Chelsea Avenue by Armand Rosamilia

Apparently Chelsea Avenue is a real location in Long Branch, New Jersey. The Murphy's Law Club was a real place. On July 8th, 1987, the famous Haunted House on the pier in Long Branch did burn down.  From that nugget of news Armand Rosamilia has drawn on his imagination and produced this haunting story. 

How to classify it? 

Ghosty, not really but very haunting. 

Gore laden, nope but still shocking and murderous. 

Apocalyptic, definite potential. 

Horror, Thriller or Fantasy, none but all. 

I cannot label this book which is really frustrating!  But I do know it gave me the chills, satisfied by need for spooky, horror and weird all at the same time. 

On the night of July 8th, Murphy’s Law night club is the site Wiy of the Water has chosen to try and attain Ascension; becoming a god over the humans, demanding their worship.

However, his brothers (other elementals of Fire, Earth and Wind) decide this is not a good idea for mankind and thwart his plans with a binding spell, causing a life changing fire and so begins the dark tale of sacrifice, murder and control as Wiy acts out his revenge.

Manny is the main character and focus; a young man who watched his friends and family (the owners of the nightclub) perish in the fire, losing his home and future in one horrifying night, he is also the tether that binds all the goings on in the following 15 years. 

I loved how each chapter represented a leap forward in the years, focusing on the same date, the anniversary of the fire which also happens to be Manny’s birthday. 

This allowed for big progressions in his life and the overall story. AR was so eloquent in his ability to proffer a single snappy line into a years’ worth of history easily keeping you update to date as he enters the police force, climbs the ranks, falls in love, marries, mucks it up and eventually gets dragged into hell as that fateful night pulls on his subconscious via a series of dreams and nightmares. 

However, he is not the only one having these dreams and all those connected with the fire succumb to Wiy’s power, pull and vicious need for worship.

With Detective Tankard as his senior, he and Manny eventually admit to each other that there must be a supernatural link as new dead bodies keep arriving at the abandoned lot on Chelsea Avenue each year. 

I was confused at first as to why the police did not simply stake out the Lot and provide protection but this issue is dealt with later in the book and shows again, how intricate and wonderful the AR brain works in delivering a balanced story and not just using characters, scenes and places for convenience of storytelling.

As each year brings the death toll up, the tension increases and the murders seem to get more gruesome. It is at this moment that AR allows you into the minds of some of the victims and a new element of horror occurs. The total helplessness of each victim as they are forced to return to Chelsea Avenue and commit horrific murders and mutilations whilst fully aware but unable to stop themselves gives a chill up the spine.

AR’s character building talent is evident in all his books but especially so in this one. Each character is given a strong back story; just enough so that when they die you feel a full tug and sadness at their loss.

However just when I was getting bored with new characters being introduced (remember this is over a 15year period) just to get killed off the story takes a massive leap into the present and the obvious danger that is looming.

As the actions kicks up a gear AR rockets the reader to an elemental show down of immense power. I could almost taste the salty water and feel the fire and smoke.

I hope the cliffhanger was an intentional plot twist as this story is far from over. I want more about these elemental gods, more apocalyptic world domination attempts and more brilliant writing from the mind of AR.

Chelsea Avenue

The Mask & The Old Hands by Billie Sue Mosimen

The Mask: Joe & The Mask have a connection - at least in Joes mind.

Leftover from a party Joe finds the Mask laying on his coffee  table as he comes around from a heavy night of drinking.

Through the conversation with the Mask you learn all the horrid things that Joe has done as he slowly confesses.

But is the Mask really talking? and walking? Or his he hallucinating, again.

For a 20min read this little story really freaked me out.

The power of the mind is strong and BSM does her best to mess with yours (the reader).

Old Hands:  George has Old Hands, but they are not his.

The WHO had declared this a new viral pandemic and George and his wife have caught it.

But these are not just old, wrinkly Hands - they are mean, vile and have a will of their own.

However, George and his wife have a solution, an illegal solution; although its soon clear that people should be careful what they wish for.

Again, another fantastic twist in the ending, total brilliance.

 BSM brings a unique thought to the apocalyptic disease table.

I loved the line "a wet cat kind of day".

MASK & OLD HANDS

Lucky's Girl by William Holloway

Lucky thinks himself a Prophet, he has an irresistible talent for drawing people in, an ability to beguile with his public speaking, and his general allure allows him to be a leader of men but he has a twisted sense of self and a deep need for revenge, so when The Big Tree at Elton lakes calls him back he follows. 

We are then introduced to Kenny as he reunites with his estranged children, Jake & Jenny, both are clearly harbouring resentment and something terrible has happened to Jenny recently.  Having lost everything in the big city he too is making his way back to his childhood home, the cabin/shack his Vietnam Vet Uncle raised him in.

Sherif of Elton Township, Jerry Kaminsky, is a recovering alcoholic but general good guy trying to hold his dying, failing town together.

All three men, it soon becomes clear, have history together; all are interwoven with the Big Tree.

As funding after funding leaves the town and its people they become disheartened, desperate and ripe for salvation. The most recent an archeological dig, discovery of a possible Indian burial ground out by the lake.  So the stage is set for Lucky to breeze back into his home town and start his tribe, bring them to glory.

There are other major characters in the book such as the lovely Rev James, his wife, the Mayor Errol and the Wolves.  The characters are all deep, with fascinating back stories, none are pure good or evil, baring the odd one but even then you are given elements of doubt.

The author has certainly out done himself on the scare factor for this book, some really spooky stuff in there, does make you wonder what he gets up to on the weekends!

Between Wendigo’s, American Indian Folklore, Cults, demands for revenge, Gods of Chaos and Werewolves you will be riveted up until the final page. 

I do hope there is more to come from not only this author but also this story.

Luckys Girl

Monsters in Hollywood (books 1-6) by Lila DuBois

Lights, Camera ... (Book 1): 

Calypso Hollywood Productions is a company run by five beautiful and talented women; Lena, Jane, Akta, Margo and Cali.

One day a group of three exceptional looking men, Luke, Michael Henry and Their walk into office with a proposal for a movie.

But here is the twist, they 'are monsters, hiding from persecution and are slowing dying out. They need to get out Their message That They want to be friendly and integrate into human society without hiding.

They are among us as Their Already Seer has provided them all the spells, in the form of gorgeous tattoos That allow them to change from Their monster bodies to human form.

However, the girls laugh them off and send them on their way, not without Luke begging for a Date with Lena, who Obliges Because He is after all gorgeous and she is starting to feel like a born again virgin.

The monsters That LD describe Both are horrifying and beautiful, and get all Apparently Their sexual experience from succubae !!

This is an erotica book after all and it soon turns to some rip roaring sex from Luke and Lena. Apparently magical spells but do not hold well after eight hours of sex and a night's sleep as Luke inadvertently lets out for Lena His monster to wake up next too, I unfortunately looks like a demon With His huge wings, horns and cloven feet!

This leads to some humorous moments and then the plot really begins. There are other moments when you 'humor Realise That all their "knowledge" about humans comes from watching TV shows and movies, although this is a little odd can actually When They Interact with humans, so That falls flat after a while.

Just as the girls are getting on board and seriously thinking this movie That Could Be a go ahead to That monster is not fully With the plan tries to kill Lena and the plot twist and Takes a really starts to sizzle as much as all the intense sex That is going on.

Some very sad moments in This First Book That really seal it as a story and not just erotica.

Lights, Camera .... Monsters

My Fair Monster (Book 2):

Clearly Whilst the first book sets the scene and then Continues to concentrate on the love that has now blossomed Between Lena and Luke, it is now obvious That this is now Jane and Michael's turn.

More body numbing sex OCCURS but Michael's monster is not what you would expect!

A new monster has joined the group, Runako, I is not convinced That Should integrate humans and monsters. With His sad back story and still painful memories Clearly I Began to agree with His points of view on human annihilation instead.

The grin inducing Often humor is still here, Along with the eyeball popping sex but this book felt more like a love story and there was no clear moving forward of the story.

However LD book sets up 3 very neatly at the end.

I was aware of quite a few editing errors in this book Which Were a little distracting.

My Fair Monster

Gone with the Monster (Book 3):

This is Clearly Runako and Margo's chapter and she is one tough lady That man needs a tougher to crack her. So I kidnaps her and Margo Takes to a cave.

This Allows for some really funny moments, as by default in Original two characters are much more humorous. Runako's monster just happens to be the biggest demon looking thing you can think of.

Whilst Margo is filled with Self-body issues, Runako acerca is clueless female human emotions Generally And This makes for great banter not to mention the almost painful but highly erotic sex scenes.

Again we are shown the horrors of humans vs monsters in the past and why Runako is so afraid of integration. When I fully shares with Margo His pain she confesses That She May who did they know awful things to His Sister.

This knowledge With a new element of revenge and killing Enters The story line and Gives it an interesting twist.

New monsters and plot elements in this book are Introduced at it Continues to not shy away from going to some deep dark places in some XXX sex scenes.

Again, some editing issues, but this time not so distracting.

Gone with the Monster

Have will travel Monster (Book 4):

Now That the story line is not just about the monsters bringing out into the open, the secret Black Wolf agency trying to capture and experiment is to focus on monsters.

Henry goes off to China to seek out and plead for help from the secret, yet powerful warrior clan.

Their is Tokaki Most prized warrior and Agrees to come and help them, but as the fight coordinator on the movie !!

There is a lot more in this book speak movie Which was becoming tedious. The two new characters Tokaki and Jo, the artist, are so obviously going to be the next couple together but That Get Their characters and plot lines are so cliché to make it feel like some 70s porn film.

Whilst I Understood That Tokaki was the Chinese version of the westernized notion of monsters, I turns into a huge white tiger that looks a lot like the parade dragon / lion, I got fed up reading about Their Chi - I am not reading in Original books for intellectual stimulation! Not to mention That acerca 50% into the book info we have only peeked at a penis surprised so far, and if Jo says His male body is "ridiculous" once more I Would have screamed, and not in pleasure.

The little movie Were funny one liners and the best character in Madoka This chapter was the teenage sister, a beautiful purple dragon.

Eventually Tokaki and Jo get together, but I is rude, obnoxious and oblivious to her feelings Which of course are fixed by watching a marathon of chick flicks. I found this to be very condescending and not fitting With the rest of the books. Although they 'are getting a bit boring monsters in every mating for life with each girl picks I have to enlighten on monster sex.

If I had not bought the last two Already books in the series I Would have Given Up At this point as the center plot is missing, the editing and continuity is way off and the sex has Become boring.

The notion That brilliant sex can suddenly fix all female hang up and make You have instant self-belief is a little nauseating or maybe I have yet to enjoy That sort of sex!

The ending paragraph was good and it pulled together some unanswered questions from early in the book but does not make you want to read the fifth installment.

Have Monster will Travel

A Monster and a Gentleman (Book 5):

You are now thrown forward into movie production. Apparently all on set people believe in monsters and none have run screaming to the loony bin but surprise, surprise one has leaked to the press photos DESPITE huge confidentially clauses.

Cali the bitch of the group Total has-been lusting after Seling, a fire breathing dragon, who joined the group During a rescue camp at the Black Wolf, and this is Clearly Their sexual chapter for fun and eventual mating.

No mention Thus Far of the plot twist Involving the Black Wolf camp, if They Were Such a threat then why forget them ?? So Easily The editing is much more of an issue in this book and LD Could have Done with some better beta readers / editors to pull together her inconsistencies.

Why every single woman in this group have to be hung up on Their lack of body perfection is now becoming annoying. Plus the eleven sizzling sex scenes and daring are now repetitive, same sex couple different.

Not sure on the odds of finding each monster kill Their exact Within the five women in LA who happen to be making Their movie.

Eventually Investigations get under way into who leaked the photos of the monsters, trying to out them.

The monsters call on Their Seer, Mauve the Banshee.

Between the Black Wolf Banshee and the militia, That suddenly make a reappearance this is a lot more violent action in this book.

Towards the end is more of a monster story, much less erotica, even if boring in this book.

This series has sort of flunked in the middle not sure If its erotica, a story, Both of neither. The one dimensional characters and Have Become Often slide off the page with no thought. The book end has-been read simply as I am hoping for a conclusion.

Monster and a Gentleman

The last of the Monsters (Book 6):

Flashbacks from VARYING PoV allow for the story of Henry, the monster and end Akta - That end the couple need to pair off to Make This all so convenient.

Mauve the Banshee has discovered who the leak is and punishment is interesting. The Black Wolf men are used in a unique way.

Once the movie is finally out, so are the monsters and they 'are whisked off to meet all the "special" people of the world.

The relationship Between Henry, the color changing monster and Akta skin is crawling and childish to say the least.

A dramatic finale Allows the series to redeem itself at the end.

Overall This Could Have Been probably four books, better edited and more flesh and brains Given to the characters. The first book was amazing and the sex but soon Became repetitive and pathetic Were plot lines, or Told At least not well.

For a fast bit of erotica LD is a good writer as she does not shy from some eye watering moments but as a storyteller, nope not her strong suit as her plots are often forgotten or repetitive, but overall a good series to read.

The movie references in the stories and was very clever book titles and you can not help but love the cover art!

Last of the Monsters

CODE NAME: Ghost & Fire (Books 1 & 2) by Natasza Waters

This is a bit of a hard one to review, military based thriller/erotica/romance is not my thing but I was offered the, two parts of the story, to review.

When I first started it I gave up. It didn't grab me and I found the set up a little confusing especially when NW was describing the main characters and all the periphery elements, I couldn't keep up with who was who!

However, I went back to it and was sort of glad I did.  I have mixed feelings over the books as they are a bit dragged out, but there is an engaging story, a traumatised heroine and an alpha male hero who engage in some steamy sex scenes, but even that becomes a little formulaic by the second half of the story (in book 2) and there is a limit to my sympathy for both main characters.

The sexual tension and inevitable sex was initially exceptional. The multiple male characters are fantastically hot alpha males.... they would certainly make my knees knock, and this is fiction after all – I don’t really want too much reality in my erotica!

What can I say about Kayla; she is strong with a lot of past trauma that really shapes her character and how she reacts to things.  She is also abrasive, cold and not overly likable plus many a time I wanted to scream at her to just stop, just stop!

Thane, the male lead, at the start I didn't quiet “get” him but he grew on me eventually, but the on/off almost abusive relationship between the two of them I think was supposed to be sort Burton/Tayloresque but never really got pulled off correctly.

However, this is not some bubble headed erotic, drool a minute story though, there is some real gusty stuff in here and the serial killer aspect is very well written. That said you HAVE to read book 2 to get any closure, which I feel is a little bit of a cheat when with cleaner, more concise writing and fewer subplots and characters the story could have been easily concluded in this one book and been a better read for it, but it didn’t the author leaves you on a cliffhanger, with no closure.

 Code-Name: Ghost

After reading the first book "Ghost" you have no option but to continue the story. However, I didn't find this book as gripping as the first and to be honest the on-off relationship between the two lead characters got a bit tiresome. Having said that, I would recommend these two books.

As said before, NW would have been better just extending the first book then putting this sequel out. Kayla remains true to form with her stop/go emotions, yes she has severe emotional trauma in her past but does that really give you the right to treat others like rubbish? Also I found the constant reminder by NW of her past a bit boring and therefore I lost sympathy eventually.  Basically in Ghost she was strong and coping, in Fire she became a moaning, boring bitch.

Overall, I like NW writing style the serial killer aspect of the story is defiantly wrapped up in this second book and if you enjoy military romance/thriller novels but can suspend all sense of reality then you will love these books.

Will I go onto book no.3 - if I see it on offer, then yes!

Code-Name: Fire

Pretty Little Dead Girls by Mercedes Yardley

Bryony Should have been murdered in second grade, she Knew It, her Father Knew It, the whole town Knew It, even the soon to be President Knew It, Fate wanted it; Happened but a mistake.

Through school, university, suicidal boyfriends, we watch as she cheats death and tries to choose where to live That does not Involve serial killers or places That Could be in horror movies. Eventually the ethereal Star Girl settles in Seattle where she meets a variety of wonderful friends, all are drawn to Also Become her protectors.

As the bodies start to mount up around her I Could almost feel the weight of her sorrow pulling at my own heart. In a sort of cat and mouse Told MY way of all the potential murderers after Bryony and left me on tenterhooks wondering who would be successful and get Their prize? She made it sound like it would be delicious to witness, Which was rather worrying!

The surrounding characters are well fleshed out and have a wonderful sense of reality to them, even now I miss them. The devotion from her friends is breath taking the obvious love from her Father and Mrs W Nearly broke my heart. I adored the little comments acerca's would-be, could-be's and may-be's.

The Saucepan of Vengeance will stay with me for a while as it really made me chortle.

The language is Certainly whimsical But Also so amazingly clever, it is after all quite a gore laden book with talk of serial killers, murder and death but I loved the conversational way That MY pulled me into the story, Involving me in Bryony's fate, she was very clever in mind evoking scenes Which Had No business make me smile, but did anyway.

The ending is spectacular and I can not wait to read more from this author; I finally got to read a book with the word discombobulated in it!

Pretty Little Dead Girls

Sleep Of Fools by Lori R. Lopez

In his sleep Chrono can climb like a monkey, only his waking world does not have monkeys, or trees or anything that is not grey and mechanized.

Fed by pills, dressed in grey, putting cogs into place each and every day, all day, then to sleep; this is Chrono’s world.  

Although sleep is not necessarily what it seems either as he is herded into a nether world; to destroy the clock he assembles during the day.

The analogies and mental visuals that LRL conjures up and lays before you are fantastic.

Then a chance fall, a kiss, an escaping screwdriver, a pair of green eyes and all that changes.

When Jewel spurs him into trying to escape the “system” their whole world is destroyed, the final twist in the tale is brilliant and I loved the end line.

Jar Baby used to be my favourite story of LRL of all her amazing work but I read this back to back three times I was so enthralled.  A masterpiece IMO.

Sleep of Fools