This was a nice way to end the Demigods and Magicians trilogy. It was a fun and kind of epic battle. A quick read. Something that I just found all around enjoyable. Plus, a quick read, which sometimes I just need to keep my brain firing happily.
I like that although this was a good, kind of epic battle, it still wasn’t intense and insane. It was just the perfect level of intensity to suit the length and tone of these novellas that I’ve been reading.
I love the voice of Percy Jackson, I always have in Riordan’s writing. The fact that he refers to the villain as a Elvis impersonator was just brilliant. It also somehow helps to diminish the scariness of the villains in Riordan’s writing that could otherwise be really scary.
I like that in Dare to Desire, there were hints about the beginnings of a relationship between Olivia and Dylan. However, unlike some romances, I wasn’t immediately invested in the idea of them. And, even after reading their novel, I still wasn’t quite invested in their relationship. I mean, I really hoped for their happily ever after. And I was invested enough that I wanted to finish the rest of their tale, but I also didn’t feel the need to greedily gobble up every word.
Olivia’s background is kind of sad as its slowly revealed. At the beginning of this story, you kind of think that she’s a bit of an ice queen and it’s a little bit difficult to understand just why. But, as the truth unfolds, you do begin to understand her behaviour a bit better. What I liked more about her history though is the fact that Dylan completely calls her out on her behaviour. I mean, yeah, she has a pretty sad back story. But basing all of her decisions on the fears of a teenager and hiding in on herself for something that happened a long time ago? Definitely needed to be called on that.
Marcus “Big”’s story is kind of annoying to read. Because he is so obviously being taken for a ride. And you know that it is going to end in some kind of dangerous altercation. But it’s also understandable – I mean, my goodness its hard to believe that some people are that naïve, but I’ve also met people who are like that, so its frustratingly real. You also know that it’s going to end badly for everyone involved. And that it will put Olivia in some kind of danger. Danger that then makes her face up to the ways in which she is running scared.
Whilst this wasn’t’ my favourite ever contemporary romance, it was a good and enjoyable one. and, although I wasn’t necessarily heavily invested into this, I still read it cover to cover. A perfect way to distract myself and fly away in storyland for an hour or two.
I read Snowed in With the Ranger before digging into this, but rather than being a prologue, there was a whole lot of overlap. In fact, the first three chapters were just a shortened and slightly different version of the entirety of Snowed in With the Ranger. Which made the start of this a little bit difficult to read. And confusing. But, still enjoyable.
All in all, this was a cute and light romance. And now I want to read more about the world of the Misfit Inn. I mean, it seems like such a picturesque location to travel to. And I always love a good small town romance. There’s just something too cute about being in a small town, with slightly meddling, but well-meaning individuals being around. I look forward to spending some more time delving into this sweet and cute little world.
I did enjoy how this romance resolved itself a little bit differently to what I expected. Instead of them reconnecting shortly after the bit that separates them, it is resolved months afterwards. It was enjoyable to have a storyline that doesn’t just resolve instantly. After all, this was a bit of an insta-love story (which I’m not always a fan of), but I like that it wasn’t an instant fix.
Lastly, it’s good fun that both of the characters in this are writers with writers block. And that they’ve realised that they need balance and a personal life to truly be able to be creative in their professional lives. It’s a good reminder that we all need a little balance in our lives to fulfill our dreams.
This is a nice, short novella to start of the Rescue My Heart series. Nothing overly tenuous to read, just easy and enjoyable. It’s also a nice introduction to the couple that are about to take centre stage in Baby, It’s Cold Outside. Admittedly, there is a whole lot of overlap between the two stories, but I did enjoy how this novella fleshes out the beginning and motivations of the primary characters in the technical first story in the series.
I love that this is a story about a novelist trying to escape their deadlines, and an ex-military man trying to escape his memories. I think that the novelist procrastination may be partly based on real experiences. Although I may just be projecting with that theory. However, I know what it’s like to just want to run away and escape from your responsibilities, get a reset on life, and honestly, I think that this is kind of a bit of dream scenario… right up until Ivy almost drives herself off of a mountain.
I was expecting there to be a much more stereotypical novelist and ex-military man. It was a pleasant surprise that this just wasn’t the case for either character. I like that Nolan did take some of the stereotypes you kind of expect (and honestly, I’m reading a romance because of the simplicity of stereotypes), but then turn them into more relatable people. In fact, for someone who is fleeing his demons, the ex-military man is actually incredibly welcoming and accommodating. Likewise, Ivy might be a writer, but she writes about serial killers and has a profiler background – again, not quite the character that you would be expecting.
Against all of this romance and fun of two characters stuck in isolation together, is a great setting. There is something that always strikes me as so romantic about being in an isolated cabin in the snow. Probably because it’s not a situation I’ve ever found myself in. Or honestly ever will. But a great backdrop to a fun story beginning.
I like how in the Kilted Hearts series, the epilogue in every story leads into the next couple. It doesn’t give much away, but rather just a little teaser of what is to come. The ending of Grump in a Kilt perfectly sets up Connor and Sophie’s storyline. It also is the beginning of Hamish and Afton’s… but I’m sure that will come up much later in the series. The Cinderella-vibe of this story was a really enjoyable way to tell the tale of a boy who has always been in love with his sister’s best friend. And it was most definitely a melt your heart kind of tale.
Connor’s growth throughout this series has been pretty drastic and kind of intense. I mean, he starts out as a boy who is going to be forced into a marriage he doesn’t want. And thinking that that is his one and only responsibility. Then, it segues into him finally trying to actually help out with the rest of the family estate. He is also finally free to pursue the relationship that he’s also wanted. His unrequited love comes to the forefront, as does his motivations to take up blacksmithing. Again, way too damn cute.
Although I really liked Connor, I did find his trickery to start the relationship with Sophie to be a little bit underhanded. It was somehow not creepy and too uncomfortable. But it was still not overly great… I mean, anytime you have to trick someone into a relationship it becomes at the very least a grey area. And, as you get to know Swayze, you realise how disingenuous he is to her. I actually loved her as a secondary character, and I’m really hoping that she too gets a romance in the future. She’s such a fun livewire. Someone who is willing to give and love others on their own terms.
Sophie’s abusive stepmother is truly horrible. The fact that a strong woman puts up with her nonsense is a great reminder of how easy it can be to fall into unhealthy patterns. The moment when Sophie is finally able to acknowledge that abuse and take a step forward in her own life is incredibly gratifying. It’s also nice when she realises that she finally needs to start asking others for help! Definitely a common (and way too familiar) trauma response – being unwilling to ask for help due to abuse.
Now I just need to wait until the next Kilted Hearts book comes out – Protector in a Kilt. I just want to find out more about Ewan. And, more than that, just who his mystery woman is…
Charlotte is such a loving and giving character in Cowboy in a Kilt. I mean, the woman literally gave up a large portion of her life to raise Raileigh. It was such a pleasure that the second book in this series focuses on her own happily ever after. I mean, she obviously doesn’t regret her choices, but, there is also that lack of companionship that I’m sure she feels as she gets older. Creating a Found Family is just the perfect ending I imagine for her.
The cliff-hanger at the end of Cowboy in a Kilt is seriously heavy with implications, and innuendoes. I love that, although some of it is exactly what you think, it also is 100% not what you expect. It definitely starts off the relationship between Malcolm and Charlotte and makes them question the sparks that are flying between them. But, it also isn’t quite what you expect when you get ready to dive into this story. Without giving away any spoilers, I’ll just leave it at that.
The grump and the sunshine trope is one of my favourite romantic tropes. I mean, it’s always fun and very, very cute. Also, it tends to remind me a little of my relationship at times… the fact that this story features a grump with a Scottish accent. In a kilt. With salt and pepper hair. And muscles… yeah, it was definitely a delicious way to set up this storyline. Then there’s the fact that Charlotte isn’t only sunshine, but she is also a total homemaker and loves to cook? I could honestly smell the food coming off of the pages… and it made me drool.
There is plenty of drama and challenge throughout this book, more so than Cowboy in a Kilt, but not enough that you actually worried too much in any given moment. There were the challenges of two older people actually opening up to one another (Malcolm more so than Charlotte). But also the complications of Gavin, the boy they decide to call their own. It was pretty high stakes, but also over incredibly quickly, the perfect level of intensity for a contemporary romance.
Just as with Cowboy in a Kilt, Grump in a Kilt wraps up with a great epilogue. I love that so far in this series, the epilogues tie up the couple beautifully. But they also give you a fantastic hint and tease for the next couple. In this case, it’ll be Connor and Sophie. And, I for one can’t wait for the release date!
I knew that this was a marriage of convenience story, because, well, that’s what is written in the short description on my kobo. But it really wasn’t quite the marriage of convenience that I was expecting. It takes a 300-year-old pact (so a more historical romance-esque driver) and applies it to a contemporary, modern-day couple. It was fun to have this kind of historical romance spin on a romance that is set in contemporary times.
At the very beginning of this story, I kind of thought that Raleigh was going to have a fighting chance to keep his ancestral home – I mean, I’m so used to romances where the hero (or heroine) are able to triumph over all of the bad and get their sweet revenge. Or at least some form of poetic justice. But, instead of being a moment to rail and fight against, it was just the driver that gets Raleigh to where he needs to be. I was seriously hoping that the evil stepmother, Twilla, would have some kind of moment that made her realise that she was evil, but it really wasn’t meant to be.
Kyla is a really fun and sassy little heroine. She is so driven to save her family home that everything kind of pales in comparison. And it does take her a little while (almost too long) to actually realise what she wants out of life. I love that she is so damn committed to her family and her people. To keeping her word and just generally one of those people who is going to fight for what is right in the world, right up until that moment when she collapses in on herself and completely burns herself out.
Most of my romances set in Scotland are more o the historical romance bent. And, as mentioned, I liked the fact that it actually uses a bit of a historical romance-esque plot driver to create the circumstances for this modern romance. It’s also fun having a cowboy from Tennessee in Scotland. There is something dreamy and stunning about this setting, one that makes me want to dive straight back into this world.
This romance might have been completely expected and have very few twists and turns. But it was still fun and gorgeous and lovely. The perfect short novel to take you away and let you have a few blissful hours in a world where everything ends with a happily ever after.
This short novella was one that I actually read after finishing Cowboy in a Kilt. It certainly helped to give context to the headspace that Afton was in when she decided to runaway and start the events of this series. I mean, I completely understood her reasoning before actually reading about it from her point of view. But then, I had even more sympathy.
This novella also gives a whole lot more insight into just how the pact works and it came into being. Plus, the amount of work that Hamish went through to find that tiny little loophole that lead to Raleigh and Kyla’s happily ever after. I loved that this novella just gave you answers to questions you weren’t quite sure to ask. And, also acted as a great prologue for Cowboy in a Kilt.
Lastly, this novella was a great teaser for Hamish and Afton as a couple. Even though their book hasn’t been published yet. And it’s going to be like… the fifth book in the series. I have a whole lot of time to wait until I get to dive into this one!
I really need to read more of the Wicked Lovely series… I love these short stories for the enjoyment that they are in and of themselves. But, it’s a bit hard to place them within the context of the greater series. Because I’m not very far into it. That, and I keep getting spoilers about some pretty major developments…
I enjoyed getting to know Seth more in this short story. He’s someone that I fell in love with very quickly in Wicked Lovely, and reading more about not just him, but also his briefly touched upon parents… priceless. That, and you also get to know his fae family a little better.
Seth and Niall have a fantastic friendship, one I want to read more about in the future. It’s definitely a loyalty you don’t see often. In real life or literature.
Although I really enjoyed this short story, as I enjoy all the writings of Melissa Marr that I’ve had the pleasure of reading thus far. I do need to read a bit more of the Wicked Lovely series to gain some context to this one. It was great, I understood it and I enjoyed it. But I also had no idea what had happened between Ink Exchange and this moment. Absolutely no clue. And I feel like not only did I get some spoilers, but I didn’t appreciate some of the more wonderful nuances of this tale.
I did hate how broken Rabbit obviously was in this story though. He’s such a sweet secondary character in the stories that I’ve read, so I want more of him as I delve further into this series. I feel like his backstory is complex and fascinating. One that will be fun to read more of. And I definitely felt for him in this tale. A feeling of loss and emptiness was definitely full throughout this.
One of the things I loved about this was the fact that Rabbit’s “mate” just decided on him. And decided to move in with him. The connection between them is obvious from the beginning, but it is mostly this beautiful, understated one that makes you realise that sometimes partnership comes on slowly. I also really enjoyed how she just decided on him, whether he wanted to dive in or not.
Then there’s the imagery of cotton candy skies. They feel beautiful and picturesque to me. Something that I really enjoyed. And honestly dreamt about at night after finishing this short story.
Earth and Skye 