A wealthy and bitter
exile, he most dangerous and desirable man in all of England, he burns
to possess a proud, headstrong beauty who is promised to another. But
winning Emma Stokehurst's exquisite hand through threats and
determination does nothing to fill the empty spaces in Nikola's
heart—until passion's magic carries the handsome, tormented prince back
to a bygone era of splendor and romantic dreams. For there his destiny
awaits him in a distant life. And in one remarkable woman's tender
touch—achingly familiar but gloriously new—he must seek the elusive
promise of ecstasy...and learn, at last, to love.
Comment: I've had this book to read for a long time...I've read the prequel, Midnight Angel many years ago and I don't remember many details only the impression it was a good romance in my opinion. Later I've discovered there was a sequel, this book, and I got it, but circumstances never seemed right to read it. For this year I've decided to update my Lisa Kleypas's pile of titles. This was the first and I had hopes for a wonderful story.
This story is all about Emma and Nicholas. He is an exiled Russian prince and a long time ago he decided he would marry Emma and waited until she was the right age to do so. Something about her seemed addictive to him and he doesn't stop at nothing to get her, even ruining her relationship with another man that despite unsuitable was still someone she cared about at the time. They marry and there is when the true challenge starts.
Well, the book wasn't as amazing as I thought. I expected something more romantic but despite this not being as good as I imagined, something in there still got on my nerves even more than the cliched romance. The story is divided into four parts, when Nicholas seduces and captivates Emma, then when they're married, then Nicholas' experience with the past and finally how he deals with what he learned.
Obviously, this experience I mentioned is what made me a bit leery of the story...you see, Nicholas hits his head and he dreams or has a strong experience of another lifetime of one of his ancestors. But this part is told like he actually lives there while dreaming. It's a weird twist although not a novelty altogether. Still, I thought it didn't suit the story. I know something had to happen for the main hero to change fro selfish overbearing jerk into the romantic hero we expected but, come on, a sort of time travel experience wasn't the way, I think.
I think there were better ways for sure to make the hero's change of attitude happen without looking as forced or unlikely as the one used. What he learned while having the dreaming experience could have been achieved in another way and the things he learned in terms of history and family happenings could also appear in the plot in a different way. All in all, not the most captivating thing.
As for Emma, at first I wasn't mush into her, then I changed my idea and liked her more and in the end, the more I think about it, the more I feel she wasn't as special as that.
I think they worked well as a couple in several moments but not all the time. Their relationship was rocky and with too many suspicion and hidden agenda to feel balanced. I know these types of romances aren't as easy to explain as contemporaries, but it would have been nice to see some more considered behavior on both their sides.
The plot isn't new, I've seen it many times in historicals. The twists aren't amazing and to be honest, the way the romance develops and how it's told isn't the best one I think. The previous book was both sexier and more emotional. I think this story was a bit lacking despite having the elements needed to work out.
In the end, a good enough story but I counted too many unlikable things to make this book work completely for me. It's readable, not as strong or weak as that, just average. And not as good as it could be, considering both the plot and the writing skills of the author. Guess it's not her best work.
Grade: 6/10
Uilleam MacRieve believed
he’d laid to rest the ghosts of his boyhood. But when a brutal torture
revives those ancient agonies and destroys his Lykae instinct, the proud
Scot craves the oblivion of death. Until he finds her—a young human so
full of spirit and courage that she pulls him back from the brink.
Seized
for the auction block, Chloe Todd is forced to enter a terrifying new
world of monsters and lore as a bound slave. When offered up to
creatures of the dark, she fears she won’t last the night. Until she’s
claimed by him—a tormented immortal with heartbreaking eyes, whose touch
sets her blood on fire.
With
enemies circling, MacRieve spirits Chloe away to the isolated Highland
keep of his youth. But once he takes her to his bed, his sensual mate
becomes something more than human, evoking his savage past and testing
his sanity. On the cusp of the full moon, can he conquer his worst
nightmare to save Chloe . . . from himself?
Comment: This is the most recent installment in the Immortals After Dark series by Kresley Cole. I've read all the books in this series so far and only one or two didn't seem as good as that but none was bad. This was a pleasant surprise and I loved it.
This book tells us the story of Uilleam MacRieve, he's a cousin to Bowen from book #3 and we know he was in the Order's prison and tortured along with many other Lore beings. At this point we also know most Loreans were released and Uilleam is still dealing with his terrible past and the cost of his imprudence and fear. At present he only wants revenge against the Order leader that brought his fears to the surface again and he thinks owning the leader's daughter to bring him out of hiding is the answer until something he didn't expect surprises his long dormant Instinct...
I really liked this book. It was fast paced but it had such an interesting focus on what was happening in Chloe's life and expectations and I liked seeing things through her eyes. I thin this is the best thing in the book because we get to "discover" some god things about the Lore while Chloe is learning what's to come too. I thin it was really good how we got to learn about another tpe of character from the Lore and at the same time having a notion about what happened so far, because despite this not being obvious, it still has many little deatils that made me feel like this is a global world and I enjoy having an idea about what is happening all around. Somehow I had this feeling, which is a god thing to my taste, personally.
I also enjoyed the romance between Macrieve and Chloe. He wasn't expecting to find his mate but I liked how they grew to know each other at the same time, slowly and without stupid power games. It was quite the expected twist when we found out what kind of Lorean Chloe would become and this offered quite the angsty flavor during a while...but let's be honest, it wasn't such a surprise, not really.
Still, I think they complemented each other and it was so fun to watch them together. Of course by the end, any resentment and fear that lingered in Macrieve's head disappeared and once more we learn not everything that looks a moot point is totally unchangeable and I was glad to know more about Chloe's origins.
The writing and the style are what the author got us used to. I thin she did a good job in putting a romance in the middle of what seems to be a escalating war and I can't wait to see what happens next. Many players still in motion...
The epilogue has to be mentioned..the author has stated which pair is next but the epilogue in this book presented different people and now how to suffer until the day their book will be out...I don't hate cliffhangers, but they are very annoying especially if it's from authors who take a year to write and publish their books...
Anyway, this story grabbed me and I was riveted to its page since the beginning. I couldn't put it down and it was such a pleasure to read this... I hope the next ones are as good. This one was amazing and it had all the needed things to work out, interesting protagonists, a good plot in course and new details to make the reader want more.
Can't wait!
Grade: 9/10
Ross is a city boy,
working on his thesis and living with his trendy boyfriend. When his
grandfather
breaks a hip and winds up in the hospital, Ross is enlisted
to take over the running of his grandfather's farm. When he arrives at
the farm, he finds one problem after another; everything from the bore
pump no longer working, to snakes taking over in the house. After
calling in for reinforcements for the bore pump, he sets out to get
everything else working. Relief arrives in the form of Geoff, who is
impressed with Ross' willingness to get his hands and boots dirty in
order to get the work done. That's not all that impresses Geoff, and
when their attraction appears mutual, Ross must decide what to do. Can
this city boy find happiness in the Australian outback? Read Bringo
Springs and find out.
Comment: I decided to pick this book simply by the blurb. I didn't see reviews before or anything else, I just read the blurb and had to read it because this thing of changing what you thin you must be towards something you feel good in it's appealing to my reading taste buds...and I was quite eager to get to it.
It's the story of Ross, he's living in the city when his grandfather has an accident and asks Ross to take care of his farm while he's in the hospital. The farm is in pretty bad shape and Ross can't do everything on his own so Geoff, the son of a neighbor, comes and helps him. While fixing what needs to be done in the far, the two guys also find something in the other that appeals to them and in the end Ross has a choice to make.
Overall, I'm sad this disappointed me. I really hoped for a story where the protagonists would slowly recognize the potential and the allure of the other one and that Ross would impress Geoff with his will to do any work needed to keep up the farm running. Instead, I got story more focused on the work to be done at the farm and despite being quite the realistic writing, I found this to be lacking a bit in the romance department.
The two guys meet and they're intimate not long after, first thing I found not very romantic. I mean, I thought this would turn out to be a more slow paced romance, with them discovering good things about the other, while trying to come to terms with the fact someone is becoming important and that maybe all the work at the farm is just a way to bring them closer. What I got was a story very much focused on the details of farm work and not so much in the romance.
In fact, the romance was lacking because they jump into intimacy and sex quite fast and what really annoyed me was how Ross had a boyfriend but it took just one time with Geoff for him to call his boyfriend and end things on the phone. Then the boyfriend shows up and there's a problem and they talk and whatever. I didn't like Ross that much after this, although he seemed promising in the beginning.
Eventually Ross' grandfather returns and is quite happy that Ross likes Geoff and they're together. We have an idea of what the future is going to be like, but honestly, I didn't feel that happy with the story.
I think this is one of those cases where the blurb is more promising and interesting that the story itself. I don't know if it's the author's style or if its just this story, but so far I'm not impressed. I'm still hoping for better so I think I'll read another one one day just to have something else to compare the style with this one...but right now, my hopes aren't high.
In the end, disappointment, a bit of a let down because the romance was almost non existing and not as special or "worked on" as I imagined it would be and the writing got boring at some point as well. In fact, not much to give it credit, but I admit there's a strange appeal to it, the execution was the thing really lacking.
Grade: 5/10
One night of slight
overindulgence-oh, all right, he was drunk-and Stephen Parker-Roth finds
he must betroth himself to prevent yet another scandal. But his
"intended" is lovely, a redheaded beauty under her horrendous,
unfashionable bonnet, and before long, he's congratulating himself on
compromising such an excellent candidate-and anticipating what other
naughtiness they'll get caught at before the wedding...
Lady Anne
Marston has long since given up any thought of marriage. That is the
price she pays for the mistakes of her past. But one little conversation
with a handsome rogue should never have led to a sham engagement. Even
if it did end in a rather shocking kiss...in broad daylight...on the
front step of London's premier gossip. Now, trapped between a secret and
a lie, Anne must somehow disentangle herself from this charming,
maddening man before the truth comes out-or her heart gives in...
Comment: This is the last book in the naked nobility series by the author. I've had it for a couple of months now and decided it was best to get it out of the way and be done with another series, always a good thing, especially if the series is finished.
This story features Stephen Parker-Roth, another brother to two protagonists of the previous couple of books. The action starts when he meets Anne Marston by chance on the street and by accident they fall and one of those older, gossipy women sees them and starts spreading the news they are compromised, so they agree to say thy are engaged and later on would call it off, except as time goes by and both their lives get lined more and more, it becomes real the facts they will have to marry and will actually like it...
Well, I didn't get amazed by this story, not that I didn't like it, I'm as much a fan of mushy inconsequential love stories as any romance reader, but having read others with this type of plot, I have to say this one was a bit of a let down. I'm used to the author's style, yes, but I still hope for a good book. This can be seen as good by many, after all, the most important thing to know about readers is we all have a personal POV and opinion and we all can red he same book and think countless different ways to talk about it. I'm not worried I didn't think this brilliant and other did, but it does bother me a bit personally that I didn't see more beauty in the story than the usual...I guess in a way this author stays in that place we all put authors who have something but don't quite reach it putting their works in the middle of out personal lists, and this author I'm afraid will certainly be part of the not so good but not bad scope...
The romance between Stephen and Anne was OK I suppose...she had an interesting past and it provided a good twist in the type of story set in this case, but still, even despite the pace and good things I still get a little bit annoyed at how the author always needs to stand out the sexiness of the characters, the sexual side of every thing...So many readers, historical ones at that, do the same but with more elegance you could say. I now these books are meant to state the sexual side of the relationship, many historicals do, but I like subtlety, I like seriousness too. I think the major issue with this story was how, despite the seriousness of several subjects addressed in the plot, still the playfulness of the sexual side of things overpowered everything else. The story could still be funny and cute without almost, I repeat, almost going into tacky territory...
So, the plot plus the romance, plus the writing are all the author's trademark, I knew what I was getting, but I still hoped for something a little bit more....polished. I'll keep hoping though, if I ever read more books by the author.
I think the situations in this book were done very lightly, despite the power of some issues, like what happened in Anne's past, and the way it changed her personality and her perception of herself, I think these two subjects were worthy of further and deeper polishing in the story...but overall I can't say I was completely surprised, just disappointed that I wasn't.
For those who just want to let go of reality, this is a good one...
Grade: 5/10
My name is Anna Strong. I
am a vampire. How I became one is the reason for this story. I tell it
all the way it happened. It may not be what you expect.
She's a
bounty hunter--tough, beautiful, and trained for the unexpected. Until
the night she's attacked and left closer to death than she can imagine.
She awakens to an indoctrination into a dark new world where vampires
walk among us. But this time, a tight grip on a .38 won't stop what
she's hunting for.
Existing between the worlds of the living and
the dead, Anna is torn by her love for two very different men. Max, a
DEA agent, all too human, and vulnerable. And Avery, a Night Watcher
who's joined Anna in pursuit of the rogue vampire who changed her life
that terrifying night. Now, as her two worlds collide, fate plunges Anna
into the ultimate battle between good and evil where survival is not
just for the living...
Comment: I've had this book to read for more than two years. Probably three... Anyway, it has been collecting dust until a few days ago, when I finally decided it was time to get it over with. But honestly, it wasn't one of those books you end up thinking why it waited for so long...
In this book we have the story of Anna Strong, a young woman whose job is a bounty hunter and one night things don't go as well as she thoughts and she ends up in a hospital not remembering everything...but one thing is certain, she isn't human anymore.
The book is Anna's adventure to know herself once more, to seek help and answers and to save a friend because apparently she's yet too human for her new condition...
No, I wasn't impressed with this story.
First, I wasn't delighted over the writing style. I understand the benefits of having a first person narrator and the goal in making Anna do so, but her "voice" didn't captivate me enough. Not that she was bad or anything but I wasn't always interested in what she was thinking; besides the biggest issue with this type of narration is we don't get to see what other characters are really thinking and the POV of things is always biased.
Anna shares her experience as a vampire and her struggle to understand her life now. But some things happen to her in the process that I had some trouble accepting, such as the how she was changed and what it entailed and further along, despite her words of commitment and trust towards her boyfriend, she doesn't think twice before doing something I found tasteless and avoidable. Yes, one can say she wasn't completely herself at that point especially if we consider how the book ended and after some light into previous scenes. But despite this, I'm a firm defender of conscious self behavior and it's always a no for me the type of actions Anna had, even with the discount she has because of being a new vampire and all that.
So, being put off not yet half way through the book, I thought I just wanted to get it over soon. Then, some things happened and I was led to believe certain things about one of the characters. I thought I had it figured but in this the author showed her talent because I wasn't expecting a particular twist. Still, after some time thinking about it, I have to say it was pretty obvious at a determined point, I guess I was just annoyed enough not to consider it possible. Apart from the mystery twist in the end, the book wasn't that special for me.
There's something I really wanted an answer to, but this means keep reading and honestly I don't feel like it at this point.
In the end, the plot plus Anna's behavior and take on things wasn't enough to compel me...I hope the following books are better and who knows, one (far away) day I might read the next one and see if it gets better...as apparently fans say it does. Until then, too many books to read already.
Grade: 5/10
Sweet tea, corn bread,
and soup beans—everyday fare for eight-year-old Alix French, the
precocious darling of a respected southern family. But nothing was
ordinary about the day she met ten-year-old Nick Anderson, a boy from
the wrong side of town. Armed with only a tin of bee balm and steely
determination, Alix treats the raw evidence of a recent beating that
mars his back, an act that changes both of their lives forever.
Through
childhood disasters and teenage woes they cling together as friendship
turns to love. The future looks rosy until the fateful night when Frank
Anderson, Nick's abusive father, is shot to death in his filthy trailer.
Suddenly,
Nick is gone—leaving Alix alone, confused and pregnant. For the next
fifteen years she wrestles with the pain of Nick's abandonment, a bad
marriage, her family and friends. But finally, she's starting to get her
life back together. Her divorce is almost final, her business is
booming, and she's content if not happy—until the day she looks up and
sees Nick standing across the counter. He's back…and he's not alone.
Once
again Alix is plunged into turmoil and pain as Nick tries to win her
love, something she resists with all her strength. Only one thing might
break the protective wall she's built around her emotions—the truth
about Frank Anderson's death. But when that truth comes out and those
walls crumble, neither Alix nor Nick is prepared for the emotional
explosion that could destroy as well as heal.
Comment: This is the second book by the author I picked. I have three more to read during the year. I chose the book only for its title, I haven't checked blurbs yet but the title seemed sweet and I thought I'd get a good romance...something to dream a bit.
This is the story of Alix and Nick. Alix has a family that loved and supported her all her life and her childhood was normal and full of hugs and smiles. Nick didn't have the same luck, but Alix kind of took him under her wing despite him being older. While they grew up, their feelings for each other change at the same time but despite they kept faithful to each other, things around them changed as well and other's choices helped shape their future in the end...
Overall, I enjoyed this story. It was interesting yes, and full of addictive details, mainly about living in the south, where things follow a certain pattern, a certain rityual related to a way of life.
I was really happy to read this and I admit it didn't take so long because I wanted to turn page after page just to know what would happen. The overall feeling about this book is positive, I don't know if it's a detail here and there or the main style of the story, the author's writing that compelled me to read more or something else, but when I think about the book as a whole, I really enjoyed reading it.
However, I also can't put aside my annoyance about two or three things in there...
If you haven't read the book and want to, please, bear in mind I'll approach spoiler areas....
The story follows Alix mostly because she's the narrator of the story. She is an amazing child, cute, funny, loyal, the epitome of innocence and friendship. I liked her a lot while she was a child, but since she grew up and adult themes were getting more focus, some things started to be a bit annoying, like the relationships among everyone. I thought Alix would become too angry and a little bit spoiled like at some times, especially when she knew about her father and how he and her mother separated. I mean, I don't think that she dealt with it in the most adult way. This wouldn't mean as much, I think, if she hadn't been described as adult for her years... then later her attitude towards her ex and her friend Jenna...I think the situation wasn't dealt the best way, even if one considers southern tradition and all that. I mean, sometimes Alix would act adult and serious and then she would say or do things really unlikely for the situation she was in...it was weird.
The author's style isn't new to me, but in the other novel I've read by her, I didn't have this same feeling...one thing would be really on my nerves, like usually int he end of each chapter we would have Alix say she thought something but then she didn't anticipate a determined outcome. Tis happened with almost all chapters, meaning we would always have the notion something bad would happen but then during the story we would realize, in perspective, it wasn't as bad or as disturbing as that. A few things were indeed serious, but most times I'd have the feeling I was being set up for a huge drama and after all it wasn't that bad. After a while this can be annoying...
Apart from these little things (only added up they can be perceived as a lot), I had a good time like I said and I didn't want to stop reading.
Still, despite the good things I can't help but feeling the hype around this story at GR for instance is a bit overacted in my opinion, it was good, but not perfectly polish to work out like it happens with other author who did the same, say Deborah Smith who wrote good southern dramas as well.
Nevertheless, I don't give on the author and will read her other works.
Grade: 7/10
Illegitimate Polly
Brandon has never felt like more than an ugly duckling. So she's amazed
when Hugh Philippe Junot pays her such close attention as they sail for
Portugal.
Under ordinary circumstances she knows this
distinguished lieutenant colonel of marines would never have looked at
her, but having his protection for the journey is comforting--and
something more that she's afraid to give a name to. Should she trust
what she sees in Hugh's eyes--has she turned from an ugly duckling into a
beautiful, desirable swan?
Comment: This is the third book by the author I've read. The previous ones I read were wonderful and I'm so glad I decided to try her stories because her writing is, indeed, special.
This third book is also the last in the Channel Fleet trilogy.
This is the story of Polly and Hugh. Polly is the younger sister to the protagonists of the previous books, Marrying the Captain and The Surgeon's Lady. Polly decides to help her sister Laura at Oporto, where she and her husband have a hospital sort of. During the trip, Polly finds out she isn't very keen on the sea and Hugh helps her, even when she's embarrassed an officer is changing her sweat clothes. The time allows them to know each other better and after their arrival at Portugal and the challenges they face, they still look at each other and their feelings are what aves them in the end...
Once again, I really enjoyed a story by this author. I thin she has a unique voice, and I like th way she tells her stories and how we get involved in that era. I also think that, despite her use of information and historical context, the story didn't feel too serious or strict, it was romantic and had enough elements to make this a good fictional entertainment.
I liked the historical context. The action takes place mostly in Portugal, during the Napoleonic war. I live in Portugal and I've studied this briefly during History classes...of course, real history doesn't get to be perceived as deeply into all the aspects of a war. And here we can see a little bit more detail in a centered in that place, as it happens with this book. I don't live in the north, where the action happens, I live closer to Lisbon than Oporto, but I know the challenges, the difficulties, the issues that even today are part of my country's History. To be honest, in school we mostly discuss the fact Napoleon was defeated here and not exactly the hows of it...but in this story we see that fiction, as with real life, can't depend solely on the big things, what about the people left behind, the lives of so many people who had to bear losses and terrible fates? In this book I couldn't help being sad things like the ones described happened and are today happening all over the world without us knowing I mean the way some people take the dignity of others. We are animals for sure...but this is another issue altogether, and not the point here.
I liked how true and how detailed things were because through loss and fear, the protagonists found love and feelings that united them in a way many people wouldn't know what it's like. Their romance was amazing and the age difference didn't strike me as such an important thing. They matched and I enjoyed seeing them together. Their social status wasn't the same either but I think they went past that quite well.
The plot took a path I wasn't expecting but it was good to see the two protagonists brave their choices and to still maintain their humility and soul, in a way.
The end was what one hopes for and there's nothing better than hope and the certainty of a happy ending. I liked the personal side of this story a lot too.
Overall, a sometimes sad read but full of hope and wonderful scenes, romantic and evoking. I recommend it to historical lovers.
Grade: 8/10
Death... Some people will do anything to avoid it. Even trade their immortal souls for endless existence.
Wraiths...
Secretly, inexorably, they are infiltrating our world, sucking the
essence out of unsuspecting victims with their hideous parody of a kiss.
Segue...
Adam Thorne founded the Institute to study and destroy his monster of a
brother, but the key to its success is held in the pale, slender hand
of a woman on the run. There is something hauntingly different about
Talia O’Brien, her unknowing sensuality, her uncanny way of slipping
into Shadow.
Twilight... This is the place
between life and what comes after—a dark forest of fantasy, filled with
beauty, peril, mystery. And Talia is about to open the door.
Comment: This book has been in the pile for years, three or four...well, to be honest I don't exactly remember. There was a time I was very much paranormal focused so I got many first books because I'm always on the lookout for the next great series. Obviously, time has gone...so I picked it up this month for a book club. I was hoping for a good story because after all this time I wasn't expecting perfection, considering the evolution of my taste, overall...but hope was there.
This is the story of Talia O'Brian, the book starts with her getting ready for a job interview but she sees her roommate being killed by something she can't describe. She only knows the only thing that can protect her are the shadows that have been with her all her life.
Looking for Tali because of her ideas about death is Adam Thorne, he has a research institute looking for ways to kill wraiths, beings that kill humans by stealing their souls. He has mythological clues about what could be done and Talia has wrote about it. When they finally meet and talk, things are already in a bad shape around the world but could they change that?
This book is really weird. I mean, first thing I have to say is how hard it was at time to follow the story line. Not that it ran from the point, but the issue was how spread everything was, the action seems to go a certain path and suddenly a new concept or sub plot seems to appear and we have to start to organize out thoughts again. It was a bit tiresome.
The story actually starts with a prologue that seemed really promising to the story but instead it was only a tiny bit of what was meant to happen. In the end we see more and apparently the next book might bring new things, but I don't feel like it right now.
The plot itself was interesting enough. There's a young woman unsure about what is happening and a confident guy looking for certainties, for a way to stop a problem that has caused him lots of grief. Understandable. But then things were quite darkish, meaning, there was this aura of darkness, of despair in this story that made the reading a bit depressing, many people die but looking at this as paranormal romance I was a bit disappointed, I guess urban fantasy is more like it, more so into the darker side of that also.
The main story line follows Adm and his mission to find a way to stop his brother, turned wraith - or so he thoughts - and how to finally gain peace. Of course we see a lot of guilt and martyrdom in the way as well.
The romance between Adam and Talia wasn't such a big deal, it felt more like an accessory than a main thing. Not that is such a bad thing, but I kind of hoped for more, more passion, more chemistry, more emotion in all that. In the end they get their HEA but honestly, everything else around them felt unsure, unfinished and not just because there's many wraiths left to kill...
Although I couldn't avoid the details that bothered me, there was still interesting points to focus on int he story, like how Talia's weapon sort of, is her voice and isn't ours as well? Or the debate between life and death, I loved to thin about this idea of how not everyone who lives is alive and how the ones who die aren't always dead (concept of a ghost, for instance). I mean interesting subjects to ponder, but the fictional story was a bit lacking in my opinion. The writing was ok I guess but I couldn't help feeling a sort of detachment in it, considering the darker aspects of th plot.
In the end, a good effort, but for me personally it wasn't what I thought would happen and I found it darker than what I imagined and although the surroundings of the story were interesting, I thought Talia and Adam's task wasn't as enjoyable to see as that...
Grade: 5/10
I should have known about this last summer... :)
(source)
The Mackenzies gather
for a clan Christmas and New Year's in Scotland. In the chaos of
preparations for the celebration--the first of Hart and Eleanor's
married life--one of Ian's Ming bowls gets broken, and the family
scrambles to save the day. Daniel busily runs a betting ring for
everything from the time Eleanor's baby will arrive to whether Mac's
former-pugilist valet can win a boxing match to who will be the first of
the many guests to be caught under the mistletoe. Ian begins a new
obsession, and Beth fears the loss of one of his precious bowls has made
him withdraw once more into his private world.
Comment: I really liked this story. I am a fan of the series and I took the time to get the two novellas sort of at the same time. This one is like a sugar rush because it's sweet and full of wonderful scenes and warm feelings and special things and possibilities. It's to assure the reader things are indeed well with all those beloved characters. I know some readers don't like these types of stories much, but personally I don't mind and even gladly wish for them if they're meant to be good. I think it's a nice read, to reassure us of the power of family love.
Grade: 8/10
* * *
Whim believes himself to
be the least powerful sidhe at Green's Hill: he is as constant as a
bumblebee in a hurricane and as faithful as a stray breeze. Whim's
prince believes there is more to him than that and on Litha, the night
of the summer solstice, sends Whim into the mortal world where he
strives to give a piece of himself to others. It is on Litha that Whim
meets Charlie, a young, desperate human who steals a kiss. Whim steals
one back and, in turn, craves another taste of this extraordinary man.
Their vows to return next Litha and finish what they started launch a
thirteen-year tradition of celebration between the mortal and the
immortal, between love and patience, that is sustained by Whim's
driving, faithful compulsion to love and keep his human close to his
heart.
Comment: This story isn't very big, it's about two guys meeting by chance and falling in love. It's set int he same world of the Little Goddess series I've read recently by the author, so many things are familiar. This story has a certain sad tone to it...it's hard to think about sacrifices and distance and time going by when you have so many things to live for...I was a bit depressed by this story, the author has created a special world but always with a little sad note in there...
Grade: 6/10
To redeem her family’s
disgraced name, Lady Louisa Scranton has decided to acquire a proper
husband. He needs to be a man of fortune and highly respectable in order
to restore both her family's lost wealth and reputation. She enters the
Marriage Mart with all flags flying, determined to find the right
bachelor.
But Louisa’s hopes are dashed when the Bishop of
Hargate drops dead at her feet—and she is shockingly accused of murder!
Soon, Louisa’s so-called friends begin shunning her, because the company
of a suspected killer is never desirable in polite society.
The
problem comes to the ears of Detective Inspector Lloyd Fellows, by-blow
of the decadent Scottish Mackenzie family and an inspector for Scotland
Yard. He has shared two passionate kisses with Lady Louisa–and vows to
clear her name. For not only does he know she’s innocent, he recognizes
he’s falling for the lovely lady.
Fellows is Louisa's only hope
of restoring her family's honor—and it is he alone who intrigues Louisa
in a way that may be even more scandalous than murder…
Comment: Here we are again, for another year of the TBR challenge. Once more, the theme for January is short stories. I've chosen this one because not only am I a fan of the series, but I've heard many good things about it and I was curious, so in reality, three reasons to read it. I was hoping to see a good story, so I didn't have to think about which story to pick.
For those who know the Mackenzies, Fellows is a character that seemed a villain in the first book but we find out what was behind such animosity and now he is someone we want to see more often. His story starts when he is called about a crime and there he meets again Lady Louisa Scranton, sister to Isabella from book #2. They have shared looks and kisses in the past and now that she's in danger, he only wants to help her, but Louisa isn't indifferent and their relationship changes...
The main thing I looked for in this story was to see Fellows give in to his feelings, because he always looked professional, distant and even a bit arrogant, all traits apparently shared with his half brothers, but I wished I could see some change if he was falling in love. This happened a bit too fast for my taste but when one thinks about the time that has passed since they met, we could actually admit enough time has gone for the feelings between them could simmer and fill them with hope.
This story features a crime, and being Fellows a policeman, we see him go through the clues to reach the guilty one. The way we found out about the killer is done after the guilty one is caught, and we just know the how after it happened. Usually I don't have an issue with this tactic to create suspense until the end, and I guess with such a short amount of page numbers things have to happen behind scenes, but it was a bit rushed to see things go this way. But well, I never suspected the author of the crime nor other of his crimes, so, I can't say it was such a bad thing..but it could have been different.
Now, the most important part, the romance of course...well, apart from the way it seemed too fast considering we don't see many scenes between them before they admit their feelings to each other, I actually liked how they always felt the other was right for them, how the other seemed to fill their head with images of happiness and their hearts with love. It was nice and they are two characters I really hoped to see find some happiness.
Louisa is accused of being the killer but obviously she didn't do it and I thought it was brave of her to try to help and to prove her innocence. I liked her character and her belief Fellows was worthy and admirable and she never thought about loosing a position in society to be with him. It was commendable.
Fellows of course had a more realistic idea of hoe things could be, he knew he wouldn't be worthy of her but he didn't do the "honorable" thing and tried to stay away, he always admitted she was special and after he admitted his jealousy to himself he went after her. I like a hero who doesn't play that act of the "I don't deserve you"...I don't know why but when a woman does this, it feels like humility but with a man it seems just annoying...a matter of perspective, really.
I also liked to see other Mackenzies show up and be a part of their story. Tis happened in all the full length books, why not in this one as well? Plus, it was wonderful to know the Mackenzies accepted and wanted Fellows to feel part of the family. I think the brother's relationship is one of the strongest points in the whole series.
In the end, the story had the needed elements to work out, personally I feel some things could have done better, but overall, I can't say I was disappointed. I know some readers didn't like it as much because of the whole romance focus and all, but I fully hope to see the main couple again and their story seemed balanced enough to be good. Not perfect, no, but enjoyable.
Grade: 7/10
Rising sous-chef Kelly
Matlock's sudden collapse at work is a wake-up call. Disillusioned and
burned out, she's retreated to her sister Jillian's house in Virgin
River to rest and reevaluate.
Puttering in Jill's garden and cooking
with her heirloom vegetables is wonderful, but Virgin River is a far cry
from San Francisco. Kelly's starting to feel a little too
unmotivated…until she meets Lief Holbrook. The handsome widower looks
more like a lumberjack than a sophisticated screenwriter, a combination
Kelly finds irresistible. But less appealing is Lief's rebellious
stepdaughter, Courtney. She's the reason they moved from L.A., but
Courtney's finding plenty of trouble even in Virgin River.
Kelly's
never fallen for a guy with such serious baggage, but some things are
worth fighting for. Besides, a bratty teenager can't be any worse than a
histrionic chef, …right?
Comment: A new year begins but I'm still with Virgin River. Right now I'm very glad I still have books in the series to read...until June. This month it was time for Harvest Moon and Kelly and Lief's story.
This story starts with Kelly losing it in the kitchen where she works. Cooking has been her life forever and her dream is to be a chef in her own restaurant. After Kelly leaves the hospital she returns to a hostile work environment and she just leaves. She goes to Virgin River where her sister Jill lives and found a new way of life and love.
Lief has been living in Virgin River with his stepdaughter because he felt what they needed was quiet and peace. He meets Kelly and starts a relationship with her but will Courtney, his rebel daughter accept this?
I liked this story as is usual with the series. Even the stories I don't particularly feel overwhelmed by, I still enjoy. I think the author ha an enormous talent for the genre and it shows in her work.
This story focused on Kelly and Lief. Both had had good things in life and other not so good, which only shows everyone's life is a mix of good and bad. Unfortunately, many people only see the bad things...
Kelly has worked a lot for her profession, looking to fulfill her dreams. I think she is what many of us would like to be, driven, focused, knowing her own mind. Not many people are like this and if there's one flaw in ms Carr's stories is how fast her heroes and heroines reach the point in their lives where they know what they want and get it. This doesn't work as well in real life and I guess with a little more obstacles to overcome the winnings would feel better. I thin this is the only thing I find to criticize, some things seem too easy to accomplish, but in the end, the dream is enough to read about...
Anyway, Kelly has her issues, her life had a turn she didn't expect and she ends up in Virgin River where she meets Lief, with baggage and goals of his own.
Lief has Courtney to look after and if he starts a relationship the new someone will have to accept Courtney as well. I liked this part of the story because people aren't islands and many things have to be dealt with. Lief doesn't thin about Courtney as a task or a weight on his life which is commendable. I liked him and his way of seeing life and taking care of those around him. He and Kelly seem a good couple and I liked how sweet their HEA was and how much tenderness existed between them.
This story also shows us many of the beloved characters in the series, although it's not the book where this is more obvious. I love to keep an eye on things and to follow their lives, like life doesn't stop just because their story was already told.Good tactic on the author's part.
In the end, another winner for me. This story isn't my absolute favorite but it had many elements to make me read as much as I could..it's really annoying to stop the reading when you are enjoying yourself. Something certain with this author. If you don't know this series, please try it!
Grade: 7/10
Krysta is used to
getting the drop on vampires. Her "special abilities" aren't much, but
the plan is simple--she plays helpless pretty young thing to lure them
in. Then her shoto swords come out and it's bye-bye, bloodsucker. Until
one night she finds herself with an unexpected ally. He's a vampire, all
right, but different. Mysterious. Handsome. And more interested in
saving her skin than draining it.
Etienne has been an Immortal
Guardian for two hundred years--long enough to know that Krysta is
special. He can't stop thinking about her long legs, even more than her
short swords. Then he discovers the vamps she's exterminating have
friends in high places, and the Guardians are in danger too. He'll have
to accept Krysta's help to save them. The stakes for a mortal are high.
But the cost to his heart might be higher. . .
Comment: This story is the most recent installment in the Immortal Guardians series. So far, the previous books have been interesting, many imaginative details and scenes but overall nothing truly amazing. Until this book. After reading this one, suddenly I'm so eager to read more and I can't wait for the next story!
Krysta and her brother have been fighting vampires on their own for years but things aren't easy for them, money and time related.One night, Krysta is seen by Etienne, one of the immortal guardians, and he helps her. There's something about her that caught his eye and from that moment on, he follows and helps her in her huntings. Obviously Krysta and her brother Sean are special and that is why they can fight, but vampires are much stronger so Etienne feels he has to help before something bad happens...
This book was very good. Like I said I've been following the series and not one of the previous books felt as easy to read and enjoyable as this one, despite all the new things the author has inserted to enrich the plot.
In this story we have a couple that, as expected, falls in love fast, but I thought they suited each other pretty well. Each had their own issues but nothing a good talk and a confident partner wouldn't help with.
The plot continues from the other books, so we can follow what has been happening. Although the books are done in a way a new reader can have each story as a stand alone, I feel it's one of those where it's best to read everything just to have a more solid knowledge of what has been happening.
What I really like about this novel in particular, something we were already seeing in the previous story, is how balanced things are becoming in terms of air time for all the characters. Of course, the main couple is the one where the focus is on more often, as it should be, but I have to confess I am a fan of this trend of putting up more than one or two people's POVs and we got to see many scenes from other character's POV, especially someone who I suspect will be the next protagonist and, once more, the key player in this world, Seth, the leader of the immortals.
I don't know if I should call this a trend exactly, but I like when we have many people talking, it makes the story feel warmer, more populated and where everyone matters and it's not just a way to write a story and that's it, next. No, the author presents POVs from previous characters as well and we get to see what many are doing...it feels like family and I love that.
The romance is sweet and fast but I didn't feel it was unbalanced. I thin it suited the type and tone of story and I was quite happy when they got their HEA.
Th plot is going a way I didn't think at first. I thought it would focus on vampires, or the idea of vampirism in the good old battle good vs evil, but right now it seems the author ha turned to a special direction and I can't wait to see if my ideas are right, which I think will happen already in the next book, whose main characters I suspect will go that way...let's see.
So all in all, a good story, all the right ingredients to suit a paranormal romance, a good thought world and interesting new details to make it more flavorful.
I hope it won't take too long for the next one to be out.
If someone is looking for a new, good paranormal series, here it is. Enjoy!
Grade: 8/10
Sweet, bookish Neve Slater always plays by the rules. And
the number one rule is that good-natured fat girls like her don't get
guys like gorgeous, handsome William, heir to Neve's heart since
university. But William's been in LA for three years, and Neve's been
slimming down and re-inventing herself so that when he returns, he'll
fall head over heels in love with the new, improved her.
So
she's not that interested in other men. Until her sister Celia points
out that if Neve wants William to think she's an experienced
love-goddess and not the fumbling, awkward girl he left behind, then
she'd better get some, well, experience.
What Neve needs is someone to show her the ropes, someone like Celia's colleague Max. Wicked, shallow, sexy
Max. And since he's such a man-slut, and so not Neve's type, she
certainly won't fall for him. Because William is the man for her...
right?
Somewhere between losing weight and losing her inhibitions, Neve's lost her heart - but to who?
Comment: This was the other Christmas book gift I got. I had never herd of this author before but I trust the taste of the person who gave it to me so I was quite eager to try it and see if I was going to be a fan of this story. This isn't a style I normally look for but it doesn't put me off completely so I just went with it right after the other present to put the gifts out of my lists.
This novel tells the story of bookish Neve, she's a young woman who went on a diet and has lost many pounds but still sees herself as too fat although her weight has reached a good number if not the one she could. Neve is still on a diet, living a good lifestyle and doing exercise. She has a crush on this guy working on the US but he will return to the UK and she wants to be a size ten by that time. In the meantime she wants to learn how to flirt and date so when her guy comes back he is impressed and falls for her immediately. Max seems the perfect to help her because he is just interested in casual or fast dates and not a relationship...right?
This story is mostly told from Neve's POV. although not in a first person narrator. Still, sometimes I wish I could have Max's vision of things because at some scenes that would offer a new meaning to things and the way things are, we could only know about Max's feelings or ideas when he told Neve. Not a bad thing, but something I wouldn't mind changing, at least in some key moments here and there.
The overall storyline is pretty much that idea that we work for a certain goal and don't always see what's in front of our eyes. Neve wanted to be closer to perfection, to be what she thought William, her dream man, wanted her to be. On one side she thought he might like and fall in love with her because of that, but at the same time she led her lifestyle for herself too, even is she didn't see it always like that. The truth was she didn't like her fatter side and she worked a lot to change, so it can't be all because of a guy. But for the purposes of this story I can see why she would focus more on that.
In comes Max, a so told man whore who just wanted casual flings but after a misunderstanding with Neve and a old fashioned letter of apology from her, Max looks for her and they start dating just so Neve can have some experience dealing with men, because Neve never felt confidant for that but she wants to be so for William. I liked Max a lot, he had an inner side quite beautiful and worthy and I liked getting to know him. His relationship with Neve starts as something flimsy but evolves and it was so romantic and special to see those two growing confidant in each other and what they had. Perfection is overreacted and really, it only matters in the eyes of the person who loves you back.
I liked how Neve and Max were together, their discoveries, the sharing, the support for th other when needed, all th little things that make a relationship work and how they wouldn't admit it to themselves for what it was...still, so many wonderful moments, like how they learned the intimacy of sleeping together, sex apart. The sexual side of things only came later but I liked how the author dealt with this aspect as well.
Of course, there's the expected conflict close to the end to allow the characters to learn their lesson and acknowledge their feelings but once more I was happy enough by the way things were done. I liked how Neve was bookish and funny and interesting and how at some point her body didn't define her completely. I liked how Max seemed shallow but had more inner beauty and courage one wouldn't wait for but existed. Together they found someone to cherish and teach the other why is vital to trust and to be with someone you really love and who can be there for you. I loved all the little things that made their relationship special.
This book offers quite the lessons and I was glad to be reading it. I think many little details don't seem important but manage to fulfill this novel with all the needed ingredients t be interesting and addictive to read. I recommend it because I had such a good time with it.
Grade: 8/10
Present day: Julia
Hamill has made a horrifying discovery on the grounds of her new home in
rural
Massachusetts: a skull buried in the rocky soil-human, female,
and, according to the trained eye of Boston medical examiner Maura
Isles, scarred with the unmistakable marks of murder. But whoever this
nameless woman was, and whatever befell her, is knowledge lost to
another time. . . .
Boston, 1830: In order to pay for his education,
Norris Marshall, a talented but penniless student at Boston Medical
College, has joined the ranks of local "resurrectionists"-those who
plunder graveyards and harvest the dead for sale on the black market.
Yet even this ghoulish commerce pales beside the shocking murder of a
nurse found mutilated on the university hospital grounds. And when a
distinguished doctor meets the same grisly fate, Norris finds that
trafficking in the illicit cadaver trade has made him a prime suspect.
To prove his innocence, Norris must track down the only witness to have
glimpsed the killer: Rose Connolly, a beautiful seamstress from the
Boston slums who fears she may be the next victim.
Comment: This was one of the Christmas gifts I was offered last month. A friend of mine knows I'm a huge fan of this author and her choice was justified with the notion this author never disappoints. I certainly have loved all the books I've read by her so far, meaning this one was also quite welcome and that is why I decided for it to be the first of the year.
This book tells two stories, one in the present day and another in the 19th century when medical procedures weren't as developed as one might think.
The two stories connect when in the present day, Julia Hamil finds bones in her garden and throughout the story we know it must be from someone living there at the time the other plot takes place, but who was murdered there like the bones tell the forensic team?
I liked this book. My taste for this author's work wasn't lost this time but honestly I didn't expect it to. Still, I'm used to stories focused on current medical practices and forensics and it was quite the challenge to read the story line from the past and not be a bit exasperated by way things were done now that we know how things should be done in the correct way. I guess the slow pace of both story lines added to this feeling as well, after all, the two time stories are intercalated allowing the reader to follow the two stories more or less at the same pace.
The story form the past is dedicated to childbirth ideas and how the procedure was done in the 1800s. Things didn't follow the hygiene procedures of nowadays and the story features the start of that in those days. There's also a mystery and crime and poverty. All these things always a bit connected to the medical practice of childbirth and how to do a surgery. One thing I aways like about the author is how we can learn something and in this case the little lessons on 19th century medical practices on how to those things are quite the eye opener, amazing how far medicine was but now things are miles and miles away from those times and who knows what might happen in out own future's time, how will medicine evolute even more?
Anyway, the things happening in the past after a while start pointing out to quite the domestic side and when that part of the book reaches the end I couldn't help but feeling sad over how it ended up. I mean, nothing bad but one detail was so sad I couldn't help but feel sad over it.
Interestingly, in the present we learn many of these things from notes and letters the characters from the past wrote, or should I say, one of them did. This is how we learn of the destiny of the characters of the past. It was quite interesting to see the action in the parts dedicated to the past and also in the letters left until the present.
The present had a more sedate story, more quite and fast paced and still there's a little detail that made me think because it's not something the author usually does, an element I wasn't used to see in her pragmatic novels. But I guess it must have been the author's trick to balance the end from the past...in the end all ends well, so...balance.
I thin in the end this story was much more emotional than what I expected and in a way it touched situations the author doesn't always focus on. But I was still satisfied by the story lines and the mystery and the villain's identity and all the medical details included. The overall end was bittersweet for me but one medical lesson, very simple indeed, was quite the final deserved mention. Sometimes the simpler things can be the most important ones and this novel certainly focused on that.
Grade: 7/10
