Alexandra Christian

Like every anthology, there is a mix of good, mediocre and plain bad stories in this one. And some of these authors seem to have known Sherlock Holmes through BBC Sherlock. Which it's great, the more the merrier, but, you know, when you're reading canon Holmes, and Christian names are tossed around... it feels awkward. There is one story in which even Mrs Hudson calls Holmes, Sherlock! The word sociopath is also mentioned. And there is a Holmes' whisperer Mary :P

But, there are also some really good stories, like the first one, The Fairy Pool by Lucy Blue, or The Adventure of the Missing Trophy by Mark W. Coulter, both of which are 5-star stories for me. And The Arendall Horror by Thomas Olbert, Time is Running Out, Watson by Adrian Cross, A Voice in the Blood by Dan Shaurette, The Canaries of Clee Hills Mine by Robert Perret, and The Case of the Rising Dead by Trenton Mabey (with a delightful steampunk sense to it) are quite good.

But then, there are 14 stories here, and the rest are mediocre, with 4 of them quite bad. So, it's up to you. If you are, like me, a completist, then, no matter what, you are going to read it. But if you are a purist when it comes to canon, sorry, this is not for you.… (más)

I received a PDF.file for this short story from The Romance Reviews website as a Review Request which was granted [random selection.] The following is my honest opinion.

How many of you reading this review, have ever been on a blind date? Your curiosity must have driven you wild with question after question running around in your mind about your date, especially what does he look like and what kind of personality does he have?

Imagined if you will, you’re now a Princess who’s been cloistered away in a convent by your brother to protect you by keeping away from harm’s way for the past 10 years [since you were 8]. You’ve hardly seen a man, let alone having ever been with one; and you’re now being told you are to shortly marry the widowed King so you can bare him an heir. To that now add you’ve heard that he’s horribly disfigured and his personality is one which can best be described as being cantankerous, immoral, mean, and vulgar. You wish you could just runaway and hide but you know there’s no way you can get out of the castle without being seen.

Given this you can imagine the nightmarish existence Queen Joanna is envisioning she would be facing with King William for the rest of her life. What would you do?/How would you feel? If he came into your room on your wedding night and what you saw happened to be the total opposite of what you’d imagined; you’re looking at a handsome, delightful visitor; a visitor who sincerely wants to have your love for the sake of love; and not because it would be politically correct.

If this would have been your first true love, wouldn’t you feel some emotions the likes of which you’ve never experienced before due to the sheltered life you’ve lived so far? If you can then you would be in Joanna shoes; and wouldn’t you also be losing your heart to this still stranger in your life the way she has?

For having given me a delightful afternoon with a short story to read, I’m giving it 5 STARS.… (más)