Review: Obsidian Faith by Bev Elle and Obsidian Jewel by Angel Lawson
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 11, 2014
I choose to review two of the stories in The Obsidian Collection by two authors I have read before. Bev Elle and Angel Lawson. Both authors have I have enjoyed reading immensely and was very excited to see what they could bring to the table in The Obsidian Collection.First up, I read Obsidian Faith by Bev Elle. The novella spans a large time of the lead character Trevor Kyle. From childhood to in his early to late 20s. Growing a character in a novella isn't an easy task. I felt that Bev did a nice job show the readers the struggles of going up in as foster children for both Trevor and the female lead Shanice. We got to look into their troubles, their growth as people, and their continuing journey on handling life given the circumstances they were in.I really liked where this story was going. Bev had it set up that, of course, Trevor and Shanice were going to end up together. But what was missing was the falling in love part. It was glossed over largely. I didn't feel for the love affair for the pair when they did end up together at all. I wanted a little more development there.And I wasn't sure where the "faith" part of the Obsidian Faith came into play unless you count that Shanice's adoptive father was a preacher and he had some wise words at the end. I guess it could be argued that Shanice always had faith in Trevor, but I don't think it was presently strongly enough.Now Lawson really knows how to tell a story in Obsidian Jewel. I haven't been let down reading any of her stories. It always amazing me how an author can write such a complete story in novellas. To say I'm jealous would be correct. What Lawson does is show very well for her readers. We don't need to know the whole backstory of every character and what we do know is just little tidbits here and there to shows us the development of her characters. In my mind mind it is what makes a writer great.Maya Clarke and Malcolm Kent are two thieves given a case by Federal official to steal back a priceless painting that was stolen by the Nazis and then disappeared. Maya and Kent are seasoned criminals with each having special talents. Maya is good at breaking in unnoticed, Kent using more brute force. They also can't stand each other for more than being competitors in crime. They harbors some very deep and personal feeling, then add on a healthy dose of sexual tension. What couldn't be more perfect in a romance?Both Maya and Kent rile each other up, making the perfect protagonist and antagonist in one another for the book.What I loved was that Lawson can throw you a curve ball. I had something in mind for the end, but she turned it around and surprised me, doing what I thought but in another way. It was great!I can safely say that I would so want to read more about Maya and Kent in more novellas or even a full novel. Their pairing has been my favorite one I have read lately. So good!