Flash Fiction Magazine -- March 2016

Anthology / Very Short Fiction
Not too long
5 Stars

Anthologies are always hard for me to read and review. I love reading them, and read many, but how to review several stories?

This book is electronic only (as far as I know) and available for free download when one signs up for the daily digital magazine—also free.

The stories were varied, and ranged from very short (I could read the whole story on one screen of my phone to close to the 1000 word limit. I only found one I didn't care for, and I'll go back to read it all the way through at a later date. The writing seemed pretty good, I think I just wasn't in the mood, or same place as the author.

Some of the stories bordered on horror, many had humor, and all were well written. If you like flash fiction (1000 words or less) check out Flash Fiction Magazine at https://flashfictionmagazine.com and if you like the story, subscribe. Subscription is free, and so is the anthology. Perfect little stories while waiting in the doctor's office, the bus stop, or in line to buy groceries. Trust me.

Deathbed (Dovetail Cove, 1971) --by Jason McIntyre

Fiction / Noir  

83 pages / 1407 KB

5 Stars

I grew up in Portland, Oregon and I admit, McIntyre's creation of Dovetail Cove is so real, I looked it up on the map. It isn't there. I knew it wasn't, but I had to double check.

This series of books is not linear. One may enter at any place, and read in any order, thanks to the sneakiness and deviousness of the author. The saga 'starts' here, but it really doesn't make a difference. Each novel/novella is a stand alone, and each takes place in a different year.

Farrah is a young girl growing up with her father. Her mother is on the mainland, and Farrah really doesn't understand why just that she's not home. Farrah's Gran is dying, and Farrah likes to find stories to bring Gran. She buys a 'mystery box' from a woman at the town market, and discovers a dark story for Gran—and herself.

These books are not bedtime stories for your young children, unless you feed them a steady diet of Twilight Zone re-runs. But they are marvelous stories, well written and great fun, in a dark sort of way.

Fled (A Dovetail Cove Novella) --by Jason McIntyre

Fiction / Noir

83 pages /4114 KB

5 Stars

I've read other McIntyre books, the Night Walk Men, and though dark (advertised as such) thoroughly enjoyed them, so admit to looking forward to my first dip into the Dovetail Cove series. Having been assured one could enter the series with any book, that they all tie together but are not linear, I entered the currents with Fled. I was not disappointed.

Charlie Scobie has lead an interesting life, and returns to the island home of his new bride for their honeymoon. It is a place of darkness for Charlie, and he is forced to face some things he'd rather forget, and in fact thought he had.  Or at least come to grips with them.

Personally, I wonder if McIntyre didn't channel Rod Serling for this story.

Dom of Las Vegas (Sin City 1) --by Tricia Owens

Fiction / Adult

221 Pages /1975 KB

5 Stars

Oh, my.

I first 'met' Ms Owens with her Moonlight Dragon books, which I love. I then read one of her Pirate books, so I was aware she knows how to toss spice into her pages, but this book was, well, ah, a wet panty book from darned near page one to page last! Not, mind you, that I'm complaining. I'm not. No. Not at all.

Ms. Owens lives in Las Vegas, and while I'm somewhat comfortable with the idea that much of her books are nothing more than pure imagination, well, she has a very healthy imagination. Personally, I'm glad she does, and that she shares it.

This story was, in a word, Fun. It may not be so for everyone, but if you have an open mind, a sense of humor, if male/male sex intrigues you instead of turning you off, I think you'll enjoy the ride. The writing is good, the characters developed (very developed), and the story fun (I said that already, didn't I?). Admittedly, I probably wouldn't want to leave it around where my teenagers might find it, but they're in their late 40s/early 50s, so I have no say over what they read.

Ethan is a young man whose life-long dream is to be an agent with the FBI. Alas, he's also gay, and a submissive. He worked his way through school, and works for a small detective agency in Indiana. While on a business trip to Las Vegas, he meets Max, a dominant, wealthy, and owner of his own detective agency. One thing leads to another, we get ups we get downs, in just the right amounts before we get to the end. There are 10 books in the series (at this time) and I look forward to reading them all.

Rise of the Dragon, Moonlight Dragon Book 5) --by Tricia Owens

Fiction / Urban Fantasy

175 pages / 4154 KB

5 Stars

Legalities first: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

WARNING! Do not begin this book until you have a full pot of coffee and enough time to read it all the way through to The End. Once again, Ms. Owens has given us a marvelous one-sit read. She rates a space on your bookshelf alongside Anne Bishop, Patricia Briggs, and Jim Butcher.

If you have not read the earlier books, I strongly suggest you do. While they could probably be read as stand alone books, they will be much more enjoyable if read in order:  1. Descended from Dragons, 2. Hunting Down Dragons, 3. Trouble with Gargoyles and, 4. Forged in Fire.

Poor Anne Moody. She is still cursed. The cameos in her pawnshop constantly give her dire messages, the walls and ceiling of her bathroom drip blood, something stomps forth and back on her roof at night. But, hey, it's home. She inherited the Moonlight Pawn Shop from her uncle when he disappeared, and she lives in the back. She deals in the mundane items people pawn for money to spend in Las Vegas, but she also deals in magickal items. Nothing too serious or heavy, but every so often, she's fooled. Oh, did I mention she is also carries dragon blood in her veins? A dangerous thing to have.

Her boyfriend is a gargoyle. Human by night, stone statue by day. Her best friend is a monkey shifter. And then there are the Oddsmakers. They are uber magickal beings, and they do not like dragons. No, not at all. They do not like wild magick they can't control. And they do not want anyone in Las Vegas wielding magick without their knowledge and permission. How do you keep a Dragon under wraps? They are also Evil.

Poor, cursed, Anne Moody. She thought her biggest problems were the unseen and unknown Oddsmakers, who teleport her whenever they feel like it to their underground lair to order her to do this or that, until she was drugged, kidnapped, and woke in a secret US Military underground prison/laboratory under investigation for High Treason. Yes, she meets the Men in Black, up close and personal, and they were nothing like the guys in the movie. Yes, the end of the world is coming, and only Anne Moody can save it, and she's an unwilling guest of Uncle Sam. Poor, cursed, Anne Moody.

The most awful thing about this book is, it is book 5 of a 5 book series. That means the series is now ended. All the loose ends are neatly tied. We learn how Anne Moody became cursed, we learn what happened to Uncle James, Orlaton, and the others. However, with Ms. Owens' imagination and abilities, I hold high hopes there will be more books about the Moonlight Pawn Shop, the neighbors, and of course my favorite alpha dragon, Lucky.

A House of My Own: Stories from My Life --by Sandra Cusneros

Nonfiction / Memoir

400 pages

5 Stars

This was my introduction to Sandra Cisneros. I look forward to a long and rewarding friendship through the pages of her other books.

I read this book at night, in bed. Often, after finishing a story, I would put the book down and think about what I'd just read. What did she say? What did I read? (They are not always the same things).

Cisneros was born and raised in Chicago to working-class parents. Her father came from Mexico City, and the family frequently returned to his home for summer vacations. She is the only girl in a family with 6 brothers. No one in the family truly understood her penchant for writing. I, for one, am delighted no one managed to stifle her. She can relate to the average person, and perhaps more important, they can relate to her.

Her style of writing is like conversing with an old and beloved friend. While they are written for adults, there is nothing in any of these stories that a much younger person could not read. I enjoyed, tremendously, reading about the differences between her two cultures. I loved the gentle humor, and even laughed out loud in places. Especially the restaurant story in the Epilogue. No spoilers here, you'll have to read it yourself.

This is a book to be read and enjoyed many times, as are conversations with old friends to be had as often as wanted.  Buy this book. Give it to friends, relatives, and libraries. Give it to women, and give it to men. Most of all, give it to yourself.