Title: Kidnapping Cupid Series: N/A Author: Samantha Lehane Genre: Fantasy Length: Short (29 Pages) Publisher: Musa Publishing (Mar 21st, 2014) Heat Level: Low Heart Rating: ♥♥♥3Hearts Blurb: When Cupid conspires with Venus to play a prank on the stoic god of the sea, he has no idea that his tin-plated arrow will unleash the undersea scandal of the century.
Cupid is always up for a prank, as long as it doesn’t interfere with his football matches, pub brawls, and gambling. When Venus asks her son to strike Neptune, Cupid should have considered why his mother was so interested…or maybe he just should have drunk a little less ambrosia.
Neptune is a stoic sea god, untouched by love. That is until something happens and Neptune sings his love for—Amphitrite? A woman who hates him and until recently, whom Neptune scarcely noticed. But there was a witness–and Neptune knows exactly whose tin arrow is to blame.
Cupid ends up on the pointy side of Neptune’s trident before being dragged under the sea. To get back to the surface, it’s either sink, swim, or seduce. And when wedding bells chime, the love god has to decide if he is truly brave enough to put his heart on the line. Product Link: http://musapublishing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=758 ISBN: 978-1-61937-735-6 Reviewer: Shorty Review: Cupid is kidnapped by Neptune after shooting him with an arrow. It was supposed to just be a joke, But, while Neptune has him, they have a brief fling. At least, that was the plan. It was only after Cupid is released, that he begins to realize he has feelings for Neptune and stops the wedding.
Neptune was hot and sexy, while Cupid was naughty and cute. It was a good read. The use of mythology was creative and the characters were fleshed out nicely.
Socket and Valor have been best friends—and part time superheroes—for years. When an invasion force threatens the Earth, they form a team of heroes to face the threat.
Closeted media darling Valor has no idea that Socket has been nursing a crush on him since their high school days. When a buffer, grittier version of Socket emerges from one of the alien portals, Valor discovers his own attraction, but his refusal to out himself gets in the way of his and Socket’s budding intimacy.
The alternate Socket has his own agenda, however. One that doesn’t include attachments or a team of do-gooders getting in his way.
Review: This was a very nice story, I admit to being partial to this genre though and super heroes always have a special allure to me. This is the story of Earth and how it came near to being conquered by aliens if now for the existence of men and women with special abilities, powers if you will.
In this version of Earth, accidents happen. That’s how most characters became special, but others simply were born that way, manifesting their changes in adolescence as is common in comic books. Our main characters are Valor and Socket. They’ve been friends for years ever since a teen Valor prevented a teen Socket from taking the wrong path. They became fast friends and their friendship always verged on a bit more. For ten years, they were everything they had; Valor was Socket’s family since he was pretty much alone, and Socket became the only person who knew the real man behind Valor’s mask. No matter how many secrets and experiences they shared together through the years though, they both had one little secret each kept from the other.
Socket, out and proud since a teenager never shared with Valor that he has been deeply in love with his best friend. And Valor, always the golden boy, the public and media’s darling never admitted to Socket he is in fact bisexual. Imagine the guilt of Socket pinning after his straight best friend, and imagine the shame Valor feels for being attracted to men and yet not able to share this thing with the only person that knows everything about him.
It isn’t until Earth is endangered by robots and alien invasion through portals that things become delicate, the lines blur, and their friendship literally gets on the line.
Valor in front of the cameras and Socket behind in the shadows pulling the strings create a team of super heroes called The Division to fight for Earth.
The story is written fairly well. We have Valor who is blessed with enormous strength, near indestructibility, and the ability to fly. Socket who can talk with computers. He is the puppeteer, the guy that stays behind and coordinates everything, the mastermind behind all their technology. Doc Lightning, a doctor in real life and mistress of electric energy, her bolts are scary powerful. Dash with her supper-speed, Mace with his magnetic field mastery, and Tiana, the purple alien of the Ellorian people who’s got stranded on Earth and adopted by Socket. There are other characters who come in and out, but this is the core team, The Division.
Now, if I let the complete nerd take charge I’ll have to say that there ought to be more in this story on all counts. I’d have loved for reasoning, more elaborate that is, for these characters’ powers. I’d have loved for their background and cover stories to have been more solid. I’d have loved for their fights to have been more… logical, and I’d have loved for the villains to have actually had a bit more intellect, because really they sucked, and we all know the best part of a super-hero story are the villains.
As the plot will have it there are portals that open up connecting this Earth with another dimension, a parallel Earth, that has already been taken over by aliens, and their citizens are already slaved to the Overseers. The same people existing in this dimension exist in the other… almost. So our heroes are taken aback when along with the robots Peter charges in from a portal killing them as if it was no big deal.
Now Peter Barnes is the other self of Socket. They look alike if Socket actually had it in him to leave his command base and exercise. Peter is hot, with a killer body, and a fabulous mastery of swords. He ought to be though as he’s survived in his world by being good enough for the arena the Overseers indulge so much to. Peter comes with the story of having escaped his Master and landed on this dimension by chance, and is therefore given refugee by our team.
Did I say this story has some holes in there? Well, there are plenty and again if I really want to be the nerd that can’t let go of little details I’d say the entire villainy plot is wobbly at best. You just can’t have a proper, powerful super-team if you don’t have perfect bad guys, and these bad guys here were far, far from great, let alone perfect.
As for the romance of the story, Peter becomes the reason Valor realizes he’s in love with Socket, and while things seem perfect for a while there, those little secrets they have between them two and the hang-ups and the different mind-set quickly turn things sour. And we all know when a hero is distracted by unrequited love, love gone wrong etc. etc. they can hardly think straight and see what’s in front of their eyes. There is not much challenge left in the end for Peter to accomplish his goal.
As for the pair itself while having some seriously hot scenes, it failed to make me feel that spark, the real chemistry that would make me drown in the words and emerge only to gasp for air. It failed to give me the longing those two should have had.
Overall, as I said at the beginning, I’m partial to this genre. I’m also a bit demanding when it comes to it. This book could have been much, much better. Normally I’d have rated it lower too, but I let myself go and for the most part, I managed to enjoy it. If you indulge in the genre once in a while you’ll find it enjoyable as well and probably love it and want some more. If however you’re one of those nerdy types that eat comic books for breakfast I think you’ll find the above and many more to ruin the experience for you.
Blurb:Is it possible for two Civil War veterans to find their place in the world on the Kansas Prairie?
When the War Between the States ended in 1865, many Americans emerged from the turmoil energized by their possibilities for the future. Frank Greerson and Gregory Young were no different. After battling southern rebels and preserving the Union, the two men set out to battle the Kansas Prairie and build a life together. Frank yearned for his own farm, away from his family—even at the risk of alienating them. Gregory, an only child, returned home to claim his inheritance to help finance their adventure out west.
Between the difficult work of establishing a farm on the unforgiving Kansas prairie, and the additional obstacles provided by the weather, Native Americans and wild animals will their love and loyalty be enough to sustain them through the hardships?
Review: Greg and Frank met in the civil war and fell in love. They decided to take two claims in Kansas to be away from people and live their lives in peace. They had big dreams of their house and farm. Can they truly find a place of their own?
Oh my was this one heck of a beautiful story! I absolutely loved these two guys. Their love was so perfect, even though they had disagreements which are very normal; there was never any doubt of how they felt.
Their respective backstories of their growing up and how they met was woven neatly and smoothly into the present story. I felt as if I was traveling this journey right with them, living in the plains, and a part of their lives. There were some twists, and turns, and hardships and I simply loved the surprising Happy for now ending. I am so hoping this means a sequel is on the way and I hope soon! Please!
I highly recommend this if you like stories of the old west, civil war soldiers, two men in a very committed relationship in a hard time, family, Indians and a beautiful romance this is for you.
Blurb: Dominic Taylor and Matt Harris have been friendly rivals – with occasional benefits – for a few years. With the downturn in the economy, though, Matt’s business is struggling. Dom, whose company is doing well, offers Matt a bet that could help save Matt’s company. But the terms of the bet would literally put Matt’s ass on the line and change the dynamic of their friendship.
As the deadline approaches, they graduate from making out to making love, raising the stakes as they each come to terms with what they really want, and what really matters.
No matter who wins, there will be no going back for either one of them. Because the winner takes all.
Review: I absolutely loved this story. Great story line and wonderful characters. Dominic has wanted Matt since he has known him. He offers to help Matt when Matt’s company looks like it would be folding. The help actually comes in the form of a bet. If Matt can convince his board to sell to Dominic, Dominic get’s Matt for one week.
Winner Takes All caught my attention from the moment I started reading and kept it till the end. Dominic and Matt are pure magic together. Dominic could teach classes in seduction. Poor Matt didn’t stand a chance. Not that he really wanted one. But, it was fun to watch him struggle with his attraction to Dom…and really, really hot.
I loved that it wasn’t a short story or a long story, it was the perfect length. I would re-read this story many times over.
When psychic Nate Coleman dreams of a murder, he knows it’s a premonition. He can’t forget the image of his ex-lover with a bullet hole through his chest. Nate has no choice but to confront William and face the skeptical scientist’s ridicule.
Dr. William Ryner doesn’t believe in what he can’t prove. When Nate comes back into his life, it’s not to rekindle their love, but to bring up more of that mumbo jumbo that split them apart.
Despite William’s refusal to listen, Nate can’t ignore the premonition. And, William can’t ignore Nate. Before the gunman strikes, William must either trust in Nate’s ability or rely only on the facts, but if he does the latter, pride could be the death of him.
Review: Nate is psychic and has a nightmare that leads him back to his ex-lover William, William the man he has never gotten over but a man he couldn’t live with because of his scorn for Nate’s ability. Nate knows he has to help, but how can he help a man who refuses to believe in the improvable? William is a scientist who doesn’t believe in something that he can’t prove, when his ex-lover comes to him telling him an outlandish tale where his life is in danger he just doesn’t know what to do, but seeing Nate again awakens his feelings for the man, but how can William see his way to believing in what Nate does?
This is quite a good little short with some really hot office sex ;-). Nate and William parted way years before because of William being able to believe in Nate’s psychic ability, they loved each other but neither man was willing to budge so Nate left. Now, years later Nate has a premonition of William being shot and does everything he can to make William listen. William can’t believe in psychics, it has never been scientifically proven, so he treated Nate badly, but now, with Nate back in his life he realizes that his pride was stopping them from being together.
I quite enjoyed this story of what seems like star-crossed lovers, who love each other but the lack of belief from one causes them to be apart. I liked both characters and also liked the fact that neither would bend on their principles even if it drove them apart, but the fact that one of them would later admit that it might have been more about his pride and that it was that which kept them apart was a good way for them to be able to reconcile and kept it more believable. The office scene was hot and showed that even after years apart they can’t keep their hands off each other and that the flame between them was still as strong as it had ever been.
I will recommend this to those who love psychics, scientists, changing beliefs, reconnecting love, hot office sex and a happy ending.
Blurb: Austin Lombard is desperate to forget a bad relationship the night he goes out with only one rule in mind: no names. But when he meets a gorgeous, irreverent Scotsman, Austin’s resolve is put to the test again and again as the night goes on. “James” is smart, a great kisser, and everything Austin would want in a date. But Austin resists; he’s had enough of names, and enough of relationships. Hasn’t he?
Review: This short story is all about a one-night stand and I absolutely loved it. It’s the first time I read anything coming from this author. I love her style, her voice and her humor. I spend the first half of the story laughing myself to tears with the witty dialogues between the two characters.
Austin has gone cruising in an effort to move on and stop pinning for his cheater ex-boyfriend. One thing or maybe two, get laid and no names. Period. The Scot he meets at the bar though is, well I just loved him. Witty, constantly making jokes, sometimes really bad jokes that suited his profile perfectly. He’s interesting and alluring and damn that nameless Brit had me engrossed in this story almost against my will.
So, of course Austin is attracted. it’s almost like he’s in a spell. They takeoff together and a night unlike most one-night stands starts. Thing is (and this is why I loved this author even more) that not everything goes smoothly. There is awkwardness and nerves spilling making this even more realistic, there are hot scenes that are not too much, nothing that makes you think of surreal fantasies taking place. It’s plain brilliant and I adored it; so very rare for a short story.
In this end this is the narration of a one-night stand that has the potential of growing into more and the main character has only to overcome his fears and inhibitions and just give it a go, all wrapped up and written with a very talented pen.
Blurb:Can one determined angel smooth the course of true love and help Ricky get his man?
Ricky has been secretly in love with his best friend Jez forever, but he’s never dared confess his feelings because he thinks Jez is too high-class for him. One evening, while sharing a quiet evening with Jez, a mysterious angel, Madred, appears and tries to persuade Ricky to take a chance on love.
Too bad Ricky doesn’t believe in angels. Madred is forced to take desperate measures in an attempt to show the reluctant Ricky the truth. When the angel leaves, can Ricky find the courage to declare himself to Jez, and what will happen to their friendship if he does?
Review: Ricky loves his best friend Jez, but has never had the courage to do anything about it. He thinks he is just an airhead who doesn’t deserve someone like Jez. Luckily, his Guardian Angel Madred thinks differently. But, first Madred has to make Ricky believe in angels, before he can make him believe in himself.
This is a very cute little short that had me giggling. Ricky pines for his friend Jez, but doesn’t think he is good enough. Madred is Ricky’s fifth guardian angel, yes that’s right fifth, Ricky doesn’t believe in angels so divine intervention is a little tricky. Madred and Ricky go head to head as Madred tries to get Ricky to take a chance at happiness, if only he would put his heart out there to Jez.
Ah, this is such a sweet short about taking chances; Ricky has been gently nudged quite a few times to put his heart out there to Jez. But, he always thinks of something that always holds him back. This time Heaven means business and Madred is given the task of convincing him. Loved it, the storyline was great, but we didn’t get to know the characters, except that Ricky is extremely stubborn, it was a shame but for a short story it was great.
I recommend this to those who love angel intervention, conflicted men, a sweet short story and a happy ending.
At fifteen, Lee Mitchell and Roman Carmichael are sure their fledgling relationship can survive any heartache or hardship—until a spring canoeing trip ends with Lee in the hospital and Roman missing. With his memories of that final, tragic trip gone, Lee spends the next ten years building a life around the river where he lost Roman, existing on the hope that one day he’ll find a clue as the fate of his first love.
During a late March snowstorm, Lee finds a stranger wandering the road and offers him a ride. Lee’s shock and confusion at discovering this stranger is Roman, older and confused by his long absence, is fast tempered by relief and joy. But Roman isn’t back to stay, and as they work to repair the fractured pieces of their past, the emerging truth of the night Roman disappeared may be the one thing that their enduring love cannot overcome.
Review: Lee and Roman started their relationship at 15, but it ended in tragedy when Lee ended up in the hospital with no memory and Roman disappeared and is presumed dead. But, in the ten years since, Lee has never given up hope that Roman is still alive. When Lee comes across a man wandering down the road in just shorts and t-shirt in the snow he takes pity on him… and discovers it is Roman, wearing the same clothes as the day he disappeared. Can Lee discover what happened that night ten years ago and find out where Roman has been or will the truth be too much to cope with.
This story packs a punch for being a novella; it is a complete story that leads you along one step at a time. Guiding you to use your imagination and then smacking you in the face with the truth, brilliantly done, absolutely perfect. Lee has missed Roman for everyday of the ten years that he has been missing, always hoping for some clue as to what happened to him, always hoping that he really is still alive, keeping Roman in his heart for always. The day he comes across a man walking down the road in unsuitable clothes he decides to help him, but is amazed when he realizes that it is his Roman. But, there are some differences and although he wants to know everything. Roman tells him he has to remember that night. Roman has been through his own type of hell and the only way to release Lee from his is to get him to let go of the past and move on. But, Lee is more stubborn than he remembered and just might be able to help him.
I loved this story, it was beautifully crafted and the twist is one that I never saw coming, there were many things running through my head as to what might have happened and where Roman had been, but I never even touched on the true one. I loved the way that the author showed us Lee and Roman when they were young and the beginning of their romance, the support they gave each other even at such a young age and finally what really happened that fateful night. I really can’t say anything more without giving something away, and you will want to discover how wonderful and slightly spooky this book is for yourself.
So I am recommending this to those who love the supernatural, true love, enduring love, twists and a truly wonderful story.
Blurb: After his cousin is murdered, journalist Jessie Canning reunites with his estranged lover to investigate it.
Jessie was on the phone when his cousin, Ben, was attacked. Fifteen minutes later, when Jessie arrived at Ben’s condo, his cousin was dead. With life and death as close as a minute away, Jessie must work with his estranged lover, Mathew, to learn why anyone would’ve wanted to kill Ben.
Review: Jessie receives a phone call from his cousin Ben, but as Ben is asking him to come around as soon as possible the line goes dead after a series of thumps. Now with his cousin dead and his estranged husband/lover by his side they have to discover the truth and just what Senergine is trying to hide.
This is quite a unique nanotechnology, zombie suspense story that is quite gruesome, violent and bloody… whoop! Jessie has been dwelling on the separation between himself and his husband. Hoping that Mathew will phone him and they can make things right between them. When he receives a call from his cousin Ben, and Ben seems to be in trouble he drops everything to go help him. But, when he arrives his cousin is dead, the police are there and men in haz-mat suits… could it have anything to do with the company Ben works for? With the help of his estranged husband, he begins to delve into what has happened and discovers what Senergine is trying desperately to hide.
The two main characters in this are Jessie and Mathew, who are married, but have been estranged for a couple of weeks. Their relationship seems a bit stilted and although they do have a wonderful reconciliation scene and incredible make up sex, you still feel like you are missing something in the relationship. The nanotechnology mutating and going wrong was brilliant and scary; something that could be a medical breakthrough turning into something out of a horror story and the developers trying to hide it was really well done.
Combining both story lines into one was well done, as was the emotional turmoil that Jessie goes through throughout the book. We don’t really get a real feel from the other characters like Mathew, Gabriel and Nathen, as the story is all from Jessie’s POV, but we get to know them enough to make us care what happens. This story is violent and bloody and near the end it gets a bit horrific, as you realize the lengths that some scientists will go to, to cover things up and also to discover answers.
I will recommend this to those who love futuristic, nanotechnology, zombie/infected thrillers, with blood, gore and danger and a reconciliation of two stubborn men in love.
Blurb: After escaping its mysterious grasp twelve years ago, Ethan Wilde never thought he’d return to Kingston, North Carolina—until the murder of an old schoolmate draws him back to the hometown he fears and the love he left behind. Rooted to Kingston by a force he can’t explain, Jesse couldn’t leave with Ethan when he asked, and it’s a choice he’s always regretted. A choice based on a terrible secret they share with four others. When they were nine years old, the six of them were taken into the woods, and no one is exactly sure what happened to them. Only that they came out changed. Marked. Twenty years later, the evil that hunted them is back and it’s collected two souls already. Ethan and Jesse’s love defeated the monster once, but are old feelings strong enough to save the survivors a second time
Review: Let me start by saying, if I’d known what this book was about, I would not have touched it with a ten-foot pole. See, I am basically a wimp. I say that nightlight in the bathroom is for my kids, but truth be told…I’m scared of the dark.
Prodigal scared the bejezus out of me…and I like it. From word one there is a dark tone to this book. You don’t know what drove Ethan from his hometown, but you do know that death is bringing him back.
The romance is secondary to the mystery, for sure. And there is just enough paranormal to make reality even more frightening. Page turning anticipation kept me reading well in the wee hours. This book, for me, was absolutely fantastic. Like I said, I’m pretty much a newbie with the genre, but, I’m pretty sure I’ll pick up A. M. Arthur’s next book. But, Trust me…I’ll be reading it with the lights on. Highly recommend.
Blurb: College sophomore Alexander Strauss has one rule: no messing around with straight guys. Especially not his mouth-watering roommate, Shannon. When their ride share drives off the side of a mountain, the two young men find themselves deep in an uninhabited forest searching for their missing friend. Wandering the famously cursed grounds of Dudleytown, Alex figures something truly unholy must be at play, because only insanity could tempt him to break his cardinal rule.
Previously Published By Aspen Mountain Press 29th October 2010
Review: A fantastic Halloween read. Alex, Shannon and Ricky are car-sharing their way to Goshen when Ricky declares he knows a short cut… and their troubles begin.
This is a really great piece of writing, I loved everything about it; the characters were cool, the setting perfect and creepy, the story-line great and the suspense holds you by the hair on the back of your neck.
God. There’s so much I want to rave about, but I can’t without giving spoilers away… aarrrggg. So what can I tell you about… well, I can tell you that Alex seems to have a film for any setting and is quite descriptive and it’s quite eerie to have horror films mentioned and you can picture it perfectly and imagine being in the same situation and the tingles just hit your spine. Alex also seems to be quite level-headed (except about film descriptions) and keeps his cool in what has to be quite a scary situation. Shannon seems to be more of a take action type of guy but he will ask for input from Alex and will also protect him and Ricky. Well, let’s just say he really should have stayed on the main roads.
There are some hot scenes between Alex and Shannon even in the midst of spine-tingling suspense and it’s great when they sort out their misunderstanding. I loved how they worked well together and they made a great team.
I am going to recommend this to those who like thrillers, suspense, escaped convicts, a bit of danger, tingles down your spine, a bit of hot lovin’ and a great story.
Title: Kidnapping Cupid
