In the breach between stories – #CrossGenre #Paranormal #Giveaway

Blurb

In these pages, you’ll find…

• A tender love story between a ghoul and a human

• A cosmetic possession

• An immortal teen finding a love lost for lifetimes

• The redemption of a trafficker

• The dangers of getting everything we want

• Blemishes that heal others

• An incubus and an assassin in the breach between stories

• The making of a siren

…and more.

For readers of the Limerent Series, you will learn more about some characters you already know and love. For new readers, these short stories are an entry point into the Limerent world.

Excerpt

From “Yule: The Year Alex Got Everything He Wanted for Christmas”

“So don’t you think that Santa would find it greedy of you to be asking for 156 things when you already have so much?”

Alex had pondered that for maybe a whole five seconds before he committed Mistake Number 3.

“Well, I can add a few more things to my list and then send the extra stuff I get to the kids who don’t have anything,” he said brightly. This had seemed reasonable to him, and it was a good start. He should have stopped there, but he didn’t.

“Besides, I’ve been really good this year. And Santa can make as many gifts as he wants, so why can’t I just send him the list of everything I want. I bet other kids send lists just as long or longer. A lot of the kids in my class already have a lot of the stuff on my list. And they get new stuff all the time. How come their parents always—”

At this his mother snapped. Maybe it was what he had said. Maybe it was his “tone.” But whatever it was, her next words had lost the sweet quality and were short, crisp, and direct.

“Because their parents aren’t your parents. And because having 156 things on your Christmas list is unreasonable and greedy,” she said. “Go to your room and pare that list down to the ten things you really want, or I will do it for you.”

“But Moooommm …”

“Now,” she said, with all the flexibility of concrete.

Review by Lisabet Sarai

Short stories demand razor-sharp skill from an author. In a relatively compressed space, they must communicate the premise, sketch the setting, and introduce the characters, before focusing in on the primary conflict. Then the events in the story must either resolve this conflict or else demonstrate that the fundamental issues were in fact quite different from what the reader had been led to expect.

The essentials of the story form are brevity and self-containment.

Most of the tales in Sabbatical, Part 1 by LS Delorme don’t really fit this (admittedly biased) definition. The author often jumps into the middle of a situation without any prelude or preparation for the reader. I found myself spending a good deal of time in a state of confusion. I couldn’t tell who the characters were or what motivated them. Flashbacks were common, heightening the experience of narrative chaos. In many cases the story events were surprising or intriguing, but often they did not lead to any sort of resolution. Vague references to external persons and powers sometimes introduced a sense of menace that never materialized. My general feeling was that I’d been picked up, carried along for a while, then dropped.

Some of the stories seem to be linked, occurring in a universe where paranormal abilities are not uncommon and both malevolent and benevolent organizations engage in an ongoing struggle. Most of these cross-story relationships are little more than hints, however. This just added to my bewilderment.

Finally, I found the author’s style to be rather muted, with emotions described as opposed to demonstrated by action. The intensity of the language rarely matched the sometimes dire experiences of the characters.

From the comments above, one might conclude that I did not enjoy reading Sabbatical. In fact, that’s not true. The stories (if one can call them that) are rich in surprising and original concepts. I was impressed by the author’s imagination, even as I lamented what I viewed as some limitations in craft. I gather that at least some of the tales are related to previously published novels by the author. I suspect I might like those longer works more than I did this volume.

There is one story in the collection that does fit my definition, however. “The Year Alex Got Everything He Wanted for Christmas” is perfectly structured, with a clear conflict, escalating action and a satisfying resolution. It’s sweet and funny, with a light touch. This story demonstrates what LS Delorme could do if she paid more attention to literary convention.

I get the sense that she is deliberately unconventional, though. That’s actually a perspective I agree with, though my own violations of expectations occur more in genre content than in narrative technique. Certainly Sabbatical is unlike anything else I’ve read recently. That could be taken as a recommendation.

About the Author

Lexy Shaw Delorme (writing as LS Delorme) is the award-winning author of The Limerent Series, a genre-defying collection of emotionally charged novels that which includes Caio, Bright Midnights, Fanning Fireflies, Ghosting Academy and Limerence.

Her book Caio won a finalist spot in the International Book Awards for cross genre fiction. Bright Midnights was named a Publishers Weekly (BookLife) “Editors’ Choice Pick” and was a finalist Golden Wizard Award Competition in 2024. Fanning Fireflies won first place for paranormal fiction in the Firebird awards.

With a background as a lawyer, pop musician, and science writer, Lexy brings intellectual depth and lyrical prose to every story she tells. She is a wanderer and storyteller at heart. Raised as a “military brat” by a United States Navy Captain, she has lived on three continents, across four countries, nine states, and 21 cities. Now based in Paris, she lives with her charming French husband and two very cool sons. Lexy is an active member of the British Fantasy Society, the Science Fiction Writers Association, Romance Writers of America, the Horror Writers Association, IBPA, Society of Authors and ALLi.

She is currently working on the latest installment in the series.

Website: https://www.lsdelorme.com/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/ls_delorme

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lexyshawdelorme

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lexyshawdelorme

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lexy-shaw-delorme-357830/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexy.delorme

Book Link

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sabbatical-Part-One-Short-Stories/dp/B0GVZP85WM/ref=sr_1_1

LS Delorme will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner during the tour.