A young recruit suffers through boot camp only to discover that her former Drill Sergeant has transferred to her first posting. I enjoyed following along as their relationship is twisted and turned by events that can only be blamed on the fates. I guess you can't call it a page turner anymore, so I'd dub it a scroller that leaves you wanting more.

[webmaster's note: story is no longer available.]

Ever find yourself unable to turn the pages of a book fast enough, the feast is that good? Well, you'll find quite a delicious meal with this story.

It takes place in the present time in a world we all have witnessed on the 6:00 news: an important figure has a family that needs protecting from the 'crazies' that want their 15 minutes of fame. In this story, a senior secret service agent is tasked to guard the daughter of such a man. Both seem to have quite a bit of emotional baggage as they enter their very strained relationship. Neither one seems willing to give any more than they have to, fearing to do so makes them vulnerable. As time passes and their constant exposure to one another is intensified because of death threats, both women see something they need in the other. Although originally manifested in sexual attraction for one of them, the other is feeling something very akin to love; something neither one ever thought they'd feel again. Suddenly a duty becomes an honour, and honour a liberation.

I don't think I've ever read anything so enjoyable since Lucifer Rising or Persistence of Memory. The action is fast paced, the characters well defined, the language and syntax flowing, and the plot riveting. The images created by the author literally jump right off the pages, drawing the reader in until we care about each and every one of the characters.

My only complaint? It ended much too soon.

"Only One" seems at first glance to be a harsh tale if the warning above is taken literally. But for those who are willing to venture further, it soon becomes a captivating read. Its central character is an immortal Xena who makes a living as a private investigator in Portland, Oregon. Not where I would expect Xena to be. But the setting is not as important to the story as the characters. The Xena portrayed in "Only One" is a complex, mysterious individual. She is deep, fierce and lonely, with an ages-old yearning for a soul mate that passed over long before. She is just as strong and determined as we have seen her painted by other fan fiction writers, but in this tale she has a cockiness about her that only adds to the character's depth But with that depth comes a frightening darkness that rings true to the never completely vanquished brutality of RenPics Xena.

We find a reincarnated Gabrielle in a street kid named Ricky. She looks like Xena's beloved, has an appetite of similar caliber and can find trouble just as easily as the bard of old. This golden haired storyteller however, is a witness to not one, but two murders and while under Xena's protection finds herself drawn to the ageless warrior. They both have their own demons and attractions to overcome and accept, and throughout the tale find themselves drawn to one another.

Discovery, trust and renewed faith are the truly captivating elements of this tale, and what kept me reading long into the night when I knew I should have been asleep in bed. The two women must battle much more than what they expect when someone from Xena's past comes calling. Once again Xena must pull off the impossible and unexpected, and I was impressed by how smoothly Redhawk accomplishes this. No jerky dialogue, no over-use of flashbacks, just a well-written solid tale that was a joy to read. Yes, "Only One" does have it's darker elements, but this a Xena tale after all. Because the tale is set in modern day Oregon, and focuses to some extent on the life of a street kid, it is not all roses and chocolate. It is gritty, has nasty moments, down right blood chilling scenes at times but is very much worth the read. If you've got the constitution to get through the darker moments and enjoy reading "Immortal" tales, (which are quickly becoming a genre all their own in fan fiction) then this is the story for you. When you come to the end and realize you want to see more of these two characters you may breathe easy, there is a sequel. Redhawk has been kind enough to write "Oktoberfest", in which Xena and Ricky go to Europe for the famous festival. But that is another story, and another review! This tale should not be missed!

Redhawk is fully into the voice of this story, giving it an authentic tone. That, combined with a traditional romance story structure, creates a delightful blend. It's also simply fascinating to imagine this coupling in this time period and wonder what it might have really been like. Although now a finished story, Redhawk thrills me with her ability to keep a story that's being written in parts on track! You just gotta love that.<g>

Professionally, Devvy's problem manifests itself in a creative block. Personally, it appears in the form of Monica, a beautiful raven-haired demon with a penchant for wearing black lingerie and showing up at all the wrong places. With sharp humor (and even sharper fangs), Monica is about to drag Devvy from the proverbial closet and force her to face her deepest fears, desires and prejudices. If all this sounds a little heavier than a typical romantic tale, trust me: despite the serious look at sexual stereotyping and prejudice, "Devils" is first and foremost a clever and entertaining story. Much like Monica herself, it's both sexy and funny, and sometimes just downright wicked.

ROCFanKat has written some fantastic dialogue, including a few hilariously lethal exchanges between Devvy and her best friend, Cassie Wolfe. Written in the first person from Devvy's point of view, "Several Devils" is also a wonderful technical example of how to advance both plot and character development through dialogue rather than omnipotent narration. As readers, we are not so much "told" this story, we simply experience it. (Followed by the sequel, "The Average of Deviance," unfinished, Parts 1-16 available.)

Xena finds her story telling gal and comforts her, lets her know where home really is. Ahhhh, nothing like mush to get the heart beating. To top off this tasty piece of candy is a cute ending. This is part one of three, all well worth reading. Sue did a great job, so read and feed her. Enjoy this tale.

Faith, a private investigator with a specialty in missing persons, is called when a woman with amnesia, and terrifying nightmares, materializes on the doorstep of the convent where Faith was raised. Just as this is an Uber within an Uber, so is it a story within a story. A scandalous, love-gone-wrong murder involving a famous actress (Blythe Dawson, and her lover Josephina Wright) that rocked Los Angeles some fifty years previous, seems to be the key as to why Gabrielle (yup, that's what they decide to call her until she remembers who she is ;~) is having night terrors. And, believe me, these pesky dreams are as bloodcurdling as they are real.

Soon the question begs: Did Josephine kill Blythe? More importantly, will history repeat itself? These are not idle questions, but ones that actively pull us through the story at a crisp, clean pace. You'll care about the back-story as much as the present one because they are so inextricably intertwined.

This story reminds me a little bit of an old-style, mystery-thriller, detective story, especially because this genre has always utilized the Los Angeles landscape as a sort of secondary character. So, especially fun is Rooks taking us around the city. I loved the thrift shop named "Surrender Dorothy"; a fun wink at those of us who know the real "Dorothy's Surrender." Okay, now that I'm done with my little self-indulgence <g>. Do take a peek at this story, it's a terrifically entertaining read.

While in seven parts, the reader won't mind a bit because this piece is that good. Although not terribly graphic, the reader should be aware that there is nudity and sexual situations. This is a finished uber novella with a second story lead in called Crimson Snow, by Advocate.

Though fully utilizing familiar aspects of Xena and Gabrielle, Ryan continues the welcome trend in recent uber fiction of creating original characters and situations, as opposed to simply updating or re-telling X:WP canon. Kaz and Chris are both smart and likable, and their personalities are well defined; even better, they are supported by well-developed secondary characters. Most impressive, however, is Ryan's ability to make the plot and storyline surrounding the lead duo every bit as interesting as their moving romance. Whether it's the frantic pace of the newsroom, the ins and outs of golf, or simply an accurate look at life in a small town, first-time author M. Ryan makes each aspect of her story credible and compelling.