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 review copies in exchange for honest reviews.

Title ~ Lost Souls: Imperfection

Series ~ Lost Souls, Episode 2

Author ~ Laurel O'Donnell

Publisher ~ Laurel O'Donnell

Published ~ 28 August 2012

Genre ~ Paranormal

My Rating ~ 4 bites and a nibble out of 5

Sam, her brother Ben and freshie Christian are Lost Souls. They are people who have died and, for whatever reason, missed their ride to the other side. Now, they’re stuck between the two places. They try to protect other Lost Souls from being drained of their energy by the Changed and they try to protect humans from being possessed by the Changed after the Changed has accumulated enough energy. They’ve done the best they can, but until recently they didn’t know how to get rid of the Changed for good. While hunting for a missing Lost Soul they stumble across an old Changed nemesis that should have been locked behind iron walls. Something big is coming and Sam’s now Changed husband seems to have something to do with it.

I read Lost Souls: Resurrection almost 2 years ago, so while I remembered the basics of the story, I really appreciated that the beginning of Imperfection gave a recap to jog my memory of major details before plunging into the next episode.

Episode 2 has Sam, Ben and Christian looking for a fellow Soul named Becky, who had gone off looking for a freshie (a new Lost Soul), but she hasn’t checked in with Eugene, a techno geekie Soul who invents really cool tech that the Souls can use. They start with the freshie she was tracking and are surprised by Scala, a Changed that Sam & Ben had locked in an iron cell centuries before. How the hell did he get out? Now, they have a bigger problem on their hands and they still haven’t found Becky. To top it all off, Sam’s husband has shown up and he’s a Changed. Things are going downhill fast.

I really enjoyed this second episode in the series. The mystery, the workings of this world, the characters (though Sam could be less of a bitch to Christian) and the writing make for a great read. I look forward to continuing on with the Lost Souls.

Title ~ Just Like That

Author ~ Margo Candela

Publisher ~ SugarMissile, llc

Published ~ 27 February 2012

Genre ~ Romance/Contemporary

My Rating ~ 4 bites and a nibble out of 5

Leslie Quinn has a job she loves, but a boss she hates and a long term boyfriend who just isn’t doing it for her. After Ryan dumps her, she appeases her friend Paige by going out on the occasional blind date, but she really just wants to focus on climbing the ladder at work. When she finally gets a day off her bitchy boss calls her up to take care of client because she’s too busy with the show that Leslie did all the work setting up. Leslie has no idea that this sudden burden will be a blessing instead.

I could never do the job Leslie loves. She’s a sales associate for a major upscale department store before she gets promoted to assistant stylist. I don’t have the temperament to put up with asshole people who think they’re better than everyone else because they have money. And that boss of hers…oh, boy. Nope. I would never have lasted. LOL Paige is funny, Ryan is a loser and Leslie is the Little Stylist Who Could. This is a great short read and I loved the ending, too! 

Title ~ The Adventures of Mrs. Browning

Author ~ Marcia Carrington

Publisher ~ Marcia Carrington

Published ~ 12 June 2012

Genre ~ Contemporary

My Rating ~ 3 bites and a nibble out of 5

Ever since she has become a widow, Mrs. Browning lives a very drab, boring and lonely life. Or so she wants everyone to think. On Friday night however, she becomes someone else.

I’m not sure I understood this story. Why does Mrs. Browning live in her drab little cottage with her boring clothes, cooking meals for one and leaving the tv on for noise and entertainment? She has a whole other life on the weekends. Why not just ditch the cottage and live in the city? This was an interesting story, but it confused me. And I’d really like to know more about Conrad and her life in the city.