Dark Blood by JJ Massa

Title: Dark Blood

Author: JJ Massa

Publisher: Midnight Showcase Fiction

Publication Date: 2009

ISBN: 1555-5496

Genre: paranormal romance

Length: 119

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Rating: 3  diamonds

Heat Level: spicy

Other: n/a

Reviewer: Brecken Stevens

Date: October 28, 2010

In Love Like Blood, Julianna Gold’s health isn’t the only thing holding her down, her oppressive relationship is also taking its toll. Raiden Vagner is a vampire who heard Julianna’s call years before and has been searching ever since. When they finally meet, Raiden hopes he’s in time to reverse the damages done by her MS and when threats on her life become stronger, they’ll have to trust each other to keep Julianna alive. 

Rubies, Sapphires, And Ivory is a shorter story about Niccolo and Ivory. Niccolo is a vampire out in the world for good times and interesting company. Ivory is just trying to make enough money to pay her debts and really start her life. They meet in Italy while Ivory is working as an interpreter and after a lovely meal, they spend a long night together, only to have Ivory have to leave in the morning. Unable to get her out of his mind, Niccolo tracks Ivory down and they rekindle their passions, but when Ivory realized Niccolo is something more than he seems, any chances of a relationship will go on hold.

In the second story, JJ Massa kept things simple and short, making it a quick, sexy read without the usual gloss of perfection vampire stories sometimes embrace. Ivory is human and when she was frightened, she acted like one. The first story was a little tedious because too many voices got added to the mix. The storyline itself was a great idea. I wanted Julianna and Raiden to get together and the danger line of Julianna’s husband being so angry and unhappy pushed the suspense along. Unfortunately, with so many different points of views having their say, the urgency deflated right when it could have exploded. Vampire lovers will still enjoy the story because Raiden is yummy and Julianna really is a very likable character. It was a great idea that just didn’t quite pan out which is why it only made three diamonds.

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Urban Wars Two: Cold Wind in August by Pat Cromwell

Title: Urban Wars Two:  Cold Wind In August

Author: Pat Cromwell

Publisher: Red Rose Publishing

Publication Date: 2009

ISBN:978-1-60435-254-2

Genre: Urban fantasy

Length: 173 pages

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Author Email: pacd97867@cs.com

Rating: 3  diamonds

Heat Level: spicy

Other: m/f, m/m

Reviewer: Brecken Stevens

Date: October 30, 2010

JD is a police officer in a different time-a much harder time. The only light in his existence is his job and an encounter with his angel years before. But now Angel is back and JD has some serious decisions to make. To be with her means accepting compounded lies and prophesies. To walk away means leaving the woman he loves to fend for herself.

Cold Wind In August is what I’d call urban fantasy. It’s a little futuristic, the world is completely changed and the romance never builds, never crests but it serves its purpose to get JD and Angel where they need to be for the next segment of the series to happen. The amount of back story needed to get the reader even into the plot line was very off putting and even halfway through I wasn’t rooting for JD and Angel to make it. So, three diamonds in the romance department and readers wanting to see a romance build, aren’t going to find it here. If a reader does like the urban fantasy type story with some sex in it, this might be a good go-to read.

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Foxes' Den by Teresa Noelle Roberts

Title: Foxes’ Den: Duals and Donovans: The Different Book 2

Author: Teresa Noelle Roberts

Publisher: Samhain Publishing Ltd.

Publication Date: 2010

ISBN: 978-1-60928-149-6

Genre: paranormal romance

Length: 103

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Author Email: Teresa@teresanoelleroberts.com

Rating: 4 Diamonds

Heat Level: explicit

Other: m/f/m, m/m, oral, anal, double pen

Reviewer: Brecken Stevens

Date: September 4, 2010

Akane should have learned her lesson about sorcerers and humans years ago when she was cursed to walk as a human instead of her true form. But when she meets sorcerer Paul Donovan and his adorable husband, fox dual Taggart Ross, she not only asks them for help with her curse, but ends up falling for each. When Taggart is kidnapped, Akane feels the distress though she is thousands of miles away. Loving mortals is dangerous to her, but not loving them isn’t an option either.

“Foxes’ Den” has a lot going for it. The three main characters are markedly different, especially the two men, so the relationship has real dynamic. The sex scenes start intense with more ritualistic, spell related couplings, but as the story progresses, the affection and love between the characters show much more and is wonderful to see. It’s a quick, sexy read with action and just enough back story for me to really want to go pick up the first story and get in line for the 3^rd when it’s ready. Paranormal lovers who enjoy some sexy ménage will really enjoy this one.

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Eloria's Tear by Amanda Steiger

Title: Eloria’s Tear

Author: Amanda Steiger

Publisher: Liquid Silver Books

Publication Date: 2010

ISBN: 978-1-595788-722-4

Genre: fantasy romance

Length: 177

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Author Email: sekuiro@comcast.net

Rating: 4 diamonds

Heat Level: spicy

Other: oral

Reviewer: Brecken Stevens

Date: Aug 11, 2010



Wendy Martin is in trouble. She owes money to the wrong person and her life, as well as her family’s, are at stake. With a mysterious lead, she goes searching for the fabled Eloria’s Tear, a priceless religious artifact said to contain the power of a saint long dead. On her way she meets Zander, a creepy guy who keeps himself hidden, but offers to help for a price. Wendy finds that Zander is more than he appears, a chimera who is no longer completely human who needs the Tear to regain his humanity. They’ll have to work together to not only find the Tear, but also to keep it and stay alive.



Eloria’s Tear: good stuff. I enjoyed how flawed Wendy was. She was short sighted, forgot basic things and was terribly impulsive. Those things drove the story. It got a bit long at times, but even in those slower points I enjoyed watching Zander and Wendy get closer. There was danger and the fight scenes were intense with a mix of physical and magic-type violence which I found very engaging. Elloria’s Tear is a story that anyone looking for a bit of fantasy will really enjoy.

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Pack of Lies by Vanessa Vaughn

Title: Pack of Lies

Author: Vanessa Vaughn

Publisher: Ravenous Romance

Publication Date: 2010

ISBN: 978-1-60777-339-9

Genre: paranormal romance

Length: 185

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Author Email: authorvanessavaughn@yahoo.com

Rating: 3.5 Diamonds

Heat Level: explicit

Other: m/m, m/f, voyeurism, oral

Reviewer: Brecken Stevens

Date: Aug 11, 2010



Marcus isn’t necessarily the strongest werewolf in his pack, but through cunning and luck, he became alpha. His pack is animalistic, cruel and lives by the law of the strongest survives. Within that mindset, the tender male attention that he craves is unacceptable, so he spends moments with other males in secret to maintain his status. Jack is a yuppie human, on his way up in the world. From humble beginnings, he fought the social stigmas and became a man of means and reputation. But all that changes when he hits a wolf with his car. A mauling brings changes in Jack and not just his sight and food preferences. He sees a man, feels that man and wants him. Marcus and Jack finally meet, man-to-man and the lust explodes, but will Marcus jeopardize his place in the pack for Jack and can Jack ever accept what it means to be a werewolf?



Pack of Lies, for the most part, is a harder story. Told from alternating first point of views from Jack and Marcus, the reader gets very different views on what is happening and then has to put them together, which is no hardship as the plot flows very well. The sex is hot, frequent and varied, which is nice. The big downfall I felt in the story was in Marcus’ viewpoint. There were times when it felt very feminine, even distractingly so, which I felt didn’t fit his character. But all in all, a good m/m story featuring the not so cuddly side of werewolf paranormal romance. Definitely worth picking up when a reader wants something different.

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The Wolf in the Woods by Marisa Chenery

Title: The Wolf in the Woods

Author: Marisa Chenery

Publisher: Liquid Silver Books

Publication Date: 2010

ISBN: 978-1-59589-685-2

Genre: paranormal romance

Length: 32

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Rating: 4 1/2 Diamonds

Heat Level: spicy

Reviewer: Brecken Stevens

Date: July 9, 2010

Canada Day. It should be a fantastic weekend celebration camping with her grandmother, but Red not only finds herself lost on one of the very first days, she also finds herself chased by a wolf. When that wolf shape shifts into a hunky, gorgeous man, Red finds she’s more open to the unbelievable than she might have thought, especially when ‘unbelievable’ kisses so well. Rutgar knows Red is his mate the second he scents of her. The challenge is going to be getting the intelligent, sexy, sweet woman to accept not only him as a person, but also the part of himself that he shares with his wolf.

The Wolf in the Woods was a great story. It moved well and even though it was only thirty-two pages, Ms. Chenery used those pages to make interesting characters, a root-able romance building and some wicked hot sex scenes. Even if Canada Day holds no meaning to you, The Wolf in the Woods is one to add to the ‘to be read’ stack of hot summer reads for paranormal lovers.

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Familiar One With Eternity by Annette Shelley

Title: Familiar One With Eternity

Author: Annette Shelley

Publisher: Red Rose Publishing

Publication Date: 2010

ISBN: 978-60435-711-0

Genre: paranormal romance

Length: 77 pages

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Author Website: www.annetteshelley.com

Rating: 3 1/2 Diamonds

Heat Level: spicy

Reviewer: Brecken Stevens

Date: July 5, 2010

Constantino, Angel and Benedicto are three brothers, cursed to share forms with cats of all sizes. It came about when Constantino’s relationship with Esmerelda, a powerful sorceress turned sour and she took a thousand years’ revenge on his family. Now, on the eve of the thousand year anniversary, Angel and Benedicto are trying to get to Constantino to find a way to break the curse now that the two younger brothers have women they love. Working against them is time, Constantino’s shame and the FBI who wants to find the people who can change into cats.

Familiar One With Eternity is the final installment of Ms. Shelley’s shifter series. With a stronger background in the other two, I’m sure this one would have been more fulfilling. I enjoyed it, but I’m not quite sure it’s strong enough to stand alone if someone just picks it up since there is so much interesting back story. I loved Rachel and Benedicto-there’s something about a woman calling a strong, tough man “Fluffy” (as was his name when he was her housecat) tickles my funny bone. The other characters were also sexy and strong, but if a reader wants to pick this story up, read the other two first. I’m sure the whole package makes a great kitty-related read for those who enjoy paranormal shifter stories.

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The Last Resort by Emly Forrest

Title: The Last Resort

Author: Emly Forrest

Publisher: Lyrical Press

Publication Date: June 2010

ISBN: 978-1-61650-158-7

Genre: chic lit

Length: 121

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Author Email: emlyforrest@gmail.com

Rating: 3 Diamonds

Heat Level: spicy

Other: oral, toys

Reviewer: Brecken Stevens

Date: June 30, 2010

Murph’s life takes a major change when her husband of over twenty years has a midlife crisis and marries a younger woman. Left on her own to rediscover herself, she travels America in her Class C camper, looking for the next thing in her life. She finds it on a Louisiana beach. The Last Resort is a beautiful, albeit rundown campground. The locals are interesting to say the least and the opportunities for new and old romances are too plentiful for Murph to pass up.

The Last Resort is Murph’s story of discovery and remembering. She sees some amazing things and meets some very interesting characters I enjoyed immensely. But there is very little romance in the story. Sex, certainly, but no relationships were built to be the story’s main focus, so the story is chick lit or fiction, not a romance which is why I gave it three diamonds. So, if a reader is looking for romance and deep building of intimate relationships, this isn’t going to cut it. A fun, interesting account of one woman’s journey to finding happiness, however, will be found in Emily Forrest’s quick and sexy, The Last Resort.

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Moonlight and Magick by Isobael Liu

Title: Moonlight and Magick

Author: Isobael Liu

Publisher: Lyrical Press

Publication Date: May 2010

ISBN: 978-1-61650-148-8

Genre: fantasy/paranormal romance

Length: 170

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Author Email: Isobael.Liu@gmail.com

Rating: 4 Diamonds

Heat Level: spicy

Other: oral

Reviewer: Brecken Stevens

Date: June 28, 2010

Lilian Quinn is a woman with a past, one she is desperately trying to escape. She finds solstice in a quiet little town and though it’s far from exciting, it is safe. Or at least it was for a time. With powers she can’t explain, Lilian has been made a target by the Custodes Secreti, a secret organization dedicated to using people with Lilian’s kind of powers. Matthias Romulus, alpha of his werewolf pack sees Lilian is troubled, but couldn’t have imagined all the change one female could bring.

I asked the review coordinator for a sexed up werewolf story, and wow, Moonlight and Magick blew that request out of the water. There are plenty of sexy werewolves, but there is so much more. I loved the characters, not just Lilian and Matthias (both of whom were fantastic) but also the supporting ones as well. I want to read all of their stories, so I’m hoping Ms. Liu has them in the works. Paranormal stories that cover so much territory sometimes get difficult to follow, but Moonlight and Magick had no such trouble. It was clear and I loved the back story for the werewolf clans. All the details led to a completely satisfying story, but with enough left over for future stories from Matthias’ pack to be just as interesting. Anyone looking for a sexy werewolf or Sidhe story will find it here.

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Retribution: the Unsaid Trilogy Book 2 by Sally Royer Derr

Title: Retribution: The Unsaid Trilogy Book 2

Author: Sally Royer Derr

Publisher: Red Rose Publishing

Publication Date: 2010

ISBN: 978-1-60436-630-0

Genre: suspense romance

Length: 51

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Author Email: sallyroyer-derr@hotmail.com

Rating: 4 Diamonds

Heat Level: spicy

Reviewer: Brecken Stevens

Date: June 21, 2010

Danny and Amy lived through a nightmare in finding each other. Now, they are happily married with two kids and lives they love sharing with their family. That happiness is threatened when Alex, the cause of their original strife and terror is paroled from prison. He says he’s a changed man, but Danny and Amy don’t believe it for a minute. As questions are asked, the threat from Alex increases until he starts assaulting Danny and Amy’s children, all with the goal of taking out the two people who’d put him behind bars in the first place.

When a story already has the love interests deeply in love, there is some serious work to be done to keep it romantic, but Ms. Royer-Derr did without a problem. Amy and Danny were warm and interesting. Alex was evil and sane enough to keep me flipping my epages, just waiting to see what he was going to do to the other characters that I already enjoyed very much and I wasn’t disappointed. There is one more story left in this quick trilogy and with the clues and points already set, I’m sure it’ll be another one to add to the to-read pile.

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Fear of Darkness: In Darkness We Dwell Book 1 by Honoria Ravena

Title: Fear of Darkness: In Darkness We Dwell Book 1

Author: Honoria Ravena

Publisher: Red Rose Publishing

Publication Date: 2009

ISBN: 978-1-60435-498-0

Genre: Paranormal romance

Length: 133 pages

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Author Email : honoriaravens467@yahoo.com

Rating: 4 Diamonds

Heat Level: spicy

Reviewer: Brecken Stevens

Date: 06/04/2010

Natalya wants to be left alone because more than anything she needs to feel safe after years of abuse from her husband. Vahe is a hunter for the vampire king, on the prowl for a rogue vampire killing humans and leaving the bodies to be found by humans. In his search for the killer, Vahe runs into Natalya and is drawn to her terror, feisty attitude and her blood. Attraction burns hot and fast, but Vahe has a job to do and before it’s done more than a few drops of blood will be shed.

Ms. Ravens has my attention! From start to finish the story moved quickly and was genuinely interesting. The sex was hot and frequent without being ridiculous. There were things I didn’t like about Vahe, which perversely made me like him more. I love that the hints were dropped for a series, and what a series it could be! I can’t wait to read the next one. The only thing I found distracting was the back and forth first person point of view. I hope the next story in the series is a little different in that aspect, but if it’s not, I’ll still read it and, chances are if Ms. Ravens keeps the pace and interesting characters, I’ll love that one too.

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A Pirate's Mercy by Brenda Williamson

Title: A Pirate’s Mercy

Author: Brenda Williamson

Publisher: Liquid Silver Books

Publication Date: 2010

ISBN: 978-1-59578-664-7

Genre: historical romance

Length: 87

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Author Email : aromancewriter@aol.com

Rating: 4 1/2 Diamonds

Heat Level: Sensual

Other: Anal play, light bondage

Reviewer: Brecken Stevens

Date: May 28, 2010

Lady Mercy James and Lord Ashton Sinclair are of the same mind when they fall over each other at a ball. They want sex for their own reasons and though they are attracted to each other, neither of their reasons are pure. Life pulls them apart before Mercy learns she’s pregnant. After heartache and loss Mercy deals with on her own, she and Ashton are reunited when he kidnaps her to bring her to her betrothed. The attraction between Mercy and Ash is instantly rekindled, the sex unbelievably hot, but with people all around them making their decisions for them, will they find a way to be together?

Hot, hot, hot. I haven’t picked up a historical romance lately, but this one warmed up fast and only got hotter. I loved the pirate aspect of it and I liked that even though the story was short, Ms. Williams didn’t make it easy. The conflict was layered and there was torment and pain on the part of each of the characters, yet they still managed to be likeable and fun. Anyone looking for an ultra spicy read with a sexy pirate and sassy heroin will enjoy A Pirate’s Mercy.

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The Extremist by Juniper Bell

Title: The Extremist

Author: Juniper Bell

Publisher: Liquid Silver Books

Publication Date: 2009

ISBN: 978-1-59578-589-3

Genre: BDSM

Length: 61 pages

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Author Email : juniper@juniperbell.com

Rating: 4 Diamonds

Heat Level: Sensual

Other: Bondage, Exhibitionism

Reviewer: Brecken Stevens

Date: May 28, 2010

Annie Swenson is a little crazy. Her phobia list is as long as her arm, so when her therapist suggests she takes a vacation she nearly doesn’t go. When she gets to the Bahamas she’s sure she’ll hate it, and that’s exactly what she decides to do until she runs into an old enemy who makes her want to hide the rest of her trip. A mysterious, gorgeous man comes to her rescue, her date in shining armor and their liaison turns into much more than strangers helping each other. Unfortunately Annie’s psychosis rears its multi-faced head and she’s sure things are ruined before they really start.

If Annie hadn’t been crazy, I wouldn’t have liked her. Because she was so mixed up, but still determined I found myself rooting for her and hoping she could get past her issues. The title had me curious about what was going to be ‘extreme’ and while it’s not sexually related in the context of the story, it sure could be. The Extremist is smokin’ hot, but also manages to present a very likable plot and character in Annie as she evolves. It’s a quick, hot read that made me look over my shoulder a bit for prying eyes and I think anyone looking for a story with lots of spice will love it.

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Camouflage Wife by Iona Blair

Title: Camouflage Wife

Author: Iona Blair

Publisher: Carnal Passions

Publication Date: April 2010

Genre: 1950’s late historical ménage

Length: 53 pages

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Rating: 4 Diamonds

Heat Level: Erotic

Other: m/m, m/m/f

Reviewer: Brecken Stevens

Date: May 20, 2010

Craig and Wayne are Canadian detectives, policing their province in the 1950’s for perverts, pimps and drug dealers. They love each other, but must do it in extreme secret because it is in violation of the very laws they are to uphold. Craig takes in a nice young woman down on her luck as a cover for him and Wayne to continue their relationship. When the closeness between Craig and Tracy increases, Craig, Tracy and Wayne must decide how far they want things in their household to go.

Canadian author Iona Blair flavors Camouflage Wife very richly with Canada in the 1950’s. The dialog and expressions are all very retro and real, setting the stage perfectly for the relationships to grow. Written with the very classic short story twist, the ending left me smirking and filling in the gaps with my mind in very interesting ways. Anyone looking for a classic story with great bits of erotic naughtiness will find one in Camouflage Wife, along with some very well written surprises.

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Dangerous Liasons Book Two: Men of Danger by Blake Deveraux

Title: Dangerous Liaisons Book Two: Men of Danger

Author: Blake Deveraux

Publisher: Red Rose Publishing

Publication Date: 2009

ISBN: 978-1-60435-474-4

Genre: contemporary gay romance

Length: 217

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Author Email : blake.deveraux@yahoo.com

Rating: 5 Diamonds

Heat Level: Erotic

Other: m/m, m/m/m, oral

Reviewer: Brecken Stevens

Date: May 20, 2010

Brandon and Daniel are at the cusp of making their relationship something more than either of them has ever had. With all the happiness and love, unfortunately, memories of Brandon’s haunting past have come to terrorize the otherwise affectionate, playful man. Daniel isn’t sure how to handle Brandon and despite his desire to help and love his man, he’s afraid of failing him and failing them both.

There are just too many exciting things happening to give a better blurb because I don’t want to give any spoilers! I loved this story. Brandon and Daniel are two of the most likable characters I’ve ever read. I liked how they handled adversity and how they treated each other even when things were difficult for them. The sexual tension was constant and often indulged but in enough different ways that it was always exciting and new. I gave Dangerous Liaisons five stars because for all the action and sex, it was still all heart and that is what romance is all about.

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The Color of the Flame by Ilena F. Holder

Title: The Color of the Flame

Author: Ilena F. Holder

Publisher: Red Rose Publishing

Publication Date: 2009

ISBN: 978-60435-434-7

Genre: contemporary romance

Length: 210 pages

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Rating: 3 1/2 Diamonds

Heat Level: Sensual

Reviewer: Brecken Stevens

Date: May 20, 2010

After years of raising her son and being the wife of an older man, Lilith Flatwater is finally free. Her son is in college and though that requires her to work hard on their blueberry farm, she perseveres. The freedom comes after the death of Ernie, her much older, white husband who she’d married for the convenience for everyone. Jack Bronson, a former marine and now mob bodyguard keeps mainly to himself, but when Lilith’s car has a flat in front of his house, he sees something he really likes in the beautiful young widow. Naive and sweet, Lilith has a lot to learn and Jack is all too happy to teach her.

Ms Holder has written a very practical, clean, and straightforward story with The Color of a Flame. The scenery and attention to small detail in the surroundings were wonderful, but with those focuses, other things didn’t come alive. The characters felt very flat. There were many interesting possibilities for Jack and Lilith and I kept reading, waiting for something as exciting as the cover promised to happen. Unfortunately it never did. It was a clean story that ended happily, but left me hoping there’s a second one to actually use the characters to their advantages. I think readers looking for a smooth, tension and suspense-free multiracial story will like The Color of the Flame.

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