That Holiday Feeling by Debbie Macomber, Sherryl Woods & Robyn Carr

July 11, 2020Book ReviewChristmas, Contemporary, Contemporary romance, Debbie Macomber, Robyn Carr, Sherryl Woods, Short Story Collections, That Holiday Feelingskyebjenner

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Title: That Holiday Feeling
Author: Debbie Macomber, Sherryl Woods & Robyn Carr
In: That Holiday Feeling (Debbie Macomber, Sherryl Woods & Robyn Carr)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary, Contemporary romance, Short story collections
Dates read: 1st – 13th June 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Anthology
Publisher: Mira
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: “What are you doing tomorrow?” Philip asked unexpectedly.

Celebrate Christmas with three store is from your favorite authors

Silver Bells by Debbie Macomber
In this classic story, Debbie brings those Manning men and Manning sisters home for a mistletoe marriage when a single dad finally says “I do.” this story was also published in the anthology Christmas Kisses

The Perfect Holiday by Sherryl Woods
Will bachelor Trace Franklin become a groom-to-be by Christmastime? He sure will … if Savannah Holiday’s aunt Mae as anything to do with it.

Under the Christmas Tree by Robyn Carr
When the folks of Virgin River discover a box of adorable puppies under the town’s Christmas tree they call on local vet Nathaniel Jensen for help. But it’s his budding romance with Annie McCarty that really has tongues — and tails — wagging!

This is a great collection. I probably should have read it closer to Christmas. But, in the midst of all of the insanity, it was nice to read something so uplifting. A collection that is all about family, love and spending a holiday together. Actually, I very rarely even concentrated on the Christmas aspect of these three novellas – I just liked the family and love themes that ran throughout and left me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.

I bought this collection because the last novella is part of the Virgin River series. So I knew that I was going to love the final story in this collection. I figured I’d probably just enjoy the first two. I was wrong. I loved all three novellas ridiculously. They made me very happy and content. And left me with that after-glow you get when you read a seriously phenomenal story. They also just left me generally happy since they were romances that featured family. Both the creation of a new one and the honouring of an old one.

If I were to imagine my ideal holiday season or Christmas… this would be it. It would be about love and family. Being grateful for the people in your life and just filling the world with love. It’s not something that I necessarily feel every year and all the time, but this is a great little reminder of the power of love and how things can be comfortably sweet and happy even in the darkest moments.

<- Under the Christmas Tree

Silver Bells ->

Image source: Goodreads

At the Sign of the Last Chance by Owen Wister

July 11, 2020Book ReviewOwen Wister, The Mammoth Book of Westerns, Westernsskyebjenner

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Title: At the Sign of the Last Chance
Author: Owen Wister
In: The Mammoth Book of Westerns (Jon E. Lewis)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Westerns
Dates read: 13th June 2020
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: “He oughtn’t,” said Henry.

He’s a western cowboy who has stopped into the Last Chance. What follows is a lot of reminicsing and discussing of those that they all know.

This is a nice little western short story. All written in the first person POV. Something that I quite enjoy when I’m reading – after all, it helps you to situate yourself within the characters’ mindset so much quicker than any other POV.

This story is basically a huge gossip fest. It didn’t have that feeling of beginning, middle and end that I’m somewhat used to. But rather, it was a series of stories and anecdotes about the people that are known. Kind of more realistic because of this – after all, that’s how conversations go in real life. And to a degree, how stories are told.

I really enjoyed the language of this short story. It wasn’t necessarily incredibly engaging as a tale to read – but it was really approachable. It was nice to read a short story that I didn’t have to think too hard about and reread sentences to understand what was going on. It was just… simple. Pleasantly simple.

<- Wine on the Desert

Early Americana ->

Image source: Hachette Australia

The Old Slow Man and His Gold Gun From Space by Ben H. Winters

July 10, 2020Book ReviewAliens, Ben H. Winters, Dead Man's Hand, Urban Fantasy, Westernsskyebjenner

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Title: The Old Slow Man and His Gold Gun From Space
Author: Ben H. Winters
In: Dead Man’s Hand (John Joseph Adams)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Aliens, Urban fantasy, Westerns
Dates read: 13th June 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Titan Books
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: The old man snorted.

Two men are hunting for gold. But a surprise visit from an alien changes everything. Him and his Gold Gun from Space.

When I think about westerns, this is the kind of story that I imagine. Alright, there’s an alien and whatnot. But the backstabbing, guns and gold rush… that’s honestly what I picture when I think about a western. Not convoluted sentences and hard-to-understand story lines. But a story in which there are the rough and tumble cowboys in a lawless world.

I have this weird image of a gold rush in my head. A completely lawless world filled with men in cowboy hats. And a lack of rules. And tiny, dirty little towns that are completely out of the way. It might be a somewhat ridiculous and unrealistic image. But it is one that I really enjoy and like. This story fed into that image of a realm in which everyone is out for themselves. Which is probably why I enjoyed it so much.

One of my favourite parts of this story is that from fairly on, they are told not to pull the trigger. So, of course. You want someone to pull the trigger. Desperately want someone to pull the trigger. Which of course, someone does. Ad then that leads to all kinds of happy thoughts and had me laughing a little. It wasn’t a good result, but I’m twisted, so I loved that this was how the story ends… with the trigger being pulled.

<- The Red-Headed Dead

Hellfire on the High Frontier ->

Image source: Amazon

Each City by Ellen van Neerven

July 10, 2020Book ReviewAustralian Authors, Ellen van Neerven, Indigenous Australians, Kindred, LGBTQI, Musicskyebjenner

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Title: Each City
Author: Ellen van Neerven
In: Kindred (Michael Earp)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Indigenous Australians, LGBTQI, Music
Dates read: 13th June 2020
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Walker Books
Year: 2019
5th sentence, 74th page: You’ll be like me.

In a time and place not so different to our own, an Indigenous activist find that maybe her life and that of her lover are about to be irrevocably changed.

It turns out that I accidentally picked this up to read at a kind of perfect time – a time when the world is seriously starting to think (hopefully) about Black Lives Matter. So, reading a short story in which the focus in the lives and importance of equality and an acknowledgement of our privilege sat perfectly with me. Granted, this is in a world that is somewhat ahead of our time, and there are certain aspect which are both terrifying and intriguing. But definitely the perfect time for short stories like this to take centre stage.

This was a very powerful short story. It actually made me want to cry towards the end. I’m not entirely sure why, because it wasn’t as tragic as some of the other stories that I’ve read that have actually made me cry. It was powerful and intense. A reminder that it would be so easy to further marginalise those who are already living on the margins. And the traumas that this can inflict. Not just being part of a minority, but also the ways in which people can be governed due to this fact.

To further that feeling of wow and power that this short story lends, I found that the first person POV worked perfectly. It sunk you into the understanding and experiences of the narrative. You didn’t have to wonder about the feelings of marginalisation and fear that were being experienced – you experienced them alongside the narrative voice. Leaving you with this amazing, powerful and just… wow feeling once you turn that final page.

<- Laura Nyro at the Wedding

An Arab Werewolf in Liverpool ->

Image source: Bookdepository

Under the Christmas Tree by Robyn Carr

July 9, 2020Book ReviewChristmas, Contemporary, Contemporary romance, Robyn Carr, That Holiday Feeling, Virgin Riverskyebjenner

Title: Under the Christmas Tree
Author: Robyn Carr
Series: Virgin River #7.5
In: That Holiday Feeling (Debbie Macomber, Sherryl Woods & Robyn Carr) & ‘Tis the Season (Robyn Carr)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Christmas, Contemporary, Contemporary romance
Dates read: 13th June 2020
Pace: Slow
Format: Novella
Publisher: Mira
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: “Then come with me.”

When the folks of Virgin River discover a box of adorable puppies under the town’s Christmas tree they call on local vet Nathaniel Jensen for help. But it’s his budding romance with Annie McCarty that really has tongues — and tails — wagging!

I needed to read something cute and sweet when I picked up this novella. I had been reading an amazing book (A Lonely Girl is a Dangerous Thing). But it was also kind of dark and made you feel very, very uncomfortable to read. Thus, I needed something positive and light and cute and sweet to read. So, of course I decided that I needed to revisit Virgin River and the water down there that makes everyone fall in love… it was a great way to break that feeling of discomfort.

I think one of the things that makes this novella particularly cute is that it starts with puppies. And not just any puppies, but Border Collie puppies which I have a particular soft spot for. And it is set at Christmas time. So the combination is not only fun and cute, but exactly the kind of thing that I absolutely adore. Alright, the puppies are sickly and need to be taken care of. But still… puppies.

Not only are Annie and Nate a great couple, but there are so many characters from the larger Virgin River series who make an appearance. In particular Jack, Preacher, David and Chris. Their characters and personalities are what made me fall in love with this series, so although this is a Christmas story that stands alone wonderfully on its own, it is also filled with characters and places that I have steadily fallen in love with.

<- Paradise Valley

Forbidden Falls ->

Image source: Goodreads

Discount Armageddon by Seanan McGuire

July 9, 2020Book ReviewInCryptid, Paranormal Fantasy, Seanan McGuire, Strong Women, Urban Fantasyskyebjenner

Discount Armageddon (InCryptid, #1) by Seanan McGuire

Title: Discount Armageddon
Author: Seanan McGuire
Series: InCryptid #1
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Strong women, Urban fantasy
Dates read: 2nd – 11th June 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Daw Fantasy
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: I yawned, not bothering to cover my mouth.

Cryptid, noun: Any creature whose existence has not yet been proven by science. See also “monster.”

Cryptozoologist, noun: Any person who thinks hunting for cryptids is a good idea. See also “idiot.”

Ghoulies. Ghosties. Long-legged beasties. Things that go bump in the night… and that’s just the beginning. The Price family has spent generations studying the monsters of the world, working to protect them from humanity – and to protect humanity from them. Enter Verity Price. Despite being trained from birth as a cryptozoologist, she’d rather dance a tango than tangle with a demon, and is spending a year in Manhattan while she pursues her career in professional ballroom dance.

Sounds pretty simple, right? It would be, if it weren’t for the talking mice, the telepathic mathematicians, the asbestos supermodels, and the trained monster-hunter sent by the Price family’s old enemies, the Covenant of St. George. To complicate matters further, local cryptids are disappearing, strange lizard-men are appearing in the sewers, and someone’s spreading rumors about a dragon sleeping underneath the city…

A lifetime of training isn’t enough to prepare Verity for what’s ahead – especially not for Dominic De Luca, the Covenant’s newest operative. When a Price girl meets a Covenant boy, high stakes, high heels, and a lot of collateral damage are almost guaranteed.

I absolutely adored this story. It was fun, engaging and an absolute riot. I laughed frequently while reading it. And, although it did take me a bit over a week to read… I basically read the whole story cover to cover in one night… I stayed up until 3am and ALMOST finished it… but the words started getting blurry so I figured that I had to stop…

After finishing this novel, I seriously can’t wait for the rest of the InCryptid stories. The Price family seems like a hoot and a half from their brief moments in this story, and I’m sure they will continue to be entertaining and kind of hilarious as the series develops. Luckily, there are a number of short stories that I’m hoping to be able to read in the meantime…

As much as I enjoy the whole “opposites attract” mentality, it doesn’t always work in a story. Let alone the enemies-to-lovers trope. But Dominic and Verity do manage to pull that whole thing off perfectly throughout this novel. For sure, you do kind of guess that they will end up in these roles from the very beginning, but the journey that isn’t quite complete at the end of this novel is what makes it so much fun. And kind of hilarious if I’m being honest. I’m REALLY hoping that at a later point in the series he has to meet the rest of the Price clan… that’ll be incredibly entertaining.

The whole scientific enquiry tone of the Price family and monster hunting makes this feel much more plausible. Alright, it’s fantasy. But making an urban fantasy series which talks about evolution, physiology, species… I love that the “monsters” are constantly discussed like this. It was such a fun, unique and engaging way to talk about the paranormal creatures and things that go bump in the night…

My last favourite aspect of this story is the fact that the ass-kicking, somewhat terrifying monster hunter is also a ballroom dancer. It’s not a mix of professions that I would have thought of… but it somehow manages to work so seamlessly. Especially when she starts explaining how dancing is a fantastic way to train for monster hunting…

<- Tailed

Midnight Blue-Light Special ->

Image source: Goodreads

If I Had a Hammer by Charlaine Harris

July 8, 2020Book ReviewCharlaine Harris, Dark Fantasy, Home Improvement, Paranormal Fantasy, Sookie Stackhouse, Vampiresskyebjenner

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Title: If I Had a Hammer
Author: Charlaine Harris
Series: Sookie Stackhouse #12.5
In: Home Improvement (Charlaine Harris & Toni L.P. Kelner)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal fantasy, Vampires
Dates read: 9th June 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Jo Fletcher Books
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: There’s a reason the haunting started when the hammer came out of the wall.

There’s a reason the haunting started when the hammer came out of the wall.

This is not the kind of short story you want to read before doing a home renovation – after all, in it, everything that can go wrong… will. But it does make it entertaining and a fun reading.

I absolutely adored Sookie in this story. She is fun, engaging and entertaining. Her strength is great. And considering I’ve only read one full-length novel, and in that she’s a little wishy washy. Yet, this short story takes place later in the series – and it highlights the strength that she finally has after she’s grown.

I love that there is a double storyline in this short story – not only is there the story line which follows Sookie and friends as they try and figure out what is going on with their mysterious guest. But there is also the tale of what actually happened generations ago that involved a hammer and a bit of vengeance…

<- Home Improvement

Wizard Home Security ->

Image source: Hachette Australia

Two Blondes by Charlaine Harris

July 8, 2020Book ReviewCharlaine Harris, Dark Fantasy, Paranormal Fantasy, Sookie Stackhouse, Vampiresskyebjenner

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Title: Two Blondes
Author: Charlaine Harris
Series: Sookie Stackhouse #9.6
In: Death’s Excellent Vacation (Charlaine Harris & Toni L.P. Kelner)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Dark fantasy, Paranormal fantasy, Vampires
Dates read: 30th June 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Gollancz
Year: 2010
5th sentence, 74th page: ‘Our new masters have been chipping away at Edgington’s control of Mississippi,’ Pam said.

Sookie and Pam just want a little vacation in Glitter Town. But then vampire politics get involved… and things take a turn for the interesting…

This was a really, really good, funny and enjoyable short story. It featured all of the aspects of the Sookie Stackhouse short stories that I’m seriously beginning to love and a little more information about the series as a whole… I should probably actually pick up the full-length novels again… this was just such a great reminder of how enjoyable they really are.

One of the aspects of this short story that I loved (and what I assume will be more obvious after the 9^th book in the series), was the sense of gender fluidity and sexual identities in this story. I loved that there were characters who were most definitely part of the Vampire LGBTQI+ community (and what an interesting community that would be). It also showed Sookie exploring a little more of her own identity, something I haven’t yet come across as a major plot line in the first novel…

Probably what I liked so much about this short story, that didn’t pull me into the original series was the fact that Sookie is no longer kid of weak and whiny. I found her really irritating in the first novel, and I’ve been told multiple times to actually read more of the series, that this diminishes. But reading this short story really drove that fact home. And has left me kind of excited to actually stick my nose into these books again.

<- Death’s Excellent Vacation

The Boys Go Fishing ->

Image source: Amazon

The Red-Headed Dead by Joe R. Lansdale

July 7, 2020Book ReviewDead Man's Hand, Joe R. Lansdale, Urban Fantasy, Weird Western, Westernsskyebjenner

Title: The Red-Headed Dead
Author: Joe R. Lansdale
In: Dead Man’s Hand (John Joseph Adams)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Urban fantasy, Weird western, Westerns
Dates read: 8th June 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Titan Books
Year: 2014
5th sentence, 74th page: No one answered.

This is a story that starts with a dead horse… and steadily goes downhill.

I love that this weird western story includes the origins story of vampires. As in, the Judas origins story. I’m not really sure why… but I always love when this mythos is included in any kind of story. Partnering that with a western? It worked ridiculously well.

Although I enjoyed this story because of the content, I didn’t necessarily love the writing style. I found it a little disjointed and unapproachable. And a little hard to follow at times. Yet, I did really enjoy the storyline. So I found it hard to be frustrated by the style of writing when I was drawn in by the content.

This is a story that starts with a dead horse. That has had a pole flung through it’s brain. And that is the least violent moment throughout. It just steadily gets bloodier and bloodier. Which is exactly what a western should be… or at least, a weird western that features a vampire risen from the dead…

<- Dead Man’s Hand Collection

The Old Slow Man and His Gold Gun From Space ->

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Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

July 7, 2020Book ReviewClassics, Jane Austen, Romanceskyebjenner

Mansfield Park (Vintage Classics Austen Series) by Jane Austen ...

Title: Mansfield Park
Author: Jane Austen
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Classics, Romance
Dates read: 17th May – 8th June 2020
Pace: Slow
Format: Novel
Publisher: Vintage Classics
Year: 1814
5th sentence, 74th page: She entertains me; and she is so extremely pretty, that I have great pleasure in looking at her.

Fanny Price’s rich relatives offer her a place in their home so that she can be properly brought up. However, Fanny’s childhood is a lonely one as she is never allowed to forget her position. Her only ally is her cousin Edmund. When her cousins befriend two glamorous new young people who have arrived in the area, Henry and Mary Crawford, Edmund starts to grow close to Mary and Fanny finds herself dealing with feelings she has never experienced before.

I have started and stopped this classic about three times. Which is super annoying. Because all of the other Jane Austen books that I’ve read thus far I have absolutely adored. As in I started and finished them in a short period of time and thoroughly enjoyed the adventure. Yet, there is something about this one that I found more difficult. Maybe it was the size. But I actually went to DNF this for a third time. Then I decided to push on. And boy am I glad that I did!

Once I got past that first third that just made me cringe constantly. I think it was Mrs Norris. What a horrible, odious woman. And I honestly just wanted to cuddle Fanny the whole time – the poor, quiet soul! Anyway, once I got past that first third, I actually started to really love this novel. Fanny’s darlingness grew on me and felt less tragic and painful. Mrs Norris was still horrible and annoying, but there was the sense that others had begun to realise this. And the story just generally started to pull me in. I wanted the happily ever after that I knew was coming because I was beginning to be heavily attached to all of the characters.

Having said all of that, I do still find it weird that the happily ever after involved Fanny marrying her cousin. I know that this was a common practice at the time of this story. But I just found it uncomfortable. Particularly when she was kind of raised with the boy. I mean. Seriously. It was just… uncomfortable. When I stopped thinking about that aspect, and concentrated on the fact that Fanny and Edward made a good couple and made each other happy… well, it began to work.

I think that my absolute favourite thing about this book was the poetic ending. The fact that each and every selfish and annoying character in this book got a comeuppance. That in the end, Fanny’s goodness was noticed and she actually got her happily ever after. Plus, some of the poetic justice was just downright funny.

<- Emma

Northanger Abbey ->

Image source: Penguin Books Australia

Earth and Skye

The ramblings of a bibliophile.

That Holiday Feeling by Debbie Macomber, Sherryl Woods & Robyn Carr

At the Sign of the Last Chance by Owen Wister

The Old Slow Man and His Gold Gun From Space by Ben H. Winters

Each City by Ellen van Neerven

Under the Christmas Tree by Robyn Carr

Discount Armageddon by Seanan McGuire

If I Had a Hammer by Charlaine Harris

Two Blondes by Charlaine Harris

The Red-Headed Dead by Joe R. Lansdale

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen