The Reluctant Viking by Sandra Hill

By now most of my regular readers probably know I'm a sucker for sappy romances. So when my daughter and I took a trip Friday to the public library I found this gem in its romance section. Most historical romances deal with 1800 England or Native Americans. Nothing wrong with those settings, but I find anything dealing with characters older than the 1800's can get a little...bossy. Male chauvinist pig was used quite a few times in Sandra Hills book, and rightly so! That's why I have a love/hate relationship with characters that are apart of a society I'd probably hate if I actually had to live in their time. When writing my own romances I try to avoid these characters because I just don't see them as very lovable. I suppose everyone has their tastes, but I'm a stubborn woman. If a man tried to force his seduction on me, I'd see it as rape. I'd sooner cut off his balls than allow him to seduce me. I suppose that's not very romantic is it. lol.

But on to the book review.

Ruby is a modern woman with a problem. Her marriage of 20 years has just broken up. When she selects one of her husbands meditation CD's to relax and think, she goes on a time-traveling journey to 925 A.D in the Viking city of Jorvik. There Ruby meets Thork, who is the doppelganger to her husband Jack. Ruby takes this new Viking specimen of her husband as a sign to re-do her life and make her marriage work. Along the way she has to convince Thork that she is his soul mate. The Reluctant Viking teaches us to slow down and appreciate life, because there may not be a tomorrow, and there are no do overs in real life.

If you like overbearing oafs who eventually realize how wonderful loving a good woman can be, I highly recommend you buy The Reluctant Viking, or check it out at your local library.

Book Review: Retribution by Sherrilyn Kenyon

So its taken me longer to read this book than it normally would have. That's not to reflect on the book but rather my busy life chasing around a newly mobile baby. I finally was able to finish it today and of course like any good book its left me wanting more.

Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark-Hunter series is one that's been on my top list of favorites for a few years now. When I was employed doing Data entry for EDS I always checked out audio books from my local library. Upon discovering this intriguing series I rented, borrowed and bought every release, starting from the beginning.

Retribution didn't let me down and I'm happy to see that Sherrilyn diverges from the Greek pantheon for this book to focus on Native American mythology. Some of it is her own creation, other parts are stories she was told from her family, which I would love to read more about!

If you have not read the Dark-Hunter series I highly encourage you to do so. You'll fall in love with each dark-hunters story and jump for joy each time they find happiness in a woman's arms.

Macmillan audio has graciously provided this audio clip of Retribution just to entice you with Jess Brady's sexy voice. Click here to listen.

If you would like to purchase the complete audio book, visit Macmillan's website.

I'd also like to thank Magaly from Pagan Culture for sending me this book! In the words of the Tsalagi people (Cherokee) Wa-do (Wah doe). Thank you.

The New Death & Others

Hello My lovely Readers,

I've been given the great honor of reviewing a book titled The New Death and Others by James Hutchings. Mr. Hutchings book is a collection of 44 fantasy short stories and 19 poems featuring Death, non-sparkly vampires, succubus, witches, Gods and many more interesting creatures.
If you like fantasy, Science fiction, and folk stories that walk on the darker side of life then this book is for you.

Mr. Hutchings is from Melbourne, Australia and has a bachelor of Arts and majored in Creative writing.  His favorite type of writing is Science fiction and fantasy. Some of the authors he loves to read is JRR Tolkien, Jack Vance, Robert E Howard, Terry Pratchett and Lord Dunsany.

When I asked if he gets discouraged in his writing and how he overcomes creative difficulties he said,

"I get discouraged a lot. Usually it's when people don't like something I've written as much as I do, or when I run out of ideas halfway through a story. One thing I do is make a point of writing every day, even when I don't feel like it. This helps get through temporary slumps. I think if you wait for inspiration to strike it never will."

My favorite is his opening story about the Gods and who has dominion over each group of humans. As someone who is near homeless at the moment, I love his conclusion. I won't give the story away though, you'll have to read it for yourself. 

The New Death and Others is available for download at Amazon and Smashwords.  

For a limited time this book is available for free on Amazon.