Review: Souls for Sale by Asta Idonea

Souls For Sale by Asta Idonea
Nine Star Press
Novella: 139pgs

2.5 Pants Off

Blurb: When demon Saul persuades comic book artist Tom to sign over his soul in exchange for a night of passion, little does he know what lies in store. Demons can’t fall in love—or so he’s been told—but he finds himself smitten and attempts to destroy the contract, desperate to save Tom from an eternity of torture.

With Saul and Tom forced to run, a showdown between Heaven and Hell ensues as the angels and demons argue over who owns Tom’s soul. But does either party have a stronger claim than Saul?



Review

NO RETURNS. NO REFUNDS

I can say I was intrigued by the cover of this book and the blurb also pulled me in. A rogue demon who falls in love and goes back on a soul deal (gasps). It had me at hello but I wanted to be telling it goodbye way quicker than anticipated. 

Saul is in the soul buying business and he’s the best at it. He wins them over with sophistication and killer looks and without any real push, people just sign their soul over to spend one night in the sack. What can he say he’s just that good (rolls eyes). When he spots the geeky looking guy in a bar Saul knows he’s gonna land himself another soul without lifting a finger. He’s gonna go finesse the shit out of him because who can turn down a night of carnal delights with him? He’s got this dude hook, line, and sinker. 

Tom dear old Tom. Looking for love, looking for lust, just out here looking for whatever. He can’t even bring himself to talk to the waiter he has a crush on, so he spends his time just staring at him. When he’s approached by a very handsome man Tom can’t believe his luck, but he realizes that something is up because in no way would a man like Saul ever be interested in him. When talks of soul selling pops up It doesn’t surprise him but he’s set in his conviction that a night with Saul is worth a eternity in hell (rolls eyes x2). 

Then the crazy ensues!! Saul realizes that he can’t let a sweet guy like Tom have an eternity burning, plus he’s starting to feel things in his demon heart for Tom and he wants to keep experiencing it. They find themselves on the run trying to out maneuver demons but also trying to live their best life and the icing on the cake is that Heaven has also taken notice. Can Tom soul be saved and can our men have their happily ever after? 

This book was just…I don’t even have the words. Can I call it pretentious? Because it really freaking was. The writing is first person and crazy because you’re invited to be apart of the world and by apart of, I mean Saul tries to drag you into his crazy. Sorry dude, all that shit is most definitely on you alone.  

You’re just as culpable as me, you know—you stayed for the show, after all. You wanted excitement, wanted to see me in action. 

Look, I can sense you rolling your eyes, making out you’re not convinced, but who’re you to talk? You keep following me around like a stray dog. We both know you can’t get enough of little old moi 

I would go to the ends of the earth for that boy. I would attempt impossible deeds for his sake. Not that I’ve been horsewhipped or house-trained. I’m still the man, still wearing the pants, still in control. Don’t think for one second that Tom has neutered me. 

There’s something about the writing that’s just too formal and I couldn’t get as caught up in the story as much as I wanted to. It also gets too OTT which really suck because if there was ever a story with potential, Souls for Sale is it. A demon falling in love and going rogue that’s the making of something sexy, but alas I didn’t get any of that here.  

I just kept reading to see where it would go and it didn’t go anywhere I truly enjoyed. The idea behind Soul for Sale might have been a good one but the executing was weak, and the characters forgettable, and the writing way too pretentious. The boys did get their HEA but by then I had stopped caring.

 

Review: Out of The Ashes by Ari McKay

Out Of The Ashes (Asheville Arcana, #1) ( Dreamspun Beyond, #1) by Ari McKay
Dreamspinner Press
Novel: 220pgs

3.5 Pants Off

Blurb: Asheville Arcana

In their differences, they’ll find strength—and love.

Alpha werewolf Eli Hammond returns from a fishing trip to discover a nasty surprise—five members of his pack murdered and the rest missing. He needs help locating and rescuing his pack mates, but the supernatural council in Asheville, North Carolina, turns him away.

Except for one man.

As they work together, Eli is stunned—and not especially thrilled—to discover half-elf Arden Gilmarin is his destined mate. But as Arden and his friends struggle to help Eli in his quest, Eli surrenders to the demands of his body—and his heart. They’ll need to bond together, because the forces opposing them are stronger and more sinister than anyone predicted. The evil has its sights set on Arden, and if Eli wants to save his mate and the people he is entrusted with protecting, he’s in for the fight of his life.

Review

 OUT OF THE FRYING PAN & INTO THE FIRE

I’ve now moved on to the Dreamspun Beyond series and I am really looking forward to what this entire imprint has to offer. Out of the Ashes was a cute read, and I am looking forward to reading the other books.  

Alpha Werewolf Eli Hammond has come back home only to find some of his pack mates dead and all the others missing. He can’t quite explain as to why it happened but he does know the neighbouring pack had something to do with the deaths and his missing friends. Instead of rushing in and trying to avenge and rescue,  Eli realizes he will need the help of the supernatural council. When his concern falls on deaf ears, Elie realizes he’s going have to get things done on his own, until the beautiful half elf Arden offers up his help and expertise. What Eli never anticipated was finding his mate through all the hardship and while at anytime it would be something to celebrate, Eli knows a mate has no place in his life especially one that isn’t a wolf. 

Arden is unusually drawn to the Alpha Wolf Eli and before he knows it he’s offering his help an getting caught up into something that is more sinister than pack rivalry. When Arden finds out that Eli is his mate he’s hurt that the man doesn’t seem to want to honour a bond that is as old as time. While he’s willing to to put in his all, Eli keeps him at arms length but Arden realizes he’s willing do anything to keep his very reluctant mate safe. Because demons are on the horizon and they are out to destroy some things. 

First, I really liked the world building. I love all things fantasy and with a bit of fairytale element and this book had it. Think of any lore creature, and this book had it in drones. It was just so fantastical and I really enjoyed the world.  

Secondly, Eli and Arden worked for me. While there was nothing so amazing about them, they have presence and their story kept me entertained. They were fun and with their friends it offered up a great eclectic mix of characters that could be a delight for many readers. 

Thirdly, the weakest part of the story, is the overall plot. Demons should strike fear and all that but if anything all of it was very comical made even more so by the dismissal by the supernatural council of something so dire. Like demons were out there possessing people and shit and everyone was just out there coasting. From what I’m gathering this will be a series within the Dreamspun Beyond series, and I am really looking forward to how it will progress. This world has got me hook, line, and sinker.  

Overall, an entertaining read and a great start to DP line. Looking forward to finding out more about these demons because right now they skills is surely lacking. So ready to revisit the world Ari McKay created. 

Review: Duck Duck Ghost by Rhys Ford

Duck Duck Ghost (Hellsinger Series #2) by Rhys Ford
Dreamspinner Press
Novel: 214pgs

4 Pants Off

Blurb: Paranormal investigator Wolf Kincaid knows what his foot tastes like. 

Mostly because he stuck it firmly in his mouth when his lover, Tristan Pryce, accidentally drugged him with a batch of psychotropic baklava. Needing to patch things up between them, Wolf drags Tristan to San Luis Obispo, hoping Tristan’s medium ability can help evict a troublesome spirit haunting an old farmhouse.

With Wolf’s sister handling Hoxne Grange’s spectral visitors, Tristan finds himself in the unique position of being able to leave home for the first time in forever, but Wolf’s roughshod treatment is the least of his worries. Tristan’s ad-hoc portal for passing spirits seems to be getting fewer and fewer guests, and despite his concern he’s broken his home, Tristan agrees to help Wolf’s cousin, Sey, kick her poltergeist to the proverbial curb.

San Luis Obispo brings its own bushel of troubles. Tristan’s ghost whispering skill is challenged not only by a terrorizing haunting but also by Wolf’s skeptical older cousin, Cin. Bookended by a pair of aggressive Kincaids, Tristan soon finds himself in a spectral battle that threatens not only his sanity but also his relationship with Wolf, the first man he’s ever loved. 

Review

Oh! How I’ve missed a Rhys Ford book. Duck Duck Ghost was a roller coaster ride of scares, thrills, and sexy men. This by far has to be scariest and craziest book by Rhys that I’ve read so far and that’s saying something.

We first met Tristan and Wolf back in Fish and Ghosts. Where Tristan ran a sort of ghost hotel and skeptic debunker of all things supernatural Wolf Kincaid visited to the hotel to prove that Tristan was all types of bat shit crazy. He went looking for ghosts but found love instead. The second book finds the boys relationship on the rocks and Wolf is out again telling Tris he’s still sort of bat shit crazy even after seeing definitive prove that ghosts are real and sometimes they’re out to kill you. 

With Tris being all mad at his lover, and the hotel losing some of its ghostly mojo, a rekindling of love needs to happen. My boys decide to once again to go do a little ghost hunting and they get more than what they bargained for. What sounded like a mild (maybe haunting) turned out to be something that would freak anybody’s freak. 

This book brought us an eclectic mix of characters and ghosts and I was just so in love with it all. I love Tristan’s interaction with his ghostly guests and Rhys does such a remarkable job of making them so memorable that I found myself wanting to know their stories -how they fell in love, how they lived and how they died-. They each brought humour and craziness to an already wonderful story.
  

Duck Duck Ghost, was one action packed scene after another, and lets keep it 100 I was legit spooked in some scenes there. There ain’t nothing scarier than bat shit crazy kids, and this had one hell of bat shit crazy kid. While I was in love with all those elements I wasn’t a fan of how it all ended. I wanted an epic throw down and the build up felt like it was inevitable but overall I was let down. I felt like it just ended and kept thinking that, this whole ghost thing could have been solved 70pgs are so in. The legit introduction to an actual ghost hunter served no purpose and provided filler or something, like don’t get me wrong I liked him and am intrigued but bud needs to go back to the school of ghostbusters. 

Overall, an entertaining read which left me wanting more especially with that ending (shooketh). DDG is authentically Rhys Ford and it will provide a nice creepy read on a bright sunny afternoon and if you dare a very creepy read in the dead of night while in the dark of your bedroom.  

Review: Book 1 Fish and Ghost

Fan-Art Segment: Pants Losing Art (Kumagorochan)

~ I am really excited about PORs first ever Art post *Squee* and this artist is incredible  First I wanna thank Kumagorochan for giving me the opportunity to post his work on my blog. Will give more details at the end of the post.~

Teen Wolf: Calming Sounds of Nature

Teen Wolf: Run With The Wolves

Supernatural: H8

Supernatural

*I love the very first STEREK drawing so much, and all the other art is just so fantastic. Kumagorochan has a wide variety of art, and you can check out his stuff on deviantArt (Thor, Loki, Sherlock, etc). Once again thanks to Kuma for letting me pimp his stuff on POR. Also, if this makes you wanna read some fanfic, check out Fanfiction Friday. *