A werewolf, a vampire and a gargoyle walk into an editor’s office….4 tombstones over all for this delightful trio of things that go bump in the night.

To Kiss A Gargoyle by Sally Painter
Marcy is nuts. She’s so aroused by a stone statue that she has to masturbate just to get through a day at the office. This has been going on for a while but she’s finally decided to try to get through the window one more time. And this time it opens. She reaches her goal…a half man/half lion statue.

This 52 page story is part of a trilogy from Ellora’s Cave. Without giving too much away, this story has a lion, a witch, and a woman with a great wardrobe. There’s passion, danger, emotional fulfillment and a really great story. Once you get past the point of screaming at Marcy for being freaking insane and realize she’s truly under the control of a passion greater than herself, you will be rooting for she and her gargoyle lover. Can they break the curse laid on him by the witch? Grab this book to find out. 4.5 tombstones for To Kiss A Gargoyle.

Tall, Dark & Deadly by Margaret L. Carter
Writer Eloise wants to pitch her idea to horror star Claude. Claude has a slight aversion to sunlight and plays vampires with a bit more authenticity than most. He indulges in a sip of Eloise but that indulgence endangers Eloise when his past rises up from the dead. This story weaves a languid tale of lust turned to love.

Claude is certainly not adverse to using his powers — typical ability to mesmerize and cloud memories. This is a very sensual tale that moves slowly to the culmination. Carter lets you learn these characters. Eloise displays a take charge manner in a sexual sense that is fun and relieves her of being a soppish miss for all that she is modern. I did get a bit bored at points with the length of the story.

The inevitable show down between the enemy vampire and Claude is predictable but well written. Over all this is a competent vampire tale for those who expect a certain flavor. Good sex combined with an eternal love threatened by an eternal evil earns this tale 3.5 tombstones.

Curse Of Brandon Lupinus by Shelly Munro
This story has a classically eerie spine-tingling Gothic opening. Loved it from the get go! It’s not your average fuzzy lover story. Brandon’s problem is more transparent. Or rather he IS transparent. Yes, darlings, this werewolf is also a ghost. And our heroine doesn’t believe in ghosts which could be a bit of a problem for the poor furry man.

Luckily she does believe in molten hot dream lovers. However when confronted with a very solid Brandon, she has to believe he is something out of the ordinary. What follows is a great reveal of how he got where he is. Jess doesn’t have a lot of time to accept his word. There’s someone murdering women in the local village.

It’s got a lot packed into 52 pages. Mystery, redemption, curses, forgiveness and love. Munro knows how to utilize her words to give her reader the great story that stands out from the pack. 5 tombstones from the cranky Southern Belle.

Book Stats:

• E-Book and Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (June 10, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416577238
• ISBN-13: 978-1416577232

To purchase a print copy of Midnight Treat click here.
To purchase electronic copies of the individual stories click these links:
To Kiss A Gargoyle
Tall, Dark & Deadly
Curse Of Brandon Lupinus

To visit the author’s websites go here:
Sally Painter
Margaret L. Carter
Shelly Munro

Nathaniel has a legacy to fulfill. He is the King’s Paladin and its his mission to protect the earth from demon hordes. He has at his side, his faithful companion Cereberus who has promised to serve his family. Nathaniel one night rescues Dela from a demon who is trying to impregnate her with his spawn. The demon, Ashmodaios, swears he will return and begin Armageddon, steal back the woman, and kill the King’s Paladin, after which he will take over the world. Nathaniel, with the help of his newfound love Dela and a secret society sets about to do whatever it will take to stop the demon.

I give Demon 3 tombstones. I think Mr. May has potential, but this book just did not grab me the way I had hoped it would. Dela and Nathaniel made for interesting characters and they had chemistry between them, and I have to say, I did not expect sex scenes in this novel when I saw the cover. They were well written though. Ashmodaios is a typical demon , full of himself and convinced he is going to win. He is overconfident and overbearing, almost like a typical villain in any novel. I did enjoy how Cereberus was portrayed and thought he was a lot of fun. The overall plotline was interesting. There was action at every turn and it seemed like Nathaniel and Dela were always fighting for their lives. While it was not a book that I was overly excited about, it may be something that you, the reader, may appreciate. If you enjoy a good demon horror novel that has non stop twist and turns and action throughout with a splash of romance, give Demon a try.

Book Excerpt: “Everyone has their own demons to fight. Nathaniel has: as well as all the demon hordes from hell. A chance meeting with an exotic woman with a demon close on her heels, sends them both on a horrific adventure. Soon both are fighting for their lives, as well as everyone else on the planet; as the legions of Hades, try to stop them. If they fail, they will die and we ll all die with them! In a thrilling novel full of dramatic twists and turns, in a thoroughly modern setting, Peter Mark May succeeds in creating a duel to the death between the powers of good and evil that is as exciting as any medieval tale allegory. Read on, if you wish to discover whether the good can overcome the thoroughly evil, or has Armageddon come at last?”

Book Stats:

• Paperback: 350 pages
• Publisher: Vanguard Press (January 21, 2008)
• ISBN-10: 1843863987
• ISBN-13: 978-1843863984

To purchase a print copy of Demon click here.

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

Traditional fairy tales usually involve a beautiful damsel, a hero and a witch. The Faery Princess has all of that and more but with quite an erotic twist.

Our hero Tom is an eighteen year old village boy who chooses to sleep in the loft of the stable to escape the horrors of his father’s snoring. Tom is awakened one night with the feeling that something is off. Unable to see the source at first, he hears the voice of a female that he does not recognize. When she appears to him, Tom is stunned to see that she is a beautiful faery. He is even more shocked when she starts to…er…play with him. Not one to discourage such behavior by a beautiful willing partner, fae or not, Tom allows her to do as she wishes. When they are both finished, she explains herself. Her name is Gossamer and she is the Princess of the Faeries. While out flying one day years ago, she was captured by the ogre Massad and imprisoned in the ogre’s tower. Under a sleeping spell, she will remain there until her lover has found her. Gossamer is able to send her dream-self on travels and that is how she came to Tom.

Entranced by Gossamer, Tom desperately wants to rescue her but knows he will need the help of the village witch. He ventures to her cottage a bit outside of the village to seek her help. After Tom explains the situation, the witch agrees to help but the only way for her to bestow a luck spell on him is by the two of them joining in sex. She also tells him that if he needs her assistance during his journey all he needs to do is call her name and she can come to him but only three times.

Along the way, Tom encounters various situations that require some rather creative means of extricating himself. A talking door with no key, three mysterious women; these are just some of the exploits that he comes across in his quest to rescue Gossamer. Then, of course, there is the ogre. Knowing full well what an ogre is, Tom is still surprised to discover that the ogre is not quite what he expected. Unfortunately, neither is the way in which he must get past Massad.

The Faery Princess is a delightful erotic take on the traditional. Well written with very likable characters, this is a quick but very enjoyable read at only sixty-one pages. I did enjoy it but gave it a four and a half only because the ogre really squicked me out.

Book Stats:

• e-book, digital format
• Publisher: Lyrical Press
  
• Book Length: Short Story
  
• Language: English
• ISBN: N/A

To purchase an electronic copy of The Faery Princess click here.

To visit the author’s website go here.

Fourteen short stories – Each one distinctly different and each one enticing in its own way, there is only one common thread through all of these stories – Sex, lots and lots of sex.

These stories of gay, erotica, passion, paranormal, horror and love truly have something for everyone. A diversity of settings; an enchanted forest, a haunted hotel, a beach, a gay bar, as well as the Canadian Midwest among others, take you on a trip around the world within these pages.

1. The Lady of the Moon, the longest story in the collection shows a brother and sister the passions that can be found in their enchanted world.
2. A Little Knowledge is a story about two women one older than the other and their odd yet playful relationship.
3. Slippery When Wet is a lesbian fantasy about a shape shifting snake woman and her search for love – and sustenance..
4. Moonbeam is about a one night stand between a man who wants nothing to tie him down and a woman looking for – well stalking for- commitment.
5. The Hungry Earth is the story of a man and his male lover that end up facing an ancient evil in the Canadian Midwest.
6. Eros and Psyche is about a lesbian who falls for a mysterious secret admirer who signs the name Eros and takes her on a wonderful journey of passion.
7. Leavings is a story about a bisexual woman who returns to her ex-girlfriend after her male lover leaves her and the rather surprising welcome she receives.
8. Alejandro is about a young woman who agrees to a series of no strings attached encounters with a male political refugee.
9. Century Red is about a female prostitute who outwits a stingy male customer in a most interesting way.
10. Kol Nidre is set in the 1930’s and is about a woman seduced by a brother and sister in their family hotel.
11. Taste is a fantasy story about a woman’s encounter with a male gargoyle who opens her eyes to a world previously unseen.
12. Update is a contemporary story about a bisexual woman who reunites with a former classmate after many years.
13. When Less Is More is a contemporary story about a man and a woman and their slightly master/submissive encounters.
14. Queremos is a story about a young man’s meeting his hero, an acclaimed male author, and the passion they share.

Of the fourteen stories in this collection I found The Lady of the Moon, Slippery When Wet, Leavings and Kol Nidre and to be my personal favorites.

All of the stories were well written and with so much variety I am sure there is something is these pages to make any reader happy. All in all an enjoyable read if you are looking for more sex than substance.

Book Stats:

• e-book, digital format
• Publisher: Eternal Press
• Book Length: Short Story Collection
  
• Language: English
• ISBN: 978-0-9804581-6-9
  

To purchase an electronic copy of Obsession click here.

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

Jessica Crist is a psychic who works with the Sioux City police. Usually this fact is kept from the public and out of the papers but the latest case has changed things. Writing about the case of a particularly nasty serial killer, an ambitious reporter somehow finds out about Jess and prints her name in the paper. After that, the killer turns his attentions to Jess. Leaving notes on his victims with her name on it, he escalates until he finally leaves a note on her front door. Put into protective custody, Jess is in a safe house guarded by some of the same officers she has worked with. Somehow the killer found her and brutally slaughtered everyone but Jess. Managing to escape with her life and get to her car, Jess started driving and hasn’t stopped for two days. Near Buffalo she finally decides she needs to sleep. Seeing a sign for a hotel, she exits the interstate but quickly gets lost and finds herself on a small dirt road. Distracted and exhausted, she is startled by a car horn, over corrects and plunges down a culvert where her descent is halted by a tree.

Driving down the dirt road that is the driveway for his isolated cabin, Reed Baker is surprised to see headlights heading for him. This cabin is his hideaway and only a few people even know it exists. Laying on his horn, Reed slams on his brakes and watches in horror as the other car drives off the road. Racing to help, Reed discovers Jess semi-conscious and rambling about someone being after her. When she turns frantic at the mention of a hospital, Reed decides to take her to his cabin even though it is against his better judgment. Once Jess is cleaned up, fed and rested, Reed attempts to find out who she is running from and why.

Reluctant to tell Reed the whole story and put him in danger also, Jess decides to stay only for a couple of days and then move on somehow. She is also afraid of his reaction if she were to tell him of her psychic abilities even though her accident seems to have halted her visions. Her recovery takes a bit longer than she anticipates however and in the extra day or two they discover more about each other and the feelings that are developing. It is not until the morning Jess plans to leave that Reed finally figures out what is going on. While paying for their breakfast in a local diner, he sees a news report on television. A woman’s body has been discovered near the New York state line and her murder is very similar to ones that have occurred in Sioux City. A picture of Jess is also shown as police are concerned for her welfare and have been looking for her since her protectors were killed.

During the time that Jess has spent at Reed’s cabin, she knows the killer is still out there and still tracking her. It is only a matter of time until he finds her but with her visions still on the fritz, she has no way of knowing when it will happen. Jess just hopes that she can keep Reed out of danger when the time comes.

This book had me hooked from the start. I read various genres with a favorite being mysteries and thrillers. Running Blind easily combines both thriller and paranormal for a nail biting reading experience. I liked how the story took you back and forth between Jess and the killer’s viewpoints; it made me anticipate the ending even more. There were also a couple of surprises that I didn’t expect as well as parts that left me twisting in the breeze (in a good way) until I was given more information. Without a doubt, this book has earned its five tombstones and I will keep my eye out for more of Ms. Miller’s work.

Book Stats:

• e-book, digital format
• Publisher: Cerridwen Press
  
• Book Length: Novel
  
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9781419914232

To purchase an electronic copy of Running Blind click here.

To visit the author’s website go here.

Tired of her life as a dull reporter, Meredith is desperate to find a story big enough to jump start her career and make her the reporter she was meant to be. She knows that she is a good reporter, but she needed a story which would push her talents to the limit and to have people acknowledge her. Her craving for a story brings her to a club, the Devil’s Den where the dark dances and the shadows loom. Devil’s Den is exactly as what the name says it is. The evil that resides there has no mercy, passion or compassion.

After Meredith had been missing for a week, Serena began to worry and vows to find her friend. But she was not prepared for what she was going to face in order to bring her friend back safely. Although she is willing to do anything to ensure her friend’s safety, the evil asks for the impossible. It is up to her to save the day but it takes more than will and luck to win against evil.

Gracen Miller successfully brings out the horror and terror in this book. She has a very vivid imagination and it is that imagination that brings this book to life. I could feel the fear and monstrosity of the evil in this story that kept me gripping my seat with sweat tickling down my back. This is MUST read for all those who love horror that is gripping and terrifying and tales with an ending that blows you away.

Book Stats:

e-book, digital format
Publisher: Firedrakes Weyr Publishing
Length: Novel
ISBN: 9780981481968

To purchase an electronic copy of Devil’s Den click here.

To visit the author’s website go here.

I have to admit I was a bit unsure about what the storyline for The Abraxas Series would present when I began reading it. This is a unique set of three short stories in the series combined into one book. It starts out with the protagonist Christine Vargas being brutally attacked and turned into a type of super vampire. Admittedly the first book had quite a hard horror edge in a few scenes. I was pretty unsettled at a few of the scenes and found myself turning up the lights a bit! The horror edge mellowed into the rest of the series.

As the storyline unfolds we find Christine embraced (by some) into the fold of the local vampire family. Apparently she is the re-incarnated mate of the leader of the family who has been waiting for her return. They are both filled with the magical power of Abraxas, which gives them more strength and abilities than the rest of their “family members”.

Ms. Santiago adds a few new twists to the every popular vampire genre and gives it a unique spin all its own. The pace really picked up in books two and three, and I was surprised when it came to an end. I enjoyed watching the relationship between Christine and Ryan, and the author left room for the series to expand in several areas. I hope to see more of this colorful array of characters in the future. The way the story ends is a total surprise and very creative if not macabre.

Book Excerpt: “Christine Vargas is an independent, young working class-girl violently swept into another world-a world deemed unrealistic and impossible by many, a world under the mundane one she is so used to. During her physical transition, she has to come to grips with new powers she has been bestowed, and join up with her new ‘Lord’, Ryan Price, a gentleman of high social status, and twice her age. Her ‘new family’ is a motley crew of young vampires, and among the family are two rebellious twins trying to dethrone Ryan and take over the clan with their own legion of bloodthirsty (and drug-hungry), zombie-like vamps. Only Christine can determine the outcome of the oncoming battle and must chose quickly before the unthinkable happens. This is only the start of the strange, twisted, and mystical life Christine is now a part of, as more scarier situations present themselves to her, Ryan, and their delicate ABRAXAS clan-and sometimes, the ‘monsters’ aren’t quite what you’d expect…”

Book Stats:

This novel will appeal to fans of Charles DeLint with its urban approach to Irish mythology. At times I was mesmerized while at other times I just wanted to red line this book to death. It’s a tribute to the writing of Ackley-McPhail that I kept reading. I’d have to say that the horror element in this was very well done because at times I had to get up and turn the lights on.

Open with two weird characters who are sucked up by some equally weird cloud thingy then jump into the POV of someone else and you are going to have to work hard to keep me interested. Ackley-McPhail managed to do that with her tale of young Kara who decides to pawn the family violin even though it is a precious heirloom. The choice is hard but Ackley-McPhail makes it very believable when you realize what keeping the violin would mean. Basically it’s the house or the fiddle, young Kara.

We meet Kara’s strange mentor, Maggie, who recognizes the magic in the fiddle and in the girl. As the magic is released, more and more darkness gathers on Kara’s horizon. How she escapes this and regains her fiddle make for an interesting tale.

This is a long book and ultimately satisfying. The cover art is spectacular. Do be aware that this is an expanded/revised version of the same story from 2002. I can recommend this book with the caveat that if the proper use of the comma is important to you, you will need to put that aside. There is mad comma abuse in this book, but seriously the story makes it all worth while.

A sampling of the kind of writing you can expect:
“She began softly, barely drawing the bow across the strings. With each full-bodied, heartfelt note, Kara and Quicksilver gave voice to their joint suffering—the agony of watching Papa waste away, the weight of the bills and collection notices stacking up at home, and the sorrow of helplessly watching both parents suffer, powerless to help. As she continued, the rising, haunting tune unfolded with no predetermined path to restrict it. Mingled with the sorrow was Kara’s own exuberance for life, which even her heartache could not quell. The music took on its own life, filling the shop and carrying the two women along, leaving them in a kind of shock as it ended of its own accord.”

I very much enjoyed the tale of Kara and her fiddle. This urban fantasy offers a thrilling ride through a familiar landscape. 4 tombstones from the cranky Southern Bell.

Book Stats:

• E-book and Paperback: 260 pages
• Publisher: Mundania Press LLC (September 15, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159426354X
• ISBN-13: 978-1594263545

To purchase a print copy of Yesterday’s Dreams click here.
To purchase an electronic copy of Yesterday’s Dreams click here.

Books in the series in the order they should be read:
Yesterday’s Dreams
Tomorrow’s Memories

To visit the author’s website go here.

Tamsen Ka’antira watched in horror as her uncle, Gabril de Spesialle, murdered her parents at her home Asphodel. The young Tamsen escapes by unknowingly causing a magical snow storm with her powers. The storm effectively conceals her tracks and she survives when her elven relatives take her in and raise her. Half human, half elf, she is taught magic from both realms.

Tamsen, now a young woman, is summoned to the beautiful, elven city of Leselle, where the elven elders of the counsel acknowledge her in the coming of age ritual. While in the city of Leselle Tamsen also becomes aware of the fact that some elves do not care for her human heritage.

Brial Ka’breona, an elf warrior, is ordered by the counsel to guard Tamsen and protect her on her journey home. Brial mistrusts humans, though Tamsen causes a change of heart when she decides to go back to Asphodel and claim what is rightfully hers. Brial finds himself awed by her courage, and his respect and admiration for her strength takes their relationship to new levels.

In the face of imminent war the human and elven worlds must work together to save an ancient race, and Tamsen must coordinate this historic battle with the help of her human and elven friends.

I’m giving The Reckoning of Asphodel 4 tombstones. Celina Summers creates a wonderful world with her descriptive words and rich characterization. The pace of The Reckoning of Asphodel is a nice change from what you would normally find on the bookshelves. While reading this book I felt relaxed and caught up in the world of the elves and their gentle nature. I’m looking forward to reading the second book in this series, Asphodel: The Gift of Redemption.

Book Stats:

• e-book, digital format
• Publisher: Aspen Mountain Press
  
• Language: English
• ISBN: 978-1-60168-038-9

To purchase an electronic copy of The Reckoning of Asphodel click here.

Books in the Asphodel series in the order they should be read:
The Reckoning of Asphodel
Asphodel: The Gift of Redemption

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

For fifty pages Beverly Rae hints at something and on the very last page she lets you in on the joke, but it may not be the joke you were looking for. This is a very different love story about a woman determined to be a vampire’s lover. I felt as if there were things missing and sometimes the characters didn’t seem to be true to the storyline.

That having been said, this story will entertain those looking for a good vampire story. Rae doesn’t shy away from the horror aspect so her vampire is no clean cut gentleman. I really enjoyed his interaction with his assistant because you are shown that the hero has a sense of humor even if he doesn’t really show it all the time.

The heroine is a bit odd to me because there were so many questions raised in her story. The one overwhelming question was why Damian LeClare? What did Miranda want with a vampire? Her methods of getting his attention are unique to say the least. Once she does get his attention, the story picks up the pace quite well. This book did make me curious about other books by Rae who proved herself to be quite the adept storyteller. I’d read more by her most certainly.

Book Excerpt:“He seemed confused by her lack of fear. But, of course, he couldn’t know the whole truth. That would come later.

“No, I don’t. Especially not on my property and without my permission.” He threw out his arm, indicating the mob on his beach.

She decided to try a different approach. Maybe she could throw him off guard.

“Really? I’m shocked. I took you for a real party animal. You seem like such a night person to me.”

He blinked at her emphasis on the one word and knew her verbal jab had struck home. His low masculine growl set off alarms in her head and a flood between her legs. Pushing her farther into the dark, he cornered her against the wall of the house. She jumped when he slammed his hands on the wall on either side of her head.

“Take it easy, man.”

His tone, edgy and malicious, sent tiny shockwaves of lust roaring through her. “Take it easy? I don’t think so. First, you hire scum to invade my home. Then you bring unwanted people to act like idiots on my beach. This will not go on. Do you understand?”

Book Stats:

• e-book, digital format
• Publisher: Aspen Mountain Press
  
• Language: English
• ISBN: 978-1-60168-109-6

To purchase an electronic copy of Mr. Lonely click here.

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

After spending time with her romantically bitter friend Valentine Carter, Eve Moore is more than ready to relax with her boyfriend Steven Jones. Valentine writes scathing reviews of romance novels on her blog The Blog Bitch and Eve used to think it was funny. Now that she’s dating an author however, she’s had a change of heart. This is the longest relationship she has ever been in and it is almost like she’s waiting on the other shoe to drop. Steven has proven to be a fabulous boyfriend in that he’s loving, sexy and attentive; everything a girl could want. But she’s sure something is going to go wrong.

Steven Jones is a horror writer but also writes romance novels under the pseudonym of Adora La Fortune. His most recent book, Swelter, was about a triad of lovers, Derina, Robert and Warick. While the upcoming sequel is mostly fiction, Swelter was based on his life as Warick in the eighteen hundreds. As much as Val teases Eve about Steven being a vampire because he is never seen during the day, he is pale and, worst of all, hates junk food, it turns out that he really is.

Eve starts having dreams about Swelter with her in the place of Derina. When she tells Steven about them, he drops a bombshell on her with his explanation of his inspiration for Swelter. Faced with the possibility that Steven only loves her because he thinks she’s Derina reincarnated, Eve wonders if she should stay or go.

Christmas For Eve packs a lot into a very short story. I recently reviewed the sequel to this, Candy For Valentine, and am glad I got the chance to read Eve and Steven’s story. If you’re looking for a short but good story, this is one I would definitely recommend.

Book Stats:

• e-book, digital format
• Publisher: Changeling Press
  
• Book Length: Novella
  
• Language: English
• ISBN: 978-1-59596-559-2

To purchase an electronic copy of Stocking Stuffer: Christmas For Eve click here.

To visit the author’s website go here.

Eliza Lowell is a gypsy. Well, she is sure she is one even if her lineage doesn’t exactly point that way. She is on her way to the latest horror convention to sell her wares, even though her belief in the paranormal had been crushed in one fell swoop that night six months ago. Read More »

Twisted Tails III - Pure Fear is an excellent anthology of 18 stories exploring the concept of fear. (The cover design has nothing to do with the book’s content.) J. Richard Jacobs’ entertaining introductions to each story range from Cryptkeeper-esqe teasers to knowing asides about the story’s author you might hear from a friend. This entire volume is well worth reading. Three standout stories are: “The Ghost of Korrim McKarthy,” by Brandon Berntson, “Divine Messenger,” by K.L. Nappier, and “Post-Apocalypse,” by Ann Dulhanty.

With 18 stories and 12 authors I do not have the space to get in-depth, but I will touch on each story briefly, listing the authors in the order they appeared:

Biff Mitchell’s “School Dayzed” is an accurate capture of a recurrent school anxiety dream that I fully understand – will we ever leave high school behind? His other story, “Arachnotail,” made my skin crawl and, less predictably, gave me the urge to rinse out my mouth with a vivid description of what it’s like to eat a big, fat, hairy spider. It also left me pondering what I would do if I were the one on that ledge. (I’d rather not admit the answer in public.)

Brandon Bertson’s “The Ghost of Korrim McKarthy” was the only story in this anthology that really scared me. I’m still wondering how the little boy got out of the forest and worrying about his tortured adult self. With two young boys of my own, this one really spoke to me.

Both of J. Richard Jacobs’ stories explore the power of fear and the evil that underlies our everyday world. “Beast in the Basement” has a supernatural element that brought to my mind the Summers’ family basement, but unfortunately there was no Buffy to swoop in and save the heroine from her fate. “Handyman” deals with fear and evil in very real, plausible terms. What are we each capable of, when we think our lives are threatened?

“Day of the Dead” by Marilyn Peake has a long setup for an unsettling and confusing ending that plays to stereotypes and Americans’ fear of other cultures. I felt it was the weakest of the stories here.

Kim McDougall’s stories both tell one tale on the surface while leaving other possibilities open. “The Raft” is an interesting story that might be about a vampire, but it might also be about a castaway losing his mind – you decide. In “Lunch Was Not Enough,” a woman obsessed with her own grief is shadowed (pun intended) by a spirit that might be her dead husband, but could be someone – or something – else. This second story in particular has vivid descriptive language that was a pleasure to read.

K.L Nappier’s “Divine Messenger” is an engaging, clever tale that makes good use of its rural depression-era setting. What is a hard-working, young newlywed girl to do when Death himself comes for her husband? I had fun finding out. Her other story in this volume, “Backslide,” is a story of reincarnation backwards through time wherein the main character finds horrors he may or may not deserve (his own misdeeds are only hinted at). I found the ending to this tale abrupt and the character’s “punishment” severe, but perhaps that was the point. Is he atoning for his own crimes, or those of his ancestors?

“Trapped” by Christopher Hoare is a twist on the classic buried alive story starring a cantankerous old man who makes caskets for a living (brought to life by Hoare’s great characterization). This story chillingly portrays a real-world fear that I hope is not the fate waiting for me.

“Alone and Afraid” by A. J. Chaboya is another weak entry among this otherwise great bunch. Chaboya made a daring choice of narrator, but I don’t think it came together as intended at the end. The story explores the difference between the “real world” and a hallucination.

I think it’s safe to say that John Klawitter has Vietnam-related issues. He lets us watch as he works through them in “Three on a Match” and “The Adventures of Jack Cheese.” Both tales have overbearing, long-winded, extremely self-confident narrators and both feature characters who are Vietnam vets, but that is where their similarities end. “Three on a Match” is a good story, but I had a hard time getting past my dislike of the narrator to enjoy it. “The Adventures of Jack Cheese” was more engaging and has stayed with me. I’ll never look at freeway-exit panhandlers the same way again.

The setup for Ann Dulhanty’s “Post-Apocalypse” is classically scary – what if you were one of the last people left on Earth? – but the story itself isn’t frightening. It’s a story that explores the question: “what makes a person ‘useful’?” and portrays a woman coming into her own with a science-fiction twist. After reading this story I said to my husband, “Apparently, once the world ends, men only care about repopulating the planet,” and he said, “Duh!”

“Abandoned” by Geoff Nelder explores the real-world terrors of dangerous heights, Mother Nature out of control, and betrayal by those we trust. As I read this story, I wasn’t sure if the main character was delusional or not until the end.

“A Communication from the Dead” by Ginny Davis is a sweet story whose main character felt very real to me; her worst fear came true and she lived through it. This was the only one that made me cry.

Book Stats:

• Paperback: 268 pages
• Publisher: Double Dragon Publishing (April 16, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1554045681
• ISBN-13: 978-1554045686

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While having drinks at a tavern in Baltimore one evening, Gabriel Diaz and his ex-girlfriend Liz are approached by a beautiful stranger. She introduces herself as Kamilah, a local student, and inserts herself into the conversation. Liz is wary as something just doesn’t seem right about Kamilah. Gabriel however, is entranced. After Liz leaves, Gabriel and Kamilah continue their conversation until the tavern closes and then go back to Gabriel’s apartment. The more time Gabriel spends with Kamilah, the more he is drawn to her. It’s as if she has almost cast a spell on him.

He’s enjoying the budding relationship but now and then he gets a strange feeling about Kamilah. Her body temperature is unnaturally high and sometimes he catches a glimpse of what appears to be calculating or smug looks on her face. He’s also been having strange nightmares that sometimes feature Kamilah. He shrugs it all off as nothing and attributes it all to stress. His sister Elena is due to have her second baby within the month and Gabriel is working extra to make up for the time he’ll be gone when he goes to see her in Brussels for the birth. He’s also worried about her. Her first baby died hours after birth and no one will breathe easy until the baby is born and is healthy.

As the relationship progresses, Kamilah convinces Gabriel to take an extra week off work and fly to her home in Turkey for a get away at her family’s mountain cottage. Once they arrive in Turkey and before they even get to the cottage, the strange happenings seem to increase. During the same time, Liz is tormented by odd noises and apparent break ins at her dorm room. She doesn’t know how, but is convinced that Kamilah has something to do with it. It isn’t long before Gabriel starts to really wonder about Kamilah and her intent. Some of Gabriel’s belongings come up missing but as they are the only people in the cottage, there are only so many explanations. The nightmares get worse, his health is seemingly going down hill for no reason and Kamilah acts weirder as time goes by. It is as if she is trying to corrupt his very soul for no other reason than she can. He finally consults a local woman who is known to be a witch. Only then does he get an explanation for the evil he sees around Kamilah that threatens not only him but his sister Elana and her baby. He only has to escape Kamilah in time to save them all.

Dark and twisty, Dark Lullaby is like a bad dream come to life and I was very intrigued by the superstition and folklore involved in this book. While I thought the plot drug on in places, it was a chilling story that put me in mind of Dean Koontz or early Stephen King with a splash of Rosemary’s Baby thrown in for good measure. This is a definite buy if you enjoy being creeped out.

Book Stats:

• File Size: 1043 KB
• Print Length: 233 pages
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005UI7FOG

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