Tag Archives: Romance

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 ->
Image source: Goodreads

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 ->

Image source: Amazon

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 ->

Image source: Goodreads

The Irish Duke by Cathy Maxwell

Book Review, , ,
Overview
Image result for four dukes and a devil book cover

Title: The Irish Duke
Author: Cathy Maxwell
In: Four Dukes and a Devil (Cathy Maxwell, Elaine Fox, Jeaniene Frost, Sophia Nash & Tracy Anne Warren)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Historical romance, Romance
Dates read: 14th November 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novella
Publisher: Avon Romance
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: He gave a bitter laugh, his anger welling inside him all over again.

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Synopsis

Susan has managed to find a way to carve out a life for herself in amongst the English gentry. It’s not quite what her family has in mind, but it’ll do. And she uses the myth of the Irish Duke to do so. Everything is going well until she finally meets an Irish Duke…. and her life, livelihood and existence are turned on their heads.

Thoughts

This was a great, fun and cute historical romance. It was beautiful, fun and impossible to put down. Mostly, I’m just disappointed that this is a standalone novella. I would love to have this as part of a greater series… but that’s okay, I’ll just find another one of Maxwell’s books to add to my ever-expanding list. Mostly, I think I loved this because it was so incredibly sweet and easy. It wasn’t the kind of story that you have to concentrate on and really delve into.

I like how this is all about perceptions. About how the fallacy created by one woman can completely destroy the reputation of another person. Even if that little story she tells is technically true… her words have power, and Susan is about to find out just how far the power of words can go. This is such a beautiful story, and although it starts off with one woman accidentally destroying the reputation of an incredibly handsome man… it is also about how that damage can be repaired and a happily ever after reached.

One of the things that drew me into this story straight away was the fact that Susan is a strong, independent woman. In a society and world that is filled with simpering women, clawing themselves up the social ladder and just in general being about women relying on men; she manages to find her own little niche and life. I also love that her not-so-kind in-laws and sisters get a bit of comeuppance at the end of the story.

 <- Four Dukes and a Devil ReviewThe Duke Who Came to Dinner Review ->

Image source: Amazon

The Troll Bridge by Patti O’Shea

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

Title: The Troll Bridge
Author: Patti O’Shea
In: The Mammoth Book of Time Travel Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 3 (On the fence about this one)
My Bookshelves: Romance, Time travel
Dates read: 31st October 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: That wasn’t what made her uneasy.

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Synopsis

She’s accidentally travelled forwards in time. But, when the decision comes down to it, will she go home to friends and family, or live her new life here?

Thoughts

This story was a little bit bizarre. She only travels about 45 years into the future. But the future is drastically different from the current. Since this was written in 2010, and 9 years have already passed… I don’t think that many of these predicted moments are going to come to pass. I was also a little uninterested in most of this story. I’m not sure why – probably because I spent most of the time going ‘huh’?

The other reason I may not have enjoyed this short story so much was the fact that I just wasn’t in the mood for this kind of flirty mood. Or really anything to do with most of this. It was just weird flirting, and not actually relatable for me. But maybe I’ll give it another shot in the future…

 <- Saint James’ Way ReviewIron and Hemlock Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Going Ashore by Jhumpa Lahiri

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for unaccustomed earth book cover

Title: Going Ashore
Author: Jhumpa Lahiri
In: Unaccustomed Earth (Jhumpa Lahiri)
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Contemporary, Race, Romance
Dates read: 29th October 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: Then he remembered that he had not given her his e-mail address.

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Synopsis

After years and adulthood have built their lives, Hema and Kaushik finally meet again. But will they get their happily ever after? Or will life, once again, tear them apart?

Thoughts

Wow this was a tragic ending to a fantastic collection. Not just a brilliant collection, but it also ties out the stories started in Once in a Lifetime and Year’s End. I wanted a happily ever after. A riding off into the sunset ending, because, let’s face it, I’m kind of a child… and always want a happily ever after. But I didn’t get that. And at first I was incredibly annoyed. But then after a little while… I accepted it, and realised that this was actually kind of brilliant. Albeit seriously sad and depressing.

Although I read a lot of stories which make me want to tear up, there are incredibly few which actually do bring a tear to my eye… but this was certainly not the case. I did actually weep a little. Just enough to realise that this was incredibly potent and not the kind of story I’m ever going to forget. And it’s not one that I ever do want to forget. It reminded me that sometimes you have to live every day like your last. Say the things that you need to say… because if you don’t, it could just be too late.

I really enjoyed how Going Ashore, Once in a Lifetime and Year’s End all intersected. They could be read completely separately, but worked better as a whole. Each tale had it’s own messages and storyline. But they also have one overall, heart wrenching tale that will pull at your heart strings and have you sitting at the end, staring into the abyss. Or at least, that’s what I did for a good five minutes after I finished this short story.

 <- Year’s End ReviewThe Clothing of Books Review ->
Image source: Bloomsbury

West by Edith Pattou

Book Review, , , ,
Overview
Image result for book cover west edith pattou

Title: West
Author: Edith Pattou
Series: East #2
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Easy reading, Fairy tales, Romance
Dates read: 24th September – 21st October 2019
Pace: Medium
Format: Novel
Publisher: Hougton Mifflin Harcourt
Year: 2018
5th sentence, 74th page: Abruptly he veered right, away from the sea, and came to a small house.

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Synopsis

When Rose first met Charles, he was trapped in the form of a white bear. To rescue him, Rose traveled to the land that lay east of the sun and west of the moon to defeat the evil Troll Queen. Now Rose has found her happily-ever-after with Charles—until a sudden storm destroys his ship and he is presumed dead.

But Rose doesn’t believe the shipwreck was an act of nature, nor does she believe Charles is truly dead. Something much more sinister is at work. With mysterious and unstoppable forces threatening the lives of the people she loves, Rose must once again set off on a perilous journey. And this time, the fate of the entire world is at stake.

Thoughts

It’s taken me an incredibly long time to get to this book. As soon as I saw that North Child had a sequel, I ordered it and waited eagerly for it to arrive on my doorstep. But, since I get easily distracted, I kind of forgot that I had it, and it got put to the side. I’m kind of regretting that decision now. This was a wonderful sequel, and I loved being swept all the way back into the world of Rose and Charles.

Although I’m a big fan of happily ever after, I also find them a little unrealistic. This story takes that idea, and tells you what happens after the happily ever after. What happens when the loving couple have gotten married and travelled off into the sunset together. Because, in real life, there aren’t any happily ever after, neat endings. There’s just life. In all of its wonderful glory.

When I was a kid, I never thought of the princesses, the heroines and the girls who filled my story having children after they got married. That was just not something that they were likely to do. But now, I absolutely love the fact that this story is not just about Rose and Charles’ love for one another, it is about their child as well. Or, rather, children. It’s about saving not only their love, but the product of their love and finding a way back to one another. Even when the odds are completely stacked against them. In fact, there were moments in this story that I seriously questioned whether or not Rose and Charles would ever find their way back to one another… which is probably why I read the bulk of this story in two days…

West is the story that you need to read as an adult. I think that if it had’ve come out when I first read North Child, it just wouldn’t have meant as much to me. But now, I’m in my own relationship that is after that headrushing first moments. It’s the parts after that initial love that I find all the more precious, and this came across perfectly in West. But, as a teenager, I didn’t really want to think about the day in and day out of a relationship, I wanted the romance and the immediate love. Now, my favourite part of this story is when Rose says that it doesn’t matter what comes next, as long as they’re together.

 <- More Edith Pattou reviewsNorth Child Review ->

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Pilot’s Forge by Patrice Sarath

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

Title: Pilot’s Forge
Author: Patrice Sarath
In: The Mammoth Book of Time Travel Romance (Trisha Telep)
Rating Out of 5: 3.5 (Liked this)
My Bookshelves: Romance, Science fiction, Time travel
Dates read: 16th October 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: Edith parked her battered old work truck, with ‘Crane Farrier and Blacksmithing’ stencilled on the side, at the end of the parking lot, got out and stretched.

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Synopsis

Merritt Crane is being nosy and investigating an abandoned ship. But, suddenly he’s thrown into his past, our time. Where he not only saves a beautiful woman, but also starts to fall for her. When he saves her by going back to the future, is there any hope for them?

Thoughts

This is a lot less romantic than many of the other stories in The Mammoth Book of Time Travel Romance collection. In fact, there’s a hint of incest. Just a hint. And not enough to be icky (and believe me, I have read some icky tales lately…). But, mostly, the romance within it isn’t really gushy… they hook up and there is a little lust, but it’s only just glossed over. Which makes it different and refreshing compared to many of the other tales throughout the collection.

The dystopian, space future represented in this short story was intriguing. The loss of Earth; the existence of the rich and poor clans; and the existence of a man on the wrong side of the law – these all were kind of reminiscent of our life now. But highlights that we can’t keep treating our world like garbage. After all, our ancestors too might find a life and a reality in which they no longer have Earth.

The name of this story is kind of cool – originally I thought that it was about the spaceship and process of being involved with this. Yet, it’s actually about a small, tiny town on Earth in our modern day. The match up of the names and the hints about what this means are amazing. I feel like in the name alone, I would pick up more nuances as I reread this story.

 <- The Eleventh Hour ReviewSaint James’ Way Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

The Eleventh Hour by Michelle Maddox

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

Title: The Eleventh Hour
Author: Michelle Maddox
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 September 2019
Pace: Slow
Format: Short story
Publisher: Robinson
Year: 2009
5th sentence, 74th page: I found myself seated in a hard chair and my hands bound behind me.

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Synopsis

Sophie’s chance meeting with an eight year-old boy has consequences that she never thought were possible. But, when a time traveller saves her at the eleventh hour, she might find all of her dreams come true.

Thoughts

Fate is always an interesting thing to deal with. Especially when you’re talking about time travel and keeping the lines of fate together. However, I never really thought of how unfair fate could be. Particularly for a woman who manages to survive, and then is forced to face her demise when two time travelling soldiers come to kill her…

This isn’t my favourite ever short story. It was just a little sluggish and difficult in places. Although it was still quite enjoyable. Mostly I felt a little too weirded out by the fact that the love interest ends up being from the future but had met her as a child in the present. Had a little bit of trouble getting my head around that one…

The Eleventh Hour is an easy read. A little bit fun. But not the most memorable short story I’ve ever read. It was a nice stroll through someone else’s imagination and a nice introduction to a new author.

 <- The Wild Card ReviewPilot’s Forge Review ->
Image source: Goodreads

Russian Roulette by Erin McCarthy

Book Review, , , , ,
Overview
First Blood

Title: Russian Roulette
Author: Erin McCarthy
Series: Vegas Vampires #5
In: First Blood (Susan Sizemore, Erin McCarthy, Chris Marie Green & Meljean Brook)
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Paranormal romance, Romance, Vampires,
Dates read: 20th September 2019
Pace: Fast
Format: Novella
Publisher: Berkley
Year: 2008
5th sentence, 74th page: It suited Alistair, the contrast of bright and dark, and he stayed inside during the day, asleep, and hit the streets at night to work, to dine, to socialize.

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Synopsis

Alistair Kirk is a bar owner, a musician, and a vampire. When he hears that a fledgling vampire is being held captive and faces certain death, he rushes to the rescue.

Sasha Chechikov, once a vampire slayer, now a vampire herself, is on the run from her former associates. Sasha’s past leaves her wary of trusting anyone, but she can’t deny the sparks that fly between her and her sexy saviour. Will Alistair be able to protect Sasha from her enemies? And will two vampires who seem so different from one another learn what it means to truly love?

Thoughts

I’m really glad that I read this novella before Sucker Bet. If I had’ve started this after Sucker Bet, and realised that it was a tale about Sasha… I probably would have been seriously pissed off. She was kind of a bitch in the novel. But this novella made me sympathise with her and actually like her. Or at least, admire her a little more for her strength and gumption…

Unlike the glitz and glam of Las Vegas, New Orleans has a wonderfully different flavour. Changing the setting, and making it a little less “wow” was a great way to round out the last of the stories in the Vegas Vampires series. It also kind of highlighted that who Sasha was in Sucker Bet wasn’t really her true persona… rather, it was all a façade.

Aaron is exactly the kind of male protagonist / love interest that I tend to like. He’s not quite what you would consider “traditional”, completely different to the kind of man that I would go for, and is quiet in his pursuit of women. It’s a bit of a change from many of the domineering men that seem to fill Erin McCarthy’s stories. One that I think I needed at this point. Actually, my biggest complaint about this story was the fact that it was a novella, I think that the ending of Sasha’s story could have been dragged out far longer in a far more enjoyable manner… but maybe I’ll just pick up another Erin McCarthy book instead.

 <- Sucker Bet ReviewDeal or No Deal Review ->
Image source: Amazon