I Think Maple Street’s Bugged (Book Review)

When I usually think of maggots… well, whenever. I think of the dead. And this book, The Maggot on Maple Street, has that too. Well, a death wish, and yet words coming alive as well. Flesh, finding oneself, and fuckery. I Think Maple Street’s Bugged.

If you don’t read anything else, with the way things are going in the world today… Remember, The Maggot on Maple Street for your bug-out bag. It will remind you that there was once intelligent life on this planet. One of the many things Courtenay Schembri Gray is trying to convey. Well, that’s amongst many. And did I say many other things going on in her head? Brains! Indeed if the zombies haven’t gotten to you yet, you still have. That is if you’re reading Courtenay’s book; Ms. Gray, if you’re nasty… indeed, some elements of this work. You’re warned.

Long story short, or compilation, which it is. It’s a collection of poetry from a quite profound young writer. Not to sound cliché. But each and every poem really makes you think. That’s both a good and a bad thing. But more on that in a moment. Such a mind. Courtenay’s talent is immeasurable for such a small work. But if there were more to it. And yes, I have read other titles of hers. Such as Cherry. I suppose she can’t give it away all at once. Such experiences and realizations. Which should drive us all while. You’ll see.

That is if you’re lucky enough to read this work. I imagine “read” would be much too small a word for it, like something out of the movie “The Menu.” When it comes to writing… You do not only read her poetry. You imagine, dream, you relish every single word. Again there is far more to it than that, and again if you will give me the time. I ask you to share some of your time with The Maggot on Maple Street. Hell! The title alone asks for that and far more of us. I have discovered that myself.

It’s not as if Courtenay is asking you to take this journey alone, as she, too, is on a path of discovery of her own. To be on the same road. And yet we all end up in different places. Or maybe we like where we are and choose to stay, as The Maggot on Maple Street will remain with me for quite some time. There’s indeed so much to keep in mind while reading it. The same can be said for her, which is why she chose to share her thoughts with the world. The Maggot on Maple Street

If you have stuck with me until now… no spoilers. These are only my own personal opinions. Yes! Other than this. What are you waiting for? Go buy this book today. Yesterday, if you have a time machine. My own idea. Courtenay takes me to some strange places in musings.

The two poems that garnered my full attention from the get-go were “Mother Cauldron” and “Saturn (De)vours.” There was a line that immediately gripped me in “Mother Cauldron.” And again, the mere titles of these works will give you pause. And then it’s as if you’re running through the words, and you do catch them. Only you don’t know if you’re winning or losing. Or if the writer herself is in her thoughts of how she sees, well herself. This is the same way you see “Saturn (De)vours.” And maybe that’s it. Those two poems were when I first started seeing the writer. And not only the feelings and emotions she was invoking. Now is this a good or bad thing? I don’t rightly know. Yet as for me. I indeed liked seeing the writer and not only the dream that she has shared now. But the mix in everything…

In every other work of Courtenay’s, you’re looking to recapture that moment of her looking at herself in the mirror. This is where Courtenay truly shines, to be quite honest. Having kept up with her other work. It’s the difference between working on herself and “working for the man every night and day.” The fact that most of her work falls into the former is pretty brilliant. Finding those truths that she has discovered about herself. You can only wonder if she, too, stopped. Like you will find yourself doing as you read through her poems and go, “WHOA!” I can’t say how many times I did that myself. Sometimes you may even need to close the book and let the ideas settle in your mind. Just for a bit. One of the reasons it took me a bit to go through such a small book. It’s that damn good.

It’s that damn good, and other things you will say about The Maggot on Maple Street. What, is the title too long? And if I tried quoting Courtenay herself, I think we would be here all day. And I could be reading her book again and again. Um, I guess?

And that brings us to the good, the bad, and the ugly. Well, not really, as I gave this five stars but then again… I’m pretty picky when it comes to books. So I wouldn’t exactly call myself a softie. Not when it comes to this kind of work, ha-ha.

As I’ve already said, the best part of her work is when she’s more or less talking to herself than it seems to an audience. You can tell every poem is like that, but you can see the difference in the wording. It may just be beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that to be sure. Which is something that Courtenay herself is trying to see. Everything can’t be beautiful, and every poem of hers… As a collective, you see the best. But here and there. Sit at your typewriter, keyboard, pen, and paper; what have you and bleed, right? Courtenay does plenty of that and more. It may even scare you in places. Or invoke other emotions and the thoughts of other bodily fluids. And the experience or lack thereof that this writer may have in her own life. Coming to such things, um, maybe.

And again, I say experience. I’m not exactly a genius or anything but with Courtenay. Besides looking up her other works, may I suggest you invest in a dictionary and thesaurus? Am I being overdramatic… in a way? But as any guy can tell you, you’ll be on cloud nine and focused at the same time, and then suddenly, it’s like, huh, after a moment. Keep in mind; that this is poetry and not prose. So there is no warning between particular states of thinking or being. But I can promise you’ll stick around for the whole ride. Courtenay’s poetry can be a bit of a mindfuck for the best and worse. There’s no question about that. Is there a better word than that? Well, I lack this author’s vision. I have read her entire work and enjoyed, studied, and liked it. Something or other…

It is worth the read, though. And for everyone telling me to tell my friends. I can honestly say, at the very least, I have shared the name Courtenay Schembri Gray with some I know. And I’ve said what I’ve said to you and everyone. I Think Maple Street’s Bugged.

Gospel 149 ~Lies In Line Will~

NaNoWriMo’s last day is Monday, and I’m around 8,000 words short of the finish line. Do you even need to ask what I was doing on Thursday and tonight? One more lie for a story that will never be. “Lies In Line Will”

Friday, November 27, 2020

Gospel 149 ~Lies In Line Will~

Hey Lady Sophia,
I AM a Billionaire right now, but the one thing I won’t lie about tonight is THE END. Now I don’t know how many NaNoWriMo months I have completed over many years. Still, again I won’t lie about a conclusion. Dammit, so this last time, a hundred. Beautiful Sophia, I’m giving myself a one-hundred-word window. Hell, I haven’t even made up for last night’s debacle. Don’t I always mention how much I hate the holidays? Sure I have all the turkey I can eat, and my BFF is in town but still. Of course, I’m still reading.

With that in mind, I hope you don’t mind if I get some work done:

Chapter One – From Digging Into Cherry Pie (Win William Bridgman)
Chapter Two – Starting With A Second Banana (Evie Gabriela Bennett)
Chapter Three – What Once Was Cherry Condition (Sarah Annora Haven)
Chapter Four – When Life Gives You Lemons (Sarah Annora Haven)

Chapter Five – The Anatomy Of An Apple (Evie Gabriela Bennett)
Chapter Six – You Ready To Go Bananas (Sarah Annora Haven)
Chapter Seven – Ode Of Lost Cherry Picker (Cain Azrael Fae)
Chapter Eight – Apples, Oranges, Why Not Tomatoes (Win William Bridgman)

Chapter Nine – A Couple of Bad Apples (Sarah Annora Haven)
Chapter Ten – Apples From The Hanging Tree (Cain Azrael Fae)
Chapter Eleven – With Big Melons, Who’s Melancholy (Win William Bridgman)
Chapter Twelve – When Cherry Was The Bomb (Evie Gabriela Bennett)

Chapter Thirteen – As American As Apple Pie (Cain Azrael Fae)
Chapter Fourteen – Life, In Cherry Picking Minutes (Win William Bridgman)
Chapter Fifteen – In The Garden Of Evie (Evie Gabriela Bennett)
Chapter Sixteen – Crushing The Grapes Of Wrath (Sarah Annora Haven)

Chapter Seventeen – The Fruits of the Forbidden (Cain Azrael Fae)
Chapter Eighteen – A Hole Like Our Cherry’s

You’re not Inspector Echo, but I do ask your forgiveness, My Lady. I needed to see this written out in real-time to decide where I’m going. Also, you know how I write, for example, A Hole Like Our Cherry’s equals A Bowl Full Of Cherries. Um, I’ve lied to NaNoWriMo. Yeah, I told you I would. But I know Chapters Nineteen and Twenty now. The Plum Assignment and Strawberry Fields Forever. I need my music. I need to actually get this done, but instead, I cover. Lies In Line Will

I Will Have No Fear

Gospel 142 ~The Write Will Lie~

I can’t believe I’m lying to NaNoWriMo. An eight-hour workday, plus picking up my kid’s meds, a pet store that doesn’t sell the right dog food. Then we got food poisoning from McDonald’s, but I got to read, and he took his meds. “The Write Will Lie.”

Friday, November 20, 2020

Gospel 142 ~The Write Will Lie~

Hey Lady Sophia,
I AM a Billionaire right now, but isn’t that a lie I write down every day? How many times are we going to have this conversation? About the things, I shouldn’t make notes of? I swear, I’m getting pushed more and more towards behaving like a Republican. “Dear Leader,” to be precise. You know who I’m talking about, our very own President Trump. I lie about my wealth, going on for years now, in the name of motivation. I make a bunch of promises that don’t account for anything. The most damning thing of all is that I’m failing to produce anything.

Now you are not Inspector Echo but allow me to confess this. I lied to NaNoWriMo tonight or this morning about my word count. It’s not the first time, and I have always made good but not this Saturday at 12:30 AM. Long story short, SIGH I’m tired, My Lady.
Speaking of my novel, I’m on Chapter Thirteen, “As American As Apple Pie.” We’ve got an explosion, what it means to be an American. There’s some torture I’m not allowed to speculate on, considering what it’s about. So why not elaborate while I’m wide awake? The only reason I’m wide awake is that come Sunday, I have to write FAILED, once again on my first of Six Impossible Things. My Addiction kicked my ass Lady Sophia and didn’t I say “Wednesday” that I needed to stop being down on myself?

Yet another lie, I said that I showed up, only to be down on myself. After the days I’ve been having at the Day Job, how could I not be? I wonder what would’ve happened if I signed any form for an overnight. Now I’ve signed my death warrant workwise. Interestingly enough, if I’m going to talk about a crappy employee like myself, what about McDonald’s. If they gave me a receipt and somehow, I found the time, I would complain about the food poisoning I got there again. My sickness routine should remain secret? What I won’t keep hide is this fact. That I want to get to bed at 2:30 AM tonight. That’s why I won’t hold my promise to NaNoWriMo. I’m promising myself that I’m going to get a haircut at the very least. Also, get some food that won’t kill me.

If failing NaNoWriMo doesn’t first. Hell, The Write Will Lie.

I Will Have No Fear

Gospel 135 ~Will You Behave Please…~

Last week I talked about real people yelling, and now it’s a bunch of people I have created. At least “my character” was just a gravedigger until he discovered the right/wrong body. Better to read from great writers, hmm? Will You Behave Please…

Friday, November 13, 2020

Gospel 135 ~Will You Behave Please…~

Hey Lady Sophia,
I AM a Billionaire right now, but I still intend to follow the law. Okay, that’s a lie, sort of Sophia. I’ll go all “Cult of Ralston,” like in Eric Vall’s book. Yes, I’m still reading, and I have a God awful amount of writing to do tonight. The Dæmon isn’t helping. However, I could say the same thing about my phone. You know I still haven’t gotten around to listening to all of M. Anime’s messages. There’s a reason I don’t use Dragon Naturally Speaking. Also, I’m always listening to music or videos from wherever SIGH.

The good news is; I’m starting to enjoy reading again. I’m repeating myself, but after two books leaving me “freaked,” Eric Vall has been a welcome change. Now It seems my days have been filled with new and old books being shoved in my face, more procrastination. Even the bottles on my Dæmon’s medication are welcome. Only my hands are always smelling like hot dogs. Today I had to almost throw the gate to block his path of escape. My Boy has become quite the connoisseur when it comes to his food. I should be. Sometime tonight, we’ll get to that or maybe next week? I’ve got dinner to make, and I was so looking forward to a nice grilled chicken salad with all the fixings. It beats looking at another bucket of chicken Sophia.

A grave is a human bucket, right? I don’t know if that makes any sense. Only my characters in “Sinning The Cherry On Top” aren’t either. Can I say for the record? Um, is it wrong to talk about my novel in a particular genre? I won’t dare compare myself to some of the greats. Last night I spoke about how Trump crept into my book. You should turn away if you don’t want SPOILERS. So the gentleman looking to bankrupt The Moondust is a father “avenging” his daughter. Someone blackmailing politicians at The Moondust.

Interestingly enough, all these people are way smarter than me. We have Dr. Sarah Annora Haven. There’s also the wife of the owner in Evie Gabriela Bennett. The father, Mr. Fae, but I still need to come up with more of his name for sure.

I’m not a doctor, I like intelligent women, and I’m not British. No, I’m more like my character, a former gravedigger. Will You Behave Please…

I Will Have No Fear

Gospel 128 ~Will The People Please…~

Didn’t I say something last week about giving up social media? First, it was all about voting, and now not ten minutes go by without someone yelling, and then I have characters from about three different books. Will The People Please… hell if I know.

Friday, November 6, 2020

Gospel 128 ~Will The People Please…~

Hey Lady Sophia,
I AM a Billionaire right now, or I will be before I’m dead and buried. Not so funny anymore with what I’m seeing and hearing on the daily. I’m as anxious as the next person, and I don’t know if everyone should shut-up, stand up, or say what they need to say.

I don’t care to read Biden is the next president as long as I don’t have to see Trump’s been reelected. HISTORY hasn’t been kind over these past four years. I remember when it was my favorite subject in school. Now, doesn’t that sound like me, living in the past? However, that explains the taste of my tea. It’s way past the “Best If Used By” date. Yep, I thought I would be a better man than I am now. I hate waking up at 4:00 AM, and then it’s 5:00 AM when I actually do something. I am grateful someone said thanks in TWD. In the game and not the show, we all can’t be Katie O’Shaughnessy. I know what you’re thinking, My Lady; I’m jealous. It’s more like I’m feeling determined with a clear head, and we won’t discuss why that is now.

Well, almost clear because I continue to think about K Webster’s book. I’m not ready for another vote so soon, and you know it will be the sequel. I imagine it will be like rereading Colleen Hoover’s book. Now that took weeks, and I would never reread it again ever. Nowadays, I’m back to reading A.J. Markam, and I’m on the fourth book in a particular series. I’m trying to convince myself that I was so tired yesterday and not bored. For once, I believe I’m telling the truth when it comes to something like this. It beats the alternatives. You don’t know how disgusting it is reading the word FAILED again. How about NaNoWriMo showing another gain of one hundred words. When I should be somewhere near 10,000 by this point. Even if I do have another victory, what will come from it… NOTHING.

Last night I had a dream about people reading some of the things I’ve written. My friends on Facebook remain constant, so I guess not. The dream itself, though, was weird. I was a trucker (rough and tumble), but I had a secret lab at a truck stop. As a matter of fact, all the truckers had labs like it was some sort of doomsday bunker. I kept speaking to myself, what am I doing wrong? Maybe it was about the load I carried, but for some reason, it made me think of my writing. It could be telling me I need to work on my delivery. How about the journey, and how long it takes with NaNoWriMo. Some people have already reached their goal in six days. Hell, I got real people, robots, republicans all bothering me, and why can’ I tune them out.

There’s so much to get done, Will The People Please…

I Will Have No Fear

Gospel 121 ~V’s For Very Willing~

One of these days, I’m going to give up social media. I’ve already locked up everything on Pinterest, and Instagram was doing me no favors this morning in bringing me peace. Well, for a split second. V’s For Very Willing to do anything but write

Friday, October 30, 2020

Gospel 121 ~V’s For Very Willing~

Hey Lady Sophia,
I AM a Billionaire right now, and I am vexed, yes I am terribly vexed. Now how does that make me different from any other wealthy person? It’s because I only have myself to blame, My Lady. Rule #15 I Take My Own Lumps. Now today ain’t Wednesday to acknowledge my sins, but yes, I am guilty. Plus, a word like “VEX” is right for the onset of NaNoWriMo. Part of the reason for my vexing considering what I will be writing about shortly. Of course, I can’t mention what else starts soon. I’m keeping it “Family-Friendly.”

V is for VELVET or, more specifically, a U.K. Vixen in a red velvet dress. Come on, Lady Sophia, you’re going to tell me that “vixen” is a bad word? I’m gearing up for The Long Walk; I’ll need words. But Cherry has done much with poetry. I continue editing. Literature, My Lady is a struggle, and so V is for VERSUS. As I’ve spoken about the last two days, I’ve finished my third A.J. Markam title. Now I’m sitting here on Amazon (while I should be writing). So it’s either A.J.’s book four, Eric Vall or um, Stephen King.
Oh yeah, I’m forgetting someone today. V is for VERSES as in I wish I could write them like K Webster. That’s awfully high praise considering I’ve only read two of The V Games and Notice. First, those are innocent names, and second, her latest book was on my list.

V is for VISION because yet again, I should be sitting here at least planning out my own work. Only now, I want to read The Girl in 6E. I checked out my Amazon account, and I couldn’t get The Long Walk even if I wanted to. Ok, unless I decided to quit being Scrooge. V is for VIRAL, and I’m back to being vexed. Again I want more money, and all my poems are out there on YouTube. Only Lady Sophia, I am no one’s idea of a sensation, a showstopper, a scene-stealer. Well, unless you count my novels and some actual scenes reworked. V is for Voting, which I will be doing next week. The only writing that might mean something to this country, so there’s that, SIGH. Talk about things I ain’t doing, like… I’ll never tell.

V is for Victory… that’s funny! V’s For Very Willing

I Will Have No Fear

Gospel 114 ~Willing The Story’s End~

There was a time I would read with a former friend of mine, and she would absolutely refuse to read the next book in the series. Or something else from the author because she liked the first ending. “Willing The Story’s End.”

Friday, Oct 23, 2020

Gospel 114 ~Willing The Story’s End~

Hey Lady Sophia,
I AM a Billionaire right now, so I must want to live forever. Well, considering I told my “Olds” no to early voting means I could have signed my death warrant. Once again, Lady Sophia, I’m voting on Nov 3, but will I be around to tell whoever that I did so?

You know that I don’t like anyone on the ballot, to be honest. I despise MAGA hats. On top of all that SIGH, I hate my “father’s” name appearing on the phone. How about wasting time seeing where he and my mother were going? Day ruined, and it’s 9:00 am. What else do I hate reading? Besides his name and the time. I give you this Lady Sophia, “Lord of the Flies,” and “The Moonstone.” Two books I couldn’t get through the first 50 pages. Does that mean I’m STUPID, that BORED? Would the ENDINGS be worth all of it? Even in my novel, I still mourn the deaths of a family. In the second, I grieve for a dead girl and an upcoming marriage. Despite everything, I always figured I wanted to be in love and be a family man. Only that wasn’t the story’s end in any form.

So why all the talk of endings I don’t want to see? I guess it starts with last night. Being the loser I am, it’s been a while since I’ve been on a midnight “Drive.” Yeah, right, it was 7:00 pm before the debate. Anyway, I was scared you’d be reading I got smashed up good. What would M. Anime think about that? I haven’t talked to Indiana Gone forever. Still, being a married, social working college student doesn’t give much time to gab. If anything, I’m only hoping that I don’t scare M. Anime off. I’ve known her longer. However, I wish Eric Vall’s book was a bit longer, but he’s written a series of about 17 of them and even more titles. Of course, Sunday, GULP will still sit unpublished. What about all of my other series waiting?

I don’t fear failure Lady Sophia; I fear the endings. The last one I ever witnessed was Detroit: Become Human, and how many ends does that have again? Hell being a writer, means that I want to be immortal. Eternal, “Always and Forever,” a song.

You and me, um three hours. Willing The Story’s End

I Will Have No Fear

Gospel 107 ~Read Dead Redemption Will~

Another week, one more book read the same subject but a different author. All I can ask is, when did I get into monsters? I guess it explains how I got inspired by Adam and his “first wife,” and I don’t mean Eve *hint*. Read Dead Redemption Will

Friday, October 16, 2020

Gospel 107 ~Read Dead Redemption Will~

Hey Lady Sophia,
I AM a Billionaire right now, so I’m sure I’ll own a vineyard someday. The thing is, Lady Sophia, I don’t even drink. Now sure I have my addictions, you know the one I’m fighting. I sleep far too much for my liking. When I was a child, it was only reading. Hell, this morning, I finished another Eric Vall title. You know I’m trying to stay “Family-Friendly,” so if you look up his name, that’s your fault. I’m also heavy into A.J. Markham. That’s about 11 bucks spent on the third book of both of their series, and that’s only today.

So why aren’t I doing more reading; that leads me to the revelation I had earlier. Upon finishing my latest book, I decided to brag on Goodreads. I had around 45 emails, and I told myself I’m only going to sign in on Goodreads. Yeah, I’ll also drop some money on Amazon and pick out new books. Sorry A.J. um Eric won this round. Only if I got an email, I would delete 5. It took me over 4 hours because I kept getting messages. It’s not that I’m not reading Lady Sophia; it’s that I’m reading honestly ungodly amounts. Excuses again, I hear you, My Lady. Those are the only things I write nowadays, like promising I’m only going to take a 10-minute nap at 12:50 PM. Here we are 3 hours later. What is with all the numbers?

Anyway, now you can see why I missed Pinterest so much. While I was in the process of waking up, I did start another board for writing. Yes, you best believe I locked it down. So my work for NaNoWriMo come November will be about fruit. That’s all I’m allowed to share with you and the present time. To be fair, I don’t have a title for it, but maybe when I get the twenty chapters down, I’ll have some ideas. Each chapter will feature fruit in the name, hopefully. Okay, so without further ado:

She’s My Cherry Pie
Cherry-pick
Life is a bowl of cherries
Cherry Condition
Cherry Bomb

Peaches and Cream
Big Melons
Lemons
Go Bananas
Second Bananas

Apples and Oranges
Apple Of My Eye
American As Apple Pie
Bad Apple
Apple Never Falls Far From The Tree

Plum Assignment
Grapes Of Wrath
Strawberry Fields Forever
Forbidden Fruit
In The Garden Of Eden

Well, I still don’t have a proper title. And this was a lot harder than it looks, but I did have fun doing it. Except I’m looking forward to WWE. I have to write a new intro for the guild that I’m now in charge of. How about how badly I’m being beaten in Call me a LEGEND? Is it still so strange that all I want to do is close my eyes? Aren’t there more important things that aren’t related to me? No Lady Sophia, you won’t be reading my obituary any time soon but Read Dead Redemption Will.

I Will Have No Fear

Raphael’s Redemptive Rage Ravishment Review “Book Review”

This is a long-overdue sequel to my review on The Fallen Genesis. Yet, it shows how long this story has stayed with me and how I still listen to the soundtrack from October… of 2019. Raphael’s Redemptive Rage Ravishment Review, when lust becomes love

Raphael’s Redemptive Rage Ravishment Review

“Chastity will cure Lust.” Raphael

“When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put aside childish things.” ― 1 Corinthians 13:11 (Bible)

Well, when I was a child, the name Raphael meant one thing. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles though I always thought of myself as more of a Donatello. Until I got clued in, I wasn’t that smart, so my thoughts on Tillie Cole’s book Raphael? I can tell you I liked it, and since I’m not one to waste time, I gave it five stars. Of course, that’s not why you’re here. It’s not for my philosophy on life or art either. So I promise you I’ll do what I can to explain the novel. How dare I, but okay, SIGH.

Raphael is the sequel to Tillie Cole’s novel The Fallen: Genesis. That’s the prequel to the Deadly Virtues series. I take it to mean that each story will be another of the Seven Deadly Sins. I know Ker Dukey is doing something like that too, but that’s neither here nor there. As far as Tillie Cole, I’ve read three of her tales. Sick Fux is still my favorite, but Raphael is in second place, no doubt. If you know my biases, you will understand why. I should add I’m not one for religion even though I am hoping for the second circle if there is a Hell. What guy doesn’t and you’ll have to excuse me, I lost myself in Far Cry 5 for a while. Is that why this review took so long? On that note, Raphael is full of lust with some madness and mayhem that I won’t give away until the end. So the first book in the series covered Gabriel; this is more of Raphael’s story.

“Hardships aged the soul even if the skin your body wore told another story.” Raphael

Now living up to the promises of the first. We see Raphael has come into his own as a man. Doing what seems to come naturally, he has become a proficient killer and is sent on the hunt by his big brother. Again there isn’t much bloodshed until such a point and time. And that’s because he comes face to face with his little rose. Maria, a nun in training who finds herself in the wrong place at the right time. A monster, a miracle, but a must-have for Raphael. Can’t say I fault the man at all because I liked her too. Now, I didn’t like the Brotherhood, which makes them the best kind of villains. If you told me such a group existed in reality, I wouldn’t argue. Oh yeah, they do, they’re called the Catholic Church. I also admire an author that will take a shot at the “faithful” at any time.

I am a fan of the His Dark Materials series of books, well the three I read. Haven’t I come up since then reading these types of stories? I guess you shouldn’t answer that. There are also a few excellent touches of BDSM in Raphael as far as Maria’s neck is concerned. She also comes with quite a dark past that she doesn’t want to look “BACK” on; that’s a hint. It is pretty gruesome. Yet nobody gets into this expecting everything to be sweetness and light. For me, it was another incredible take in an ongoing erotica genre motif.

“What must it be like to live a life of such darkness?” ― Tillie Cole.

For the most part, the novel speaks about Raphael and Maria. The two protagonists, a lust story that turns into a love story. I say lust gets a bad rap, but again it’s the second circle but the first where any punishment gets dealt out. We see that from Raphael and the other Fallen members. And The Brotherhood, as they begin to launch a counterstrike. I was quite excited to see how far this war would go. As anyone could have guessed with Raphael and Maria’s future trials. Their tribulations.

Except for being a killer, Raphael is a pretty decent human being. A man with a fetish for some lengthy hair, a lean neck, and long stem roses. He also frequents sex clubs. For ravishing good times, to reveal his psyche and his revelations. I’m not sure if they received mentions in the first book, but it’s what Gabriel has named his assignments. You see that in Raphael that every target is tailor-made for the brother who goes. I’ve heard of honor amongst thieves. And that was something that disappointed me about his character. I swear I turned lawyer as soon as “it” went down but still for Raphael to pull such a stunt. Yes, ladies, all men are that dumb when it comes to a particular girl. Another way of saying it would be, am I my brother’s keeper. Yes, I am, although I could name a few celebrities I know here or there.

“You have taken everything we are, the blood oath, our brotherhood, our commandments, and turned your back on us. All for a woman.” Tillie Cole

Maria, on the other hand, was portrayed perfectly. The naïve young woman with a past, a promise, and a pact with the Devil to boot. She is Raphael’s fantasy made flesh, and from the moment he sets eyes on her, they were both goners. The only problems she had were all the results of men. From the monsters who handled her to those, she found herself with eventually. Well, maybe not, but that’s for another story, I suppose. Maria made the perfect submissive. How it makes you think about religious women in general. She had daddy issues, but also the rest of the family suffered the same fate. The family issue is better, well no. Could we call it a suspension of disbelief with some of the calls she made in this tale? I’ll say so, but her love for Raphael, I swear if a woman found me so captivating, marriage wouldn’t be far behind.

Still, Raphael swore himself to his brothers and Maria well? There are reasons I don’t trust the church anymore, and no, I was never a catholic. I felt terrible for The Fallen, and it was upsetting that Maria gave in to how she lived such a life for so long. Together though, against the world, well, that’s the sort of love I know we all want. One more reason I read these types of titles, oh, and seeing The Brotherhood and The Fallen face off. Was that a spoiler, well I hope you’re ready for more, or you could stop right here if you like.

“Sin is simply due to the absence of love.” Raphael

Five stars all the way around and not only for sex. Yes, there’s horrific violence. Of course, none of that was aimed at Maria; did I say that out loud. She signed up for it when it came to Raphael, which wasn’t violence but their consensual kink. Right up until the end of the title.

“He was a sinner. He was going to hell. But he was sure this was how heaven would feel. Warmth and bliss and whole-body pleasure.” ― Raphael by Tillie Cole

Okay, OFFICIAL SPOILER WARNING, are you ready, are you? The sex is top-notch, but it’s the last bit when Maria is looking at death in the face. She wants to fulfill Raphael’s most fantastic fantasy. To be honest, I have told women some of mine. 50% of the time, it works every time, haha. Maria lives and “dies” his. If you don’t literally see that scene when you’re reading it, the fight with the Brotherhood. The Fallen standing together, how many movies wish they could set the stage so well. Puts me in The Matrix or John Wick, state of mind. To quote, Keanu Reeves ahem “GUNS, lots of guns” and other assorted hardware. At the very end, when Maria takes her place amongst The Fallen, how I’ve needed a sequel since yesterday. Now, I doubt they will ever make this a movie… did I mention the sex? Anyway, Tillie Cole has an excellent soundtrack.

So seeing as how I’ve given this novel a five-star rating, there can’t be anything wrong with it? Once again, I mention the lack of a sequel, and I’ve only read three titles from this author. Sick Fux will always be my favorite but never say never. Where could the author go with The Fallen? However, I would have thought there would have been more of a trial aspect. When Raphael broke the rules of The Fallen. That’s not a criticism, but I was already getting my arguments set up when it came to how they operated. If anything, it was a tad glossed over, um yep. It would have also been cool to hear about the rest of the Revelations. But again, there was a huge battle. There’s also the fact that it is set up ready for a sequel. I know I’m repeating myself but come on, we’re all still waiting and hoping.

If you’re what I think of as a “Holy Roller,” you’ll hate this book. I’m not one for hymns or spiritual music, but I would never have given it a chance if it wasn’t for this book. Yes, even I will listen to “Abide With Me.” You can even see the scenes in your mind in correlation to the soundtrack. Somehow I remained amazed that women like stories like this? Once again, not a criticism, only being a black man in America and I would never meet a girl like Maria. It’s like women searching for Prince Charming on the Disney Channel. Yes, the narrative is fictional, but one wishes. Interested, I hope so because this is a must-read. The type of story that stays with you and my word, how long has it taken me to get this full review out? I guess I couldn’t keep it to myself any longer. My idea of Raphael’s Redemptive Rage Ravishment Review

Gospel 100 ~A Will Good Read~

One more week down and one more book read, not that I will change the challenge to fifteen. I don’t have that sort of faith but shouldn’t I read at least four “Holiday” stories, and NaNoWriMo is in November. “A Will Good Read,” someday

Friday, October 9, 2020

Gospel 100 ~A Will Good Read~

Hey Lady Sophia,
I AM a Billionaire right now, and “If You Don’t Know Me by Now,” I’m building a library. Now why I don’t care much for The Twilight Zone’s – Time Enough at Last (hits too close to home). What wouldn’t I give for all the time in the world to read AND write? Yeah, and what have I been doing for the last few hours again? Hell, I should note Eric Thomas’s words of giving up sleep. At least I woke up to good news. Geez, how I have missed Skybound’s compilations.

It’s a fitting reward for finishing the novel of the week. Now you know I can’t talk about it because it ain’t Thursday. Yet the ending was satisfying enough that I might turn back to Eric Vall’s works. Speaking of things I’m not finishing. Yes, so many different series and so little time. I wish I could tell you the name of my next prominent character. NaNoWriMo begins next month, and I’m no closer to finishing GULP this week. Hell, I did spend one whole night reading through a novel, Wake Me Up Before I Kill You. Yep, that’s what they call foreshadowing. Yes, My Lady, I noticed I’ve used “Hell” twice, but what can I say, it’s one of my favorite words. I’ve got a list of my most hated words, so why not my favorites. I’ve been saying I’m going to get a brand new Pinterest. Only I won’t use any of my words there, like never ever.

I’ve been much too busy reading My Dæmon’s medications and his new food. I’m talking vittles that look pretty good… not that I’m doing a taste test or anything. Only one more reason I’m late today. I went to two BBQ joints, and that Piggie Potato sent me to sleep. So what, did I come into some money? I’m afraid not, but I did work on an off day as if I “resurrected my cashflow.” I promise one of these days, you are going to get all my pop culture references. If I ever publish a book, I’ll be able to contact these celebrity people. “The beautiful people, the beautiful people,” as the song goes. Okay, so going back to my book. Dr. Sarah Annora Haven is covering up the fact that she murdered Deanna. When Father Bridgman should have.

What, the stories over already… it’s A Will Good Read.

I Will Have No Fear