Tag Archives: Romance

Catch by the Lightning by Madeline Baker

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of time travel romance book cover

Title: Catch the Lightning
Author: Madeline Baker
In: The Mammoth Book of Time Travel Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Romance, Time travel
Dates read: 28th December 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: I’m about a quart low.

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Synopsis

On the eve of her suicide, a strange horse arrives to sweep her away. To another time and another place. Will she find her reason to live here?

Thoughts

I think most women have wanted to find themselves a hot, Indian cowboy to have a bit of a roll in the hay. The woman in this short story got one. And I’m so incredibly glad. This was fun, easy and I love that it took a pretty typical fantasy (or at least, what I view as a fairly typical frontier fantasy) and made it her own. With time travelling, because what’s a romance without a little bit of time travelling?

I’ve been reading a few time travelling stories this year. Particularly short stories in The Mammoth Book of Time Travel Romance collection. But I’ve never read one that features a time travelling horse. It’s weird and quite different. But definitely something that I’ve decided I need more of. It also reminded me of the Dreamworks movie Spirit, which bought up all kinds of happy, childhood nostalgia.

This touches on issues of suicide. And that point you reach where you’re not sad. You’re just not there anymore. There is no purpose. I get this feeling more than I would like. So this touched quite close to the belt. But I actually loved that fact. Because instead of being dark and dour, she’s abducted by a time travelling horse and finds the love of her life. A slightly off-kilter happily-ever-after for all of us.

 <- The Walled Garden ReviewSteam Review ->
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Time Trails by Colby Hodge

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of time travel romance book cover

Title: Time Trails
Author: Colby Hodge
In: The Mammoth Book of Time Travel Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Romance, Science fiction, Time travel
Dates read: 17th December 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: Its head hung limply and its body trembled with weakness.

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Synopsis

A rip in the fabric of time has sent her back in time from 2143 to 1886. The man she meets there might just be everything she’s ever dreamed of… but what will she do with him?

Thoughts

There’s a fairly big time gap in this short story. Alright, it’s a time travel short story, so you know that there’s going to be some kind of gap… but 1886 to 2143 just seemed intense. Probably because most stories I read with time travelling involve the past or the future, and the present. Not both past and future. However, it was kind of fun. I enjoyed the departure from what I’m beginning to consider as normal for something a little bit more intense and difficult to put down.

Normally I like open ended short stories. They give you the ability to decide what you think has happened. Or the possibility for another, longer story in amongst it. However, this one was just a little too open. There must have been consequences for their actions, but it’s never even thought about. I love rebellious characters who make their own future. But they’re only so awesome because they face the consequences knowingly. Not so much in this story…

Having said that, this short story still left me with lots of happy, nice, gooey feelings. It was just a sweet and easy story. One that I don’t feel the desire to be a longer tale, but enjoyed my time with. A nice, easy read when I needed a quick break from my thinking work…

 <- A Wish to Build a Dream On ReviewThe Walled Garden Review ->
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A Wish to Build a Dream On by Michelle Willingham

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of time travel romance book cover

Title: A Wish to Build a Dream On
Author: Michelle Willingham
In: The Mammoth Book of Time Travel Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Fae, Romance, Time travel
Dates read: 14th December 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: She took a deep breath, knowing he needed to understand everything.

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Synopsis

She’s getting over a bad breakup. And all she wants is to find a man who can love her for herself. Yet, a wish made in a faery circle might have the power to change her fate and give her the family she’s always longed for.

Thoughts

If I had one wish… I don’t know what it would be. It would depend on my mood, surroundings, the sun, the moon. I’m a pretty indecisive person. But, this story really did make me think about what that one wish actually would be. The title alone gets you into this mood… A Wish to Build a Dream On is kind of reminiscent of a wish upon a star from Disney… or at least, that’s how I felt about it. There is something beautiful and lingering in the feeling of this story.

Having said all of that, the lead woman in this story is damn sure of what her wish is. And I loved the simplicity of this. Her dream is simply to have a family – a man that loves her for who she is, and children to come along. It would be one of my top dreams (I already have half of it though) … but I love that this is about someone who just wants to be loved. Who just wants to find a happily ever after that she can be happy with.

The best thing about this story though is that it is incredibly sweet and easy. It isn’t an insanely, tragically complex tale. It isn’t about lust and sex. Rather, it is just about true love and finding a version of happily ever after that makes you happy. Not anyone else’s version. And that means finding someone who completely accepts you for what you are, not an idealised version.

 <- The Gloaming Hour ReviewTime Trails Review ->
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The Gloaming Hour by Cindy Miles

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of time travel romance book cover

Title: The Gloaming Hour
Author: Cindy Miles
In: The Mammoth Book of Time Travel Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Romance, Scottish romance, Time travel
Dates read: 8th December 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: She held him tight, as though doing so would prevent him from fading away.

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Synopsis

He’s the spirit of an ancient scotsman who can only appear in the Gloaming Hour. She’s a woman who has the scars of a tragic past. Yet, somehow, in their stolen moments of time, they manage to find a miracle worth living for.

Thoughts

I don’t really get the ins and outs of the time travel in this story. Which is alright, because I loved it anyway. Most of the time I like to understand exactly what is happening when you need to have time travel. But in the case of The Gloaming Hour, I didn’t actually care. It was just such an easy, sweet and nice story.

I love how this story is all about new beginnings. Not just for the woman in the present, but also the weirdly time travelling man who she falls for. And, ultimately, it’s about finding your own version of happily ever after. Whatever that may be. It’s actually a good reminder for me at the moment to find my own Zen outside of what is expected of me.

This is an incredibly quick, easy and light read. Which was quite surprising since the lead female was stalked and attacked in an incredibly horrific way. It was a nice way to just relax for ten minutes or so. Without having to think about the realities of the world.

 <- Last Thorsday Night ReviewA Wish to Build a Dream On Review ->
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Cold Feet by Brenda Novak

Book Review, , , ,

Overview
Image result for book cover cold feet brenda novak

Title: Cold Feet
Author: Brenda Novak
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Romance, Romantic suspense, Thriller
Dates read: 2nd November – 2nd December 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Harlequin
Year: 2004
5th sentence, 74th page: Where’s my girl?

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Synopsis

When the past won’t go away…

The Seattle police suspect Madison Lieberman’s father was the serial killer they call the “Sandpoint Strangler.” Madison refuses to believe it. Her father is now dead, and all she wants is the chance to create a new life for herself and her six-year-old child.

Then she discovers something in the crawl space beneath her parent’s house. Something that makes her question her father’s innocence. Or the innocence of someone else who’s equally close to her…

When another woman turns up dead, crime writer Caleb Trovato wonders whether they’re dealing with a copycat killer. Or is the real Sandpoint Strangler still alive? Caleb’s sure Madison knows more than she’s telling, and he’s determined to find out what. But he doesn’t expect to fall in love – or to lead Madison and her child into danger…

Thoughts

I have never read a Brenda Novak story, nor have I heard of them. This was just the only book I could find with the word “feet” in the title… and I needed that for a reading challenge. It turns out that it was a brilliant choice. I absolutely adored this book. And I was completely blown away by who the villain in this tale was. Actually, the mix of romance and suspense in this novel was not at all expected, and seriously enjoyable.

Normally I tend to guess who or what is going to be the killer fairly early on. Or at least, I get pretty damn close with my guess. I DID NOT see the identity of the bad guy coming at all! I started to have an inkling of the fact that: a) my initial hunch was wrong. And b) who the actual bad person was. I’m not normally this damn surprised, and every time I thought, hmmmm… maybe… there was something that quickly disproved my theory. It was brilliant!

I like that this romance featured a divorcee and her young daughter. That it was all about perceptions, loyalty and trying to find your way in the world. Rather than a twenty-something woman who had never experienced love, was a virgin, ya da, ya da, yay da… she had already had some really difficult experiences. And so had he. The older I get, the more I appreciate older characters in romances… after all, their experiences seem to start being a little more in line with mine.

The only reason I didn’t gobble this book up in just a day was that it was an eBook. There is something about eBooks that tend to take me a little more time to read… yet, the physical copy of this (which I now want to find a second hand version of) would have been completely inhaled in a matter of hours… late at night… when I was supposed to be sleeping.

 <- Before We Were Strangers ReviewDear Maggie Review ->

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My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding edited by P.N. Elrod

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Overview
Image result for my big fat supernatural wedding book cover

Title: My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding
Author: P.N. Elrod, L.A. Banks, Jim Butcher, Rachel Caine, Esther M. Friesner, Lori Handeland, Charlaine Harris, Sherrilyn Kenyon & Susan Krinard
In: My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding (P.N. Elrod)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal fantasy, Romance, Short story collections
Dates read: 30th September – 30th November 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Anthology
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Year: 2006
5th sentence, 74th page: “You and your” – his eyes flicked toward Ian, who was clambering over the railing – “your intended can wait up on the quarterdeck.”

Synopsis

Werewolves, vampires, witches, voodoo, Elvis—and weddings

An “ordinary” wedding can get crazy enough, so can you imagine what happens when otherworldly creatures are involved? Nine of the hottest authors of paranormal fiction answer that question in this delightful collection of supernatural wedding stories. What’s the seating plan when rival clans of werewolves and vampires meet under the same roof? How can a couple in the throes of love overcome traps set by feuding relatives—who are experts at voodoo? Will you have a good marriage if your high-seas wedding is held on a cursed ship? How do you deal with a wedding singer who’s just a little too good at impersonating Elvis? Shape-shifters, wizards, and magic, oh my!

Thoughts

I started reading this collection just before my best friend got married. I kind of figured that it was just a suitable kind of anthology to be reading when I too, was experiencing much of the wedding insanity that tends to surround such a fun day. And, it was nice to know that no matter what happened… nothing could go as badly wrong as many of the weddings in this collection.

There is something about weddings that seems to bring out the best and worst in people. So much pressure and stress for just one day which always blows my mind… but most people don’t have to deal with the supernatural. The characters in these stories do. And some of the battles they face are just… well, ridiculous. And difficult. And so much fun to read about.

Most of the authors in this collection I have on my shelves. Which made this a really good collection to read. Not only did I not then add a hundred different books to my wish list, but I often had the pleasure of revisiting worlds that I already have on my shelves. And the few I didn’t recognise? Well, they’ve quickly found their way on my to buy next list…

 <- “…Or Forever Hold Your Peace”Spellbound ->

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Beowulf for Cretins by Ann McMan

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for book cover beowulf for cretins

Title: Beowulf for Cretins: A Love Story
Author: Ann McMan
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, LGBTQI, Romance
Dates read: 30th November 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Bywater Books
Year: 2018
5th sentence, 74th page: I don’t doubt it.

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Synopsis

Is God in the machine – or out to lunch? It’s anybody’s guess.

English professor and aspiring novelist, Grace Warner spends her days teaching four sections of “Beowulf for Cretins” to uninterested students at one of New England’s “hidden ivy” colleges. Not long after she is dumped by her longtime girlfriend, Grace meets the engaging and mysterious Abbie on a cross-country flight. Sparks fly on and off the plane as the two strangers give in to one night of reckless passion with no strings attached, and no contact information exchanged.

Back home at St. Albans, the college rocks Grace’s world when it announces the appointment of a new president – the first woman in its fabled 165-year history. Cue Abbie – and cue Grace’s collision course with a neurotic dog named Grendel, a fractious rival for tenure, and a woman called Ochre in what very well be a final shot at happiness.

Thoughts

This story is sweet, fun and not one that I’m going to forget anytime soon. It’s a fairly easy read, but one that still completely sweeps you away. Makes you forget about reality. I spent a perfect afternoon reading about Grace, Abbie and their neurotic dog while my neurotic dogs were piled on top of me. There was just something completely innocent and sweet about this story… not what I would normally claim for a romance. Mostly they tend to be a lot more lustful.

Sadly, there aren’t many LGBTQI stories on my shelves. Yet, every time I’ve run across one, I’ve found that it is brilliant and unforgettable. Maybe because they’re not so common-place, and it is more difficult to have them published… whatever it may or may not be, it’s not a sub-genre that often finds its way to my shelves. And, in fact, I think this was the first LGBTQI romance that I’ve had the pleasure of reading. It was kind of life changing to be honest. I’m going to now find every single Ann McMan book I can.

An obsession with books is obvious in the amount that I read… but I also love to write, and reading a story about someone who has that same literary obsession was really relatable. Everything about Grace is relatable and makes her impossible to not to love. Then, there’s Grendel. A dog that is damaged, neurotic and completely loveable. Although, I do find every dog I meet ridiculously loveable… whether in person or on print.

Abbie was also a loveable character. However, I found that I related to Grace’s awkward mannerisms and kind of lost feeling way more. The more put together woman is someone that I aspire to be… but I think I’ll forever be more like Grace… kind of bumbling through life in a somewhat confused way. But always stumbling into a happily ever after. At least, that’s what I’m hoping for.

 <- Backcast ReviewDust Review ->

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Last Thorsday Night by Holly Lisle

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for the mammoth book of time travel romance book cover

Title: Last Thorsday Night
Author: Holly Lisle
In: The Mammoth Book of Time Travel Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Romance, Time travel
Dates read: 29th November 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: They changed me.

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Synopsis

She’s part of a writers group. And she really enjoys their company. But one night, a strange man decides to join and takes a little bit too much interest in her. It turns out that he’s a time traveller and what he has to tell her about the future may tear her world apart.

Thoughts

I should be part of a writers group. But I should probably also write my own work a lot more than I do. There is something about doing a PhD that completely removes your ability to get much of anything else done. Reading and writing reviews is the extent of it at the moment. But, I digress… in this short story, I loved the idea of a writers group being the primary setting of the story.

One of my biggest fears in not only my personal writing, but also my academic writing is putting in all of the work for someone else to take advantage of it. There is just something a little too relatable to this storyline and the idea of her work being stolen that made me feel the heeby jeebies from the very beginning. The fact that this was done through a brutal murder was just terrifying and skeevy.

I loved that ultimately, there is a choice between guaranteed fame, and an unknown, but highly potential future. Eventually, there is a choice between the love of millions and the love of one. A superficial love, or one that knows her to her core. Such a great story.

 <- Iron and Hemlock ReviewThe Gloaming Hour Review ->
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Shadows by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
Image result for book cover shadows jennifer l armentrout

Title: Shadows
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Series: Lux #0.5
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Aliens, Romance, Science fiction, Young adult
Dates read: 28th – 29th November 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Year: 2012
5th sentence, 74th page: How…how in the world?

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Synopsis

The last thing Dawson Black expected was Bethany Williams. As a Luxen, an alien life-form on Earth, human girls are… well, fun. But since the Luxen have to keep their true identities a secret, falling for one would be insane. Dangerous. Tempting. Undeniable.

Bethany can’t deny the immediate connection between her and Dawson. And even though boys aren’t a complication she wants, she can’t stay away from him. Still, whenever they lock eyes, she’s drawn in. Captivated. Lured. Loved.

Dawson is keeping a secret that will change her existence…and put her life in jeopardy. But even he can’t stop risking everything for one human girl. Or from a fate that is as unavoidable as love itself.

Thoughts

This was seriously cute. And now I’m disappointed that the Lux series is about Daemon, not his twin Dawson. Dawson is much, much sweeter than his twin and I love that he falls so hopelessly in love from the very beginning of the story. I’m also seriously hoping that the end isn’t what it seems to be and is just a part of some massive, major conspiracy. I’d much rather a conspiracy to the ending of this prequel… that was just really sad and made me cry. Literally.

The tone of this is pretty typical for a sappy, teen romance. However, the writing is phenomenal – I haven’t read many teen romances set in high school that draw me in this completely. And, honestly, I think that it comes down to the writing and the brilliance of the creator. Because although the storyline follows the expected pathways (until the end, then there’s a really big twist)… it’s the characters that I’ve come to love. To the point that I wanted to pick Obsidian up immediately after finishing the final page. I have a MASSIVE TBR that I want to finish before the end of the year though, so I’m doing that whole self-control thing.

Sometimes I read a prequel and then wonder how it’s going to connect into the main series of novels. That wasn’t the case with this. Not only does Shadows introduce you to the main characters, but it also gives a background into exactly who the Lux are. And also the difficulties that they have to face with their alien presence in the world. Actually, just the description of the alien race is not only unique, but fantastically handled in this. After all, they’re beings of light – not terrifying humanoid creatures (I’ve been reading a book called Alien Sex lately, and that collection is filled with terrifying, messed up aliens).

I haven’t read many alien novels… mostly they’ve just never come up in my suggestions before. But I’m discovering this year that I do really enjoy them. And this has got to go to the top of my list. I’ve got the first four books on order now and I can’t wait until they arrive on my doorstep!

<- More Jennifer L. ArmentroutObsidian ->

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The Wren Hunt by Mary Watson

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for book cover the wren hunt

Title: The Wren Hunt
Author: Mary Watson
Series: The Wren Hunt #1
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Fantasy, Romance, Young adult
Dates read: 11th – 18th November 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Year: 2018
5th sentence, 74th page: ‘You the intern?’ A voice rang from across the room.

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Synopsis

Every winter, Wren Silke is chased through the forest in a warped version of a childhood game. The boys who hunt her are judges, powerful and frightening pursuers, who nothing of her true identity. If they knew she was an augur, their sworn enemy, the game would turn deadly.

But Wren is on the hunt, too. Sent undercover as an intern to the Harkness Foundation – enemy headquarters – her family’s survival rests on finding a secret meant to stay hidden.

As the enmity between two ancient magics reaches breaking point, Wren is torn between old loyalties and new lies. And rapped in the most dangerous game of her life.

Part thriller, part love story, this captivating debut novel will leave readers spellbound.

Thoughts

It took me a little while to get into this book. But, then once I did, I was completely hooked. The first third took a long time to read. But once I hit that amazing point… I couldn’t put it down. Which probably wasn’t great for my productivity that day. But it was great for my imagination and happiness. After all, sometimes you just need to take time and soar away on the wings of a wren.

This book is pretty intense. It’s a young adult book, and somehow I was expecting it to be quite a simple and easy read. Like many of the books in the same section on my shelves. There was just an added layer of darkness that I don’t normally find. Which pulled you along so quickly that it was impossible to catch your breath. I loved that dark intensity – it fit that perfect darkness inside me that sometimes needs to be fed.

There was a pretty serious twist at the end of this story. Whilst from the very beginning, something doesn’t quite sit right, it was just a slightly niggling feeling. I only guessed what was truly wrong about 2 chapters before the big bomb went off. And boy, was it a biggie. And completely unexpected. As was Wren’s response to the total change in her circumstances. I thought she’d go left, but she went right. I freaking loved the surprise! It makes me want to sink my teeth into the next book in the series… because there has to be more twists and turns that I wasn’t anticipating!

Although this is a little darker and more adult than most of the Young Adult books on my shelves, I would certainly recommend it to anybody who loves the genre. Sometimes its nice to balance out all the happy romances with something a little closer to Romeo and Juliet… albeit not with the tragic ending.

 <- More Mary Watson reviewsThe Wickerlight Review ->

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