All posts by skyebjenner

The Eye of the Storm by Kelley Eskridge

Book Review, ,
Overview
Image result for sirens and other daemon lovers book cover

Title: The Eye of the Storm
Author: Kelley Eskridge
In: Sirens and Other Daemon Lovers (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Romance
Dates read: 23rd April 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: EOS
Year: 1998
5th sentence, 74th page: They were silent, watching me.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

Born different and unable to fit in. But that taught them to fight. To find a way to fit in and create a whole new life for themselves.

Thoughts

This was an incredibly interesting take on sexuality and what exactly a sexual experience is. Sexuality is completely fascinating, and something that I am constantly intrigued by. The fact that there is a story that explores different forms of sexuality, attraction and also mixes in fighting and a monarchy… well, I was completely, totally and utterly drawn in. Happily wrapped up in this amazing story.

The fighting style throughout this story seriously made me think about Bruce Lee. That whole, twirl like a storm idea was so damn reminiscent of the flow like water analogy that I’m sure is associated with him. I loved this discussion about different ways to fight people – and how to use what you have to your advantage. It was so completely, wonderfully intriguing and, if I was ever to find a way to fight… it would be the way that I would have to do so. After all, I’m not exactly big and strong…

This is a lustful, powerful and enjoyably intense story. It’s not one that I’m likely to forget anytime soon. There is just something so expansive and imaginative about the story. One that I really enjoyed and would love to read again and again and again.

<- HeatO for a Fiery Gloom and Thee ->

Image source: Goodreads

A Dozen Kisses by Mia Ryan

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for the further observations of lady whistledown book cover"

Title: A Dozen Kisses
Author: Mia Ryan
In: The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown (Julia Quinn, Suzanne Enoch, Karen Hawkins & Mia Ryan)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Historical romance, Regency romance
Dates read: 22nd April 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Avon
Year: 2003
5th sentence, 74th page: “Linney!”

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

A dazzling and delightful tale by Mia Ryan has a young woman cast out of her home by an insufferable yet charming marquis—who intends to take possession not only of the house… but its former occupant as well!

Thoughts

I really couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next in the The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown collection. After all, even though these are independent novellas, there is still this great sense of continuity throughout the storyline. One that I love figuring out, even as I fall in love more and more with the characters in each individual tale.

At first I just couldn’t understand how the lead male had kicked the woman out of her home, and then, years later, decided that he wanted to marry her. I like rakish, fun and daring rogues. But I really don’t like selfish, pig-headed horrible men. It turns out that he wasn’t really either of these. Just a sweet, slightly injured gentleman. And the fact that he partnered up with a woman who is constantly fighting the urge to say things that are seriously inappropriate… I kind of fell completely in love with both of them.

Alright, I did fall in love with Linney a little bit more. Which isn’t really anything new… I tend to love the female protagonists more so than the males, regardless of the story… after all, I too am a woman. But, Linney was particularly special. I tend to sometimes come out with some very random, awkward comments. And I tend to constantly have little pep talks with myself about NOT saying every single thought that comes to mind… much like Linney.

What I think I loved most about this novella is that it’s about two misfits. They’re not what people would consider the elite and part of the respectable. They’re just a little too different. Which, of course is what makes me love them so damn much. I always adore the misfits.

<- Two HeartsThirty-Six Valentines ->

Image source: Goodreads

Sm(B)itten by Delilah Devlin

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Sm{B}itten (a BBW/vampire romance) (Night Fall Book 1) eBook ...

Title: Sm(B)itten
Author: Delilah Devlin
Series: Night Fall #1
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Erotica, Paranormal romance, Vampires
Dates read: 24th March – 22nd April 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Publisher: Delilah Devlin
Year: 2004
5th sentence, 74th page: ‘”Huh?”

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

Emmy Harris knows she’s not perfect. She has a little extra padding and isn’t the brightest bulb, but you’d think she was a sexy rock star the way everyone at a certain night club treats her from the moment she walks through the door. In fact, the two sexiest men there can’t seem to keep their hands off her, until one of them sweeps her away to his private domain. A girl like her isn’t going to waste a chance like that! So he’s a little rough and likes to take a nibble or two while he pleasures her. For a girl who didn’t know she’d never experienced a full-blown orgasm before, Dylan’s eccentricities are delicious!

Dylan O’Hara only wants a night of passion to slake his lusts, but finds Emmy is a full-bodied, red-blooded siren whose innocence and humor draw this Master vampire like a moth to a red-hot flame. When Emmy attracts the attention of a serial-killing vampire, Dylan vows to protect her, but he fears he’ll lose Emmy once she discovers he’s not human.

Thoughts

I have some very mixed feelings about this story. Whilst reading it, I kind of couldn’t put it down. But I also felt weirdly uncomfortable reading it. I’m not entirely certain why. But there was definitely discomfort. It may have a lot to do with the fact that this was an eBook though. I just can’t seem to get into eBooks as much as physical books…

The storyline in this book is fairly so so. Its not one of those impossible to put down, impossible to forget stories. Not fast-paced or full of action. But it is full of lust. It is a wonderful story, completely filled with the joys of lust and I certainly enjoyed it. The graphic nature of the writing made the lust and the passion just jump off of the pages. Certainly not a story that you want to read in front of your family and friends… it’s a little too private for that.

One of my favourite things about this book is that Emmy is curvy. She doesn’t look anything like a model, and, in fact, finds it quite hard to believe that she could even be beautiful. She is, of course, frequently described as sexy and beautiful by her paramour and others, but I like that she’s not considered to be modelesque. Definitely a great take on a romance lead.

Trying to write this review is kind of difficult. It was a really fun read, and I have already bought the next book in the series, and have it sitting on my kobo ready to go. But it wasn’t one of my all-time favourite books. It was an easy read that I thoroughly enjoyed and would probably read again. But mostly because the ease of it means that it’s quite easy to forget what happened, so it would be like reading it all over again.

<- More Delilah DevlinTruly, Madly… Deadly ->

Image source: Amazon

Journeybread Recipe by Lawrence Schimel

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for black thorn white rose book cover

Title: Journeybread Recipe
Author: Lawrence Schimel
In: Black Thorn, White Rose (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Fairy tales, Horror
Dates read: 20th April 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Prime Books
Year: 1994
5th sentence, 74th page: Cover, and, warm and moist, let the bloated belly rise nine months.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

A quaint, disturbing little recipe.

Thoughts

Not quite a poem, and not quite prose. This is a really disturbing two pages of reading. But, you know… disturbing in the best of ways.

I love that this is the recipe for making a Gingerbread Man. After all, there are so many different stories about the man (boy, child) himself, but so very few that feature the making of him. Or the motives behind his making… that one I’m still trying to figure out.

Although this is just two pages. It is really, seriously disturbing. It is a unique take on the very well-known fairytale. One that left me with a seriously uncomfortable and unsettled feeling at the end of it. Just brilliant.

<- Can’t Catch MeThe Brown Bear of Norway ->

Image source: Goodreads

The Caballero’s Way by O. Henry

Book Review, ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of westerns book cover

Title: The Caballero’s Way
Author: O. Henry
In: The Mammoth Book of Westerns (Jon E. Lewis)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Westerns
Dates read: 20th April 2020
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: Go in and rest, and let me water your horse and stake him with the long rope.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

Travelling along the Caballeros’ Way can be dangerous. Especially when even the woman you love betrays you.

Thoughts

I’m not really all that great on Western lore. But one thing that I do recognise / know is this name of the Kid. I’m not really sure if this refers to one individual, multiple, or what… but it was certainly nice to have a figure that I associate with Westerns appearing in the pages of this short story. I may not have quite known what this story was about, mostly because I kept fazing out throughout it, but I certainly appreciated the appearance of a well-known characterisation.

This was kind of a tragic little story. At first, I thought that the Kid was going to retire and live happily ever after with his woman. Particularly when it states that that’s exactly what he wants. But, alas, that was most certainly not meant to be. Instead, there is a sad ending filled with misunderstandings and manipulations. It worked well within the Western tale, but it was not the happy ending I kind of wanted.

So far in my reading of Westerns, I’m enjoying the simplicity of the stories. They’re nothing that I feel the need to rave about, but they’re a pleasant way to spend a few moments of time, just escaping the realities of day to day stressors.

<- A Sergeant of the Orphan TroopThe Bride Comes to Yellow Sky ->

Image source: Hachette Australia

Two Hearts by Karen Hawkins

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for the further observations of lady whistledown book cover"

Title: Two Hearts
Author: Karen Hawkins
In: The Further Observations of Lady Whistledown (Julia Quinn, Suzanne Enoch, Karen Hawkins & Mia Ryan)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Historical romance, Regency romance
Dates read: 20th April 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Avon
Year: 2003
5th sentence, 74th page: Liza dropped her arms to her sides.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

Karen Hawkins captivates with an enduring story of a handsome rogue whose lifelong friendship—and his heart—are tested when the lovely lady in question sets her cap for someone else.

Thoughts

One of my favourite romance tropes is the one of friends to lovers. After all, it’s a relationship that is being built on an incredibly strong base. So finding one that is both a regency romance, a tale of individuality and close friends turning to lovers… it definitely put me in my happy place.

Although I have had a pretty major love of / fascination with regency romances recently, one thing I don’t love is the reminder of how women had very little autonomy over their own lives in this day and age. Not a great, happy feeling for me. But what I loved about this, is that it took a few liberties… but created a story in which the woman actually did have most of her autonomy and independence. She was completely herself and found a way to do so with all the flamboyancy that she could want.

Royce and Liza make a great couple. In the end when Royce kind of gets over all of his crap. At first, his attitude and selfishness towards Liza’s wanting a family is kind of irritating. But after he moves on from that… its actually really nice. Particularly since they’re both highly flawed characters (so far, the most flawed in this collection), but they love each other for exactly who they are. It’s just gorgeous.

In a time when everything is going completely, totally and utterly bat shit insane. It was really nice to read a novella that was all about loving people for who they are. For being with those that just accept you and want to be around you. It’s just a nice little departure from reality. One which I really appreciated.

<- One True LoveA Dozen Kisses ->

Image source: Goodreads

In Case of Emergency, Break Glass by Erin Gough

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for kindred 12 queer book cover

Title: In Case of Emergency, Break Glass
Author: Erin Gough
In: Kindred (Michael Earp)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, LGBTQI
Dates read: 20th April 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Walker Books
Year: 2019
5th sentence, 74th page: She gazes at Reg, and Reg gazes back, and the force of her gaze makes Amy’s chest heave.

Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Synopsis

Amy can’t figure out why she just doesn’t feel… anything when she kisses her boyfriend. And then a fateful meeting on the job changes everything.

Thoughts

This was a nice, easy little read. One about discovering just what it is that makes you tick. Without being completely swept away in other, political, slightly more intense agendas. I love that it begins with Amy not quite understanding why Sam doesn’t make her excited by his kisses. And then ends with her finally finding someone who does. There is no real epiphany moment of being an LGBTQI+ person, but just a moment of, wow. So that’s what it should be like.

The combination of a young girl discovering her sexuality with the rebellious nature of Reg (the love interest) is kind of fun. There is great imagery of birds soaring free, doing what’s right even if it costs you your job… so many courageous moments that work so beautifully in this coming of age story. It’s not just about finding out who you are, it’s also about finding what you stand for. Which started to take centre stage a little for me.

I absolutely adored this short story. And I can’t wait to read more in this collection. I am also intrigued as to the amazing stories I’m sure Gough has the ability to construct… so I’ll probably try and hunt them out too.

<- RatsBitter Draught ->

Image source: Bookdepository

How the Marquis Got His Coat Back by Neil Gaiman

Book Review, , ,
Overview
How the Marquis Got His Coat Back (Rogues, #18) by Neil Gaiman

Title: How the Marquis Got His Coat Back
Author: Neil Gaiman
Series: London Below, the World of Neverwhere #1.5
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Science fiction, Urban fantasy
Dates read: 20th April 2020
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: headline
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: What’s it say?

Synopsis

A Neverwhere short story from one of the brightest, most brilliant writers of our generation – the Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author of the award-winning The Ocean At the End of the Lane.

The coat. It was elegant. It was beautiful. It was so close that he could have reached out and touched it.

And it was unquestionably his.

Thoughts

After reading Neverwhere, I felt completely, intensely, happily complete. It is just one of those stories that you turn the final page and just go… wow. And then break out into a HUGE smile. What I didn’t really think about though was that the Marquis had lost his coat. And, well, really anything much about the Marquis because he wasn’t my most or least favourite character. And then I found this short story at the back of my novel…

One of the most potent things that this short story did for me was to actually make me like the Marquis so much more. He wasn’t one dimensional or anything in Neverwhere, but I didn’t feel any tight emotional connection to him. Not a positive one. And not a negative one. But, showing a little of how he became the Marquis and why made me feel a lot more bonded to him than I had anticipated. It was certainly a pleasant and surprising outcome of such a short story.

The other aspect of this story that I really loved because of the illumination it provided was the Shepherds of Shepherds Bush (I THINK I got that right). It’s mentioned in Neverwhere that you don’t want to meet the Shepherds. And now I completely understand why. Although, I still found it an incredibly fun adventure actually getting to meet them anyway!!!

<- NeverwhereThe Seven Sisters ->

Image source: Goodreads

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

Book Review, ,
Overview
Neverwhere Illustrated Edition - Neil Gaiman - Hardcover

Title: Neverwhere
Author: Neil Gaiman
Series: London Below, The World of Neverwhere #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Science fiction, Urban fantasy
Dates read: 12th – 20th April 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: headline
Year: 1996
5th sentence, 74th page: Oh yes.

Synopsis

Under the streets of London lies a world most people could never dream of.

When Richard Mayhew helps a mysterious girl he finds bleeding on the pavement, his boring life changes in an instant. Her name is Door, she’s on the run from two assassins in black suits and she comes from London Below.

His act of kindness leads him to a place filled with monsters and angels, a Beast in a labyrinth and an Earl who holds Court in a Tube train.

It is strangely familiar yet utterly bizarre.

Thoughts

As with all Neil Gaiman books, I have heard nothing but good things about this novel. And I bought a special edition in a sale because it was illustrated… which always makes me happy. What I didn’t expect was that this would quickly become my favourite Neil Gaiman book. There is just something so wonderful and fantastic about this story… it’s impossible to forget. And, honestly, why would you want to? I think that the world of London Below is the kind of place I’d be happy living in… for about 5 minutes, and then I’d die…

As an adult, there is one question that I keep coming up against… what is life about? What is it that I want out of my life? Richard doesn’t quite know that these are the questions he’s asking himself, but from the very beginning it is obvious that he isn’t quite living the life that he wants to live. He’s completely lost. Kind of untethered and, honestly, enough to pluck at your heartstrings. And then he meets Door and he is thrust into a whole other level of shit. But, one that actually leaves him feeling like there’s something interesting in life. And, honestly, isn’t that all that we each want? SOMETHING in life that makes it worth living?

There are so many wonderfully intense things about the storyline of Neverwhere. But what I love the most is the world that Gaiman has created. It is a little too easy to imagine London Below sitting just beneath our feet everyday. It makes me wonder what the version of this world would be down in Australia. There are so many brilliant little, intricate moments of change and difference that I just can’t even comprehend. So many brilliant little ideas that seem so damn obvious now that I’ve read them… but at the time, seemed completely, ridiculously far-fetched… I just love the dark, twisted world that Gaiman has created. It’s not the sunshine and daisies version of an urban fantasy world that I normally come across in my books…

Neverwhere is one of the most enthralling and astonishing books I’ve read in a while. It’s not one that you can’t put down (for which I was glad, because I don’t want to do nothing all day). But it is one that will stick with me, and whoever reads it for a long time after they turn that final page. It is an amazing journey, a great story and filled with characters that are loveable – even when they’re the villains.

<- The Seven SistersHow the Marquis Got His Coat Back ->

Image source: HarperCollins Publishers

Down Among the Dead Men by Jack Dann & Gardner Dozois

Book Review, , , , , ,
Overview
Image result for the monstrous ellen datlow book cover

Title: Down Among the Dead Men
Author: Jack Dann & Gardner Dozois
In: The Monstrous (Ellen Datlow) & Blood Is Not Enough (Ellen Datlow)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Horror, War
Dates read: 20th April 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Tachyon
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: He fingered the spoon compulsively, turning it over and over; it was hard and smooth and cold, and he clenched it as tightly as he could, trying to ignore the fine tremouring of his hands.

Synopsis

He always thought that they were friends. That he was their saviour. But, then he realises that they’re all dead here. Just some are a little more dead than others.

Thoughts

There seem to be a few Jewish / war / prisoner of war stories popping up in my reading at the moment. And although they’re completely heart-wrenching, kind of devastating and seriously intense… they’re also kind of completely amazing. And I am definitely in love with them. What I didn’t expect was to find one such story in a collection of monstrous fantasy stories…

At the beginning of this story, I figured it was going to be dark. After all, it starts with the moment that the narrator first realises that his friend is a vampire. But, then I thought he was going to be a nice vampire… there were so many justifications for his actions. And then things got dark again. Which to me, is the mark of a great story – one which takes you through ups and downs and makes you constantly question your assumptions. The fact that it was done in only a very few pages just made it all the more impressive.

This short story had a much darker, more twisty ending than what I had expected. Which, of course, is kind of why I loved it. There is something fantastic about a dark ending that leaves you disquieted and uncomfortable.

<- The Chill Clutch of the UnseenCatching Flies ->

Image source: Amazon