Carol Lynne

This new fantasy world Carol created for the Neo's Realm series is a fascinating one. Uniting the 'old world' of Greek gods and the newer world containing vampires, fae, and shifters provides a rich backdrop to the unfolding story of Neo's and Michael's lives.

Neo starts out as a selfish, dominating bastard. One who has been tortured and had a difficult life, granted, but I still had a very hard time liking him. As Michael puts it somewhere near the end: shit happens and you're not the only show more one who's suffered, get over it. However, Neo does learn, albeit slowly, and fully redeems himself as far as I'm concerned.

Michael, on the other hand, starts out as 'the victim'. Created for Neo's needs (and who wants THAT on their resume?), thrown into the deep end by his father, he can't help himself and falls in love with Neo. Interestingly, my opinion about him also changed somewhat when he turns out to be just as selfish, if in a different way, as Neo.

I liked that both characters are flawed, and really have to struggle to find their balance with each other. External forces also interfere, and they plus the fascinating secondary characters make for a complex setting and an interesting story. I definitely look forward to the next installment!



NOTE: This book was provided by Total-E-Bound for the purpose of a review. show less

Hell Hath No Fury by Carol Lynne is the story of fallen archangel Lucifer and his love interest Dominic Ramos. Dominic is a guard keeper for the gates of Heaven who is sent by God to protect Lucifer when his bitter rival and archenemy Ambrosios escapes from prison and makes an appearance in “The City”, threatening revenge upon Lucifer.“The City” is the terminology that Lu uses when referencing his home, known to mortals as “Hell”. In this story, hell is portrayed in a much show more different context than the traditional, biblical, fire-and-brimstone depiction. Lu also is depicted in a much different light than what we generally think of when we consider the devil.Lu takes his job as city mayor very seriously and tries to maintain a public image as being a strict, authoritative, and selfish ruler who unapologetically engages in sexual debaucheries at his every whim. When he meets Dominic for the first time, he is taken aback when his advances upon this heavenly bodyguard seem to go unnoticed.Dom, on the other hand, is indeed attracted to Lucifer, but he is a man of principle and remains committed to performing the job for which he was commissioned. It isn’t long, however, until Dom does succumb to the seduction of the persuasive fallen angel. The couple engages in a very sensual sex act in a very public place, and from that point forward, Dom begins to see Lu in a whole new light. He begins to understand the heart of this former-heavenly being. He sees the true identity of this often-misunderstood icon, not merely as being the uncaring and evil dictator, but rather as a compassionate, principled being who secretly prefers to curl up at night with glass of strawberry milk in a warm pair of fleece pajamas.I was immediately attracted to this author’s writing style. Being that this was the first of her stories I’d ever read, I was a bit surprised by the simplicity and unpretentiousness of her prose. I particularly like the manner in which she writes dialogue and feel that she realistically captures the inflection and nuance conveyed in informal conversation.I also felt that the character development was remarkable. For such a short story she did an amazing job of including a believable and interesting arc for both central characters. Initially my perception of Lu was that he was a playboy with an insatiable sexual appetite. By the end of the story I perceived him as being a multi-faceted character who was indeed very sexy but who also possessed intense emotions and principles. I also genuinely fell in love with the heart of Lu’s love interest, Dom.Being that stories of a Dom/sub theme are my personal favorites, I especially enjoyed this element within the story. It was rather interesting that the Dom in the story was not Lucifer, but instead the heavenly being Dominic. It was sort of a bad-boy/angel romance with a twist. My criticisms are minor, one being that I didn’t particularly understand why the inhabitants of hell would fear death, being that they all were already dead. Perhaps “death” in this case is complete obliteration. I also noticed a few minor editing issues. Sometimes Lu was spelled “Lu” and sometimes “Lou”, for example. These minor issues did not detract from my overall opinion of the story. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to reading more of this very talented author.For those who are concerned about the religious or sacrilegious elements of the story, I’d simply advise that you view this as a masterful work of fiction. There is indeed a moral message within the story, but I don’t view it particularly as being of a religious nature—more so a matter of human nature. Be careful how we judge one another, because people are not necessarily who we think them to be. Hell Hath No Fury is a fascinating read which I highly recommend. show less

With this one Carol Lynne manages to make me cry. Maybe in these days I'm particularly weak, maybe it's the hot night and they are not tears, but sweat drops... but well, while I'm writing this, my eyes are blurry and I continue to blow my nose...

Matt was an army paramedic in Iraq. He saw a lot of things that no one should see, not one time, but day after day. His only friend and support was his fellow army buddy Danny. Danny was wonderful, handsome and nice and straight. But being Danny show more straight didn't prevent Matt to fall in love with him. But Danny died, in the only day Matt was not with him, and obviously Matt is torn with guilty.

Now Matt is living in Cattle Valley, he is the town new physical therapist and he is living in the above garage apartment of the two town doctors and lovers, Isaac and Sam. Sam is 52 years old and a very quite man; he likes his works and likes his home; comfort and peace are radiating from him. Isaac is 47 years old and a bit of a bull; strong and always in motion, maybe he is too much for Sam. And here is the problem: Sam and Isaac are together since 25 years and Sam always wondered if he is enough a man for Isaac; not that he ever doubt Isaac's fidelity, but well, he has always tried to accomplish every desire of his man, even when it was against his mood or wish. And now here there is a 27 years old man, handsome and nice, and in dear need of help. Sam wants to help him, but at the same time he fears that, allowing Matt to enter their couple, he will lose Isaac.

Well, I hope that you understand that I didn't cry for Sam's dilemma, but for Matt's journey to be able to move on his war trauma and the lost of his friend. Carol Lynne pushes all the right bottoms of emotion, the same bottoms that make you cry even if you are aware that you are reading a book, and that all you are reading is only fiction, but still you cry since you unfortunately know that what you read is not only fiction, but it happened and maybe is still happening somewhere in the world.

And now, after my emotional breakdown, I also want to try to analyze another aspect of the book: why when I read of a threesome between two men and a woman I hardly like it, and when it involves three men it doesn't bother me? I'm fully aware that I have a prejudice, and I also believe that it's a feminist thing (please, male friends don't shoot me, here I'm admitting one of my weakness...): since in my culture, the woman gives birth and the woman is identified with family, when there is a woman in the threesome, it's obvious for me that she is the center of the threesome, and at least one of the two man, if not both, depending on her. So when there is love between the two men, I feel the woman like an intruder, since I'm always expecting that she will broke the male bond. In an all male threesome, without this strong female figure, they are all equals, and I think they can build something together without never arriving to a break up.

Returning to the book in question, obviously Matt is the main character. All the book turning around him and his trouble, but there is still enough space to appreciate also Sam and Isaac. Maybe Sam is better outlined, and also is reasons pro and against the threesome are clearer. I still need to understand better Isaac... there is a strong sexual need that lead him to Matt, maybe a need that Sam is not ready or willing to satisfy, but I hope that he also loves Matt. If not, Sam will be the link between them, even if physically he is weaker than the two, probably he is stronger in will.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1907010807/?tag=elimyrevandra-20 show less

The Cattle Valley soap opera continues with Volume 9, which includes two novellas: "Neil's Guardian Angel" and "Scarred." This volume had a surprising depth and more realism than is usually the case for this series. There are still plenty of hot sex scenes though! As before, the main characters here were introduced and even had their stories initiated in the last volume.

"Neil's Guardian Angel" - After reading the somewhat disappointing "Firehouse Heat" in Volume 8, I was not looking forward show more to Neil's story because I expected it to be more age-driven angst. Happily, Lynne took a completely different path which was totally unexpected. After falling from his horse onto a stone fence post, Neil wakes up in the hospital to his former legal guardian, Ben Waters, seated at his bedside. Only he doesn't remember Ben. Ben threw him out a few years before, but not for the reasons Neil thinks, or that readers would guess.

"Scarred" - this story came dangerously close to being too realistic to qualify as escapism, but managed to hang on for the requisite HEA. Zac is an EMT at the Firehouse. In a previous novella, Zac was involved in a domestic incident with his partner Terry that left his face badly scarred. Jakob is the man that came between Zac and Terry - and who Zac now blames for his injuries. These two love each other, but Zac has a more serious issue than misunderstanding Jakob's intentions. When the source of Zac's extreme emotions is finally revealed, these two must decide if they can deal with it. Though the story has its HEA, you know the couple will have to continue to work hard to maintain it.

Overall, this volume was so good it easily jumped into my top three of the series. Though it still has that soap opera quality, Cattle Valley is subtly moving from mind candy to a light snack! Highly recommended. show less