She Wulf by Sheryl Steines

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Obtained from: Crimson Flower Review Team

Read: September 14, 2012

He came through the centuries to find her, the girl who could save them all. Annie Pearce runs through the streets of the city, chasing a demon, the likes she has never seen before. As she works to find out where the demon came from, the Wizard Guard encounters something even more bizarre. A tenth century Viking. When Annie gets sucked into the past, she must struggle with the knowledge of the prophecy that tells of her destiny. The one she must fulfill if she is to return home. What happens in the past will change the world.

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Viking Chieftain by Bob Nolan
Used with permission of the artist

I liked Sheryl Steines' She Wulf a lot in terms of plot, but I wasn't entirely sold on other aspects of the book. Some of this might be due to my having skipped book one of the series, but the elements I didn’t appreciate seemed structural in that they felt underdeveloped within the context of the story.

Many reviewers have claimed to feel real chemistry between Annie and Cham, but I didn't see it. Forgive me, but is seemed a very one sided affair in my eyes. Cham reads as an adoring, almost obsessive, devotee. For her part, Annie is tolerant, but the affection she returns feels lukewarm at best. From what I understand, the relationship is a prominent in book one of the series and had I not bypassed the novel, I might have had a greater understanding and appreciation for the dynamic between these characters, but as it stands, something struck me as missing from their relationship. 

Magic is something of an ambiguous concept in fiction. I can understand that, but I still like to see some effort put towards explaining its nature and function. "'We could divine for them using a written timeline like a map... I think it should work just like a map once I link it to a crystal. I can use the fabric from the demon.'" Say what? There is no explanation to how this works! How does one link a crystal to anything? Are we to assume the crystal is also linked to the fabric? I needed explanation. 

I’m obviously a picky reader, but the book is not entirely without merit. Steines' combining of Nordic and Anglo Saxon culture and mythology was a stroke of genius. It’s not the page turner I was anticipating, but its adaptation of Beowulf is noteworthy in its own way. 

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"I see you struggling with this, but you're a good woman and you will stay and help us. It's in your nature to fix what is wrong. You are lost and need to find your way."

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Maiden Behind the Mask by Tara Chevrestt

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ 

Obtained from: Crimson Flower Review Team 

Read: September 1, 2012

When Catalina Rodriguez is attacked by a would-be rapist and rescued by the dashing Ricardo Garcia, she not only becomes more aware of the handsome man, but also vows that she'll never be a damsel in distress again. Using the timeless method of blackmail, she convinces her uncle to teach her to fight and becomes a masked crusader in the night, saving other damsels from robbers and rough handling. However, scandalous rumors and dwindling funds force Ricardo and Catalina to marry. Not immune to each other's charms, their marriage starts fiery, but when one of Catalina's nightly escapades results in dire consequences, she is forced to spurn her husband's amorous advances…or reveal a secret that could turn him away from her forever. Ricardo’s not a man to be cuckolded or left in the dark. Is his wife having an affair with El Capitan, the masked savior? If so… they will both pay.

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If you believe laughter is good for the soul then Tara Chevrestt's Maiden Behind the Mask is the book for you. The book is marketed as historic romance, but it was the author's delightful brand of humor that captured my attention. 

Chevrestt is making her name synonymous with strong, independent women and Maiden Behind the Mask's Catalina Rodriquez is not exception. Faced with the stark realities of life, this relatively sheltered young woman takes up the sword against the loathsome characters who stalk the streets of El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de Los Angeles after sundown. The transition isn’t easy, but Chevrestt’s treatment of it works well in the context of the narrative. 

Ricardo Garcia is also worth mentioning. He isn’t the typical romantic hero and I liked that about him. He is flawed and is prone to act on his emotions and I think that gave him more depth than most. I remember reading Chevrestt's A Facebook Affair and thinking Brandon was a rather one dimensional figure, but Ricardo exemplifies her growth as an author and her dedication to her craft.  

Maiden Behind the Mask is a lighter historical, but its appealing brand of humor makes it an exceedingly fun and pleasurable read.

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Catalina wanted to rage at the man, but she knew he meant well. It was her concern. She had almost been raped. How could the constable be too busy to ensure the safety of the women of Pueblo de Los Angeles? And if he wouldn't, who would?

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The Bridge of Deaths by M.C.V. Egan

Rating: ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Obtained from: Crimson Flower Review Team

Read: August 28, 2012

On August 15th 1939, at the brink of World War II, an English plane crashed and sunk in Danish waters. Five deaths were reported: two Standard Oil of New Jersey employees, a German Corporate Lawyer, an English member of Parliament, and a crew member for the airline. Here is a conceivable version of the events.

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*** NOTE: It has come to my attention that The Bridge of Deaths has been re-published since the release of this review. I will not be returning to the piece, but encourage readers to understand the issues I noted may not apply to more recent editions of the novel.

The Bridge of Deaths by M.C.V. Egan presents a lot of challenges to me as a reviewer. I enjoyed the plot and greatly admire Egan's passion, but her style didn’t strike the right kind of chord in me. 

Please don't make assumptions from that comment, Egan is by no means a poor writer. I just don't feel she knew what kind of book she wanted to write when she penned this piece. Were she to have cut the fabricated characters/content and presented the story as a strict nonfiction of either her journey or her grandfather's, I would have issued a much higher rating. Similarly if she had cut down the amount of factual information, lost footnotes, concentrated on one particular plot line, and shown more than she told, I would have enjoyed it more as fiction.  

I feel Egan has talent and vision, but I am convinced her work would be easier to digest if she’d pick an angle and streamline her work along traditional genre lines. 

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"I am swimming. The water is salty and cold, and I am swimming, and I am scared. Someone else had to get out. Someone else has to get out..."

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