FROM THE DESK OF
DONA PENZA TATTLE, ESQ.
AND
ASSOCIATE WRYE
BALDERDASH
Greetings,
“Brrrr,
it’s chilly outside,” Tattle enters the office in a Mrs. Claus Suit.
“Not
if you live in Arizona!” Wrye does a two step, ending with, “Ta…da!”
“Ah,
so it’s duelling Christmas jokes ye are after, m’elfin friend.” She swirls about
and verbally assaults. “What do you call people who are afraid of Santa Claus? Claustrophobic.”
Wrye
thinks, huh, but counters, “Why does
Santa have 3 gardens? So he can ho-ho-ho.”
Walking
around Wrye, Tattle’s skirt swirls “Why was Santa's little helper depressed?
Because he had low elf esteem.”
“What
do you call an elf who sings? A Wrapper!”
“What
do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire? Frostbite.” She holds up a
hand. “Enough. I win. Time for our Love of Literature Leap Reviews.”
Again
Wrye thinks, huh, but bows concession
and off they go.
The
duo find themselves in BORN IN ICE
by Linda LaRoque, a futuristic/sci-fi/romantic suspense.
Zana
Forrester left her young daughter and elder mother to brave the unstable
roadways in the year 2080. She lived in a world where global warming had taken
control, and avalanches, like the one that killed her husband, were not
uncommon. Having to survive and keep her family fed and warm, she works from
home as a computer programmer, but now and then she had to leave to pick up
supplies.
Not
to overtax her mother, she had taken her baby boy Jonathan with her and left
her daughter, Katy. Soon after they start out, they are consumed by an avalanche.
Seventy-five
years later, Brock Callahan and his crew salvage a rare all-terrain vehicle
buried in an iceberg. After outrunning a dreaded pirate, they take the vehicle
aboard his ship. Inside, unconscious, Zana holds her dead son. In her time, drugs
had been administered to keep tissue from freezing completely, which allowed
for Zana’s rebirth. Her son had been too young for the treatment.
Hence,
Zana awakes to a world much different from her own, without her son, and not
knowing what had happened to her daughter or mother. Finding her daughter
becomes her main concern despite being instantly attracted to Brock and the new
life he can offer her.
Meanwhile,
Brock, a widow, is immediately drawn to the lovely Zana, and believes she would
be the perfect wife and mother to his own daughter. Yet he refuses to love her.
Death always follows those women he had loved. Both have their own agendas, but
fate keeps them together as they battle through the dangers and heartache of
the weather torn planet and its survivors’ tumultuous days and nights.
To
further complicate their goals, a foreboding evil stalks them. Though Zana had
been reborn, death is once again at her heels, threatening not just her but
those she is beginning to love.
Tattle
whoops, “Wow! If you like adventure, suspense well-dosed with the unexpected
and romance, this is the book for you. The prose pulsates with persistent
realism despite being set in a futuristic world. You find yourself glancing out
the window to remind yourself you don’t live in a city under the sea or a
modernized cavern. The story absorbed me within the first paragraph, and I felt
the characters pain and trauma. I became Zena’s and Brock’s cheerleader as
their fortitude helps them overcome both physical and emotional bouts of intense
ordeals. This read became part of my heart long after I put the book aside.”
Wyre
nods in agreement. “The story itself captivated me. The characters crawled under my skin and held
me enthralled. I was in constant anticipation of what would happen next, and
whether or not they would survive. The writing itself was so accomplished and
well-done, I could almost hear a musical score adding to the background
suspense. It was such an enjoyable journey, I found myself wanting to visit
that world, meet the people, and applaud their bravado. Many books have
captured my interest, but this one baited, hooked, and cooked me well. I am
forevermore a LaRoque fan!”
Tattle
and Wrye read their way through CLAIMED
by Andrea R. Cooper, a paranormal, fantasy romance.
Dream
jobs aren’t always the dream you expect them to be, and Renee Maxwell soon discovers
that truth. Being an assistant to sensuous and dreamy archaeologist, Damon
Cubins, in the ancient ruins of Turkey has its perks. Mostly, it is gruelling work and feverish
nights. Not, hot, ooh la la type of nights but actually feeling sick with a
legit fever. It doesn’t help that visions insert themselves over reality.
Damon, though, incredibly handsome to begin with becomes even more tempting,
taking on the traits of a chiseled, perfect hot-to-the-bone god. Meanwhile, Travis,
a volunteer, she swears is beginning to look gnome-like. Was it the heat? Was
it the flu? Was it the weird dreams? No, no, and no! She had recently dug up a
crystal, an insignificant find, she pocketed, intending to make it into a
necklace, but it is also affecting her.
What
she doesn’t know is that the crystal is the very one Damon has been seeking.
Damon Cubins is an incubus and if he doesn’t find the crystal and feed off of its
energy, he will turn into a full demon. Once he knows Renee has found it, he
realizes he must get that crystal away from her. Ironically, the full-figured
beauty has feminist views and, unlike most women who fall for his charms, she
resists his romantic overtures. She is quite content to let his model thin
girlfriend have him all to herself. Well, maybe content isn’t the exact word.
Attempting to resist might be more accurate.
Damon
though needs that stone. Though he can feed off others’ sexual energy, he
refuses to do more than siphon a taste, rather than hurt them. Unlike his
cousin, Clive who feeds off violence and war, Damon cares for humanity. He soon
finds he also cares for Renee. Will she run when she realizes what he is? Will
Clive create enough chaos to put them all in danger? Will Damon lose Renee and
become a demon? Read to find out!
Tattle
sighs. “This is one of those romantic, paranormal romps you want to jump into
as if it is a shimmery lake and discover it has a tumultuous undertow. It has just the right blend of danger,
adventure, sexuality and romance to satisfy every emotional nook and cranny of
your literary being. I really like Renee, especially how she keeps sticking to
her views and independence. It was a hoot, however, watching the very likeable and
sexy Clive not get the girl right off the bat. Cooper’s writing has a clean,
crisp feel, giving the storyline a swift pace. The dialogue is very believable
with a grand amount of bantering that kept me smiling even though I kept
rooting for them to reveal their true feelings to each other. This is the
perfect book to curl up with on a quiet, cozy night with only enough light to
read by.
Wyre
grins. “I thoroughly enjoyed reading CLAIMED.
It is reminiscent of the grand style of romance novels blusterous
beginnings. It is a compelling read yet had its own unique speed, I couldn’t
put it down but I didn’t want to rush it. I felt the need to read each phrase,
every word. I liked the play of good and evil, especially showing an incubus
that is more than simply sexually driven. Cooper took paranormal to a different
level, writing a story that wasn’t a clone of what is already out there. It had
a unique plot and its own remarkable style. This author will quickly gain a
following, and I am personally looking forward to her next book.”
Hope
you all enjoyed our reviews! Until next month, keep reading.
Dona
Penza Rutabaga Tattle, Esq. and Associate Wrye Balderdash
of
Blather City, Wannachat
Created and written by: Angelica Hart and Zi
Books by:
Angelica Hart and Zi
KILLER
DOLLS ~ SNAKE DANCE ~
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YESTERDAY ~ CHRISTMAS EVE...VIL
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