I liked the idea of this story: an English lady traveling to meet her sister, ends up accidentally married to a Scottish gentleman. But the execution I liked the idea of this story: an English lady traveling to meet her sister, ends up accidentally married to a Scottish gentleman. But the execution fell more than a little flat. I wasn’t a big fan of either main character. I found the story predictable. And I had essentially no emotional connection to the romance or any character in the book.
As we begin, Professor Braeden McKinnon is on his way home from Edinburgh University, when he comes across Lady Sarah and her maid. The women had been in a carriage accident and need help getting to shelter. When they all discover they’re headed to basically the same destination, the three end up traveling together. Then the maid gets sick and you can figure out where things go from there. Sarah and Braeden end up traveling alone. Inevitably, their need for two rooms can’t be accommodated and to spare herself some embarrassment, she tells people she and Braeden are married. Which by Scottish law, makes them actually married.
Braeden is obsessed with getting a letter inviting him to an expedition in Rome. Sarah is bent on returning to London to celebrate the publication of her book. These two plans cannot co-exist. Sarah recognizes that the needs of husbands are expected to supersede the needs of wives, so she gnashes her teeth a lot and tries to put some distance between herself and her husband… but doesn’t ever actually talk to him. Just as he never actually talks to her about what she might want for the future.
Every single plot development in this story centers on a miscommunication or utter absence of communication. There are no surprises. Everything you think will happen, happens. I didn’t like Sarah, who felt like a whiner who never gave her husband a real chance. I didn’t like Braeden when push came to shove, when he had to choose between his own dreams and those of his wife. I didn’t like Sarah’s sister, her brother-in-law, or her mother, who basically had no support for her wishes. The attraction between Sarah and Braeden was lackluster. And the ending was saccharine, tied up with a neat little bow.
This book has a fair number of good reviews here, so perhaps it may be more your cup of tea. But it was not for me. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t really like it either.
Rating: C-
*ARC provided by publisher
Merged review:
I liked the idea of this story: an English lady traveling to meet her sister, ends up accidentally married to a Scottish gentleman. But the execution fell more than a little flat. I wasn’t a big fan of either main character. I found the story predictable. And I had essentially no emotional connection to the romance or any character in the book.
As we begin, Professor Braeden McKinnon is on his way home from Edinburgh University, when he comes across Lady Sarah and her maid. The women had been in a carriage accident and need help getting to shelter. When they all discover they’re headed to basically the same destination, the three end up traveling together. Then the maid gets sick and you can figure out where things go from there. Sarah and Braeden end up traveling alone. Inevitably, their need for two rooms can’t be accommodated and to spare herself some embarrassment, she tells people she and Braeden are married. Which by Scottish law, makes them actually married.
Braeden is obsessed with getting a letter inviting him to an expedition in Rome. Sarah is bent on returning to London to celebrate the publication of her book. These two plans cannot co-exist. Sarah recognizes that the needs of husbands are expected to supersede the needs of wives, so she gnashes her teeth a lot and tries to put some distance between herself and her husband… but doesn’t ever actually talk to him. Just as he never actually talks to her about what she might want for the future.
Every single plot development in this story centers on a miscommunication or utter absence of communication. There are no surprises. Everything you think will happen, happens. I didn’t like Sarah, who felt like a whiner who never gave her husband a real chance. I didn’t like Braeden when push came to shove, when he had to choose between his own dreams and those of his wife. I didn’t like Sarah’s sister, her brother-in-law, or her mother, who basically had no support for her wishes. The attraction between Sarah and Braeden was lackluster. And the ending was saccharine, tied up with a neat little bow.
This book has a fair number of good reviews here, so perhaps it may be more your cup of tea. But it was not for me. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t really like it either.
Oh Cresso, your story is every bit as delicious as I hoped it would be.
This novella is kind of a detour in the Demons of the Infernum series. All theOh Cresso, your story is every bit as delicious as I hoped it would be.
This novella is kind of a detour in the Demons of the Infernum series. All the main novels feature one of four half-demon brothers. But here, we get the love story of a secondary character, Cresso. He is the incubus who came up with a way for sex demons to mate outside their species without killing their partners. And that's mighty convenient, since he has fallen in love with a human.
Genevieve is a scientist in the lab where he works. Not only does she seem to be immune to Cresso's charms, she appears to actively dislike him. Of course, that's just a mask for the deep attraction she feels toward him. Genevieve was deeply betrayed in a past relationship and fears that an incubus would never be able to be faithful. Which means Cresso is off-limits. But when Genevieve starts receiving threatening letters and packages, Cresso can't help but step in to protect her. And from there, he begins to slowly break down the walls she has built around her heart.
I really enjoyed this short story. At about 120 pages, it was long enough to give me a real feel for both main characters. (Though I was honestly already intrigued with Cresso in Touch of the Angel.) I could easily understand Genevieve's reservations about beginning a relationship with a playboy. But at the same time, Cresso's refusal to feel off other women goes a long way to show just how much he feels for her. The sexual tension was good and the payoff did not disappoint.
I really enjoyed this one --and the bonus appearances from Maya and Taeg. 4 1/2 stars.
*ARC Provided by Entangled Publishing
Merged review:
Oh Cresso, your story is every bit as delicious as I hoped it would be.
This novella is kind of a detour in the Demons of the Infernum series. All the main novels feature one of four half-demon brothers. But here, we get the love story of a secondary character, Cresso. He is the incubus who came up with a way for sex demons to mate outside their species without killing their partners. And that's mighty convenient, since he has fallen in love with a human.
Genevieve is a scientist in the lab where he works. Not only does she seem to be immune to Cresso's charms, she appears to actively dislike him. Of course, that's just a mask for the deep attraction she feels toward him. Genevieve was deeply betrayed in a past relationship and fears that an incubus would never be able to be faithful. Which means Cresso is off-limits. But when Genevieve starts receiving threatening letters and packages, Cresso can't help but step in to protect her. And from there, he begins to slowly break down the walls she has built around her heart.
I really enjoyed this short story. At about 120 pages, it was long enough to give me a real feel for both main characters. (Though I was honestly already intrigued with Cresso in Touch of the Angel.) I could easily understand Genevieve's reservations about beginning a relationship with a playboy. But at the same time, Cresso's refusal to feel off other women goes a long way to show just how much he feels for her. The sexual tension was good and the payoff did not disappoint.
I really enjoyed this one --and the bonus appearances from Maya and Taeg. 4 1/2 stars.
3.5 Stars My goodness, there is quite a bit of steam stuffed into these 100 pages! The story follows former soldiers Oliver and Nick as they seduce the3.5 Stars My goodness, there is quite a bit of steam stuffed into these 100 pages! The story follows former soldiers Oliver and Nick as they seduce the virginal Vanessa into a threesome. The men have been sharing women for quite some time, but they have never acknowledged that there is an attraction between them as well. Once Lady Vanessa accepts their advances, however, that begins to change. And the sensual possibilities among the three of them are endless.
OK, the sex was hot. Especially when Nick and Oliver give into their feeling for one another the first time. I actually was drawn more to their relationship with one another than anything Vanessa had to offer. It's not that there's anything wrong with her, but they have only known her for a few days. The entire span of the story takes place in less than two weeks --and I'm just not a subscriber to the insta-love thing. But Oliver and Nick have been together for years. Their relationship was much easier for me to believe and accept thanks to their history together.
The menage wasn't the most believable true-love story for such a whirlwind affair, but I definitely enjoyed it for a little naughty fun. 3 1/2 stars.
*Book provided by author for review
Merged review:
3.5 Stars My goodness, there is quite a bit of steam stuffed into these 100 pages! The story follows former soldiers Oliver and Nick as they seduce the virginal Vanessa into a threesome. The men have been sharing women for quite some time, but they have never acknowledged that there is an attraction between them as well. Once Lady Vanessa accepts their advances, however, that begins to change. And the sensual possibilities among the three of them are endless.
OK, the sex was hot. Especially when Nick and Oliver give into their feeling for one another the first time. I actually was drawn more to their relationship with one another than anything Vanessa had to offer. It's not that there's anything wrong with her, but they have only known her for a few days. The entire span of the story takes place in less than two weeks --and I'm just not a subscriber to the insta-love thing. But Oliver and Nick have been together for years. Their relationship was much easier for me to believe and accept thanks to their history together.
The menage wasn't the most believable true-love story for such a whirlwind affair, but I definitely enjoyed it for a little naughty fun. 3 1/2 stars.
I really enjoyed this one. Mark & Tony is a re-release of LB Gregg's 2009 story, Gobsmacked, the first in her Men of Smithfield series. And after readI really enjoyed this one. Mark & Tony is a re-release of LB Gregg's 2009 story, Gobsmacked, the first in her Men of Smithfield series. And after reading it, I can assure you I will be reading the rest of the stories with gusto.
The main character of the novella is Mark, an ER doctor who has caught his live-in boyfriend cheating. Things get worse as he discovers the true depths of Jamie's betrayals. But a renewed relationship with his high-school crush, Tony, helps him move forward.
One of the things I liked best about the story was Mark's voice. The book is told in his first person POV and he was so human and easy to relate to. I was sold on him from the very beginning, when he assaulted Jamie with a Bible in the middle of church. His hurt and sometimes immature behavior made him far from perfect, but I was rooting for him throughout.
I laughed a lot while I was reading. This isn't a comedy, but it definitely has funny moments. Like when Mark confronts the man Jamie was cheating with:
"Mark, I don't even know what to say except I'm sorry. I don't know how - I mean, it just happened."
"Just happened?" Disbelief nearly choked me. "What? Oops, there's a dick in my ass?"
Or when Mark and Tony start getting hot and heavy in the kitchen.
"Tony. Stop. We need lube."
He scoped the kitchen and I shook my head. "No way." I wasn't putting salad dressing or some other food item in my ass. Been there. Done that. No thanks.
Come on!! That's funny.
Of course, at its core, it's not about laughter so much as love. It helps that Tony and Mark have a history to draw from. And I'm glad there are real feelings on both sides of the relationship. My only complaint is that so much time was wasted unnecessarily between these two. That and Tony's Bad Decision revealed in the second half of the book... that was a tough pill to swallow.
But overall, it was good. The pacing was quick and despite the short length, the characters were developed. Oh yeah... and the sex was hot, y'all.
*ARC Provided by NetGalley
Merged review:
I really enjoyed this one. Mark & Tony is a re-release of LB Gregg's 2009 story, Gobsmacked, the first in her Men of Smithfield series. And after reading it, I can assure you I will be reading the rest of the stories with gusto.
The main character of the novella is Mark, an ER doctor who has caught his live-in boyfriend cheating. Things get worse as he discovers the true depths of Jamie's betrayals. But a renewed relationship with his high-school crush, Tony, helps him move forward.
One of the things I liked best about the story was Mark's voice. The book is told in his first person POV and he was so human and easy to relate to. I was sold on him from the very beginning, when he assaulted Jamie with a Bible in the middle of church. His hurt and sometimes immature behavior made him far from perfect, but I was rooting for him throughout.
I laughed a lot while I was reading. This isn't a comedy, but it definitely has funny moments. Like when Mark confronts the man Jamie was cheating with:
"Mark, I don't even know what to say except I'm sorry. I don't know how - I mean, it just happened."
"Just happened?" Disbelief nearly choked me. "What? Oops, there's a dick in my ass?"
Or when Mark and Tony start getting hot and heavy in the kitchen.
"Tony. Stop. We need lube."
He scoped the kitchen and I shook my head. "No way." I wasn't putting salad dressing or some other food item in my ass. Been there. Done that. No thanks.
Come on!! That's funny.
Of course, at its core, it's not about laughter so much as love. It helps that Tony and Mark have a history to draw from. And I'm glad there are real feelings on both sides of the relationship. My only complaint is that so much time was wasted unnecessarily between these two. That and Tony's Bad Decision revealed in the second half of the book... that was a tough pill to swallow.
But overall, it was good. The pacing was quick and despite the short length, the characters were developed. Oh yeah... and the sex was hot, y'all.
Let me start by saying there is something for everyone. Generally I am a huge fan of tortured heroes, wounded warriors, and the like. That’s the reasoLet me start by saying there is something for everyone. Generally I am a huge fan of tortured heroes, wounded warriors, and the like. That’s the reason that I gave this book I try. And at first, while it could be a little corny at times, I thought it would be OK. Unfortunately the longer I read, the worse it got. So much so that I had to struggle to make it to the last page.
Basically this series centers around a group of Navy SEALs who were injured in service and are now healing at a place called Eagle Ridge Ranch in Texas. They are there to support each other. There are also great therapists available for them, to help heal body and mind. And at least one of the men has his mama there to help make it feel even more like family. The hero of this story, Reese Browning, lost his arm in service. His physical therapist, Gina, is an ex marine.
Reese’s injuries extend beyond his arm. He is also suffering from major PTSD. He barely speaks. Gina is fighting her own demons, which I won’t spoil, but you will figure out what they are pretty quickly if you read the book. As the story begins, she has been treating him for about a month, and he has barely spoken to her, yet there is a clear attraction there. They go from 0 to 100 in about five seconds. This Insta love will give you whiplash it happens so quickly. And that is where the problems begin.
It’s one thing for two people to fall in love and into bed really fast; it’s another thing when a child is involved. Gina is the single mother of a six-year-old girl who decides Reese is her daddy the first time she meets him. She calls him ‘Daddy’ the entire book. It really bothered me. It also really bothered me the fine point put on Reese and his buddies being manly men. It is true that there are times that Gina has reactions which are not well thought out. But he cuts her very little slack. The book treats her like an hysterical woman for having reactions which are really pretty normal. Like when he wants to join the CIA or when her child is put at risk.
On top of this, the storyline is predictable. From the moment we learned of a threat Reese’s team was investigating, it was blatantly obvious how the story would play out. And it wasn’t even believable. What are the chances? Forgive me for dropping into spoiler land for a moment, but you knew the kid was going to be kidnapped from the beginning. So why let her go into the situation where you know she’s going to be kidnapped? And then why does everyone hate on Gina for being understandably upset that her daughter was put in danger when she didn’t have to be? It was beyond eye rolling.
And then there is the language. For instant in one case, Gina leaves Reese a thong, which we find out has been worn because he can smell her “feminine essence” on it. Ew.
Or this one? “She snatched his Stetson and rode him hard to the magic land of shared a erotic spirits, his thumb pressing on her clit to open the gate to her climax.”
Or my personal favorite, when the hero said, “Promise me when I die, you’ll have the coroner cut off my cock and you’ll tuck it inside that sweet vagina of yours.”
Do I really need to continue? I’ll spare you, except to say that even old people don’t say things like “fudge and buttermilk” when they’re upset, much less say it a dozen times.
Reese was a good enough guy, but he got over his trauma pretty easily.
I guess Gina’s vagina is not only sweet but it is also magical. It may be the only thing magical about this book.
Rating: D+
*ARC provided by publisher
Merged review:
Let me start by saying there is something for everyone. Generally I am a huge fan of tortured heroes, wounded warriors, and the like. That’s the reason that I gave this book I try. And at first, while it could be a little corny at times, I thought it would be OK. Unfortunately the longer I read, the worse it got. So much so that I had to struggle to make it to the last page.
Basically this series centers around a group of Navy SEALs who were injured in service and are now healing at a place called Eagle Ridge Ranch in Texas. They are there to support each other. There are also great therapists available for them, to help heal body and mind. And at least one of the men has his mama there to help make it feel even more like family. The hero of this story, Reese Browning, lost his arm in service. His physical therapist, Gina, is an ex marine.
Reese’s injuries extend beyond his arm. He is also suffering from major PTSD. He barely speaks. Gina is fighting her own demons, which I won’t spoil, but you will figure out what they are pretty quickly if you read the book. As the story begins, she has been treating him for about a month, and he has barely spoken to her, yet there is a clear attraction there. They go from 0 to 100 in about five seconds. This Insta love will give you whiplash it happens so quickly. And that is where the problems begin.
It’s one thing for two people to fall in love and into bed really fast; it’s another thing when a child is involved. Gina is the single mother of a six-year-old girl who decides Reese is her daddy the first time she meets him. She calls him ‘Daddy’ the entire book. It really bothered me. It also really bothered me the fine point put on Reese and his buddies being manly men. It is true that there are times that Gina has reactions which are not well thought out. But he cuts her very little slack. The book treats her like an hysterical woman for having reactions which are really pretty normal. Like when he wants to join the CIA or when her child is put at risk.
On top of this, the storyline is predictable. From the moment we learned of a threat Reese’s team was investigating, it was blatantly obvious how the story would play out. And it wasn’t even believable. What are the chances? Forgive me for dropping into spoiler land for a moment, but you knew the kid was going to be kidnapped from the beginning. So why let her go into the situation where you know she’s going to be kidnapped? And then why does everyone hate on Gina for being understandably upset that her daughter was put in danger when she didn’t have to be? It was beyond eye rolling.
And then there is the language. For instant in one case, Gina leaves Reese a thong, which we find out has been worn because he can smell her “feminine essence” on it. Ew.
Or this one? “She snatched his Stetson and rode him hard to the magic land of shared a erotic spirits, his thumb pressing on her clit to open the gate to her climax.”
Or my personal favorite, when the hero said, “Promise me when I die, you’ll have the coroner cut off my cock and you’ll tuck it inside that sweet vagina of yours.”
Do I really need to continue? I’ll spare you, except to say that even old people don’t say things like “fudge and buttermilk” when they’re upset, much less say it a dozen times.
Reese was a good enough guy, but he got over his trauma pretty easily.
I guess Gina’s vagina is not only sweet but it is also magical. It may be the only thing magical about this book.
I loved this book. It was fresh; It was poignant; It was action packed and sexy. And I'm so sad that it's over.
Sephti is bittern, a living weapon, genI loved this book. It was fresh; It was poignant; It was action packed and sexy. And I'm so sad that it's over.
Sephti is bittern, a living weapon, genetically engineered by the Fae. Her kind was designed to kill, to follow orders. But somehow, Sephti is different. She is self-aware and she has only one goal: to defeat the Fae that created her.
To reach her objective, Sephti hopes to ally herself with a powerful vampire named James. But she is intercepted by Koda, a Native American... well, let's just call him "more-than-human." He views her with animosity and distrust, thinking at first that she is Fae. But in time, the two of them come to realize they share the same goals.
Slowly, they begin to acknowledge their attraction to one another. Working together, they forge a mutual respect, which eventually leads to much, much more. One of the things that was done so well in this book was the evolution of their relationship. It was lovely. Sephti thinks so little of herself, beyond her capabilities as a killer. But it's through Koda's eyes, she begins to see herself as more. For a being who doesn't know what love is, she manages to feel it... to show it... in a way that leaves no doubt in your mind. And Koda (**sigh**) --what a fantastic hero. He is loyal, sexy, stalwart and strong.
The love scenes are sexy, but not tawdry. But it's more about the journey of the relationship than the consummation. And as awesome as the romance is, the action is just as good... as Sephti and Koda fight the growing threat from a vampire who has exposed supernaturals to the world and the Fae army he's in league with. There is great word-building at play. I loved the background on the bittern and the Fae. It was all clear and easy to understand. I do not have a single complaint.
This is the second book in Elisa Paige's Time series. The events of Stealing Time are referenced and the main characters do appear, but this works just fine as a stand alone. I may go back and read the first book anyway. If I enjoy it half as much as I liked this one, it will be worth it. 5 stars.
*ARC Provided by NetGalley
Merged review:
I loved this book. It was fresh; It was poignant; It was action packed and sexy. And I'm so sad that it's over.
Sephti is bittern, a living weapon, genetically engineered by the Fae. Her kind was designed to kill, to follow orders. But somehow, Sephti is different. She is self-aware and she has only one goal: to defeat the Fae that created her.
To reach her objective, Sephti hopes to ally herself with a powerful vampire named James. But she is intercepted by Koda, a Native American... well, let's just call him "more-than-human." He views her with animosity and distrust, thinking at first that she is Fae. But in time, the two of them come to realize they share the same goals.
Slowly, they begin to acknowledge their attraction to one another. Working together, they forge a mutual respect, which eventually leads to much, much more. One of the things that was done so well in this book was the evolution of their relationship. It was lovely. Sephti thinks so little of herself, beyond her capabilities as a killer. But it's through Koda's eyes, she begins to see herself as more. For a being who doesn't know what love is, she manages to feel it... to show it... in a way that leaves no doubt in your mind. And Koda (**sigh**) --what a fantastic hero. He is loyal, sexy, stalwart and strong.
The love scenes are sexy, but not tawdry. But it's more about the journey of the relationship than the consummation. And as awesome as the romance is, the action is just as good... as Sephti and Koda fight the growing threat from a vampire who has exposed supernaturals to the world and the Fae army he's in league with. There is great word-building at play. I loved the background on the bittern and the Fae. It was all clear and easy to understand. I do not have a single complaint.
This is the second book in Elisa Paige's Time series. The events of Stealing Time are referenced and the main characters do appear, but this works just fine as a stand alone. I may go back and read the first book anyway. If I enjoy it half as much as I liked this one, it will be worth it. 5 stars.
I have been a fan of Kelly Meding since her Dreg City days. So when I saw she had a new urban fantasy series starting, I was super excited. And I am hI have been a fan of Kelly Meding since her Dreg City days. So when I saw she had a new urban fantasy series starting, I was super excited. And I am happy to report that Stray Magic didn’t disappoint.
The heroine, Shiloh, is a US marshal who works with a special paranormal unit. She is half human, half djinn, and as the story begins, she is just looking forward to a little R&R with her boyfriend, Vincent. Unfortunately, before they can get too cozy, she is called away on a case. A group of vampires has taken a trailer park hostage. The thing is, though, it is just an entry point into a larger mystery. Someone has been snatching vampires and werewolves… and master vampire Tennyson orchestrated the hostage situation it to get the help of Shiloh’s team in finding out who is behind the kidnappings and stopping them. This, as Shiloh’s own boss goes missing. She must work with Tennyson and the remainder of her team in a race to find the bad guy as it seems he is closing in on her at the same time.
It’s quite a good plot. There is a ton of action and layers of the mystery. The world building is very well done too. As with any book that I end up really engrossed in, the real win here is in the characters and the complicated relationships among them. From the tension filled interplay between Shiloh’s parents, to her interactions with her ex, Jaxon, to her boyfriend… and Tennyson, I was constantly trying to figure out where everyone fit in her world. Some of those questions were answered better than others. There is definitely a thread of romance by the way, but for the life of me I’m still not sure who the main love interest is supposed to be. Is it the boyfriend, Vincent? Is it the ex, Jaxon, who she clearly is still linked to? Or the forbidden possibility of a pairing between a djinn half blood and the vampire Tennyson? My money is on the last one, but there are enough storylines at play I could be wrong. I both love and hate the fact that I am not sure.
There’s plenty of violence here, as there often is in Meding’s books, but this heroine doesn’t quite suffer to the extent that some of her other ones have. Of course, we are still early in the series. There’s a lot of gore, too, and if spiders freak you out, beware.
I am very excited to see where the author takes us in the second installment. I will definitely be reading to find out.
Rating: B
*ARC provided by publisher
Merged review:
I have been a fan of Kelly Meding since her Dreg City days. So when I saw she had a new urban fantasy series starting, I was super excited. And I am happy to report that Stray Magic didn’t disappoint.
The heroine, Shiloh, is a US marshal who works with a special paranormal unit. She is half human, half djinn, and as the story begins, she is just looking forward to a little R&R with her boyfriend, Vincent. Unfortunately, before they can get too cozy, she is called away on a case. A group of vampires has taken a trailer park hostage. The thing is, though, it is just an entry point into a larger mystery. Someone has been snatching vampires and werewolves… and master vampire Tennyson orchestrated the hostage situation it to get the help of Shiloh’s team in finding out who is behind the kidnappings and stopping them. This, as Shiloh’s own boss goes missing. She must work with Tennyson and the remainder of her team in a race to find the bad guy as it seems he is closing in on her at the same time.
It’s quite a good plot. There is a ton of action and layers of the mystery. The world building is very well done too. As with any book that I end up really engrossed in, the real win here is in the characters and the complicated relationships among them. From the tension filled interplay between Shiloh’s parents, to her interactions with her ex, Jaxon, to her boyfriend… and Tennyson, I was constantly trying to figure out where everyone fit in her world. Some of those questions were answered better than others. There is definitely a thread of romance by the way, but for the life of me I’m still not sure who the main love interest is supposed to be. Is it the boyfriend, Vincent? Is it the ex, Jaxon, who she clearly is still linked to? Or the forbidden possibility of a pairing between a djinn half blood and the vampire Tennyson? My money is on the last one, but there are enough storylines at play I could be wrong. I both love and hate the fact that I am not sure.
There’s plenty of violence here, as there often is in Meding’s books, but this heroine doesn’t quite suffer to the extent that some of her other ones have. Of course, we are still early in the series. There’s a lot of gore, too, and if spiders freak you out, beware.
I am very excited to see where the author takes us in the second installment. I will definitely be reading to find out.
This story started out engaging enough. Viola is living as the daughter of an estate manager. Julian is the young lord whose family hers serves. They This story started out engaging enough. Viola is living as the daughter of an estate manager. Julian is the young lord whose family hers serves. They grew up together as children, but eventually had to put an end to their friendship, as society dictated. Now, they are reunited and their childhood affection has been replaced with an adult attraction. That might have been something they could fight or ignore, until dangerous circumstances thrust them together, destroying all but the pretense of propriety.
You see, Viola is actually the hidden daughter of a royal line. It was a secret so closely guarded that neither she nor Julian knew about it. But somehow, the truth of her birth has made it to the wrong hands, making her a target of those who would want her dead –and others who would use her lineage to manipulate themselves into royalty. Julian is determined to make sure neither side will have her. He makes it his mission to get her to safety, even if it means becoming her personal protector.
All of this was fine. There was some ok sexual tension in the beginning, and both characters were generally likeable. But there was so much talk about the Old Pretender and the Young Pretender and these various factions vying for the crown, I didn’t know what was going on. I didn’t care what was going on. Perhaps if you like some political wrangling and whatnot in your historical romance, you’ll like it, but it distracted me from the romance.
As for the romance, itself, I liked it well enough at first, but it grew tepid as the story continued. There was plenty of sex, but just not much to really hook me on their feelings. Viola pretty much started out in love with Julian, and despite some very minor concerns about whether their class differences would come between them, there really wasn’t any doubt or obstacle to their HEA.
And I have to mention that some of the language is… eye rolling. From talk of their mingling private hair… to her juices… to unlikely dialogue, frankly there were times I wanted to skim.
The book’s not terrible, but the more I read, the less I wanted to read. Fortunately, just when I was about to put it down, it ended. I don’t think I would read any others from this series.
Rating: C-
*ARC provided by publisher
Merged review:
This story started out engaging enough. Viola is living as the daughter of an estate manager. Julian is the young lord whose family hers serves. They grew up together as children, but eventually had to put an end to their friendship, as society dictated. Now, they are reunited and their childhood affection has been replaced with an adult attraction. That might have been something they could fight or ignore, until dangerous circumstances thrust them together, destroying all but the pretense of propriety.
You see, Viola is actually the hidden daughter of a royal line. It was a secret so closely guarded that neither she nor Julian knew about it. But somehow, the truth of her birth has made it to the wrong hands, making her a target of those who would want her dead –and others who would use her lineage to manipulate themselves into royalty. Julian is determined to make sure neither side will have her. He makes it his mission to get her to safety, even if it means becoming her personal protector.
All of this was fine. There was some ok sexual tension in the beginning, and both characters were generally likeable. But there was so much talk about the Old Pretender and the Young Pretender and these various factions vying for the crown, I didn’t know what was going on. I didn’t care what was going on. Perhaps if you like some political wrangling and whatnot in your historical romance, you’ll like it, but it distracted me from the romance.
As for the romance, itself, I liked it well enough at first, but it grew tepid as the story continued. There was plenty of sex, but just not much to really hook me on their feelings. Viola pretty much started out in love with Julian, and despite some very minor concerns about whether their class differences would come between them, there really wasn’t any doubt or obstacle to their HEA.
And I have to mention that some of the language is… eye rolling. From talk of their mingling private hair… to her juices… to unlikely dialogue, frankly there were times I wanted to skim.
The book’s not terrible, but the more I read, the less I wanted to read. Fortunately, just when I was about to put it down, it ended. I don’t think I would read any others from this series.
This book reminded me of PNR series in the vein of Midnight Breeds. We’ve got some otherworldly demon warriors who protect the world(s) from bad demonThis book reminded me of PNR series in the vein of Midnight Breeds. We’ve got some otherworldly demon warriors who protect the world(s) from bad demons, bent on domination. They are very powerful and super-alpha and can only really step out of that zone when they find their other half and form a mate bond. It’s a tried and true formula of the genre, because in most cases it work, and this series is no exception.
This installment centers on Arawn, the group’s leader. He lost his mate hundreds of years ago and has devoted his life to his duty as warrior. He never believed he would find love again, but somehow, Ria has gotten under his skin. Ria is one of warriors and is quite good at it. She is nothing like his sweet and delicate first love, and his feelings are getting harder and harder to ignore, especially since she feels the same way. The only problem is, she has no idea that he is one quarter Ghazsul (the bad guy demon race.) Could she love him if she knew? Is it fair to bind her to him, knowing his blood is tainted?
My only real complaint about this book is that I thought it was book 1 in a new series. Technically, that’s true. But I knew in just a few pages that there was a big history here that I was stepping into unaware. These characters were in the middle of a story on the first page. Ria was in a coma, injured in a battle with a history WAY too intricate to be a series-starter. There are a ton of already established couples floating around, again with histories that are casually mentioned like I should know them already. A quick perusal of Sharon Kay’s backlist and it all made sense. This is book 1 in a spinoff series where the backstory and major characters overlap. That’s not ideal for my tastes, but by then, I was interested enough to try to just roll with it.
Though I am never a fan of the Big Secret trope, I liked this pairing. Since the couple has decades of history, they were able to jump into their feelings and desire pretty quickly and it didn’t feel rushed. It can’t be insta-love when you’ve been crazy about the other person as long as they have. I liked that Arawn didn’t push Ria away, even when he was scared. And even more, I liked that he respected her strength as a fellow warrior. These alpha-males are usually so bent on protecting their woman, they ignore the fact that she is capable. Arawn doesn’t diminish Ria’s strength. Ever. Even when he is dominant in the bedroom, I didn’t find it off-putting. There was balance between them, which is rare for this kind of book.
Even though I felt my ignorance on some of the backstory, Kay did a good job making sure I understood enough of what was happening to be able to enjoy the book. She also did well, setting up the next book, and making me interested in what would happen with the missing soldier Scorpio.
The sex is hot. The plot moves well. I didn’t have deep feels, but overall I liked it. Fans of the Solsti Prophecy will probably like it even more.
I would read from this author again.
Rating: B/B-
*ARC provided by author for review
Merged review:
This book reminded me of PNR series in the vein of Midnight Breeds. We’ve got some otherworldly demon warriors who protect the world(s) from bad demons, bent on domination. They are very powerful and super-alpha and can only really step out of that zone when they find their other half and form a mate bond. It’s a tried and true formula of the genre, because in most cases it work, and this series is no exception.
This installment centers on Arawn, the group’s leader. He lost his mate hundreds of years ago and has devoted his life to his duty as warrior. He never believed he would find love again, but somehow, Ria has gotten under his skin. Ria is one of warriors and is quite good at it. She is nothing like his sweet and delicate first love, and his feelings are getting harder and harder to ignore, especially since she feels the same way. The only problem is, she has no idea that he is one quarter Ghazsul (the bad guy demon race.) Could she love him if she knew? Is it fair to bind her to him, knowing his blood is tainted?
My only real complaint about this book is that I thought it was book 1 in a new series. Technically, that’s true. But I knew in just a few pages that there was a big history here that I was stepping into unaware. These characters were in the middle of a story on the first page. Ria was in a coma, injured in a battle with a history WAY too intricate to be a series-starter. There are a ton of already established couples floating around, again with histories that are casually mentioned like I should know them already. A quick perusal of Sharon Kay’s backlist and it all made sense. This is book 1 in a spinoff series where the backstory and major characters overlap. That’s not ideal for my tastes, but by then, I was interested enough to try to just roll with it.
Though I am never a fan of the Big Secret trope, I liked this pairing. Since the couple has decades of history, they were able to jump into their feelings and desire pretty quickly and it didn’t feel rushed. It can’t be insta-love when you’ve been crazy about the other person as long as they have. I liked that Arawn didn’t push Ria away, even when he was scared. And even more, I liked that he respected her strength as a fellow warrior. These alpha-males are usually so bent on protecting their woman, they ignore the fact that she is capable. Arawn doesn’t diminish Ria’s strength. Ever. Even when he is dominant in the bedroom, I didn’t find it off-putting. There was balance between them, which is rare for this kind of book.
Even though I felt my ignorance on some of the backstory, Kay did a good job making sure I understood enough of what was happening to be able to enjoy the book. She also did well, setting up the next book, and making me interested in what would happen with the missing soldier Scorpio.
The sex is hot. The plot moves well. I didn’t have deep feels, but overall I liked it. Fans of the Solsti Prophecy will probably like it even more.
Ecstasy Untamed is book six in Pamela Palmer's Feral Warrior series. But if you haven't read the first five, don't let that stop you from giving this Ecstasy Untamed is book six in Pamela Palmer's Feral Warrior series. But if you haven't read the first five, don't let that stop you from giving this book a try. I haven't read the other books either. And while it was obvious the series has a history, I never felt lost and the world building was easy to understand in the context of the story.
A quick set up: There is a race of immortals called Therians. Long ago, each had the power to shift into animals. But a big bad thing happened and then only about two dozen of the Therians retained the power. Each carried the spirit of one animal. Then, another big bad thing happened, trapping the animal spirits of all but nine of the remaining shifters. Those men, the Ferals, protect the other Therians and fight the bad guy Mages who want to release bad-guy Daemons on the world. Anytime a Feral is killed, his animal searches for a strong Therian to replace him and that man is drawn to the other warriors to join their group. Still with me?
Hawke is one of the Ferals and as the book begins, he is recovering from an attack that left him in conflict with his animal. He is trying to repair the damage, but it's not working out. In the meantime, Maxim appears at the house with his would-be mate, Faith. Maxim has the marks of a Feral, and the men believe he is there to replace their lost brother, the Fox. It turns out, he carries one of those animals lost years ago. Quickly, Feral House begins filling with men carrying the other missing animals.
Hawke is drawn to Faith. She had only known Maxim a day before she followed him to Feral House, but she felt drawn to him... certain she belonged to him. It's a feeling that's difficult to hold onto as Maxim reveals himself to be an enormous asshat and she begins to fall for Hawke. If you're worried this might be an infidelity story, don't be. Maxim is a bad, bad dude. And it's obvious Hawke and Faith are meant to be together. The only question is how they're going to get there.
There's a lot going on in the book. The love story is good and so is the sex. There is plenty of action and plot development, but it's easy to keep up with. There is also a bit of darkness --which surprised me a bit. But all the twists and turns kept things interesting. We've got a set-up for two different couples in future books. I am definitely interested in what's going to happen with Wulfe. I want to go back and check out the backlist to learn more about him, if for no other reason. He smacks of a delicious tortured hero.
I enjoyed it. 4 stars.
*ARC Provided by NetGalley
Merged review:
Ecstasy Untamed is book six in Pamela Palmer's Feral Warrior series. But if you haven't read the first five, don't let that stop you from giving this book a try. I haven't read the other books either. And while it was obvious the series has a history, I never felt lost and the world building was easy to understand in the context of the story.
A quick set up: There is a race of immortals called Therians. Long ago, each had the power to shift into animals. But a big bad thing happened and then only about two dozen of the Therians retained the power. Each carried the spirit of one animal. Then, another big bad thing happened, trapping the animal spirits of all but nine of the remaining shifters. Those men, the Ferals, protect the other Therians and fight the bad guy Mages who want to release bad-guy Daemons on the world. Anytime a Feral is killed, his animal searches for a strong Therian to replace him and that man is drawn to the other warriors to join their group. Still with me?
Hawke is one of the Ferals and as the book begins, he is recovering from an attack that left him in conflict with his animal. He is trying to repair the damage, but it's not working out. In the meantime, Maxim appears at the house with his would-be mate, Faith. Maxim has the marks of a Feral, and the men believe he is there to replace their lost brother, the Fox. It turns out, he carries one of those animals lost years ago. Quickly, Feral House begins filling with men carrying the other missing animals.
Hawke is drawn to Faith. She had only known Maxim a day before she followed him to Feral House, but she felt drawn to him... certain she belonged to him. It's a feeling that's difficult to hold onto as Maxim reveals himself to be an enormous asshat and she begins to fall for Hawke. If you're worried this might be an infidelity story, don't be. Maxim is a bad, bad dude. And it's obvious Hawke and Faith are meant to be together. The only question is how they're going to get there.
There's a lot going on in the book. The love story is good and so is the sex. There is plenty of action and plot development, but it's easy to keep up with. There is also a bit of darkness --which surprised me a bit. But all the twists and turns kept things interesting. We've got a set-up for two different couples in future books. I am definitely interested in what's going to happen with Wulfe. I want to go back and check out the backlist to learn more about him, if for no other reason. He smacks of a delicious tortured hero.
I am struggling a little with my review for this book. If you liked the first two, as I did for the most part, I think you'll probably like this one tI am struggling a little with my review for this book. If you liked the first two, as I did for the most part, I think you'll probably like this one too. But I had some issues that kept me from loving it.
The story here basically follows Brocc as he tries to send the Crow people back home and Liobhan and Dau's attempts to find a missing prince --and later, to save Brocc from an Evil Lady who wants to use his musical abilities for a military advantage.
I still like Liobhan and Dau. Unfortunately, they are apart for the lion's share of the book. And their romance is very...sweet. There is a lot of perspective jumping, which was ok, I guess. I think my biggest issue was with the deus ex machina feel of solving the crow problem and the evolution of... well... Brocc's whole story, really, where everything happened for Convenient Reasons.
For instance, what was his wife's underlying issue? His exile from Fairy felt built on such flimsy ground. I mean, the final straw was legit, but I never really understood her damage--about Brocc and their kid and pretty much everything. It was like she was only there to give him his daughter so the child could play her role in the story. Even worse--the means of communication with the crow folk and the storyteller... and everyone else who did not speak with words. The clicking of rocks or moving them around to tell stories that everyone just seemed to understand for no good reason. I had a very hard time with my suspension of disbelief there.
It didn't feel real. And yes, I know it's fantasy, but there are plenty of books with worldbuilding and magic that manage to convey an underlying true feeling within the scope of the story.
The ending was good and the main characters got the HEAs I wanted for them, but I found it all a little... beige.
Of course, your mileage may vary.
*ARC provided by publisher
Merged review:
I am struggling a little with my review for this book. If you liked the first two, as I did for the most part, I think you'll probably like this one too. But I had some issues that kept me from loving it.
The story here basically follows Brocc as he tries to send the Crow people back home and Liobhan and Dau's attempts to find a missing prince --and later, to save Brocc from an Evil Lady who wants to use his musical abilities for a military advantage.
I still like Liobhan and Dau. Unfortunately, they are apart for the lion's share of the book. And their romance is very...sweet. There is a lot of perspective jumping, which was ok, I guess. I think my biggest issue was with the deus ex machina feel of solving the crow problem and the evolution of... well... Brocc's whole story, really, where everything happened for Convenient Reasons.
For instance, what was his wife's underlying issue? His exile from Fairy felt built on such flimsy ground. I mean, the final straw was legit, but I never really understood her damage--about Brocc and their kid and pretty much everything. It was like she was only there to give him his daughter so the child could play her role in the story. Even worse--the means of communication with the crow folk and the storyteller... and everyone else who did not speak with words. The clicking of rocks or moving them around to tell stories that everyone just seemed to understand for no good reason. I had a very hard time with my suspension of disbelief there.
It didn't feel real. And yes, I know it's fantasy, but there are plenty of books with worldbuilding and magic that manage to convey an underlying true feeling within the scope of the story.
The ending was good and the main characters got the HEAs I wanted for them, but I found it all a little... beige.
I've struggled for a while with keeping straight the vast cast of characters in this series. The same goes for its dense storytelling and complicated I've struggled for a while with keeping straight the vast cast of characters in this series. The same goes for its dense storytelling and complicated history. So I thought maybe it might be easier if I saved a few of these books up and read them back to back. It did help to some degree. The events of Shattered Bonds were super fresh in my mind, which meant all of Jane's health struggles and the rising power of Beast over their form flowed right into this story. On top of that, I read Of Claws and Fangs which ramped me up for more of Atayas, who I was never really interested in before. But man, I still didn't remember who all the players were, particularly when it came to the intricate backstories of the villains.
All that said, the book was good. These books are always good. When I don't remember something, I just go with it. The narrative usually weaves in enough explainers for me to get by. Heck, this one even had a breakdown of events buried inside like a little meta readers guide. What you really need to know, though, is that Jane and the gang are going back to New Orleans for Wrassler's and Jodi's wedding --and of course-- to meet the latest threat looking to take down the Dark Queen.
Most of my faves were there. Bruiser, who I adore. Eli and Alex. Brute. I really found myself digging new characters, Koun, Thelma, and Quint. And there were some surprise appearances from old characters whose names I won't spoil here. I did miss Molly, Evan, and Angie in this one... not to mention Edmund. But to be fair, there are a lot of moving parts already.
There's plenty of action... machinations... and magic. I loved watching Jane explore her powers as Dark Queen and her family skinwalking history with her brother. It's awesome to see her interact with the NOLA vamps and crew and the way they love her. It always seems to surprise Jane when she realizes she matters to people. That stuff is gold.
The ending was great and sets up the final book in the series, which I am jumping into now. I'll be sad to see these characters go, but it's been a great ride.
This anthology features a robust mix of stories from the world of Jane Yellowrock, and while I didn't love them all equally, I did really enjoy most. This anthology features a robust mix of stories from the world of Jane Yellowrock, and while I didn't love them all equally, I did really enjoy most. These are generally previously released works, but I hadn't read any of them, so they were all new to me.
"Candy From a Vampire" - a vignette from Leo's point of view. Don't expect a real story here. It's more like a scene, a snapshot, of the vampire on Halloween, as he hosts a party for the children of New Orleans. This is really too short for me to have an opinion on, but die-hard Leo fans might be excited to see him again here. This one was set after he met Jane, unlike "Make It Snappy" which was set a few years before. Here, we follow Leo as he is set up to be assassinated. Obviously, it didn't work, but there were some solid action sequences and several familiar faces, like George and Katie. It's been so long since I've seen the interplay between Leo and his people, it took me back. You can see so much of his character here, the arrogance, the charm, the decidedly inhumanness of him. Plus, there's a cool little twist at the end. I liked this one.
"It's Just a Date" takes place during the time Jane is Leo's enforcer. The plot centers on a triple date with Jane and Bruiser, Eli and Syl, and a first date for Jodi and Wrassler. I always enjoy time spent between Jane and George, but of course, the date doesn't go according to plan. There's magic and violence and a brief question of who is the intended target.
"Life's a Bitch and Then You Die" brings us closer to the current timeline. It's set just before Shattered Bonds, when Jane is spending most of her time in Beast form to stave off her cancer. I really liked it. We get a memory of Wesa and Cat as they are captured --maybe by a covert ops group--and caged along with other animals that may or may not be some kinds of shifter. This is the beginning of them calling themselves Beast. And it sets up a mystery I hope will play out in other books about who these men are and how they'll get taken down.
"Black Friday Shopping" hops over to Soulwood territory, which is A-okay with me. I am a fan of Nell and Occam too! This short follows them as they try to pinpoint the source of magic wreaking havoc at a WalMart on Black Friday. It was too short. "How Occam Got His Name" was meatier. This was his origin story, which was sad, but also really interesting. His dad really sucked.
“Shiloh and the Brick” takes place in the early days after Molly’s niece was turned into a vamp. It shows the push and pull as she fights with her family about her training and responsibilities. This was another showcase for Leo, showing how much he had in hand as master of the city. I didn’t think I would miss him, but these stories remind me of his weight as a character.
“Beast Hunts Vampires With Jane” is a Beast POV from the early days when Jane just killed vampires, before she was so wrapped up in the politics. She’s undercover at a dance club, luring her vampire prey. Short but fun.
We jump to Edmund’s POV for “Of Cats and Cars,” a story he shares with Beast. It’s set later in the series after Jane became Dark Queen, and I had a blast watching Ed and Beast bargain with each other over a hunt. I always enjoy Beast Perspective, but this is the first time I recall reading from Edmund’s. I enjoyed this one quite a bit.
“Jane Tracks Down Miz A” takes us with Jane as she discovers a missing blood servant may not be as dead as she thought. It’s pretty short, while "Anzu, Duba, Beast” is a little longer. It takes us along with Jane as she gives the Mercy Blade the hunt she promised him for his help in a previous book. The Duba in the title is the prey in the hunt, a bear-hyena were-hybrid that is wreaking havoc and needs to be put down--a pair of them actually. This is story is Jane's first shift into an Anzu and highlights the dynamics of her kind of weird relationship with Gee. Pretty good.
"Eighteen Sixty" is the both the title and the year the next story takes place. It's the first of two shorts told through the POV of Atayas Fire-Wind, Jane's brother. It definitely lacked the quality of the Jane stories that pulls me in. It just didn't have the same personality. I was bored. Though it did pique my interest that he mentioned his woman was an Everheart witch. Did I know this already? If so, I forgot. And it is kind of an interesting coincidence that he and Jane share a connection to that family. His other story, "Wolves Howling in the Night," was set about 20 years later, but still, obviously, way in the past. It’s definitely the more engaging of the two. Atayas and his “Everheart woman” enter a town to discover a woman had been sold to a brothel by her new husband. The plot follows their rescue of her and bringing justice to her attackers. I got so much more of a sense of Atayas's character here. And his relationship resonated. Now I am a bit more interested in him than I was before.
Next up, “Death of a Fashionista” is a Molly POV and it’s one of my favorite stories in the book. It takes place in a time Molly is really struggling with her death magics. Two powerful strangers appear at her home, looking for power, and it doesn’t go quite the way they planned. I love the Everheart-Trueblood family and the connection between Molly and Evan. They are so strong together! I hope we get more of them.
We stick with the family for “My Dark Knight,” though Angie takes the reins in this one. Someone is attacking the family home, and Angie must use her magic to protect herself and her little brother. Only, things get hairier when her magic crosses with her mother's and that of her angel. She has to call Edmund for help. I find their relationship interesting but I am always a little leery of the possibility that one day a grown-up Angie will end up with him. After reading the story, thankfully, that seems a little less likely. She is such a fun character. She is going to be an awesome lead for her own series one day.
“Bound into Darkness” is a full-fledged novella and follows Molly's sister Liz as she goes out on a mission-slash-date with Eli shortly after the events of Shattered Bonds. Someone has hired her to find a lost dog, deep in the woods, away from civilization. This was great. It had action, romance, demons, vamps, weres, and witchcraft all rolled into one. Admittedly, it was kind of romance-light but I enjoyed the banter and... the possibilities. I would totally read more from these two together.
Finally, we have "The Ties That Bind." I've got to admit, it took me a second to figure out who this story was about--the name Bedelia didn't ring a bell. But it's the Everheart matriarch --and Lincoln Shaddock! And this is tied directly to the story before this one. I loved the exploration (and revelations) from their past as they work together to take down the witches responsible for setting up Liz for the demon/were attack. A great story and a solid way to wrap up the anthology.
I think any fans of Jane Yellowrock will enjoy this collection as well.
I’d almost forgotten how much I enjoy going back to the Grand Palace on the Thames! Julie Anne Long has been one of my go-to historical romance authorI’d almost forgotten how much I enjoy going back to the Grand Palace on the Thames! Julie Anne Long has been one of my go-to historical romance authors since I fell in love with her Pennyroyal Green books. I just enjoy the very straightforward way she does romance –the struggles and conflicts of her heroes and heroines generally make sense –I understand their problems and they rarely feel contrived. This latest story was no exception. After Dark With the Duke hits forced proximity and enemies-to-lovers tropes with a little class disparity and May-December elements thrown in. (That last part is my least favorite, but I will get to that in a minute.)
Mariana is an opera singer, trying to hide from the ire of society after two men fought a duel over her. She scrapes the bottom of her accounts to seek refuge at the Grand Palace, and the ladies who run the place are more than happy to take her in on the promise that she star in a musical performance under their roof. At the same time, the Duke of Valkirk is there, trying to write his memoirs. Valkirk is a national hero, known far and wide as honorable and revered, the polar opposite of Mariana. And while Valkirk is a “good guy,” he is more than a bit judgmental over what the gossip columns have to say about her. Basically, he’s a jerk, and rather than just take it, Mariana finds joy in poking holes in his perfect exterior. Their small clashes in the sitting room escalate, but in time, they start seeing beyond the broad strokes they’ve painted of each other –and find they each becomes a better version of themselves when they are together.
The Grand Palace is all about forced proximity because of the rules to stay there. They must socialize with each other to remain guests, and I adored their initial bickering. Valkirk was kind of a stick in the mud and Mariana a little flighty, but I liked them both. They made delicious enemies with an animosity between them I totally believed, just like I believed it when the tide turned between them.
I didn’t love the age gap. I never do. But it could have been worse. At least Mariana was 25, rather than 18 or so, and she was no wilting virgin. She knew what she wanted and went for it. It was kind of creepy that she was basically the same age as his son, but I just tried to put that out of my head, since at least she was clearly an adult. And in regard to the class thing, Valkirk really steps in it at one point, which was not unexpected as a black moment, but still kind of disappointing. Still, he does a good job correcting his screw-up in the end.
The side characters are great. I love Dot and Mr Delacorte and of course Delilah and Angelique. I will definitely keep reading this series as it continues.
I had a really hard time getting into this book, which pains me to say because I have loved this series for a long time. To be fair, part of the problI had a really hard time getting into this book, which pains me to say because I have loved this series for a long time. To be fair, part of the problem may have been that it's been years since I read the last installment (which is not the book's fault) but that wasn't the whole problem for sure. I've always considered this series to be densely packed full of action and information --and with each successive book, I've struggled more to hold on to the various threads...to remember all the side characters, their history, and how it was woven together in the Big Picture. I felt all that here, exponentially. It had all the characters I knew and loved, of course, but so many others that I didn't remember or remembered just barely. And it kept me from connecting with the story.
The other thing that got in my way, was the story itself. **Spoilers from previous books in link I remembered that (view spoiler)[ Jane got cancer. (hide spoiler)] But I felt the jump from that realization at the end of the last book to where Jane's clan was set up at the beginning of this one. And I get that the resolution of that huge issue couldn't be a snap of the fingers, but it dragged on and on through the whole book. Jane was so weak and on death's door throughout. Her kick-assery is one of the things I love most about the series and... I missed it so much here. She was just in excruciating pain, followed by catastrophic pain, followed by soul-crushing pain.
Also, the villain, the second son of darkness, felt like a ripoff of the previous villain, the first son of darkness. Not exactly the same, but it certainly did not feel new or novel.
There was an uptick in the second half. Maybe because I wasn't as lost. Maybe because Jane was getting more done and the plot was picking up. But this installment as a whole was missing some of its spark. I'm hopeful the next one will get it back. Because something this book does do right is remind me of the love I have for these characters, like Jane and Beast, Molly and Evan, Bruiser, Eli and Alex.
And the ending ends on high note. So I'm going to have faith that the series will continue to be the one I have enjoyed for all these years....more
I wasn't quite sure how Laura Thalassa was going to pull off this one, but I've got to say I really enjoyed the hell out of Lazarus, the heroine here.I wasn't quite sure how Laura Thalassa was going to pull off this one, but I've got to say I really enjoyed the hell out of Lazarus, the heroine here. Honestly, this book follows the same pattern as the previous three in the series, so if you liked those, you'll like this one too.
--Horseman makes heroine's life a living hell (check) --Heroine hopes to kill horseman. (check) Tries to kill horseman (check) --Horseman, drawn to the heroine, plays cat and mouse games with her and she is forced to be with him despite her horror over his actions (check) --She falls for him as he falls for her, thus prompting him to discover his humanity (you see where I am going here)
But it still works. Lazerus gives Thanatos a good run for his money, and admittedly, she tries to kill him for a lot longer than the other heroines did. There is great sexual tension and I was down with sexy times. I really really liked the return of the other Horsemen and the roles they play in the story. And I thought that last chapter was a bold choice, but a really solid one.
It would have been easy to make Death an alpha-hole, but he's not. He's kind of sad, and maybe that won't be for everyone, but to me, it made him more dimensional. Of course, your mileage may vary, but this final installment was a good one for me....more
This book features a collection of stories that all take place against the backdrop of the Duke of Greystoke’s Christmas Revelry....
"Mistletoe ChristmThis book features a collection of stories that all take place against the backdrop of the Duke of Greystoke’s Christmas Revelry....
"Mistletoe Christmas" by Eloisa James is the first short in this anthology and tells the story of the Duke's daughter, Cressenda, who is the actual architect behind the party, even though her father claims all the glory for the exclusive affair. The Duke is selfish and awful (and dying.) He's pushed Cressie to make the party the centerpiece of her life, forcing her to miss out on a real season or a chance to find a husband. He has even given away her dowry in an effort to bribe his heir to keep the party going after his death. And just when she'd given up hope, Elias (friend to the aforementioned heir) decides to make her his wife.
This is definitely an instalove story. In just a matter of hours, Elias goes from seeing her as a frumpy nobody to a woman he can't live without. Of course, Cressie has trouble believing him. No one has ever wanted her. It's kind of sad. And this romance moves really fast. But James does a good job setting up this great party and Cressie as a character. Elias... not so much. But I guess it was enough that he was handsome and saw value in Cressie when no one else did.
It was... ok.
I liked the second story, "Wishing Under the Mistletoe" by Christi Caldwell, a bit more. I find that short stories work better for me when the hero and heroine already have a history. Here, Isabelle and Cyrus are reunited 10 years after they broke off their engagement. The son of a servant, Cyrus was more focused on making money than his fiancee, and as the granddaughter of a duke, she couldn't see outside of her own life experiences to understand why.
Fate (or maybe some well meaning loved ones) throw them together on a project for the Revelry and all their old feelings come rushing back. I felt like Cyrus was a bit more in the wrong in their past than Isabelle was, and she had to do a little more work to give them their HEA, but overall, I enjoyed the journey. (Like I said before, class differences are like catnip for me.)
"Compromise Under the Mistletoe" by Janna MacGregor was another second chance at love story, and it echoed the previous story a little. Unlike Isabelle and Cyrus, Stephen and Caroline are married, but estranged. She left him a year earlier because (like Cyrus) he was inattentive and too focused on his work. Other than their time in the bedroom, he treated her like an afterthought. They reunite at the Revelry so she can try to convince the duke to release her trust early. The only catch... she and Stephen have to convince the old man they are a happy couple first.
It rang a little hollow for me after reading such a similar-themed story right before it. And like Isabelle, Caro takes on some of the blame for their problems, though Stephen was clearly more in the wrong.
Meh.
"Mischief & Mistletoe" by Erica Ridley was probably my favorite of the short stories. It followed Louisa, a closet-poet with a mother bent on securing her an adventitious match at the party. Ewan is known as a poet, but it's actually just a cover story so he can do his real work as a gossip writer for his grandfather's newspaper. I'm not a big fan of a big secret trope, but I did like the dynamic between the hero and heroine. Plus, I almost always prefer a hero in trade to a lord.
Overall, a solid collection of historical shorts....more
I love the dynamic of a historical romance where the H/h come from two different social stations. Here, Hugh is a duke in search of a suitable bride aI love the dynamic of a historical romance where the H/h come from two different social stations. Here, Hugh is a duke in search of a suitable bride and Penelope is his extremely competent secretary he has assigned the task of finding her. The only thing is, Penelope is in love with her boss and is dreading her assignment. Still, she tackles it with the professionalism and effort he has come to expect from her.
Somehow, though, he starts to see her differently. It's not 1000% clear why, after all these years, he starts viewing her as a woman, but he does, and sparks start to fly.
I loved not only that Penelope was smart and good at her job, but that Hugh treats her accordingly. There is good sexual tension between them and I liked watching them cross the line between employer and employee. (It never gave any ick non-consensual vibes, I promise.)
Hugh is one of those heroes who thinks he can never love, which are always the best to fall hard.
But as much as I love the unequal status trope, I abhor The Big Secret. It always hangs like Damocles' sword over the tender, delicate neck of the HEA. And actually both Hugh and Penelope had one. But he shares his early to great acceptance.... It doesn't quite work the same the other way around, which was disappointing. At least her Big Secret lives up to its hype (and has nothing to do with rape or a secret baby.)
Big Secret aside, I enjoyed the book overall. Mostly because I liked both main characters and (other than one boneheaded moment) I liked them together. Solid tension and satisfying sexytimes.
4.5 stars I've got to say, I am a little surprise by some of the hate I'm seeing in reviews for this book. Full disclosure: --I really enjoy Sarah MacL4.5 stars I've got to say, I am a little surprise by some of the hate I'm seeing in reviews for this book. Full disclosure: --I really enjoy Sarah MacLean's romances. --I could give a rip about what HR heroines are "supposed to be" --Likewise, I could give an additional rip about what HR itself is "supposed to be"
MacLean writes sexy, angsty, smart historical romances. Does it read like Mary Balogh?
No.
I like her books, too, but there is no one right way to do historical. Sometimes their heroines are meek and virginal; sometimes they are brazen and spirited.
Sesily is brazen and spirited.
Now I can see why some people might be peeved that this "first book" in a series is really a spinoff from the Scandal and Scoundrel series. This couple has a history and thankfully it's one I'm familiar with. (But if I was a new reader, I might be annoyed.) In fact, in my review for The Day of the Duchess, I wrote that I couldn't wait for this pairing. And now that it's here, I can say that it does deliver.
Caleb is an American who was in business with Sesily's sister. Sesily was crazy about him, but he acted like he didn't return her interest. He went back to Boston and left her behind. Now he's back two years later and he's still refusing to acknowledge an attraction. But when he gets wrapped up in Sesily's schemes with her friends, he gets stuck in her orbit. The more they are together, the more his walls fall down and his secrets are slowly revealed.
Sesily is part of a "girl gang" of sorts. I don't know if all of their plots and campaigns against the bad men of society really resonated with me, but I did like how different each Hell's Belle was. I liked that they had a deep and loyal friendship with one another. And it made for a more interesting backdrop, frankly, than the 1000 HR kidnappings I've read where the hero has to swoop in and rescue the damsel in distress.
Caleb is the one who needs rescuing. And it requires the smarts and gumption of the heroine and her friends to do it. Which I rather enjoyed.
I also really enjoyed the angst. And the sexy times. The push and the pull between these two hit my sweet spot. And I am already excited to read about Imogen and Detective Inspector Peck.
Maybe this one wasn't for everyone, but it was a hit for me.
Julie Anne Long delivers another winner as she takes us back to the Grand Palace on the Thames for the romance between the mysterious American, Hugh CJulie Anne Long delivers another winner as she takes us back to the Grand Palace on the Thames for the romance between the mysterious American, Hugh Cassidy, and Lady Lillias, the beautiful daughter of an earl. It's an enemies-to-lovers story and chock-full of pointed barbs and multi-level conversations.
It's fantastic.
If you're not familiar with the series, it centers around the small inn where the couples live or work or meet. I've read a couple of reviews that bemoaned the close setting, but I rather liked it. In the first half, it provides forced proximity and an intimacy between these two mismatched protagonists. Because, let's be real, without it, there would be no way they would be in each other's orbit, blazing sexual tension or not.
Lillias isn't always the easiest to like. She is who she is... blue-blooded, sheltered, beautiful. And pining for the one guy in the ton who isn't obsessed with her. The big conflict is How Hard It Is To Be Beautiful. OK, maybe I am over simplifying, but that's not far off. Hugh, on the other hand, is delicious in his American DGAF attitude and barely-leashed sexuality.
There's great banter, steamy encounters, and a solid plot. Everything I expect from JAL, and she delivers on all cylinders. Lillias does evolve and comes to recognize why Hugh is The One and he is willing to put his happiness aside for hers.
An engaging romance with a satisfying conclusion. As always, JAL shows why she is an auto-buy for me.
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