Bitten by Books

“A More Perfect Union” is the third story in the series by J.M. Snyder preceded by “Under a Confederate Moon” and “Beneath a Yankee Sky”. In this installation, Caleb and Brance have settled down and built a cabin together in the northwestern region of the states. The winter has closed in, and they spend as little time as possible around any of the neighboring town folk. They soon discover Anna, a were-cat like themselves, has marked her territory across the ravine from their home.

There are tense moments in “A More Perfect Union” between Caleb, Brance and Anna as questions of territory and relationships unfold. Despite the new character, J.M. Snyder once again gives us agonizing descriptions of the transformation from human to were-cat and the succulent lustful inhibitions of the two men as they cavort sexually as both cat and man in this fast read for a lazy afternoon. It seems that there is room for another installation - yee haw!

Book Stats:

e-book, digital format
Publisher: Amber Quill
ISBN: 13: 978-1-60272-392-4

To purchase an electronic copy of Beneath a Yankee Sky click here.

Books in the Between the States series in the order in which they should be read:

Under a Confederate Moon
Beneath a Yankee Sky
A More Perfect Union

To visit the author’s website go here.

Celia Quill, a young, vibrant writer, is enjoying her last night out with friends before moving to the country. She is on the prowl for a final, no strings attached conquest when she encounters drop dead gorgeous 660-year-old vampire, Adin Swift. A one-night stand was that last thing they found, and he moves with her to her new home. As they arrive in town, it becomes apparent to Adin that his lifelong nemesis is now back and threatening his life and the life of his new found love. The duo calls in the assistance of Jackson Spey, a wizard in the high ceremonial arts. The twist and turns that follow set the pages turning.

Plagued is the first in a series of short stories by K.Z. Snow, to be followed by Tormented and Obsessed. It certainly whets the appetite and leaves you in search of the next edition. It has raw passion and burning desire, both male female sexuality and a slightly more tawdry ménage a trios.

Book Stats:

• e-book, digital format
• Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
  
• Book Length: Novel
  
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9781419911583
  

To purchase an electronic copy of Plagued click here.

Books in the series in the order they should be read:
Plagued
Tormented
Obsessed

To visit the author’s website go here.
To visit the author’s blog go here.

660 year old vampire turned mortal, Adin Swift is in love with his live in girlfriend, Celia. He has also realized that he has an unquenchable sexual desire for his best friend of ten years, Jackson Spey. The magically adept wizard, Jackson is an extraordinary carpenter and a manly man. But, does he hold the same feelings for Adin? The decisions made here will affect the lives of all three people.

Obsessed is the sequel to K.Z. Snow’s earlier short stories Plagued and Tormented. It is a wonderful solitary read, but you may find yourself seeking out the others and hoping that new editions to the series will continue to be released. It is a true page turner, both sexual and sensual, passionate and seductive.

Book Stats:

• e-book, digital format
• Publisher: Changeling Press
  
• Book Length: Novella
  
• Language: English
• ISBN: 978-1-60521-022-3
  

To purchase an electronic copy of Obsessed click here.

Books in the series in the order they should be read:
Plagued
Tormented
Obsessed

To visit the author’s website go here.
To visit the author’s blog go here.

We live in a world of flagrant individualism, or do we? In this psychological thriller the mind bending goes so far as to make the reader begin to question what they themselves know as reality. What if you realized one day that there was another one of you? A double, a copycat…a doppelganger or several carbon copies of who you have grown to believe you are.

ME2: A Novel of Horror, is told from the narrative voice of an unknown gay man searching for the comfort of the reality he knows and the disjointed confusion of the life he is finding himself in. He is a simple “Boy of Summer” type, Starbuck’s employee, with the random friends and lovers, simply moving through his life while attaching labels to everyone he encounters. That all changes when realizes that there is an “other” like him. The clone is intent on having the protagonists’ life, his home, his friends, his behaviors, everything. Is the interloper better at living his life then he himself?

I found myself confused often feeling that I was being wrapped inside the mind of a man loosing his sanity. To that end the atmosphere of the book was a success. I was less excited with this novel then other short stories I have read by M. Christian.

Book Stats:

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Alyson Books (March 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555839630
• ISBN-13: 978-1555839635

To purchase a print copy of Me2 click here.

To visit the author’s blog go here.

Haunted Hearths & Sapphic Shades is a succulent anthology of lesbian ghost stories. Catherine Lundoff has done a brilliant job of editing together this masterful collection of tales that are sure to excite the reader both lesbian and otherwise.

Many of the stories illuminate the love that a woman can have for another woman. In some cases the specter serves as an image of tragic longing like M.E. Cooper reveals in Midnight Confession. M. Christian introduces us to the idea of an apparition serving as a warning, to remind the living of a life worthy of reclamation in The One I Left Behind. A hand full of the tales, merge the past with the present day as in A Quiet Love by Suzan Tesssier. While Marylyn Janye Lewis writes in A Path To The Woods of the lives of two lovers who find themselves separated by the thin veil between the dead and the living.

The intriguing tapestry of writers also includes: Sacchi Green, Dayle A. Dermatis, Kathleen Bradean, Brenta Blevens, Selina Rosen, Lyn McConchie, Jean Roberta, Katie Welsh, L.C. Jordan, Elise Matthesen, Ka Vang, Lynn Jamneck and Melissa Scott.

I found myself wanting to languish of every story, wishing they would not end.

Book Stats:

• Perfect Paperback: 268 pages
• Publisher: Lethe Press (May 15, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590211626
• ISBN-13: 978-1590211625

To purchase a print copy of Haunted Hearths & Sapphic Shades click here.
To purchase a Kindle copy of Haunted Hearths & Sapphic Shades click here.

To visit the editor’s website go here.

Cupid’s Arrow is one of the best anthologies I have read in a long time. I was riveted by every story. This is a page turner and I definitely recommend picking up a copy.
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Creatures of the Night, Creatures of Delight is a wonderful collection of short stories bridging an array of paranormal subjects. Emily Veinglory introduces us to a world where monsters are freely acknowledged by the world. Lucynda Storey engages us with a werewolf tale. Read More »

Protagonist Morgan Taj Zephyrain takes us on the quest of the warrior woman. As a Sonij slave she learned and excelled at the art of pleasure. As bodyguard and trainer to the Prince of Dkr she was able to use her strength, prowess and generous heart to shape the boy who would one day become King. As the tale unfolds she learns of an ancient prophecy that seems to have her slated as the main character. Not believing in the old stories she takes one headlong leap after another deeper into the prophecy simply as a means to fulfill her duties as bodyguard. Along the way Morgan finds herself embroiled in a tumultuous relationship that makes her ponder the existence of twin souls.

This is a fun and exciting romp through a solar system. As much science fiction as it is paranormal, there is much to be said for the energy healing, the manipulation of nature and ever present telepathy. These keener senses seem to meld effortlessly with the high tech gadgetry and cy-com link implants. I really enjoyed Prophecy of Vithan and found it to be a page turner.

Book Stats:

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Ellora’s Cave (July 10, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1419965964
• ISBN-13: 978-1419965968

Buy a print copy of Prophecy of Vithan from Amazon by clicking here.

Undertow is J.M. Snyder’s contribution to the Del Fantasma Series. The Del Fantasma is a bar where all manner of paranormal happenings seem to occur and the Undertow is a drink they serve there. In Undertow we are introduced to Derek and Kellen a pair of merrows raised in a pod off the point of Loma Vista. A merrow being more human and less mermaid are able to live in the cresting waves of the ocean as well as take to land. In human form they shed their scales, gills and fins with the assistance of a talisman that they wear.

It was apparent from early on that Kellen loved Derek deeply. Derek loved humans and thought of nothing other then joining the human world permanently. When he saw Tad sitting on the beach he fell in love and that desire became a reality.

Undertow is a fantastical story ripe with passion and jealousy. It intertwines within its pages the feelings some of us have that how we are born is not who we truly are. I found myself delighted with the unique characters and surroundings. If you would like to try an Undertow the recipe can be found at the end of the book.

Book Stats:

• e-book, digital format
• Publisher: Aspen Mountain Press
  
• Language: English
• ISBN: 978-1-60168-073-0

This review is of the first version of this story which is no longer for sale. The book has been released as Undertow and you can purchase a copy of it by clicking here.

Beneath a Yankee Sky continues the romance of Caleb and Brance set forth in Under a Confederate Moon. This time the story unfolds through the eyes of the more dominate of the partners, Brance. Running from the war and trappers who would have their were-cat hides for the right price, the couple forms a more intimate bond. With more action and drama then before, Brance takes the lead as the “caretaker”. He is always acutely aware of the safety and needs of his companion.

This time the relationship grows stronger and deeper. While the lusty fervor of the earlier story is ever present, it is quelled by exploring the tender nuances of love and the sensuality inherent between spouses. Still enchanting are the details of the painful metamorphosis from human to bobcat. I enjoyed this installment as much as the last, possibly even more. This is one to pick up on a lazy afternoon if you enjoy male/male eroticism and romance.

Book Stats:

• File Size: 331 KB
• Print Length: 50 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: JMS Books LLC (April 9, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004W0JHQM

Buy a Kindle copy of Beneath a Yankee Sky from Amazon by clicking here.

Books in the Between the States series in the order in which they should be read:
Under a Confederate Moon
Beneath a Yankee Sky A More Perfect Union

Set during the Civil War, Under a Confederate Moon follows a burgeoning love affair between two soldiers that find themselves on opposing sides of the battle. The bond the two men share as were-cats provides a stimulating twist to the age old tale of longing to find that other person who can fully understand who you are. This story is told from the perspective of young Caleb, a playful submissive and confederate soldier. His love interest Brance, a more mature Yankee, encourages Caleb to take control when thing go awry.

While erotically stimulating, the overt sexuality is tempered with long prose of deeper love and passion - the unexplained draw one feels to a new lover that simply feels right and asks you to put yourself on the line for another person. The story offers the reader a glimpse into the primal world of raw animal instinct with descriptions of the passion felt by the men in feline form. It sensorially teases to the forefront not only touch and desire, but smells, sight and feelings, with the transitions from human to bobcat being detailed and enticing. This is a good read for anyone who delights in male/male eroticism.

Book Stats:

• File Size: 331 KB
• Print Length: 49 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: JMS Books LLC (April 3, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004V4G1SG

Buy a Kindle copy of Under a Confederate Moon from Amazon by clicking here.

Books in the Between the States series in the order in which they should be read:
Under a Confederate Moon
Beneath a Yankee Sky A More Perfect Union