The Shoal of Time by J.M. Redmann

The Shoal of Time
by J.M. Redmann
Pages: 284
Published Date: December 15 2013
Publisher: Bold Strokes Books
Series: Micky Knight (8th book)

Review:
Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0 stars
Read: February 25 2014

My main reason for rating this 3 instead of anything higher was the funny little odd ball fact that I knew what was happening before it happened. Well, at least knew who the good guys were. Knew which were the bad. Watching someone I had grown to like through seven books make a fool of themselves in the eighth isn't fun.

Golden Mane by S.J.B. Gilmour

Golden Mane
by S.J.B. Gilmour
Pages: 369
Date: May 25 2011
Publisher: Author

Review
Rating: 3.8 out of 5.0 stars
Read: January 28 to February 1 2014

Didn't really keep my interest for the first 7% of the book.  To the point I wandered off and tried some other things before returning.  Part of the problem probably involves the main character being only 11.  I think the last time I read a character that young was when I read Suzanne Collins Gregor the Overlander.  Just a little too young for me.

Moving past the age of the main character . . .; overall was pretty solid character and plot. Certain fight scenes were well written, certain other fight scenes, I think the author lost track of who was fighting and what was going on.

Tis a neat concept, variation on the fantasy world. This book I would truly have no problem calling Science Fantasy.  Fantasy creatures in science fiction world.  Teleporting around like in Star Trek or Stargate, though using using magic to do so.  And the various creatures, dragons, gnomes, trolls, full-blood were-creatures, etc., are actually living off on their own planets. Aliens, if you will, as opposed to deep dark hidden creatures of the night.

This is one of those where the lack of half stars actually helps the book rating. As I probably would have rated this closer to 3 and a half stars. Or, 3.8 or so.  Maybe 3.70.  High enough, anyway, to rate it 4 stars when 1/2 stars are not available. (2016 ETA: this paragraph here makes more sense over on GoodReads)

Asking For It: Erotic Tales of Female Submission for Couples

Asking For It: Erotic Tales of Female Submission for Couples
by Isabelle Ross, Marie Sudac, Erin Sanders, Skye Black, Heather Peltier, Sarah Sands, Amy Boyd, Elizabeth Colvin , Erica Dumas, N.T. Morley
Pages: 124
Date: October 10 2012
Publisher: Deception Press

Review
Rating: Overall rating of 2.0 out of 5 stars
Read: January 22 2014

Writing on phone so this will be slightly difficult.

10 stories.  10 authors. Plus N.T. Morley who is only editor this time.

Read 1 story in a different collection of stories. I believe I gave it 4 stars. Plus I'd read the first story previously as it is contained in its entirety in the sample. So not 100% sure about my ratings or feelings for those two but believe both were 4 star stories.  Then tonight I read another three roughly four star efforts.

Which leaves the other five. One by an author I had previously given a five star rating.  All five are nothing like I expected. I expected submissive women. I got five doormats and five ... ok, one story I just disliked. So 4 doormats and 4 sick abusive basterds.  Those five stories get zero stars.

Five stories rated 4 stars. Five rated zero stars. Gives overall rating of 2.  I was thinking I could say that this could be used to show difference between BDSM and abuse, but it doesn't really work out that way.  It's possible there was just one abusive bastard and I read the rest wrong.  Probably because there was so much rape play going on. And it is not always easy to tell the difference between rape play and rape until after the fact. I don't like either.

I obviously got confused about what the stories would be about.   I might have known a month or ago when I got the sample, read it and liked it but then didn't buy until today.  So the book might be perfect for select narrow target market.  They may even be up front about it. I can't check description while writing review on phone.   Whatever that target audience is, I don't fall into it.

Infected by James Schannep

Infected
by James Schannep
Pages: 352
Date: December 11 2013
Publisher: Author

Review
Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0
Read: January 19 2014

An interesting concept.  An adult choose your own adventure story. With Zombies.  Unfortunately it was both a little bland an a little annoying.  It's annoying reading paragraphs wherein I am told what I am doing. Or at least you the reader. 'Distracted by her naked breasts, a zombie eats you.' (Not something that actually occurred;  no it was 'overcome by how good strawberries taste you eat a ton. Red juice slides down your face looking like blood. You start moaning.  A sound. You turn. Mouth drops open.  You are shot.')  Mmphs.

It was not outright stated but there is strong indication that the 'you' character is male.

ETA: Oh, and I did survive.  I also died about three or four times.

Hurricane Dan by Bret Williams

Hurricane Dan
by Bret Williams
Pages 199 pages
Date: September 15 2013
Publisher: Author

Review
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.0
Read: January 17 2014

While reading I was thinking of what I'd say in a review.  I was thinking of noting that it was a solid little book, roughly 4 star work that didn't reach 5 star territory because I didn't really like the main character.   That was up to about 60% of the book read. Where upon the book almost fell apart.    Ah well.  Despite certain issues, mostly due to the action that started after they made it to the safe zone, including the sudden unexpected sex (and certain issues involving swords), it was still able to pull me along.  

If we could give 1/2 stars, I would quickly and with easy conscious give the book a rating of 3 1/2. Since I can't,  and because I was able to like despite main character,  I give it a rating of 4 stars. (2016 eta - hmms. I have it as 3.0 on GoodReads. The weirdness you see years after the fact.)