Don’t Drink the Punch: An Adventure in Tantra
by Kamala Devi

* Paperback: 303 Pages
* Publisher: Zendow Press
* ISBN-10: 1879097990
* ISBN-13: 978-1879097995

Let’s face it, who is not at least mildly intrigued by the word: Tantra?

I saw the book, was intrigued by the title and that word Tantra in the subtitle, and truly did not know what to expect when I picked this book up to read it. The cover managed to capture my attention, even though it’s not a genre I would typically read.

Several pages into the book, I knew I would not be disappointed! I was hooked from the first chapter and couldn’t stop reading it until I finished it, even fighting sleep to stay up late into the night to read the rest of the story.

Don’t Drink the Punch is well written, but in a style that is rather unexpected–first person, present tense! There are very few authors who have the capacity and talent to write in present tense, first person, and draw the reader into the story. Typically, we read in third person and/or past tense, more like reading a ‘movie’ that we play out the scenes in our own minds. First person present tense requires precisely written scenes that keep the reader captivated as though they are inside the story, as it is happening, part of it.

Don’t Drink the Punch achieves this requirement and then some! I found as I read Kamala Devi does this expertly, by making the reader feel completely connected and involved in the story, and I could identify with the main character on a personal level, and he is a MAN (I’m not!)

The story begins with the lead male character, Sal, in the Bangkok International Airport, where he spots a redheaded woman who captures his attention, so much so that he had to follow her and initiate conversation. Little does he know that this innocent conversation would lead him down a path with the beautiful and free-spirited redhead, Sara, through the streets and back-alley sex commerce of Bangkok, to the ancient cemeteries of India, with several stops in between.

Readers experience first hand Sal’s experiences from body massages (where the masseuse uses their entire body to massage, not just their hands), dealing drugs, life threatening illness, participating in a sex cult and questioning every belief he’s ever held dear to him, to experiencing the emotion of painful decision to choose between true love and sanity, and eventually to experiencing and understanding loss, remorse and guilt. Readers will learn in the end whether or not Sal learns from these experiences, how they change him-for better or for worse-and the fate of his love for Sara.

With steamy, erotic and sensual scenes interspersed with romance and affection, friendship and understanding, and plenty of adventure to keep it all exciting, it’s no wonder I had trouble putting down this book.

Hidden in the pages of a fantastic fiction story readers also find historic information about specific locations and inside information to the inner workings of certain religious and spiritual beliefs in different parts of the world, without any judgment or attempts to preach or sway anyone’s opinions.

It was a real page turner and a beautifully written story about love, passion, Tantra, obsession… and ultimately about personal fulfillment and finding one’s own true path in this world, and not blindly following someone else down a path not their own. Steamy and sensual but also light and humorous, I found it both sad and uplifting at the same time, something that takes a talented writer to accomplish effectively, and Kamala Devi does not disappoint.

I have already recommended this book to several friends to read, because it is just that good. Highly recommended.

Click to visit Ms. Devi’s website.

Click to order your copy from Amazon.com today!

BIO:

Michelle L Devon began writing at a very young age, and by jr. high, she was writing for the school paper, had won several poetry and prose contests, and had completed her first novella by age 13.

Life managed to get in the way, and amidst cries from her family that, ‘writing is a hobby, not a career,’ Ms. Devon put her writing dreams on hold and pursued an education and then a professional career.

Michelle attended high school in a small West Texas town in the Permian Basin, and then went on to pursue a college degree in psychology, with a minor in sociology.

Her career centered around social services, advocacy and criminal justice for victims of violent crime in the non-profit sector, before she finally moved to the corporate world as a contract negotiator for a mult-billion dollar company.

Realizing that the corporate world wasn’t where her heart longed to be, and not wanting to return to advocacy or the criminal justice field, Ms. Devon realized her purpose and her dream all along was to be a writer. Through everything in her life, Michelle wrote. Writing was the one constant in her life.

So she quit her job negotiating million dollar contracts, with nothing to fall back on but her passion to write, and left the corporate world for good.

Today, Michelle L Devon works from home, where she lives and loves with her unique and special family, along with a houseful of furry four legged friends, including Rex the Funny Bunny.

“Writing is more than a job,” she says, “It’s a lifelong dream and a passion. Who could ask for more than to wake every morning and do the one thing you love the most and get paid for it too?”

Ms. Devon’s quote: “I am a writer! It’s not what I do; it’s who I am.”

Check out the author’s website at: www.MichelleLDevon.com

Michelle L Devon Interview

Q: What three words do you think describe you as a human being?

A: Passionate, obsessive, unique

Q: How do you think others would describe you?

A: I honestly have no clue. However, I have been told repeatedly that I do not see myself the way other people see me.

Q: Please tell us what you are most passionate about outside of writing.

A: Probably my children… yet, as they grow older, I find my focus is drawn even closer to my writing.

Q: Do you have any pets? If so, introduce us to them.

A: Oh, gosh yes. At one time, I had over 22 cats (kittens we rescued). Let me tell you, that won’t happen again! Right now, I have two cats – Squeaker (my cat), Harley (my son’s cat). My favorite pet though, is my rabbit, better known as Rex the Funny Bunny!

Q: What is your most precious memory?

A: Looking into his eyes, and for the first time, feeling safe, and seeing forever…

Q: What is your most embarrassing memory?

A: There are way too many of them to actually list them in any priority order. I have had a… well, strange life indeed.

Q: If you weren’t a writer, what would you be doing with your life?

A: I probably would have been a lawyer. I was going to school for that, but then I came to my senses. I actually dropped it all to pursue writing full time. Prior to that, I was in criminal justice advocacy, so if I weren’t a writer, I’d probably have been a lawyer at some point.

Q: In two paragraphs or less write your obituary.

A: She lived, she loved… she left a legacy.

Q: Can you describe the time you realized you were indeed a “real” writer?

A: I’ll be honest. There are days even though writing and editing are all I do for a living anymore, and it’s all I’ve done for nearly four years full-time now, when I still do not feel like a ‘real’ writer. I get scared when people call me one, because it’s almost like there’s some mysterious bar set for me now.

Q: What is going on with your writing these days?

A: I have fourteen novels in progress in various stages of completion: two crime and suspense, one science fiction, three mainstream, a fantasy, a romance, a children’s books, and those I can’t really classify yet. I just finished a mainstream novel, that I’m setting aside for awhile before I begin the ‘real writing’ on it (read: editing, editing, editing). In my head, I have so many concepts for novels, I wonder if I’ll ever get them all written, but I’m giving it my best!

I also write articles for online sites, magazines, and newsletters, with a few newspaper articles in print too. I am a power blogger, and love to blog on various topics, and have written several ebooks on various subjects.

Q: What are your future goals for your writing?

A: I’m currently seeking a good agent and I hope one day to land a contract with one of the big publishers, and I plan to one day make the best sellers list, somewhere. Short of that, my only real goals are just to write as much as I can, publish as much as I can sell, and just bask in the wonder that writing and living my dream brings me.

Q: Can you describe a typical writing day for you?

A: I wake in the morning, or afternoon, or at pretty much any time I choose. I pile my hair up on top of my head, slip on my robe and slippers, and fight the furry kitty traffic jam on the way to the coffee pot. I shuffle into the living room, curl up in the recliner, pull my laptop table over to me, and turn it on. I spend the next 8-12 hours writing, answering emails, writing, writing, and writing. I love my job!

Q: Why do you write?

A: Because I’m compelled. I must write. I cannot not write. I am a writer. It’s not what I do; it’s who I am!

Q: What writer most inspires you? Why?

A: Robert Fulghum. I read his books, loved his humor and philosophy, and his casual but intense writing style and thought to myself, “If I can write just half as good as he does, if I can inspire someone even half as much as his words inspired me, then I will have fulfilled my purpose in this life.”

Q: How do you define your writing?

A: That would be almost like defining what love means to me. I try my hardest not to define my writing. Why limit myself?

Q: In one sentence—what do you want people to say about your writing in fifty years?

A: I have no idea what they will say, but I hope that in fifty years, at least one person will remember my name, and say that something I wrote touched them, moved them, made them think or feel something.

Q: Can you tell us where to find more information on you? Website? Blog?

A: My editing company’s website can be found here: www.AccentuateServices.com

I have a Myspace just for fun at: www.myspace.com/accentuate_me

And my author’s website at: www.MichelleLDevon.com

Fast Food Fix: 75 + Amazing Recipe Makeovers of Your Fast Food Restaurant Favorites, by New York Times bestselling author, Devin Alexander, is moving its way up in sales, and it’s no wonder either.

American culture has integrated fast food into the mix as a sort of staple in our diets, but we are paying a high price for this ‘fix’. First, fast food is expensive, and secondly, it is usually not very healthy. Yet, Americans like the flavor and taste of all our favorite fast foods. There has to be a solution to this growing trend of eating unhealthy, fattening, greasy and expensive junk fast food.

Enter Devin Alexander with a possible solution to the American fast food craze, with her cookbook and recipe guide entitled Fast Food Fix. Inside this 228 page, paperback, perfect bound book from Rodale Books, Ms. Alexander offers an easy to read, neatly organized alternative to fast food by providing healthier recipes for all your favorite fast food meals.

Categorized in the table of contents by ten chapters, each with clever chapter titles such as “Chapter 10: We Sweet You Right” – which contains sweets and dessert recipe alternatives to things such as Cinnabons, Starbucks delicacy desserts, and even Dairy Queen ice cream favorites – you can quickly search for the main category you want to try. In the back of the book is a handy index guide that categorizes your favorite fast food fixes by the name of the actual restaurant as well as your favorite menu item names, for quick reference.

The forward to Fast Food Fix provides a glimpse into who Devin Alexander is, and some of the reasons behind her writing the book, her own struggles with weight, told in a very conversational and personal tone. Then the first chapter of the book provides information about cooking, cooking utensils and supplies, and a guide to understanding the symbols and terminology used throughout the book.

Inside the pages of Fast Food Fix, you find inexpensive alternative recipes for making great tasting meals that rival their fast food counterparts, but with less of the bad stuff that makes fast food so unhealthy….

To read the rest of the review, please CLICK HERE.

With books the likes of Harry Potter increasing in popularity, many authors, both new and seasoned, have delved into the realm of fantasy writing for children and adults alike. Let’s face it, what child doesn’t like to drift off into the realm of fantasy where fantastic creatures, magic, mythology, and reality all merge into an experience that allows a child to escape from the mundane? However, with a proliferation of children’s fantasy books, it has become increasingly difficult to weed out from the ordinary those few, rare reads that are simply extraordinary.

A good fantasy novel does more than just tell a story. To reach that level of extraordinary, a fantasy novel should create a world that, although fantastic, allows for the reader to suspend disbelief of the unreal long enough to immerse themselves in the story as though it could truly happen. This requires a writer to really take the time to develop an entire reading experience, much more than just a few words on a page to tell a story. The writer must create a world, a history, languages, creatures, characters and a plot that keeps the reader wanting to come back for more and wishing that places like this really did exist.

Aisling Press, a small publishing house, knew exactly what was required to make a fantasy novel shine and provide something of value to the reader, and that’s one of the reasons they chose to publish Bo Savino’s book, Reggie & Ryssa and the Summer Camp of Faery. However, to make this novel a complete reading experience, Aisling and Bo Savino have done much more than just publish a book and put it on bookstore shelves. They have created an entire experience, which includes offering scholarship contests for children, a Reggie & Ryssa Curriculum Guide, published in conjunction with Golden Age Educational, and other ventures to bring the children into the world of reading, writing and publishing, and to bring them into the realm of fantasy on both sides of the pages of the books they love to read.

Accentuate Services and Michelle L Devon were fortunate enough to meet with the author Bo Savino and pick her brain about her thoughts on Reggie & Ryssa and the upcoming series and promotions. Below is a transcript of the interview with Bo Savino, author of Reggie & Ryssa and the Summer Camp of Faery.

IV: Interviewer
ABS: Author, Bo Savino

IV: Ms. Savino, thank you for agreeing to meet and talk with me today about your book, Reggie & Ryssa and the Summer Camp of Faery. We are delighted you agreed to this interview.

ABS: Thank you, I’m pleased to be here. Please, call me Bo.

IV: Great, Bo. Okay, so let’s just jump right into the questions, okay?

ABS: Sounds great.

IV: I guess the first question that most people would want to know is, “Why did you write Reggie & Ryssa?” I mean, what did you hope to accomplish with it, besides just writing a novel for kids?

ABS: All my life, I’ve been an avid reader. As I grew up, it pained me to see the kids and adults around me who didn’t share in that passion. All I could think was, ‘They’re missing out on so much…’ Everyone has their own passions in life. Reading has been mine. That evolved into writing.

As my children grew up—my children were readers, well, at least 2 out of the 3—everywhere I looked, children were less and less into reading and more into the realm of video games. It didn’t dawn on me as to why, until Harry Potter hit the market. J.K. Rowling did the one thing for kids that many authors have not been able to do since C.S. Lewis—she produced an incredible piece of fantasy work that made children, who had never before shown an interest in picking up a book, actually *want* to read. That was amazing.

The thought of taking my fantasy world writing into a realm where children would want to go was exciting to me. As a mother of 3 boys and one step-daughter, it is hard not to make your life and goals not be “all about the kids”. Thus, Reggie & Ryssa was born.

IV: So now that we know why you wrote it, why don’t you tell use what Reggie & Ryssa is all about?

ABS: Reggie & Ryssa is about a couple of teenage kids, twins, who know they are adopted, or maybe “in a foster home” is a better phrase, but they have a normal and good home life with their foster mother and brother. According to the terms of their fosterage, once they turn 13, they have to start spending summers with their relatives, whom they have never met.

They discover on the way to their ‘so-called’ summer camp, that they are members of a royal family, and that their family is from the world of Faery. They also discover that magic really does exist.

The whole book is about their struggles to re-adjust their ways of thinking, pull together with the members of their team, Team Phoenix, and compete against others for eventual leadership of Faery. They meet all kinds of new people and creatures, learn how to control magic and literally try to survive through the summer so they can go back to their “normal” life.

IV: That sounds great, very exciting.

ABS: I think it is very exciting.

IV: Sure, awesome. Okay, so now we know why you wrote it and what it’s about, but what was your inspiration, as an author, for writing this story? What really sparked inside of you to compel you to put the story down in tangible form?

ABS: The inspiration for Reggie & Ryssa came from a number of sources. I’ve always been fascinated with mythology of many different cultures, but having an Irish heritage, I have naturally been drawn to the various tales and stories of the faeries. I’ve also always been a huge fan of fantasy fiction, so to combine the two was a natural for me. Now the children part, I must admit, having teenage kids around the house in an open and caring environment, where they feel free to be “natural”, I have learned so much about the teenage culture of today. And it is a culture all its own. Combining the three great interests was almost as natural for me as breathing.

IV: That’s great. So what is it that makes Reggie & Ryssa unique? How is it different from the other fantasy books on the market?

ABS: I don’t know how to answer that, really. It’s a fun and engaging story that comes from the viewpoint of both a boy and a girl, and the different feelings and views of what is taking place around them from those perspectives, I guess.

Something I feel is unique about it is how I handled the writing of the book. I would write daily chapters in the morning and test them out on my kids and whatever friends happened to show up after school that day by reading out loud to them. If I could capture their interest, then I knew it was good. If I saw their attention was waning, I would draw them into conversation about what I had just read to them to find out where I’d lost them.

The majority of the chapters I knew I had “right” when I would be reading about something that happened in the story and one of the kids would pipe up with a comment about it, which would be followed by me reading that comment almost word for word from the next paragraph or segment of the story. In other words, I had captured the essence of who they were and how they felt about things to a point that they were reflecting the exact sentiments of the characters I wrote about. I was always in awe when that happened.

IV: Yes, I can see that. Must have been pretty exciting when you realized you were hitting the mark with the teen groups.

ABS: It really was.

IV: Very good. Okay, so let’s move on and talk a little about the contests that Koboca Publishing is hosting with you for the kids. This makes quite a unique experience, bringing the children into the process of creating the world of Reggie & Ryssa. Why don’t you tell us a little bit about the contests and how all that got started? There seems to be a lot of focus being put on the contests. Why?

ABS: Because the books are for kids. I hope that adults will enjoy them too, but for me, it’s all about the kids. One of the things that I have seen come about with the new standardized testing in the school systems is that it has taken the joy of learning out of the kids and most of the teaching has become about the tests. That’s a tremendous amount of stress put on the kids and schools alike. Kids, as well as many teachers I have spoken to, dread the amount of time put into the new system of testing, because it takes away from a teachers chance to reach the kids and encourage a fun experience. Some have managed to get around it with various teaching methods, but not all of them.

When I first made the decision to include little “sketch” graphics at the top of each chapter, I was excited. After spending days on the first five, and then realizing that there were 27 chapters, my enthusiasm waned considerably. So I asked some friends to help out. I decided at that point that these books were for the kids…and to help engage them in the story, I would have kids contribute graphics for the successive books. So many kids have this amazing, expressive, and creative talent that doesn’t get enough attention paid to it in many cases. I want to give them that recognition in some way, so they don’t shut down an amazing form of expression that can make them a more confident adult, years down the road.

The writing side is another part of that. I want to be able to offer some kind of encouragement toward a creative outlet for kids. Not everyone will get published, but I want to make sure they all receive some kind of recognition for the effort, while they get to have fun doing it. Also, there’s no entry fees, so that way, all children have a chance, even if they might not be able to afford to enter other contests. We wanted to make sure everyone who wanted to enter could.

IV: Now that is great, a good thing for the kids who are interested. Okay, so let me ask you this, if kids could take away one thing from reading the Reggie & Ryssa series, what would you hope that would be?

ABS: I think that Reggie & Ryssa has a lot of lessons and things kids can identify with:

No one has to do it alone… You can count on true friends to help you; when everyone works together instead of against each other, people are more powerful than anyone doing it alone; family is who you make it, not necessarily just what you are born into; friends have your back….

Things don’t always happen like you plan, but when things go weird, you can always make the best of a bad situation….

We don’t always get to pick the path we walk – but we do pick how we choose to deal with it.

Good and bad are not always so cut and dried and obvious, and the world isn’t always the way it appears. Magic exists…and so does fantasy…if only in the pages of a book or a child’s heart.

But if it were to be one major thing?—A break from the world around them—just to have fun and enjoy the story.

I don’t think we, as adults, appreciate how much stress our children are under these days. In some ways, life is a lot simpler for teens now, but in many, many ways, they have stresses today that we never imagined existed when we were their age. So yeah…just a break from it all to de-stress a little.

IV: Sure, that makes perfect sense. Great. Okay, so obviously, Reggie & Ryssa is a series of much more than just one book, or even just books. Tell us a little bit about the series. How many books total? Are there going to be other contests or products?

ABS: Yes, including the first one, there are six titles total. I have the full storylines laid out for the next five books, and yet, I still can’t wait to see what happens. I leave a lot of blank spaces in the outline for the story to evolve on its own. A list of the future titles for the series can be found on my personal web page at www.bosavino.com. The next one coming in the series is Reggie & Ryssa and the Scavenger Hunt, to be released next May.

Each of the books will have its own contest associated with it, to keep the kids engaged in the process and a part of the creation of Reggie & Ryssa along the way. We do have a line of products that will be available through Café Press soon.

We also have a video game in development, but we’re not sure yet when it will be available for release.

One of the things I’m most excited about is the creation of a new interactive website that will be based on the series of books. Kids and adults alike will be able to visit this website and explore all the options.

The site will have games, trivia, quizzes, chat with the author, that’s me, plot teasers, questions and answers, and my favorite part will be the user forums where the kids can come and talk about the book, their take on the plot, share ideas and insight into what they think about Reggie & Ryssa. I’m going to be an active part of this forum, because I want to know what the kids think. I feel that Reggie & Ryssa is much more than just a book or a project, but it is something I want to share with the readers, draw them in and let them be an active part in creating the world of Reggie & Ryssa. I wrote this for the kids, and I want them to feel a part of it.

IV: Wow. That’s wonderful. I can’t wait to see the site! What about movies? Is there any talk of making a screenplay and trying to produce a motion picture from this, or a series of them, based on the books?

ABS: Absolutely, in fact, we currently have a very talented writer working on adapting the first book for a screenplay for a major motion picture. It’s a long process, but we are hoping to be able to do something with the script soon, and see where it takes us, but there is nothing I would love more than to see Reggie & Ryssa on the big screen were all the fans can watch and enjoy it.

IV: Great! Now, one last question, off the topic of Reggie & Ryssa, but this isn’t the first book you have written, is it? What other books do you have out now or what other projects are you working on? We were told you write under various pseudonyms, what are those pen names and why have you chosen to write under different names for those books?

ABS: I have several ‘series’ coming out. Not all of them are suitable for children’s reading. I don’t want kids to pick up one of my books targeted at an adult audience just because it has a familiar author’s name on it.

The other two immediate series coming out are my spiritual series, under Kim Savino, and my adult contemporary fantasy under A.J. Rand. A.J. Rand is actually taken from my three boys…Aaron, Joshua, and Random. My spiritual series, while based loosely from the perspective of Native American spirituality, really covers those aspects that are common denominators across most religions and forms of spirituality. The contemporary adult fantasy is Broken Wings. It is a five book series about the 2nd war of the angels here on earth in modern times and is a fun, flippant, and yet at the same time serious read. The first book of that series, Broken Wings: Genesis, is currently available.

IV: So you have been quite busy writing recently, haven’t you?

ABS: You could definitely say that, yes.

IV: Bo, thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to meet with us for this interview. We look forward to great things from you!

BS: Thank you, I enjoyed it!

- End of Interview -

As you can see, the author, Bo Savino, is very excited about the series, Reggie & Ryssa, and the kids contests that support the book.

Reggie & Ryssa and the Summer Camp of Faery, by Bo Savino, is published by Aisling Press. This 27 chaptered, 352 page book is available nationwide at bookstores by request, as well as online from Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble online, as well as directly from the publisher.

In addition, Reggie & Ryssa has a Lexile score of 890, which means this places Reggie & Ryssa at an approximate reading level of grades 7-9, gearing the book at reading level for ages 12-16. After reviewing the book, however, we at Accentuate have determined that this is easily a book that young adults and adults will enjoy reading as well.

Lastly, Reggie and Ryssa and the Summer Camp of Faery was nominated for the Allbooks Review Editor’s Choice Awards for 2006.

Good luck to Bo Savino and Reggie & Ryssa. We look forward to your continued success.

Keeper of the Flame, by Catherine Chase

• Paperback: 296 pages
• Publisher: Oculus Media Group, LLC (July 3, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1934677019
• ISBN-13: 978-1934677018

Book Description

The mystical land of Draecus-a land closed off from all others for generations. In Mikaelia, it is remembered only in bedtime stories passed down through the ages. With the war for the lands of Mikaelia now over, the human female Jarnell fights her family’s wishes of marriage to unite two noble houses and strengthen the family holdings. Running away, she seeks out her elven friend, Dekion, and gains a startling traveling companion in the form of a half-orscha warrior, Sahri-tah. Coming together after the devastating wars between the races of their land, the three of them battle against their own distrusts of each other’s races to search for Dekion’s father, who was lost during wars. Following their only lead, given to them by a crazed man in the streets of Sel Lorst, they find themselves in the lost, magical land of Draecus where a war between humans and orscha has just begun. While they wait, the companions become caught up in the war that crosses the once peaceful Draecus. They must fight to stay alive long enough for the portals to open again and allow them passage back to their own land. At the same time, Jarnell, a follower of the Goddess of passion, fights the desire to stay in the arms of Daedic, the only man to ever bring to life the flames of passion in her body, mind, and soul.

Review

Ms. Chase has written a novel that intricately weaves several storylines together skillfully into one cohesive story, spanning over several years, that while it stands alone, leaves the reader begging to know more.

With fanciful but believable characters, races such as the elves, orscha, and a race of people known as the Aishtoullar, which are similar to characters we have seen in other fantasy novels, but with a new twist that is unlike anything a reader might find in any other fantasy novel – the characters of Keeper of the Flame will not fail to delight and keep you drawn into the story.

The story begins with the birth of Jarnell, our unlikely heroine, who came into this world and into her station in a rather chaotic way, to fulfill a destiny, unknown to her, her family, or her companions – a destiny known only to that Goddess she serves, but to whom she has never committed herself or her sword completely – a destiny that Jarnell is not too sure she can fulfill.

From there, we are introduced to a variety of characters, all linked to Jarnell in some way, and we watch their adventures as they travel on their quest, a quest that, should they fail, would ultimately mean the destruction of two worlds. On this quest, we are taken through a series of events that show us war and destruction but also love and friendship, and the bonds of blood, family, not to mention a great romance thrown in the middle of all the other chaos. It’s a good balance, and a believable plot with which any reader can relate.

Keeper of the Flame is a story about passion… passion for life, passion for love, passion for following one’s destiny, in spite of all the obstacles.

The writing style of this book is almost poetic in nature, but it is very easy to read. The imagery is beautiful, the lands created drawn as pictures through words. The editing is superb. The formatting of the book is neat, attractive and clean. The binding is strong, with a full color soft cover. The cover is not laminate, so you do not need to worry about separation during shipping, but is high gloss and attractive.

I highly recommend this novel and look forward to more of Ms. Chase’s creations.

The Ex Factor
A Book Review from Accentuate Services
By Michelle L Devon

Most of us have had an EX somewhere in our past. Whether it’s an EX best friend, EX lover, or EX spouse, we’ve all had an occasion in which someone left out lives (became an EX), and quite often, not under the best of circumstances. Seeking justice, revenge, and evening the playing field are fantasies we all may have had during those moments of anger after experiencing a loss, a betrayal, a broken promise, or a broken trust, yet most of us only entertain the fantasies in our minds, until time heals the wound to a point where we allow the universe to deal justice as deserved.

However, the nine (9) authors of The Ex Factor have actually taken those fantasies and thoughts of justified endings toward an EX and turned them into reality, if only for a few moments while read on the pages of this book. Here you will find what the publisher has noted: justified endings to bad Exes, and for anyone who has even entertained thoughts of moral, universal accounting for a wrong done them, The Ex Factor will not fail to satisfy.

Separated into three categories: The Hand of Retribution, The Hand of Justice, and the Hand of Fate—you will find in the 304 pages of the Ex Factor anthology, twenty-two (22) different short stories, each spinning their own tale of karma taking a hand in dealing cosmic balancing.

The first story in The Ex Factor anthology is entitled Camp Keller, by author BJ Bourg. Drawing me in from the beginning with an action scene, though the middle, and ending with strong action, this short story definitely leaves the reader with a sense of uneasiness. We learn that, while some people may appear to change, the core of who a person is never leaves them, and when the chips are down, people show their true colors.

The Big Blonde is our second story in The Ex Factor, by Colin Conway, where we are taken through a modern day Mickey Spillane style detective story, clichés and all, as we watch what appears to be a love triangle expand into much more, and concludes with a murder—but just who was killed? This short story concludes with an expected ‘happy’ ending, at least for two of the people in our story, and an unforgettable memory for our hapless detective.

From detectives to dreaming, we move to our next story in the anthology, written by Michy Anderson, who also writes under the penname Michelle L Devon, as we read Dream Walking. With a bit of a supernatural twist, we find our lead character in this short story able to enter others minds, through her dreams, where she is able to uncover her husband’s affair. In the end, we wonder just how the universe decided to deal justice, when we read what happens to all a party of this love triangle.

We all have issues, but in Frank Zafiro’s short story, Core Issue, we realize a couple of things. First, we realize that some situations are not always as they would appear, and secondly, we learn that sometimes the people who appear to have it together the most are really the ones with most ‘issues’.

There is no limit to what a mother might do for her child, as any good mom will tell you, but would you go so far as to commit murder? In Earl Staggs short story, The Waitress, it seems one mother was willing to do just about anything to give her son a better life, and because of this, she ends up the prime suspect to a murder of a prominent attorney. Will the small town Chief of Police she has befriended believe her profession of innocence?

Sandra Seamans writes our next short story, where a backwoods town has a type of justice all its own, where everyone knows everyone else, and justice is served country style. Sometimes living with your own choices is justice served and there’s simply nothing the courts or law could do that would compare to Country Justice.

In A Lover’s Understanding, we take a supernatural walk with author Patricia Harrington into the truth, hidden behind a façade of love, and revealed by a ghost from the past.

Colin Conway returns in this next short story to spin a tale of Loyalty Lost. A change in schedule, a lost Zippo lighter, and the ultimate deception all lead up to Robert making a snap decision to take back his life by taking justice into his own hands. Police officer partners should, after all, be able to completely trust each other, shouldn’t they?

Spousal abuse is often under reported and the perpetrators of this violent crime seldom receive the justice they so rightfully deserve. Many agencies across the country have been created to help battered women escape abusive relationships and rebuild their lives. In Katt Dunsmore’s short story, Victory House is just that type of agency, but with a supernatural twist that gives the abusive ‘toads’ a fitting final sentence.

Some of us dread our High School Reunion and connecting with our past and old friend. In Jill Maser’s story, we take a trip down memory lane with Ron, and learn that sometimes the things we have dreamed about since high school are really better left in the past. For Kent, after a shared lunch with his old high school friend, we watch as he receives his just desserts.

BJ Bourg comes back for another round with his next story in The Ex Factor anthology, Death Notice. In this story, we learn that age makes no difference to love, jealousy, and revenge. We also learn that even death isn’t always what it seems.

Be careful what you ask for, because you just might get it, and it might not be quite as sweet as you thought it would be… this is what Stan learns in Frank Zafiro’s story, Helping Out. As for our lead character and police officer, Aaron, he learns that sometimes sticking your nose in where it doesn’t belong, even when you had good intentions, leads to nothing but trouble.

Vanity—the elusive fountain of youth—many of sought it through the years, and in Daddy’s Girl, Nonna’s Angel, by Katt Dunsmore, a mother seeks to find her immortal youth through her own daughter. At least, she does until Nonna Anna steps in and gives the vain mother exactly what she seeks—a chance to recapture her youth, literally.

Sam Hollis lives with the painful knowledge that not all criminals, especially those who batter their wives, receive the justice they deserve. A memory from the past haunts him to the point of obsession, causing him to lose everything that means anything to him, including his marriage. In Earl Staggs short story, Battered, Sam finds a way to redeem himself and his sister through a case that consumes his every waking thought—but once solved, can Sam redeem himself in his wife’s eyes and save their marriage?

There’s those who do things purely for their own selfish motivations, and we know that this is true of most criminal types. However, Sandra Seamans gives us a look into a one criminal who decides to go straight and retire from her life of crime, but not before she performs one more ‘job’ For Mary.

Michy Anderson wields the hand of fate in The Crazy Cat Lady, when Karla believes she has the purrrfect solution to her fiancé’s infidelity with Karla’s ex-best friend. However, during her ‘special’ engagement dinner, an ill timed ringing of the doorbell makes Karla rethink her conclusions. In this story, revenge is definitely a dish best served with tuna. Meow.

Straight from an episode of the Twilight Zone, the Cosmo Effect, by Jill Maser, shows us that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but not in the scalpel of a plastic surgeon who holds a grudge.

You can’t always pick your neighbors, as we learn in Katt Dunsmore’s short story, Wisteria Lane, when Daniel’s ex-wife and his brother, who had an affair and are now married to each other, decide to move next door to him and his new wife, Roberta. For some reason, Roberta just can’t get her wisteria vines to grow. While Roberta is away on a business trip, Daniel finds the perfect fertilizer for Roberta’s vines and discovers a way to take care of his pesky new neighbor problem.

If you can’t trust family, who can you trust? In Earl Staggs’ short story, Brother-In-Law, we follow the thought processes of a brother who regrets not having protected his sister in order to prevent her death, but finds a way to avenge it. If you’re an abuser and have an ego, be careful whom you pick for your drinking buddies.

Michy Anderson takes empathy to a whole new level in her short story, The Empath. It’s one thing to feel for someone, but it’s another thing entirely to feel what another feels and act upon it.

Take a bus ride with the unsuspecting Brock as he takes a trip from prison down the path of retribution, in Victim Notification. BJ Bourg thrills us with a plot twisting story, in which a man, convicted of beating his wife and sentenced to prison, is finally released, and is on his way to seek revenge—only to find that his new confidante has reason to seek her own revenge too.

In our last story, summing up the ‘Hands’ theme for The Ex Factor anthology of short stories, we find Frank Zafiro’s installment, Take a Hand. The universe often deals it’s own version of justice, but as our lead character in this short story learns, sometimes you have to give the universe a bit of a helping hand.

Twenty-two stories of justified endings to bad Exes, nine authors sharing their versions of universal karma, The Ex Factor is a page turner that is hard to put down for long. No matter how you feel about justice, revenge, and vengeance, there is sure to be a story in The Ex Factor with which you can personal relate. While most of us would only dream of seeking revenge against an EX, The Ex Factor offers to those who have been wronged a moment of escape, in which the universe fairly deals with unfair situations.

I highly recommend this chilling anthology to anyone who is interested reading genres of light horror, crime and suspense, and drama. There is a little something for everyone in The Ex Factor.

With 304 chilling and thrilling pages, this anthology brought to us by Koboca Publishing is a fantastic short story anthology for those who like small bites of entertainment.