Hearts Desire: mythology, drama and romance

Hearts Desire by Andra Dill is a Nine Muse novella. Terpsichore, the muse of lyric poetry and dancing, lives as an immortal among mortals. When Zeus, her father, wakes up after being asleep for a millennium or two, he is furious to learn that Terpsichore has abandoned her role as muse. Going by the name, Bliss, she decides to wait out her father’s wrath and reconnect with her many, many times great granddaughter, Calla, at her dance studio in the MidWest. As the students’ parents demand a recital. What was supposed to be a simple recital turns into a full-scale production which catches the attention of one god Bliss was hoping to avoid. To complicate matters, Bliss’ former lover shows up. Will she risk her heart again? Will she be able to placate her father? 

Hearts Desire is a novella that packs a punch with mythology, drama and romance. I was somewhat familiar with the Greek muses; however,  I did have to stop and google names as they came up to remind myself who they were. As a fan of Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series, I loved the Hearts Desire adult take on the Greek gods in the mortal world. There were two romances at play in this story. Bliss and the gorgeous Nicco, someone she hoped to never see again. And Calla and Matthew, the handsome widowed father of one of her students. The story was fast paced with nice twists and a satisfying ending. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Hearts Desire. This novella is short, sweet and easily enjoyable for an afternoon of reading. I recommend Hearts Desire. 

Hearts Desire is available in eBook

The Bear and the Nightingale: a fairytale is about to become very real

The Bear and the Nightingale by Kathrine Arden is a story of a brave young girl who must battle magical beings and physical obstacles in order to save her family and her village from the cold Russian winter. The story opens during the reign of Ivan I where a young family in a Northern Russian village is settling in for a story. The story, a fairytale, about a young maiden and the Frost-Demon. The children have no idea that the story will become very real.

Vasilia “Vasya” is the youngest child of Pyotr Vladimirovich and his wife, Marina. Marina dies shortly after her birth and a prophecy that Vasya will inherit the gifts of her grandmother. As a young girl, Vasya, loves the story of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon who appears in the frigid night to claim unwary souls. She is told to honor the spirits of the house, yard and forest that protect them from harm. She begins to see things that others do not see. She learns quickly to be quiet about the strange beings she sees around her home and her village. When her father remarries, her stepmother forbids the honoring of the spirits. When Vasya reaches the age of 14, a danger grows as the spirits are weakening. The strange occurrences seems to happening more and more. She tries to warn her father about what is happening but he dismisses her concerns. Vasya realizes that she is on her own to save her family and her village against the growing threat. Will she be able to fight back the growing power that seems to build in the wintry cold?

The Bear and the Nightingale is an intricate story where every detail is important. Every event is a clue to the growing danger. I cannot discuss too many details as it will give away too much as the story reveals its secrets. What I can say is that while in some places the story seems to lull; however, I recommend to keep reading as the story reaches its climax it all becomes clear. I loved the imagery in the story. Ms. Arden’s descriptions are breath-taking and some are designed to frighten you. I highly recommend The Bear and the Nightingale. If you enjoyed Neil Gaiman’s American Gods or Anansi Boys, you will love Katherine Arden’s The Bear and the Nightingale!

The Bear and the Nightingale

will be available January 10, 2017

on Amazon in hardcover and on the Kindle

as well as

on Barnes and Noble in hardcover and on the Nook