Title: The House Lost at Sea Author: R.J. Blain Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one) My Bookshelves:Paranormal romance, Pirates, Urban fantasy Pace: Slow Format: eBook, Novel Year: 2016
I wanted to love this novel a whole lot more than I did. I mean, I’ve loved absolutely everything about Blain’s books so far. But there was just something about this one that hit differently. Instead of diving for my ereader to continue with the story like I usually do, I was just… meh about it. I read Blainfor the violence, fluff and humour, and although this had it all, I think my biggest issue was that there was a lot of build up, but not much action.
Probably the most repetitive aspect of the beginning of this was Ricardo. I mean, it made sense that Catalina was focused on him. There was a whole, enjoyable backstory there. But then it just kind of kept on going. I mean, I got that there was this fixation – but I wanted more of her past, not just the same focus. It made it a little boring to continue to read.
I absolutely adored the idea and execution of a pirate / shark shifter. Particularly since I’ve read a few books recently about the Golden Age of Pirates. I love all of the research that obviously went into this story. It’s obvious that Blain made a lot of effort to craft this story, and I really enjoyed that fact.
This was a good, fun story. But not one that I felt super excited about. Luckily I can’t wait to dive into the rest of the Blain books on my TBR!
Title: Pirate Hunters: Treasure, Obsession, and the Search for a Legendary Pirate Ship by Robert Kurson Author: Robert Kurson Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect) My Bookshelves:History, Memoirs, Pirates Pace: Medium Format: eBook, Novel Year: 2015
I’ve had a bit of a thing about pirates since I saw Pirates of the Caribbean. I mean, who wouldn’t after Captain Jack Sparrow? There’s also something incredibly fun about the idea of the Caribbean (definitely on my bucket list to visit). Thus, reading a real life tale of pirates and the modern day race to find them? Yeah, I was pretty much sold on this from the beginning. And, luckily for me, Kurson is able to write about this in such a fantastic way that I honestly couldn’t put this book down.
Kurson is able to tell a number of stories throughout this memoir. Firstly, there’s the tale of John Bannister, the pirate who took on the Royal Navy and won. He’s the pirate that the John’s of the future are searching for (there’s a few John’s in this story). Kurson manages to tell his story and make you want to find his ship, the Golden Fleece, just as much as everyone else in this tale.
Then there’s the modern John’s. Both men are pioneers in the diving and salvage business. Their stories alone would make a good read I must admit. Both men went through som incredible experiences and have the stubbornness to pursue the holy grail of ocean treasure hunters. They’re definitely fairly stubborn and a lot admirable. Another set of stories of men who are determined and desire their freedom (which is ultimately what Bannister was hunting for).
Alongside these many stories of incredible men, there’s the journey to try and find (and identify) a pirate ship. I knew next to nothing about real life pirates before reading this novel. And now, I feel so damn educated. Everything I saw a family member throughout reading this, I word vomited all over them, I was just so keen to share everything that I learnt while reading this. Definitely one I am keeping on my shelves.
Let me preface this review by saying that there is a surprise reveal in this that I DID NOT see coming. Not so much a twist that will shock and awe… but certainly a surprise unveiling of truth that I wasn’t expecting. It was one that suddenly made total sense and has me itching to read These Divided Shores… I just have to buy it first.
Jumping between points if view doesn’t always work so seamlessly. But Raasch is able to do it in a way that is not only enjoyable, but highlights the different voices of the three leads. In fact, she managed to have such great characterisation and relatable characters that I couldn’t wait to find out what was going to happen next. For all three of them. Not a feeling that I often have with multiple points of view.
This book had a very pirate-like feel to it. Almost Pirates of the Caribbean in some moments in fact. Add in the not so subtle splashes of botanical magic, and of course this was the kind of story that was up my alley. A dash of romance, plenty of action and violence… of course I fell for this.
The part that destroys me most about this story? The goddam ending!!! It is such a phenomenal cliff-hanger. One that I didn’t anticipate AT ALL. And it is one that I can’t stop thinking about… I really don’t relish the idea of waiting to buy the next book in this series…
Title: Among the Shoals Forever Author: Gail Z. Martin In: The Mammoth Book of Ghost Stories by Women (Marie O’Regan) Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Ghosts, Pirates, Vampires Dates read: 23rd November 2020 Pace: Medium Format: Short story Publisher: Robinson Year: 2012 5th sentence, 74th page: All the while, I kept my senses keen to magic.
Set in New Orleans, a trio of pirates work for a vampire who needs them to take down a necromancer.
This was a wonderfully intense and brilliant short story. I couldn’t look away, and it took me a little while to get the ghost story angle. Actually, I probably enjoyed it so much because it didn’t have such a horror aspect to the story. Sometimes its nice to not have horror in every single ghost story.
I love that this story feature Voodoo (or whichever spelling of it is required here), vampires, pirates, and necromancers. This story pretty much had everything in it that I needed for my happiness and literary desire. I loved the mish mash of different paranormal creatures marching across the pages as justice and freedom were fought for.
The happy ending of this story left me feeling very happy and content. It was something that not only rounded out a very brilliant story. But it also gave me hope for the future and just felt comfortable. I would read this again and again. And honestly, I just wish that it was a full-length novel. All of the characters were brilliant and impossible to forget.
Title: Lady Pirate Author: Lynsay Sands Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Historical romance, Pirates Dates read: 25th April – 12th May 2020 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Avon Year: 2001 5th sentence, 74th page: A seed surrounded by white and pink gook stuck to the end of his pink-stained finger.
Valoree no longer has to masquerade as her murdered brother and scourge the oceans as Captain Red. She no longer has to command his pirate band in a quest to regain his birthright. She has been named heir to Ainsley Castle. But no execturo would ever hand over the estate to an unmarried pirate wench and her infamous crew – no matter to whom she’d been born. And the will distinctly states that in order to inherit, Valoree must be married to a nobleman… and pregnant.
Upon learning that, the virgin captain is ready to return to the seas – but her crew has other ideas – and for those rascally cusses she would do anything. If they could find a way to put on her a sweet face that would fool the ton, she would handle the rest, even with a drunken prostitute as an “aunt” and her merry cutthroat crew as “servants”. But to herself she swears one thing: she will only marry a man who fires her blood, a man who is not afraid of a… Lady Pirate
It took me a little while to get through this… not that I wasn’t in love with the story, but I did find that it didn’t completely grab me like the other books I’ve recently read by Sands. Once I got halfway through the book though, I was completely hooked into it. I mean, you knew that Valoree and Daniel were going to end up together, so it wasn’t such a get hooked into it book… but once I got there… wow. I just demolished it.
The idea of a clause in a will stating that you must be married and expecting was a new story plot that I wasn’t expecting. I actually felt a little bit mad at first, but then realised that both man and woman were in this position, so it wasn’t so horrifying. Still a stupid little clause. Which of course, when it started appearing that they were finally going to be getting the upper hand, I started to get sucked in.
For me, the standout point in this story is the pirates. Alright, the romance is sweet and beautiful. But, it’s the awkwardness of the pirates trying to fit into the nobility and make Valoree become something more that really hit me in my happy place. It’s that great image of bright pink livery that seems to sink into my subconscious whenever I think about this novel.
There is such a great, easy, good feeling, little read. Alright, there area few moments where I felt kind of irritated. But, mostly, it was just cute and simple. A nice little story that made me feel that nice, gooey feeling full of love and hope. Alright, love is never this damn simple… but it is sometimes nice to think this way. Plus, there is also that great little Sands twist at the end of this story that makes all those final moments just fall together.
Cecilia thinks that she’s finally found a man worth her time. But, after just a few months he wants to get married on a pirate ship. Things quickly turn from romantic to downright wrong as her adventures progress.
I really wasn’t expecting this kind of wedding. I knew that
something was bound to go wrong because it’s in a collection of stories about
supernatural weddings, and they’re never simple. But I really wasn’t expecting
cursed pirates, a con man and being thrown overboard.
One of my favourite moments about this story is when the bad
guy realises that he’s got the wrong Cecilia. It’s more than a little awkward,
and just downright hilarious. Especially when he’s gone to so much effort to gain
some money… and then finds out that he needs to make amends, and quickly if he
wants to survive. It made it quite hilarious to realise that after much careful
planning, the “bad guy” had totally buggered everything up.
This story has a very Pirates of the Caribbean feel
to it. From the plain fact that there are pirates, to the single woman aboard,
right down to the curse placed upon the crew. It was like a funnier, cuter
version of the famous movie franchise. But, I think that I like this one much,
much better.
New York Times bestselling author Meljean Brook delivers a new story in her steampunk world of the Iron Seas…as a man who’s lost everything returns home to find that not only is his marriage in jeopardy, but he must now fight pirates who intend to steal his one remaining treasure – his wife.
Men are stupid. To be fair, so are women. But in this story…
men are stupid. And seriously dude, stop being so damn ignorant and love thy
wife. We do not want money, we want our man. That’s it, rant over. This was
actually an amazing novella. But I still left it thinking that men are kind of
stupid. And need a bit of a kick up the butt to restore their brain cells.
I really enjoyed the slight revisitation to Ivy and Mad
Machen in this story. They don’t actually make an appearance, but they are
mentioned and their lives after the events of their story are happily alluded
to a number of times. Enough to let you know that they’re enjoying their
happily ever after, away from prying eyes and comfortable in their reputations.
I can’t imagine ever marrying a man that I wasn’t 100% sure of, that I knew inside and out. But there seems to be a slight theme in some of Meljean Brook’sstories about this happening. Two people who are 100% in love, but really not aware of each others’ personalities and needs. A bit of a case of jumping into the deep end, and then forgetting why you’re swimming. It’s a slightly painful trope. But also an incredibly fun one. One that I really enjoyed. And it almost worked better in this novella as their issues predominately come from misunderstandings and a desire to make each other happy. Whilst not actually understanding what their counterpart needs.
Add all of the relationship complications to the idea of pirates
stealing a chest of gold; a diver trying to retrieve the treasure; and a murder
or two of some rather unmoralistic mercenaries… well, it was a really good,
enjoyable and fun ride. Just enough lust to make me miss my partner, but more
about piracy and brigands on the seven seas… mixed in with a fantastic
steampunk world.
Elizabeth has spent the past five years running from her father; her father’s huntsman, Caius, has spent the past five years pursuing her. But when he finally catches up to her on an airship flying above Europe’s zombie-infested cities, Elizabeth discovers that Caius isn’t the only danger she has to fear – and now that he’s found her, Caius doesn’t intend to let her go.
I really loved the moral questions that this novella posed. What
do you do when you have the power of cloning? And, to begin with that question
is just asked in a purely conservational role. And then it takes a darker,
twistier turn that was distinctly uncomfortable. But it also worked into a
really sweet romance (in the end, when all the twisty bits were sorted).
Wrecked bought an entirely different part of the Iron Seas world to life for me. I loved the mentions of Australia, the whirlwind flight across the skies and the discussion about just how important it was to conserve the remaining animals. Actually, it highlighted a end-of-the-world scenario that I really hadn’t imagined before. What happens to all of the animals when a plague of zombies is unleashed on the world?
My biggest complaint about this novella is that although
they ride off into the sunset together, I want to know more about the happy
little family that they create. Or at least the one that I’m imagining and
picturing in my mind’s eye as I turn the final page.
Title: Mina Wentworth and the Invisible City Author: Meljean Brook Series: The Iron Seas #1.5 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Paranormal romance, Pirates, Steampunk romance Dates read: 30th April 2019 Pace: Medium Format: Novella Publisher: Berkley Sensation Year: 2012 5th sentence, 74th page: When he left, Geordie asked me to ‘Take Billy.’
Eight months after The Iron Duke, can their marriage survive a new danger?
After Mina is called in to investigate the murder of an aristocratic bounder, her husband Rhys—known to the world as the Iron Duke—must overcome his fear for his new bride before his need to protect her tears them apart. But when she invites him to join her at the murder scene, a search for a mysterious killing machine puts her in more danger than ever before…a danger that leads straight back to Rhys.
One of the most frustrating things that I tend to find about paranormal romancestories are that you don’t really find out how they live their lives after they ride off into the sunset, happily ever after. It’s all well and good to have that amazing story about passion and fire and those first, loving moments together when everything finally fits. But that isn’t entirely realistic… there is another kind of love, when the fiery passions become a slow burn that continues over the years. So the fact that there is a novella about Mina and Rhys 8 months after they get married… I was much happier and more settled in their happiness.
Although this story is very much about settling into a new way of life, and understanding what it means to love another, there is also a great secondary story. Like The Iron Duke there is a bit of a mystery as to who the villain truly is. And a bit of a risk lingering for both of the primary characters. One that you know is going to come to head fairly quickly. It gave the story a little more pressure and spice than just an insight into the daily lives of this unique couple. And one that made it impossible to put down this novella… even though I really, really needed to sleep.
Title: The Iron Duke Author: Meljean Brook Series: The Iron Seas #1 Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again) My Bookshelves:Paranormal romance, Pirates, Steampunk romance Dates read: 26th – 29th April 2019 Pace: Medium Format: Novel Publisher: Berkley Sensation Year: 2010 5th sentence, 74th page: And he wished to hell that he’d realized earlier why the red giant always followed her.
After freeing England from Horde control, Rhys Trahaearn, the Iron Duke, has built a merchant empire on the power – and fear – of his name. And when a dead body is dropped from an airship onto his doorstep, bringing Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth into his dangerous world, he intends to make her his next possession.
With Horde blood running through Mina’s veins, becoming Rhys’s lvoer would destroy both her career and her family, yet the investigation prevents Mina from avoiding him… and the Iron Duke’s ruthless pursuit makes him difficult to resist.
When Mina discovers the victim’s identity, she stumbles upon a conspiracy that threatens the lives of everyone in England. Now, Mina and Rhys must race across zombie-infested wastelands and treacherous oceans – as Mina is tempted to give up everything for the Iron Duke.
To start with I was a bit maybe not about this story. the
lead male was just so damn possessive… and well, quite frankly irritating. He couldn’t
even begin to imagine being told no. By anyone. Let alone the woman he’s
fixated on. I love a lover who is a little possessive and protective… but not
one that is so possessive that his partner is a possession rather than, well, a
partner. In the first few chapters, Rhys actually made me want to put this book
down. But, as the story developed, I steadily fell more and more in lust with
him. Found him more and more enthralling and wanted to read the story far more
keenly than I had anticipated.
Although Rhys bothered me from the very beginning, Mina made
me fall completely in love. She was a strong, independent woman. With a lot of
vulnerability. Especially when her history is bought up. It made the tough, cop
exterior far more gooey and sweet on the inside. Actually, it was Mina’s plight
and willingness to walk away from true love to save others that made me unwilling
to put this book down. Incredibly unwilling, I wanted to know who the villain
behind the murder was, but mostly I wanted Mina to have her happily-ever-after.
Especially after she takes on a kraken…
Other than the great love story in this novel, I absolutely adore
the genre. I already have a rapidly growing steampunk collection. Adding in
romance just makes me want to read it even more passionately. And making the
characters into steampunk pirates… well, that is a series absolutely made in
heaven. Actually, I’m really disappointed that there aren’t many more novels in
this series… I want a whole heap more steampunk pirates running riot through my
bookshelves.
Earth and Skye 