The Demon Side by Heaven Liegh Eldeen

Title: The Demon Side (Book One of the Demon Side Series)

Author: Heaven Liegh Eldeen

Publisher: Decadent Publishing

Publication Date: October 21, 2011

ISBN: 978-1-61333-142-2

Genre: New adult/YA, paranormal romance, fantasy romance

Length: 127 pages

Buy Link

Author Website

Author Email

Heat Level: Sweet/Sensual

Reviewer: TJ

Date: November 6, 2011

Every kid has problems. Every kid has even more problems when they move to a new home. But when a kid with problems moves to a new home that has a Demon living inside it—look out!

Etta’s world is about to spin out of control when she encounters her new roommate—and Rahovart, that ancient trickster, is in for a few surprises too. So don’t mind all the crashing and rumbling; that’s just the normal noise Angels and Demons make when they’re fighting an epic war in the attic.

One thing’s for sure: Etta and Rahovart will have to go through Hell to Heaven and back again before that old Victorian home in Quantico Town finally quiets down…

The Demon side is a fantastic beginning to a new series. I was fortunate enough to get my hands on a copy because I was interviewing the author. The story at times is sadly intense and Etta is an amazing heroine. She is strong and sweet, damaged and delightful and I cannot wait to see how this young woman is going to grow in the coming adventures. Rahovart is a truly complex hero with his multifaceted personality that seems to fascinate and surprise himself as much as it does the readers. I found this to be a raw read that left me wanting more. The emotions in this piece are so intense, entertaining and left me hypersensitive in a good way. The lead characters secure a deep connection with each other and I quickly became invested in the outcome of their interactions. The supporting cast was just as well developed and I cannot wait to read the follow up to this story.

Read more »

Thin Ice by JT Marie

Title:  Thin Ice

Author:  J T Marie

Publisher:  JMS Books

Publication Date:  2011

ISBN:  978-1-61152-114-6

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Young Adult

Length: 15 pages

BuyLink

AuthorWebsite

Heat Level: Sweet

Reviewer:  Starla Kaye

Date: 9-29-11

The story was a bit roughly written, but that didn’t keep me from getting emotionally tangled up with the characters. Jessie and David both touched my heart. The author clearly understands how traumatic the teen years and first loves can be. My biggest compliment is that she made me cry.

Read more »

Crushed Sugar by Kimber An

Title: Crushed Sugar

(Book One of the Ophelia Dawson Chronicles)

Author: Kimber An

Publisher: Decadent Publishing

Publication Date: 3-24-2011

ISBN: 978-1-936394-90-6

Genre: YA, Paranormal romance

Length: 57 pages

Buy Link

Author Website

Author Email

Heat Level: Sweet

Reviewer: TJ

Date: May 25, 2011

Be careful what you wish for.

Ophelia's had a wicked crush on Martin since they were kids, but she was always just his geeky little friend. Then, on the first day of her junior year, he's suddenly and wildly attracted to her. She can't imagine what's changed, but shocking her small school's social order fills her with vindication for insults suffered.

Ophelia meets Adrian right after and true love extinguishes the wicked crush. In secret, he gives her courage against a specter threat.

Tristan is pale and hungry, and draws Martin's immediate ire. He knows things about Ophelia which she assumes are delusions brought on by an aggravated illness like her own, diabetes. When battle breaks out between his ancient race and new blood, even the courage of her secret love might be crushed.

I found this to be a very enjoyable prequel to Sugar Rush and it answered a lot of questions for me as to why someone as intelligent as Ophelia would ever be with a bully like Martin. It also left me wanting many more answers and a longing for another chapter in Ophelia’s chronicles. The young heroine and her sister are extremely likable and easy to relate to. I loved the fact the twins had such different personalities and that Ophelia was on the nerdy side. My only issue was that for a young adult novel some of the language and situations seemed a little too mature for younger readers. I look forward to seeing what else Kimber An can create and share with us.

Read more »

Sugar Rush by Kimber An

Title:  Sugar Rush

Author: Kimber An

Publisher: Decadent Publishing

Publication Date: 3-21-2010

ISBN: 978-1-936394-37-1

Genre: YA, Paranormal romance

Length: 226 pages

Buy Link

Author Website

Author Email

Heat Level: Sweet

Reviewer: TJ

Date: May 27, 2011

Running and screaming will have to wait. A blood-sucking dead guy may be a vampire to you, but he's an alien/human hybrid to Ophelia and she really must examine his olfactory nerve under a microscope first.

Ophelia longs to be free, free of diabetes, free of her ex-boyfriend, free to live. Something transformed Martin and made her his drug. If he has his way, she'll never achieve the freedom to learn his true nature and origin.

Adrian's the new guy in school. He faked his identity to get close to Ophelia, knowing the monsters who took his diabetic sister would try to take Ophelia, too. Then, he'd have them. But, he knew better than to get too close.

Oh, yeah, he did. Seriously.

I loved the fact that the heroine is such a Trekkie, as it is not only unusual to find a nerdy female lead but even harder to find a die-hard geek like Ophelia. With her health issues and her weird boyfriend problems it wasn’t hard to feel sympathy for her. Bianca her twin is over the top fun and a great complement to her sister’s serious character. My only issue is that for such an intelligent girl it takes Ophelia an awful long time to figure out who her secret admirer is so the story dragged a little for me. I enjoyed the unique paranormal aspect and the over all tone of the story. The descriptions and the location added to my satisfaction, as did the supporting characters. Martin might have been totally creepy but he was extremely well written. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for Ophelia. I recommend this one for anybody looking for a rare take on vampires and shapeshifters.

Read more »

Trick to Treat by Kimberlee R. Mendoza

Title:  Trick to Treat

Author:  Kimberlee R. Mendoza

Publisher:  The Wild Rose Press

Publication Date:  2008

Genre: Contemporary/Halloween

Length:  34 pgs

Buy Link

Heat Level: Sweet

Reviewer:  S. K. Fero

Date: 9-29-10

Ah, high school. Hormones going nuts, trying to fit in, and first “love.” Good memories and bad memories. This short story brings back all of those things.

Sarah Bradley is frustrated by wanting to belong with the “in” crowd and constantly being shunned, until she finally gets a chance at Halloween. Not only does she get a chance for what she thinks she wants, but also she gets a brush with young love.

Matthew Tyler is just doing what is expected of him by the “in” crowd he belongs to. Just another dare for Halloween. But while doing so, he meets someone special.

This is a nicely written story that reminds us all of high school days, good or bad.

Read more »