​The author Hodden states in his introduction that the two stories in this book were written as a challenge to him, to write something outside of his normal genre - to write of those falling in love. I think he has done exceptionally well to capture the passion and the pain of love. 

I did find it interesting, though, certainly in the second story that he still managed to weave the presence of the supernatural into the story, his true genre. 

Both stories were very interesting concepts and I enjoyed them equally. In the first story we are faced with a girl, who for whatever reasons has sought her love and acceptance in all the wrong places. Now wanted, by numerous bad people, as a pawn in their schemes, to use as blackmail or bait, she finds herself being protected by some nameless Government organization. I don't want to give the plot away, but some of the best interaction occurs between her and one of the agents whose job it is to protect her. 

The second story concerns a simple policeman who falls in love with a young girl and then has to try and unravel and assist her to escape from the troubles of her past. 

I would not try to pick my favorite from the two tales. Both were interesting and captivating in their own right. A good effort for Hodden, in a genre he says he is not familiar with. Four stars!   

You can check out all of Hodden's work here: http://amzn.to/20OGpRT

​Bedtime Storybook is a delightful, little book that would be absolutely perfect to read to those little ones as they are tucked up in bed. Each story is short enough to ensure that you will get through it at one sitting. 

The stories themselves are simple but sweet and each one has a little, not so hidden message for our kids, such as; being happy with who you are, fitting in and not being boastful. The language Panayi uses is perfect for the age group this book is aimed at. 

My only criticism and really it is not one is that the book is not long enough. I was left hankering for more of the author's homespun wisdom. 

This is a little gem of a book and I would recommend it to all parents and grandparents who have their grandchildren staying over from time to time. Panayi has shown time and time again that she is capable of writing to any genre and any age group. I can honestly say that May J Panayi is now one of my favorite authors and I will always be on the lookout for her next offering. Five stars all the way for this wonderful, little book.
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You can check out all of May J Panayi's work here: http://amzn.to/1KSHAqg    

​In Double Trouble, DM Wolfenden has put together a selection of three short stories; two of a reasonable length and one relatively short. Each story stands alone and each story has its own special qualities that make it stand out and grab the reader's attention. 

I did enjoy all three, but my favourite was probably the first, in which we meet a young inmate accused of murder who is being interviewed, in prison, by a journalist. All is not as it seems though and as her story unravels, we are given little snippets that allow us to draw conclusions; not always the correct ones. This was an enjoyable read. 

The second story focuses on two adult sisters who, after suffered years of abuse at the hands of their Father  when they were young. When they realise there may actually be more to their Mother walking out on them when they were just children, than they had been led to believe, all hell breaks loose. This was a well-constructed story. 

The final story was very different to the first two. It focused on a young man's internal demons. I enjoyed the change of pace. 

All in all, a nice, little collection of three tales. Some editing issues, but nothing that couldn't be fixed very quickly and they didn't detract from my enjoyment of the book. A good read if you like suspenseful, mystery/horror stories. A solid four-star effort from Wolfenden.  

You can check out Wolfenden's work here: http://amzn.to/1Qkrgoc  

Oddscapes and Quirkitudes, in of itself, is an intriguing name for a book, but for this book it fits it perfectly. This is a collection of short stories that are genuinely odd and quirky. What I particularly liked about this book was that, unlike many anthologies, it didn't focus on just one genre. Panayi is known to be an excellent storyteller across many genres and this certainly comes through in her collection of short stories. There are in total twenty-one fascinating little vignettes across; fantasy, post-apocalyptic or dystopian fiction, and people watching. 

Until recently I had not been a fan of short stories and dare I say it, even dismissive of them as being uncompleted works in progress. This and other anthologies I have read recently has rapidly changed my perceptions. Short stories are a wonderful way to get across a relevant point or idea and make the reader think. This is certainly the case with Oddscapes and Quirkitudes, which allows Panayi's sometimes sarcastic and insightful style to resonate with the reader and to make him/her ask themselves the relevant questions posed by the author. 

Like all anthologies there are some stories that resonate with me more than others and some that will stick in my memory long after the read. Of the three genres, the two I enjoyed the most were the Post-Apcalyptic and the People Watching. 

I loved the incredibly accurate handle Panayi seems to have on the troubles that face our modern society and how we could so easily slip into a situation that renders a dystopian world. Two stories from this section that particularly intrigued me were; Nine Voices After the Apocalypse and History of Planet Earth. Both of these stories are absolute winners in my mind. 

I adored all of the people watching stories and marvelled at Panayi's perceptions. My two favourites from this section were; Hospital Visions and The Reunion. Panayi simply has this marvelous ability to pick through the veneer of civilised lifestyle and tell it how it really is. Interestingly enough my favourite story in the book came from neither of those genres, but from the fantasy genre. The Initiation completely sucked me in and the ending was totally perfect. I loved it. 

Panayi is a very talented, eclectic author and I love reading her work. This lastest just reinforces my belief that this woman is an "Indie Author" on the rise. Five stars all the way to Oddscapes and Quirkitudes.

Check out Oddscapes and Quirkitudes here: http://amzn.to/22JYaDH