Sosuke Natsukawa - The Cat Who Saved Books

Natsuki Books was a tiny second-hand bookshop on the edge of town. Inside, towering shelves reached the ceiling, every one crammed full of wonderful books. Rintaro Natsuki loved this space that his grandfather had created. He spent many happy hours there, reading whatever he liked. It was the perfect refuge for a boy who tended to be something of a recluse.
After the death of his grandfather, Rintaro is devastated and alone. It seems he will have to close the shop. Then, a talking tabby cat called Tiger appears and asks Rintaro for help. The cat needs a book lover to join him on a mission. This odd couple will go on three magical adventures to save books from people have imprisoned, mistreated and betrayed them. Finally, there is one last rescue that Rintaro must attempt alone...
The Cat Who Saved Books is a heart-warming story about finding courage, caring for others - and the tremendous power of books. Sosuke Natsukawa's international best seller, translated from Japanese by Louise Heal Kawai, is a story for those for whom books are so much more than words on paper.

Comment: This is one more buddy read pick and we've decided on it since we both like books about bookshops and books with cats. This Japanese trend is quite in point, then, so we were interested in seeing how this one would go.

Rintaro Natsuki is a young man, who prefers to be alone and without many responsibilities, but he is suddenly confronted with a big task. His beloved grandfather has died and now Rintaro needs to deal with his old bookshop, which proves to be a challenge and he fears he will need to close it. Then, something incredible happens and a tabby cat, whose name is Tiger, shows up one day and starts talking to him! Rintaro cannot believe it but he finds himself having a conversation with the cat and it seems this is happening for a reason: Rintaro needs to embark on a quest to solve three tasks related to books, and perhaps this will help him save his grandfather's bookshop. But is Rintaro ready to leave his comfort zone?

I think this might the fourth or fifth book I now try where the cat and bookshop combination is a premise for the whole story. I find both things comforting, and imagining myself in a bookstore (or library) with a cat sleeping nearby seems very dreamy and cute.

Thus, after a few books - I know it cannot be a good enough ratio - I can kind of see that the trend is understandable, there's something almost magical about these types of books. I have also concluded that there is a certain formula, let's call it that, for these plots and the characters in these books, which means, of course, that a writer's voice and/or talent might be the differentiating point in why some books feel stronger than others for readers. Personally, this one was cute but didn't go beyond average.

I say this because while it does include all the usual details (reserved protagonist, melancholic thoughts, a cat, books, reference to books, a certain task that needs to be done...) the organization of the plot didn't wow me. The structure is pretty similar to others, there's this division of the story into tasks which the main character has to accomplish, and what lessons he learns in the process. The book is also short - the tendency seems the same in this as well - which means it can be very easy to read this in a short period of time. For me the issue is that I didn't really care much about Rintaro and the sequence of situations never grabbed me.

Almost unconsciously, I can't help but compare this to my favorite book, so far, that includes cats in a story by a Japanese author. That other book, by author Hiro Arikawa, was heartfelt, emotional, so incredibly sweet and devastating that I see myself comparing even if the themes aren't the same. I missed those feelings in this book, I was never emotionally driven by what was happening and I think this detachment didn't help me in appreciating the lessons Rintaro is learning. By needing to help certain people and their relationship with books, this is supposed to make him see the importance of his grandfather's bookshop, but I wasn't particularly moved by Rintaro's journey.

Another element I wish would have been given more relevance was the cat's presence. Since the author chose to give him a voice, I kind of expected him to have a greater role but sadly, Tiger the cat wasn't a very likable cat. I think this lacked the charm and the cuteness I tend to imagine all books with cats should have, which might be a "me" problem, but yes, it was a slight letdown.

Thinking about this book as a whole, in spite of the great messages it is supposed to convey, I've found the reading experience to be boring. I know, it sounds unfair and I do feel bad about it, since it contains elements I claim to love, but there it is. I get what the point of the novel was, I get it that it has certain cultural references that aren't as easy to think of sometimes if one is in a different country for instance (Rintaro is an introvert and his behavior is pretty much a thing in Japan, as the translator mentions in a note at the end), but the overall effect wasn't one I feel I can really cherish. This is interesting, yes, but didn't really impress me.

Grade: 6/10

SenLinYu - Alchemised

Once a promising alchemist, Helena Marino is now a prisoner—of war and of her own mind. Her Resistance friends and allies have been brutally murdered, her abilities suppressed, and the world she knew destroyed.
In the aftermath of a long war, Paladia’s new ruling class of corrupt guild families and depraved necromancers, whose vile undead creatures helped bring about their victory, holds Helena captive.
According to Resistance records, she was a healer of little importance within their ranks. But Helena has inexplicable memory loss of the months leading up to her capture, making her enemies wonder: Is she truly as insignificant as she appears, or are her lost memories hiding some vital piece of the Resistance’s final gambit?
To uncover the memories buried deep within her mind, Helena is sent to the High Reeve, one of the most powerful and ruthless necromancers in this new world. Trapped on his crumbling estate, Helena’s fight—to protect her lost history and to preserve the last remaining shreds of her former self—is just beginning. For her prison and captor have secrets of their own . . . secrets Helena must unearth, whatever the cost.

Comment: This has to be one of the most hyped books of the past years. Yes, I have seen it everywhere too but honestly never had the urge to try it myself because it was labeled as dark fantasy and my tastes aren't much in this direction nowadays. I really had no plans to read this book, but coincidences of life, my best friend has read it and loved it and she is quite persuasive in letting her reasons be known, so I decided to give it a go, more so since she let me borrow her copy.

This is the tale of Helena Marino, a young woman who wakes up with a loss of memories, in captivity and about to be tortured so that her enemies can force her memories out, with the idea she might be hiding something. For a while, nothing else exists beyond what she needs to endure and the weird hint that she needs to keep her memories locked, at the same time she wishes to know what she is hiding. Who did this to her? It certainly has to do with the war lost and how Helena was also part of the Resistance, but exactly what role did she have in the past events? How can she fight or resist what her big enemy Ferron is doing without thinking she might reveal a secret that could defeat his side once and for all...?

I'll start by saying that, as I tend to do, once I've finished the book and had time, I did check out several reviews, both positive and negative, written about this book and I've concluded that while I understand both sides, and while I liked the book in general for its premise and ideas, I wasn't as fond of the writing. I just cannot agree with those who say this was written beautifully. Yes, it was a huge effort in such a long book (the edition I read had 922 pages) and the author clearly had to organize a lot, but I was not moved by the writing. I think the amount of time she took into giving so many detailed scenes about repetitive situations should have been used to add emotion to her characters. Sadly to me, none of them seemed to be people I could care about in the long term.

I suppose this is both a blessing and a pity, because I was able to continuously maintain my emotional detachment from what was being told. I just don't think the writing offered me enough depth and emotions to feel the sadness and the despair the characters were showing throughout all the terrible things being described. My best friend loved this dichotomy and she likes the uncountable descriptions of the war and so on, but I don't usually appreciate that, so this detachment kind of worked in my favor.

On the other side, the romance didn't seem to be as fascinating and larger than life as it hinted at. I mean, I understand and I see where fans find the love and the devotion, but as the story developed, while I recognized what was happening and appreciated the subtlety of what the protagonists were dealing with, I wasn't especially moved by that. Nevertheless, I admit I was beyond happy that they are in love and that their path led to the best HEA they could achieve, considering the events and the secondary issues around them.

The book is divided into three parts, the first is harrowing and seems there's no way to recover from what takes place there, but then the second part comes, set four years before, and we get to see why things like that and what happened to lead the main characters to the place where they were at in the first part. It was a good choice, because the idea is to show the reader that everything can be unreliable and it provided an interesting contrast to what the perception of everything would be. I did like that things aren't black and white in how people should see this story.

The third part was my personal favorite because finally everything is explained and solved as best as it could. Again, I wasn't incredibly impressed by all the little things many readers like to comment on, such as "hidden messages" or "double meaning sentences" and so on, but I liked it that what had to be dealt with, was, and that the main idea of why the war happened in the first place seemed to be taken into a logically solved solution. Unlike some readers, I've loved the extensive epilogue, and the detailed scenes about the "what happened after".

There is some poetry in this story, I cannot lie, and i did love several passages and scenes. But yes, there are lots of triggers in this book and not just because of actual content. The dark aspect of "dark fantasy" can mean different things for readers, but this one is certainly full of awful things and descriptions. I don't think this was necessary and, to be fair, removing some of these things would bring the story to a more acceptable length. I get it that this is what the author wanted to write but it was quite an effort when it didn't have to be. Editing would have helped.

Anyway, I wasn't obsessed with this like my friend was but I do understand why she, and others, felt that way, there is really something about this that suggest such a devotion. I get it because I have felt like this about other things, just like any reader probably did with some book or series, but yes, I did not have an emotional bond with this story. However, it was still a good exercise to read it and see what the fuss was about.

Grade: 7/10

TBR Challenge: Candice Proctor - Night in Eden

Born wild and free in a comfortable house overlooking the storm-battered cliffs of Cornwall, Bryony Wentworth’s life is shattered when she is accused of killing her husband. Transported as a convict to Botany Bay in 1808, Bryony finds herself in a harsh, unfamiliar land, where almost everything she once held dear—home, freedom, and children—has been taken from her. All she has left are her self-respect and inner strength, and a powerful will to survive.
Assigned to a former cavalry captain with a motherless infant son and a sprawling estate on the banks of the Hawkesbury River, Bryony finds herself facing a life that is simultaneously wild, frightening, and filled with temptation. Captain Hayden St John, the powerful landowner to whom Bryony is given, is a hard man haunted by loss and the ghosts of the past. Yet as he finds himself inexorably drawn to this proud, defiant woman, Hayden slowly comes to realize that she might well prove to be his last chance at salvation.
Set against the ruggedly beautiful landscape of colonial Australia and filled with the memorable characters for which Candice Proctor has become famous, this is a poignant, spellbinding tale of suppressed desire and raw passion, of suffering and triumph and the indomitable spirit of the heart.

Comment: It's time for the TBR Challenge post of February, whose theme is "vintage". What immediately came to mind was a story that would have been published years ago. Should 1997 be considered vintage already? For me it certainly feels like it, since I was a 12 then and while my mental age remains stuck as if I'm still 16, when I was 12 I was still playing with dolls and such so a book from this year certainly feels like it's vintage. Plus, I imagined that it would easily feature a writing style often seen back then, as I have sen in books from the same period.

In this story we meet Bryony Wentworth, a woman accused of killing her husband and, in 1808, her fate was being taken to the penal colony in Australia. She had to leave her small daughter behind and endure a pregnancy on board, which resulted in her baby dying. To make everything worse, life for the convicted women in Australia was not fair, and she is taken to Hayden St John's estate, to be a wet nurse for his son. At first, Bryony can't help but hate everything about her situation, a situation that changes because she ends up bonding with this innocent baby and, after a while, even his father. But her past and situation can't be changed that easily, even if Hayden seems to reciprocate her feelings... is there any hope for a happy life for them?

I was quite curious to see how this plot would develop. I mean, I had some expectations on what possible scenes would be included, considering the premise, but I wondered how the author would deal with the obvious triggers such a plot would lead to, even more so when this is a romance. It's funny, but the "vintage" aspect means that while certain things have always been problematic, many still sounded romantic under certain light. Our contemporary perception changes things, of course.

The story actually starts once Bryony arrives at Botany Bay and is taken to the female prison, which is basically a place where they work like slaves, are mistreated and the men can even pick them to become their servants, and not only for home tasks. Bryony is horrified, just like all the others, but she is "lucky" to be taken by Hayden St John, a widowed man with a baby son who needs a wet nurse. Since Bryony lost her own child, she is the perfect choice, and this also will be the starting point for the establishment of their relationship.

Of course, Hayden isn't like other men and while he feels lust for his new servant, he doesn't act on it and is even amazed and sort of seduced by her defiance and resilience in surviving and enduring all the terrible things she has been going through. The idea is that we, the reader, should feel glad he is not like other men, and that the base for their romance is his acknowledgment of her personality and attributes beyond the psychical. I have read other books with this unbalance and difference in power, so I can say that it doesn't feel "as bad" here, but the point remains: she had no choice. I think this is what really makes this vintage to me because even though I see this, I still wanted to see how the relationship would progress.

Things go on a slow burn for them. There are several situations which would would lead to sex if this were to be an erotica or a careless story, but the author took time to set up the sensation things are taking time to happen and that they are getting used to their thoughts and feelings about one another. Clearly, the point is to highlight how "right" they are supposed to be and to a certain extend, this pays off, which along with the increase of sexual tension, makes the romantic idea of this feel stronger. Analysis aside, though, there were cute and sweet moments among all the more negative details.

As the plot advances, Bryony and Hayden need to deal with several things, some of them related to the secondary characters and what happens to them. Some things were really sad to consider, since some were certainly based on very likely real life situations, but then a surprise is introduced closer to the end and I was not really expecting it, although statistically speaking, bearing in mind the "laws of romance", it was not that out of the possibilities, and I feel this kind of  downgraded things for me. I think the need to create conflict really was unnecessary here, but obviously all worked out.

All things considered, this story was interesting to follow, I liked the psychology of the characters' attitude and personality and, if I had read this years ago I probably would love it even more. I think I can put aside my contemporary notions a bit, and simply appreciate the fantasy of what this tale implies, but yes, it's not that easy to just ignore what feels out of place...

Grade: 7/10

Lauren Gilley - Heart of Winter

Oliver Meacham, bastard nephew of the Duke of Drakewell, and a massive disappointment to his father, has just lost all his male relatives to the war with the invading Sels from the West. Without an heir, the duchy of Drakewell stands to fall into enemy hands, unless one of Oliver’s cousins can marry a lord with an army strong enough to defend it – which is how he finds himself escorting his cousin Tessa to the Great Northern Wastes; to the kingdom of Aeretoll, with a hope that Tessa might wed the fearsome warrior king who rules there, Erik Frodeson, in order to protect her people.
But the stern, forbidding Erik refuses to marry. He offers his nephew’s hand to Tessa instead. And to Oliver he offers insult, challenge – and the sorts of loaded glances that leave Oliver as flustered as he is furious.
Tessa doesn’t relish the prospect of marrying for a political alliance, but she’s ready to fulfill her duty to her family and people – even more so when she realizes that she won’t have to wed the churlish Erik, but his charming nephew, instead. Only…the king has two nephews. And Tessa has a choice to make.
The Drake Chronicles is a slow-burn fantasy series, full of court intrigue, adventure, drama, dragons, and passionate romance. Heavily influenced by Viking history and mythology, the series follows the intertwining stories of multiple couples as they fall in love, and fight to save their families, and their kingdoms.

Comment: I heard of this book while checking some recommendations. The premise seemed intriguing and I decided I had to try it.

Oliver and his niece Tessa go on a journey to a reign in the north so that she can marry Erick, the north king, as an alliance for their army's chances of defeating their enemy. It seems this is a simple enough boring mission at first, but they are welcomed by their north counterparts, which they didn't expect, and soon they realize their pre conceived ideas weren't all correct. However, Tessa starts finding the king's nephews intriguing, especially since one of them will be the king's heir, and she considers marrying one of them instead... for the alliance this would make no difference, even more so when it becomes obvious to all that king Erick seems more interested in Oliver and vice-versa....

I had a good time reading this story because it was mostly comforting. I felt glad there were not bad situations that couldn't be controlled, and I liked it that the characters we came to like were as good as it seemed they would. Sometimes, with a new story there is some comfort in knowing that if one expects positive/cozy scenarios, they do happen.

The plot is pretty basic, Oliver and Tessa's kingdom has been ta war and the important players have been killed so now Tessa needs to have a political marriage and the king in the north is known for his army and his war tactics. It is suggested that he is ruthless and many other negative-like adjectives, which is why Oliver and Tessa feel some trepidation traveling there, but they also know there is no better alternative. They fully expect to have a hard time, and not just culturally, but are surprised by how welcoming people are and, for the most part, are treated like guest and not like someone who is there to basically ask for help.

I liked this idea, even though it's not very original. Still, I was curious to see how the author would develop certain situations, namely the romance and the characters' interactions. I was also interested in seeing how they would deal with the expectations of both sides and how this could be seen as advantage to the north king and his kingdom. Of course, the romance was more than an expectation and I was eager to see how Erick and Oliver would deal with one another.

In this regard, the romance was a bit tame, and not only because things happen at a slow burn speed. I liked it that they took time to understand one another a little before anything physical happened, but I will be honest and say that the tension between them wasn't as fully yearning as i imagined, after their first meeting. I mean, I liked it that the point wasn't to force Erick to an alliance with a person he would not love, and that having a relationship with Oliver would suit, but if this is easily put aside, then their falling in love could have been way more intense in terms of their own feelings.

With this I mean that while I liked it that they accepted one another early on, only doubting something could last for appearances sake, I kind of wanted them to deal with their feelings more passionately, both before and after admitting them. Since the story has a continuation, I fully expect that being in a different environment, that this will help them see watch other in yet another level, and that it can reinforce things between them.

One aspect I liked a lot was how friendly most characters were at the north kingdom's court and how Oliver and Tessa got to have friends beyond the expectations on their alliance. It was also great to see that most people in the north didn't care about Oliver's illegitimacy as how own south people did, and that he was liked for himself and for his personality. Tessa, too, found new ways of looking at herself and there's this hint of duty vs love in the path for her and the king's nephew.

If there is one flaw I think shouldn't have been this obvious is how slightly superficial some emotions are portrayed. The author has a good writing style but it seems as if some ideas/feelings are expressed very thinly for the potential they had. I wanted more scenes in which we would see the characters' thinking and processing of things instead of having them delivered in an almost simplistic "voice". Or, in other words, more showing and less telling.

Things end up positively for everyone and Oliver and Erick decide to give their feelings a go. I'm curious enough to want to see where this goes for them, so I will read the next book, probably later on in the year.

Grade: 7/10

Anstey Harris - Where We Belong

One summer.
One house.
One family learning to love again.
Cate Morris and her son, Leo, are homeless, adrift. They’ve packed up the boxes from their London home, said goodbye to friends and colleagues, and now they are on their way to ‘Hatters Museum of the Wide Wide World – to stay just for the summer. Cate doesn’t want to be there, in Richard’s family home without Richard to guide her any more. And she knows for sure that Araminta, the retainer of the collection of dusty objects and stuffed animals, has taken against them. But they have nowhere else to go. They have to make the best of it.
But Richard hasn’t told Cate the truth about his family’s history. And something about the house starts to work its way under her skin.
Can she really walk away, once she knows the truth?

Comment: I got interested in this book because it would feature an interesting setting and reading very superficial comments made it seem as if there would be a hint of romance as well.

Cate and her son Leo need to move out, especially since Cate's job has become redundant. Since her late husband Richard had a family estate in the countryside, including a very particular museum, they drive there on purpose, to spend the summer while Cate looks for a new job, otherwise they would be homeless. However, things aren't that simple and the person in charge of the museum, Araminta, doesn't seem to be very welcoming, at least not to Cate, and the museum isn't doing very well. Still, Cate and Leo need to try to do their best and as they get to know more people and learn more about the place, they start seeing it through different eyes. Will they be able to see past the problems and feel they actually belong to this new and surprising world?

At first, all was going well and the early pages seemed to imply at one of those stories where the characters need to learn something/overcome something and falling in love with a new place is just the thing to give them a new look at life. There are countless books out there with this premise and I tend to enjoy reading about the potential of these life lessons, especially if there is romance included.

However, it soon became obvious to me that this story wasn't that simple or that it would follow the pattern I imagined. The plot begins when Cate and Leo arrive at the estate and get to see the museum, which was devised by her late husband's grandfather, but I confess I struggled to picture certain things in my mind and it took me quite a while - I can't truly tell if this had been made clear earlier or not - to realize that Leo isn't a child as I first thought, for instance. Likely, there are other details that I've missed as well. 

The story is narrated by Cate, and for the most part she is a character I sympathize with, more so because she shares, in timely fashion, tidbits about her life and how it had been with all the things she has had to deal with, namely raising her son without her husband, who died. There's more to this situation that what we are aware of at first, and as we get to understand her trials and how this has affected her, I cannot help but to empathize with her and what she had to face. I did like her as a character, but I cannot say I was always eager to read about what she was thinking.

Since we only get her POV, there are some details that feel fuzzy. Still, I was quite eager to see where this would go but I'll have to say that around half way, more or less, my focus started to decrease. It became more and more difficult to remain interested in what was happening. At that point more characters were introduced, including someone who seemed to be the love interest but I was no longer eager to keep reading. I still wanted to know how the story would end and that means I've finished the book but all the details of that final part of the novel didn't seem to make much sense.

The museum with the stuffed animals and quirky things seemed great at first too and I imagined this would be a great setting for good scenes but I'll have to agree with those who felt the vibe was more along the "creepy" line. I also think the connection between the museum, Cate's late husband and her role in self discovery weren't as smoothly conjugated as I think the author could have done. There were times that ti felt some details were just an afterthought and not truly important for the plot.

The romantic element was a let down as well, and led to a very confusing end. Well, several situations made the end seem confusing, but then there's also the issue of the very final page feel as if the story was not complete. Did Cate really find a way to "save" the museum and if so, are her feelings about that as genuine as it seems? I think the end was way too open ended for this feel final to me. I'd have preferred to have more closure on the situations that had been hinted at throughout the novel.

Sadly, this book ended up not working out for me. There are good elements, and interesting ideas (mostly in how Cate processed her feelings about her husband's death) but the big picture isn't one I can say was great.

Grade: 4/10

Elizabeth Rolls - His Convenient Marchioness

A grieving Marquess in need of a wife sets his sights on a beautiful widow in this is delightful Regency romance.
After the loss of his wife and children, the Marquess of Huntercombe closed his heart to love. But now that he must marry to secure an heir, he's determined that the beautiful, impoverished widow Lady Emma Lacy should be his . . .
Emma has vowed never to marry for money so must refuse him. But when her children's grandfather sets to steal them away from her, she has no other she must become the marquess's convenient bride!

Comment: This book got on my radar because of a positive reference to it I saw somewhere. I remember the note alluded to a marriage of convenience trope, which I tend to like, featuring a couple in different social stations, and I was intrigued.

The marquess of Huntercombe is fifty and after the death of his children, he needs a new heir. However, he isn't too keen on marrying a young woman just out of her debut season, and when he stumbles upon lady Emma Lacy with her two young children at a bookstore, he is smitten. Learning of her circumstances and of her past should be enough to stop his ideas of marrying her, even though she is certainly able to give him what he seeks with a marriage, but the more he gets to know her, the more certain he is of her character. He plans for a proper courting but suddenly the threat to her children compels him to marry her more quickly than he imagined... will they be able to put aside the reasons for marrying so that they can give love a chance?

I was seduced by the idea of an unlikely pair finding love when the connection between them should be as convenient as they claim. I tend to like these stories because the fun is in seeing the couple finding ways to be an united front and in learning that the other person is perfect for them. This being an traditional historical means we wouldn't have a lot of obvious passionate scenes but I still had hopes for these two.

At first, I was quite taken by the story and the first meet they have at the bookstore was charming and promising. The kids were also cute and it felt as if the story would be more on the cozy and tender side and I was again pleased enough by the author's writing, especially since this is not the first book I try by her. I started to have this idea in my head of how things would be but then, almost instantaneous it seemed, a lot of new situations happened and the little things I was finding sweet turned out to become annoying.

As soon as it becomes established that Hunt and Emma find each other appealing and that a marriage between them would be successful, it seemed as if all kinds of problems started happening. Emma's husband died and he was the younger son of a duke, and she married him after leaving another groom at the altar,m thus ruining her reputation anyway. She, from what we learn, had not had any proper relationship with her husband's family nor her own. She is now impoverished and having trouble to take care of her two children. Marrying Hunt should be as good a deal for her as it was for him, but both sides of her children's family now show up to cause problems.

I mean, these situations are certainly realistic for the type of story being developed but everything that kept happening, one thing after the other, was incredibly distracting and took away focus from the main romance. The things I thought would be interesting, such as them having to get to know one another, learn about who they would be as part of a married couple, adjusting to such status, dealing with others in a social context, all this was secondary to the dramas caused by the role Emma's children now seemed to have for their father's side of the family.

I don't have any particular opinion on young children in romance novels, often people like to say they seem like props or that they are included just for plot reasons, not really having a pertinent presence, but here, I will confess, I got annoyed with them. Well, mostly the girl who acted like a.. well, child! I know I'm sounding unfair but how much importance they had in the story got on my nerves to the point I wanted to put them aside and then this also affected the main characters' actions. I got annoyed the the main couple and the fact some secondary people were not likable annoyed me as well.

Things got to a point I was reading just to go through the motions of finishing because I had lot interest in the main characters' romance and developing relationship. Hunt and Emma were, by now, boring characters and while I felt glad to assume they would get their HEA, I was no longer that invested in them. Yes, all the dramas around them started being "solved" but then a new issue comes up, related to secondary characters - whom I assumed would have their own book, but I have not investigated if the author wrote about them - and their story ends with a lot of stuff going on, but the main characters' romance remained dull. I mean, why would these two matter now?

As often happens, there are elements I'd change in this story to suit my preferences but in the big scheme of things I cannot say this is a bad story. It meets the basic needs, I'd say, but it wasn't compelling nor as vibrant as i imagined it would be, considering the promising beginning.

Grade: 5/10

Patricia Briggs - Winter Lost

In the supernatural realms, there are creatures who belong to winter. I am not one of them. But like the coyote I can become at will, I am adaptable.
My name is Mercy Thompson Hauptman, and my mate, Adam, is the werewolf who leads the Columbia Basin Pack, the pack charged with keeping the people who live and work in the Tri-Cities of Washington State safe. It's a hard job, and it doesn't leave much room for side quests. Which is why when I needed to travel to Montana to help my brother, I intended to go by myself.
But I'm not alone anymore.
Together, Adam and I find ourselves trapped with strangers in a lodge in the heart of the wilderness, in the teeth of a storm of legendary power, only to discover my brother's issues are a tiny part of a problem much bigger than we could have imagined. Arcane and ancient magics are at work that could, unless we are very careful, bring about the end of the world . . .

Comment: This is installment #14 in the Mercy Thompson series by author Patricia Briggs, a series I have been following for years.

In this story Mercy and Adam are going to see about a frost giant so that they can try to help her brother Gary, who has showed up without being able to talk or see those around him, as if a spell has been put on him. They learn it might have been something to do with a wedding which will take place somewhere and an artifact that was likely stolen from the frost giant. At the same time, Mercy is still dealing with the aftermath of what the soul taker did to her and there is still the worry of the vampire Bonarata, with the constant threats aimed their way... is there any solution for Mercy's problems or by traveling north she and Adam are only going to collect some more?

Although this is a well structured story, it cannot be recommended that a new reader starts with this one to enjoy the world building the author so cleverly imagined. Yes, it can work as a standalone from the plot's POV, but there are so many little things and references throughout that doing so would make this a very frustrating read. Still, this is book #14 and it can be quite the investment to start with the first one but it is so, so worth it.

If I think about authors whose stories still work out for me 100%, in terms of writing I mean - of course some books will always be better than others in big series - Patricia Briggs and Ilona Andrews come to mind. Both have a specific type of "voice" and their work always sounds solid to me. This series and the Alpha and Omega one by mrs Briggs are wonderfully complex and nuanced and I have enjoyed all the books because the world building is solid and the characters are layered and always fascinating.

That said, in regards to this installment, perhaps it is true that some repetition seems to happen and having Adam and Mercy mostly secluded at an isolated place with a completely new set of characters for the sole purpose of this plot, feels like an easy way out of dealing with many ongoing issues, but thankfully there is one major problem which is dealt with here and I'm quite glad for that. It was also a good way to see Adam and Mercy together without the physical presence of the pack and how that would affect them or not.

As for the frost giant's situation and the plot around it... I'll be very honest, some things were very confusing. Even when we had the explanation for this and that detail, some things just felt exaggerated, in the sense that why couldn't an easier solution be found? Plus, it felt as if the need for magical/mystical threads was higher than the need for an obvious plot. The link between some of the characters was kept secretive in ways I'd say were not always logical, but it all goes to the magical foundation of this world. I get it that magic is everywhere for these characters but sometimes it does feel a bit too much.

When we do learn about the characters and their roles in this big scheme, I'll have to say some were quite incredible, no doubt about it. I'd never imagine such a thing but the author has a lot of imagination, that's for sure. Other things were a little confusing, and seemed contrived, but the characters' personalities and their role in this world and in how they interact with others was made to seem special,as always. It's as if there is always some kind of detail, information about everyone that just keeps on making them all seem unique. I'm here to see their interactions and to learn more about them all. I just hope some of the main characters will remain untouchable until the end.

Adam and Mercy remain a devoted mated couple and this has to be my favorite part of the novels. Under so much stress and complications, they are still a loving couple and I hope this never changes. It has been so great to see this happen and, once more, they are an united pair. I suppose that I'd have enjoyed the book for this alone, but while some things weren't as thrilling as they were in other installments, I'm just glad nothing terrible happened to them here, so... that's it.

Grade: 7/10

Emma Grey - The Last Love Note

You may never stop loving the one you lost. But you can still find love again.

Kate is a bit of a mess. Two years after losing her young husband Cameron, she’s grieving, solo parenting, working like mad at her university fundraising job, always dropping the ball—and yet clinging to her sense of humor.
Lurching from one comedic crisis to the next, she also navigates an overbearing mom and a Tinder-obsessed best friend who's determined to matchmake Kate with her hot new neighbor.
When an in-flight problem leaves Kate and her boss, Hugh, stranded for a weekend on the east coast of Australia, she finally has a chance, away from her son, to really process her grief and see what’s right in front of her. Can she let go of the love of her life and risk her heart a second time?
When it becomes clear that Hugh is hiding a secret, Kate turns to the trail of scribbled notes she once used to hold her life together. The first note captured her heart. Will the last note set it free?

Comment: I had this book in the pile for the past two years and I can't remember why, but it probably had something to do with it being about a widow possibly falling in love again.

Kate's husband died young of a disease that usually affects older people and she and her young son Charlie are still processing. She has counted on her best friend Darcy and boss Hugh, who have supported her in all her worst moments but she knows she needs to move on a little, at least to set up the example for her son. When a work travel goes slightly wrong, Kate and Hugh need to spend some time at a resort and this is the perfect opportunity for them to talk about some of the things they dealt with together while Kate has been mourning and, perhaps, for them to admit what they really feel about one another. Still, Hugh has a secret he doesn't want to share with Kate regarding her husband last days, but this close proximity surely will make it difficult to ignore her need to know, or will he remain silent? What about their relationship in the future?

Books on mourning are not my most desired read, that is true, and I wanted to read this one mostly for the idea of moving on and Kate falling in love with someone else, but I really should have paid attention to the "grief" label because the book is really about it and how to think of it. Yes, Kate moves on close to the end, but I just could not see it as being something accomplished, considering the ratio of pages dedicated to mourning and to moving on.

Kate's husband died and the whole thing happened in very specific circumstances, which made everything feel even worse. Kate now has a young child who misses his dad, who will not know him as he should, but she tries to give him good memories, even though the process has been devastating for her as well. This seems even worse to deal with, emotionally, since they were happy and didn't see it coming. The author also included a note at the end, sharing her personal story, and this did help me to appreciate the book a little more than I would without it.

The thing is, while the subject is heartbreaking, there is a lot of focus on the process and not as much on the healing. I would not have minded this, if the book had been a woman's fiction novel, but it is hinted at that the main character will have a new romance, and this led me to think of some expectations... which didn't really happen as I imagined, because the majority of the story is about the mourning and flashbacks to how things were in the past. I just didn't see the balance of including anew romance because if felt like an afterthought and not a really organic romantic development.

For the most part, I was sad for Kate and her son, but also sad for Hugh, the love interest, because he seemed to be a good guy, someone who went beyond what he should, professionally, in order to help Kate, and the way this story played out, I just couldn't avoid the thought he felt like second best. I cannot speak of it, of course I have not lived through such an experience, but for a novel including a romance, this was a failure to me, and I didn't feel convinced Kate and Hugh were "destined".

I also felt a little disappointed with Kate's character or, perhaps to be more specific, with the author's writing style in characterizing her. Kate was just OTT in how she was portrayed to be sweet and amazing but clumsy and all over the place. It felt as if I could not breathe properly while reading about her and her thoughts and actions, she was always doing something that required all focus on her and while I understand she is the main character, this tired me a bit. There were times I actually did dread reading about what she would do next.

Perhaps I'm being unfair, but this method of having Kate in center stage, and her POV in first person narration certainly did not help me with this feeling. Then, this also made it look as if the secondary characters were truly only that or worse, that their presence was almost superfluous and their actions redundant. I often felt that Hugh was too good to be true and his constant actions doing everything for her all the time were more imagination than real character drive.

The title alludes to love notes Kate's husband left her. Sadly, this element only had some importance at the end, when the secrets are being revealed. I think the author could have written this element better into the plot or, perhaps, written the story differently. To me, having this story in third person would change everything considerably, and this notes element might have been perceived better that way.

All things considered, there were interesting situations depicted, I did like the fact the character's emotions weren't "edited" let's say, but the combination of all the situations included made for a story which felt unbalanced to me...

Grade: 5/10

Mary Balogh - Someone to Care

Two years after the death of the Earl of Riverdale, his family has overcome the shame of being stripped of their titles and fortune—except for his onetime countess, Viola. With her children grown and herself no longer part of the social whirl of the ton, she is uncertain where to look for happiness—until quite by accident her path crosses once again with that of the Marquess of Dorchester, Marcel Lamarr.
Marcel Lamarr has been a notorious womanizer since the death of his wife nearly twenty years earlier. Viola caught his eye when she herself was a young mother, but she evaded his seduction at the time. A prize that eluded him before, she is all the more irresistible to him now although he is surprised to discover that she is as eager now for the excitement he offers as he is himself.
When the two defy convention and run away together, they discover that the ties of respectability are not so easily severed, and pleasure can ensnare you when you least expect it.

Comment: This is the 4th installment in the Westcott series by Mary Balogh, following a family and those related to them, after it was discovered the earl of Riverdale had been married to two women at the same time, making one of his marriages illegal. This is the story of Viola, the wife who really wasn't.

Viola Kingsley is mostly angry at her illegal marriage because of her children who became illegitimate, but she is willing to forget as best as she can, especially as she is attending the christening of her grandson. However, sometimes she feels she needs to run away and suddenly she does so, which places her at an inn and in the presence of Marcel Lamar,a man from her past. There was a time they could have been lovers but Viola refused, for she was married. Now they are both widowed and the spark is still there, which is why Viola impulsively agrees with him in spending sometime together, but the messages she sends to her family never arrive. When their families finally reach them, what else is to be done but marrying? Are they willing to bet on each other after all these years? 

I consider myself a fan of this author. I have not read all her books and to be honest I might not, since some don't seem to appeal much to me, but her more recent series have been mostly positive and in general I have loved all the books. Of course, in any lengthy series, some installments are better than others or some appeal more than others to each reader. I have been enjoying this series despite this or that element I'd change and I did like this fourth Westcott book too, but it is true that it didn't charm me as much as others have.

I liked the idea of the series and I like Viola as a character. She existed with the knowledge of her marriage, her social status, her place in society and the fact this was all legally wrong was quite the shock and affected her way of dealing with others. Still, it wasn't her fault even though social stigma isn't something people can fully control, she was still trying to be polite and do what was right. Thankfully, the Westcott family is a loving one and they never stopped caring for her.

I was quite interested, then, in reading about her and what she would do next, which is why the chance of a quick romance with a man from her past seemed interesting, even if it meant acting a little bit out of character. Running away for a while with a man doesn't seem proper behavior but Viola didn't have to answer to anyone, really, and at 40 she is certainly her own person. Marcel, the love interest, seemed a bit hard to read, being described as a seducer but acting aloof... but I trust the author so I was looking for to see how their romance would go from momentarily to an HEA, for surely this would happen.

Well, the overall plot had plenty of misadventures and romcom situations but I confess I struggled to like Marcel and Viola together. I felt their romance was almost staged-looking, and I didn't really see the things that brought them together working out as well as they were meant to. For this contributed the fact they both have a past that affected them emotionally, and while Viola's issues are more public (and the reader has knowledge of it since book #1), Marcel's is more devastating in a way, but also very frustrating to read about, something that ended up being a bit annoying to me.

With this I mean it was annoying to read about the things he went trough and how seemingly unaffected those around him seemed to have been. Considering the terrible things he saw and how much he still suffers because of what he perceived to have happened, his distance from his family feels exaggerated. Surely someone would have helped.. but no, and this means his behavior is directly a result of what he went though. I liked him at the same time I wish he had done things differently.

Thus, we have two people marked by mistakes and wrong ideas about themselves trying to act as if it's not a big deal they are taking a few days for an affair. The romance didn't seem very strong to me, because it seemed most of what they were dealing with was still stuck in the past and the scenes with people in the present felt like a task and not something they truly wanted to live with. I can't explain it but from deciding on a quick affair to everlasting love there wasn't enough obvious progression.

I also struggled with the vibe of this novel. Since the main characters had complicated issues in their past, which still affect them now, to deal with and to process, the mood around them was rather sad. For me this means reading about them wasn't very captivating, even though I understand what led them to the point in their lives. But, unlike most of this author's books I have read - and all have some kind of angsty situation - reading about their path to happiness wasn't heartwarming nor hopeful. Things end in an HEA for them, but I wasn't truly fascinated by them as a couple.

Bearing everything in mind, this was still likable and very much in par with what the author has done in her series, but this one didn't fully win me over. I hope the next one is better.. although it has an age gap in which the heroine is older... let's see...

Grade: 6/10

Annabeth Albert - Wheels Up

Lieutenant Dustin Strauss is a reformed man. No longer a twentysomething hell-raiser, he's his SEAL team's new XO-and a man with a secret. Or seven. He's kept his bisexual identity under wraps for years, along with his kinky side and a fondness for the military-themed semianonymous hookup website Joe4Joe. His latest chat buddy is more than a sexy online distraction-they're taking their very not-safe-for-work relationship into real time.
Petty Officer Wes Lowe has a smart mouth, a take-charge attitude and an uncanny ability for making things go boom. The life of an enlisted man isn't always enough to satisfy him, but one wild, no-questions-asked weekend with his online love comes close. When a transfer order comes in, Wes feels ready and centered. He'll make a good impression on his new SEAL team and keep his growing feelings for Dustin on the down low.
But as they log more time online and some very real emotions surface, Dustin and Wes struggle to pretend they're just a harmless fling. And when his commander introduces Dustin to his team's newest member, they're in for the shock of a lifetime…and a crushing disappointment: their difference in ranks means even a friendship without sexual contact could end their navy careers for good.
With their hearts on the line, Dustin and Wes may not survive their next mission, let alone find a way toward a future together.

Comment: This is the fourth installment in the Out of Uniform series by Annabeth Albert. There are several novellas in between all the full length books, but I will probably skip them.

In this book, Dustin is a lieutenant who has seen most of his close friends pair up and become happy with someone, while he remains single. He has registered at an app made for military men and he has struck an online friendship with some benefits with someone and now that person wants to meet in person. He meets Wes at a museum and they have as much chemistry in real life as they do online and a night together seems to be perfection. However, they soon realize they have a huge problem because what they thought would be a simple hook up that might lead into something stronger becomes a night mare when they find each other face to face at work, as Wes is arriving to become part of Dustin's team, meaning they can't ever be a couple as they were dreaming of... is there any hope for them?

I liked this story way better than the last one because it has more interesting dynamics. I do like this "forbidden" romance vibe and I feel the author did it quite well, portraying the difficulties, both legal and emotional, of wanting to be with someone who isn't suitable. I'd still change a few details for my personal taste, but this story felt way more convincing than what I imagined.

The fact the two men are part of the same team is a huge factor and sexual orientation apart, it's understandable why people who work together in such an environment aren't suitable for it, considering all the aspects, the legal and the emotional but also everything related to HR and hierarchies. I don't know much about military rules (apart from what I've seen in movies and books) but I can understand the legalities of such things. There are jobs/settings where this would not matter, but here I see why it does.

Thus, Dustin and Wes are placed at a terrible position, of wanting to develop a connection which one doesn't find easily with anyone else but which would cause them problems at several levels. Still, the emotional connection is there and although they try to avoid it, ignore it, it isn't that simple to just turn off feelings and emotions, especially after months of getting to know one another online and after a real life encounter. I think the author did a good job giving evidence of how much of a struggle this was for them, at the same time things weren't easy to avoid and they did give in to their feelings at times, even for something as simple as accepting a phone call.

Of course this gets more poignant because we know how they feel about each other before they acknowledge it verbally. I think the dynamics of the romance were captivating to see because it wasn't superficial and they had to work for things to work out. While they work together and try to do the right thing, there's always this notion of how perfect the other person is and I did like how we got to get this impression as the story developed.

I think an element that contributed for this was the fact Dustin had not shared he is bisexual and he felt he let time drag to do so and now it would feel odd to say something, but his feelings for Wes aren't something he can/wants to ignore. I think his emotional journey into personal acceptance and identity was well done and I "suffered" along him while he had his inner debates. What I wasn't as fond of was the light D/s vibe he and Wes have. I could totally do without this and yes, it's unfair but that's on my personal preference;I dislike stories with this content.

Wes was as complex, in a way, as Dustin, more so because he is enlisted and his sister has heart issues and everything at the same time messes up with his head. However, he knows Dustin is the perfect person for him and to also have to pretend it isn't so only adds up to his emotional state. Again, I think their interactions and conversations on why they should or not be together were quite on point, and when a decision is made, which can affect their possible future, I was eager to see what would happen.

Obviously, this story has an HEA and I think it was credible enough in regards to their military status and how their relationship could be seen by others or better, perceived by others. I would say the end was logical and allowed them to reach for the things they wanted. I also liked the scenes where Dustin finally shares this part of himself with his family. All in all, a much stronger emotional story to consider and now I hope the next one is similar, emotionally I mean.

Grade: 8/10

Bradley P. Beaulieu - Twelve Kings in Sharakhai

Sharakhai, the great city of the desert, center of commerce and culture, has been ruled from time immemorial by twelve kings -- cruel, ruthless, powerful, and immortal. With their army of Silver Spears, their elite company of Blade Maidens and their holy defenders, the terrifying asirim, the Kings uphold their positions as undisputed, invincible lords of the desert. There is no hope of freedom for any under their rule.
Or so it seems, until Çeda, a brave young woman from the west end slums, defies the Kings' laws by going outside on the holy night of Beht Zha'ir. What she learns that night sets her on a path that winds through both the terrible truths of the Kings' mysterious history and the hidden riddles of her own heritage. Together, these secrets could finally break the iron grip of the Kings' power...if the nigh-omnipotent Kings don't find her first.

Comment: In 2015 I've added this book to my TBR. It has been languishing there all this time and now that I have finally decided to give it a try, I find out I'm not in the mood nor did I feel interested after all...

In this fantasy world, the city of Sharakhai is being governed by twelve kings who are known for their cruelty and personal army of "maiden blades". The heroine Ceda, a young woman whose identity of a talented fighter is still a mystery, wants to get revenge on the kings for it's because of them that her mother is dead. Things don't seem to be likely for her to succeed in defeating the kings but one day, something happens that opens up the possibility, but will Ceda be ready to act? Or will the road be too difficult and the price to pay until then to high for her?

Looking back, I have no recollection of why I've added this to my list, but it probably had something to do with the idea of a heroine defeating powerful men and finding friends and love on the way. I mean, I don't read much fantasy nowadays for the sake of it, I know most my reads in the genre now have to include some kind of romantic sub plot, but if there was another reason, another element that caught my eye in 2015 which I can't remember now, who knows.

I confess I didn't start with much eagerness but sometimes this happens to me when it comes to books in other genres I like more, so I had hopes that as I went along, I might find reasons to keep my interest but that didn't happen. I'm also ashamed to say I have only lasted for 70 pages before telling myself that I didn't want to read more. The setting and the overall environment around Sharakhai seemed incredible and I would have read more for that alone, but the characters didn't convince me.

Ceda seemed to be a very competent heroine but in the short 70 pages I've read - I understand the unfairness of this poor average, if the book has, like, 500 or something - she did a few things i think were ridiculous, and a few which seemed pointless. I can only imagine that the point is for her to learn, to "grow up" or become more mature as life and her goals drive her, but I kept thinking I didn't want to wait to find out. This short amount of pages didn't grab me, so... dnf it is.

After making my decision, as I always do after finishing a book (or not, as happened here), I've glimpsed at other readers' comments and some reviews to have a better understanding of the book's content and plot. I think that reading these other ideas is enough to give me a sense of closure of this book and I feel happy enough to simply have that knowledge. Therefore, sadly, this is for me. As always, other readers had a completely different experience and loved it. It is what it is.

Grade: DNF