Title: Falling in Time Author: Allie Mackay In: The Mammoth Book of Time Travel Romance (Trisha Telep) Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this) My Bookshelves:Scottish romance, Time travel Dates read: 30th December 2019 Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: Robinson Year: 2009 5th sentence, 74th page: He couldn’t see her – she was lying behind him, her full, round breasts pressing against his back.
She thinks that she’s just imagining the lead male in her book. But then she starts kissing him. And seeing him in the daytime… maybe there’s a little bit more to this than she realised.
I absolutely loved that this story features a writer who is having very vivid imaginations about her lead character. And that was about the extent of my love for this story. I kept rereading parts of this story in total confusion. Like, total and utter confusion. Wasn’t entirely sure how this was working and what was going on.
About halfway through I started to get what was actually going on though. And I kind of like the idea of soul mates. With the time travelling aspect being something which only happens because they’re soul mates. Ones who were accidentally born in the wrong time and need divine intervention to finally come together.
Eventually I got into this story and did enjoy it. It might not have been my favourite short story, but it was definitely one that was thoroughly enjoyable.
Lia’s been tasked with finding the kidnapped daughter of the “Werewolf King”. But she’s not welcome amongst them, and this journey might bring her face to face with the man she fell for… hard.
I love that I finally got to revisit the world of Lia and Cyrus. That I get to do so in a Christmas collection and when they’re obviously just finding their relationship (the other two stories I’ve read which feature them are further along in the series) just made it that much better. It also gives a little more insight into the hierarchy of the werewolves in this series. Something I surprisingly needed in my life.
I love that the douche nugget in this story who gives Lia such a hard time ends up being guilty of a lot more than just being a pain in the butt. And kind of racist. In a supernatural way. It also shows that not only does Lia have a great past, but there’s also a lot of hidden wars occurring. I’ve only read Touch the Darkin the greater series, so it’s intriguing to find a story which explains so much more of the battle going on.
This is a great, easy, happy read. One that I thoroughly enjoyed. Mostly though, I wish it wasn’t over so soon. I want to return to Lia and Cyrus. I feel WAY too connected to them.
Title: Jack Author:Pat Cadigan In: Haunted Nights (Lisa Morton & Ellen Datlow) Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Horror, Paranormal fantasy, Spirits Dates read: 30th December 2019 Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: Blumhouse Year: 2017 5th sentence, 74th page: There isn’t even any daytime, only darkness.
For one night of the year, Jack has the opportunity to escape. It’s her job to stop him. But this is her first night solo. What will happen?
This short story is beautifully dark and impossible to put down. It has a bit of an urban fantasy feel that is reminiscent of a lot of the series that I read. But it also had a great sense of mystery to the story. One that made me wonder what was going to happen. And, since it was in this collection… if there would be a happily ever after in the end.
I’ve heard a few retellings of Jack, the trickster. This might be my favourite so far. There was something a little more down to earth about it. Yet, it had a great sense of modernity to an old story that I love. The modernisation and journey that this takes you on is seriously brilliant.
My favourite part of this story though is knowing that there is a trick coming. But not being sure what it is or when it’s going to appear. And when it does… it takes you by surprise. And then you wonder who will come out on top. A good little adventure to go on.
There’s a rapist and murderer hunting the women of her hometown, and then she gets a flat and realises that she’s next. But the consequences of her escape? She’s probably turned him into a werewolf…
I’m a big fan of werewolf stories. You can probably tell from how many are on my shelves and fill my bookcases. But, one thing that doesn’t tend to happen so often is that if there’s a female werewolf, the male normally is too. Something about not having a woman more powerful than a man or such nonsense I would suppose. But, that’s not the case in this story. The woman is a werewolf, the man she loves a normal human; and ultimately, it’s the woman that saves the day.
This short story centres around a couple reconnecting as they also fight off a rapist. Or at least, try and catch a serial rapist and killer. It’s quite an intense way to reconnect, but I love that ultimately, she gets her revenge on the man who tried to take her. Rather than her being scared, she’s actually actively hunting him down. A great departure from many of the female storylines I normally find.
This short story was yet another reminder of just how much I love Meljean Brook. Her writing always draws you in. Her world building is brilliant. And the characters make you want to reach through the pages and get to know them just a little bit better. The fact that she doesn’t just do this in novels and novellas, but also short stories was a fantastic surprise to my mind.
Title: In the Wake of the Autumn Storm Author: Adrian Cole In: The Mammoth Book of Jack the Ripper Stories (Maxim Jakubowski) Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:Crime, Historical fiction Dates read: 30th December 2019 Pace: Slow Format: Short story Publisher: Robinson Year: 2015 5th sentence, 74th page: Could be complete tosh, or it might allow us to blot a few escutcheons.
Do you ever wonder what happened to the Ripper? Dolly is happy to provide you with the true, far more sinister story.
This story was incredibly beautiful. Which is a weird word to use, because it’s a story about Jack the Ripper. It’s also incredibly twisty and turny – which makes far more sense considering the stories topic and subject. But it’s this twisty and turny nature that makes it such a beautifully intriguing story.
In the Wake of the Autumn Storm is incredibly deprived. Horrifyingly so. And that depravation has nothing to do with the actual Ripper. It’s got to do with the woman whose telling the story and what happens around her. And to her. It’s just depraved.
This short story is the tale of the Ripper, his demise and the ultimate reveal at the end. Which was quite a good little surprise. One that even made me smile after I turned the final page.
In these 19 evocative pieces of short fiction, best-selling and award-winning writers tackle such intriguing issues as sex by telepathy, the pick-up scene on other planets, and making love with Superman. Thought-provoking, often shocking, always entertaining, Alien Sex daringly explores those barriers between men and women that can make them seem so “alien” to one another. Probing the current and future state, shape, and complex problems of the human male/female relationship, this fantastic collection will make you think about sex in a whole new way.
This is the single most uncomfortable thing I’ve ever read. Like wow uncomfortable. And not in bits and pieces. But pretty much every single story in this was uncomfortable. Not that that’s bad. But it’s very hard to read a book quickly when you know that things aren’t going to be, well, pleasant. Which makes it incredibly WOW to read. I suggest this to everyone who loves their science fiction.
This collection seriously makes you think about the world around you and how we perceive it. More importantly, it repeatedly makes you question sex, our approaches to sexuality and even how we deal with the opposite gender. And sometimes even questions of gender. By using these insane, far out storylines, it makes you seriously consider this aspect of our lives.
Sex is really weird. I don’t know that anyone can argue that it isn’t. Using science fiction and aliens just helps to highlight that fact. And kind of act as enlightenment for a number of my own practices and beliefs. Definitely an interesting collection…
Title: An English Bride in Scotland Author: Lynsay Sands Series: Highland Brides #1 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Historical romance, Scottish romance Dates read: 29th December 2019 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Avon Year: 2013 5th sentence, 74th page: Annabel supposed this was how ladies were treated… when they weren’t oblates in a nunnery.
She never expected to marry
Annabel was about to take the veil to become a nun, when her mother suddenly arrived at the abbey to take her home… so that she can marry the Scottish laird who is betrothed to her runaway sister! She knows nothing about being a wife, nothing about how to run a household, and definitely nothing about the marriage bed.
He never expected to fall in love
From the moment Ross MacKay sets eyes on Annabel, he is taken with his shy, sweet bride… and the fact that she’s blessed with lush curves only makes him utter his own prayers of thanks. But when an enemy endangers her life, he’ll move the Highlands themselves to save her. For though Annabel’s not the bride he planned for, she’s the only woman he desires…
This was my first full-length Lynsay Sands novel. I’ve now read a few of her novellas which were absolutely brilliant. Plus, I’ve been a little obsessed with historical fiction in the last month or so, so it was kind of a perfect fit. Which is quite obvious, since I read the whole thing cover to cover in one night. It only has a different start and finish date because I read it overnight when I should have been sleeping… should probably stop doing that.
There is something that seriously draws me into Scottish romance. Yet, like Lynsay Sands, this is my first ever full length Scottish romance. I’m probably so incredibly drawn in because my ancestors were Scottish. Finally something I connect to a little more strongly. Having said that, I have never been to Scotland, and most likely never will. This story just reminded me how much I want to discover more about my past. How much I love stories like this. They’re easy, cute and give me a weird hereditary nostalgia.
Although this story was primarily about the love between Annabel and Ross, it was also very much about discovering who was stalking her. Normally in stories like this, it’s kind of obvious, or even known by the characters. And the tale is more about getting revenge and escaping the evil creature. Not so much in this. I honestly had no idea who was the culprit, and, more importantly, why they were trying to kidnap the English bride. It made an interesting point of conflict. And not one that I often find in romances.
Normally in romances, the central point of conflict comes from some misunderstanding in the relationship. I thought the whole nun thing would be a point of contention and that would definitely show itself in the sexual relations. Not so. The main issue for the leads in this was the stalker. I loved that there was an external point of conflict and that neither character was unbelievably stupid. It’s great in stories, but a departure from this trend is also brilliant.
They’ve discovered the Santa is a vampire. What these two young Russian undead don’t realise is that he’s ancient for a reason. And really not interested in their help…
Any story that starts with a discussion about how Santa is a vampire is going to draw me in and make me incredibly happy from the very beginning. There is just something about the idea that is both sensical and terrifying. Definitely funny though. Especially the way in which it’s described…
As much as I loved Santa being a vampire, the part of this story I loved the most was that it featured African Painted Dogs. I absolutely adore those endangered creatures and the fact that they take out Santa’s reindeer… might be one of the more perfect stories I’ve read. It was just brilliant.
This is definitely one of those stories which takes our traditional tales and gives them a completely absurd spin. One that makes a weird kind of sense and makes you not really want to think about the original for a little time. Especially when even Rudolph gets a disturbing supernatural spin in this story!
She teaches young boys in the Jewish quarter of Whitechapel. And when she realises what a monster she’s teaching… things begin to go pearshaped.
I seem to have really enjoyed origin stories this year. Something about them completely draws me in and I like the way that a well-known character can be seen as an immature being. This origins story was a lot freakier. Because it was the beginning of Jack the Ripper. When he was a small child and everyone else ignored what he was becoming. So much, much creepier.
There was somehow something much more terrifying about this Ripper story. Probably because it was a small child. Children as killers and budding sociopaths freaks me out. Which is probably why I don’t like dolls (but that’s a conversation for another day). Using a small boy in this made me cringe in abject horror and feel incredibly, intensely uncomfortable.
At the conclusion of this story, I literally got up, and went and found my dog. The big one. That weighs almost two thirds of my weight… and gave him a huge, gigantic hug. It made me feel just a little bit better.
Title: Picture Planes Author: Michaela Roessner In: Alien Sex (Ellen Datlow) Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one) My Bookshelves:Aliens, Lust, Poetry Dates read: 29th December 2019 Pace: Slow Format: Poem Publisher: ROC Year: 1990 5th sentence, 74th page: Where two steams of blood
A poem about sex, lust and the loss of innocence.
I can spend hours staring at one poem, pulling apart each nuance and meaning. It’s something I’m far more likely to do than when there is prose around. This poem made me so uncomfortable that I didn’t do that this time. After all, it’s in the Alien Sex collection, so it’s not going to be a comfortable story.
When I started reading this poem, I thought it was a little more innocent. About sex, sexuality and that loss of innocence that goes along with it.
It’s not.
It’s more about possession and rape and horrible aspects of sexuality. Or at least, that’s what I got out of it.
Earth and Skye 