Tag Archives: Romance

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Obsidian (Lux, #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Obsidian
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Series: Lux #1
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Aliens, Romance, Science fiction, Young adult
Dates read: 28th July – 17th September 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Hodder
Year: 2011
5th sentence, 74th page: It wasn’t usually the safest way to travel.

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Synopsis

The unputdownable first novel in the Lux series. Daemon Black will set pulses racing…

There’s an alien next door. And with his looming height and eerie green eyes, he’s hot… until he opens his mouth. He’s infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, he marks me. Turns out he has a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal his abilities and the only way I’m getting out of this alive is by sticking close to him until my alien mojo fades. If I don’t kill him first, that is.

When Katy moves to West Virginia right before her senior year, she’s anticipating a whole lot of boring. The last thing on her mind is getting involved with her sexy, exasperating neighbour – and then finding out he’s guarding a mind-blowing secret…

Thoughts

This was a seriously good novel. It took me a little while to read, but mostly because I kept getting distracted by other, shinier books. It was still wonderful and fun. This was a great teenage / young adult book with great world building and a lead female who I could really relate to. Definitely an enjoyable adventure. And, now that I’ve finished it… I can’t wait to read the next one and journey back into Armentrout’s world of the Lux.

This had a pretty typical level of the teen angst that I’m used to looking for in a young adult novel. But it was a little less painful than some of the other young adult books I’ve read – the angst was nicely balanced by the gumption and drive of Kat. I actually really enjoyed the angst that was a part of this story – it wasn’t over the top and painful, and honestly, if I had to deal with Daemon’s attitude like Kat does… I’d be pretty angsty and irritable myself.

I absolutely love the world building that Armentrout does in this series. I enjoyed the prequel Shadows, and that had a nice little introduction into this series. But it didn’t give me a full background into the world of the Lux. This novel most definitely did that. Although, I’m glad I know a little more about Dawson from Shadows. It’s a great world building that I can’t wait to sink my metaphorical teeth into… I just need to save up some money before I buy the next book is all…

Kat and Daemon definitely don’t have a cutesy, sweet relationship. Which I most definitely love. I get a bit fed up with relationships in books (both young adult and adult) which focus on the cutesy, love at first sight angle. That just doesn’t feel overly realistic to me. Instead, Daemon and Kat are constantly niggling at one another and making things somewhat difficult for each other. It’s a lot more similar to the healthy relationships that I see in my life (even if this one isn’t totally healthy).

I absolutely can’t wait to read Oblivion – I’m fascinated to see what all of the moments in Obsidian looked like through Daemon’s eyes. There are some wonderful and fun hints at the end of Obsidian, but I look forward to getting even more insight.

<- ShadowsOblivion ->

Image source: Goodreads

Unremembered by Jessica Brody

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Unremembered (Unremembered, #1) by Jessica Brody

Title: Unremembered
Author: Jessica Brody
Series: Unremembered #1
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Romance, Science fiction, Time travel, Young adult
Dates read: 29th June 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Square Fish
Year: 2013
5th sentence, 74th page: Especially given you… well, celebrity status.

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Synopsis

When Freedom airlines flight 121 went down, they didn’t expect to find anyone. Alive, that is.

But there was one survivor. Which is why a sixteen-year-old girl discovered floating among the wreckage – alive – is making headlines across the globe.

Even stranger is that her body is miraculously unharmed and she has no memories of boarding the plane. She has no memories of her life before the crash. She has no memories period.

Crippled by a world she doesn’t know, plagued by abilities she doesn’t understand, and haunted by a looming threat she can’t remember, Seraphina struggles to piece together her forgotten past and discover who she really is. Her only hope is a strangely alluring boy who claims to know her from before the crash. Who claims they were in love. but can she really trust him? Can she trust anyone?

Thoughts

I’ve had this book sitting on my shelf for quite a while. Ever since I read Unstolen. It looked kind of cute and intriguing. But honestly, that was the extent of my thought process. It was always a book that I’ll get to at some point. And then I needed a book with a title starting with a U for a reading challenge… and wow. This is not just good. It is ridiculously good. I actually couldn’t believe how much this pulled me in. And just how quickly.

Alright, so this is a bit of a teeny little romance. Which is why I gave it one less star than I probably would have otherwise given it. I do tend to find that star-crossed lovers can get a bit of an overbearing trope. And for the majority of this novel, that was kind of how I felt about that main relationship. But then… but then it really started to develop. As more of Sera’s history was revealed, her relationship with Zen became less and less irritating and more and more developed. And now? Now I can’t wait to see how that will develop in the next two books in this trilogy. Started out a bit eh, but the relationship quickly built upon itself and developed into a great aspect of the storyline.

I knew that there was a time travel aspect to this novel. After all, it says so on Goodreads. But this wasn’t quite the time travel that I was expecting. There is surprise after surprise throughout this novel that makes you constantly reconfigure and question the whole time travel angle. And at the very ending? You’re still kind of questioning things. Still wondering if you have all of the information about time travel locked away into your brain. And what you’ve probably missed… it makes for a seriously intriguing and great way to tell a time travel story.

Aside from the teeny / young adult storyline and the very unique take on time travel… I absolutely adored how Brody is able to play with the idea of memories and thoughts all the way throughout this story. In each and every moment, you’re questioning what is real and what is manufactured. And how memories can be stored. How much influence memories actually have on our personalities… it’s a fascinating realm to play with and Brody did an absolutely fantastic job of making you think through each and every sentence.

<- More Jessica BrodyUnstolen ->

Image source: Goodreads

Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

Book Review, ,
Overview
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.

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Synopsis

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.

Thoughts

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.

<- EmmaNorthanger Abbey ->

Image source: Penguin Books Australia

Silver Bells by Debbie Macomber

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Image result for that holiday feeling book cover

Title: Silver Bells
Author: Debbie Macomber
Series: Those Manning Men #5
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 romance, Romance
Dates read: 2nd June 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Mira
Year: 1996
5th sentence, 74th page: “What are you doing tomorrow?” Philip asked unexpectedly.

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Synopsis

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.”

Thoughts

So I desperately want to read this series now. There is just something about this gorgeous short story that makes me smile and feel the need to sink into yet another new contemporary adult series. especially if the lead in this novella is younger and cheekier than she is as an adult.

MacKenzie is a great adolescent character. She’s full of gumption and cheekiness (which I think would also be in other stories). She is funny and quirky. And she’s damn well driven by her belief that what she is doing is right. I remember being a teenager and being convinced that I was smarter than everyone else. That I knew everything. So any character that reflects that smart-arsery as a teenager in such a pure way… they’re good with me.

The cast of this apartment and this story is brilliant. They are crazy and zany. Incredibly different, but all completely loving. And accepting. Which created a great, sweet and cute novella. One that left me with a huge smile plastered across my face.

<- That Holiday FeelingThe Perfect Holiday ->

Image source: Goodreads

Persephone, or Why The Winters Seem to be Getting Longer by Wendy Froud

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for sirens and other daemon lovers book cover

Title: Persephone, or Why the Winters Seems to be Getting Longer
Author: Wendy Froud
In: Sirens and Other Daemon Lovers (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Lust, Mythology, Romance
Dates read: 16th May 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: EOS
Year: 1998
5th sentence, 74th page: I need to see him.

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Synopsis

Persephone is enjoying her husband a little too much… so the winters just keep getting longer and longer as she enjoys herself more and more.

Thoughts

For two pages of writing, this was actually quite intense. Very lustful, very emotional and seriously filled with some great imagery. Honestly, not what I was expecting at all from the title. And definitely not the intensity I was expecting from just two pages.

Although this is a lustful short story, it also made me hungry. The symbolism of pomegranates was rampant throughout this. And I really, really like pomegranates… Froud’s ability to describe pomegranates in such a beautiful, ruby red way was great… and seriously made me hungry.

There are so many different takes on the Hades and Persephone myth in the books that I read. Some are dark, some are about star-crossed lovers. I like that this was all about sexuality and lust. After all, the original Greek myths were more about that than anything else…

<- The House of Nine DoorsTaking Loup ->

Image source: Goodreads

The Eye of the Storm by Kelley Eskridge

Book Review, ,
Overview
Image result for sirens and other daemon lovers book cover

Title: The Eye of the Storm
Author: Kelley Eskridge
In: Sirens and Other Daemon Lovers (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Romance
Dates read: 23rd April 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: EOS
Year: 1998
5th sentence, 74th page: They were silent, watching me.

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Synopsis

Born different and unable to fit in. But that taught them to fight. To find a way to fit in and create a whole new life for themselves.

Thoughts

This was an incredibly interesting take on sexuality and what exactly a sexual experience is. Sexuality is completely fascinating, and something that I am constantly intrigued by. The fact that there is a story that explores different forms of sexuality, attraction and also mixes in fighting and a monarchy… well, I was completely, totally and utterly drawn in. Happily wrapped up in this amazing story.

The fighting style throughout this story seriously made me think about Bruce Lee. That whole, twirl like a storm idea was so damn reminiscent of the flow like water analogy that I’m sure is associated with him. I loved this discussion about different ways to fight people – and how to use what you have to your advantage. It was so completely, wonderfully intriguing and, if I was ever to find a way to fight… it would be the way that I would have to do so. After all, I’m not exactly big and strong…

This is a lustful, powerful and enjoyably intense story. It’s not one that I’m likely to forget anytime soon. There is just something so expansive and imaginative about the story. One that I really enjoyed and would love to read again and again and again.

<- HeatO for a Fiery Gloom and Thee ->

Image source: Goodreads

Oceans Between Us by Helen Scott Taylor

Book Review, ,
Overview
Amazon.com: Oceans Between Us (A Cinderella Romance) eBook: Helen ...

Title: Oceans Between Us
Author: Helen Scott Taylor
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary romance, Romance
Dates read: 11th April 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Helen Scott Taylor
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: Did he really mean that?

Synopsis

He’s a wealthy Italian celebrity used to dating beautiful women. She’s a guesthouse cook without a penny to her name. When tragedy brings them together for a few weeks, an unlikely romance blossoms. But he has commitments that take him back to his jet-setting life, while her future lies in a remote English village. Is it possible for two people from such different walks of life to find a way to be together?

Thoughts

I just needed something quick, easy and light to read this week. Waiting on responses from people and just the stress of everyday life. I wanted something cute and simple… and this novel gave me exactly that. This is a great, easy, light read. That makes you want to curl up in an inn in a quiet town somewhere, a cup of tea in hand and your lover at your side. Or at least, that’s how it made me feel.

Maria is a refreshing heroine. Instead of being someone driven to travel and creating a career, she wants to create a family. Take care of the people that she loves. I’ve always been told that I should be driven and harness my intelligence and make an amazing future for myself. But, the older I get, the more I realise that what brings me happiness isn’t necessarily what I expected of my future, or, indeed what I would have pictured for my future. And, Maria’s dreams and desires makes that completely okay. Which I kind of needed at this point in my life.

Although this was an incredibly easy, light and fun read, there were also some kind of horrible moments. Namely in the presence of Freddy (the antagonist). I knew that Maria and Dino would end up together, but Freddy’s presence and interference actually left me feeling a lot more disturbed and upset than I had anticipated. Something about his evil machinations just didn’t sit right at all. Which is probably the aim of his character… but I still didn’t like Maria and Dino’s fragile happiness being messed with!!!

This is a great little contemporary romance. Very reminiscent of the many chick flicks that I love to watch when I’m home alone and a great way to spend a nice afternoon. It let me travel away from the realities of life for a little while and just enjoy myself without having to think like an adult…

<- Moments of GoldUnbreak My Heart ->

Image source: Amazon

Rats by Marlee Jane Ward

Book Review, ,
Overview
Image result for kindred 12 queer book cover

Title: Rats
Author: Marlee Jane Ward
In: Kindred (Michael Earp)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, LGBTQI, Romance
Dates read: 7th April 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Walker Books
Year: 2019
5th sentence, 74th page: She pings her card against the reader and the doors open for us with a burst of warm air.

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Synopsis

She’s one of the Rats, those who live by their wits. But, on one of her adventures Up Above, she runs into a beautiful girl. One that she could just enjoy spending time with. Then all hell breaks loose as the Feds capture her friends and family…

Thoughts

This is the first short story in the Kindred collection. It is beautiful, simple and completely sweet. It is also a little different to what I expected with a whole new world created in the few pages of story. The fact that it’s also an LGBTQI+ lead who happens to be homeless… well, this short story deals with many minorities in a fantastic and entertaining manner.

There were so many things that I just loved about this short story. Smany of which I can’t quite figure out the words to describe… and many of which I just thoroughly enjoyed in and of themselves. This is a fast-paced, high action story in which falling for another girl isn’t that big a deal. It is about the first instances of attraction, rather than insta-love and I thought that that was fantastic. That instant attraction and need to know more about a person, without actually being in love with them is something that I really don’t think gets enough attention in many romances.

I can’t wait to read onwards in this collection. If this is the start of a collection of short stories… I can’t wait to see what the rest are like!

<- KindredIn Case of Emergency, Break Glass ->

Image source: Bookdepository

The Ill-Made Mute by Cecilia Dart-Thornton

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Image result for book cover the ill-made mute

Title: The Ill-Made Mute
Author: Cecilia Dart-Thornton
Series: Bitterbynde #1
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Australian authors, Fae, High fantasy, Romance
Dates read: 8th – 22nd March 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Pan Books
Year: 2001
5th sentence, 74th page: This warmed their spirits somewhat, although not toward him.

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Synopsis

While the lordly Stormriders land their splendid winged stallions on the airy battlements of Isse Tower, far below them, in the fortress’s depths, their superstitious servants sit by the hearth to tell each other ghastly tales of evil creatures inhabiting the world outside – a world most of them have only glimpsed. Yet it is the least of these servants – a mute, lowly, utterly despised foundling – who dares to scale the Twoer, sneak aboard a Windship, and then dive from the sky.

The terrified fiugitive is rescued by a kindhearted adventurer, who finally gives the poor creature a name – as well as the gift of communicating by handspeak, and an amazing truth never guessed at previously. Now the newly named ‘Imrhien’ begins a journey to distant Caermelor, in search of a wise woman whose skills may change everything.

Along the way, Imrhien struggles in a wilderness of endless danger – for those hearthside tales are all true. Unhuman wights haunt every pool, every turn in the road, and they perpetually threaten and torment all travellers. Lost, and pursued by these monsters, Imrhien is finally saved by a mysterious Dainnan ranger whose gallantry and courage are matched only by his martial skills. Unknown to them both, however, a deadly plot is unfolding… as a dark force summons the malignant hordes of Unseelie, and foul things amass in the night.

As the journey grows longer, the challenges more deadly, Imrhien discovers something more terriyfing than all of the evil eldritch wights combined. For this spurned outsider, with an angel’s soul and a gargoyle’s face, is suddnely falling in love…

In a thrilling debut combining masterful storytelling with a treasure trove of folklore, Cecilia Dart-Thornton creates a lushly romantic epic adventure of stunning scope and magical proportions, set in a world brimming with wonders and terrors.

Thoughts

I’ve been putting off reading this because it just looked seriously intense. And a little bit scary. Which are the kinds of books that I’ve been avoiding lately. And now I kind of regret that. I wasn’t wrong. This was intense, and full on and so multi-layered that my head felt like it could explode. But it was also amazing, unforgettable and kind of impossible to not think about. Whilst there were moments when I could put it down. There weren’t many moments in the two-week period of my reading that I actually stopped thinking about it…

One of my favourite things about this book was the world building. It was done in an incredibly unique way. Rather than the typical world building were facts are provided as the character travels through the world, the history, facts and shape of the world is provided as a series of stories and anecdotes told by the characters. To the amnesic lead. I loved flicking between what was currently happening and all of the tales being told by the supporting characters, there was something fun and unique about the way in which this was done. Although, it did mean that I had to pay attention – that way I knew who was talking about what.

Although Imrhien does have a romantic interest in this story (eventually), it’s not a heavy-handed romance. I can see where this story can go with that feeling of interest, and I can’t wait. But it’s not like the many other romances that I’ve been reading lately. Which was nice. This actually was a great book to read – it reminded me of all the reasons why I love fantasy so much. I’ve been on a fair bit of a romance kick lately…

The use of another language, the fae and the more traditional outlooks on them was absolutely brilliant. I get a bit fed up with the Peter Pan version of fae… so I love any book that sticks to the more Celtic, pagan views. And I can’t wait to find out more about this world and the past of Imrhien – I can only imagine that it is going to continue getting better and better as the next two books unfold!

 <- The Enchanted ReviewThe Lady of Sorrows Review ->

Image source: Goodreads

Dragonfire is Brighter than the Ten Thousand Stars by Mark Robert Philips

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of dieselpunk book cover

Title: Dragonfire is Brighter than the Ten Thousand Stars
Author: Mark Robert Philips
In: The Mammoth Book of Dieselpunk (Sean Wallace)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Dieselpunk, Romance
Dates read: 21st March 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: Song had made me go over border procedure again and again, memorizing each typescript that had been inside the hemp folder.

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Synopsis

The love of his life betrayed him years ago. But, when she need him the most, he’s more than willing to risk his life to save her. And finally uncover the truth behind her betrayal.

Thoughts

This was a ridiculously sweet and surprisingly cute short story. It’s towards the end of the The Mammoth Book of Dieselpunk collection. Most of the stories in this collection are a little more rough around the edges. And whilst this story is about betrayal and revolution and riots and spies… it’s also about love and I found that aspect to be incredibly sweet.

This is a slightly longer short story and one that I found incredibly hard to put down. It’s also quite hard to forget. Something about the storyline, the writing and the emotions throughout completely enthralled me and made it very difficult to forget and stop thinking about. There is just something so sweet, yet tragic about a man getting caught and forced to find his ex. The woman who he was betrayed by. Yet, there is still a sense of hope and care all throughout, even when conspiracies and suspicions are running rampant.

The ending of this short story seriously left me in my happy place. It has that riding off into the sunset feeling. But it also has a lot more closure than many of the short stories that I’ve been reading lately. The combination worked well for me and left me feeling like there was a sense of completion to the story.

<- FloodgateMountains of Green ->

Image source: Running Press