Never After by Jove BelleMy rating: 1 of 5 stars
This is not a full story, short or otherwise. It's barely a full scene. There's no way to review without spoilers, so I use certain tags.
(view spoiler)
April 12 2018
View all my reviews
Showing posts with label Dirt Road Books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dirt Road Books. Show all posts
Friday, April 13, 2018
Never After by Jove Belle
Never After by Jove BelleMy rating: 1 of 5 stars
This is not a full story, short or otherwise. It's barely a full scene. There's no way to review without spoilers, so I use certain tags.
(view spoiler)
April 12 2018
View all my reviews
Sunday, April 8, 2018
Floral Designs by Andi Marquette
Floral Designs by Andi MarquetteMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
A lovely little story set during and around Valentine's day. The lead main character (and only point of view character) is content to be by herself - nein, she prefers doing things that others just don't understand, that really does like doing certain things sans companion. She's not asexual or aromantic, though, and has had relationships in the past.
One such relationship is now just a friendship. And that friend seems bound and determined to get her friend someone to love, and/or, at the very least, play with. Romantically and/or sexually. Debbie, the friend, remains Marissa's friend, the main character, despite this inability to stop trying to find said 'someone to play with'. The woman Debbie has picked to thrust at Marissa this time, for . . . was it months? is a 'too cute for her own good butch woman', Marissa's words (to herself), and too much of a 'flavor of the month' type (again, Marissa's impression/words to herself).
Things might have rested there, with Marissa having her friend occasionally thrusting people, or more specifically Gabriela at Marissa, with Marissa reacting with disdain and shudders. But then Gabriela, seemingly outside Debbie's influences ('seemingly?', well yes - she does something on her own, but I can't say with certainty that Debbie might not have provided a nudge one way or another), begins to interact with Marissa. Which, actually, initially reinforces some of Marissa's negative attitude towards Gabriela, though also begins to break down Marissa's wall.
Marissa is a florist. It's Valentine Season. And Gabriela has asked Marissa's help with putting together a special flower arrangement for a particular woman - who is not actually Gabriela's current girlfriend, but instead current potential.
Lovely little story, quite enjoyable.
Rating: 4.89
April 7 2018
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Saturday, April 7, 2018
Devil's Bargain by Andi Marquette
Devil's Bargain by Andi MarquetteMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
A somewhat odd story about a young woman named Sarah who has undertaken a quest to recover the family gold. And who enlists the help of those she never should have been near - for relatively obvious reasons, since they do what was expected, double-cross her and 'kill' her. That's actually the start of the story - Sarah being stabbed 'to death'.
A short story set in an unnamed period of time, though it is 'obviously' the Age of Sails, so . . . 1700s?, and includes pirates, and the like. It also involves fantasy creatures. Meet, also, at the beginning - when the nearly dead Sarah is confronted by yet another pirate-y looking person, albeit a female one this time. Who offers Sarah a deal - a 'Devil's Bargain'.
Where-upon . . . well, the story is too short to tell too much more. It is an interesting historical/pirate/vampire story. There is a tinge of romance, but it is not a romance story. Certain things hint at lesbianism, but I'm not certain I can even really call it lesbian fiction. For various reasons.
I enjoyed the story, at least.
Rating: 3.89
April 7 2018
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Saturday, March 31, 2018
Hamburgers are not Aerodynamic by R.G. Emanuelle
This was an okay story for what it was – but for what it was supposed to be. This is/was a full short story. Instead it was more of a teaser.
As may or may not be common in short stories – this is a solo point of view story. From the point of view of one ‘Cat’, who is on a long dreamed of road trip. Driving wherever, stopping at whatever strikes her fancy. She’s whining and annoyed, though, because it is less fun than she expected. Mostly because it was supposed to be a two person road trip and her friend got food poisoning and dropped out of the trip – mid-trip.
She stops at a dinner when her stomach rumbles at her. She promptly gets hit in the face by a hamburger (there are reasons). The waitress flirts with her. Something might happen between the two of them. And . . . . well, that was the story. The end.
Is a teaser. TEASER! WHERE’S MY STORY I PAID A WHOLE $0 FOR! Hehe, I joke with self. Yes, this is another of those free short stories findable on the Dirt Road Books website.
Rating: 3.25
March 28 2018
As may or may not be common in short stories – this is a solo point of view story. From the point of view of one ‘Cat’, who is on a long dreamed of road trip. Driving wherever, stopping at whatever strikes her fancy. She’s whining and annoyed, though, because it is less fun than she expected. Mostly because it was supposed to be a two person road trip and her friend got food poisoning and dropped out of the trip – mid-trip.
She stops at a dinner when her stomach rumbles at her. She promptly gets hit in the face by a hamburger (there are reasons). The waitress flirts with her. Something might happen between the two of them. And . . . . well, that was the story. The end.
Is a teaser. TEASER! WHERE’S MY STORY I PAID A WHOLE $0 FOR! Hehe, I joke with self. Yes, this is another of those free short stories findable on the Dirt Road Books website.
Rating: 3.25
March 28 2018
Thursday, March 29, 2018
Elfin Magic by R.G. Emanuelle
After reading one of the free short stories by this author released by Dirt Road Books, I promptly read another. By the same author I mean. Even though I was somewhat disappointed in the first I’d read.
It’s March and I’m reading a Christmas story. Heh.
Right, so, another solo point of view story – from the point of view of an elf – or, at least, a woman who wears an elf costume at a department story during the holidays to work the register in the little hut that processes photos taken with Satan. Yes, bring your kids to see Satan. Bah. I mean Santa, of course. Stupid fingers not type what I want (and yes, I’ve fought them to actually write all rest, they wanted to type ‘time’ instead of ‘type’ earlier, among other things . . . dangnabbit, stop removing my spaces, fingers!)
While her stomach rumbles (a reoccurring theme for this author? Hehe, I joke with myself, just noticing a reoccurring plot point in two stories read on same day), the woman plans to go on break. But wait! There’s a gorgeous woman who is next! POV woman (and here remember people’s names would be nice, I think her ‘elf’ name was something like Jangles, and her human name was something like Maddy, but I might be wrong about both) and gorgeous woman (whose name escapes me completely) flirt.
Then, I think it’s the next day, that same woman returns. Sans kid. Asks if POV woman is about to have a break.
The two sneak into an out of the way area that consists of a den of bears. Stuffed bears. Graphic depiction of sex may or may not occur, with some odd bell ringing, and almost constant mental reminders that they have a thin layer of bears (and. . . other stuff) between them and the public).
Despite not much happening in this story, it seemed a lot more complete than the other story I read by this author today. Much more satisfying; much less of a teaser.
Rating: 3.75
March 28 2018
It’s March and I’m reading a Christmas story. Heh.
Right, so, another solo point of view story – from the point of view of an elf – or, at least, a woman who wears an elf costume at a department story during the holidays to work the register in the little hut that processes photos taken with Satan. Yes, bring your kids to see Satan. Bah. I mean Santa, of course. Stupid fingers not type what I want (and yes, I’ve fought them to actually write all rest, they wanted to type ‘time’ instead of ‘type’ earlier, among other things . . . dangnabbit, stop removing my spaces, fingers!)
While her stomach rumbles (a reoccurring theme for this author? Hehe, I joke with myself, just noticing a reoccurring plot point in two stories read on same day), the woman plans to go on break. But wait! There’s a gorgeous woman who is next! POV woman (and here remember people’s names would be nice, I think her ‘elf’ name was something like Jangles, and her human name was something like Maddy, but I might be wrong about both) and gorgeous woman (whose name escapes me completely) flirt.
Then, I think it’s the next day, that same woman returns. Sans kid. Asks if POV woman is about to have a break.
The two sneak into an out of the way area that consists of a den of bears. Stuffed bears. Graphic depiction of sex may or may not occur, with some odd bell ringing, and almost constant mental reminders that they have a thin layer of bears (and. . . other stuff) between them and the public).
Despite not much happening in this story, it seemed a lot more complete than the other story I read by this author today. Much more satisfying; much less of a teaser.
Rating: 3.75
March 28 2018
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Season's Meetings by Andi Marquette
My fourth short story read today, and second involving a Christmas theme. Odd. Right, so, this is another of those free short stories findable on the Dirt Road Books website.
Rae is attempting to fly to California to be with sister and her kids for Christmas. But the story starts with her at the airport watching as her flight moves from delayed to cancelled. While waiting in line at the airline desk, Rae interacts with ‘art gallery woman’, aka Erika. They flirt. Rae isn’t 100% certain if they are or are not actually flirting. She does feel sparks in her intestines though (well, sparks are mentioned, I forget where they were striking her).
Luckily for Rae, the mountain of snow fell on the airport where she lives (well, she lives in Washington DC and this is Reagan she’s at, but it’s one of the two regional airports, if you don’t include BWI, which is really close, really, so there’s like – at least, three regional airports, though I say regional but I think all of them are international. Is Dulles considered International? I don’t remember. Ah, it is, though Reagan is considered national not international; did the story call Reagan an international airport? I don’t’ remember).
My reviews sometimes seem like I just opened my brain and dumped whatever was in there onto the screen. They ramble, but, no, there generally is some filtering. The above was an example of the unfiltered version.
And now I’ve forgotten what I’ve written.
Rae, while at Reagan National Airport two days before Christmas, watches as the announcement board moves her flight status from delayed to cancelled. There’s, like, a mountain of snow outside. She informs certain people, like her sister, before moving over to the airline desk to see about what’s next. While in line, she interacts with a woman she calls ‘art gallery woman’ because of the way she’s dressed.
Later, Rae gives Erika a ride from the airport to her, Erika’s, hotel. And they interact/flirt more. A spark is sparked. A fire is fired. A pickle is pickled. Okay, I do not know where I’m attempting to go there.
Now this one, of the four short stories I’ve read today, is the fullest most complete short story that I’ve read. Today. Quite satisfying. Not sexually explicit. Except for the kissing.
Rating: 4.44
March 28 2018
Rae is attempting to fly to California to be with sister and her kids for Christmas. But the story starts with her at the airport watching as her flight moves from delayed to cancelled. While waiting in line at the airline desk, Rae interacts with ‘art gallery woman’, aka Erika. They flirt. Rae isn’t 100% certain if they are or are not actually flirting. She does feel sparks in her intestines though (well, sparks are mentioned, I forget where they were striking her).
Luckily for Rae, the mountain of snow fell on the airport where she lives (well, she lives in Washington DC and this is Reagan she’s at, but it’s one of the two regional airports, if you don’t include BWI, which is really close, really, so there’s like – at least, three regional airports, though I say regional but I think all of them are international. Is Dulles considered International? I don’t remember. Ah, it is, though Reagan is considered national not international; did the story call Reagan an international airport? I don’t’ remember).
My reviews sometimes seem like I just opened my brain and dumped whatever was in there onto the screen. They ramble, but, no, there generally is some filtering. The above was an example of the unfiltered version.
And now I’ve forgotten what I’ve written.
Rae, while at Reagan National Airport two days before Christmas, watches as the announcement board moves her flight status from delayed to cancelled. There’s, like, a mountain of snow outside. She informs certain people, like her sister, before moving over to the airline desk to see about what’s next. While in line, she interacts with a woman she calls ‘art gallery woman’ because of the way she’s dressed.
Later, Rae gives Erika a ride from the airport to her, Erika’s, hotel. And they interact/flirt more. A spark is sparked. A fire is fired. A pickle is pickled. Okay, I do not know where I’m attempting to go there.
Now this one, of the four short stories I’ve read today, is the fullest most complete short story that I’ve read. Today. Quite satisfying. Not sexually explicit. Except for the kissing.
Rating: 4.44
March 28 2018
Sunday, March 25, 2018
Apple by Gill McKnight
I wasn’t sure what I’d be getting myself into by entering this story here. I kind of expected to dislike it. That I was setting myself up for two ‘bad’ reads in a row. So why’d I enter it? Well, one – there’s a ton of people out there that like/love this author’s work (even if I hadn’t before now), and two, I like giving authors a lot of chances before just cutting them off. And this was a short story – free at that (there are 14 free short stories on the Dirt Road Books website).
I had a vague idea that this would be a fairy tale retelling and or that there would at least be a Snow White character and a huntsmen character (and that the huntsmen would be ’different’ than normal). Otherwise, I didn’t know what the story would be about.
So, I plunged in. To find Snow White, Snowie, talking to someone named ‘Red Cap’ (yeah, stupid me, took me forever to realize who that was, and for too long moment thought maybe Red Cap was a bird, since there were some Black Caps that turned up that were, in fact, birds (ETA: the animals, including the birds, had the ability to talk in this story, which I failed to mention when I initially released this review) – I won’t mention who the character is modeled on, there’s a tendency to play with names in this story, so I’ll leave it as something for the reader to find out (though they might know immediately just from ‘Red Cap’, but, meh).
Where was I? Right. Story opens with Snowie holding an apple while talking with Red Cap. Red Cap is quite paranoid and believes Snowie shouldn’t eat the apple. A bite is taken, Snowie falls to the floor, and the action is commenced – Red Cap must find help! And the story unfolds from there.
There is one and only one POV in the story – Red Cap. The story was quite interesting, and unexpectedly erotic. Fun story.
So, my reading of this author has gone from: 1st story: DNF; 2nd story: barely 3 stars; 3rd story: 4.75 stars – I assume if I continue on this trajectory, I’ll read something that will get placed on my six star shelf despite that being closed to solo reads (only rereads can get there).
My first story from a publisher I didn’t really realize existed (I didn’t know they existed, but I’ve seen one of their two (or is it three?) novels that they’ve released – I’ve just not read it).
Rating: 4.80
(yes, I overrated based on the fluffiness, and the erotic nature of the story *shrugs*)
March 25 2018
I had a vague idea that this would be a fairy tale retelling and or that there would at least be a Snow White character and a huntsmen character (and that the huntsmen would be ’different’ than normal). Otherwise, I didn’t know what the story would be about.
So, I plunged in. To find Snow White, Snowie, talking to someone named ‘Red Cap’ (yeah, stupid me, took me forever to realize who that was, and for too long moment thought maybe Red Cap was a bird, since there were some Black Caps that turned up that were, in fact, birds (ETA: the animals, including the birds, had the ability to talk in this story, which I failed to mention when I initially released this review) – I won’t mention who the character is modeled on, there’s a tendency to play with names in this story, so I’ll leave it as something for the reader to find out (though they might know immediately just from ‘Red Cap’, but, meh).
Where was I? Right. Story opens with Snowie holding an apple while talking with Red Cap. Red Cap is quite paranoid and believes Snowie shouldn’t eat the apple. A bite is taken, Snowie falls to the floor, and the action is commenced – Red Cap must find help! And the story unfolds from there.
There is one and only one POV in the story – Red Cap. The story was quite interesting, and unexpectedly erotic. Fun story.
So, my reading of this author has gone from: 1st story: DNF; 2nd story: barely 3 stars; 3rd story: 4.75 stars – I assume if I continue on this trajectory, I’ll read something that will get placed on my six star shelf despite that being closed to solo reads (only rereads can get there).
My first story from a publisher I didn’t really realize existed (I didn’t know they existed, but I’ve seen one of their two (or is it three?) novels that they’ve released – I’ve just not read it).
Rating: 4.80
(yes, I overrated based on the fluffiness, and the erotic nature of the story *shrugs*)
March 25 2018
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