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Heartifact
Harper Kidd is a highly respected marine archeologist. Yet, with the economy in a slump, he’s trapped working in an oil company’s exploration division. Now, at the ripe age of thirty, Harp is disgusted with his employer’s damage to the undersea world he loves, tired of his ATM-card-filching ex, and tormented by beautiful dreams of an undersea lover. It’s time for a change and when his best friend, Stick, pleads with him to assist on a deep-sea dig in the Mediterranean, he jumps at the chance.
Harper’s spirits are high when they discover the ruins of an ancient civilization, and soar to the heavens when they discover a statue of an ancient pelora, a mysterious hybrid creature said to mediate between the worlds of reality and fantasy—and the very lover who holds the starring role in his dreams.
When the crew discovers the site is teeming with unexploded ordnance from the conflicts in the Middle East, and the excavation turns deadly, Harper must choose between saving his best friend and the pelora he’s fallen in love with.
The net proceeds from this book benefit The Trevor Project in the US, le Refuge in France, and Arcigay in Italy.
Harper’s spirits are high when they discover the ruins of an ancient civilization, and soar to the heavens when they discover a statue of an ancient pelora, a mysterious hybrid creature said to mediate between the worlds of reality and fantasy—and the very lover who holds the starring role in his dreams.
When the crew discovers the site is teeming with unexploded ordnance from the conflicts in the Middle East, and the excavation turns deadly, Harper must choose between saving his best friend and the pelora he’s fallen in love with.
The net proceeds from this book benefit The Trevor Project in the US, le Refuge in France, and Arcigay in Italy.
ebook
First published October 13, 2016
72 people want to read
About the author
Aisling Mancy
6 books35 followersAsh lives, most of the time, on the West Coast of the United States. Ash writes adult fantasy, science fiction, adult romance, and fiction for gay young adults as C. Kennedy.
Raised on the mean streets and back lots of Hollywood by a Yoda-look-alike grandfather, Ash doesn’t conform, doesn’t fit in, is epic awkward, and lives to perfect a deep-seated oppositional defiance disorder. In a constant state of fascination with the trivial, Ash contemplates such weighty questions as If time and space are curved, then where do all the straight people come from? When not writing, Ash can be found taming waves on western shores, pondering the nutritional value of sunsets, appreciating the much-maligned dandelion, unhooking guide ropes from stanchions, and marveling at all things ordinary.
Stop by my blog and share what's on your mind www.AislingMancy.blogspot.com
Raised on the mean streets and back lots of Hollywood by a Yoda-look-alike grandfather, Ash doesn’t conform, doesn’t fit in, is epic awkward, and lives to perfect a deep-seated oppositional defiance disorder. In a constant state of fascination with the trivial, Ash contemplates such weighty questions as If time and space are curved, then where do all the straight people come from? When not writing, Ash can be found taming waves on western shores, pondering the nutritional value of sunsets, appreciating the much-maligned dandelion, unhooking guide ropes from stanchions, and marveling at all things ordinary.
Stop by my blog and share what's on your mind www.AislingMancy.blogspot.com
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
February 14, 2017
3.5 HEARTS--NERDS! This one might catch your fancy!
If you're a nerd who loves mythology, marine archeology and a lot of nautical terms, there are terms galore in Heartifact by Aisling Mancy. It's a research dense novella that stars a marine archaeologist and a trapped mythological deity that only get physical in the mind. A mythology-dense contemporary suspense with romantic tones Are you nerdgasming yet? I have a microfiber cloth for your fogged up bifocals. Oh baby!
Dr. Harper Kidd is having a rough time in reality. He doesn't have a romantic partner, he's not working on a job that best uses his capabilities. His best friend offers him an out by joining her on a mission in the Mediterranean where the pay is great and there is possible treasure (of the historical variety) to be discovered. But from the beginning of the story as Dr. Kidd's life appears to be what he'd like it to be, it seems his subconscious has created a dream man that takes care of his sexual needs.
A creation that he can't see, but knows ALL of his thoughts and desires.
But the dreams feel real. And what starts as sporadic, moves to a constant night time occurrence. Harper's dream man is taking over, meshing into his reality as he and his friend, Stick and the archaeology team discovers ruins that hasn't been touched for centuries.
Something Harper is drawn to...especially when a discovery at the site seems to be a centuries old statue of his dream lover.
Pelora or Dr. Manhattan?
His dream lover, or Pelora is described as this otherworldly being that is ripped and blue. And once the descriptions were given, I couldn't get Dr. Manhattan out of the brain.
I'm unsure how to categorize Heartifact.
Is this romance? In a way, it is. And in a way, it isn't. The great thing about romance is that it's subjective. Heartifact doesn't fall under the traditional romance category. So if you're a reader who needs tradition, I wouldn't recommend. However, if you like puzzling history/mythology laden suspense trips, well then...welcome aboard.
The subject matter is interesting, the plot is fast paced. The mystery is not easily solved. But while the story is interesting and readable, the plot isn't as developed in crucial spots: Dr. Kidd falling in love (rather than having the reader told). The thoughts of Harper weren't as easily shared though it's told from his POV, so getting a grasp of what stage he was at different points during the book was not impactful as it could have been. The meld between the technical terms and romance could have been a little smoother. Since the most interaction we get of Harper and his dream man are in his dreams, I kinda wish just as much detail went into those dreams as the archeology parts.
For me, it was an unequal balance.
Interesting, but it could have been a touch longer to smooth out those parts. As is, we get brief dreams and nighttime moments to base the L word on.
The suspense part was cool. The ending is surprising (you couldn't get it on your best day). The epilogue...eh...I'm iffy on. The rest of the book sold me. I definitely dug the ideas this author has, and would read more from them.
If there was ever any follow up, I'd read it.
Do you need some alone time to nerd it out? Dr. Manhattan did it for you, huh?
I thought so. Our little secret. ;D
On a serious tip: net proceeds from this book goes to the following organizations: The Trevor Project in the US, le Refuge in France, and Arcigay in Italy!
Read for worthy causes! *Nerd high five*
A copy provided for an honest review.
If you're a nerd who loves mythology, marine archeology and a lot of nautical terms, there are terms galore in Heartifact by Aisling Mancy. It's a research dense novella that stars a marine archaeologist and a trapped mythological deity that only get physical in the mind. A mythology-dense contemporary suspense with romantic tones Are you nerdgasming yet? I have a microfiber cloth for your fogged up bifocals. Oh baby!
Dr. Harper Kidd is having a rough time in reality. He doesn't have a romantic partner, he's not working on a job that best uses his capabilities. His best friend offers him an out by joining her on a mission in the Mediterranean where the pay is great and there is possible treasure (of the historical variety) to be discovered. But from the beginning of the story as Dr. Kidd's life appears to be what he'd like it to be, it seems his subconscious has created a dream man that takes care of his sexual needs.
A creation that he can't see, but knows ALL of his thoughts and desires.
But the dreams feel real. And what starts as sporadic, moves to a constant night time occurrence. Harper's dream man is taking over, meshing into his reality as he and his friend, Stick and the archaeology team discovers ruins that hasn't been touched for centuries.
Something Harper is drawn to...especially when a discovery at the site seems to be a centuries old statue of his dream lover.
Pelora or Dr. Manhattan?
His dream lover, or Pelora is described as this otherworldly being that is ripped and blue. And once the descriptions were given, I couldn't get Dr. Manhattan out of the brain.
I'm unsure how to categorize Heartifact.
Is this romance? In a way, it is. And in a way, it isn't. The great thing about romance is that it's subjective. Heartifact doesn't fall under the traditional romance category. So if you're a reader who needs tradition, I wouldn't recommend. However, if you like puzzling history/mythology laden suspense trips, well then...welcome aboard.
The subject matter is interesting, the plot is fast paced. The mystery is not easily solved. But while the story is interesting and readable, the plot isn't as developed in crucial spots: Dr. Kidd falling in love (rather than having the reader told). The thoughts of Harper weren't as easily shared though it's told from his POV, so getting a grasp of what stage he was at different points during the book was not impactful as it could have been. The meld between the technical terms and romance could have been a little smoother. Since the most interaction we get of Harper and his dream man are in his dreams, I kinda wish just as much detail went into those dreams as the archeology parts.
For me, it was an unequal balance.
Interesting, but it could have been a touch longer to smooth out those parts. As is, we get brief dreams and nighttime moments to base the L word on.
The suspense part was cool. The ending is surprising (you couldn't get it on your best day). The epilogue...eh...I'm iffy on. The rest of the book sold me. I definitely dug the ideas this author has, and would read more from them.
If there was ever any follow up, I'd read it.
Do you need some alone time to nerd it out? Dr. Manhattan did it for you, huh?
I thought so. Our little secret. ;D
On a serious tip: net proceeds from this book goes to the following organizations: The Trevor Project in the US, le Refuge in France, and Arcigay in Italy!
Read for worthy causes! *Nerd high five*
A copy provided for an honest review.
December 7, 2016
I have mixed feeling about this book: I like the idea, but I wasn’t quite convinced with the plot’s development. I like the writing, but I wasn’t emotionally deeply connected to the characters.
On the one hand, I found it good that the story was short and quick-paced, on the other hand, exactly the length of the novel didn’t give enough space for more necessary details and didn’t permit its proper development, IMO.
Harper Kidd, a marine archeologist, is is frustrated with his current job and his ex makes his life even more difficult. The timing for an offer from Stick, one of the best ROV operators and his best friend, to join her on a deep-sea dig in the Mediterranean, couldn’t be better. To take part on a sea salvage expedition close to the Greek cost on a beautiful boat equipped with the best laboratories and equipment seems like the dream comes true to Harper.
At the same time as he accepts a new job, Harper starts having very erotic dreams about a strange man, an ancient god Pelora -it's how the stranger introduced himself. These dreams are very intense and very real, and it takes a while for the dream to fade and reality to return, when Harper awakes. When the crew finds the ruins of the ancient civilization with a statue of an ancient god pelora, Harper is excited and confused at the same time. Is there a connection between their discovery and his erotic dreams? When Dimitris, his Greek captain, explains Harper who perola is – an ancient god of questionable parentage that travels between fantasy and reality and commits a sin for every good deed he does – events start to unfold with a dizzying speed, and suddenly Harper has to make a choice…
I am not a big fan of sex scenes at the beginning of the book, except gay erotica what this book is not. I need normally more time to build an emotional connection to the MC before they fall upon each other. Otherwise it feels like a manual for gay sex.
The bottom line:
Beautifully written, an entertaining story-line that is too complex to be told within 88 pages, it needs more development in all directions.
It is one of those books where many sex scene didn’t make it better, just the opposite.
Though, I already mention, the idea is refreshing and interesting.
***ARC provided to Gay Book Reviews by the author in exchange for an honest review.***
November 20, 2016
Heartifact crams a lot of fabulous writing into less than 100 pages. Mythology meets modern day treasure hunt in the Mediterranean Sea off the Greek coast.
Harper is a highly respected marine archaeologist. Frustrated in his current job, and fed up with his cheating ex, he jumps at the chance to join his friend Stick (who operates a ROV) on an expedition to explore and raise what may be a sunken ship once belonging to Alexander the Great.
Once at the site, they discover what appear to be the ruins of an ancient civilization, and grapple with unexploded ordinances hampering their progress.
And if that's not enough, Harper is visited in his dreams by a mysterious man, who might be a god, who becomes Harper's dream lover, seducing and confusing him.
The lines between reality and dreams begin to blur for Harper, when they discover amid the ancient ruins on the bottom of the sea a chamber containing the statue of a Pelora, which looks just like the mystery man who's been visiting Harper.
The author deftly merges mythology, ancient history, and modern technology in this well-crafted suspense/mystery/not-quite-romance novella, and kept me at the edge of my seat as the story unfolded. Hot sexy dream sex is set against high seas explorations, fraught with danger and excitement.
It's a pretty quick read, considering the length, and it flew by. I'm not going to reveal the ending - you'll just have to read this for yourself. Well worth your time, I think.
** I received a free copy of this book from its author. A positive review was not promised in return. **
Harper is a highly respected marine archaeologist. Frustrated in his current job, and fed up with his cheating ex, he jumps at the chance to join his friend Stick (who operates a ROV) on an expedition to explore and raise what may be a sunken ship once belonging to Alexander the Great.
Once at the site, they discover what appear to be the ruins of an ancient civilization, and grapple with unexploded ordinances hampering their progress.
And if that's not enough, Harper is visited in his dreams by a mysterious man, who might be a god, who becomes Harper's dream lover, seducing and confusing him.
The lines between reality and dreams begin to blur for Harper, when they discover amid the ancient ruins on the bottom of the sea a chamber containing the statue of a Pelora, which looks just like the mystery man who's been visiting Harper.
The author deftly merges mythology, ancient history, and modern technology in this well-crafted suspense/mystery/not-quite-romance novella, and kept me at the edge of my seat as the story unfolded. Hot sexy dream sex is set against high seas explorations, fraught with danger and excitement.
It's a pretty quick read, considering the length, and it flew by. I'm not going to reveal the ending - you'll just have to read this for yourself. Well worth your time, I think.
** I received a free copy of this book from its author. A positive review was not promised in return. **
November 26, 2016
(Originally reviewed for Love Bytes Reviews. Rated 3.5 out 5.0 Love Bytes.)
Heartifact is a short novella, written specifically for a fund-raising effort along with other works from other authors. The blurb accurately sums up the story.
I really liked the bones of this story. We meet Dr. Harper Kidd, who is a marine archaeologist who hasn’t been doing much recently with his degree. His employer is busily destroying a reef and Harper is having to bend the truth to ensure they are in compliance with the laws. Harper isn’t happy.
Then his friend Stick, nicknamed for her joy stick control of undersea robotic equipment, asks him to join her on a very secretive mission to the Mediterranean. When they get there they find an ancient ship and what appears to be a complete structure deep under the water. Does the building have anything to do with the strange dreams Harper has been having?
As I said, I really liked the bones of this story, but two people at our blog read it for this review, and we both ended up agreeing that while it had great characters and a great back story, there just wasn’t enough of it. It needed way more details and development to make either of us happy.
Heartifact is a short novella, written specifically for a fund-raising effort along with other works from other authors. The blurb accurately sums up the story.
I really liked the bones of this story. We meet Dr. Harper Kidd, who is a marine archaeologist who hasn’t been doing much recently with his degree. His employer is busily destroying a reef and Harper is having to bend the truth to ensure they are in compliance with the laws. Harper isn’t happy.
Then his friend Stick, nicknamed for her joy stick control of undersea robotic equipment, asks him to join her on a very secretive mission to the Mediterranean. When they get there they find an ancient ship and what appears to be a complete structure deep under the water. Does the building have anything to do with the strange dreams Harper has been having?
As I said, I really liked the bones of this story, but two people at our blog read it for this review, and we both ended up agreeing that while it had great characters and a great back story, there just wasn’t enough of it. It needed way more details and development to make either of us happy.
November 13, 2016
5 Heartful STARS
FIVE facts in my humble opinion.
Fact One. Nobody can write like Aisling Mancy,
Fact Two. The depth of knowledge Mancy has is outstanding.
Fact Three. His level of interpretation is remarkable.
Fact Four. The grasp of understanding he has to be able to portray his characters is prodigious.
Fact Five. He's an educator, you cannot read a book written by this Author, and not learn something new.
Bonus Fact. Men Over The Rainbow, you hit the jackpot when asking Aisling Mancy to join your project. You couldn't have chosen a more well rounded person.
It's no secret that I am a fan of this Author. His writing has always blown me away, it's more than just reading a book, you live and breathe his words. This story was no different. I believe no matter what this Author writes he will give one hundred and ten percent in not only entertaining the reader, but making sure once they reach the end they have a clear understanding of all that transpired throughout the story.
The main character, Harper Kidd is a marine archaeologist. His best friend, Maggie AKA Stick needs his help. Although the trip they took to Athens was work related, it was an adventure, discovering what lies beneath the ocean, I was so engrossed in the story it was fascinating to read.
Harper started having some very strange dreams, I mean they were strange because they felt almost real, but what was happening in the dreams was lighting up the sheets. I couldn't wait for Harper's mystery man to visit him again, roll on bedtime.
Even though this was a short story the Author never left out any details. The ocean, the ship, the ancient ruins, Pelora in all his naked glory, it was all picturesque.
I was beyond impressed with this book, and definitely recommend to all lovers of the M/M genre.
March 19, 2017
Highly enjoyable reading for me! During my high school years, I had great fascination with Greek mythology, read all of Mary Renault and James A. Michener. I flirted briefly with the idea of being an archaeologist. So I preordered this the moment I saw the blurb and that it benefited The Trevor Project. The fact that I enjoyed it so much was the ultimate bonus.
It was very well written, interspersing mystical, dream passages with the details about Harper and his life and work. I liked the secondary characters as well, especially Stick, his best friend. There wasn't heavy characterization but I didn't feel it was needed. The focus was the excavation and the adventure of what a find like that entailed. Then there was the intersection with the highly erotic dream sequences and what they meant to Harper. The technical details of a marine excavation seemed to be quite accurate, at least to this layperson!
I do agree that it was far too short and left unanswered questions. I sincerely hope that there might be a sequel to this. I'm usually not attracted to supernatural or paranormal elements in books but this story wasn't overwhelmed by that at all. I did very much enjoy A Solitary Man which was coauthored by Aisling Mancy and I will absolutely read more from this author.
It was very well written, interspersing mystical, dream passages with the details about Harper and his life and work. I liked the secondary characters as well, especially Stick, his best friend. There wasn't heavy characterization but I didn't feel it was needed. The focus was the excavation and the adventure of what a find like that entailed. Then there was the intersection with the highly erotic dream sequences and what they meant to Harper. The technical details of a marine excavation seemed to be quite accurate, at least to this layperson!
I do agree that it was far too short and left unanswered questions. I sincerely hope that there might be a sequel to this. I'm usually not attracted to supernatural or paranormal elements in books but this story wasn't overwhelmed by that at all. I did very much enjoy A Solitary Man which was coauthored by Aisling Mancy and I will absolutely read more from this author.
November 25, 2016
For my honest and true view of this book, please read …MORE
Goodreads TOS-compliant review (I think, let me know when they tell us what the rules are):
"The book I just read is about two (or three) lovely people, written in beautiful language, by a very good and prolific author. I liked it very, very much.
It is for sale on Amazon.”
DISCLAIMER: My reviews now all have this pretty face, so that all and everyone on Goodreads can stay happy and beatific. I’ll let you know if I change my mind. See the real review above for my thoughts on this book.
Goodreads TOS-compliant review (I think, let me know when they tell us what the rules are):
"The book I just read is about two (or three) lovely people, written in beautiful language, by a very good and prolific author. I liked it very, very much.
It is for sale on Amazon.”
DISCLAIMER: My reviews now all have this pretty face, so that all and everyone on Goodreads can stay happy and beatific. I’ll let you know if I change my mind. See the real review above for my thoughts on this book.
October 24, 2017
Hearifact is a gift of the heart!
This present is wrapped in a beautiful cover with rich, vibrant, captivating colors created by Timmy Ashton. Buy the paperback and you can really admire Timmy's talent. From the first page of this novella, Aisling Mancy delves into the life of Marine Archeologist Harper Kidd. A journey that is filled with adventure as Harper, with his best friend Stick, expertly investigate an ancient underwater site during the day and then at night there is no rest for Harper as an unknown lover fills his dreams with steamy HOTNESS! There is nonstop excitement, a sexy God and fascinating marine exploration within these 158 pages but this story also has a message and for me that message is that friendships are most important.
So, how can this short story contain so much goodness??? It is the brilliant story teller Aisling Mancy of course! A book by Aisling Mancy is always going to deliver! So gift yourself with this wonderful book and know that your purchase will also help LGBT youth because the proceeds go to three organizations: Le Refeuge in France, Arcigay in Italy and The Trevor Project in USA.
This present is wrapped in a beautiful cover with rich, vibrant, captivating colors created by Timmy Ashton. Buy the paperback and you can really admire Timmy's talent. From the first page of this novella, Aisling Mancy delves into the life of Marine Archeologist Harper Kidd. A journey that is filled with adventure as Harper, with his best friend Stick, expertly investigate an ancient underwater site during the day and then at night there is no rest for Harper as an unknown lover fills his dreams with steamy HOTNESS! There is nonstop excitement, a sexy God and fascinating marine exploration within these 158 pages but this story also has a message and for me that message is that friendships are most important.
So, how can this short story contain so much goodness??? It is the brilliant story teller Aisling Mancy of course! A book by Aisling Mancy is always going to deliver! So gift yourself with this wonderful book and know that your purchase will also help LGBT youth because the proceeds go to three organizations: Le Refeuge in France, Arcigay in Italy and The Trevor Project in USA.
November 15, 2016
Location: Australia and Greece
Fantasy and mythology vs reality and science. They meet in the waters off of Greece.
A modern-day Jacques Cousteau, Harper is a Marine Archaeologist digging for the latest find in the ocean depths off of Greece. With all the latest gadgets and machines at his disposal, he digs a treasure trove. Meanwhile, while he's sleeping, he's dreaming of a man who's a god on two legs and they burn up the sheets every night. Inevitably, talking ensues and cupid's arrow pierces their hearts.
This story has a lot going on. There is a mystery to solve, there is danger, there is a lot of hot sex, there's a life change for Harper in the horizon, and there's a lot of ocean beauty and ancient locations and artifacts.
Harper is brilliant. I mean, really. He's extremely smart and knows his stuff. That's why he was hired to be the lead archaeologist on that dig. His life gets complicated, though, when his dream life starts to get confusing. There is something about the man in his dream. That's one of the mysteries. Who is this guy? Is he a figment of his imagination or is he real or what?
The ending is action-packed and surprising. That's all I'll say about it because I want it to be a surprise. It's really something great.
This story is also full of lessons and details. History lessons and Marine archaeology lessons. I love history, so I found that part fascinating. I am not into Marine Archaeology and I found all the details, and there's a whole lot of it, about how to do thus-and-so wordy. That's my only criticism of this story.
I do recommend this book for those who love the ocean, if you love Marine Archaeology, and if you love romance on the ocean then you will love this book.
I received this book in exchange for my honest review by Gay Book Reviews.
Fantasy and mythology vs reality and science. They meet in the waters off of Greece.
A modern-day Jacques Cousteau, Harper is a Marine Archaeologist digging for the latest find in the ocean depths off of Greece. With all the latest gadgets and machines at his disposal, he digs a treasure trove. Meanwhile, while he's sleeping, he's dreaming of a man who's a god on two legs and they burn up the sheets every night. Inevitably, talking ensues and cupid's arrow pierces their hearts.
This story has a lot going on. There is a mystery to solve, there is danger, there is a lot of hot sex, there's a life change for Harper in the horizon, and there's a lot of ocean beauty and ancient locations and artifacts.
Harper is brilliant. I mean, really. He's extremely smart and knows his stuff. That's why he was hired to be the lead archaeologist on that dig. His life gets complicated, though, when his dream life starts to get confusing. There is something about the man in his dream. That's one of the mysteries. Who is this guy? Is he a figment of his imagination or is he real or what?
The ending is action-packed and surprising. That's all I'll say about it because I want it to be a surprise. It's really something great.
This story is also full of lessons and details. History lessons and Marine archaeology lessons. I love history, so I found that part fascinating. I am not into Marine Archaeology and I found all the details, and there's a whole lot of it, about how to do thus-and-so wordy. That's my only criticism of this story.
I do recommend this book for those who love the ocean, if you love Marine Archaeology, and if you love romance on the ocean then you will love this book.
I received this book in exchange for my honest review by Gay Book Reviews.
December 7, 2016
Once in a while, stories like this one, dreamy, mystical, unreal, are exactly what I need. The union of a really well done writing and an intriguing plot made Heartifact really interesting. Till the end I had no idea how the author could give Harper an HEA but Aisling did really great. A wonderful ending full of wonder and so cute. I liked Heartifact a lot, there wasn’t a moment of pause in the research and divings, there was some action that kept me on the edge and some too hot sex scenes which increased my delight. The details of the expedition were never boring and the pairing of the sea, which I deeply fear, and the archeology, which I adore, was a winner from the start.
I have to say I wouldn’t say no to a sequel, to see how Harper and Dion will be together on a more realistic setting
Don’t forget, the proceeds from this book will be donated to charities, one more reason to give it a chance.
The cover art by Timmy Ashton is simply not a favorite of mine, I would have preferred something more eye catching.
I have to say I wouldn’t say no to a sequel, to see how Harper and Dion will be together on a more realistic setting
Don’t forget, the proceeds from this book will be donated to charities, one more reason to give it a chance.
The cover art by Timmy Ashton is simply not a favorite of mine, I would have preferred something more eye catching.
January 12, 2017
Book – Heartifact
Author – Aisling Mancy
Star rating - ★★★★☆
No. of Pages – 88
Cover – Nice
POV – 3rd person, one character
Would I read it again – Maybe
Genre – LGBT, Romance, Archaeological, Contemporary, Fantasy
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
This was an interesting one for me. I've only ever read one book by the author before and it wasn't a resounding success, so I was hesitant and unsure about what I'd find, though the blurb intrigued me. This one was a story of two halves, the first being a little more unsure than the second, which really picked up the story and ran with it.
First, I'm going to run through the cons, because I want them out of the way.
I feel slightly cheated by the length, as it's only 88 pages and the story didn't begin until 5% then ended at 97%. That's a total of 8% of the story that I missed, which it could have used to round up the ending in a less abrupt way.
There was a lot of confusion in the first few pages, what with the mass amount of metaphors and brand names. I'm also not a fan of the theme that is so common in the genre of introducing the character by using their full name as the first words of the story. It's a pet-bug of mine. Beyond that, the brand news bugged me because I have no idea what Sperrys (shoes?) and the Seamaster (watch?) are, and although it was instantly made clear that it was shoes, kicked off, and a watch that told the time, it was kind of frustrating at the same time.
Another pet hate was the sexism of this comment which totally rubbed me up the wrong way → “a woman without a vagenda.” I shouldn't even have to explain why that is wrong.
There's also a moment where Harper mentions Atlantic out of nowhere, claiming that someone else was bringing it up, even though they didn't. It was confusing.
I would have liked an identifying marker – italics or otherwise – to separate the dreams from reality, because it was often confusing which was which.
Oh, and there was a serious misuse of ship and boat throughout. Now, if there's one thing that proper divers, archaeologists, marine archaeologists, shipmates and such can't stand it's when someone messes up and calls their ship a boat. Yet, Harper makes this mistake countless times and is never corrected.
I have to say that the story follows the blurb like a paint by numbers, because you get exactly what the blurb tells you to expect in that precise order.
But, by the halfway point, they're on the ship and ready to get started with the excavation and that's when the story really kicks off. So let's explore the pros.
First off, I liked Harper as a character. He was relatable and believable both as a lonely man, a marine archaeologist and as the leader of the team at the excavation site. He had the attitude, the knowledge and the demeanour to handle being in charge without floundering at the first hurdle or being afraid to challenge the opinions of his peers. He somehow manages to keep his personal life private on the ship, while doing his job to the best of his abilities and holding out hope for something that he's been told is impossible.
I liked Sticks, who was a strong female and not too butch, like some women are in MM stories.
There is a great balance between the dreams and reality, with Harper admitting that it's difficult to separate them first thing after waking, but without the complication of him being nuts enough to force the others to believe that they could be 'real'.
The authenticity and incredible detail of the excavation is what really woke me up to this story. Before that, I was bordering on a 2 or 3 star rating, because I just wasn't feeling the passion, the excitement or the chemistry between Pelora. But once Harper got onto the ship and they began working, it all became real and tangible, allowing us readers to see the work they were doing, how the revelations affected Harper's moods and his feelings for Pelora.
In the end, while the ending was abrupt, it was a great way to end the story. I liked the choices Harper made, the reasons for them and loved that he had to choose between sense, reality and friendship or something that might not even be real but felt intense and fulfilled all of his deepest needs and dreams. I'd definitely have liked to have seen more, but perhaps in a second short? Something where we can follow Harper into the next phase and see how it happens. It felt a little up in the air, at the end of this one, because there was no guarantee that it would work or what might happen, if Harper even realised what had happened. I would have liked some hint of something simple, even something as small as Harper smiling or feeling relief.
Overall, it was a good story with a dodgy start. I might read it again, but I won't be reading the beginning when I'm already tired as I did today, because it's just not exciting enough to keep my interest until the halfway mark.
Author – Aisling Mancy
Star rating - ★★★★☆
No. of Pages – 88
Cover – Nice
POV – 3rd person, one character
Would I read it again – Maybe
Genre – LGBT, Romance, Archaeological, Contemporary, Fantasy
** I WAS GIVEN THIS BOOK FOR MY READING PLEASURE **
Reviewed for Divine Magazine
This was an interesting one for me. I've only ever read one book by the author before and it wasn't a resounding success, so I was hesitant and unsure about what I'd find, though the blurb intrigued me. This one was a story of two halves, the first being a little more unsure than the second, which really picked up the story and ran with it.
First, I'm going to run through the cons, because I want them out of the way.
I feel slightly cheated by the length, as it's only 88 pages and the story didn't begin until 5% then ended at 97%. That's a total of 8% of the story that I missed, which it could have used to round up the ending in a less abrupt way.
There was a lot of confusion in the first few pages, what with the mass amount of metaphors and brand names. I'm also not a fan of the theme that is so common in the genre of introducing the character by using their full name as the first words of the story. It's a pet-bug of mine. Beyond that, the brand news bugged me because I have no idea what Sperrys (shoes?) and the Seamaster (watch?) are, and although it was instantly made clear that it was shoes, kicked off, and a watch that told the time, it was kind of frustrating at the same time.
Another pet hate was the sexism of this comment which totally rubbed me up the wrong way → “a woman without a vagenda.” I shouldn't even have to explain why that is wrong.
There's also a moment where Harper mentions Atlantic out of nowhere, claiming that someone else was bringing it up, even though they didn't. It was confusing.
I would have liked an identifying marker – italics or otherwise – to separate the dreams from reality, because it was often confusing which was which.
Oh, and there was a serious misuse of ship and boat throughout. Now, if there's one thing that proper divers, archaeologists, marine archaeologists, shipmates and such can't stand it's when someone messes up and calls their ship a boat. Yet, Harper makes this mistake countless times and is never corrected.
I have to say that the story follows the blurb like a paint by numbers, because you get exactly what the blurb tells you to expect in that precise order.
But, by the halfway point, they're on the ship and ready to get started with the excavation and that's when the story really kicks off. So let's explore the pros.
First off, I liked Harper as a character. He was relatable and believable both as a lonely man, a marine archaeologist and as the leader of the team at the excavation site. He had the attitude, the knowledge and the demeanour to handle being in charge without floundering at the first hurdle or being afraid to challenge the opinions of his peers. He somehow manages to keep his personal life private on the ship, while doing his job to the best of his abilities and holding out hope for something that he's been told is impossible.
I liked Sticks, who was a strong female and not too butch, like some women are in MM stories.
There is a great balance between the dreams and reality, with Harper admitting that it's difficult to separate them first thing after waking, but without the complication of him being nuts enough to force the others to believe that they could be 'real'.
The authenticity and incredible detail of the excavation is what really woke me up to this story. Before that, I was bordering on a 2 or 3 star rating, because I just wasn't feeling the passion, the excitement or the chemistry between Pelora. But once Harper got onto the ship and they began working, it all became real and tangible, allowing us readers to see the work they were doing, how the revelations affected Harper's moods and his feelings for Pelora.
In the end, while the ending was abrupt, it was a great way to end the story. I liked the choices Harper made, the reasons for them and loved that he had to choose between sense, reality and friendship or something that might not even be real but felt intense and fulfilled all of his deepest needs and dreams. I'd definitely have liked to have seen more, but perhaps in a second short? Something where we can follow Harper into the next phase and see how it happens. It felt a little up in the air, at the end of this one, because there was no guarantee that it would work or what might happen, if Harper even realised what had happened. I would have liked some hint of something simple, even something as small as Harper smiling or feeling relief.
Overall, it was a good story with a dodgy start. I might read it again, but I won't be reading the beginning when I'm already tired as I did today, because it's just not exciting enough to keep my interest until the halfway mark.
December 2, 2016
This is a super interesting and action packed story that has a delicious twist. From the very beginning I found myself pulled into the story and from then on out it was great ride.
Harper, a Marine Archeologist, is having dreams. These dreams include a hot, mystery man. As the story progresses we find out who, or should I say what, the mystery man is. This was so unexpected I was actually thrilled at the turn of events.
The relationship between Harper and his best friend Stick, who is also on the expedition, was fun. They have a strong bond that I admired.
I rigorously applaud the author’s imagination and talent for weaving a great tale. What makes it even better is that I can tell the author did his homework. He was meticulous in explaining the workings of the underwater research. I found it fascinating.
I cannot conclude this review without mentioning the cover art. It’s absolutely beautiful. I have to give huge kudos to the illustrator, Timmy Ashton. I originally bought this for my Kindle, but had to buy the paperback just so I could get the full effect of the cover and have it for my very own.
One last thing before I go. The proceeds from the purchase of this book goes to three organizations that help LGBT youth. The Trevor Project in the United States, Arcigay in Italy and Le Refeuge in France. This is a perfect win/win scenario. You get a great read while helping others who desperately need it.
Harper, a Marine Archeologist, is having dreams. These dreams include a hot, mystery man. As the story progresses we find out who, or should I say what, the mystery man is. This was so unexpected I was actually thrilled at the turn of events.
The relationship between Harper and his best friend Stick, who is also on the expedition, was fun. They have a strong bond that I admired.
I rigorously applaud the author’s imagination and talent for weaving a great tale. What makes it even better is that I can tell the author did his homework. He was meticulous in explaining the workings of the underwater research. I found it fascinating.
I cannot conclude this review without mentioning the cover art. It’s absolutely beautiful. I have to give huge kudos to the illustrator, Timmy Ashton. I originally bought this for my Kindle, but had to buy the paperback just so I could get the full effect of the cover and have it for my very own.
One last thing before I go. The proceeds from the purchase of this book goes to three organizations that help LGBT youth. The Trevor Project in the United States, Arcigay in Italy and Le Refeuge in France. This is a perfect win/win scenario. You get a great read while helping others who desperately need it.
January 6, 2017
Heartifact by Aisling Mancy is a novella that is satisfying to both one’s head and one’s heart, which is implied by the clever title, and is not unusual for this author. As much as this story is a romance, it is also an adventure. Prepare to be enlightened and enriched in more ways than one!
I experienced an undersea adventure with Harper Kidd and his best friend, Stick, during which I learned about a fascinating topic I never before considered: underwater archaeology. Artfully blended with the hard facts of undersea exploration, is the unveiling of ancient legend and treasure.
What is most captivating about Heartifact, though, was the human (and not-so-human) interaction. Just as Harper must balance his obligations to his job with his obligation to his conscience, he must also measure his romantic desire against deep friendship. As in many aspects of life, one must make important and critical choices, and Harper is called on to choose in areas of practicality and of the heart. His choices aren’t necessarily what you’d expect.
And the cover—it is exquisite, and is designed by a talented young artist, Timmy Ashton! This book could hang on the wall as art.
I read Heartifact on a long travel day, which made the day fly by enjoyably! I highly recommend this book and hope for a sequel.
I experienced an undersea adventure with Harper Kidd and his best friend, Stick, during which I learned about a fascinating topic I never before considered: underwater archaeology. Artfully blended with the hard facts of undersea exploration, is the unveiling of ancient legend and treasure.
What is most captivating about Heartifact, though, was the human (and not-so-human) interaction. Just as Harper must balance his obligations to his job with his obligation to his conscience, he must also measure his romantic desire against deep friendship. As in many aspects of life, one must make important and critical choices, and Harper is called on to choose in areas of practicality and of the heart. His choices aren’t necessarily what you’d expect.
And the cover—it is exquisite, and is designed by a talented young artist, Timmy Ashton! This book could hang on the wall as art.
I read Heartifact on a long travel day, which made the day fly by enjoyably! I highly recommend this book and hope for a sequel.
December 7, 2016
This book is the first I have read by this author, and I can honestly say it won't be the last!!
Aisling Mancy (Ash) set the tone within the first few pages and kept a steady pace the entire length of the book. Dr. Harper Kidd (Harper) is a great guy, without knowing just how great a guy he is. Getting more and more disillusioned by how his life is going, and what he's doing, His best friend, Stick (Dr. Gabriel) is a fantastic and supportive friend who is a master in her own field of underwater robotics.
I love the amount of work the author put into the story. You truly felt the interest in the story and were very confident in what was going on. Amazing research!
I wish it was longer, the last two lines in the book gave me goosebumps!! I'm hoping for more!!!
Aisling Mancy (Ash) set the tone within the first few pages and kept a steady pace the entire length of the book. Dr. Harper Kidd (Harper) is a great guy, without knowing just how great a guy he is. Getting more and more disillusioned by how his life is going, and what he's doing, His best friend, Stick (Dr. Gabriel) is a fantastic and supportive friend who is a master in her own field of underwater robotics.
I love the amount of work the author put into the story. You truly felt the interest in the story and were very confident in what was going on. Amazing research!
I wish it was longer, the last two lines in the book gave me goosebumps!! I'm hoping for more!!!
December 6, 2016
4.5 Stars ~ I must begin this review by mentioning something I thoroughly enjoy about this author—his unquestionably thorough research on his subject matter. I always feel both enriched and entertained by an Aisling Mancy novel, primarily because a rich storyline is key to his novels. His characters are enchanting and real, but it is the careful way in which this author weaves fact with fiction that holds the interest so incredibly well. In the story Heartifact, I felt I got a mythology lesson woven together with fascinating details on real life deep-sea artifact retrieval all rolled into a mysterious love story that left me gasping at the surprise ending.
Harper is, as the blurb indicates, a marine archaeologist. However, after returning home from yet another disappointing assignment, he leaps at the opportunity to work with his best gal pal and go on a dive that promises to be interesting, if not a bit dangerous. If that were all he had to contend with, his life would be exciting, but of late, he has been experiencing vivid dreams of a mysterious lover—one who he cannot seem to shake even in his waking hours—nor does he really want to, either. So, while there is danger at sea in the form of hidden, unexploded mines set on the ocean floor, there is even more danger of Harper losing both his heart and soul to the mysterious blue god-like creature who stirs his very core when the lights go out at night. When Harper discovers that his dream man could actually be real, he will be forced to make a decision—one that could cost his best friend her life.
I have to admit this story drew me in immediately. There was something very endearing about Harper—his frustrations with his current employer and his unwavering professionalism and desire to see the ocean respected. But his relationship with Stick, his best friend, was what really made this man so attractive. The close rapport she and Harper shared made for real drama when a near fatal accident causes Harper to make one of the most difficult decisions of his life—particularly since the story had been building up how intensely Harper felt in his relationship growing with his dream lover. Along with Stick, Aisling Mancy created a full side cast of characters, and this is where his great ability to craft a story really lays–in the interweaving of a multi-faceted story with believable characters that are not merely pretty pieces of furniture but important to the advancement of the plot.
My only complaint, and admittedly it is a selfish one, is that the story was just too darn short. The ending left me reeling (in a good way, never fear), but I wanted more—it was just that good. Aisling Mancy is a gifted writer and he spins a magical tale in this, his latest release. I highly recommend it to you. It’s also worth noting that the net proceeds from the sale of Heartifact go to three worthy organizations, The Trevor Project in the US, le Refuge in France and Arcigay in Italy.
Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach Reviews
Harper is, as the blurb indicates, a marine archaeologist. However, after returning home from yet another disappointing assignment, he leaps at the opportunity to work with his best gal pal and go on a dive that promises to be interesting, if not a bit dangerous. If that were all he had to contend with, his life would be exciting, but of late, he has been experiencing vivid dreams of a mysterious lover—one who he cannot seem to shake even in his waking hours—nor does he really want to, either. So, while there is danger at sea in the form of hidden, unexploded mines set on the ocean floor, there is even more danger of Harper losing both his heart and soul to the mysterious blue god-like creature who stirs his very core when the lights go out at night. When Harper discovers that his dream man could actually be real, he will be forced to make a decision—one that could cost his best friend her life.
I have to admit this story drew me in immediately. There was something very endearing about Harper—his frustrations with his current employer and his unwavering professionalism and desire to see the ocean respected. But his relationship with Stick, his best friend, was what really made this man so attractive. The close rapport she and Harper shared made for real drama when a near fatal accident causes Harper to make one of the most difficult decisions of his life—particularly since the story had been building up how intensely Harper felt in his relationship growing with his dream lover. Along with Stick, Aisling Mancy created a full side cast of characters, and this is where his great ability to craft a story really lays–in the interweaving of a multi-faceted story with believable characters that are not merely pretty pieces of furniture but important to the advancement of the plot.
My only complaint, and admittedly it is a selfish one, is that the story was just too darn short. The ending left me reeling (in a good way, never fear), but I wanted more—it was just that good. Aisling Mancy is a gifted writer and he spins a magical tale in this, his latest release. I highly recommend it to you. It’s also worth noting that the net proceeds from the sale of Heartifact go to three worthy organizations, The Trevor Project in the US, le Refuge in France and Arcigay in Italy.
Reviewed by Sammy for The Novel Approach Reviews
November 27, 2016
Harper Kidd, of 'Heartifact' by Aisling Mancy, is tired of doing work he has to do and longing for the work that is his passion. Harper is a marine archeologist working on an oil rig because he needs a job. Knowing that the oil rig is killing the coral reef they are working near breaks his heart. When his best friend, Stick, offers him a chance to use his skills and education on a project she is working on, he grabs it. Harper quits his soul-killing job and joins Stick in a new adventure.
Harper isn't even sure what the project entails but trusts Stick not to guide him wrong and follows her in blind faith. When he realizes the position involves being head archeologist of a sea salvage project that involves ancient underwater artifacts, he's thrilled. The only thing is, the crew has discovered unexploded bombs making diving treacherous. Two of their divers have already lost their lives. Before they dive again, the area has to be disarmed, at least as much as humanly possible.
Harper has his own dilemma in the form of very hot dreams about a man built like a Greek god. The man says his name is Pelora. The dreams are so vivid that Harper hesitates to wake up even being on an exciting underwater expedition. Although this man inspires the greatest passion Harper has ever felt, he is instinctively afraid of him as well. As time goes by, Pelora begins to appear to him at other times. He learns that Pelora is a god who is imprisoned beneath the sea as punishment for murdering someone, doomed to be there until he loses someone he loves; highly improbable with him banished under the ocean.
Although the passionate lovemaking between Pelora and Harper is over the top in heat level, this is not a typical love story. Loving someone can hurt and sometimes presents us with an almost impossible choice between love and loyalty, reality and fantasy. Aisling has presented such a dilemma while seamlessly combining mythology with archeology, making me believe that someone like Pelora can actually exist. Aisling also gave me an education in underwater salvage in the process of weaving this fantastical tale. It's obvious that Aisling has done a lot of research to achieve such a high knowledge of the subject. Although I didn't absorb it all, reading about it was fascinating.
If you enjoy reading about hot marine archeologists, Greek gods, steamy sex, underwater exploration and the dangers that lie below, you may like this story. Thanks, Aisling, for the unusual, enlightening tale.
Note for Goodreads - not sure, you did not say where the book came from...:
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
Harper isn't even sure what the project entails but trusts Stick not to guide him wrong and follows her in blind faith. When he realizes the position involves being head archeologist of a sea salvage project that involves ancient underwater artifacts, he's thrilled. The only thing is, the crew has discovered unexploded bombs making diving treacherous. Two of their divers have already lost their lives. Before they dive again, the area has to be disarmed, at least as much as humanly possible.
Harper has his own dilemma in the form of very hot dreams about a man built like a Greek god. The man says his name is Pelora. The dreams are so vivid that Harper hesitates to wake up even being on an exciting underwater expedition. Although this man inspires the greatest passion Harper has ever felt, he is instinctively afraid of him as well. As time goes by, Pelora begins to appear to him at other times. He learns that Pelora is a god who is imprisoned beneath the sea as punishment for murdering someone, doomed to be there until he loses someone he loves; highly improbable with him banished under the ocean.
Although the passionate lovemaking between Pelora and Harper is over the top in heat level, this is not a typical love story. Loving someone can hurt and sometimes presents us with an almost impossible choice between love and loyalty, reality and fantasy. Aisling has presented such a dilemma while seamlessly combining mythology with archeology, making me believe that someone like Pelora can actually exist. Aisling also gave me an education in underwater salvage in the process of weaving this fantastical tale. It's obvious that Aisling has done a lot of research to achieve such a high knowledge of the subject. Although I didn't absorb it all, reading about it was fascinating.
If you enjoy reading about hot marine archeologists, Greek gods, steamy sex, underwater exploration and the dangers that lie below, you may like this story. Thanks, Aisling, for the unusual, enlightening tale.
Note for Goodreads - not sure, you did not say where the book came from...:
NOTE: This book was provided by the author for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.
January 4, 2017
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
Here is a story where the construction of the plot and the pacing of the action really kept me on tinter hooks throughout. There are two major themes in the story: (1) Harper, Stick, and the financial backers exploring an ancient sunken ship in the Mediterranean, and (2) Harper and Pelora’s love story. While I’d say a bulk of the on-page action focuses on the former, I still found it quite exciting. The characters themselves are palpably overjoyed at finding their sunken ship richly appointed with valuables plus discovering a previously unknown underwater cave with still more treasure. Even with all the oceanographic exposition, I never felt like the prose was weighted down by the subject matter. And even if someone less keen on ocean themes were reading this, there is plenty of hot man-on-mythical-man action to break it up. It’s not quite formulaic, but several chapters start or end with Pelora and Harper in bed.
As I read, I certainly felt the characters were distinctly different people, but not necessarily very three dimensional. The blurb on Amazon makes it sound like Harper’s got a lot going on and that might color his actions/attitudes…but I didn’t get the sense that he was trying to escape a bad relationship despite the appearance of a crappy old boyfriend in one brief scene. There was a more appreciable set up for framing Harper’s oil-company job as a villain, but this, too soon becomes moot. Oddly, I thought that Stick felt the most well developed with Pelora himself as a close second. Overall, I felt the characters were enjoyable as tropes whose purpose is to serve as a vehicle to promote the plot. Not necessarily disappointing, but not the kind of individuals I spend much time wondering about once the story has ended.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
Here is a story where the construction of the plot and the pacing of the action really kept me on tinter hooks throughout. There are two major themes in the story: (1) Harper, Stick, and the financial backers exploring an ancient sunken ship in the Mediterranean, and (2) Harper and Pelora’s love story. While I’d say a bulk of the on-page action focuses on the former, I still found it quite exciting. The characters themselves are palpably overjoyed at finding their sunken ship richly appointed with valuables plus discovering a previously unknown underwater cave with still more treasure. Even with all the oceanographic exposition, I never felt like the prose was weighted down by the subject matter. And even if someone less keen on ocean themes were reading this, there is plenty of hot man-on-mythical-man action to break it up. It’s not quite formulaic, but several chapters start or end with Pelora and Harper in bed.
As I read, I certainly felt the characters were distinctly different people, but not necessarily very three dimensional. The blurb on Amazon makes it sound like Harper’s got a lot going on and that might color his actions/attitudes…but I didn’t get the sense that he was trying to escape a bad relationship despite the appearance of a crappy old boyfriend in one brief scene. There was a more appreciable set up for framing Harper’s oil-company job as a villain, but this, too soon becomes moot. Oddly, I thought that Stick felt the most well developed with Pelora himself as a close second. Overall, I felt the characters were enjoyable as tropes whose purpose is to serve as a vehicle to promote the plot. Not necessarily disappointing, but not the kind of individuals I spend much time wondering about once the story has ended.
Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.
December 17, 2016
3.5 stars
October 10, 2017
Heartifact by Aisling Mancy
This is a novella -- only has 120 pages and it reads in less than two hours.
Dr. Harper Kidd an anthropologist is reunited with his best friend, Dr, Maggie (Stick) Gabriel in a recovery expedition. There is a vessel near the Greek Island of Gavdos, just south of Crete. They are joined by Dimitris, captain of the Apestalmenos ship; Michael Thompson, an explosives expert; Spyros Metaxas from the Greek Ministry of Culture; and Andreas Reptis from the National Archaeological Museum. They localize the sunken ship and must bring it to the surface.
Meanwhile, Harper has been having erotic dreams with Pelora, a Greek semi-god who has been trapped under the wreckage. This god lives between the reals of fantasy and reality and usually must take a life to be freed. Harper must choose between his best friend, Stick, and Pelora in the process of salvaging the treasure.
Told from a weak third person point of view, the book is filled with cliches. The characters are two dimensional and are not believable. The sex scenes are not erotic. But the novella makes for a quick and easy read. I enjoyed it in spite of its shortcomings.
This is a novella -- only has 120 pages and it reads in less than two hours.
Dr. Harper Kidd an anthropologist is reunited with his best friend, Dr, Maggie (Stick) Gabriel in a recovery expedition. There is a vessel near the Greek Island of Gavdos, just south of Crete. They are joined by Dimitris, captain of the Apestalmenos ship; Michael Thompson, an explosives expert; Spyros Metaxas from the Greek Ministry of Culture; and Andreas Reptis from the National Archaeological Museum. They localize the sunken ship and must bring it to the surface.
Meanwhile, Harper has been having erotic dreams with Pelora, a Greek semi-god who has been trapped under the wreckage. This god lives between the reals of fantasy and reality and usually must take a life to be freed. Harper must choose between his best friend, Stick, and Pelora in the process of salvaging the treasure.
Told from a weak third person point of view, the book is filled with cliches. The characters are two dimensional and are not believable. The sex scenes are not erotic. But the novella makes for a quick and easy read. I enjoyed it in spite of its shortcomings.
November 27, 2016
Teaser
Like a riptide, Aisling Mancy's ‘Heartifact’ sucked me in! I had to re-read this fast-paced thriller to review it critically. And it proved even better the second time around, watching how Mancy constructed the story.
Aisling Mancy makes his story come alive. The reader falls for the plot, just as Harper falls for his ancient God.
See Full Review at Kimmers' Erotic Book Banter
http://bit.ly/2fSwf3N
PRE-RELEASE REVIEW: 'Heartifact' by Aisling Mancy - Benefit Release | kimmerseroticbb
Title: Heartifact Author: Aisling Mancy Cover Artist: Timmy Ashton Published: November 24, 2016 Publisher: Men Over The Rainbow Genre: Adventure Romance Length...
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Like a riptide, Aisling Mancy's ‘Heartifact’ sucked me in! I had to re-read this fast-paced thriller to review it critically. And it proved even better the second time around, watching how Mancy constructed the story.
Aisling Mancy makes his story come alive. The reader falls for the plot, just as Harper falls for his ancient God.
See Full Review at Kimmers' Erotic Book Banter
http://bit.ly/2fSwf3N
PRE-RELEASE REVIEW: 'Heartifact' by Aisling Mancy - Benefit Release | kimmerseroticbb
Title: Heartifact Author: Aisling Mancy Cover Artist: Timmy Ashton Published: November 24, 2016 Publisher: Men Over The Rainbow Genre: Adventure Romance Length...
kimmerseroticbookb.wixsite.com
Chat Conversation End
December 4, 2017
2017 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention: Aisling Mancy Heartifact
1) Why, why, why did this book had to end??? This was fantastic and I so wish it was longer. I really didn't want the book to end. This is a well written, well structured, awesome book. I loved the characters, the setting, the premise, and, OMG, that end! I want more! 🤓 Now, THIS is how you write a story.
1) Why, why, why did this book had to end??? This was fantastic and I so wish it was longer. I really didn't want the book to end. This is a well written, well structured, awesome book. I loved the characters, the setting, the premise, and, OMG, that end! I want more! 🤓 Now, THIS is how you write a story.
October 6, 2017
Why, why, why did this book had to end??? This was fantastic and I so wish it was longer. I really didn't want the book to end. This is a well written, well structured, awesome book. I loved the characters, the setting, the premise, and, OMG, that end! I want more! 🤓
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews