FIONA GLASS
ISBN # 0-9762384-9-7
April 2005
Torquere Press
www.torquerepress.com
E-Book
$4.95
189 Pages
Anthology
Rating:
This book is a compilation of eight stories by talented author Fiona Glass. The stories
have various themes, including everything from historical to the paranormal. The
recurring element that binds all of the stories together is that of the male/male
relationship that is present in each one. However, each story is unique and stands alone.
The House on Penny Lane is set in the years after World War I and details the story of
Alec Peters, a war veteran. When he rescues Frank Higgins from a gang of ruffians who
are beating him senseless, Alec learns things about himself that he thought were deeply
buried. Frank is a young man who makes his living turning tricks. Both men are aware of
the societal attitudes of their time but they cannot resist each other.
In Three Degrees of Separation, Ray Jackson, editor-in-chief of the Daily Shriek, has
been aware for some time that his friend Laurie is in love with him but has always
rebuffed his advances. It takes an explosion and a surrealistic revelation about the truth
of his existence to open Ray's eyes to the truth.
Cold Comfort depicts the story of Jack Boston an agent for Earthwide Security Net.
Jack lost the love of his life some time after the Hakkaan invasion and has never fully
recovered. He is sent on an assigment concerning the rape of one of the human
"comfort boys" kept by the Hakkaan men. After meeting Commander Sak'halin's male
lover, he is determined to bring the offender to justice. The rewards of his endeavors are
unexpected and very welcome.
In Lonely Sky, Daniel Poole is a cop with a love for all things Gothic. When he ventures
into a bar on his off time, he encounters a very unusual man. His life ends up being
totally changed by the experience.
Raggle Taggle Gypsy goes back to an earlier time when gypsies roamed the
countryside living in brightly painted wagons. Joey has been warned about the gypsies
but he finds them utterly fascinating and does not stay away as ordered by his
overbearing parents. There are things about the fey Joey that they have chosen to
ignore but which the handsome gypsy Billy brings out. For the first time in his life Joey
gets the chance to be himself.
In Maximum Provocation, officers Ken Caine and Patrick Oliver are lovers and partners.
When they are sent on different parts of an investigation into the possible underhanded
dealings of some union rabble rousers, they must do some things that do not totally
agree with them. They are also concerned as to whether their relationship can survive
this experience.
The Ties That Bind depicts the tale of Nick Rivers, a prison inmate who is used and
abused by fellow prisoners and guards alike. He is not excited about his new cell mate
who seems to be a psycho at first, but they gradually grow on each other. When they are
separated for a time, the experiences Nick has while Brown is gone could either drive
them apart or cement them closer together.
In Garden of Remembrance, Sgt. Phil Williams is sent to an army convalescent hospital
to recover from war wounds. While there, he encounters a young man who shows him a
beautiful garden and teaches him the true meaning of love. What he discovers about his
lover, Richie, is disconcerting but does not change his love for the young man.
Throughout the book, the characters are well written and likable. Not every story has
detailed sex scenes but each does have a wealth of emotion between the two main
characters. The sex scenes that are included are sensually intimate and help to enhance
the obvious emotions developing between the two men involved. All the secondary
characters are interesting and balance out the storylines very well. For instance, I loved
Alec's Uncle Bert in The House on Penny Lane. His love and concern for his nephew
was very evident. The various elements and settings of the different tales fit very well
with the plotlines depicted. With each new story I was enthralled and fascinated. I found
myself on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next.
These exciting stories have a distinctly British flavor that I find enchanting. Ms. Glass
portrays the relationships between her male characters in a way that is both enthralling
and easily believable. I like the way she uses different settings and time periods to
enhance the dynamic interaction between her characters. The paranormal elements of
vampires and ghosts, along with the historical aspects of earlier eras, the more relaxed
attitudes of contemporary times, and the exciting futuristic time of a post planetary
invasion, really make this book a fresh way of looking at the relationships between two
men who fall in love with each other. My absolutely favorite story in this book is The Ties
That Bind. It really touches my heart. More anthologies like this one please!
Susan White
Reviewer for Karen Find Out About New Books
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance
