Saturday Shorts

Saturday Shorts

Saturday Shorts is a feature where I review 3-4 short stories that are 100 pages or less. Enjoy!

*Books source ~ Many thanks to the authors for providing me with review copies in exchange for honest reviews.

Title ~ Celestial Heat

Author ~ Ali Atwood

Publisher ~ eXtasy Books

Published ~ 21 February 2010

Genre ~ Sci-Fi

My Rating ~ 4 bites and a nibble out of 5

Feyna Sy Tordinay is a psychologist and her new assignment is to evaluate Ketrick DeSardon’s crew. Unfortunately, Feyna and Ketrick have a past history, where they shared a few passionate weeks and then he dumped her. But Feyna is a professional determined to reach the top of her profession, so she squares her shoulders and prepares to get the job done. Neither one expect the surge of renewed heat and they certainly didn’t expect danger to throw them together forcing a mating ritual. Can they overcome the stumbling block of the past and the danger in the present to make a future?

Sci-fi, danger, passionate scenes and great writing, what’s not to love in this short story? The world could have used more building and the danger was taken care of a bit too handily, but for a short story this is one highly pleasant read.

Title ~ Leximandra Reports And Other Tales

Series ~ Draykon, #0.5

Author ~ Charlotte English

Publisher ~ Charlotte English

Published ~ 26 October 2011

Genre ~ Fantasy/Anthology

My Rating ~ 4 bites and a nibble out of 5

This anthology is set in the world of Draykon and includes:

Mr.Warvel’s Red Cloak

Leximandra Reports

Rikbeek Earns His Keep

Sigwide and the Broken Birds

I haven’t yet read Book 1 in the Draykon series, titled Draykon, though I do have it in my review queue. After reading this fantasy anthology I can tell you I can’t wait to dive right in! Each story is short, told from various viewpoints and all four can be read in a relatively short period of time. The writing is wonderful, the world is fascinating and the characters are very, very interesting. These four shorts have only whet my appetite and I want more, more, more. 

Title ~ Drive a Hard Bargain

Author ~ Ian Ashe

Publisher ~ Ian Ashe

Published ~ 13 December 2011

Genre ~ Humor/Short

My Rating ~ 4 bites

When Inez Gold’s neighbor offers her $3000 plus expenses to drive a car to Dallas for some rich guy and then fly back home, she doesn’t ask many questions. However, once she’s on the road she hears strange noises emanating from the vehicle and after pulling over to check it out discovers a man in the trunk, tape over his mouth and handcuffed. Does Inez freak out? Well, ok, a little bit, but then she’s off and running on one of her typical Inez-like adventures.

Well-written and quick-flowing this is a fast humorous read. Inez is a bit of a character, that one crazy friend everyone seems to have that gets into and out of trouble without much lasting damage and has one heck of a wild ride while doing it. You know, the one who falls into a pile of shit and ends up selling it as fertilizer to the next person who walks by.  This is a fairly short story and could most likely be read while waiting for the Dr, dentist or, if they are anything like around here, the McDonald’s ‘fast’ food drive thru.