FROM THE DESK OF
DONA PENZA TATTLE, ESQ.
AND
ASSOCIATE WRYE
BALDERDASH
Greetings,
“It’s
cold,” Tattle complained, cuddled under her new fleece blankie.
“It’s
winter.”
“Not
in Australia.”
“Wanna
go to Australia?”
“Yes!”
She grinned. “But for now, I’ll settle on a Love of Literature Leap Review!”
And
the two blinked into DOORS by Joanne
Renaud, a romantic fantasy.
“Jackie
Karma draws you into a first person narrative, which involves her strange,
lovable friend, Orne and his quest to open a door to another world. The book’s
blurb hooked me, but it was the first, nearly lyrical, mesmerizing sentence of
the prologue that fully drew me into the story.” Tattle sighs softly. “Mmmm,
the dreamscape incorporated into Jackie’s story is from a science fiction book.
Before her is the planet Emarchis. It wasn’t just any book but one her high
school teacher had suggested. Her favorite teacher that had commanded a lasting
impression, so much so, that she dreamt of him in this setting, and there he
tells her to choose well.
Wrye
waggles his brows and whistles the X-files tune. “You soon learn, her high
school teacher had died years before in a car accident. You also discover, Orne
was right, there are doors to other places. She chooses one. However, the
do-do really hits the fly swatter when she walks through a door and finds a
duplicate world, not exactly like her own, but actually better than her own.
Her own world seems dull by comparison, her other life inconsequential. She
wants to stay. Her teacher is alive. Her friendship with Orne is much more than
just buddy-buds. Only what happened to the Jackie that belonged in this world? Was
it right to take her place? Then again, what of the friendships she has here
and not back in her real home. How much will she lose, if she goes back? Yet,
just as things start to make sense, she snaps back to a tragic past event that
refuses to let her go. Even in this new, different world, the old world reaches
out to her. Yes, walking through that door, was only the first choice she had
to make.”
Tattle
nods in agreement. “Choices that demand resolution is at the core of this
story. There is, also, certainly a dream-like quality to the narrative’s
unfolding. It moves you along with visual prose, takes you beyond the
commonplace into a whimsical existence.
You slip into Jackie’s skin, feeling her emotions, taking on her dilemma
as she tries to figure out a solution to her life. The 90’s references, the
puzzles that have to be solved, the personality clashes, and the adventuresome
journey is just a few of the treats that Joanne Renaud has created in this
story. I never read the prequel, A
QUESTION OF TIME but now I must just to see the birth of these characters
and how they began and how much they have changed and grown.”
Wrye
takes over, “For me the bait and hook comes directly from the interplay between
Jackie and the quirky Orne. The banter keeps you grinning, and the romance
touches even an old crotchety guy like me. You watch the relationship develop
and cheer them onward, and you also watch as Jackie grows stronger as each, but
not every riddle, gets solved. At the same time, she doesn’t need Orne to make
her complete. She is very reflective of the strong independent women of our
modern age. She is a refreshing heroine. Thumbs up for DOORS! This is a remarkable sci-fi tale dripping with delightful
romance.”
Leaving
that unique world, Tattle and Wrye find themselves in LOTUS PETALS, The Books of Blood and Fire, #1 by Brantwijn Serrah,
an erotic F/F.
Tattle licks her finger, hits the air with it and makes a
sizzling sound. “Yes, oh yes, LOTUS
PETALS is hot! However, the erotica is coated with an endearing love story.
This novel is not what you expect. Aijyn fears her master, a sadistic vampire
Lord. However, she serves him fully and conscientiously. She thought herself a
sacrifice, hence every day, as one of his thirteen courtesans, becomes a gift.
When asked to watch after his bride, she obeys without question. Though fearing
vampires, she is amazingly strong, a true survivor.”
Wrye flips through the books passages, reading with delight.
“Rhiannon Donovan, daughter to the vampire Queen, is pledged to this same vile and
powerful vampire, Daimyo Gohachiro. The feisty warrior was well aware of the
responsibilities of her station, yet being his bride is abhorrent to her. Neither of the young women have a choice as
they are thrown into a complex political structure. Neither of them expect to fall in love with
each other either, placing their lives in danger.”
Running a finger across poetic prose, Tattle continues, “Placed
in shogun era Japan, the backdrop of this story is unexpected. The intricacy of
the caste system is absorbing. The depth of darkness in this tale is
compelling. And the passion is intoxicating and beautiful. This is a character driven story that holds
you spellbound. The erotic nature is
secondary to the compelling plot, which is fabulously mesmerizing. Having such
an intense story surrounded by an erotic love story is gripping as well as
invigorating. It is a story worth reading.”
Wrye adds, “The Japanesse influence along with the vampirism and
lesbian relationship turns what could be a familiar vampire plot to an erotic,
intoxicating story. Brantwijn Serrah has elevated
erotica unto a fresh, provocative yet literary level. This is not a throw away
book, it is something to be read again and again. I am certain it will draw in
readers that would never pick a book of this nature. It is truly that
remarkable. Hear me loud and clear, READ IT, you will not be sorry.”
Hope
you all enjoyed our reviews and we hope you all have a very healthy and happy New Year! 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 ~
CHASING
YESTERDAY ~ CHRISTMAS EVE...VIL
Books by:
Vixen Bright and Zachary Zane
STEEL
EMBRACE
BOOK
NOOKIE-A LIBRARIAN'S BUIDE TO THE DO-ME DECIMAL SYSTEM
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