ReviewsByRita3

JOUST IN TIME
By Debbie Fritter
Published by
WHISKEY CREEK PRESS
PO Box 51052
Casper, WY 82605-1052
www.whiskeycreekpress.com
ISBN 978-1-60313-077-6
Cover Artist: Julia Stilchen
England in the15th Century.

Queen Isabel Trenowyth of Heartsease wanted Sir Reynold, the Black Knight, but he loved Catherine, the beautiful daughter of Heartsease’s dressmaker. She was a cousin of Sir Thomas, the black knight's opponent and a childhood friend. In fact, the four had grown up together but when her father died, Isabel was not the kind of Queen her father had hoped she would become.

She had become a black witch and set an impossible requirement for the Joust that day between the two knights. If Sir Reynold won, Sir Thomas would have his knighthood removed and he would be disgraced. If Sir Thomas won, Sir Reynold would be stripped of his colors and forced to serve her night and day however she pleased.

Neither outcome was acceptable to Sir Reynold. He could not be the cause of his blood brother's disgrace so he decided to forfeit the match. As he fell from his horse at the end of the Joust, he vanished into thin air.

So goes the legend .

Six centuries later in the 21st century America, Queen Victoria reigns over the Heartsease Renaissance Fair. Courtney Parker is the Heartsease dressmaker operating the dress ship at the fair. Issy Cummings, new woman at the fair this year operates the potions shop. Thomas Asley is a re-creator and jouster at the fair, and friend of Courtney. They all dislike Issy who claims to be a witch. A new man is playing Sir Reynold the Black Knight at this year's fair. Strangely, he claims to be the original Sir Reynold from the legend transported here though time. He sees in Courtney his lost Catherine and in Thomas the direct descendent and reincarnation of his blood brother Sir Thomas.

The cast is reassembled. Isabelle is only allowed a limited number of attempts to claim Sir Reynold and take him as her personal slave. Today is the last day and she must succeed or fail forever. Desperate, Issy is not above using her black magic to achieve her goal--and only Sir Reynold recognizes her for whom and what she was. He struggles to convince the others of their peril and thus preserve his own life and those of his friends. This is an excellent story, it looks much like current Renaissance fairs. A very nice time travel love story. It has only a bit of spice, nothing too graphic for younger or more conservative readers but good strong characters in a strong romance. If you can accept the witchcraft, it is a quite believable story. I would give it 5 amulets out of 5

c Reviewed by Rita M, gottawritenetwork.com
Feb. 1, 2008

Aphrodite's Necklace
By Anh Leod
Edited by Helen Woodall
Cover art by Syneca
Electronic book Publication August 2007

ISBN 9781419910005
An Ellora's Cave Romantica Publication

Aphrodite was bored, very bored. All her prostitutes and professionals could not amuse her. She wanted new thrills and to see innocents in love to recruit new followers to her worship as the love goddess.

England in the 1840's was a repressed period, but Aphrodite was not a woman to be repressed. Many of her cult of prostitutes tried to amuse her but they could not please her. A former madam entered and approached the goddess asking her to help her lover by attending his costume party in an attempt to increase his ambiance and his fortunes.

Summoning her magical powers this far from Mount Olympus and the true believers of her cult was difficult, but Aphrodite cast a spell on an elaborate and expensive necklace. Surveying the attendees at the ball, she selected a target and disappeared leaving the necklace for her intended victim.

Emily Rogers was the daughter of the household. Their finances had fallen badly and one purpose of this ball was to find her a monied husband and thus rescue the family fortunes. The necklace with Aphrodite's spell had different ideas, however, and Miss Rogers was strongly attracted to the family's young butler William Coxe.

Although they resolved to find the woman who had left her necklace behind, meanwhile the young couple had several very passionate encounters. The young couple took the necklace back to Aphrodite's home where they were guided in a very passionate encounter in front of her cult. They returned the necklace to Aphrodite and returned home.

Upon returning home they found they were concerned about the realities of their stations in life. While Emily's father discovered that Coxe was high born, of even a higher class than he was as the grandson of a baronet, he was still a butler. She was the daughter of a formerly wealthy citizen of no rank. This was definitely an unsuitable match.

Will these two be able to rebuild their love and lust to the satisfaction of Aphrodite? Aphrodite was bored and so was I. I never developed a fondness for any of the characters. This is a short book with a large amount of sexuality. This is defiantly a torrid tale. I would give it 3-4 jewels out of 5.

c Reviewed by Rita M., gottawritenetwork.com
February 3, 2008

Valentine
By Jamieson Wolf
Cobblestone Press, LLC
ISBN: 978-1-60088-220-3
Cover Artist: Croco Designs
Editor :Leanne Salter
www.cobblestonepress.com
44 pages

In 270 A.D. Claudius II, Emperor of Rome, issued an edict forbidding marriage. Klaus Valentine, priest to the god Lupercus committed treason along with Anna, his priestess, by helping young lovers to a secret place and joining them in matrimony.

Asterius of the Royal Guard was sent to locate and bring this traitorous priest to the Emperor's judgement. Only one small problem--Asterius fell deeply and passionately in love with Valentine. They had a full day and night of passion.

The next morning Valentine's world turned. His priestess arrives to let him know that the Romans were on their way to arrest him. According to rumors from the village, it was Asterius who told Claudius who the priest was and where to find him. Claudius was on his way to take him into custody.

Valentine sent Anna away, charging her to carry on his work and stay hidden, then went out to face Claudius and the Roman guard. In the guard stood Asterius. Valentine was imprisoned in Rome, condemned to death.

Will the gods allow Valentine to die? Did Asterius really betray him? You will need to read this short, but enjoyable story to find out. I like this writer's way with words. He builds a good plot and develops his characters well. I would give it 5 amulets out of 5.

c Reviewed by Rita M., gottawritenetwork.com
February 5, 2008

Cupids Delight
By Jamieson Wolf
2008
A Dark Eden Press Publication
Edited by Colleen Simpson
Cover art by Renee Rocco
Electronic book Publication: February 1, 2008
16 pages

What is your image of Cupid? All cute and cuddly like, a cherub, or something? With hearts, the rosy cheeks, the floating on clouds? So was Cynthia Nixon's I suppose if she ever stopped to think about it yet when she awoke she found a man four feet tall, with broad muscular shoulders, curling red hair and skin dotted with freckles. He also had a quiver full of arrows strapped to his back and a large bow, three-day-old stubble, wings, and bad fashion sense. He introduced himself as Cupid.

After recovering from the shock, she inquired as to the reason for the visit. "I’m here to help you find a man. That’s all there is to it," he replied. After convincing her Brad Pitt, Johnny Depp, Harrison Ford and Tom Cruise were not possible in her future she mentioned Taylor Wood, a bartender, that worked at a nearby bar.

While they dressed to leave, Cynthia opened an extra button on her blouse and rolled her skirt. Cupid objected saying she was making herself look cheap and she was pretty enough without it.

They arrive at the bar and the author skillfully shows us the man Cynthia thought was cute is not good enough for her. In less than two paragraphs, he refuses to fix her a "girly drink," serve Cupid because he is too short, and states that Cynthia must be a whore and a cheap one at that. It did not take much longer before Cupid became enraged and punctured the bartender with one of his arrows. Instead of being attracted to Cynthia, however, the bartender came out from behind the bar and started stroking the mechanical bull in the corner. "Do you come here often? he asked it.

Cynthia and Cupid return to her place slowed by her laughter. She was totally out of love with the bartender but... Cupid had such beautiful blue eyes.,,,,,
This was a delightful and humorous story. A valentine's day treat without the usual saccharine. I enjoyed it throughly. The characters were well developed and portrayed. I would definitely give it 5 arrows out of 5.

c Reviewed by Rita M., gottawritenetwork.com
February 5, 2008