Review of six shorts

Hearts and Flowers: A Tale of Hay Fever and Bad Decor by Angel Martinez
Stars: 4/5

Length: 23 pages
Overall
A cute, free Valentine's day story that takes an unexpected turn. Jaded, sweet men with dry senses of humor make for a lovely show of verbal sparring. This story has romance, a number of silly scenes, and enough sweetness to satisfy a holiday craving. Definitely worth picking up and curling up for a giggling good read.


Trick or Treat by Andrea Speed
Stars: 3/5

Length: 9 pages
Overall
A quick slice-of-life story featuring two characters that--I believe--are from Speed's other works. One grumpy detective and a sticky sweet kiss left me wanting more, but it's still a nice little tale.


The Maze by Tia Fielding
Stars: 3/5

Length: 13 pages
Overall
A story that starts off strong with a thrilling chase but feels a little lacking once the excitement is gone. A nice piece, but feels way too short.


Haunted by JP Barnaby
Stars: 3.5/5

Length: 13 pages
Overall
An achingly bittersweet story about a man who has lost his husband and the anniversary of his death. This is sweet and sad, but with a hopeful (though still depressing) end.


Independence by Clare London
Stars: 4.5/5

Length: 12 pages
Overall
Not strictly a Halloween tale, this hot little story is sizzling with a touch of sweet. Cross-dressing and power play pack a punch in this short and sexy glimpse into the lives of these two men in an established relationship. Definitely worth a read...or two.


Depth Perception by Rowena Sudbury
Stars: 4/5

Length: 13 pages
Overall
Another not-necessarily-Halloween story, it's almost heart-breakingly sad as two ex-lovers meet at a party. It shows the meeting from both perspectives, making it all the more painful to watch. I want there to be more of these two so they can get there happy ending.

Diego by Angel Martinez

Diego by Angel Martinez
Stars: 5/5

Overall:
Finn and Diego return! They've settled in Montana for a nice quiet life, but life with a pooka is rarely quiet for long. But really, this time it's Diego's fault. Mostly. A simple misunderstanding opens the Veil and a whole set of new problems. As Diego becomes more confident with himself and his magic, Finn begins to have doubts if he's the best thing for someone as wonderful as Diego. We follow the couple and their new friends between worlds and into trouble. Life really isn't going to be quiet for long...

I enjoyed this novel overall, even if there isn't much I can pinpoint at being its strong points. The exploration of the worlds and magics, the integration of politics, and the continued study of love between cultures all lent to a well constructed story.

What I liked
Action, world, politics. There were so many different elements in this story! We have the fae political scene, the mundane world's political scene, some shady Alien Business, and all mixed up with their continued struggle for romance. The story kept a good strong pace all the way through--I had trouble putting it down (much to the chagrin of my boss).

Emotions. I was so happy to see Finn struggle with new emotions he normally didn't have, and the parallel incidents of Finn's jealousy and Diego's jealousy and the reactions/end results.

What didn't work
Epilogue. I think it's the only thing I can complain about, and it's not even much to complain about. It was cute, just not completely my cup of tea.
SPOILER BELOW




**SPOILER**I'm not sure why I don't like weddings. Also, I was kind of hoping that Diego would somehow be immortal so he and Finn could be together forever. The pen thing was hilariously awesome though.**SPOILER**