Tag Archives: Romance

Attachments by Pat Murphy

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

Title: Attachments
Author: Pat Murphy
In: Sirens and Other Daemon Lovers (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Romance, Twisted romance
Dates read: 5th March 2020
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: EOS
Year: 1998
5th sentence, 74th page: She laughed as she tossed a corner of the blanket over his face to hide his staring eyes.

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Synopsis

They’ve always been attached to one another. But that’s not truly how they want to be. Especially when one brother loves the others’ wife… things tend to get a bit awkward there…

Thoughts

I’ve always wanted a twin. Never wanted a conjoined twin though. That’s just WAY too much closeness. I really wasn’t expecting to find a story about conjoined twins in a collection about daemon lovers though. And, it does kind of make sense – it’s a collection of romances between those who are different. But it was still far less mystical than I was expecting.

There’s kind of a bit of an incestual feel to this story… two conjoined brothers marry two sisters. One falls in love with the other brother’s wife (who is also HIS wife’s sister). It’s kind of sweet in that whole forbidden love way… but also just incredibly complex and… yeah, incestual.

I did absolutely love the ending of this story though. There was just something about it that kind of worked… in a weird and unexpected way. It wasn’t the happily ever after that I was expecting, but it was a great ending nonetheless.

<- No Human Hands to TouchIn the Season of Rains ->

Image source: Goodreads

Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for book cover empire of storms

Title: Empire of Storms
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #5
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Fantasy, Romance, Strong women
Dates read: 11th January – 4th March 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Novel
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Year: 2016
5th sentence, 74th page: His mother and younger brother were still ensconced in their mountain residence in Ararat.

Synopsis

BLOOD WILL RUN.
DREAMS WILL SHATTER.
AN ARMY MUST RISE.

The assassin-queen has sworn not to turn her back on her kingdom again. Especially when she might be the only one who can raise an army to keep the Dark King from unleashing his beasts upon them all. But Erawan will wield Aelin’s past, her allies, and her enemies against her.

With a poewrful court trusting Aelin to lead them, and her heart devoted to the arrior-prince at her side, what – or who – is she willing to sacrifice to spare her world from being torn apart?

Thoughts

This is an “oh my heart” book. And it’s like that from the very beginning. I’ve been putting off reading it for a while since I always get ridiculously hooked on Maas’ writing. Normally that’s not such an issue because I can read the whole book cover to cover in just a day… this book is a little longer, and I had to be an adult. But I finally put aside a day to read it. And… oh my heart.

There is just something about Aelin’s story that is both tragic and intriguing. From the very beginning of the story nothing seems to work out for her… her triumphant return to Terrassen? Not so triumphant. Her court? A little bit frayed. And the end battle? I had tears streaming down my face. It was just… hurtful and tragic. And just… wow.

As soon as I finished this book I rang my sister. She’s read this… I had to have somebody who understood the many, many feelings that this book inspires. I also had to clean the house because I needed happy, non-tragic thoughts. Don’t get me wrong, this book is amazing. But it will punch you in the heart. Be prepared to have your jaw drop. Continuously. As Maas manages to systematically rip your heart to shreds. Every time you think that something is going to go right… it doesn’t. Hopes are dashed again and again and again. Yet, it is done in such a way that you still walk away from this book feeling somewhat… happy. Which makes absolutely zero sense. Because, as I keep saying, this whole thing is a tragedy from beginning to end. But there is still this sense of hope at the very conclusion.

I really wanted to pick up Tower of Dawn as soon as I turned the final page. Yet, I also felt like I needed to take a step back and be a little more productive. I know that once I open the second to last book, I’m going to get sucked right back into this amazing, impossible to forget world. One that is impossible to walk away from and forget.

<- Queen of ShadowsTower of Dawn ->

Image source: Amazon

Into the Sky by Joseph Ng

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

Title: Into the Sky
Author: Joseph Ng
In: The Mammoth Book of Dieselpunk (Sean Wallace)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Dieselpunk, Romance
Dates read: 10th January 2020
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: I stole a glance at Hou.

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Synopsis

He’s found the woman of his dreams. And he’ll give up everything to have a life with her. One that is away from the past and promises a bright, new future.

Thoughts

This was an interesting Dieselpunk story… it featured the Terracotta warriors and the Great Wall of China. I liked this approach and found the journey quite enjoyable and intriguing. It was a nice spin on a tale of war which seems to be a fairly strong standing in the Dieselpunk series / collection thus far.

I love that this was kind of familiar in that there were some historical realities there. Yet, it was also something entirely new and unique. The weaving together of reality and science fiction is something I kind of love. Although I think I would have enjoyed this more if I could have gotten into the world building a little bit more.

The main thing I liked about this story is that, ultimately, it is all about giving up everything for love. It’s sweet, easy and kind of innocent. Something that I think I would do myself… give up everything for the love of someone.

<- This Evening’s PerformanceThe Double Blind ->

Image source: Running Press

Ashes on Her Lips by Edward Bryant

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

Title: Ashes on Her Lips
Author: Edward Bryant
In: Sirens and Other Daemon Lovers (Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Death, Romance
Dates read: 10th January 2020
Pace: Fast
Format: Short story
Publisher: EOS
Year: 1998
5th sentence, 74th page: It always did.

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Synopsis

She lost the love of her life. But there’s a way to keep him with her… if she wants to do it.

Thoughts

I can’t imagine what I’d do if I lost the love of my life. Doing this though seems… well, uncomfortably wrong. Like seriously, uncomfortably wrong. But also impossible to stop reading. Kind of like a really horrific accident, you don’t want to see it, but you just can’t stop watching, or in this case, thinking about this.

This story really focuses on the dark side of the tragedy of loss. And gives a dark, twisted way to deal with it. Which is to use the ashes of a dead man… but I won’t explain how, because you just need to read the short story to discover this all for yourself. And be disturbed by the fact.

There is something both creepy and sweet about this story. I’m not entirely sure why I felt that this was so romantic. Normally tales like this would just completely freak me out. But we won’t think on this too deeply. Definitely worth a read this story.

<- WolfedMirrors ->

Image source: Goodreads

This Evening’s Performance by Genevieve Valentine

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

Title: This Evening’s Performance
Author: Genevieve Valentine
In: The Mammoth Book of Dieselpunk (Sean Wallace)
Rating Out of 5: 4 (Really good read!)
My Bookshelves: Dieselpunk, Romance
Dates read: 6th January 2020
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2015
5th sentence, 74th page: Two minutes of pre-recorded audio from the play.

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Synopsis

He’s loved her from afar for decades. Now, they’re the last three actors left in a world of automaton shows. How will they find their happily ever after at the end of an era?

Thoughts

There was something so tragic and bittersweet about this story. Yet, by the end of it… kind of hopeful too. I don’t normally consider short stories and, in particular, Dieselpunk stories to be romantic. But there is something about this one that felt incredibly… well… romantic. There is no kissing, no sexuality and just the hint of something throughout. But it was quite possibly one of the sweetest books I’ve read in a long time.

There is a constant fear in society of our roles being replaced by robots. And what happens to those that are replaced? In this short story, it’s actors that are replaced. Something which I, personally can’t imagine, but does work brilliantly well into the themes of Dieselpunk. It set against a marriage breaking up, and the promising hints of a new love (which is actually super old) beginning. This whole end of an era feel helps to lead to that bittersweet, intense feeling.

This story is somehow sad and hopeful. It left me feeling melancholy, yet quite happy as I turned the final page. Feelings that I don’t always feel at the conclusion to a story and definitely don’t feel for the exact same tale.

<- In Lieu of a Thank YouInto the Sky ->

Image source: Running Press

The Mammoth Book of Time Travel Romance edited by Trisha Telep

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

Title: The Mammoth Book of Time Travel Romance
Author: Trisha Telep, Gwyn Cready, Sandy Blair, Maureen McGowan, Sara Mackenzie, Margo Maguire, Sandra Newgent, Michelle Maddox, Patrice Sarath, Jean Johnson, Patti O’Shea, Autumn Dawn, Holly Lisle, Cindy Miles, Michelle Willingham, Colby Hodge, Michele Lang, Madeline Baker, Allie Mackay & A. J. Menden
Series: Mammoth Books
In: The Mammoth Book of Time Travel Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Romance, Science fiction, Short story collections, Time travel
Dates read: 11th April – 30th December 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Anthology
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: She glanced over her shoulder, towards the light left on in her home, as if to remind herself she wasn’t so very far from safety.

Synopsis

Time has no meaning for true love.

Twenty tales of swachbuckling adventure and passionate romance from some of the most exciting names in romantic fiction, including Margo Maguire, Autumn Dawn, Sandy Blair, Michelle Maddox, Patti O’Shea, Holly Lisle, Kimberly Raye and Madeline Baker.

Join the heroines in this delightful anthology as they step backwards – or forwards – in time, transported to the Scottish Highlands of yesteryear, the Wild West or the distant future. Propelled through time into situations rich with possibility and fraught with danger, these sexy, sassy heroines each seek their dreamed of happy ending.

Will souls separated by time be reunited – or separated, forever?

Thoughts

This is an absolutely brilliant collection. I haven’t read any time travel romances before. So it was kind of nice to read a whole collection of them. I do have a few full length novels in this genre sitting on my shelves ready to go though. Now that I’ve read this collection, I kind of can’t wait!

Even though all of these stories featured time travel and romance in some way, shape or form, the themes and messages throughout were vastly different. The stories weren’t overly lustful like many of the romances that I’ve read. Actually, there tended to be more of a focus on the romances and the finding true love message. Or just on the ways in which time travel actually works.

The stories were generally a mix of present and past; or present and future. Only one or two stories feature the past and the future, but most had a great blending of realities. Sometimes characters ended up back in their own time, sometimes in a different time that fulfilled their greatest desires. There really was something for everyone in this.

Whilst I absolutely adored this collection, it isn’t one that I will probably read again and again. As much as I loved everything, there was nothing that stood out as a story that I wanted to reread.

<- The Mammoth Book of Thrillers, Ghosts and MysteriesThe Key to Happiness ->

Image source: Goodreads

Future Date by A.J. Menden

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

Title: Future Date
Author: A.J. Menden
In: The Mammoth Book of Time Travel Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Romance, Time travel
Dates read: 30th December 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: But the siren song of the computer, and whether or not the good-looking man with the nice smile had replied to her yet, made her finally dig out her laptop and fire it up.

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Synopsis

All she wants is to find a man to spend her life with. But after a series of increasingly frustrating dates… she is about to give up. Until her friend finds her the future dating service… and, with a little time travel. Everything could change.

Thoughts

I absolutely loved the premise of this story. But didn’t actually get into it that much… there was just something about it that didn’t draw me in. Probably the lack of connection I felt with the lead character. She wasn’t a bad character, there was just nothing that made me feel connected to her. It could also have just been the fact that it was the final short story of the year, and I was getting all kinds of excited about the books I could read in 2020…

I’ve also never online dated. Which means that any story about online dating is a bit… foreign to my mind. Sometimes I love that, but, since I have never even been on a first date, I just couldn’t relate to all of the bad dates that had been embarked on. It’s a bit hard to feel like you can relate to such a thing when you’ve never actually had the experience, and it’s only briefly touched upon.

In theory, I absolutely love this story. But in practice, I just found it a little… eh. Maybe I’ll read it again in the future and change my mind. But, at this moment, I feel like it’s worth reading, but not memorable.

 <- Falling in Time ReviewThe Mammoth Book of Time Travel SF Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Steam by Jean Johnson

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

Title: Steam
Author: Jean Johnson
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: 29th December 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: Heat suffused his face.

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Synopsis

David has just inherited his family’s mysterious uncles estate. What he finds is a trip through time and the woman of his dreams.

Thoughts

I loved the premise of this story. Actually, a lot of it reminded me of The Alchemist’s Key by Traci Harding. Same idea of a modern setting and time travel. An eccentric family member bequeathing an estate to an unsuspecting young man. And ultimately, the guy finding true love as an aspect of all his time travelling activities. It was just quite sweet.

However, there are a series of letters throughout this romance to the two leads, from themselves. Which tells them that they end up together. Which, quite honestly, took a lot of the romance out of it. The excitement of finding out how they were going together and what barriers would be in the way were just completely removed. Which was a little bit frustrating.

I did love the loop effect of time though. The idea that what they are doing has been done before so that they know what to expect. But then I wonder where the loop starts. It all becomes very confusing. Does that mean that life is preordained and they don’t get any choices? Is everything in their lives outlined in these letters? Time travel is confusing.

 <- Catch the Lightning ReviewFalling in Time Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

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 ->
Image source: Goodreads

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 ->
Image source: Goodreads