Tag: Ghosts

Flash: Hidden from the Surface

Erin Penn

Image courtesy of alexisdc. at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Rating: Mature

“Not ready yet, my dear.”

Cheyanne glanced over her shoulder in annoyance at the vampire lord who bought her body and soul, but not her spirit. “I would be if your brother didn’t keep unzipping the dress.”

“Garrett.” Clayton admonished, a touch of exasperation lacing his voice.

“I can’t help it, Clay,” the ghost formed between the woman and the silver-backed mirror. “This body should never be covered up. Especially these bazongas.” He reached for the large breasts the loose dress top revealed, the dark brown tips drawing into points as his cold presence brushed against them.

“While I agree with the sentiment, our guest and I are expected at a gala within the hour.” The younger brother approached the warlock-kin’s back and grasped the zipper, sliding it up her back.

Rather than keep eye contact, Cheyanne turned back to the mirror where her master remained invisible. Garrett hadn’t fully formed, so she could focus past him. Knocking his insubstantial hands out of the way, she pulled the top into place as the fabric tightened with the closure. She worked hard to appear resolutely angry when the ninety-year-old vampire raised her hair to kiss the back of her neck, and the ghost, who had died in his teens, continued to play with her nipples through the beaded fabric.

One day she would kill her father for enslaving her, and maybe when she raised him from the dead with her rapidly developing necromantic powers, she would thank him for selling her to the brothers.

(words 253; first published 2/24/2019)

Book Review: Greatshadow: Book One of the Dragon Apocalypse

Erin Penn

Book Cover from Amazon

Greatshadow: Book One of the Dragon Apocalypse by James Maxey

BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON

A classic sword and sorcery dungeon crawl to hunt a dangerous dragon! 

After stealing a priceless relic from the Church of the Book, Infidel is the world’s most infamous mercenary. Now she’s got her eyes on a new prize, the fabled treasure trove of the dragon Greatshadow. Joining forces with a band of dangerous rogues, can she survive her own allies long enough to face the dragon? 

MY REVIEW

The world creation of the primal dragons is great. I love why they became what they are and look forward to future books of the Dragon Apocalypse. The three systems of magic ruling the world (blood, weaving and dreams) plus the multi-religious powers with each being right in their own way add another level of flavor to the story.

And then the uniqueness of the point-of-view character keep pulling me forward. It is not every day the POV dies in the first chapter. Truly an inspired twist that was never a gimmick. 

But the most important thing is the characters and storytelling. The characters are all flawed, likable (but not lovable), and not in any sense of the understanding “good” guys. The story drives relentlessly forward on a trip that leaves you gasping.

I have previously read James Maxey’s superhero stories, which, while inventive, I did not like. I decided to give Mr. Maxey a second try because he writes extremely well with twists never seen before. And I glad I have. He has made a unique fantasy world; not all unicorns and butterflies, but then the series title of The Dragon Apocalypse kind-of lets you know that up front.

Greatshadow is a solid beginning to an interesting series.

Flash: Ending Forever

Erin Penn

freedigitalphotos.net

Julian sat in his driveway reluctant to leave the car. Lights blazed welcome from the windows, pushing back the night. Maybe he should just go to an impersonal hotel.

Unable to decide which was more cowardly, habit kicked him off the fence and into the house.

“Julian, give me kisses.” His lover, Joseph, demanded while stirring a pot. The kitchen smells sent Julian’s abused empty stomach growling. Salad, steak, a cream sauce for peas, every surface seemed to be covered with food. The quick peck Julian offered wasn’t enough to meet Joe’s requirements. The refrigerator rocked when Joe pressed his swimmer-defined rock-hard body against Julian’s smaller build. Deep kisses woke parts of Julian he rather remain dead.

Needing comfort against the anguish Julian lost himself in the kisses. His cock tightened and pressed against Joseph’s. He pulled the taller man against him, forgetting for a moment.

“Much better.” Barefoot silent on the tile, Joseph returned to the stove. “Missed you.”

“I always miss you.” Julian responded. Freed from his lover’s embrace he opened the refrigerator to keep from staring at the blond. Sculptured from years of swimming and sports, Joseph was the most beautiful man Julian had ever known. The five years they had lived together were the happiest in his life. But that time had ended, Julian needed to end it. And he couldn’t.

“Don’t go ruining your dinner.” Joe barked.

The fridge was empty except for some expired milk. “Not really a problem.” Julian muttered under his breath before closing the door on the escaping cold. “I’ll go change.”

***

Joe controlled the dinner conversation while Julian pushed food around his plate amazed at the heft and scent, the realness when nothing in his life felt real anymore. Having participated in the discussion about the community pool opening for the summer over a hundred times in the past three months, he was able to answer Joseph without thinking. Until he broke.

“I can’t do this.” Julian staggered from his chair and ran toward the bedroom.

Their shared bedroom. Still disheveled from last night

Joe caught his arm as he entered. “What’s wrong? You’ve been quiet all night.”

“So glad you noticed.” Tears pouring from agony-filled eyes prevented Julian from focusing on Joe’s all-American face.

“Hon, what is wrong?”

“You’re dead. Dead!” Julian accused his lover. “Died saving some girl the day the pool opened. Why do you keep coming back?”

 (words 402; first published 10/30/2013; republished new blog format 10/7/2018)

Book Review: Southern Bound (Max Porter #1)

Erin Penn

Book Cover from Amazon

Southern Bound (Max Porter Mysteries #1) by Stuart Jaffe

BOOK BLURB ON AMAZON

When Max Porter discovers his office is haunted by the ghost of a 1940s detective, he does the only sensible thing … he starts a detective agency!

Thrust neck-deep into a world of old mysteries and dangerous enemies, he will face ghosts, witches, and curses. He will discover a world in which survival might be the easiest challenge. And he will do anything necessary to keep his wife and his life from falling away.

Real history meets the paranormal in this thrilling, suspenseful series!

 

MY REVIEW

Ok – After finishing the story, I re-looked at the title and it took on a dozen new meanings. Rarely have does a title fit a story this well.

The story is a research-mystery genre, with a little paranormal thrown in. I liked the character doing research in actual books, as well as internet, foot work, and face-to-face interviews. Slow in parts, because research is slow. Fast when a breakthrough happens. You feel like you are going step-by-step through the process with the researcher. No magic Google searches or wikipedia entries, the character needed to touch books not scanned onto the internet.

And because the story is research, the paranormal in a detective story works. Often, as the character trudged once again off to the library (which becomes a character in and of itself), you forget this world also has ghosts and witches – or the ghosts and witches feel the same as the employers and thugs, the world has them, not all are pleasant, and you still need to make a living.

I’ve been reading a lot of urban fantasy genre with mystery edges, and so I found the fact the romance was between two married people rediscovering their relationship after a rocky patch very refreshing and relaxing.

I really liked the POW history aspect. A must-read for anyone who likes mysteries and is from North Carolina. At the end of the story you want to visit all the places appearing in the book and also find out what parts were true and what were fiction.

Flash: 50-Word Prompts (1 & 5)

Erin Penn

On Friday February 8, 2013, Breathless Press (now defunct, so links have been removed) through its facebook page had a 50-word Flash Friday where 12 prompts were given to writers for mini-flashes. The prompts were words or (really sexy) pictures, and the limit of words were fifty. I had two sets of interrelated flashes and another few stand-alones.

I am going to republish my flashes over the next few Sundays (and hopefully get me beyond the brunt of tax season when I will have more free time). Below is one of the two sets of interrelated flashes.

 

PROMPT ONE: Early Birds
Dawn always came too early when Joseph stayed the night. Glancing at the pillow next to him, Julian got to see one last sexy smile before his dead lover melted away in the daylight.
(34 words)

PROMPT FIVE: THONG(s)
Julian did not like cleaning house. Joseph loved it. Julian loved to watch Joe bend and stretch. Trying to get the dust bunnies, more like dust wolverines, from under the bed Julian extracted one of Joe’s thongs from a persistent bunny. Holding it, Julian curled on the floor crying
(words 49)

(originally published 2/8/2013; published in new blog format 2/19/2017)