Sunday, April 1, 2018
Sunday's Short Stack: Carbon and Ash by Chris Owen
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I have decided to add another feature to my weekly posts, this one is called Sunday's Short Stack and will highlight short stories. I've always enjoyed a good short story fut I've also always been more of a full-length novel kind of gal and found it natural to dock a 1/2 mark off any review just for the shortness. But then as I read more and more short stories/novellas I realized that I was unfairly judging the reads and authors because some of the stories I love the most have turned out to fall into novella/short story category so it only seemed fitting to add to my Sunday selections one for all those lovely possibilities that tend to get overlooked because of the pages or word count shortage.😉 Must Sunday's will continue to be featuring Sunday's Safe Word Shelf but be on the lookout for this newest feature at Padme's Library from time to time.
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Former minor league baseball player and little league coach Myles figures he and his buddy Todd have a lot in common. They're both single dads, they both love baseball and camping, and their sons get along great. They also have this thing they do, this touching thing a few times a year that Myles figures is just all about creature comfort.
The thing is, as they both think about dating other people and breaking up their late night tradition, Myles starts to realize maybe he's not as casual about Todd as he thought. In fact, he has to take a long hard look at how he feels, and hope he doesn't strike out.
Carbon and Ash is a lovely, short read that has just the right amount of heat and sweet. Would I have liked to seen more of Myles and Todd and their sons? Of course. Does the story lack anything by not having more background or future to their journey? Not at all. Perhaps one day we'll see what these lads are up to but if not, I loved this short read and can honestly say I'll be re-visiting them again next year as spring training starts and I am in a baseball mood. This is my first Chris Owen read but it will definitely not be the last.
RATING:
The evening sun is warm on his back as Myles sends his team onto the field for the final inning. He watches them go, little legs full of far less energy after almost an hour of playing, but he can see their eyes still bright with interest and enthusiasm; it's just the limits of being six and seven years old that makes them slower. He knows how they feel -- the pull of the game warring with the limits of the body, the need to cram as much fun into a day as they can.
Myles makes sure that Joey stays to the right of the outfield instead of drifting off to the left where Matty Jones is. If those two get too close together they won't pay close attention to the game and will start looking for bugs again between batters. It's usually not a problem, but with exhaustion and the fleeting attention span of seven year olds, it would be far too easy for them to miss a play and descend into emotional meltdown. He knows about that, too, frustration and disappointment taking the joy out of baseball.
One of his charges, Sherry, is going even slower than the rest and Myles can see her feet kicking up little storms of dust as she crosses the diamond to second base, so he goes out after her. "Almost done, kiddo," he says, crouching down to meet her eyes. "Think you can catch that ball for me?"
She nods firmly, squinting a little as the sun shines on her upturned face. "Yes, Coach," she promises. "But I'm hungry."
"I'm sure you are," he says sympathetically. "More than an hour since supper, right? There's apples and oranges for you guys after the game."
She smiles and nods again. "Yum."
"You betcha." Myles stands up and pats her shoulder, being careful to keep the touch light and clearly a Good Touch. "You can do it," he tells her.
She looks up at him with six-year-old wisdom, her eyes clearly saying he's crazy. "Of course I can."
Myles makes sure that Joey stays to the right of the outfield instead of drifting off to the left where Matty Jones is. If those two get too close together they won't pay close attention to the game and will start looking for bugs again between batters. It's usually not a problem, but with exhaustion and the fleeting attention span of seven year olds, it would be far too easy for them to miss a play and descend into emotional meltdown. He knows about that, too, frustration and disappointment taking the joy out of baseball.
One of his charges, Sherry, is going even slower than the rest and Myles can see her feet kicking up little storms of dust as she crosses the diamond to second base, so he goes out after her. "Almost done, kiddo," he says, crouching down to meet her eyes. "Think you can catch that ball for me?"
She nods firmly, squinting a little as the sun shines on her upturned face. "Yes, Coach," she promises. "But I'm hungry."
"I'm sure you are," he says sympathetically. "More than an hour since supper, right? There's apples and oranges for you guys after the game."
She smiles and nods again. "Yum."
"You betcha." Myles stands up and pats her shoulder, being careful to keep the touch light and clearly a Good Touch. "You can do it," he tells her.
She looks up at him with six-year-old wisdom, her eyes clearly saying he's crazy. "Of course I can."
Chris Owen lives with her family on the east coast of Canada. A writer, reader, board game player, knitter, and dog lover, she explores themes of chosen family in her work, often inserting her own hobbies into the characters lives.
A mother of two children who are rapidly reaching adulthood, she can frequently be found with a cup of coffee in one hand, staring dreamily at her yarn and pile of writing resources, dreaming of the day she can have a proper office with a door that closes.
Release Tour: Jericho by Lola White
Title: Jericho
Author: Lola White
Series: The Garquiem #3
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: March 17, 2018
Summary:
She’s a tragic heroine, lost in the dark after a heartbreaking mission. He’s a man in love, determined to rescue his wife from the depths of her depression.
Isaac may be part of an ancient organization that’s been combating evil for millennia, but he isn’t a warrior. Gifted—or cursed—with an infallible memory, he’s more useful behind a computer, hacking records and coordinating operations, but his family has stumbled onto a threat to the Catholic Church that just might reach the highest levels. Isaac has a single clue to lead him forward, but getting any more information requires finding the courage to join the fight of his life.
A year ago, Jericho walked away from nearly everything after her service to the cause asked too much of her, demanding a price too high to pay, a sacrifice she couldn’t live with. Now her husband is asking for more. Isaac wants her back—back on the team, back in the field and back in his bed—but how can she reclaim her life when she’s lost her faith?
The sound of his palm slapping the wall came a heartbeat before the overhead light flared. Weak yellow illumination, a faint buzzing sound. The light’s enclosure was beyond dirty, an unnatural filter that kept the radiance dim, but it was still enough to burn Jericho’s eyes.
And slice through her sanity.
Screaming like a wounded animal, she folded over her lap and slid off the chair. Throwing an arm over her head, she struggled to hide and fought to find some semblance of composure, but the exposure was too much. Her reaction was a beast of its own making, beyond her control, rampaging freely. Oxygen ripped from her lungs and her stomach burned under a wash of acid that climbed her throat.
Then Isaac’s arms were around her. Desperate, she turned her face into the damp leather covering his chest and denied the flash of need that exploded in her heart. Jericho was torn between pushing closer to fill her senses with one last immersion in all things Isaac, and pulling away so he couldn’t feel the texture of her skin, or the limp greasiness of her hair.
“Easy,” he soothed her. “Just be easy.”
“Go. Please go.”
“I can’t, Jericho. Now that I’ve found you, I won’t leave. I…can’t.”
“How?” She did try to push from his embrace then, but her muscle weakness didn’t let her get far. Isaac held her easily, not even exerting force. She tucked her head down, hoping the limp clumps of her hair hid her face. “How did you find me?”
“You received a letter a long time ago with a change of address on it.” Bitterness filled his sharp laugh. “It took a while to find my courage and come.”
“You shouldn’t have.”
“I should have come sooner,” he argued. “Then maybe you would have found your courage, too.”
“This isn’t about—” Using every ounce of willpower at her disposal, Jericho wrenched from her husband’s hold and lunged toward the wall. On her hands and knees, her movements were jerky and awkward, much too revealing, but she couldn’t help herself. She reached for the light switch.
Isaac caught her shoulder and hauled her back against his chest. She dropped her chin, letting her hair hide her. “Does the light hurt your eyes?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Do I hurt your eyes too, Jericho?”
Strength deserted her. The last gasp of sanity blew through her lungs with an agonizing burn. Her heart seemed to collapse in on itself. Unable to breathe or make a sound past the pain, she simply shook her head.
“Then look at me.”
She shook her head again, squeezing her eyes closed, tucking her chin until her neck ached.
“Who are you hiding from, Jericho?”
When she remained silent, Isaac pressed his lips close to her ear, burrowing through her dirty hair until his rough whisper abraded her skin. “Who the fuck do you think was at your side in the hospital? You really think I haven’t seen your face?”
Levi #1
Summary:
Summary:
He’s part of an ancient order that’s been fighting corruption within the Catholic Church since the Middle Ages. She’s two months away from taking permanent vows to become a nun.
When Levi is sent to Waterview to investigate the possibility of demonic influences among the diocesan clergy, he meets Marcella, and immediately recognizes her as his other half, his gift from God.
He just has to convince her that love is worth leaving the nunnery for.
But as Levi starts leading Marcella down the path of temptation, her faith is tested in ways she never expected, and the one responsible for bringing evil to Waterview sees his chance to exploit her weakness.
Liah #2
Summary:
Summary:
She’s an empathic warrior who refuses to feel her own emotions. He’s an abomination hiding his truth within the robes of a priest.
When Liah travels to Red Leaf City to investigate a group of clergymen she believes might be corrupted beyond forgiveness, she meets Father Anthony Angelli, a man who sends her suspicions—and her libido—into overdrive. He’s hiding something, but Liah can’t find any evidence of wrongdoing and she’s got her own issues to deal with.
Tony can’t drop the matter. Refusing to let his colleagues get away with their crimes, he starts his own investigation, dragging Liah back to town even while vowing not to fall to the temptation she embodies. Unfortunately, his interference puts them both on display at a wicked gathering, and the only way to get out alive is to expose the truth—then pray for mercy.
Tony can’t drop the matter. Refusing to let his colleagues get away with their crimes, he starts his own investigation, dragging Liah back to town even while vowing not to fall to the temptation she embodies. Unfortunately, his interference puts them both on display at a wicked gathering, and the only way to get out alive is to expose the truth—then pray for mercy.
Author Bio:
Delve into the emotions, dive into the erotic.
An extensive traveler who loves to incorporate various legends from around the world into her tales, author Lola White likes to twist reality at its edges in her stories. She likes delving into the emotions of her characters, finding their strengths and weaknesses, and seeing (and showing) how they get themselves out of whatever trouble has found them—if they can.
Jericho #3
Levi #1
Liah #2
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