You won't regret reading this one!

Gem #1 - Susan Hettinger, the reserved, introverted, extremely competent entertainment industry accountant who has carefully organized her life to provide the maximum amount of order and control. Susan is a bean counter, and proud of it. In her own words, “I can read a Profit and Loss Statement and instantly analyze the business. Ask me about the above the line costs of a particular film or the financial liquidity of the backers for a particular venture project and I spout out particulars. Ask me about the breakeven point for a theatrical production and I will provide production costs and income.” Spontaneity is not in this woman’s vocabulary. Magic is not a part of her analytical world. That is, until she meets…

Gem #2 - Margaret Carson-Baxter, also known as MJ Carson, the charismatic, chaotic, rock-star extraordinaire turned actress with a troubled past. Yes, it really is as cliché as it sounds, but this story is a modern fairy tale and Maggie is the mystical enchantress. Go with it. Eventually the reader gets to see not only the illusions that Maggie surrounds herself with, but also understand why they're there. Harte does a good job of making her character a believable human being in the enchanted and sometimes sinister land of entertainment superstardom.

Gem #3 - The clash of realities: order meets chaos, yin meets yang, and Maggie the human tornado meets Susan the control freak. It’s a classic case of opposites attracting, but, with the exception of a powerful physical attraction, these two don’t click together with the neatness of magnets. It’s a bit more like mixing elemental sodium and water - volatile - with serious consequences for both. Susan has difficulty dealing with Maggie’s energetic whirlwind; Maggie has difficulty understanding Susan’s stoic inflexibility, and Harte is skillful enough to make the reader wonder just exactly how this one will wind up with a happy ending.

Gem #4 - Susan first falls in love with Maggie’s hands. What a delightful detail!

Gem #5 - Susan’s mother, the leprechaun. (No, really, it IS a fairy tale.)

There are other gems scattered throughout, but for me, the real gold was to be found in Susan’s first person narrative. I love her reactions to having her orderly world turned topsy-turvy. It’s an internal battle of, “I don’t believe in magic. I want to believe in magic. I'm scared sh*tless by magic.” And through that internal battle, I found enough magic and humor in this story to want to recommend it to others.

The first chapters of this story were begun between seasons four and five, and it starts with the events following the Ides of March, and the deaths by crucifixion of Xena and Gabrielle. Our heroes' bodies have been removed from their crosses and it is Amarice who realizes that the Devi Eli might be able to bring them back. The scenes that follow will bring a tear and warmth to all the romantics who felt the loss of the relationship between the two, as their time in Elysia proves to be their chance to discover their true feelings, and their destinies together. Filled with gentle passion, this story is not perfect. A few scenes feel as though they were rushed on occasion, and there are small sequences of dialogue that could be retouched. But overall, it challenges Missy as an alternative to the show, integrating certain changes while trying its best to keep a parallel course; but always emphasizing that the Bard and Warrior's love for one another is a physical thing, and the guiding force in their lives. That this is a first time effort is the most astounding thing, and it is with great anticipation that I see the author has already begun her sequel. To sum up, if you enjoy Merwolf, discover Linda Crist.

(Suffice it to say that you should read the entire "White Trash" series, and for that matter, read the entire Darkbloom "canon", which ranges from the insane humor of the "White Trash" series to the poignant musings of "Venezia".)

Much like the show at its best, this superbly crafted tale combines wacky comedy, drama, and poignant lyricism while dealing with serious issues of right and wrong, heroism and redemption, love and sacrifice. It also tackles questions that have bothered many fans about the ethics of the heroines' actions -- from their transgressions against each other to their use of violence for good causes to their willingness to choose those they love over the Greater Good. The ultimate love-conquers-all message could have been corny if it weren't handled with such cheeky irreverence and such recognition of moral complexities. In Gabrielle's words, "I think our story got too big to have a moral."

"The Moral of the Story" has smart, crackling dialogue and spot-on characterization. Xena has her dry humor and her warmth, her stoicism and the sharp temper simmering underneath, and her perpetual readiness to take the burdens of the world upon her shoulders ("There's little in the world I don't feel responsible for at this point, from who rules the Amazons to the fact that Ares is a god"). Gabrielle, with much of her naivete worn off, still retains her basic faith in human goodness. The secondary characters are excellently drawn as well. This reader gives the story extra points for featuring a deliciously unredeemed, pouting, self-pitying pre-Season 5 Callisto -- *and* a post-Season 5 Ares who, as he says, has "learned more than [he'd] like to admit about love."

So how does this unusual courtroom comedy/drama turn out? The conclusion is as unexpected and imaginative as the premise itself.

Jen is the stage manager for a chaotic production of Shakespeare's "Much Ado about Nothing". She wins the right to take Lauren ( an actress ) home, in a poker game. These two dance around each other until Jen's crew decide to give cupid a hand. Poto's style is easy on the eyes and fun to read.

Wilder has created a story with sexy characters and a provocative predicament. Set in the distant future and in another world altogether, Uber Gab is Princess Sarika and Uber Xena is Major Ramsey. There is intrigue aplenty, as the evil Elder Tai-Po sets out shortly after the suspicious death of Sarika's mother, to usurp the Princess' position by marrying her and taking over the empire as her Protector.

Onto the scene comes Major Ramsey, an outsider from a distant world, who is immediately enslaved by Tai-Po. In a world where slavery is a common part of life, Ramsey is a rebellious troublemaker that Tai-Po sees as an enemy. And escalating matters, Princess Sarika, upon her first heated glimpse of Ramsey, believes the dark woman is destined to be her true mate and Protector.

Deliciously compounding the situation, Princess Sarika is entering her time to mate and has a real, er, *need* to bond. <g> To not join with her mate by the prescribed time, would be physically dangerous for the young princess. So, she must find a way to convince Ramsey, the proud outsider who has been forced to wear the collar of the slave by the Princess' most persistent and powerful suitor, to become her mate and Protector.

Wilder has imagined a world that is romantic, sexy, colorful and loads of fun. Truly animation for the mind!

Is Uber? I've read it twice now and I still can't be sure. What it is, is excellent! Wakar's "The Mystery of the Forbidden Attic" is a one sitting read in that once you start you won't want to stop. So take the phone off the hook, lock the door and enjoy this engrossing tale of love in many forms.

Vanessa has just lost her best friend and begins to question where her life is headed. What started out as boredom relief in the form of charity coils steadily down into a mystery that not even peeking to the last page will help, you simply have to sign on for the whole ride.

[webmaster's note: story no longer appears to be available on the web. If you know where we can link to it, please email us!]