Star Crossed
Reth had a crush on Xan, an old schoolmate, throughout their academy days – though he didn’t think it went anywhere since Xan asked him to “wait” at a graduation party but never came back. Now, Xan is assigned to his ship, and Reth is surprised that he still holds at least a small flame for Xan. Will anything come of it?

The Bard’s Song
Taurin, a knight, comes to Jéànty’s Inn to hear an elfin bard out of curiosity. He comes back because he is drawn to the elusive player. When they meet, music happens in more ways than one.

World Enough and Time
The world is ending and Allan wants to live life as best he can in what time is left. On an off chance, he meets Ricky and wonders if there will be time enough for them.

Parking Lot Hero
Vic and Matt are partners in more ways than one – they are not only lovers, but Vic has also gained certain powers from being with Matt. It is those powers that enable him to save their landlady from a trio of bikers in a store parking lot.

Escape
Trace is a prisoner bound to fight in a war not of his own making when his ship crashes on a planet. Davin is a clone and part of a unit that is sent out to search for any survivors. Will Davin let Trace escape or will he turn him in for the bounty?

Navigator’s Log
Tylar Daire is part of a mission that has set out to find the cure for an illness that is killing Terran colonists. Aside from himself, as mission navigator, the others that are part of the mission are a soldier (an old friend of Tylar’s), the captain, a scientist, and a pilot whom Tylar has growing feelings for. Tylar’s friend, Jareth, winds up catching the virus but does not want anyone to know until it is almost too late. That proves nearly fatal for Tylar, who also winds up with the nearly fatal virus. He survives but is a carrier – which would affect any lover he would have. Will that stop Rion (the mission’s pilot) and the budding relationship he has with Tylar?

The Fall
Gabe and Luce are two angels who share a relationship not meant to be. Due to that, one of them has lost his wings, and the other chooses to fall with him. Is there a future for the two of them or only a death sentence?

VR Palace
In a time and place where pleasure can be had in a virtual reality parlor, a man has what he considers to be a perfect lover in the form of one of the programs. And yet, over time, the line between reality and programming blurs, and the programming becomes more and more real. Is it the illusion of a yearning heart or is love enough to overcome binary coding?

This reviewer’s overall impression of the anthology is a good one. For the most part, the stories seem to be snapshots of single points in time (a few hours in the day). The only exceptions to this are “Navigator’s Log” and “VR Palace” which take place over a longer period of time. All of the characters presented throughout the anthology capture the reader’s attention to the point that it would have been nice to see more to of the individual stories (even the longer ones). One character that really stood out for me is Melba Kowalewsky, Matt and Vic’s landlady in “Parking Lot Hero”. What I found endearing about her is that she sounds like quite a few older Polish ladies I have had the privilege of knowing.

Book Stats:

• Paperback: 162 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace (March 28, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1441430695
• ISBN-13: 978-1441430694

To purchase a print copy of Other Worlds Than These from Amazon click here.

Quite the haunting story for those with a taste for M/M romance, J.M. Snyder has written another winner with this tale of unlikely lovers. A stable boy in Colonial America, well… a stable boy in pretend Colonial America, Nicholas Wiley has no idea what is in store for him when he decides to steal a nap in the stable before catching the last bus home. At the midnight crossing he will stumble across a gorgeous boy that will change his life forever. David professes to be the glassblower’s apprentice, but nobody at the reenactment seems to know who he is and the mystery of their meeting will only get stranger as the following nights unfold.

Written in the first person from Nick’s perspective this story is well drawn out with quite a bit of depth for it’s length. Though I noticed a minor discrepancy in Nick’s character (he called Colonial America the 1800s once as well as the 18th century later. He was right on about the 18th century, but we were already a recognized country by the 1800s. Given his job, I found it unlikely that he wouldn’t have known that), overall both Nick and David come across strong and well defined. All in all, a very enjoyable story that raises some interesting questions and leaves the reader wanting more. Seriously, artistic ending aside, I would really love to know how their present works out for Nick & David.

Book Stats:

• e-book, digital format
• Publisher: Aspen Mountain Press
  
• Language: English
• ISBN: 978-1-60168-147-8

To purchase a Kindle copy of A Haunted Love from Amazon click here.

To purchase an electronic copy of A Haunted Love click here.

To visit the submitting author’s website go here.

“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.

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.

A Touch of Sin by Elisabeth Jason
Scottish illusionist Cyric Amon casts a spell over women, even as he looks out across Las Vegas from the many billboards emblazoned with his image. Kaylene certainly was among those women who found themselves unable to banish this devil of a man from her thoughts. Is it magic when they meet or just illusion? A Touch of Sin is boldly erotic from beginning to end.

Eros Lost by Dawn Montgomery
A tale of Eros and Psyche. Their marriage spanning thousands of lifetimes reminds us that it’s not just love but bawdy lust that can reach out across time. This is the type of raw etheric passion that humans long for especially those in devotes relationships.

A Haunted Love by J.M. Snyder
Is this a ghost story or not? Either way it is a wonderfully romantic affair between young Nicholas and David. Set in a colonial style only adds to the eerie tantalizing fantasy. This short tale walks the line between paranormal erotica and a Bradbury brand of surrealism. This is absolutely my favorite J.M. Snyder story to date.

Book Stats:

• e-book, digital format
• Publisher: Aspen Mountain Press
  
• Language: English
• ISBN: 978-1-60168-028-0

To purchase an electronic copy of Cupid’s Arrow click here.

To visit the submitting author’s website go here.

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. Laura Baumbach delves into a world of ghosts, vampires and demons. The stories are rounded out with J.M. Snyder’s dalliance into an urban legend. These are a fun read and well worth the time.

Blue Murder by Emily Veinglory
What if everyone knew that monsters were real? Kerry and Bern live in America where that notion is a reality. A bill has been passed that all “Otherkin” must be registered with the government. Both men work in the local police station Bern as the civilian desk clerk and registered vampire. Kerry works as a uniformed officer and illegally unregistered werewolf. They find an attraction and subsequent love that compels them to do things they never would have thought possible before.

Things That Go Bump In The Night by Lucynda Storey
After the betrayal of her boyfriend, Summer a newly turned werewolf, is in search of a faithful alpha mate. She has her sites set on Tyler, her employer at the ranch where she works. Tyler has realized a fondness as well for the sultry Summer. The challenge is, Summer must mate with him before the next full moon, to remove the territorial markings of her former lover.

Walk Through Fire by Laura Baumbach
For over 150 years on All Hallows Eve the vampire, Caleb Archer, walked the same path to one of the cemeteries oldest and largest crypts. Each year he is joined by the ghost child Sarah Beth who reminds him that love is the only thing you have left when you are dead. His goal during his annual journey is to summon the Astaroth in a bid to retrieve his lover Drew from the demon’s control and repay his debt.

Devilish Good Time by J.M. Snyder
Geeky film major Jacob can only dream of a lover like Bobby Montague jock extraordinaire. During a Halloween frat party he finds himself unbelievably being hit on by the very object of his desires. It is where things of movies are made of when they have a chance encounter with the local myth of the Jersey Devil.

Book Stats:

• e-book, digital format
• Publisher: Aspen Mountain Press
  
• Language: English
• ISBN: 978-1-60168-011-2

To purchase an electronic copy of Creatures of the Night, Creatures of Delight click here.

To visit the author’s website go 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

To purchase an electronic copy of Undertow click here.

To visit the submitting author’s website go 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 Excerpt: “Brance Brenneman is used to harsh conditions — the eldest son of a stern Amish preacher, Brance was bit by a werecat as a young boy, and managed to keep his secret from his family until he was old enough to leave them and their religion behind. Years later, when the nation is divided by the American Civil War, Brance finds himself enlisted in the Union army. By sheer chance, he meets Caleb Chilson, a Confederate soldier who bears his same shapeshifting burden.”

Book Stats:

e-book, digital format
Publisher: Amber Quill
ISBN: 9781602721135

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 – Scheduled for release in October 2008

To visit the author’s website go here.

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 Excerpt: “Bitten as a teen, Caleb now suffers through a painful
transformation from human to bobcat a few days each month. As a bobcat,
he leaves behind his camp and fellow soldiers to explore the night. But
a gunshot and the bright scent of fresh blood draws him to a clearing
where he learns he isn’t the only one of his kind.

Wounded and hurt, Brance is a loner by nature, gruff and grumbling, who
doesn’t want anything to do with Caleb … at first. The younger bobcat
prevails, and starts to win Brance over, until they turn human again and
find themselves on opposite sides of the American Civil War.”

Book Stats:

e-book, digital format
Publisher: Amber Quill
ISBN: 9781602720756

To purchase an electronic copy of Under a Confederate Moon 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 – Scheduled for release in October 2008

To visit the author’s website go here.