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I won this book in an online competition and, having read and enjoyed "Timeless" and "Night Moves", I was intrigued to see what else Patric Michael had written.If I was a gay teenager who loved books by writers like Piers Anthony, full of puns and quirky characters, I'd love "Conways Curse".Well, I'm not gay and I'm not a teenager, but I still enjoyed reading the story once I worked out what was going on.The main characters, Tion and Kail are sprites not fairies, well they are gay, but that's almost immaterial to the plot. A fact of life. As natural as breathing, though with them, nothing is really natural as when Kail's eyes flash green fire, they actually do.One of the most enjoyable aspects of the book is the way literary cliches and phrases take on a life of their own in a marvellousy punny way.Take these for example: That must have cost a pretty penny.”Em nodded to Tion. “And a few ugly ones too, “Conway, are you on a quest, by any chance?” Tion’s voice was earnest. Despite his now-frantic bailing, his stomach sank to the bottom, because he already knew the answer.Kail rolled his eyes at the innkeeping couple’s confused expressions. They toppled like ten-pins.Mock irritation dripped from his voice and briefly stained the quilt that covered the bed before it evaporated.These and the many others in the book are classics.From the above, you might think that the book was going to be PG, but then Kail and Tion get down and dirty. Though in their case, it's roses springing up on the stomach as a kiss travels over it.The sex though, like their homosexuality is seen as a natural part of their life. It's for this reason, I can imagine this book would really hit the mark for teenagers and young gay adults who can't identify with the mainstream heterosexual heroes.Paranormal and scifi settings have two great advantages – first that they're not constrained by the past and the present, secondly anything is possible.By basing this story (and I gather sequels have been considered) in a mythical world, the characters can do things their human, real world counterparts could only dream of.So, in one scene near the end when a townsperson takes exception to a character's sexual preference, calling it unnatural, he's temporarily turned into a rabbit."The only thing unnatural here is your apparent inability to appreciate the fact that my friends saved your feckless ass"I could imagine young gay readers the world over applauding.But it's not just gay teenagers and young adults who would enjoy this book. Anyone who was a fan of Piers Anthony style of writing in his Xanth novels would also appreciate the marvellous play on words as the ephemeral becomes real.The only little niggles I had were with some craft inconsistencies. But, hey, I'm also an editor by trade, so I can't help myself.Most readers once they got caught up into the world probably wouldn't notice them.I would have taken a star off for that, but I added one back on for originality and daring to do something different. Dreamspinner Press should be applauded for publishing it.

I'm not going to describe what happens in this book as other reviewers have done that quite well.I am going to comment on the standard of the editing/writing.I've never read a published book that contains so many simple errors.Typos are one thing, but getting people's names back to front" Not just once but twice? In such a short book with a minimum number of characters, it is inexcusable.As Mark positioned himself by lying down on the cloth and moving his feet alongside the picnic table legs, Tad worked quickly to secure Mark so he couldn't move. When he was satisfied, he said, "Okay, try and get out of the restraints and ropes."Tad tried to move around and pulled on the ropes, they were knotted like Tad knew what he was doing, tied to the rings and around his wrists so he couldn't move at all. His feet were very secure as well.The last paragraph should read Mark tried to move around...Okay, one mistake, slip of the keyboard but then moments later:Mark peeled off his shorts and let his semi-erection pop up free. He took the belt from the table and walked around to the rear of the table. There he pulled down the Calvin Klein's covering Mark's beautiful ass. They would only go down so far because Mark's legs were spread. He would remember that when they had Eddie in that position.Uh, sorry it should read Tad peeled off his shorts. Mark was already trussed like a turkey....These weren't the only mistakes.The writing style is very elementary, other reviewers have commented on the BDSM angle, so I won't repeat what they said except to say that I agree with them and really abhor the fact that there was no concept of safe words.I'm interested to see if other books by the author are as bad or did this one just suffer from lack of a decent editor?

“Hard Fall” was my first James Buchanan story and it won’t be my last. I thought I liked a challenge when writing, choosing protagonists that were outside the norm or situations that are again often not found in m/m romance. Some friends have said I try to do too much. Well, James Buchanan shows how it can be done successfully for all those who shy away from “hard” topics and characters.She has either researched the sport/occupation of rock climbing to a T or is an exponent. Similarly with the Mormon church, she either has inside knowledge or she has done due diligence reading.Marry those two disparate subjects into the territorial world of policing, the court room dramas of a small town add a host of colorful characters and you have a five ball juggling act.I’m pleased to report that all balls stayed in the air for the duration of the book. Not an easy feat. The sheer bravery of the attempt is worth a five star rating but her execution also matched.I’m sure some readers may skip over the details about caribiners and prussics and the general nuts and bolts of climbing as will other readers avoid the ins and outs of being a deeply religious person being excommunicated from his faith.To me though they added another dimension to a story about two men finding that their shared love of climbing gives them a deep connection above and beyond their physical attraction.There is a mystery to be solved, but this is more a vehicle to tell the story of the relationship which is very much the centre of the story.The book is packed but not overloaded with detail. The colloquial speech is smoothly handled. Again not easy and her gay female secondary character is worth a book on her own.I’m looking forward to reading more of James Buchanan’s work.

Everything I've said in other reviews of K.A.Mitchell's books holds true for this one.However what I really liked was that in this case the two lovers have been together for six years and then things go wrong. Seen by their friends as the perfect couple, circumstances put a deepening wedge between the two, turning paradise into purgatory.The emotional arc running through the book with two men who are still physically attracted to each other is very believable and compelling to see how it can be resolved.I think this is my favorite by K.A.Mitchell, one of my few "must read" m/m authors. The characters are all believable, all with their flaws and good points. No-one is "wrong" or "right". As usually happens in real life, honest and open communication is at the heart of the story.Even better on a re-read.

I really loved this story and have no hesitation in rating it this highly. The "voice" of the character is so strong and the writing likewise.It's only short, but it packs a mean punch. I won't reveal the plot because there are a couple of twists. Instead, I'll let the main character speak for himself. (We don't even discover his name for ages, but that's fine.)If I'm going to do this, I'm going to do it right; so I'll start by talking straight to you, and quickly disabuse you of any notions that this is some sort of hooker-with-a-heart-of-gold story. Right now, me and you, we’ll sit down, and we'll talk about where this comes from; so if you want to get out of it you'll know, before you've gotten this to the check-out counter........that's how it was until he came back.You know him . . . the guy you once loved. The only one who could blow into your life like a hurricane and take everything down in its path. In fisherman's parlance, the one that got away.Just when I was at a point in my life where I felt good about myself and my choices, John came back and birds started singing.Oh, the little things we do to each other, particularly the ones we love. All of the ones we really feel something for, and in doing so, we blow our future away. Blow it away by being stubborn. By being too clever. By saying regrettable things at the critical moment.....Every word, every phrase is needed. None are wasted. We go on a journey with two characters who are real, have flaws and strengths. Thanks to Clancy's talent, this journey is very enjoyable. A real page turner.

This was my introduction to historical novels, hot romance and the concept of a series. I remember being totally obsessed with tracking down all the books and discovering what I could about the authors. I haven't read it for years. It's probably awfully dated and tame by today's standards, but I loved it as a young teenager, stealing my sister's copy and reading it when she wasn't around.

It's nice to hear that life and sex doesn't end at forty-nine. A multi-pairing book where there's a point to the pairing and the age difference. A quick, pleasurable read.

Another great book from Bryl Tyne. This is my version of how it came about....“Thwack.”I opened my eyes, or tried to at least. What, in God’s name had I drunk last night? A large shape loomed before me, tapping what looked like a large stick against one hand. He didn’t look happy.“Who.. who… are you?” I swallowed. If he was who I thought he was. I was in deep shit.“I believe you refer to me as Big Daddy, Bryl.” He glared at me. “I’ve had it up to here…” He stopped to make a menacing cutting motion against his throat then resumed tapping, harder and faster this time. “.. with you taking my name in vein.”I untangled the sheets from around my legs and struggled to sit up. Once an editor always an editor. “Um, it’s V-A-I-N not….”The stick… no, now my brain had started functioning properly I could see it was a rolled up bundle of papers… sped up. The voice thundered. I winced and covered my ears. Turn down the volume, dude. You’re the all seeing, all knowing… you know what my head feels like!“I’d get you to do three Hail Mary’s, but somehow I don’t think that’s your style.”He threw the bundle on the sheet beside me and, as they spread out, they made a neat fan shape. Well, I suppose if anyone could pull off that trick, he could.“Instead you’re going write me a story.”That didn’t sound too hard. I was a writer after all. I picked up the top photo. Dark, curly hair, short clipped beard, white Chesty Bond singlet, an impressive set of muscles. I could do him. “Afro-American?”Big Daddy snorted. “Mexican, Brazilian? I don’t give a damn. Dark, tough though. Nothing like your sweet Zigzagel. Name’s Travon.”Okay. I picked up the next photo. White, blond shaggy hair flopped over an impressive pair of shades. Enough fuzz on his chin to stop him looking too girly. Cool. Hot.“That’s, Drew.”“So what’s the plot?”“I don’t give a shit.”My eyes… no gaze… Bryl, get it right… jerked up from my contemplation of the next photo. If Travon looked tough, this guy looked downright dangerous. All attitude and power. Big too. Huge. Menacing. Below him was someone who looked like Danny de Vito’s twin brother.“So I can write whatever I like?”The smile that curled Big Daddy’s lips made me swallow. This was not good.“As long as you include…” He started ticking points off against his fingers. “Jewellery, a car chase, blackmail, handcuffs, sex, lot’s of sex…” He paused and the smile turned into a downright leer. “You do like writing about sex, don’t you, Bryl?”I nodded. Yeah, this guy knew me inside out.The ticking off continued. “Bribery, armed robbery, adultery…”This was starting to sound like a warped version of the Ten Commandments.He looked confused for a moment. He was running out of fingers. He’d used one for sex and another for “lot’s of sex”, but I wasn’t going to correct him. I had a feeling my job was going to be hard enough as it was.He shrugged as his forefinger struck the last digit. “… and Brut deodorant.”“You’ve gotta be kidding me!” I scrambled to my knees. I hadn’t been in this position since… what the devil had the guy’s name been??? His dick had been nice though.Big Daddy shook his head. “Nope. The story must include Brut deodorant.”I sat back on my heels and groaned. Just including something like that would wreck my street cred. The almighty, all powerful sure knew how to turn the screws. One last photo stared up at me from the pile. Whereas the other characters seemed like they belonged in the world Big Daddy had portrayed, this guy seemed different. Like an accountant. Conservative, short hair, straight, boring.“Who’s this?”“Tray.”“Like in one of those flat things you use to carry stuff?”“T.R.E.Y.”An idea started taking shape in my mind. He thought he was punishing me for writing stories about his minions with pinions. He was dead wrong. It sounded like just the sort of fucking challenge I loved. Guns, murder, mayhem.He started to turn but stopped. “Oh, and it has to have a happy ending for everyone.” He glared at me for a second. “They are possible you know, Bryl.”I buried my face in my hands. Now I was well and truly fucked.(I'm pleased to report, that Bryl succeeded.)

It took me a while to work out why I didn’t like this book. At first I thought it was the juvenile behavior of the two protagonists or at least the childish way they spoke to each other, then I realized it was because this juvenile style didn’t match the narrative voice that linked all the dialogue together.Sometimes, the sane, descriptive telling of what was happening was mirrored almost immediately by mismatching dialogue which demonstrated/showed what the narrative had just described.Here’s an example of the “tell”: All because the thought of Aaron traipsing across his fucking dump of a neighborhood in the middle of the night to work on his pots because Jake kept him too busy during the day sent a stab of fear and worry through his gut so intense that only the purchase of said wheel and kiln could alleviate it.Shortly afterwards followed by the “show” of the same thing in the following dialogue:“Do you know where he lives? And he’s skipping around like Pollyanna in the middle of the night to go make ashtrays and kitty statues, or whatever the fuck he makes. He’s going to get mugged or killed, for chrissake!”This might have worked if the narrative had been in anyone’s head other than one of the two protagonists. In fact I’m not sure whose head half the narrative was in.At times it almost felt like some God on Olympus was looking down at a couple of actors in a Shakespearean farce.The book might have been brilliant if that had been the case, and this God had addressed the reader, telling the story of this crazy couple, interspersed by the actors showing it. The Alyson character could have even been a physical manifestation of this being who came down and interacted with each character as needed. But that's not what the author's written and I acknowledge that.The way it was written, I felt I was dealing with two people suffering from a bad case of multiple personality disorder.Then as the book progressed, their whacky juvenile dialogue became over the top deep and angsty. So I was thrown off the other end of the scale of disbelief.Usually, if I don't like a book, I don't write a review about it. The old "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all dictum". However in this case, I am, because to me, basic writing flaws which could have been fixed, detracted from the story.This dichotomy of perceptive telling of what was going on in their lives and in their heads, interspersed by juvenile action or dialogue didn't cut it for me.Here's another example: He found Jake to be rather fragile beneath his gruff and highly irritating exterior. He was brilliant and amazing at what he did. He was strong and bold in his studio, in his world; but take him out of that world and he was uncertain, almost shy. Aaron could never understand how someone could be so in control of their world, their own little environment, but be so out of control in the bigger world.These are meant to be the thoughts of Aaron, the same person who has dialogue like this:“I thought he was the devil,” Aaron said, scrunching up his face in confusion. “Emotionally retarded assholes generally don’t start smoking after being doused with holy water. They usually start smoking after fucking some random guy, then kicking him out of bed before the condom comes off.”Again if the inner thought had been by a seperate entity interpreting Aaron's behaviour and thoughts from up on high, it might have worked.Structurally the start is confusing also as you have a prologue that jumps to five years in the future - ie the present - told from Aaron's point of view. This is followed by Chapter One.Now you would expect this to follow on timewise, but it doesn't, it starts at the same time as the prologue then jumps forward only six months.Again I have no problem with this concept. In fact I've used it myself in a story written long before this one. But it could have been done differently eg: "What Came Before - according to Aaron" and then "What Came Before - according to Jake".Make the fact that we're seeing the same scene through two different eyes more obvious. Make it a feature.I know a lot of my friends love this book, but I’m sorry I didn’t. Maybe I'm the Grinch that stole Christmas. At least it seems to be selling well, and that's the main thing. Isn't it?

This book did more than anything to convince me that stories could be set outside the United States and still appeal to readers.It deals with one of the most unfathomable mysteries known to man. The absolute devotion and obsession of Melburnites with Aussie Rules football. Even to a Sydneysider, where there is no parallel, this single mindedness about a fairly obscure sport is difficult to comprehend.Believe me when I say that Sean has captured this perfectly. If a reader thinks any aspect of this is over the top or far-fetched, take it from who knows. It isn't.Added to this was the ability to have an m/m romance accepted by a publisher without the need to include graphic sexual encounters. Dreamspinner has to be applauded for setting what I hope will be a new standard in the publishing world.Kudos to Sean for a great read.

I’m not into stories about shifters, shedders and suckers.Too often writers just use the alternate form to allow the character to do things they can’t in real life. Be more powerful, more dominant, more macho.I’m a big fan of Kim Dare’s writing. I love her GAY stories. Yes they’re short, but each one shows her understanding of her characters and how their very nature affects their coming together and their relationship.In Duck!, Kim has done three things and done them very well.First, she’s taken the standard 15,000 word relationship story she excels at and expanded it by creating a new world around the characters.Then she’s done the next step. The step her stories have been lacking, by finding the one thing that could threaten their relationship, and exploring what happens when this conflict eventuates.Finally, she's used the shifting, not so much to explore the form of the different being but to explore what that form means. This shifting could even be seen as allegorical and relate to real life. What happens to a relationship when one of the duo inherits something or changes.K.A.Mitchell did it really well in A Regularly Scheduled Life when one of the couple becomes famous. In this case, there's a change of role when one is reluctantly forced to accept his birthright.Being about dominance and submission, as all Kim’s stories are, this shift in hierarchy places stress on the relationship and needs to be dealt with.This isn’t so much an ugly duckling story as a story about understanding the difference between submission and subservience. It also exlores the difference between domination and superiority. I have trouble stomaching this relationship sometimes, but when you read something like this:I thought about what my submissive would want. I thought about what he'd need in order to be happy under my protection. You start to see how dominance in a way can be a form of serving.The saying that every great leader sees himself as the servant of his subjects isn’t that far away from the truth. It would be nice to think that every leader who filled that role had someone behind them who knew what they needed and made sure they got it.I can just imagine how Ori's relationship with the world would and should change over time as he settled more into his birthright.Oh, and on a more important front. I love the way the curves of the "C" and "U" on the cover so lovingly curl around the guy's arse....

There’s an old writing rule attributed to Chekhov: “If in the first act you have hung a pistol on the wall, then in the following one it should be fired. Otherwise, don’t put it there.”This concept deals with foreshadowing, and the fact that all details, however small, are significant and should be integral parts of the story. Well in Robert Rodi’s “Drag Queen”, the gun (in this case Blossom Dearie) isn’t fired until twenty pages before the end. (If you don’t know who Blossom is, honey, google it.)As I read, I envisaged a few ways ‘the gun” might be fired, but didn’t predict the way it was in the end. That unpredictability, for me, is always a plus.Written in 1995, “Drag Queen” explores the world of chicks with dicks, in the purest sense of the phrase.Underneath the humor, the book explores a few serious themes, and has some classic quotes: “Elizabeth the First, She’s been my real obsession. Probably the first great drag-queen role model in history.” This dialogue came after a long section where the concept that men have had heroes to model themselves on ever since the time of Homer, while it's been different for women: “I was determined to find a forgotten iconic tradition for women, and hon, it was just not there....The few women who did achieve any real influence or power over the years had to invent themselves from scratch.”The words were spoken by Kitten Kaboodle who just happens to be the long lost identical twin brother of Mitchell Sayer an uptight, anal retentive lawyer who specialises in real estate cases.As you can imagine, the sparks fly. From the time poor Mitchell tracks down Donald and discovers to his horror he is a drag queen, he ends up in all sorts of dire predicaments, including sucking a few cocks in a leathermen orgy, something he’d never have dreamed of doing beforehand, and tries desperately to forget afterwards.* Not that that was Kitten’s fault, more Simon an ex-boyfriend who is heavily into the scene. No Kitten was too busy chasing after one of Mitchell's college pals or trying to avoid being upstaged by another drag queen who, God forbid, mimed her songs.I really enjoyed the story. Campy, irreverent, sarcastic and over the top, just like the people it’s talking about. Underneath there is a worthwhile message. Mitchell's adoptive mother sums it up best: "Maybe he's someone desperately trying to find a corner of the world where he can fit...Someone who shows more courage every time he walks down a street than you or I have ever had to show in our lives.Especially as Donald says about himself: "I'm just this ordinary nothing of a man. Someone you'd never look at twice if you saw him on the street. A big gray absence of a person."*And Kate, I read this after I sent you my synopsis of "Joe Blow"!!!

This is the second book in Don Schecter's "Stories for Older Men and Younger Lovers". A collection of tales. Yes, there is sex in some of them, but more they are explorations about what it is to be gay and as such should be of immense interest to women who write m/m romances who want to delve behind the stereotypes that are starting to populate the genre.In some ways the subtitle is a bit of a misnomer as it suggests the stories are only relevant to the young and old. Whereas these stories are really for anyone who is interested in relationships, and who are trying to understand what it's like being a gay male.The first story, "Doorways" is the tale of a mature age man who comes out of the closet after being married and raising a family. If you check his website, you'll see that the author has a similar background, so it would be fair to say he knows what he's talking about. Although another story carries the book's title "Out of the Box", this first story is all about what happens when a man opens "Pandora's Box" and allows his formerly suppressed feelings to escape. Confusion, excitement, almost childlike innocence as he passes through a doorway into another world. Wanting it all now.This world is seen in all its variety in other stories. The world of bondage and discipline in "Submission" where the nature of control, lack of it and paradoxically discovering it through submission is told through the eyes of Conny (short for Mr Conlan)“I want to submit to someone because it’s the ultimate personal abdication. Mindless obedience as a fantasy. I always have to be in control; I get deep satisfaction from controlling things.”“Yes? Go on.”“Well, I’m worn out; I want a vacation from my obsession, from all decision-making. My fantasy is to be controlled, totally; an abject slave. Not permitted to have a say about anything, including my bodily functions. In real life, I could never let that happen. It’s impractical as well as unsatisfying. But in my dreams…in my dreams… Tarzan keeps Bruce Wayne captive in the jungle; Superman is helpless, strapped to a nugget of Kryptonite…these childhood fantasies have never varied much since pre-puberty.”The man he submits to, Kurt, is 5’6”, a head shorter than Conny. It was his rounded belly, wire-rim glasses that focused bright beady eyes, and snowwhite mustache that gave him the elfin look. Also, he had exceedingly small hands and feet. Conny estimated he wore size six shoes, and their pointed tips made them appear positively dainty. No, that isn’t quite right. I’ve got it! Kurt was a living representation of the Monopoly man—he of the top hat and pin-striped trousers; the man who adorned “Get out of jail free” cards, and “Go directly to jail, Do not pass GO, Do not collect $200.” The man from whom all rewards and punishments flowed in the best selling game yet devised by man.So the story has all the elements of BDSM but feels different as it seems more real, especially when they go to BDSM parties. Not something often explored in m/m romances where frankly the whole BDSM scene is unbelievably romantic.In between these stories of timid steps through doorways to the full graphic BDSM there's "His Father's Advice" where a gay man, previously married but now living with his lover is questioned by his son who is worried that he must be gay because he found himself looking with appreciation at his best friend's ass while they were showering. Apart from the wisdom imparted as to how he would know whether he was gay or not, the father worried whether in some ways he should have treated him differently while he was growing up: Is it something I did or said? Perhaps at seventeen I should be shaking his hand or punching him on the shoulder, rather than hugging and kissing him.Then later he gives the advice that all parents need to remember:“Sometimes it takes a long time to figure it out. It took me forty years. But I was working from the premise that you had to be one thing or another. And that’s just not true, Sam.”Sam looked up; he was all ears. Jerry continued talking while he got Sam a glass of milk and made him a sandwich.“There are lots of kinds of love: the love you feel for your buddy in a foxhole, or your partner—like you and Pat are to each other during a game—is as valid as the love you feel for Carolyn. So many factors are involved. At your age, you should just let your feelings roll over you and enjoy them; they’re all good. When you sort out what you want in life, you can set priorities, and then you can decide whether or not to take action. When you’re in tune with what you feel inside, you can act on it or suppress it, according to what you want to do with your life.”“You suppressed your gay feelings when you were with Mom?”“I only knew one way to live, the way I’d been taught. Vinecovered cottage and kids, with a loving wife. I had no one to talk to about my feelings, and I was convinced that I was the only one in the world out of step. “But nowadays, you have alternatives. Nobody wants to pigeonhole you. You can be married and straight, or gay with kids, and successful in your career all at the same time.Without going into too much detail, other stories are entertaining while still dealing with serious issues. A Doctor's dilemna in the early days of the discovery of the seriousness of the HIV virus, "What Friends are For" deals with the desire to have children, in "Christmas Help" an onlooker on life is able for a brief moment to reach out to someone else and make a connection, "Eye of the Hunter" and the pictures that story generates of a man who can have sex without really being aware of who he was with.All styles of people are here, the large, the small, the vain, the dying all star in their own little tale, showing the diversity of men and their encounters. The title story "Out of the Box" deals with homophobia in a long but entertaining polemic about what the world would be like if all the gay people were instantaneously whisked away.The collection is full and varied and delivers each "lesson" in a manner where you're being enlightened without really being aware you are, but to me the story that resonated the most and made me really appreciate the skill of Don's writing was "Tate's Death". In this, the man who had been Tate's lover describes his life and their relationship. As you follow his tale, two distinct personalities come to life and gradually you become aware of a third personality who has been there all along, begging for release. Understanding would have been a better alternative, but these stories aren't romances, they're real.I thoroughly recommend searching this book out. Like the first in the series, it is available in print or Kindle from Amazon or direct from the author at http://www.donschecter.com

The first book of Jane's I read was "Bound and Determined". I loved that, so bought "Drawing Closer" and "Wild Raspeberries". That led me to "Wintergreen".This has to be one of the best "sequel" books I've read. To me the anticipation of a couple getting together is what makes a romance, so sequels often don't cut it. However, the way the author handled the story, and the knowledge from the get-go that the pairing would have its difficulties was fantastic.The conflict didn't feel manufactured and the resolution well done. I'm not a fan of external conflict being brought in just to create tension in a story. But in this case, the action had almost been foreshadowed in the first book "Wild Raspberries". The tension and conflict still centred around the characters past and personalities, with the action being the vehicle to carry that forward.

This is one of those books where the history of the writing of it is possibly more intriguing than the book itself. Not many people have read it, but soft copies are available. Hard copies are available at Abebooks for $255 and $1000.As it actually is basically an early version of Games of Command, it's interesting from a writing point of view to compare the two versions of basically the same story.It still has that great command of plot and characters that are typical of all Linnea's books. Worth searching out if you are a fan of her work.

This was my first Linnea Sinclair book and is still my favorite. Loved Trilby. Such a great character and a refreshing change from all the TSTL heroines out there. In some ways this book set me on my path of becoming a writer. Maybe that's why I remember it so fondly.