre returns to what was his life.

A great story that shows that love can be anywhere and can hit you unexpectedly.

These three stories are a treat to read as we get the stories of all three brothers from their own points of view, each finding love in his own way and overcoming the iron hand of their father and step-father to become the men they want to be. This one I will recommend to those who like regency-feel stories, happy endings and the more romantic side of love.

Love and Wrath by Kaseka Nvita

Title: Love and Wrath

Author: Kaseka Nvita

Genre: Paranormal

Length: Long Novella (95pgs)

Publisher: Less Than Three Press (17th May 2011)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating:  ♥♥♥♥♥4 ½Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: The worst thing to keep from your lover is a secret…

Mallory is in love; his boyfriend Alex is all that he could possibly want, and the life they’re building together makes him happy—almost happy enough to ignore the fact that Alex is clearly keeping secrets. As close as they are, Mallory knows practically nothing about him. Alex travels a lot and frequently comes home smelling of blood and is reluctant to discuss his mysterious job. As Mallory has a secret of his own that he is loathe to share, he lets it go.

Until Alex comes home smelling strongly of magic, and Mallory’s need to know overcomes his desire to leave well enough alone and cling to happiness. But his need to know has unexpected consequences and puts both of their lives in danger…

Purchase Link: http://www.lessthanthreepress.com/books/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=77_86&products_id=242

Unpublished works can be found via the author’s website under free reads: http://kasekanvita.com/

Review: This is this author’s first published book and it is absolutely cracking. Mallory is beginning to wonder just who his boyfriend is.  Alex is secretive.  He disappears for days on end for work, he doesn’t talk about his past… in fact Alex appears not to exist, but Mallory doesn’t want to rock the boat. Alex has a good reason for his secrets. He doesn’t want Mallory involved, but Mallory started digging and now he is in danger.

This is an incredible story that has magic, action, violence, revenge, mistrust, love, happiness and some secrets. Mallory has a secret but he can’t tell anyone as it would put himself and his adoptive dad in danger.  his boyfriend has secrets of his own and Mallory keeps his nose out… until he gets suspicious and then all hell breaks loose. Alex wishes he could tell Mallory what he does but if Mallory doesn’t know then he’s not in danger.  but then the worse happens and now Alex has to rescue Mallory before it’s too late.

A really well-written, well-plotted and executed story that you find hard to put down once you are involved with the story-line. The secrets are put together nicely.  The action is realistic to the setting and the tantalizing glimpses of sex that we see are very well done. The love is there between the two MCs, but the trust has not been built, which causes problems between them. There isn’t much in the way of sex but the build-up is very hot and the actual sex is alluded to. There are a few darkish moments and some brutal violence and (for me anyway) a few light-hearted moments but none of it is overdone and they are just the right touch.

So, I will recommend this to those that love paranormal, were-wolves, were-lions, elves, magical weapons, magic, some really nasty baddies and a happy ever after that will make you smile.

Zombie Wonderland by Piper Vaughn

Title: Zombie Wonderland

Author: Piper Vaughn

Genre: Horror, Zombie

Length: Short (34pgs)

Publisher: Less Than Three Press (6th December 2011)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4 ½Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Nothing says Christmas like droves of the undead…

All Emery wants for Christmas is someone to share it with. It looks like he might finally be getting his wish in Ross, the sexy customer he’s been crushing on for months. But neither of them counted on the zombies, or on being caught in the worst blizzard in half a century. Even with a plan for contending with the zombie hordes, surviving will take a miracle.

It’s not exactly how Emery dreamed of spending Christmas with Ross, but he can’t think of a better way to spend a zombie apocalypse.

Purchase Link: http://www.lessthanthreepress.com/books/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=94&products_id=270

Review: Emery is alone, not just at work but in his life as well. Only now, he has dreams that involve one of the regular customers. Christmas Eve sees one of his dreams come true when Ross rushes into the diner and sweeps him off his feet… just not quite in the circumstances that he had hoped for. Ross is heading to the diner when the worst happens.   Now he has to reach Emery and get him to safety before they too become victims.  he has watched Emery for a while and this is so not how he wanted to ask him out.

A thoroughly enjoyable short story.  that may be short in pages but is more than large in its gruesomeness. Emery has had a crush on Ross for about three months and has been trying to work up the courage to ask him out. Ross has just decided to ask Emery to go out with him when disaster hits the city.  As the two men struggle to survive and to get to safety they reveal to each other how they feel.

This is romance in the middle of a horror story, which I found to be good. Although I really don’t want to know how the author knows what a head being smashed in sounds like (oh God there goes the gag reflex) or the other multitude of gruesome sounds that are described.  I really liked the action and I thought that the Zombies were coolly disgusting.  The quick relationship that is forged between Emery and Ross is well done and yes, it’s quick.  But they have been watching each other for months. The sex between them is hot, but it is more than just sex, it’s as though they are both celebrating being alive and having survived.

I have to hope (with fingers crossed and lots of begging if I have to) that Piper Vaughn will revisit this couple in future so we can find out how they are doing and to find out how the Zombies came to be. I have to highly recommend this one if you like Zombies, horror, lots of violence towards Zombies and a romance and hot sex in the midst of danger.

 

Kiss the Rain by Megan Derr

Title: Kiss the Rain

Series: Jewel Bonds 02

Author: Megan Derr

Genre: Fantasy

Length: Novella (79pgs)

Publisher: Less Than Three Press (23rd November 2011)

Heat Level: Low

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥4 ½Hearts

Reviewer: Pixie

Blurb: Selsor’s only dream growing up was to be a mage, to bond with a warrior and drive back the monsters in the Territories, live the life his parents had so loved. His dreams falter, however, when he displays no magic despite possessing the ability to use it. His dreams are lost when, during an attack by bullies, he lashes out with uncontrolled magic and accidentally kills an innocent bystander. His jewels blackened, banning him forever from using magic, Selsor is thrown out to survive on the streets as best he is able…

Purchase Link: http://www.lessthanthreepress.com/books/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=92&products_id=269&zenid=3dbba80be085412c7799bc372f4d55a2

Review: Okay, so this is a revised work of a previously free blog story with quite a few changes and it has made it even better. Selsor and Jenohn were both mentioned in An Admirer this is sort of a prequel and their story.

Selsor can’t work his magic; no matter how hard he tries and he is endlessly bullied because of it.   One day he lashes out by accident in an effort to protect himself and finds himself condemned and banished.   Three years later he finds himself a floor scrubber and hating his life. Jenohn is a Royal soldier who is on a mission to discover who is messing with the weather.   He remembers Selsor well and needs his help.

I must admit I love a good Megan Derr book as there is always something so enchanting and simple about her stories.  They are also about the story and the slight romance and not sex.  To be honest there usually isn’t much sex in a Megan Derr book and I have to admit that for some reason I prefer it that way.

This story is well written and it kind of has a medieval feel to it and the descriptions are well-formed and give you a really good picture of the area.   It has some danger, magic, a conceited soldier, an untrained mage and a happy ever after so I have to recommend this to anyone who wants a really good story and any of the above.