All posts by skyebjenner

Run, Run, Rudolph by Lynsay Sands

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Holidays Are Hell

Title: Run, Run, Rudolph
Author: Lynsay Sands
In: Holidays Are Hell (Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Marjorie M. Liu & Vicki Pettersson)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Harper Fiction
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: Jill waited until the pair was out of sight before turning anxiously to Nick.

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Synopsis

Jill’s brother and sister are shapeshifters and incredibly intelligent scientists. But she’s normal, until a madman decides to mess with her on the day of the Christmas pageant. Between running from an insane person, falling for Nick, and trying to learn all about her new skills, Jill is in for an interesting holiday season…

Thoughts

I laughed through most of this story. It was just one of those slightly humorous, feel good, easy reads that sweep you along. In fact, it swept me along so well that the “I’ll just read a chapter” thing went straight out the window and I read this entire novella in one sitting. Always a good indication of how much I enjoyed the storyline.

Jill gets zapped by some weird molecular destabiliser, finds out that there’s a mad man after her, and runs away. At first I couldn’t really tell where this story was going. She gets zapped, there’s a mad man and a love interest (you’d think I would have picked up on some of the storyline earlier). But it pretty quickly becomes a fun, intense journey that feels like a constant game of cat and mouse.

Although I enjoyed the chase in the story, my favourite part was the romance. Nick and Jill have this amazing simmering passion. But beyond the sexual tension, there is this great emotional connection and relationship. The fact that it starts to take place on a Christmas float, and at some point, a reindeer running rampant, just helps to add a little more flavour and laughter to the random adventures that help to increase the power of the relationship throughout this Christmas story.

 <- Two Ghosts for Sister Rachel ReviewSix Review ->
Image source: Harper Collins Publishers

A Good Psycho is Hard to Find by Will Ludwigsen

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Blood Lite

Title: A Good Psycho is Hard to Find
Author: Will Ludwigsen
In: Blood Lite (Kevin J. Anderson)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Comedy, Horror
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Pocket Books
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: We wiped down the chainsaw and tossed it in the Dumpster.

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Synopsis

It can be hard to find the right amount of passion in a relationship… but for this young couple, things are about to take a sinister turn.

Thoughts

Well. This took an unexpected turn. Like really unexpected. And more than a little creepy. And just… yeah, not really quite right there.

It can be difficult to be passionate with your significant other when life gets in the way. And for the couple in this tale, they are certainly finding it hard to rekindle their first flames. That is, until they realise that they just need a good dose of adrenaline to throw them into each others’ arms. It’s more so where they get this adrenaline from that is unexpected. And in so many ways, not okay…

 <- Dear Prudence ReviewHigh Kicks and Misdemeanors Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

The Chimes by Charles Dickens

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for the chimes charles dickens book cover

Title: The Chimes
Author: Charles Dickens
In: A Christmas Carol and Other Holiday Treasures (Charles Dickens)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Classics
Pace: Slow
Format: Novella
Publisher: Word Cloud Classics
Year: 1844
5th sentence, 74th page: So may each year be happier than the last, and not the meanest of our brethren or sisterhood debarred their rightful share, in what our Great Creator formed them to enjoy.

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Synopsis

“The Chimes” is Charles Dickens 1844 novella that concerns the disillusionment of Toby “Trotty” Veck, a poor working-class man. When Trotty has lost his faith in Humanity and believes that his poverty is the result of his unworthiness he is visited on New Year’s Eve by spirits to help restore his faith and show him that nobody is born evil, but rather that crime and poverty are things created by man.

Thoughts

It took me a little more to get into this than A Christmas Carol. Probably because A Christmas Carol is a story that I already know and love from the many different adaptations that I’ve watched. The Chimes on the other hand isn’t a storyline that I’ve ever read before or heard of.

Another reason I struggled to get into this story was because of the way that Toby is shamed in the first quarter for being poor. Although this is a technique utilised to highlight the Christmas spirit amongst the bells and chimes later, I found it a little hard to swallow. Until the last quarter, then I loved the way that the spirits and chimes all worked together to remind us of the Christmas spirit.

The Chimes works as a great way to remind us that it is the spirit of giving and love that is what should truly define the holiday season. Not how much money you have and what you can give people.

 <- A Christmas Carol ReviewThe Cricket on the Hearth Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Numismatics in the Reigns of Naranh and Viu by Alex Dally MacFarlane

Book Review, ,
Overview
The Mammoth Book of Steampunk

Title: Numismatics in the Reigns of Naranh and Viu
Author: Alex Dally MacFarlane
In: The Mammoth Book of Steampunk (Sean Wallace)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Steampunk
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: Gradually she learned what she had expected: most leaders resented King Naranh’s refusal to share the methodologies and the full benefits of his steamworks.

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Synopsis

Naranh and Viu are brother and sisters monarchs. They use the coins and the people around them to validate their reigns in this story of constant tug and pull between two individuals.

Thoughts

I thoroughly enjoyed this short story. Not just the quick, sharp, fast pace. But the uniqueness of the storyline and the way that it drew me in from the very beginning. The way that the story was broken up into almost mini-chapters helped to lend this fast-paced feeling to the story and moved it forward beautifully.

The idea of coins being used to establish the reign and validity of rulership was something that I haven’t encountered before. And I found that I really enjoyed this. Something about coin collectors and the stories that they tell certainly came to mind while I was reading this. Each small part of the story tells of a new coin, a new mint and a new step in Viu’s plan to create her own rule of fairness and equality.

 <- The Anachronist’s Cookbook ReviewZeppelin City Review ->
Image source: Amazon

An Enchanted Season by Nalini Singh, Maggie Shayne, Erin McCarthy & Jean Johnson

Book Review, , , , , , ,
Overview
Image result for an enchanted season book cover

Title: An Enchanted Season
Author: Nalini Singh, Maggie Shayne, Erin McCarthy & Jean Johnson
In: An Enchanted Season (Nalini Singh, Maggie Shayne, Erin McCarthy & Jean Johnson)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Paranormal romance, Short story collections
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: Merry Christmas.

Synopsis

It’s the time of year when dreams come true, miracles happen every day, and love is the greatest gift of all. The holidays always seem to bring out the best in everyone, with heartfelt hugs for long-missed friends, sincere smiles in the spirit of the season, and a feeling of magic in the air…

This scintillating collection of paranormal romances celebrates the holidays as never before. From a shape-shifting leopardess who wants a packmate to be her soul mate to a sudden snow-storm that brings a surprise gift, these four tales by Nalini Singh, Maggie Shayne, Erin McCarthy, and Jean Johnson will stir your spirit in all the right places.

Thoughts

Naw. This collection left me with such happy, Christmassy, gooey feelings. All four of these novellas are simple, cute and incredibly sweet. They encompass the feelings of love and giving that to me is the true spirit of Christmas. After finishing every single one of these novellas, I not only bought something by each of the authors, but I just sat there with a feeling of bliss and happiness that there is still goodness in the world.

I know that the storyline is really good and sweet when it makes me tear up a bit. The fact that every single story in this collection did that to me is a fantastic indication of just how special this entire collection is. If you need something feel good and beautiful, this is certainly a reflection worth reading!

 <- Gifts of the MagiMelting Frosty ->

Image source: Amazon

Close Knit by Nina Kiriki Hoffman

Book Review, , ,
Overview
A Fantastic Holiday Season

Title: Close Knit
Author: Nina Kiriki Hoffman
In: A Fantastic Holiday Season (Kevin J. Anderson & Keith J. Olexa)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Family
Pace: Slow
Format:  Short story
Publisher: World Fire Press
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: They walked the mall after dinner.

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Synopsis

Leo has powerful family magic, but the magic of Christmas is about to show him that maybe there is another kind of magic that he needs to consider.

Thoughts

Christmas time has always meant family to me. But, sometimes that closeness and beautifulness of family can become a little too overwhelming. Sometimes becoming an adult means that the tightness of familial ties needs to be stretched and loosened. Hoffmanexplores this perfectly in this intriguingly different short story.

Instead of featuring a close knit family that is happy,healthy and merry – Close Knit features one that is inherently broken. All three generations that are featured. The fact that there is a magical that acts like a web between members just furthers the idea that not all relationships are healthy, and sometimes we need to work on things. Being close isn’t necessarily a good thing.

It took me a while to get used to a slightly open-ended ending in most short stories. They leave so much left unsaid, but, in the cases of tales like this, I love it. There is a sense of a great future ahead of Leo’s family, but also a sense of a lot of work left undone and a lot on the horizon.

 <- Naughty & Nice ReviewAstronaut Nick Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Two Ghosts for Sister Rachel by Kim Harrison

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Holidays Are Hell

Title: Two Ghosts for Sister Rachel
Author: Kim Harrison
Series: The Hollows #5.5
In: Holidays Are Hell (Kim Harrison, Lynsay Sands, Marjorie M. Liu & Vicki Pettersson)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Paranormal fantasy, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Harper Fiction
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: The cold hit me, and I held my crossed arms close now for warmth.

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Synopsis

All Rachel wants to do is join local magical enforcement. But her brother has other ideas for her. When a séance to find out their father’s wishes goes wrong, all hell is about to break loose…

Thoughts

I read this because it was in a Christmas collection and I really wanted to get into the Christmas spirit. Yet, I’m still completely unaware as to what this has to do with Christmas. Other than the fact that all of the action takes place on the solstice.

Regardless of the fact that I specifically wanted a Christmas story, and didn’t get one… I thoroughly enjoyed this novella. And can’t wait to discover more of The Hollows series. Rachel is an independent and strong woman. But in a way that is completely different to every other strong woman I’ve read about. Normally they are physically able, and can kick box and karate or whatever form of self defence… but Rachel is actually incredibly physically weak. Yet, this is what lends her so much strength and power. And makes you root for her as she rushes around the city, after a ghost, trying to find a missing girl and a creepy, demented vampire.

 <- Holidays Are HellRun, Run, Rudolph ->
Image source: Harper Collins Publishers

A Temporary Vampire by Barbara Emrys

Book Review, , ,
Overview
The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance

Title: A Temporary Vampire
Author: Barbara Emrys
In: The Mammoth Book of Vampire Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Vampires
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: By the time I had cleaned my face and hands and covered my shirt front, she was gone.

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Synopsis

New Orleans is filled with vampires, both the temporary and permanent kind. So what happens when two of them meet?

Thoughts

I wasn’t expecting a story like this in a collection of vampire romance short stories. For starters, even though a vampire was in it, it wasn’t really about vampires. And for another thing, it wasn’t really all that romantic.

Although the storyline and the characters in this story didn’t really draw me in… the setting did. There is something about New Orleans that has always fascinated me. To the point that it’s probably the only American city that I’m really interested in visiting. And the fact that a vampire story is based there seems somehow… right.

 <- In Which a Masquerade Ball Unmasks an Undead ReviewOverbite Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for a christmas carol charles dickens book cover

Title: A Christmas Carol
Author: Charles Dickens
In: A Christmas Carol and Other Holiday Treasures (Charles Dickens)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Classics, Ghosts
Pace: Slow
Format: Novella
Publisher: Word Cloud Classics
Year: 1843
5th sentence, 74th page: A merrier Christmas, Bob, my good fellow, than I have given you, for many a year!

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

If I had my way, every idiot who goes around with Merry Christmas on his lips, would be boiled with his own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through his heart. Merry Christmas? Bah humbug!’

To bitter, miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, Christmas is just another day. But all that changes when the ghost of his long-dead business partner appears, warning Scrooge to change his ways before it’s too late.

Thoughts

I have watched The Muppet’s Christmas Carol every Christmas Eve since I was in high school. I’ve just never managed to get around to reading the story. Until this year. And now I just can’t believe that I took so damn long to get to it!

A Christmas Carol is a great reminder of everything that Christmas is supposed to be about. Community, spirit, love and caring for one another. It’s a reminder that you should not only keep the spirit over the Christmas period, but also all year long. Giving, caring and treasuring those that you love. And honestly, this year, with everything that has been happening… I’ve kind of needed that reminder and the purity of this story.

I love the lyrical way in which Dickens writes. A Christmas Carol is actually my first ever Charles Dickens story and, again, I’m wondering why it took me so long to pick up his work. It was glorious and easy. Sweet and intriguing. And I loved the way that the words not only tripped off your tongue, but also drew you in so completely.

For those grinches, normal and people who are obsessed with Christmas, this is the perfect novella to read when you just want to feel that spirit of Christmas again. Just like when you were a child…

 <- A Christmas Carol and Other Holiday Treasures ReviewThe Chimes Review ->
Image source: Amazon

The Pagan Bride by Patricia Grasso

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

Title: The Pagan Bride
Author: Patricia Grasso
In: The Mammoth Book of Scottish Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5:  5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Politics, Romance,
Scottish romance
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: Avril could have throttled her brother.

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Synopsis

Avril is on her way to meet the man she married when she was five years-old. Luckily, for her, he might be the man of her dreams, not so luckily, there are deadly politics of play as she holds court with Mary, Queen of the Scots.

Thoughts

I was honestly annoyed at the beginning of this story. Avril was married to a man ten years her senior when she was five years-old. Now, as an adult she is returning to his estate and taking her place as a wife. And he’s quite rude from the very beginning – leaving her waiting, assuming that he gets his “husbandly rights”… he’s kind of a douche. But, he gets better, and even though I don’t actually like him at the end of the story, I do like their relationship.

It took me a little longer than I would have liked to realise that this story featured Queen Mary of the Scots (or something like that), the woman who was imprisoned and executed in England after being one of Henry’s infamous wives (I believe). Even this, I’m not 100% sure of. But I loved the way in which a touch of the “other” (in the form of the Sight), works its way seamlessly into the machinations of a political court that was completely real.

The marrying of real life political intrigue and events with a fantastical romance worked really well here. I loved being able to imagine that this actually did happen way back when… that Avril’s descendants are happy and healthy somewhere in the world.

 <- Highland Heart ReviewWolfish in Sheep’s Clothing Review ->
Image source: Hachette Australia