All posts by skyebjenner

A Guiding Light by Susan Copperfield

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: A Guiding Light
Author: Susan Copperfield
Series: Royal States #4
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Magic, Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2018

Thoughts

Adam and Veronica are a seriously cute and lovely couple. One that I was rooting for from the very beginning of the story. And I really like that although they both have a lot of history, they are working towards one another throughout the entire story. Even if they take forever to actually get back to one another, they have managed to grow and change towards each other. Plus, Adam’s total and utter devotion and love is kind of adorable.

The dangers and grossness of childhood marriage contracts is touched upon a little in Null and Void. And I love that although the two instances in this series have happy endings, the story of Adam and Veronica also highlights the beginning of the end of this practice. There is something seriously gross about children being pushed into marriages. The fact that within this series, they are actual legal and binding contracts between kingdoms… incredibly awkward and uncomfortable.

The difficulties that Adam has with his family are really heartbreaking, and as the story unfolds, you realise that they aren’t all evil. I definitely got the impression towards the end of this story that they actually abandoned him to protect him. But, none of his abandonment issues or their motives are really dealt with in this story. I would’ve loved to explore all of this a whole lot more. Particularly once you find out that they were both victims of marriage contracts. And also just generally bad ass individuals. Ones that I kind of immediately fell in love with…

Like all of Copperfield, Blain and Franklin books, this is one that is filled with a wonderful dose of humour and wit. Yet, as with the rest of the Royal States series, there is a whole tone of comments on society as a whole. Other than the childhood marriage grossness, A Guiding Light focuses on the power of money, banks and the stock market. It felt really poignant to read a story about this at the moment – with the cost of living surpassing our wages and the knowledge that everyone is in a whole lot of trouble moneywise.

As a villain, the king in this is an absolute nutter. I mean, he’s probably been one of the worst bad guys in the whole series – mostly because his evil deeds impact on his wife and children. Particularly his youngest son and eldest daughter – they both have suffered a lot at his hands. I kind of love that he ultimately paid the price for murder and manipulation. Now onto the next amazing novel in this series and the social issues that I’m sure I’ll have to think about upon reading it!

<- The Captive KingHuntress ->

Image source: Amazon

Just One Fake Date by Deborah Cooke

Book Review, , ,
Overview

Title: Just One Fake Date
Author: Deborah Cooke
Series: Flatiron Five Fitness #1
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2016

Thoughts

Shannyn and Ty are a fun couple that work really well together. They constantly challenge one another, but are not intensely antagonistic to each other. I love a couple who constantly challenges each other and makes one another better. They’re also a great fit in that Shannyn is able to slot into Ty’s world seamlessly and they are both able to find professional and personal fulfillment together. Absolutely adorable and seriously enjoyable.

I love that Shannyn and Ty come from vastly different backgrounds. And that, ultimately, they end up together because Shannyn decides to take a big risk and plunge. I’m a big believer that fully committing to someone is always a risk that takes a pretty big step on both peoples’ behalf’s. But, with Shannyn’s background and experience, I love the strength of self that she shows in deciding to take that plunge.

As someone who comes from a highly involved family, I love how involved all of Ty’s family is. They might be slightly overbearing and a little bit too much, but I thought they were fantastic. As was Shannyn’s mother and brother. Family comes in all shapes and sizes, and I love that they both come from supportive backgrounds. Even if this meant that Ty’s mother got a little bit too involved and presented as a bit of an obstacle to overcome.

Even though Ty’s mum was a bit of an obstacle, I thought that both she and Cassie would be far more of a challenge than they were. Particularly Cassie, it’s obvious that she had her sights majorly set on Ty. And even when she made a play for him and started to realise that it wasn’t going to work, she wasn’t as much of a challenge to Shannyn and Ty’s romance as I thought. Which I kind of liked. I get a bit fed up with women being petty and horrible to each other. That wasn’t the case in this story, rather both women had concerns about Shannyn, but bowed out to Ty’s happiness.

This romance was an incredibly easy read with a whole lot of heart. I really enjoyed it, and can’t wait until the rest of the Flatiron Five Fitness team fall in love and find their happily ever afters.

<- More Deborah CookeJust One More Time ->

Image source: Kobo

A Touch of Wild by Gemma Cates

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: A Touch of Wild
Author: Gemma Cates
Series: Van Helsing Sisters Adventures #1
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Monsters, Paranormal romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2021

Thoughts

For some reason, I was expecting this to be a much longer story. This was incredibly short, sharp and shiny. Which was kind of surprising. Honestly, I really wanted this story to be far more fleshed out. There was so much room for character development, it happened a little bit too quickly to really get into it!

I did love that Mariah Van Helsing is forced to face her prejudices and assumptions. I mean, to be a monster hunter, you kind of have to assume that the those she hunts are monsters… I love that she then finds herself smitten with a werewolf. Plus, he’s kind of sweet and gives her just the right amount of space.

Honestly, like this review, this tale was a little bit too short and sweet for my liking. I seriously enjoyed the story though and look forward to reading more tales of the Van Helsing Sisters!

<- More Gemma CatesA Touch of Crazy ->

Image source: Amazon

Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Etiquette & Espionage
Author: Gail Carriger
Series: Finishing School #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Historical fiction, Paranormal fantasy, Steampunk
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2013

Thoughts

I absolutely adored the idea of a steampunk finishing school of espionage and assassination. The fact that it was also a floating school that had a werewolf and vampire in attendance… unforgettable. Sophrina is also a fantastic and lovely leading lady who I wish I’d met when I was younger. She’s intelligent, caring and completely relatable. Everything about this story from beginning to end was brilliant and I can’t wait to read more of Carriger’s world!

Sophrina was one of the favourite female leads I’ve read in a while. She’s not described as beautiful or ugly. Indeed, she’s just average looking, I love that she’s not ugly or beautiful but actually normal looking. And, more than anything, it is her inner beauty that people fall in love with. I love that she is willing to try things that others aren’t willing to. And has a problem solving mind that loves to explore the world around her.

Soap and the sooties are a great cast of characters, I love how Carriger uses those who are overlooked to help inform Sophrina of the world around her. Including Sophrina’s inventor friend – someone who likes to shuffle around the school and find plenty of rules to break. I’m absolutely in love with them, and I really love how they readily except Sophrina into their lives.

The world building within this novel is completely amazing. That, and the fact that Carriger has positive female friendships throughout. I mean, Monique and Preasha are not great, and work really well as antagonists, but the majority of Sophrina’s relationships are incredibly positive. And, even Monique and Preasha aren’t bad because of females being pitted against one another, they’re just not great people. There’s also the fact that Sophrina is able to encourage others to form positive relationships and be themselves.

Throughout the entirety of this story, Sophrina attempts to outwit and outsmart Monique’s selfish evil. And, although you know she’s going to at least win partially in the end, it’s brilliant how she actually goes about it. Plus, it’s kind of hilarious. Now I can’t wait to see what other shenanigans Sophrina and her friends get up to.

<- More Gail CarrigerCurtsies & Conspiracies ->

Image source: Amazon

Booked for Murder by R.J. Blain

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Booked for Murder
Author: R.J. Blain
Series: Vigilante Magical Librarians #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Magic, Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2020

Thoughts

Let’s face it, any book that is called Booked for Murder and is the first in a series titled Vigilante Magical Librarians is going to draw me in. I’m a total book dragon, kind of half convinced that a library might be a good place for me to exist (but then I’d never actually help anyone, because books) and then there’s the whole, vigilante spin. There is literally nothing about this that isn’t going to draw me in and have me hooked from pretty much the very beginning. That, and then you have the whole spin that Janette is an ex-bodyguard who is kind of hiding out from her previous, and very sexy, employer. The perfect storm of absolute joy and an impossible to put down book.

Even after finishing this story, I couldn’t get the idea of an exsanguinator out of my head. Particularly the many different medical applications that Janette used her talent for. I mean, yeah, the obvious shooting blood out of orifices and killing people works. But I love how it’s also used to stop traumatic bleed outs, for blood transfusions, to remove impurities from the blood… there were so many aspects to the human body that were delved into within this. Although most of this story was focused on the murders and the more violent aspects of exsanguination, it was all of the medical and life saving parts that I really honed in on. I love the idea of a skill that is both offensive and protective.

Alongside the magic and the mayhem, there is the hint of romance in the air. A bit like in The Fox Witch, Janette finds herself in a betrothal to protect her from others… it’s disturbing how this is common and no even remotely surprising. But, I do have the idea that, although her ex-boss might not have instigated this engagement, he’s fully supportive of it. In fact, as the story unfolded, it was pretty obvious that the Hamptons thought of Janette as more family than employee, they just didn’t know how to show their emotions. I’m looking forward to finding out more about how these social and emotional entanglements unfold in Booked for Kidnapping.

The other thing I’m really looking forward to in Booked for Kidnapping is finding out just who is behind all of the murder and mayhem throughout this story. It’s obvious that it’s a pretty big conspiracy that is being machinated behind the scenes. But, as to which shadowy conspiracy it is, remains a mystery. Plus, it’s fun to figure out the how and the why. There’s also a whole lot of social commentary that Blain has managed to sneak into this story. But, mostly I will focus on the shadow conspiracies and whodunnit I think.

One of the most cheerful and enjoyable parts of social commentary throughout Booked for Murder though is the importance of libraries and librarians. And, how underfunded the public sector is. I mean, I might live in Australia and not the USA, but its definitely a universal issue. Amongst the murder and mayhem, there is the constant drive for the characters to find the funding for their library. And the many ways in which they are able to use research and public resources to better a multitude of peoples’ lives. Libraries are important. Even if they are based in a paranormal world with lots of murder…

<- More R.J. BlainBooked for Kidnapping ->

Image source: Amazon

Hypnos by R.J. Blain

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Hypnos
Author: R.J. Blain
Series: Seeking the Zodiacs #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Humour, Paranormal fantasy, Paranormal romance
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2019

Thoughts

I’m definitely having a whole lot of obsession over R.J. Blain at the moment. There’s just something about her writing that is hitting my happy spot at this point in my life. Then I read this book, and I’m also completely (not kind of, completely) obsessed with the idea of magic being caused by nuclear warfare. I mean, it’s something that still freaks us all out – but this is such an optimistic spin on it. Better than just a nuclear wasteland after the stupidity of those in power. To be honest, I also just loved this world building.

Olivia is such a strong voice and female lead. I love that within the GBI / law enforcement world, she’s one of the hardest hitters. But instead of doing this by emulating ‘masculinity’ she does it with her own version of sass. That, and she’s also close to her family and more than willing to hide when overwhelmed and overtired.

I really loved the idea of not only setting this series on a post-apocalyptic, magic world. But also combining western and Chinese zodiacs. I’m assuming (hoping) that that means that there are 12 books planned out. It was really interesting how Blain combines multiple aspects of both systems to create Hypnos and the mayhem that follows. Its a unique idea, and I’m excited to find out how the other combinations work in Blain’s wonderful mind.

He only thing about this book that I’m really disappointed with is that it’s sequel is not yet out. I absolutely devoured this book and was smiling a LOT while reading it. This is a gritty and slightly horrifying world with at least one villain beautifully set up. And now I have to wait to read more… lucky I have a whole lot of Blain’s work still sitting in my TBR to catch up on in the meantime.

<- More R.J. BlainAchlys ->

Image source: Goodreads

Pack Justice by R.J. Blain

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Pack Justice
Author: R.J. Blain
Series: Nature of the Beast #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Humour, Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2016

Thoughts

As with everything by R.J. Blain, I was completely obsessed with this story. I mean, there is just something great about Blain’s world building that makes me really, really happy. I love that in this story, the lead is not only a paranormal creature, part cheetah, part man, but also ends up being part werewolf too. The constant discussions between the three voices and identities in his brain are quite humorous and made me smile. I absolutely adored how its kind of reflective of the internal monologues and arguments that go on in my own mind – constant parts of myself arguing with one another.

Sean is a fun and great lead. I love the moments when he just, randomly decides to escape and take matters into his own hands. There’s very obviously no real thought process behind many of his actions. And I find it seriously hilarious the many moments when he just… runs away. I mean, some of the background as to why his characterization is like that is a little sad – some of it is funny. But a whole slew of self confidence issues inform Sean’s behaviors, ones that are created by Idette and her abusive decisions.

Andrea and Sean are a fantastic couple – I love that Sean is able to find a loving and supportive women to heal from his abusive past. But I really enjoyed how they danced around each other for absolutely years before finally just acknowledging their feelings. Plus, when they are finally able to show their love for one another, I love how cute they are straight off the bat. There’s also the fun antagonism of each other throughout. As someone who constantly enjoys poking fun at her loved ones, this dynamic made total sense to me. Particularly when they are also a competitive couple.

As with everything that I’ve read recently by R.J. Blain (which is a lot), I found this absolutely impossible to put down. I also just love the fact that most of the police force are Fenerec. I probably should’ve started a bit more with the Witch & Wolf books before getting into this because I do feel like I’ve missed a bit of the world building, but I was still completely hooked. Now I just have a whole new Blain world to get to know and disappear into…

<- More R.J. BlainDual Nature ->

Image source: Amazon

Murder Mittens by R.J. Blain

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Murder Mittens
Author: R.J. Blain
Series: A Magical Romantic Comedy (with a Body Count) #17
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Humour, Paranormal romance, Urban fantasy
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2020

Thoughts

I absolutely loved the fact that Harri is a lynx shifter and all of the crazy shenanigans that being a shifter entails throughout the A Magical Romantic Comedy (with a Body Count) series. Plus, Harri’s family is big and entirely certifiable. Which, just made me love them all that much more. Plus, I love that Harri is the only girl of like forty plus siblings, and that her parents just keep adding more… that’s a whole level of insanity that I can’t even fathom. But I kind of love.

Harri spends the entirety of this story making Sebastian roar – which, as someone who is slightly antagonistic at times, I can totally understand. I love that, even though she thinks she’s just being antagonistic and entertaining herself, she doesn’t quite realise that he’s courting her. The whole dynamic is more than a little humorous, and I love how the two of them work their way towards a relationship over the years without even realising it.

Murder Mittens might be my favourite ever assassin code name, it is kind of brilliant and hilarious. Plus, there is also the blood and insanity of her assassinations. I probably shouldn’t enjoy someone ripping out people’s throats as much as I do, but, there it is. I found Harri’s assassinations to be genuinely amusing, and the partnership of her approach and chosen victims was brilliant.

Harri’s family, as previously mentioned is absolutely hilarious. The whole family and dynamic is filled with cheerful chaos and mayhem. The amount of love that jumps of the page is adorable, and I love how they are so protective of each other. Yet, they are also entirely capable of letting her live her own life. Particularly when they find out about the job she moonlights in.

Alongside all of the murder, mayhem and romance joy that I normally find in this series, there is also the love and acceptance of Harri throughout. She is severely scarred and self-conscious. Yet, her family and Sebastian love her regardless. Though, I do love that Sebastian admits the difficulties that her scarring must lead to. And acknowledges how difficult it must be to be different in the world.

<- The Flame GameCatnapped ->

Image source: Amazon

Wilder With You by Serena Bell

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: Wilder With You
Author: Serena Bell
Series: Wilder Adventures #3
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance, Small town romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2022

Thoughts

I’m absolutely loving Serena Bell and the Wilder brothers. But I did find Jessa and Clark’s to be a little bit sad. I mean, it’s one thing to have hang ups from.past relationships, everyone does. But Clark’s hangup being that his wife died? And then finding out how it happened? It was REALLY extra sad as far as I was concerned.

Jessa’s ex is an absolute douche nugget, and I love how everyone else is just immediately against him. Plus, he’s a great catalyst for the fake dating trope that ends in a little bit of heartbreak. And the one tent. And just all of the happy, fun feelings that this story imparted on me.

Like all good romances, there comes that final hurdle at the end of this that needs to be overcome. I love that for Jessa and Clark, they both are at fault for the breakdown. And they both realise their mistakes before it is too late. Plus, they enjoy gathering around their family and the Wilder siblings definitely help Clark realise his own foolishness.

Alongside this gorgeous romance is the setting of Wilder Adventures. I love that Clark and Jessa originally connect camping in the wilderness. And the many ways in which the Wilder brothers have had to make the wilderness a whole lot more accessible. This is definitely one of those books I’ll be rereading for a sweet comfort read.

<- Walk on the Wilder SideA Little Wilder ->

Image source: Goodreads

The Night in Lover’s Bay by Liz Alden

Book Review, , , ,
Overview

Title: The Night in Lover’s Bay
Author: Liz Alden
Series: Love and Wanderlust #0.5
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Contemporary romance, Travel
Pace: Fast
Format: eBook, Novella
Year: 2021

Thoughts

This was a novella length prequel to the Love and Wanderlust series, and although Marcella and Seb’s relationship comes later in the series, I can’t wait to read The Second Chance in the Mediterranean. I mean, they don’t have the greatest start, and there is so much angst there already. How is this not going to be an amazing story?

Marcella and Seb are actually a really cute couple. I love that although they’ve worked together for a while, it’s not until this night that they actually get to know each other. Plus, it’s blatantly obvious that their boss is against them and not the nicest of guys. I’m not entirely sure what his drama is, but it’s obvious that he is acting in a way that is kind of cruel… I’m interested to see if he shows up again in The Second Chance in the Mediterranean.

I love how this novella has the feeling of a beginning that is rife with a whole lot of misunderstandings. It was actually kind of cringe-worthy how many misconceptions there were throughout a fairly short story. It was a bit frustrating that I need to wait to read the next instalments in this series…

Against the joy of this starter romance is the fact that both the backdrop and food was enough to make my mouth water. It was such a fantastic world in which to travel, and, as someone who doesn’t actually get to travel, it was nice to imagine travelling around on a cruise ship, cooking amazing food…

<- More Liz AldenThe Fling in Panama ->

Image source: Amazon