Two Lines by Melissa Marr

Two Lines, Melissa Marr.  New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2011.  

In this short story authored by Melissa Marr, Eavan is a young woman caught up in a world not of her choosing.  Her mother is a glastig and her dad is human.  Eve is human and wishes to stay that way.  For a hobby, she is chasing a human fellow named Daniel around.  He is an evil dude who turns women into zombies.  Eve wants to stop him.  She does rescue a woman from time to time and then dumps them on her hawt bisexual glastig friend Muriel.  Eve's granny Nyx is a bit put out by her granddaughter's behavior.  Glastigs are supposed to live together in a communal heap but Eve refuses, and furthermore is resistant to the idea of losing her humanity.  If Eve has sex and makes a kill within a month, she will become what she considers to be a monster.

sapphoq reviews says:  I found Two Lines to be a very satisfying short story.  The characters have personality and spunk.  The predator Daniel operates like predators do.  Eve is resourceful and finds a way to do what must be done.  Those readers who are in early stages of recovering from sexual assault may find this offering to be too triggering.  Recommended.  Fans of Melissa Marr's gothic fantasy style will especially love this and will want to read more of Eaven in the future.  I know that I certainly do.

Love Struck by Melissa Marr

Love Struck, Melissa Marr.  New York:  Harper Teen (Harper-Collins Publishers), 2011/ 2008.  e-book, 53 pps.  [previews of two novels begin on page 28].

Melissa Marr can be found on twitter as @melissa_marr .

Love Struck is a delightful short story about a high school student named Alana.  She lives near the beach with her mother.  Alana is at a beach party when a hot stud puts the make on her.  She refuses the offer of his jacket and just wants him to go away.  Spooked, Alana leaves the party and walks by the ocean.  There is a hawt surfer guy out in the waves who speaks to her.  His name is Murrin.  Very quickly, but not quickly enough, Alana realizes what Murrin is.

sapphoq reviews says:  Love Struck is a cute romantic short by Melissa Marr.  The imagery was satisfying and I was able to insert myself into the goings on.  Although considered to be for teens, this one is bound to satisfy any woman who likes the ocean and who is not looking for hot adult sex action.  Highly recommended.

   

Graveminder by Melissa Marr

Graveminder, Melissa Marr.  New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2011.  e-book, 338 pps.

Rebekkah returns to Clayville after the death of her beloved [not by blood exactly] grandmother Maylene.  She inherits Maylene's house and something else, much to the consternation of Maylene's natural grand-kids.

Maylene's death was a murder and rather mysterious.  A sort of animal had attacked her.  The sort of animal that has to be invited in, offered talk and sustenance.

And then there is Bryon.  Bryon the undertaker's son.  His father dies later on in the book.  Under rather, uh, paranormal circumstances.  Bryon gets the business.

There are some things about Clayville too that are mysterious.  Crime doesn't much happen there.  The citizens of Clayville are protected.  Safe.  Not necessarily in a bad way.  Still, the animal attack on Maylene is troubling.

Rebekkah isn't thrilled to see Bryon again.  They'd known each other in high school and a few other places.  She doesn't exactly care for him.

sapphoq reviews says:  Melissa Marr has written a pretty good book.  I liked Graveminder.  The characters were cool.  I even liked Rebekkah's cat.  Bits in the trailer scene made me chuckle.  And there is a whole other sort of world under a building in Clayville.  That in particular was most excellently done.  If you like the dark and mysterious and don't object to bits of paranormal thrown in along with a dash of romance, Graveminder fills the bill.