SABBATICAL, PART ONE by LS Delorme
SABBATICAL, PART ONE
by LS Delorme
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GENRE: CrossGenre Short Story Collection
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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 Litha: The Harvesting of Amber Sue White
“It’s not just some small town, it’s called Lovette, and it’s my hometown.”
“That’s such a cute name,” Claire said. “Is it here in Virginia?”
“Yes, it’s in the Blue Ridge Mountains, but it’s closest to Leesburg.”
“Oh, do they have the facilities there for a high-risk pregnancy like yours?”
“You’re high risk? Is it because of your weight?” This came from Jean Pione, one of Dave’s coworkers, a small, skinny women who held a plate with one piece of lettuce and a couple of tomatoes. Jodie had never been thin, but the pregnancy had made her look like a beach ball. She had always had a pleasant, if a bit round, face, a pretty smile and straight brown hair that was thick but nothing extraordinary. Her looks were basically okay, but they were never her strong suit. So this comment coming from a skinny, pretty woman was at the border of what she could tolerate without saying something back.
“Sorry, I just asked because I lost my baby a few years ago.”
Jodie felt her stomach drop. This was not something that she wanted to hear right now.
Amber’s babies don’t die.
She had been hearing this sentence in her head since she learned that she was pregnant. The more time that went on, the more she heard it and the more urgent it became.
“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have brought that up, what was I thinking,” Jean continued. “I just hope you make sure that you really trust the place where you deliver.”
Amber’s babies don’t die.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Review
LS Delorme’s Short Stories acts as a unique mosaic within the larger Limerent universe, offering both devoted fans and newcomers a rich sampler of the author’s imagination. This collection, blending supernatural romance and dark fantasy, delves into vignettes where ghouls, incubi, immortals, and sirens intertwine with mortal lives, love, and redemption. The reasons to review this book are clear: it expands the lore for existing readers while welcoming fresh eyes, showcasing Delorme’s ability to create layered characters and emotional depth across a variety of intriguing scenarios.
Across these stories, one strength lies in the author’s talent for merging the fantastical with human themes. Whether it’s a ghoul navigating the challenges of love with a human or an immortal teenager grappling with lifetimes of lost affection, Delorme explores the delicate balance between desire, identity, and consequence. The writing style is accessible but wordy at times, each tale carrying a distinct mood—sometimes tender, sometimes unsettling—that invites reflection. Notably, the theme of redemption surfaces in unexpected ways, such as the story of a trafficker seeking a second chance, reminding readers that even amidst darkness, transformation remains possible.
What stands out is the thoughtful mix of narrative voices and perspectives—a quality that keeps the collection fresh and unpredictable. The concise format of short stories suits Delorme’s strengths, allowing for quick shifts from the dangers of unchecked wishes to the haunting beauty of blemishes that heal rather than scar. The inclusion of an incubus and assassin pairing cleverly evokes mythic resonance while exploring trust and survival in liminal spaces. For devoted readers of the Limerent Series, these stories deepen understanding and affection for familiar characters; for new readers, they're an entry point without overwhelming lore buildup.
However, this format can also be a double-edged sword. The brevity, while often a virtue, sometimes leaves some narratives feeling a bit too fleeting—certain premises beg for more development or resolution than the short story length permits. A few plot threads or emotional arcs might have benefited from deeper exploration, though this may well motivate readers to explore the wider Limerent Series where those threads are more fully realized.
In sum, Short Stories by LS Delorme is a genre-bending collection that balances supernatural intrigue with heartfelt human drama with a dark touch. It’s best suited for fans of dark fantasy and paranormal romance who appreciate nuanced characters and themes of love and redemption shadowed by cosmic stakes. If you enjoy worlds where myth meets modernity, and where every shade of desire comes with its price, this book will reward your curiosity. For those who prefer standalone tales with neat conclusions, the open-endedness of some stories might frustrate, but for readers willing to embrace ambiguity and mythic echoes, this collection offers both enchantment and thought-provoking depth.
Does Delorme’s Limerent world blur the lines between monsters and humanity enough to make us rethink who – or what – deserves compassion? That lingering question feels like an invitation not only to the stories here but to the wider journey that lies beyond these pages.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
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. In April, she will be releasing a complication of short stories entitled Sabbatical, Part One.
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 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 instalment 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
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Sabbatical-Part-One-Short-Stories/dp/B0GVZP85WM/ref=sr_1_1
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GIVEAWAY INFORMATION
LS Delorme will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner during the tour.
Enter here:
https://kingsumo.com/g/m44jqnm/sabbaticcal
Comments