Lair of the White Worm by Bram Stoker

June 8, 2021Book ReviewBram Stoker, Classics, Dracula and Other Horror Classicsskyebjenner

Title: Lair of the White Worm
Author: Bram Stoker
In: Dracula and Other Horror Stories (Bram Stoker)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Classics
Dates read: 12th February – 11th May 2021
Pace: Slow
Format: Novel
Publisher: Barnes and Noble Leatherbound
Year: 1911
5th sentence, 74th page: I feel that I can open my heart to you about anything.

In a tale of ancient evil, Bram Stoker creates a world of lurking horrors and bizarre denizens: a demented mesmerist, hellbent on mentally crushing the girl he loves; a gigantic kite raised to rid the land of an unnatural infestation of birds, and which receives strange commands along its string; and all the while, the great white worm slithers below, seeking its next victim…

Bram Stoker, creator of Dracula, is one of the most enduring and masterful influences on the literature of terror.

I absolutely loved Dracula. I really wanted to love this story as a result. I mean, I love going down the rabbit hole with certain classics writers. Sadly, that really wasn’t the case with this book. I just… “eh”. Which seems to be a bit of a trend lately.

I still loved the style of writing in this story. And the way in which Stoker was able to retell a story from a different point of view. I love that this story is told in reflection. And I seriously enjoyed every moment of style throughout.

Sadly, I just couldn’t get into the storyline. So badly couldn’t get into the storyline that I can’t actually remember much of it when it comes down to writing this review…

<- The Jewel of Seven Stars

Dracula’s Guest ->

Image source: Goodreads

Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn

June 7, 2021Book ReviewHistorical romance, Julia Quinn, Regency romance, Smythe-Smith Quartetskyebjenner

Just Like Heaven (Smythe-Smith Quartet, #1) by Julia Quinn

Title: Just Like Heaven
Author: Julia Quinn
Series: Smythe-Smith Quartet #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Historical romance, Regency romance
Dates read: 10th May 2021
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Avon
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: “What did I say?”

HONORIA SMYTHE-SMITH IS:
A) a really bad violinist
B) still miffed at being nicknamed “Bug” as a child
C) NOT in love with her older brother’s best friend
D) all of the above

MARCUS HOLROYD IS:
A) the Earl of Chatteris
B) regrettably prone to sprained ankles
C) NOT in love with his best friend’s young sister
D) all of the above

TOGETHER THEY:
A) eat quite a bit of chocolate cake
B) survive a deadly fever AND the world’s worst musical performance
C) fall quite desperately in love

It’s Julia Quinn at her best, so you KNOW the answer is…
D) all of the above

As always, I loved this book. There is just something fantabulous about Julia Quinn that draws me in each and every time. The stories may be beautifully simple, but they’re also seriously enjoyable. And this one is definitely no exception. The fact that it is the first of the stories about the Smythe-Smiths whom are frequently mentioned throughout the Bridgertons series… well, that just made it that much better.

I love how intricately Julia Quinn is able to weave her different series. Although they can all stand on their own, they are also interconnected. In the case of this, you have the Mad Baron story (which was authored by another beloved character) and a great conversation or two with some of the Bridgerton boys. That, and Lady Danbury makes another appearance (she’s my favourite) as does the infamous Smythe-Smith Music night.

Honoria is a great lead. She is witty and strong, but not necessarily going against the grain to be strong. She also is completely unhesitant to do the right thing for Marcus, even if she may be putting her own reputation at risk. I do love the scene with the mole hole the most though… it was both hilarious and adorable.

Marcus is the perfect quiet male lead. He just kind of plods along and then, when he realises that he’s in love, goes with it. There is none of the angst and painful denials in this story that seem to be in a lot of romances. And I entirely put that down to Marcus not being a numpty. That, and Honoria also just has faith in him and doesn’t get all bogged down in her own mind.

All in all, this was a great way to spend an evening / day and just… drift in the happiness that Julia Quinn is always able to inspire. Seriously fun and most definitely another one to add to the “favourites” shelf.

<- More Julia Quinn

A Night Like This ->

Image source: Goodreads

Primal Heat by Sherri L. King, Lorie O’Clare, Jaci Burton & Lora Leigh

June 6, 2021Book ReviewErotica, Jaci Burton, Lora Leigh, Lorie O'Clare, Paranormal Romance, Primal heat, Sherri L. King, Short Story Collections, Werewolvesskyebjenner

Primal Heat : Sherri L King : 9781843607403

Title: Primal Heat
Author: Sherri L. King, Lori O’Clare, Jaci Burton & Lora Leigh
In: Primal Heat (Sherri L. King, Lorie O’Clare, Jaci Burton & Lora Leigh)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Erotica, Paranormal romance, Short story collections, Werewolves
Dates read: 7th February – 4th May 2021
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Year: 2004
5th sentence, 74th page: Do you understand me?

“Moonlust” by Sherri L King
Series: Moonlust #1
During Brianna’s trip to the Ural Mountains of Russia, a life-threatening accident places her at the mercy of a strange, reclusive man. A man whose secrets and unquenchable hunger will change her life forever…

“Pack Law” by Lorie O’Clare
Series: Lunewulf, #1
Pack law states every female shall have three mates. It’s a necessary action in order to keep the lunewulf breed alive. Sophie Rousseau has just learned who her three mates will be. And one of them is the sexy Nik Alexander who has invaded her dreams since high school. Though Sophie’s nervous about fulfilling pack law, she can’t wait to mate with Nik. Nik has lusted after Sophie, wanted her for his mate and mother of his children. He gets his way, but by pack law, Sophie cannot be his alone. Nik will share her with two other werewolves. But only on his terms.

“Running Mate” by Jaci Burton
Series: Devlin Dynast, #1
Senator Jason Devlin is a man with a secret. A big one that could ruin his political career and his family. He guards his secret closely, allowing no outsiders to penetrate his intimate circle. Kelsey Harper is a reporter itching for an interview with the elusive senator. When a case of mistaken identity lands her in his bed, she gets much more than an interview.

“Wolfe’s Hope” by Lora Leigh
Series: Wolf Breeds , #2
Hope believed Wolfe was dead, but he was only waiting for the right time to claim her. He is a man whose DNA was altered, infused with the genetic code of the wolf. His unique genetic makeup has created a male unlike any other and will make itself known in the most surprising ways. Now Hope must convince her mate she hasn’t betrayed him, and they must defeat the plans of a scientist gone mad.

This was a fun and incredibly lustful collection. There was a lot of intense sexuality throughout this that most definitely put this into my erotic bookshelves. Most certainly not the kind of book that I would comfortably read in front of family members. But definitely one that was good when I wanted to kill a little time by myself…

There is something fun and intriguing about this collection. I only bought it because I love the Breeds series. But I now have another three authors that I’m intrigued by and keen to add to my shelves. Not all to the same degree, I found some of these novellas more to my taste than others. But overall, these were wonderful tastes of some great stories to come…

If you like your paranormal romance a little bit extra erotic and toe curling… then this is a good collection for you. There are stories with multiple partners, bondage, all sorts of different storylines and erotica. That, and they’re all werewolves. Great fun.

<- Wolfe’s Hope

Moonlust ->

Image source: BookDepository

Zola’s Pride by Moira Rogers

June 5, 2021Book ReviewMoira Rogers, Paranormal Romance, Shapeshifters, Southern Arcana, The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance 2skyebjenner

Image result for the mammoth book of paranormal romance 2 book cover

Title: Zola’s Pride
Author: Moira Rogers
Series: Southern Arcana #2.5
In: The Mammoth Book of Paranormal Romance 2 (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Shapeshifters
Dates read: 4th May 2021
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: Morality had slipped from her mother’s grasp along with her sanity.

Zola has a past – one which involved her having to leave the home that she loved. And be betrayed by those she thought she could trust. But when the past comes calling, she might just realise that things aren’t exactly as she thought they were…

I really, really loved this story. I love that there are lion shapeshifters and they are structured around a matriarchal pride. I love that there is SO much backstory that you kind of want to dive straight into the series to see if it has some more information. And I just thoroughly enjoyed the whole premise.

One of the reasons why I loved this so much may also just be the fact that Zola is a teacher of martial arts and runs a school for it. This has always been my happy place / point of interest. And now that I actually do a martial art… anything that mentions it just draws me straight in. Happily, completely and somewhat stupidly at times.

All in all, this was a good, fun and easy short story. It had that great spark and romance. But, what I found I enjoyed most out of it was all of the backstory and the universe which had been created. It made this incredibly difficult to put down and seriously enjoyable to read!

<- Crossroads

Deadlock ->

Image source: Amazon

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

June 4, 2021Book ReviewClassics, Isabel Allendeskyebjenner

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende - Penguin Books Australia

Title: The House of the Spirits
Author: Isabel Allende
Rating Out of 5: 1.5 (Couldn’t get past the first chapter)
My Bookshelves: Classics
Dates read: 27th April – 4th May 2021
Pace: Slow
Format: Novel
Publisher: Vintage Books
Year: 1982
5th sentence, 74th page: She was doubled over beneath the weight of a sheaf of hawthorn for the kitchen hearth, barefoot, her head bowed.

As a girl, Clara del Valle can read fortunes, make objects move as if they had lives of their own and predict the future. Following the mysterious death of her sister, Rosa the Beautiful, Clara is mute for nine years. When she breaks her silence, it is to announce that she will be married soon to the stern and volatile landowner Esteban Trueba.

Set in an unnamed Latin American country over three generations, The House of the Spirits is a magnificent tale of a proud and passionate family, secret loves and violent revolution.

I really, really, really wanted to like this… but I just couldn’t. I ended up skim reading the whole story and just feeling really “eh” about the writing. To the point I actually looked up the synopsis to see if I’d missed anything. I hadn’t. I was just “eh”.

I love the premise of this story. And I’m going to keep my copy of the book because I really want to like this. But I’m just not confident in that fact. I don’t know why though. There is nothing seriously wrong with the writing, the story, anything. I just could not get excited.

I’m going to try this book again in a few years time and see if I can get a bit more excited about this… because I really want to!

<- More Isabel Allende

More classics ->

Image source: Penguin Books Australia

Dragon Dance by Angela Knight

June 3, 2021Book ReviewAliens, Angela Knight, Beyond the Dark, Paranormal Romance, Science Fictionskyebjenner

Image result for beyond the dark angela knight book cover

Title: Dragon Dance
Author: Angela Knight
In: Beyond the Dark (Lora Leigh, Angela Knight, Emma Holly & Diane Whiteside)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Aliens, Paranormal romance, Science fiction
Dates read: 4th May 2021
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Jove
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: No, I’ll just… I’ll just…

Angela Knight does it… in the psychic realm of a woman attuned to the touch of strangers – and the powerful temptations of a seductive and mysterious protector.

I really, really loved this concept – that random people get powers and are called hypers. And that the source of these powers is aliens… I love how Knight’s novellas are able to take a concept that you kind of expect… and change it into a really unique SciFi spin!

Arial and Josiah are a great couple. I thought that they were seriously cute from the very beginning. And I definitely was routing for them from the very beginning. I also love the way that Josiah is trying to keep celibate (and the reasons for why). And how Arial just steadily and happily makes him give it all up… it’s a fun storyline. Or at least, my happy little brain finds it fun.

But, mostly I love how these characters with superpowers have managed to find a way to coexist and find their happily ever afters. I can completely imagine Arial and Josiah and Psych running off into the future fighting more bad guys and making more sense of the incredibly unique world that Knight has managed to create.

<- Beyond the Dark

Caught by the Tides ->

Image source: Amazon

Wolfe’s Hope by Lora Leigh

June 2, 2021Book ReviewBreeds, Erotica, Lora Leigh, Paranormal Romance, Primal heat, Romantic Suspenseskyebjenner

Title: Wolfe’s Hope
Author: Lora Leigh
Series: Breeds #8.5
In: Primal Heat (Sherri L. King, Lorie O’Clare, Jaci Burton & Lora Leigh)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Erotica, Paranormal romance, Romantic suspense
Dates read: 4th May 2021
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Year: 2004
5th sentence, 74th page: She shivered around the hard protrusion once again.

Hope believed Wolfe was dead, but he was only waiting for the right time to claim her. He is a man whose DNA was altered, infused with the genetic code of the wolf. His unique genetic makeup has created a male unlike any other and will make itself known in the most surprising ways. Now Hope must convince her mate she hasn’t betrayed him, and they must defeat the plans of a scientist gone mad.

This set up the next little patch of Breeds stories really well. The wolf breeds and how they escaped the horrifying and evil labs in which they were created. The fact that it also features an evil scientists daughter… well, that worked quite happily for me. Overall, it was a pretty simple novella that didn’t necessarily have a lot going on adventure wise, but most certainly set up a new Breeds “family”.

I love how some of the Breeds novels have in their name both of the lead characters names. It helps you pick up who you’re routing for from the very beginning. And it just generally creates a fun naming system that I wasn’t quite expecting. But it was most certainly something that I very much enjoyed.

Wolfe is honestly kind of a dick in this story. He’s a bit painful to read for most of it to be honest. But when he has that sense of realisation about just how deeply he messed up… he’s still a dick. But at least he understood just how. And you know, at the end of the story, there was a bit of redemption in the evil bitch getting killed…

<- Tanner’s Scheme

Jacob’s Faith ->

Image source: BookDepository

Tanner’s Scheme by Lora Leigh

June 1, 2021Book ReviewBreeds, Erotica, Lora Leigh, Paranormal Romance, Romantic Suspenseskyebjenner

Tanner's Scheme : Lora Leigh : 9780425216613

Title: Tanner’s Scheme
Author: Lora Leigh
Series: Breeds #8
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Erotica, Paranormal romance, Romantic suspense
Dates read: 28th April – 2nd May 2021
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Year: 2007
5th sentence, 74th page: And it wasn’t a comforting sight.

The author of Megan’s Mark and Harmony’s Way delivers a new novel set in an alternate world where genetically altered Breeds and the humans who created them sometimes come together in the fiercest of passions…

A one-time high-ranking member of the Genetics Council, Sceme Tallant’s father will stop at nothing to see the Feline Breeds eradicated. Even if it means killing his own daughter…

After the Breeds’ main base is attacked, Tanner Reynolds desires revenge – and knows just how to get it. In a bold move, he kidnaps Scheme Tallant and takes her deep into the Kentucky mountains. Yet when Tanner discovers that Scheme herself is a target of her father’s ruthless mission, his vengeance must take a backseat to saving the life of the woman he hopes to claim as his mate. But can Scheme trust Tanner – or is she just a pawn of his passion and ploys?

Every time I pick up a Breeds novel, I remember why I love this series so much. Don’t get me wrong, in some moments I’m a bit like… nope. I’m not really into that level of dominance in the bedroom. But it’s definitely fun to read about. The fact that the series has continued to develop into a much greater, more intense storyline… that just makes it even more difficult to put down.

Tanner is a great lead. He is kind of humorous and definitely intriguing from the very beginning. The fact that he kidnaps his mate and doesn’t even realise that he’s managed to find her… that kind of had me grinning multiple times throughout. I mean, some people can be a little dense, but this just takes the cake.

Scheme’s backstory was actually, surprisingly more tragic than that of Tanner. Normally it’s the Breed with the tragic backstory. But that most certainly wasn’t the case in this story. Scheme suffers in a way that made my heart ache and break a little bit throughout. It made me want to reach through the pages and give her a huge hug (although, honestly, when don’t I want to do this for my favourite characters?).

All in all, I seriously enjoyed this story. It was a great look into the politics that are boiling in the Breeds world and the things that are at stake. I love that this romantic suspense series has prejudice and a silent war, but also spies and double agents. That there is so much going on in every moment that you just can’t look away and forget about what is going on! Completely amazing, and a lot of fun.

<- Harmony’s Way

Wolfe’s Hope ->

Image source: Bookdepository

Summer Time

June 1, 2021ChallengesReading Challengeskyebjenner

Duration: 1st June – 30th June 2021
Number of books: 3
Hosted by: Bookworm Bitches

June 2021: Summer Time
Duration: 6/1/2021-6/30/2021

There are 3 tasks, you only need to read three books to finish this challenge. Or pick one task and read 3 books for that one task.

1. Read a book outside OR a book featuring the outside – Say Everything by Langley Gray
2. Read a book with a green cover – A Southern Girl’s Guide to Plant Based Eating by Cametria Hill
3. Read a book where a character has a big change (graduating, marriage, moving, etc. OR has a change of perspective, large character development, etc.) – Sea Swept by Nora Roberts

Rules
~Books must be read during the selected time period.
~Post the date you finished the book.
~All books read for challenges can be used for more than one challenge.
~Books can be either Fiction or Non Fiction. Your choice.
~At the end of the challenge, it will be closed for commenting and moved to the archives folder
~Use the add book/author tool to tag your book within your challenge.

Copy & paste the blank template below to begin your own challenge.

June 2021: Summer Time
Duration: 6/1/2021-6/30/2021

0/3 Completed

1. Read a book outside OR a book featuring the outside
2. Read a book with a green cover
3. Read a book where a character has a big change (graduating, marriage, moving, etc. OR has a change of perspective, large character development, etc.)

Fathers in Literature Spell Challenge

June 1, 2021ChallengesReading Challengeskyebjenner

Duration: 1st June – 30th June 2021
Number of books: 7
Hosted by: Crazy Challenge Connection

E –
M – Marriage of Inconvenience by Penny Reid
P – Witch Wife by Kiki Petrosino
A –
T –
H – Happily Ever Ninja by Penny Reid
Y –

JUNE 2021 SPELL – Fathers in Literature
Timeframe: 6/1/21 to 6/30/21

To go along with Suzanne’s Fathers in Literature challenge, choose one or more of these words to spell out in June. You may use the first letter of the first word in the book’s title (excluding A, An and The) OR the author’s first or last initial (middle names or initials can NOT be used).

Atticus
Austen
Bennett
Carlo
Charles
Collodi

Dickens
Emerson
Empathy
Extremely
Father
Finch

Forgive
Forster
Gargery
Generous
Geppetto
Great

Harper Lee
Honesty
Incredibly
Integrity
Jonathon

Les Miserables
Mockingbird
Pinocchio
Positive
Prejudice
Pride

Schell
Social Norms
Thomas
Valjean
Victor

CHALLENGE RULES:
♦ Please sign up by posting at least a partial list of the challenge requirements. This gives us a post to link you to, which you can use to update your books as the challenge progresses.

♦ Unless otherwise noted, books must be at least 150 pages long. (See the link here for rules regarding graphic novels.) Books may only be used for one task in this challenge, but cross-challenge posting is encouraged 🙂 Re-reads are allowed, as long as you read the entire book and not simply skim through it.

♦ For each book you read, please post a link to the title, and indicate the author and the date you finished reading it.
* If you don’t know how to post a link to the book title, cover or author, see the instructions here:
Add a link to the book title, book cover and/or author

♦ When you complete the challenge, please post your entire list as a new message to make it easier for everyone to see what you’ve read 🙂 If you don’t repost your list, your name will not be added to the list of those who have completed the challenge.

Earth and Skye

The ramblings of a bibliophile.