Subspecies Inc is written by Mike Arsuaga and published by MuseItHot Publishing. The novel is a 75,800 word paranormal erotica and is the second book in the series.
Mike Arsuaga author of Subspecies, and My Life As Dog lives in Orlando Florida with his wife author and editor Cynthia Arsuaga and Yorkshire Terrier Thumper. Mike spent almost 23 years as a US Navy officer and uses his travels as ideas and locations for his stories.
Since book one more than six years have passed, safe and sound Sam and Jim have both moved and moved on with their lives, now with triplets in tow showing signs of high development at a very young age. Protected by the Waldrup Enterprises Inc otherwise known as Subspecies Inc to those on the inside.
However even travelling to Spain they cannot avoid people going missing and dying similarly to how attacks occur. Waldrup Enterprise strives to abstain from human consumption and find an adequate alternative however not every Subspecie is in agreement, though they are in agreement that they need to preserve and expand their kind through mating.
As if bringing Cynthia through emergence wasn’t enough, this time having spent the last 6 years trying Cynthia is trying to get pregnant with no luck what so ever and so yet again Jim is called upon. But will this leave Sam happy or will she be angry this time round? With the Subspecie community at odds a dark shadow arises that could potentially destroy them. Will the book Critters of the Night come back and haunt them? And is someone amongst them working against them?
After an accident in the hills leaves Jim MIA and suffering amnesia how is a vampire to survive the wilderness?
Mike Arsuaga has done it again, reintroducing us to the world of the Subspecies with their enemies and issues but this time as opposed to remaining hidden the greatest issue is how to reveal themselves to the world. But when the secret comes out in an uncontrolled, unexpected and unforeseen way quickly the lives of all Subspecies become a subject of fascination by the wrong people and for the wrong reasons. A new way of thinking and handling the world are going to have to become second knowledge if the Subspecies are to survive in a world that believed they did not exist.
Based in America, Spain and France each character will be tested to their limit and forced into making some tough decisions. Can Sam and Jim’s love for one another withstand what they are about to face as they themselves are tested individually, as a couple and in business.
Love, trust, loyalty and family drive this story and keep it neatly woven together as politics, sex and beliefs threaten to tear apart Sam, Jim and the Subspecies once and for all.
An amazing story that continues on from the first and opens up the world of the Subspecies not just to the locations visited but also to the rest of the planet, this story is now capable of going absolutely anywhere in the future and has already been to many places and done many things. Subspecies Inc is just as good as the first book of the series if not better. I highly recommend it to anyone aged 18 years and over. I give Subspecies Inc 5 out of 5 stars.
By R.N. Hadley
25 Feb 2012
7 Feb 2012
Painted Jezebel
Painted Jezebel is written by Jolie Pethel (pen name) and is published by MuseItUp Publishing. The novel is 65,000 words and 22 chapters in length.
Jolie Pethel is a character / pen name used by author Billi Wagner who also writes under her legal name. Part Irish Billi was born in Ohio, and raised in Arizona but Billi moved back East so that her six children could enjoy a proper white Christmas. She penned her first short story in 2nd grade but Painted Jezebel is her first published work. Painted Jezebel is the first of a series of Jezebel Jinx mysteries and Billi is currently penning the second volume Poison Pens.
When HOT publicist Finn Mackenzie knocks on author Jezebel Jinks’ door whose to blame her for thinking she’s been sent a stripper for her birthday. Dreams shattered Jezebel is about to have her worst case scenario become literal. A home bound author she is about to be forced to face her enemy, the outside world in order to get her to attend a writing conference to plug her new novel. First Finn has got to get her out of the house, but how?
Then her second enemy and Finn’s ex, author and competitor, Constance Mallard’s presence at the Book Lovers Expo causes all sorts of issues.
Feeling completely jinxed, with many fears and phobia’s to overcome and an awards ceremony to face Jezebel’s life feels like a rollercoaster of emotions. But with the arrival of the brother of ex-lover Jack, being food poisoned and a murder it looks as if this rollercoaster is about to derail. Is Jezebel really jinxed? Does someone want her dead? Will she be doing time for murder? Having been involved in one once was bad enough but a second time surely this is bad luck... even so will Finn remain by her side? And can he keep things professional this time round?
Painted Jezebel is a book you will not want to put down, there is surely nothing that can pry it from a readers hands once they get started. A whirl wind from start to finish from love and romance to murder, food poisoning, family issues and the complication of what is more important love or career. Jolie Pethel (Billi Wagner) has gone above and beyond on this novel making sure her readers relate to her characters and stay interested. This story literally just flows from its pages and that is a very good thing because all you’ll be interested in is what happens next and who is responsible. I am sure the rest of the Jezebel Jinks series will be both a fascinating and colourful read.
I recommend Painted Jezebel to anyone above 18 years of age as containing mild sexual scenes and I give Painted Jezebel 5 out of 5 stars.
By R.N. Hadley
Jolie Pethel is a character / pen name used by author Billi Wagner who also writes under her legal name. Part Irish Billi was born in Ohio, and raised in Arizona but Billi moved back East so that her six children could enjoy a proper white Christmas. She penned her first short story in 2nd grade but Painted Jezebel is her first published work. Painted Jezebel is the first of a series of Jezebel Jinx mysteries and Billi is currently penning the second volume Poison Pens.
When HOT publicist Finn Mackenzie knocks on author Jezebel Jinks’ door whose to blame her for thinking she’s been sent a stripper for her birthday. Dreams shattered Jezebel is about to have her worst case scenario become literal. A home bound author she is about to be forced to face her enemy, the outside world in order to get her to attend a writing conference to plug her new novel. First Finn has got to get her out of the house, but how?
Then her second enemy and Finn’s ex, author and competitor, Constance Mallard’s presence at the Book Lovers Expo causes all sorts of issues.
Feeling completely jinxed, with many fears and phobia’s to overcome and an awards ceremony to face Jezebel’s life feels like a rollercoaster of emotions. But with the arrival of the brother of ex-lover Jack, being food poisoned and a murder it looks as if this rollercoaster is about to derail. Is Jezebel really jinxed? Does someone want her dead? Will she be doing time for murder? Having been involved in one once was bad enough but a second time surely this is bad luck... even so will Finn remain by her side? And can he keep things professional this time round?
Painted Jezebel is a book you will not want to put down, there is surely nothing that can pry it from a readers hands once they get started. A whirl wind from start to finish from love and romance to murder, food poisoning, family issues and the complication of what is more important love or career. Jolie Pethel (Billi Wagner) has gone above and beyond on this novel making sure her readers relate to her characters and stay interested. This story literally just flows from its pages and that is a very good thing because all you’ll be interested in is what happens next and who is responsible. I am sure the rest of the Jezebel Jinks series will be both a fascinating and colourful read.
I recommend Painted Jezebel to anyone above 18 years of age as containing mild sexual scenes and I give Painted Jezebel 5 out of 5 stars.
By R.N. Hadley
30 Jan 2012
The Speed of Darkness
The Speed of Darkness is written by Sarah Baethge and published by Smashwords. At just shy of 40,000 words, 18 chapters and 104 pages this book comes under the description of a novella because of its lower word count.
Sarah Baethge lives in Salado Texas on her step-moms donkey ranch with her dad and sister. She has written at least five short stories and published one book. Sarah has some more works in various stages of completion and admits she writes the stories that she would like.
Computer Professor Eric Omlup teaches adult learning and two of his students (the best and worst of the class) have him tearing his hair from his head. It is no wonder then that he miscalculates the coming fullmoon, until Ms Brenner shows him while she tries to get a date with him.
Eric Omlup, werewolf, about to be caught, with only 20 minutes to get to his apartment but with only 2 minutes remaining to get into the apartment from his car. Time is not on Eric’s side as he transforms and is left to wonder the streets. Happening across some Professional werewolf trappers and their prey Eric’s life is about to get even worse.
As if Eric’s own secret wasn’t enough the prey, Nigel, has one of his own far different from Eric’s the only problem being they are both now being hunted by the evil group known as The Eclipse.
In a world where both werewolves and what appears to be mutant-like abilities exist in secret.
Good and evil. Light and dark. We are about discover the monster that lurks inside us all.
Can Eric hold back the wolf long enough to help bring down one of the world’s greatest organisations? What is shadow skating? Who are Solar Flare? Who are Eclipse? And which side are they on? What are the agenda’s of each side?
The Speed of Darkness has an interesting plot that has the potential to go further, deeper and be expanded upon. The plot is also unbalanced to the pace of the story where one speeds up the other appears to slow down.
This is an interesting and at times enjoyable story with some colourful characters but I believe that this unbalance between plot and pace has let the story and the author down considerably which is a shame. I would perhaps be inclined to pull the story from publication in order to reassess the story in its entirety perhaps wearing a different hat. For the world created I believe this story to be merely a drop in the sand as there is great potential for this story, but I do not feel it has yet been discovered as there is so much more ground to be covered and I personally would like to see more of these organisations and how they work. The science was not bad either and I would have liked to have seen more science but perhaps less theory.
Written in third person with a miss-matched mix of first person that leaves the reader confused and having to re-read sentences to see what was actually meant to have been said. There is also an unsuited combination of single spaces and double spaces used.
The font this novel is published in is not the usual Times New Roman or Arial format we are all accustomed to seeing. In fact this story goes completely against all known publisher requirements. So I recommend it to be best read at 75% magnification.
This was perhaps one of my most difficult reviews to undertake to date and I found it so hard a task to stay on track as well as to rate but I must rate on what I see therefore I give The Speed of Darkness 3 out of 5 stars.
By R.N. Hadley
Sarah Baethge lives in Salado Texas on her step-moms donkey ranch with her dad and sister. She has written at least five short stories and published one book. Sarah has some more works in various stages of completion and admits she writes the stories that she would like.
Computer Professor Eric Omlup teaches adult learning and two of his students (the best and worst of the class) have him tearing his hair from his head. It is no wonder then that he miscalculates the coming fullmoon, until Ms Brenner shows him while she tries to get a date with him.
Eric Omlup, werewolf, about to be caught, with only 20 minutes to get to his apartment but with only 2 minutes remaining to get into the apartment from his car. Time is not on Eric’s side as he transforms and is left to wonder the streets. Happening across some Professional werewolf trappers and their prey Eric’s life is about to get even worse.
As if Eric’s own secret wasn’t enough the prey, Nigel, has one of his own far different from Eric’s the only problem being they are both now being hunted by the evil group known as The Eclipse.
In a world where both werewolves and what appears to be mutant-like abilities exist in secret.
Good and evil. Light and dark. We are about discover the monster that lurks inside us all.
Can Eric hold back the wolf long enough to help bring down one of the world’s greatest organisations? What is shadow skating? Who are Solar Flare? Who are Eclipse? And which side are they on? What are the agenda’s of each side?
The Speed of Darkness has an interesting plot that has the potential to go further, deeper and be expanded upon. The plot is also unbalanced to the pace of the story where one speeds up the other appears to slow down.
This is an interesting and at times enjoyable story with some colourful characters but I believe that this unbalance between plot and pace has let the story and the author down considerably which is a shame. I would perhaps be inclined to pull the story from publication in order to reassess the story in its entirety perhaps wearing a different hat. For the world created I believe this story to be merely a drop in the sand as there is great potential for this story, but I do not feel it has yet been discovered as there is so much more ground to be covered and I personally would like to see more of these organisations and how they work. The science was not bad either and I would have liked to have seen more science but perhaps less theory.
Written in third person with a miss-matched mix of first person that leaves the reader confused and having to re-read sentences to see what was actually meant to have been said. There is also an unsuited combination of single spaces and double spaces used.
The font this novel is published in is not the usual Times New Roman or Arial format we are all accustomed to seeing. In fact this story goes completely against all known publisher requirements. So I recommend it to be best read at 75% magnification.
This was perhaps one of my most difficult reviews to undertake to date and I found it so hard a task to stay on track as well as to rate but I must rate on what I see therefore I give The Speed of Darkness 3 out of 5 stars.
By R.N. Hadley
22 Jan 2012
The Diary of A Seventh Grade Hybrid
The Diary Of A Seventh Grade Hybrid is written by Lee Mavin and available through Createspace.com and amazon.com is a fantasy adventure. The book is 232 pages in length broken into manageable daily bitesize outtakes suitable for any age reader.
Lee J. Mavin lives in Shanghai, China with his wife and daughter. He teaches, has written and published three books including a poetry and unused lyrics book, plus a collection of horror themed short stories. Lee also writes articles and the monthly must do’s and don’ts in Shanghai for The Get Go Magazine.
The day before Ziggy (Sigmund) starts seventh grade at Fuqain International his mom hands him a notebook to record all thoughts and memories so that he does not forget a thing, unfortunately for him he does not remember the day before this.
As if being a seventh grader wasn’t hard enough poor Sigmund (Ziggy) Zhao has a huge secret to hide under his cap, voices in his head and the school bully Timmy Tang to deal with threatening to “flush him”.
There’s something about Ziggy. At first he appears to be your average loner at school who has few friends but introduce the school bully and some very strange teachers and there are things to be revealed beneath the surface, things that Ziggy does not want revealed. So when it becomes common knowledge that Ziggy has antennas on his head. Of course the whole school want to know him which just about makes things worse for him in that his popularity drives Timmy Tang round the bend and fuels his fury for flushing Ziggy even more.
With the teachers behaving strange around him, and his random kidnappings he decides something is going on and he needs to find out exactly what. But whatever it is it seems to have something to do with these strange voices that keep feeding him information on the Toyota Company, a man named Takeshi Shibuya and an alien attack on the planet in the future.
Joining the basketball team and taking a few extra classes how is Ziggy going to keep his secret? Why can he not stop writing poetry for his English Teacher the flame haired Miss Woods? How will the others kids and teachers take his secret? Why does he keep getting kidnapped? Who is the quiet weird girl constantly following him? And what is with the voices in his head to do with The Toyota Company and a supposed future alien attack?
With question after question piling up school is about to get all kinds of crazy but it is nothing when compared to his own eccentric mother’s behaviour and lack of interest to the goings on in his life.
The Diary of A Seventh Grade Hybrid is a title which literally describes the book. Unable to remember his past Ziggy is asked to keep a diary in order to help him remember. Written on a day to day basis covering school, dates and adventures this book reads like a kid who can’t quite get his words out fast enough.
An enjoyable book spanning a school year and based in Shanghai, Lee J. Mavin has done a marvellous job at portraying an average Joe whose not so average afterall. A possible hero in the making will there be more of Ziggy to come in the future?
I give Lee J. Mavin and The Diary of A Seventh Grade Hybrid 4 out of 5 stars and would recommend it to any child from around ten years of age upwards.
By R.N. Hadley
Lee J. Mavin lives in Shanghai, China with his wife and daughter. He teaches, has written and published three books including a poetry and unused lyrics book, plus a collection of horror themed short stories. Lee also writes articles and the monthly must do’s and don’ts in Shanghai for The Get Go Magazine.
The day before Ziggy (Sigmund) starts seventh grade at Fuqain International his mom hands him a notebook to record all thoughts and memories so that he does not forget a thing, unfortunately for him he does not remember the day before this.
As if being a seventh grader wasn’t hard enough poor Sigmund (Ziggy) Zhao has a huge secret to hide under his cap, voices in his head and the school bully Timmy Tang to deal with threatening to “flush him”.
There’s something about Ziggy. At first he appears to be your average loner at school who has few friends but introduce the school bully and some very strange teachers and there are things to be revealed beneath the surface, things that Ziggy does not want revealed. So when it becomes common knowledge that Ziggy has antennas on his head. Of course the whole school want to know him which just about makes things worse for him in that his popularity drives Timmy Tang round the bend and fuels his fury for flushing Ziggy even more.
With the teachers behaving strange around him, and his random kidnappings he decides something is going on and he needs to find out exactly what. But whatever it is it seems to have something to do with these strange voices that keep feeding him information on the Toyota Company, a man named Takeshi Shibuya and an alien attack on the planet in the future.
Joining the basketball team and taking a few extra classes how is Ziggy going to keep his secret? Why can he not stop writing poetry for his English Teacher the flame haired Miss Woods? How will the others kids and teachers take his secret? Why does he keep getting kidnapped? Who is the quiet weird girl constantly following him? And what is with the voices in his head to do with The Toyota Company and a supposed future alien attack?
With question after question piling up school is about to get all kinds of crazy but it is nothing when compared to his own eccentric mother’s behaviour and lack of interest to the goings on in his life.
The Diary of A Seventh Grade Hybrid is a title which literally describes the book. Unable to remember his past Ziggy is asked to keep a diary in order to help him remember. Written on a day to day basis covering school, dates and adventures this book reads like a kid who can’t quite get his words out fast enough.
An enjoyable book spanning a school year and based in Shanghai, Lee J. Mavin has done a marvellous job at portraying an average Joe whose not so average afterall. A possible hero in the making will there be more of Ziggy to come in the future?
I give Lee J. Mavin and The Diary of A Seventh Grade Hybrid 4 out of 5 stars and would recommend it to any child from around ten years of age upwards.
By R.N. Hadley
15 Jan 2012
My Life As A Dog
My Life As A Dog is written by Cynthia and Mike Arsuaga and published by Secret Cravings Publishing is an erotic paranormal romance at approximately 67,000 words and 14 chapters in length.
Cynthia and Mike Arsuaga live in Orlando Florida with their Yorkie Thumper, daughter and granddaughter. Both authors have completed individual works including such titles as Subspecies and Born To Be Wild, however there is word of another collaboration for a sequel to My Life As A Dog.
Drake Martin is no average human, being a part-time hitman, private eye, lover and shapeshifter. On the run in his 8lb Yorkie form Drake is captured by animal control and see’s his only option for survival as being adopted. In steps the little girl Kady Hartley who would change his life forever.
Making a home is not easy for a shapeshifter while in dog form perhaps this time is different, running away is not an option but has 12 years with the Hartleys made him soft and susceptible? after all the vet appears to have noticed something wrong with the fact of having immaculate health for an old dog and has something planned. So perhaps it is time to leave.
A decade later, and his about to meet Kady again, FBI Agent Kady Hartley and things are about to get all kinds of crazy.
Taking on what first appears a simple case of betrayal little does Drake expect to come across Kady mixed up in a big FBI case involving Russian mob families, sex slaves and bent cops. On top of that Drake the PI has fallen in love with Kady and Drake the Yorkie has returned to the girl who loved him unconditionally and whom he abandoned all those years ago. Can they survive this? Any of this?
The relationship between children of a young age and a pet is relatively unbreakable and the bond goes extremely deep. But, what if the child grew up and discovered that pet could turn into a person and was the person their heart belonged to? Or the person they shared their bed with?
Dogs are both renowned and accomplished for having an excellent nose and for Drake Martin there is no difference between him being in human or dog form, except when it comes to sex and appreciating the female figure. When it comes to Kady Hartley there is so much history between them that Drake can no longer love any other woman or look at them the way he once did, in fact he realises that for him it has always been Kady but how will Kady take finding out the truth of who Drake really is? Or finding out the true identity of Precious the dog she grew up with as a child/ the dog she found working a case?
A life without trust, and love is damaging enough but can a little girl now a fully grown woman and FBI agent renew belief in ones self, in life and allow for a change that goes deeper than anyone else could provide?
Is love truly unconditional? And can it span the differences between humans and shapeshifters?
Mike and Cynthia Arsuaga have created an action packed, heart warming tale of growing up, love, loss, and betrayal. I am sure many readers will think of times they wished their pet could turn into the man/woman of their dreams, at how no-one in this world expresses love like a pet can.
I would recommend My Life As A Dog to anyone aged 18 years and over and award the novel 4.5 stars.
By R.N. Hadley
Cynthia and Mike Arsuaga live in Orlando Florida with their Yorkie Thumper, daughter and granddaughter. Both authors have completed individual works including such titles as Subspecies and Born To Be Wild, however there is word of another collaboration for a sequel to My Life As A Dog.
Drake Martin is no average human, being a part-time hitman, private eye, lover and shapeshifter. On the run in his 8lb Yorkie form Drake is captured by animal control and see’s his only option for survival as being adopted. In steps the little girl Kady Hartley who would change his life forever.
Making a home is not easy for a shapeshifter while in dog form perhaps this time is different, running away is not an option but has 12 years with the Hartleys made him soft and susceptible? after all the vet appears to have noticed something wrong with the fact of having immaculate health for an old dog and has something planned. So perhaps it is time to leave.
A decade later, and his about to meet Kady again, FBI Agent Kady Hartley and things are about to get all kinds of crazy.
Taking on what first appears a simple case of betrayal little does Drake expect to come across Kady mixed up in a big FBI case involving Russian mob families, sex slaves and bent cops. On top of that Drake the PI has fallen in love with Kady and Drake the Yorkie has returned to the girl who loved him unconditionally and whom he abandoned all those years ago. Can they survive this? Any of this?
The relationship between children of a young age and a pet is relatively unbreakable and the bond goes extremely deep. But, what if the child grew up and discovered that pet could turn into a person and was the person their heart belonged to? Or the person they shared their bed with?
Dogs are both renowned and accomplished for having an excellent nose and for Drake Martin there is no difference between him being in human or dog form, except when it comes to sex and appreciating the female figure. When it comes to Kady Hartley there is so much history between them that Drake can no longer love any other woman or look at them the way he once did, in fact he realises that for him it has always been Kady but how will Kady take finding out the truth of who Drake really is? Or finding out the true identity of Precious the dog she grew up with as a child/ the dog she found working a case?
A life without trust, and love is damaging enough but can a little girl now a fully grown woman and FBI agent renew belief in ones self, in life and allow for a change that goes deeper than anyone else could provide?
Is love truly unconditional? And can it span the differences between humans and shapeshifters?
Mike and Cynthia Arsuaga have created an action packed, heart warming tale of growing up, love, loss, and betrayal. I am sure many readers will think of times they wished their pet could turn into the man/woman of their dreams, at how no-one in this world expresses love like a pet can.
I would recommend My Life As A Dog to anyone aged 18 years and over and award the novel 4.5 stars.
By R.N. Hadley
12 Dec 2011
Subspecies
Subspecies written by Mike Arsuaga and published by MuseItHot a division of MuseItUp publishing is an erotic paranormal romance at 73,000 words and 19 chapters in length.
Mike Arsuaga lives in Orlando, Florida with his Editor/Author wife Cynthia and his partner-in-crime his Yorkshire terrier, Thumper. Mike has completed careers in the US Navy Submarine Force and The Transportation Security Administration. Mike has already completed the next book in the five part series called Subspecies Inc, he has also published another book titled My Life As A Dog.
When math teacher and vampire Jim/ James White steps into the library out of the rain little does he expect to meet someone intriguing, Samantha Johnson, with a fascination of vampire lore who reminds him so much of his past victims and loves. But there is something about her he can’t quite put his finger on, so when he agree’s to help with her assignment who is it that is really doing the hunting? And who is the hunted?Interrogating Jim about his hobby of vampires Sam drugs Jim and soon reveals that she is in fact a lycan, Jim reveals he is a vampire and both are left in shock of one anothers existence thinking each other to be only myth.
Both meet many times to learn about the other, to listen but their connection lies purely through sex and the hunt.
As time passes the relationship grows and the pair hunt together, sharing kills and decide to create a group of fellow lycans and vampires to spread the word. But as the number of dead bodies grow with the addition of a campus Serial Killer known as The Poser, attention is drawn to the pair and their group by the Police.
With the young runaway Cynthia on the verge of emergence it is down to the pair to protect and help her through this difficult time.
Jim like many other vampires having thought for decades he was sterile, soon discovers that with Sam this is not to be the case and the whole future of the Subspecies is brought into perspective as the dawn of a new future or light at the end of a very dark tunnel is suddenly realised bringing a new hope to all those Subspecies far and wide.
However, with an ex-member of the group threatening to bring their existence to light, the Police getting closer to the bodies in the fridge, and with the campus serial killer The Poser at large could all their hopes and dreams come crashing down.
Subspecies by Mike Arsuaga is a wonderfully written novel that has you feeling for the charaters, often gasping or laughing with them and wondering exactly how big is Jim’s fridge where he stores the bodies.
The beginning of the story seems reminiscent of the movie An Interview with the Vampire, if Christian Slater’s Daniel Malloy were a hot little female lycanthrope entrapping Brad Pitt’s vampire, and vice versa. The talk of diseases which harm species appears in depth and quite interesting.
Even the young Cynthia is a reminder of Claudia from AIWTV except she is much older and in this case not a vampire but a lycan.
For people sex can make or break relationships, for lycans and vampires it is a necessary act that goes deep into their soul whether it be for sex or the hunt.
When you have to hide who you really are but want to help others in your situation the only thing you can do is hide in plain sight and hope that more will find you. So what do you do, create a support group.
Subspecies by Mike Arsuaga is a story with many complicated aspects to its intricately woven plot that dissects the past to save the future of two species. Although there is an increasing body count to lose count of as well as the number of companions Jim has had over the years I would highly recommend this novel to anyone above the age of 18 years, due to the explicit content contained within almost every chapter. A story of love, loss, murder and survival across many variations I give Subspecies an impressive 5 stars.
By R.N.Hadley
Mike Arsuaga lives in Orlando, Florida with his Editor/Author wife Cynthia and his partner-in-crime his Yorkshire terrier, Thumper. Mike has completed careers in the US Navy Submarine Force and The Transportation Security Administration. Mike has already completed the next book in the five part series called Subspecies Inc, he has also published another book titled My Life As A Dog.
When math teacher and vampire Jim/ James White steps into the library out of the rain little does he expect to meet someone intriguing, Samantha Johnson, with a fascination of vampire lore who reminds him so much of his past victims and loves. But there is something about her he can’t quite put his finger on, so when he agree’s to help with her assignment who is it that is really doing the hunting? And who is the hunted?Interrogating Jim about his hobby of vampires Sam drugs Jim and soon reveals that she is in fact a lycan, Jim reveals he is a vampire and both are left in shock of one anothers existence thinking each other to be only myth.
Both meet many times to learn about the other, to listen but their connection lies purely through sex and the hunt.
As time passes the relationship grows and the pair hunt together, sharing kills and decide to create a group of fellow lycans and vampires to spread the word. But as the number of dead bodies grow with the addition of a campus Serial Killer known as The Poser, attention is drawn to the pair and their group by the Police.
With the young runaway Cynthia on the verge of emergence it is down to the pair to protect and help her through this difficult time.
Jim like many other vampires having thought for decades he was sterile, soon discovers that with Sam this is not to be the case and the whole future of the Subspecies is brought into perspective as the dawn of a new future or light at the end of a very dark tunnel is suddenly realised bringing a new hope to all those Subspecies far and wide.
However, with an ex-member of the group threatening to bring their existence to light, the Police getting closer to the bodies in the fridge, and with the campus serial killer The Poser at large could all their hopes and dreams come crashing down.
Subspecies by Mike Arsuaga is a wonderfully written novel that has you feeling for the charaters, often gasping or laughing with them and wondering exactly how big is Jim’s fridge where he stores the bodies.
The beginning of the story seems reminiscent of the movie An Interview with the Vampire, if Christian Slater’s Daniel Malloy were a hot little female lycanthrope entrapping Brad Pitt’s vampire, and vice versa. The talk of diseases which harm species appears in depth and quite interesting.
Even the young Cynthia is a reminder of Claudia from AIWTV except she is much older and in this case not a vampire but a lycan.
For people sex can make or break relationships, for lycans and vampires it is a necessary act that goes deep into their soul whether it be for sex or the hunt.
When you have to hide who you really are but want to help others in your situation the only thing you can do is hide in plain sight and hope that more will find you. So what do you do, create a support group.
Subspecies by Mike Arsuaga is a story with many complicated aspects to its intricately woven plot that dissects the past to save the future of two species. Although there is an increasing body count to lose count of as well as the number of companions Jim has had over the years I would highly recommend this novel to anyone above the age of 18 years, due to the explicit content contained within almost every chapter. A story of love, loss, murder and survival across many variations I give Subspecies an impressive 5 stars.
By R.N.Hadley
9 Nov 2011
Diamonds and Deceit
Diamonds and Deceit written by Amy Talbot and published by Eternal Press is a thriller at 55,000 words across 20 chapters.
Amy Talbot lives in Christchurch, New Zealand and is a multi-published writer of books and articles in both online and printed format. She spends a lot of time reading, writing and editing books as well as teaching people how to read, write and appreciate the art of literature. However her time spent away from writing books is spent as a Freelance Developmental Editor and Creative Writing Tutor.
Grace Summerville runs her families cabins at Lake Tekapo, a place of natural beauty with a rough edge.
When Andre Castile rents a cabin for a few days, Grace wonders what the likes of this man, a city man with far too much money, a sports car and a large chain of hotels is doing here in her little corner of the world.
Having discovered a family betrayal Andre is in search of his brother Marc who having stolen the families greatest asset The Queen of Hearts, a blue diamond over 400 years old, has suddenly disappeared off the face of the earth.
Grace once in love with Marc before his unexpected departure becomes suspect one in Andres hunt for that which belongs to him. But how far will he go to get back that which is his?
When strange red postcards arrive on the doorstep stating that someone knows exactly what is going on, panic sets in and in the middle of nowhere you’d be mistaken for thinking there is anywhere to hide when clearly whoever the mysterious and dangerous Nimrod is, the man behind the postcards, knows all there is to know about Grace and her cabins.
Can she discover the where abouts of The Queen of Hearts?
Who is Nimrod? And why is he trying to kill her?
And what really happened to Marc?
Diamonds of Deceit is a quick witted and fast paced thriller following the recently heartbroken Grace Summerville on a journey to discover what secrets the man she thought she knew and loved had kept secret from her. In the end secrets never truly remain secrets and while blood is thicker than water, love is by far the greatest of reasons to keep going.
A warning to the wise, be careful who you trust because in the middle of nowhere it is more likely no-one is going to save you but you.
Personally being a bit of a thriller fan I was capable of discovering where The Queen of Hearts was hidden however with all the twists, turns and trust issues throughout the story I was gladly mistaken in my suspicions of who the infamous Nimrod could possibly be.
Amy Talbot has done a marvellous job in keeping Nimrod’s identity secret from the reader for as long as possible and setting as many characters up in line for the job each being knocked down at pivotal moments.
For location Amy has chosen a beautiful wild location full of possibilities and has completely used the area of Lake Tekapo to its limit. Searching online it is easy to picture the story taking place here.
I would recommend the book Diamonds and Deceit to anyone over the age of 18 years and give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
By R.N. Hadley
Amy Talbot lives in Christchurch, New Zealand and is a multi-published writer of books and articles in both online and printed format. She spends a lot of time reading, writing and editing books as well as teaching people how to read, write and appreciate the art of literature. However her time spent away from writing books is spent as a Freelance Developmental Editor and Creative Writing Tutor.
Grace Summerville runs her families cabins at Lake Tekapo, a place of natural beauty with a rough edge.
When Andre Castile rents a cabin for a few days, Grace wonders what the likes of this man, a city man with far too much money, a sports car and a large chain of hotels is doing here in her little corner of the world.
Having discovered a family betrayal Andre is in search of his brother Marc who having stolen the families greatest asset The Queen of Hearts, a blue diamond over 400 years old, has suddenly disappeared off the face of the earth.
Grace once in love with Marc before his unexpected departure becomes suspect one in Andres hunt for that which belongs to him. But how far will he go to get back that which is his?
When strange red postcards arrive on the doorstep stating that someone knows exactly what is going on, panic sets in and in the middle of nowhere you’d be mistaken for thinking there is anywhere to hide when clearly whoever the mysterious and dangerous Nimrod is, the man behind the postcards, knows all there is to know about Grace and her cabins.
Can she discover the where abouts of The Queen of Hearts?
Who is Nimrod? And why is he trying to kill her?
And what really happened to Marc?
Diamonds of Deceit is a quick witted and fast paced thriller following the recently heartbroken Grace Summerville on a journey to discover what secrets the man she thought she knew and loved had kept secret from her. In the end secrets never truly remain secrets and while blood is thicker than water, love is by far the greatest of reasons to keep going.
A warning to the wise, be careful who you trust because in the middle of nowhere it is more likely no-one is going to save you but you.
Personally being a bit of a thriller fan I was capable of discovering where The Queen of Hearts was hidden however with all the twists, turns and trust issues throughout the story I was gladly mistaken in my suspicions of who the infamous Nimrod could possibly be.
Amy Talbot has done a marvellous job in keeping Nimrod’s identity secret from the reader for as long as possible and setting as many characters up in line for the job each being knocked down at pivotal moments.
For location Amy has chosen a beautiful wild location full of possibilities and has completely used the area of Lake Tekapo to its limit. Searching online it is easy to picture the story taking place here.
I would recommend the book Diamonds and Deceit to anyone over the age of 18 years and give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
By R.N. Hadley
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