TBR Challenge 2016 Summary

Happy New Year everyone! 💜
I hope the past two days have been fun and filled with good moments with your families and friends!

So, it's the beginning of the year and it's time for some summary posts about the past reading year.
The first for me will be a brief post about the reading challenge I was part of last year. Again, I did the TBR challenge hosted by Wendy and I had a great time once more.

As for my books, here is a small comment on each one!

January:  A Mackenzie Clan Gathering by Jennifer Ashley (short story)
A warm story about the Mackenzie family and a gret oportunity to see all the beloved characters again, even if the plot isn't the best ever in the series.

February: Light My Fire by GA Aiken (series catch-up)
I'm still behind in this series but this was another good installemnt in the adventures of a cast of characters I care about. I still think that this wasn't as best as previous books but it was great to see the dragons go on in their battles and romances...

March: The Duke's Tattoo by Miranda Davis (recommended read)
What a great surprise, i was enchanted by this romance between a duke and the woman who somehow managed to tattoo his.... well, read and find out!

April: Country Roads by Nancy Herkness (contemporary)
The second installment in a trilogy I liked quite much overall. This book seemed better than the first but there was some deeper emotion missing. Sill worth the read if you like horses. 

May: A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (something different)
Not sure what to expect but there was a lot of buzz surrounding this book. The romance between a vampire and a witch was interesting as were all the amazing details and history facts. But some parts were a bit boring and the purpose gets a bit lost... 

June: Hero by Samantha Young (favorite trope)
This story wasn't bad but the relationship between the main characters felt rather weak when compared to other books by the author. I liked the "class" differences but the way the romance developed could have been much better!

July: The Vixen and the Vet by Katy Regnery ( RITA finalist)
Interesting theme and story, great romance and very special scenes and chapters. Could have used a better development but overall I enjoyed this contemporary romance. 

August: Bread Alone by Judith Ryan Hendricks ( Kicking old school)
This was a surprise because it has a lot more drama than what I usually enjoy but the life of the protagonist who found in baking an escape and a chance seemed well done. The following books in the trilogy/series don't appeal to me but this was one intrigued me.

September: Trade Me by Courtney Milan (Random Pick)
Very curious to see how thr author would be in contemporaries and was impressed, again. The intelectual and emotional elements are wonderfully done if just a bit too much at times. But the character's relationship was good.

October: Savage Awakening by JD Tyler (Paranormal suspense)
Another positive surprise, the previous book wasn't very strong but this one glued me to it and I didn't want to stop reading about the team of soldiers who have special powers and find love...

November: Harper's Bride by Alexis Harrington (Historical)
It could have been better but it was as weet story, not an original concept in historicals but I liked spending time with the characters and the romance had its moments. 

December: A Wallflower Christmas by Lisa Kleypas (holidays)
I was saving this for this month and it was great to see all the beloved characters again. The romance felt rushed but it's a short story so... still cute enough to make me smile and remember everyone's stories.

😆 And this was it. Interesting stories, none too bad but one too perfect either. It was a balanced challenge in terms of picks!
I'm already eager to know which surprises I might get for the 2017 challenge too!
Happy reading!

TBR Challenge: Lisa Kleypas - A Wallflower Christmas

It’s Christmas time in London and Rafe Bowman has arrived from America for his arranged meeting with Natalie Blandford, the very proper and beautiful daughter of Lady and Lord Blandford. His chiseled good looks and imposing physique are sure to impress the lady-in-waiting, and if it weren’t for his shocking American ways and wild reputation, her hand would already be guaranteed.
Before the courtship can begin, Rafe realizes he must learn the rules of London society. But when four former Wallfowers try their hand at matchmaking, no one knows what will happen. And winning a bride turns out to be more complicated than Rafe Bowman anticipated, especially for a man accustomed to getting anything he wants.
However, Christmas works in the most unexpected ways, changing a cynic to a romantic and inspiring passion in the most timid of hearts.
A Wallflower Christmas takes a trip to Victorian London, under the mistletoe, and on a journey of the heart.

Comment: This is the last book read for the 2016 TBR challenge. This month the theme is, as always, holidays and, as I think most participants do, I picked a Christmas read. I had this book saved precisely for this since a few months ago. I've read the other 4 books in 2014 and 2015 and now the end of it. I wasn't particularly eager only because I've read some not in depth comments here and there and it didn't seem this was such a strong add on to the series but...closure means something.

In this final installment, shorter than the other books, we have the story of Rafe Bowman, one of the brothers of Lilian and Daisy. Apparently, Rafe has come to England to meet Lady Natalie, a young lady who can probably become hos wife if all parts agree on what is already an expected deal. To get a first impression, Lady Natalie's parents send their poor cousin, Hannah Appleton, so she can have a more precise notion of the unconventional - but rich - man their daughter will be marrying.

Hannah's opinion doesn't seem to be very positive but when she leaves she can't say she didn't feel something. The only think to consider, however, is if he's suitable but as time goes by and Natalie starts to like the idea of marrying Rafe, Hannah feels sadder...can she be the one falling in love with him instead of Natalie?

Like I said, I wasn't especially eager to read this story because Rafe never really intrigued me but I admit it was exciting to think I'd have scenes with the characters I liked in the series, Lillian in particular because she was my favorite heroine.

This isn't a long story, things develop quite fast but it did fit the Holiday theme because all characters reunite to celebrate Christmas and, hopefully, Rafe's engagement. In terms of creating a good environment and atmosphere to imagine the characters spending the occasion together, it was quite fun, and I guess well done, although for the title used, the story really could be longer to better have the romance and more domestic scenes with everyone, which would suit the Christmas spirit a lot more.

There's a romance in this book, obviously. Rafe and Hannah don't start the best way, she is not impressed by him but as it happens often with romances, it's clear they will fall in love. Their relationship wasn't as weak as one could think of in a short story but yes, with more pages it would have certainly been better done, even more so when I think about all the interesting dilemmas and dramas surrounding it, like the fact Hannah is Natalie's friend but at the end, a sort of servant and that Rafe doesn't need but secretly wishes for his father's approval. It was interesting to see how they dealt with this but I think the story had great ingredients to be a good romantic drama.

I liked there wasn't much time dedicated to intimacy and thank God, otherwise this would look ridiculous (as so many short stories do when most of them are sex descriptions) but sadly, I'd require a bit more substance to both Rafe and Hannah together to be convinced they were in love. I know it's very difficult to actually portray this, more so in a story with less pages, but it wasn't so. Still, too bad we couldn't have more things happening before they both realized they were at the same pages in terms of what they wanted from the other...it was great to see them get an HEA but yes, it could have been so much more romantic or sweeter.

I think this wasn't a bad attempt, it wasn't the author's best but the glimpse of all the wallflowers being happy with their husbands and families and seeing them all together again... it just made me smile and at the end of everything, it was entertaining.

Grade: 7/10

TBR Challenge: Alexis Harrington - Harper's Bride

With blistering humiliation, Melissa Logan stood by in mute horror as her husband sold her to pay a debt. She’d already realized that marrying Coy Logan to escape her miserable life with a drunken father and two lazy brothers had been a ghastly mistake. Coy dragged her to Dawson City to join the Yukon gold rush. Now worse off than ever, she was penniless with a new baby and “belonged” to Dylan Harper, a man said to have a heart of stone and a meat cleaver under his store counter that he wielded without hesitation. Melissa never felt so desperate in her life.
Dylan Harper wanted his $1,200, not a wife. But afraid if he didn’t accept Logan’s offer, someone else would, Dylan couldn’t bear the idea of this woman with a bruised face suffering an even worse fate. To him, this marriage, conducted in a barroom with a dying Louisiana lawyer officiating, was nothing more than a business arrangement. Melissa would cook and clean for him, but not share his bed. But he didn’t dream this gentle female would grip his heart so fiercely. Yet, with all the hurt between them, would either be willing to take the first steps to trust again, to touch, to fall in love...

Comment: It's time for this month's TBR book, this time the theme was Historical and I chose a book by Alexis Harrington not only because she writes historicals but also because I had more than one book by her in my TBR list. It would be a nice way to get one down of the pile...

Following the western tradition of romances, the author presents us Melissa Logan, a recent mother whose husband doesn't treat her right and as soon as the story begins, gives her away to pay off a debt at Dylan Harper's store. Recognizing she would be beaten again by the lazy man, Dylan accepts the offer but regrets it when he realizes he has no idea what to do with her or her baby.

Melissa doesn't have anywhere to go nor the money to do it even if she wanted, so she accepts Dylan's help and starts her own laundry business on the side to help with the expenses and hoping to pay off her husband's debt. With time, however, Dylan stops being another possible enemy to be the gentleman and the person she easily accepts as someone who helps her. Could her feelings become reciprocated as well?

This is one of those traditional romances that we don't see being written anymore nowadays. At least, not with the feel or the vibe the older books used to have. Everything changes, including the way writers think about their stories and how to portray their characters. This book has two protagonists that wouldn't be presented exactly like this in a recent book, there's something about it that tells us it was published years ago (almost 20 as a matter of fact). It doesn't mean it's bad, just has a different aura or something that makes it a different kind of historical from historicals published today.

The story is quite sweet, it has all the elements to be so, the lady in need of help and the reluctant hero who can't help but be there. Of course this is a trope seen countless times and it takes effort and talent to make it smooth. I liked this story, I liked Melissa and Dylan and I especially liked the beginning of their relationship and how it progressed. But closer to the end, avoidable tactics in the plot just brought down the grade for me. I really think it would have been unnecessary to add the drama we see before the HEA happens, it's obvious why it's there, it's not helping anything and something slightly different would have been much better, like a conversation or an attempt to change but realizing it wouldn't have to be so, I don't know.

The romance progressed interestingly, it took time for both to realize they wanted things to change between them, it was great to see Melissa grow up emotionally so she could recognize the feelings in her and Dylan didn't jump into situations he couldn't deal with, their paths crossed but weren't fully aligned all the time, it was very nice to see them slowly accept another chance at love, at caring for someone else, at wanting to be with the other... it's great to have stories where the main couple thinks and decides before just acting and regretting or being pointlessly whiny about it.

What annoyed me the most was how, after having more than accepting they were in love, they still clung to that idea they had to be apart and so on... I mean, this is not totally unacceptable, because people often do silly things but it would have been much better that, if instead of going ahead with it, they had come to their senses and dealt with it wisely. Dylan's need to confront his past is quite expected and a loose point I obviously liked seeing done with but it didn't have o be like that. Then we have the rushed end and not a sweet epilogue to confirm us their choices. Oh well, not everything is always the way we would like.

All things considered, this was a positive story, I liked reading it, yes, some moments weren't as interesting as others but many details made up for it. I liked Dylan's relationship with baby Jenny, his friendship with Rafe, I liked Melissa's happiness when she was feeling worthy and useful...

There are many scenes that makes us want to be with the characters and feel glad they are happy.

However, I'd definitely change some things and that says it all about how perfect, or not, a book is to us.

Grade: 6/10

TBR Challenge: JD Tyler - Savage Awakening

After one of their own is captured, the Alpha Pack must save him. With them is Psy Dreamwalker Rowan Chase. Her priority is her brother's rescue. What she doesn't bargain for is a scorching affair with a rugged wolf shifter. When his life is endangered, Rowan must ask herself what she's willing to sacrifice in the name of love.

Comment: Another read for the TBR challenge and this month the theme is paranormal or romantic suspense. I went with PNR with glimpses of suspense, not that I can say there is much of it...but it suited my reading list of October and it was the closest I had with the intended theme.

This is the story of Aric Savage, he is a member of the secret military OP Alpha Team, a group of operatives who became shape shifters after a weird mission. Aric has been taken by the enemy and has been tortured but he is rescued, along others in the beginning of the story and that is important because he will meet his mate after that.

Rowan Chase is a cop in LA but she never accepted her brother was killed and hint after hint leads her to the Alpha Pack complex where she meets the team and later on helps rescuing her brother and Aric, a man she feels strongly attracted to.

All would be well if the Alpha Pack hadn't to fight a specific enemy and to do that they have to figure out who that person is. But maybe the answers arrive too late to save all their loved ones...

This is my second attempt in reading this series. The first installment wasn't a favorite of mine, I've read it at the end of 2014, said I'd read more during 2015 but well, it's almost the end of 2016...where does time go? Anyway, the first book didn't impress me much but I feel glad I could still remember some things as soon as I started this second book. And I liked this one better. It's not perfect, but in terms of being able to maintain my interest in reading, this was better.

The story isn't too complicated when it comes to the plot. A bunch of guys (some girls, mostly doctors) in a shared complex, they are battling supernatural forces most humans would consider fantasy, they are buddies, some are nicer than others, all have their own personal supernatural abilities and were changed into wolves - and a panther.

The idea isn't that original for a PNR, but somehow works. As always, what makes it interesting are the specific characters, their powers, the friendship between them, the fact they behave like family and have a strong bond...well, to be honest, I think this aspect isn't used to its maximum potential, but whatever. They have enemies, humans and others they have to battle, they have comrades to rescue, not a single one wants to be mated and fights it when it happens...so, pretty much any type of PNR out there. Still, I liked this one better, I don't know if I was simply in the mood, if the writing is more fluid, therefore easier to follow and go through, if the characters felt more captivating...something surely was but don't expect originality or "amazingness".

The romance is always an important element in these types of stories and this wasn't an exception. Usually the romances are rushed and too much insta-love (even shape shifters/mating issues and rules aside) and I kind of noticed it here as well, but somehow, despite seeing it, I think it's better compared to the first one because of the attitude Rowan and Aric had going into it. I just think I can respect their decision and their lack of drama while being together. Of course, there is a slightly drama issue closer to the end, which was unnecessary but there's a HEA at the end and that was great.

The characters have to deal with emotional issues, they have to talk and discuss important things about themselves and I don't mean only the protagonists. I liked how the next story started to be prepared. Some people think this ha a cliffhanger but I don't agree. Sure, we are left wondering what will happen, but the way things are done I don't think it's not bearable. I liked how even things related mostly to other people somehow were important to the protagonists and others, not only the couple meant to be.

There is an obvious lack of more layers, more sense of community for a bunch of people living togther and the romance could have been done with more sweetness and romantic gestures...

The suspense parts, at least the ones we can address as suspense, certainly look weak and maybe there just to fill up space but to me it's perfect: not too much to make the story a thriller and just enough to make is a part of the team's purpose and goals.

All in all, Rowan and Aric provided an interesting story, yes there are obvious things one could change but I was entertained and I'm looking for to read the next story too.

Grade: 7/10

TBR Challenge: Courtney Milan - Trade Me

Tina Chen just wants a degree and a job, so her parents never have to worry about making rent again. She has no time for Blake Reynolds, the sexy billionaire who stands to inherit Cyclone Technology. But when he makes an off-hand comment about what it means to be poor, she loses her cool and tells him he couldn’t last a month living her life.
To her shock, Blake offers her a trade: She’ll get his income, his house, his car. In exchange, he’ll work her hours and send money home to her family. No expectations; no future obligations.
But before long, they’re trading not just lives, but secrets, kisses, and heated nights together. No expectations might break Tina’s heart...but Blake’s secrets could ruin her life. 

Comment: Here we are in another TBR post, this month the theme is a Random Pick, which basically means anything we want or anything we were up to. I had several books I'd enjoy presenting as my choice but I ended up with Courtney Milan and her first contemporary novel. 

I had this book in the pile for some time and I've enjoyed the historicals I've read by her, some more than others but I do plan on going through her back list (2017 project, humm...), so I was glad to try her contemporary work. I was even more pleased when I realized the heroine was Asian. I mean, I don't particularly look for Asian heroines but I was very curious and Courtney Milan does justice for her unusual heroines so...decision made.

In this book we meet Tina Chen, a young woman who wants to get her degree and finally make it possible for her parents to live freely without worrying about the bills. Her life isn't easy, she has to work twice as hard as any fellow student because she works and lives away from college but she's doing it. What annoys her the most, however, is how other students seem to think poor people are simply lazy and one day in class she gets into a discussion of this with Blake Reynolds, a very wealthy guy, the son of a powerful man and part of Cyclone Technology, a very conceited company.

Because of their fight, he ends up talking to her and later she has an offer from him, to trade places, each one will do what the other does for a limited time, simply as that.

Tina and Blake are very different but with this experience they learn that attraction and true feelings don't care about money or parents....

The first thing that really made me eager to read this story was the difference in classes between Tina and Blake. It's one of my personal preferences to read about heroines in dire situations but with work and humility they can try to overcome their situations. A little help from the hero is great but the best thing is for her to be worthy of any good things that might appear in her path. I don't know, this trope calls to me.

Also great was her origins and I was quite curious how the fact they come from different backgrounds would matter to their relationship. I think the connection between them was pretty convincing even if the idea that brought them together - the trade - doesn't sound very realistic in terms of jobs and professionalism behavior.

The romance is slow paced but the author is very talented in portraying this, so I was sold on them when the book ended. It never seems they simply want to act, both think and weight what they do, what the consequences can be...I guess this makes the plot rather plain but I like when characters act as grown ups. Despite this book being labeled NA - for their ages mostly - their maturity and behavior speaks to me, because they act as adults and they know how much importance the things in their life have and nothing is superficial or vain.

I liked them together, how each one could let their guard down in order to fall in love and trust and take some strength from the other.

The best thing was their personality and how we got to know them as individuals. Both had weaknesses and I was surprised to see the path the author took, especially when it came to Blake. It's not often we see his problem in real life, much less in fiction.

If there's one thing I can complain about is the subtlety. At some points, certain ideas are conveyed and we do have explicit scenes and parts when it comes to them as a couple but I guess I miss more romantic things, yes their relationship was great and sweet but a bit more emphasis on that would have been great. I just think some things weren't as obviously romantic as I would wish for.

Another thing is that there are situations that seemed a little bit too over analyzed. This means i, as the reader, had to follow that way of thinking or idea to a point where it stopped being as interesting or where I no longer had to wonder because it was explained too much or not believably. This is not bad, only something I couldn't help noticing at some point.

I like this author took time to develop the characters in a believable way. All secondary characters have a distinct personality and they seem complete, meaning they aren't there just filling space, there's a purpose to everything and every character in the page. I like how the author picks something or someone and develops that idea until the end, we can see a growth in everything, a substantial development to what surrounds the main couple. I think this makes the story look more mature and well thought, which gives it a very rational vibe, completely opposite the usual NA stories more focused on sex, lust and silly behavior.

I think this is a successful story, one I was glad to read and it made me curious about what is to come next. No subject was simply addressed here, there are themes that aren't easy but we got glimpses of them and what can possibly be done. I foresee interesting possibilities for the future.

The next book must be amazing, considering the heroine. I think the author has captivated me enough to make me read, at least, one more book in the series.

Grade: 8/10

TBR Challenge: Judith Ryan Hendricks - Bread Alone

Thirty-one-year-old Wynter Morrison is lost when her husband leaves her for another woman. Desperate for a change, she moves to Seattle, where she spends aimless hours at a local bakery sipping coffee and inhaling the sweet aromas of freshly-made bread. These visits bring back memories of the time she aprenticed at a French boulangerie, when her passion for bread-making nearly led her to leave college and become a baker.
Once again, the desire to bake bread consumes her thoughts. When offered a position at the bake shop, Wyn quickly accepts, hoping that the baking will help her move on. But soon Wyn discovers that the making of bread—the kneading of the dough—possesses an unexpected and wondrous healing power—one that will ultimately renew her heart and her soul.

Comment: Here we are in another Wednesday dedicated to the TBR post. August is the month of "Kicking it Old School", which means a book published 10 years ago or before that. My original pick was something else but on Monday morning I realized the publishing date was actually 2009 and not 2005 as I somehow got into my head. 

Because I really like to meet the themes and not cheat, I immediately looked at my reading list and this title, which I'd read right after anyway, was the one wining the chance to be part of the challenge, more so when I checked and it was originally published in 2001, well meeting the mark.

The narrative, though, is set in 1988 but it hardly shows.

This is the story of Wyn Morrison and the story begins with her realizing her husband of seven years wants to have a divorce. At first it's just "time" but eventually thing progress negatively. Wyn goes through all the stages of not believing what's happening and even trying to find a way to convince David, the husband, not to leave her. Although he keeps saying he just wants time and he feels neither has been happy, Wyn realizes he already has another woman.

Wyn travels to Seattle, to be closer to her best friend and somehow she gets involved in the bakery business, something that also helps her deal with her personal problems. In the meantime, she has to accept her mother is getting married again and that the sweet new male friend can become something more important if only takes a chance...

This book is marked woman's fiction and it is but there's some glimpses of romance I appreciated too. I decided to read it as a buddy read because I got into my head it would be a sweet romance and my friend shares some of my reading tastes. However, this is more a study on how to go through an unfair divorce. I say unfair because Wyn never agreed and she never saw it coming. Because the book is told from her perspective, of course we empathize a lot with her and her feelings.

I confess I cried here and there just thinking how something like this in real life can hurt and depress and bring someone down. Just reading about possible scenes like the ones described by Wyn were complicated, like the knowledge he was lying, that he replaced her with someone else, etc.. Difficult feelings to overcome, which I know added more power to the story but at the same time made you think.

This is a contemporary novel too, so obviously Wyn has a lot to deal with. Her emotional path was quite believable and despite not sharing her views on this or that, for the most part the scenes she was in were convincing of someone in her difficult position.

I liked the moment the action changed settings but things were still complicated but Wyn's mother was marrying again after years being a widow. Because nothing is simple in woman's fiction, Wyn truly loved her father and missed him and felt her mother, despite deserving happiness was replacing her father, which I can understand if I were in her place, but then all things together made for some dramatic situations.

Wyn also has a new romance on the horizon but it's never something set in stone, not only because throughout the whole book she isn't divorced yet but also because she is not in the best emotional position to make that jump.

This is my first book by the author, I liked the style, the writing, the story in general. Sure, I disliked some things, I got annoyed at others but for the most part, it was a good book. I understand its faults and I'd change some things but the voice is here. Interestingly, the author must love bread because there are many examples of recipes of bread and descriptions of it. Of course, this is almost therapy to Wyn, but the author has a lot of knowledge about it and in the end it helps the plot move forward!

The characters were interesting, we learn more about Wyn because she's the narrator but many of the other characters were well depicted and because we don't have their POV, good for the author to manage to impart personality to them like that.

Wyn is complex, not perfect, but I was rooting for her and her new chances in life.

As a whole this was a good book but the end felt too easy and didn't match the rhythm of the book. Now I understand why, there is a sequel and another (this is the 1st of a trilogy in fact) and that explains why the end seems rushed. But I feel weird because although I liked this book, I won't read the next ones. My feelings about this book are defined and positive, despite the theme. The blurbs of the next books point to a path I didn't expect and that sounds too melodramatic for the story we have here. Almost as if the next books went too far.

Therefore, I stay here to maintain my good vibe of this book and not ruin the experience with more stories I might dislike. And considering all I have to read anyway...

All things considered, this was an interesting read, emotional but well paced until the end and I liked it but this will be it.

Grade: 7/10

TBR Challenge: Katy Regnery - The Vixen and the Vet

In this modern-retelling of "Beauty and the Beast," Savannah Carmichael, betrayed by an unreliable source, returns to her hometown of Danvers, Virginia with her once-promising journalism career in ruins. Given the opportunity to get back in the game by writing a patriotic human interest piece, Savannah turns her attention to the town hermit, Asher Lee, a wounded veteran who returned to Danvers eight years ago, and hasn’t been seen since.
After an IED explosion in Afghanistan took Asher’s hand and disfigured half of his face, he's lived a quiet life on the outskirts of Danvers where the locals respect his privacy…that is, until Savannah Carmichael comes calling in a borrowed sundress with a plate of homemade brownies. When Asher agrees to be interviewed by Savannah, he starts feeling things for the beautiful reporter that he hasn’t felt in years.
Misfits in small-town Danvers, Savannah and Asher create a bond right away, touching each other’s hearts in ways neither thought possible. When a terrible mistake threatens to drive them apart, they’ll have to decide if the love they found in one another’s arms is strong enough to fight for their hard-won happily ever after.

Comment: So, here I am, one day late with my TBR read of this month. I apologize again...

This time, the theme is RITA finalist. This book was a finalist in the 2015 edition.

I don't have many of these around but thankfully to Wendy, our host, her list was quite helpful and I actually saw I had two titles that could fit the bill. This was the one I looked for the most to read and voilá.

This is a contemporary story, a new take on the Beauty and the Beast theme, my favorite Disney story and something I always look for to try.

Savannah Carmichael is a reporter but one of her sources gave her bad information and the newspaper in New York she worked for fired her. She went back home to Virginia to stay with her family and a chance to recover her career may be on the horizon if only she can write a Lifestyle piece for a Phoenix newspaper. The idea is to interview a war veteran, a local hermit and present a heartfelt story with positive aspects.

Asher Lee is the young war vet, severely wounded in Afghanistan, that now feels he's a monster because of his physical debilities. He agrees to let Savannah interview him only because she's local too and he could help her.

But two people that went away and returned different can find more common ground to become friends? And even more than friends?

I liked this story, especially parts of it. As a whole, I'd say there are some pacing issues I couldn't not notice. But the general idea I got as soon as I finished is of contentment, because the character's learned to see the other through loving eyes and that was great.

This a Beauty and the Beast retelling, using contemporary ideas/situations. The story is still alive enough outside the tale's main details, which is positive and the author included some interesting twists (the hero is the one who reads compulsively) that only made this look more unique.

I liked the main couple, especially Asher. He is intriguing, not because he was injured and that could make many people have pity on him, but because despite the notion of self esteem he has changed because of that, he was still someone who grabbed the things he loved in life - like reading! - and used that to not let himself be even more depressed. I'm not saying there's a cure for something like what veterans/soldiers face when they return, in particular if they return with physical deficiencies, but sometimes if we focus on good things, on things that give us pleasure and purpose, we can try to be more positive. I liked this about Asher, sure he felt down, he didn't see things in a bright side but he wasn't completely dependent or self destructive.

Savannah was the more active of the two, and I liked her for the most part. The conflict close to the end of the book was avoidable I think, but I get why the author used it as a means to enhance a point. What I think wasn't her best feature is how her personality doesn't match her behavior. the author says she is this and that but some of her actions after don't seem to match the idea I made of her by reading descriptions about her.

The romance was obviously cute, Savannah could see past Asher's physical aspect and fall in love for the man he was and vice-versa.

But to me the pace wasn't always the most adequate. I think the time since they meet until they admit to themselves - if not to one another - they were falling in love is too short. Well, it doesn't have to look too short, but by the way things were developed it looked like it. Maybe the chapters could have included more the notion of the passage of time or we could have had scenes with them still debating if their personal feelings were reciprocated or not...it would give us the illusion more tension and doubts existed and when they finally admitted things, it would have looked more special and believable.

The end had its own issues, I think, but I liked the idea of a common future and a HEA for them. I wouldn't say no to a epilogue of sorts. The title is understandable but not the ebst choice, I think.

Still, I liked this book and I only miss the fact I couldn't dedicate more time to it because of real life. But I was happy I gave this one a chance!

Grade: 8/10

TBR Challenge: Samantha Young - Hero

Alexa Holland’s father was her hero—until her shocking discovery that she and her mother weren’t his only family. Ever since, Alexa has worked to turn her life in a different direction and forge her own identity outside of his terrible secrets,. But when she meets a man who’s as damaged by her father’s mistakes as she is, Alexa must help him.
Caine Carraway wants nothing to do with Alexa’s efforts at redemption, but it’s not so easy to push her away. Determined to make her hate him, he brings her to the edge of her patience and waits for her to walk away. But his actions only draw them together and, despite the odds, they begin an intense and explosive affair.
Only Caine knows he can never be the white knight that Alexa has always longed for. And when they’re on the precipice of danger, he finds he’ll do anything to protect either one of them from being hurt again… 

Comment: This is the TBR Wednesday of June and this time the theme was Favorite Trope. I have to confess I felt rather doubtful about which book to pick, I have some favorite types of books but I don't usually get books because of that, it would be much easier to pick other themes but after having this one already set to be read this book, I realized it had one of my favorite tropes in romance which is the Enemies to Lovers (and some boss/secretary included too) and so wanted to see them change their mind about each other, get to know one another and yes, realize they were falling in love. When done right, it can be totally romantic!

This one felt better and better for me the more I thought about it and considering the author, someone whose books I've read before were generally successes with me, I was sold.

In this book we meet Alexa Holland, a young woman who works for a photographer and finds out after her return from holidays that the shoot will feature Caine Carraway, a sort of self made man who's rich and powerful (obviously) but she feels it won't go well because they're enemies. The thing is, Alexa's father had an affair with Caine's mother and she died overdosing on drugs and Alexa's father did nothing to help, causing his mother to die. Caine became an orphan and was put in the system but he grew up and got rich and now can't even stand the Holland name.

When they meet in the photo shoot, Alexa can't help herself and tells him her name and things don't go well. Eventually she is fired and she gets angry at Caine, he hates her guts, she tries to apologize, somehow he offers her a job, she accepts to prove she isn't what he thinks, they have their little fights but of course, eventually things change. But will they fall in love?

Overall, this fit all the ideas I had about a enemies to lovers story and I had previously liked the author's books, so I was quite pleased with it.

It's when I think about the extras that I feel this could have been so much better... I think my biggest problem with this book is how fast they give in to sexual attraction. they are sort of antagonist more than deadly enemies and that part is interesting, but from the "I-can't-even-hear-your-name" stage to the "I-need-you-now" one, things move too fast. I wouldn't say this is an insta-love set, because it's not but the insta-sex surely seems quick! I don't mind erotica toned stories but I confess it was slightly not good to see Caine, someone who had reasons - even if without sense - to hate Alexa, to simply ignore everything to be with her sexually. Ok, the idea behind the trope is that love and hate are close but... why do we have to see it happen so fast? 

I can't help but thinking they should have struggled a bit more with their attraction, the sexual tension should happen longer while their feelings were changing. Sexually giving in to their attraction seems like an easy tactic and not as romantic or emotionally intense as it could be.

Alexa is an interesting woman and I think the author depicts well why she decides to accept Caine's job offer and why she would feel she had to do something to balance the harm her family did to Caine but I think part of her intentions and even the fight in her, something handy to battle Caine and the job challenges, is lost in the way because she is always speaking about how good looking he is and how she can't help feeling like that around him.

Alexa is the narrator of the book, so obviously we have a lot of her voice but I'll be honest and say there were more times I felt annoyed at her than dreamy because Caine was hot. I strongly suspect authors don't understand real life because it can't be that no matter how good looking someone is, there's no way professional people think about that all the time! I felt the lack of more scenes of Alexa working or dealing with Caine professionally, so the story and their initial antagonism could have more strength.

There's not much to say about Caine because we don't have his POV. Sure, he's sexy, domineering in a realistic way, has secrets, has a past which was a surprise somehow, I admit I was not expecting that...but his interactions with Alexa felt too erotic for the type of story being developed.

I think the more domestic scenes from a certain point on and the things that happen closer to the end give this a different flavor and the end was somewhat better than some middle parts. A bit more balance in the development of the story and the way the protagonists behaved would have helped.

This book rates closer to a 6.5 than a 7 but I kept thinking about how the good parts really won me over so I upped the grade. But I will also say this book didn't come closer to some of the author's other work, which was much more powerful emotionally and in terms of character's interactions and family bonds, this last item sadly lacking here too.

Still, an interesting romance that could be so much better, especially for the type of trope and the possibilities.

Grade: 7/10

TBR Challenge: Deborah Harkness - A Discovery of Witches

Book one of the New York Times–bestselling All Souls trilogy—"a wonderfully imaginative grown-up fantasy with all the magic of Harry Potter and Twilight” (People)
Deborah Harkness’s sparkling debut, A Discovery of Witches, has brought her into the spotlight and galvanized fans around the world. In this tale of passion and obsession, Diana Bishop, a young scholar and a descendant of witches, discovers a long-lost and enchanted alchemical manuscript, Ashmole 782, deep in Oxford's Bodleian Library. Its reappearance summons a fantastical underworld, which she navigates with her leading man, vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont.
Harkness has created a universe to rival those of Anne Rice, Diana Gabaldon, and Elizabeth Kostova, and she adds a scholar's depth to this riveting tale of magic and suspense.

Comment: This is another read included in the TBR Challenge and this month's theme is Something Different which can mean a lot of things, depending on who is reading. The way I looked at it, I've thought about an unusual plot. For that, I picked a reader's favorite by Deborah Harkness (part of her All Souls trilogy), that mixes up paranormal and fiction, considering the amount of paranormal elements but also the history and literary references throughout the whole book. This is not we find that often in books, so there it was for me.

This story presents us Diana Bishop, a clever woman who lives in Connecticut but traveled to Oxford so she could investigate something for her work. While at the library she happens to study an unique manuscript which somehow reveals a spell. Diana, in fact, is a witch although she tries her best to overlook and ignore that.

Because of the manuscript, others start to come after her and she meets vampire Matthew Clairmont, someone who claims she will need help. The two form a special bond which ends up being something no one else would imagine as supernatural beings aren't meant to mix.

But the enemies aren't the only obstacles in Diana's path: what if she can't accept her inner self and her witch heritage?

I liked the book. I think it has enough elements to make it surprising and captivating to read. I don't think it's perfect because of the way the author chose to end it and due to some tactics to develop certain issues, but overall I had a good time reading this more than 700 pages book.

The book is a mix of genres, in a way. It has a lot of literary references, some content that can be perceived as academic and apparently with serious and proved ideas/concepts. The beauty of it all is how all this, which can be considered scientifically content is mixed with the fictional aspects and the paranormal situations and characters, which we wouldn't normally find put together.

In the end, the idea that remains the most I think is the paranormal one, based on historical data and so on, so this should be labeled a PNR I suppose. But it's clear the author had to study a lot to come up with the necessary elements to include and to support some of the ideas she introduces us to. It's also interesting how seemingly easy the academic evidences are included and inserted in the plot. Somehow it all makes sense by the way things are explained, even if we can't fully grasp its meanings.

The easist thing to follow, though, is the fictional characters' lives and actions. Of course the romance that develops between Matthew and Diana has a purpose not only to make us want to read. Both their characters come from different sides in the paranormal reality where the action is set (where witches, vampires and daemons live among humans) and that is supposed to be a no-go but they defy rules because they fall in love.

This added to the search for the a manuscript and its secrets makes it a fascinating story to read.

I think the romance lacks some sexual tension. Yes, they are attracted to each other but their relationship turns clinical and emotional in a way that makes it less thrilling to read about. I'm not talking about wanting to see sex, but to have a better notion of their attraction, because since they met until they told each other they were in love, some times went by but we saw little of how sexually connected they would be, it's not obvious and no matter how linked it can be to the old idea of emotional love instead of physical being better, I still would have liked to see them act more passionate.

Matthew is an alpha character and I confess sometimes he annoyed me. For such an old vampire and having so many experiences, his responses to his natural possessive behavior isn't up to his so called enormous knowledge and experiences of how to deal with people. 

Diana also annoyed me here and there...unlike some readers, it wasn't her lack of will to accept she's a witch that didn't ring true - if it were me I think I'd be like her - my issue is more by how easy she accepts some things, being in love included, considering how analytical she is. And Matthew too, in a way.

The plot develops at a slow pace, many descriptions, which can be a turn off to some...I liked all the details about paranormal elements, the secondary characters too. I hope the following books will include more scenes with the characters that helped the main couple and who are part of their family. I think the author did a good job of adding characters as the plot moved along and giving them interest and purpose.

In the end, this was a surprising book, something I enjoyed although it took me a long time to read. I admit there are parts where things don't run as smoothly and I wasn't eager to keep reading but then something happens and it becomes addictive again. Again, I'm against the majority because I preferred the beginning of the story when things were simple and Diana was still fighting her witch heritage and the main couple's relationship was easier and on the seducing stage.

But everything moved along in an interesting way and I'll read the following book because I want to know what happens.

This book won't appeal to everyone (see how far apart some reviews at GR are) but those who acknowledge the book's intent and fascinating content might find it a great read.

Grade: 7/10

TBR Challenge: Nancy Herkness - Country Roads

When sheltered artist Julia Castillo flees her family home, she has just one goal: to prove to her overbearing family once and for all that she can make it on her own. In Sanctuary, West Virginia, her horse paintings promise to take the art world by storm. Yet Julia finds her courage tested as never before—by her love for a handsome country lawyer, by her bond with a dangerous black stallion, and by the secret she is so desperate to keep…
Paul Taggart abandoned his high-powered legal career to return to Sanctuary, giving up his own dreams to care for his troubled brother. But the day he rescues Julia Castillo from the side of the highway, his staid, responsible life changes forever. Irresistibly drawn to the fiery but unworldly artist, Paul will do anything to protect her—even sacrifice his own happiness to guarantee hers. Dramatic and emotional, Country Roads is a heartwarming tale of two people struggling to balance the bonds of family with a passionate love of their own. 

Comment: This is another TBR Challenge read. This month the theme is Contemporary and I picked this book because of that and also because I wanted to read more about the characters I've met in the first book in this Whisper Horse trilogy. The books are set in Virginia and revolve around the idea of people needing a whisper horse to lay their issues and problems down and the horse's presence will help them come to terms to any decision or step they would need to take. However, I think this is only a secondary element, to be honest.

We first met Paul Taggart in the first book and he's a gentleman although part of his life seems to be constricted somehow. One day he helps Julia Castillo, someone we also know from the first book because she's a famous artist, with her car and somehow he becomes her lawyer too.

But Julia is running from a situation she feels she can't control and Paul and her newfound whisper horse will help her come to realize what she wants to do with her life.

Paul and Julia start off as friends but their relationship quickly changes to something more... but can the two of them let go of all the things bringing them down to take a step towards not only happiness but self worth?

I enjoyed reading this book. I think the author has a good control over her story, she writes well and the narrative is fluid and polished, carefully presented and executed.

All seems perfect except... it's too perfect. I think the plot was thought about and prepared but it lacks more passion or closeness to what one would expect of a small town and romantic characters...

I also had this issue, sort of, with the first book. I had a good time but I didn't feel I was being dazzled by everything that was happening, it was more like being led through well staged scenes. It doesn't mean there are no feelings expressed here or more intense scenes showing us the characters' wishes and thoughts, but... too easy to read.

I mean, there's nothing wrong with the writing. I can understand what's happening, what we are supposed to believe in or wonder about when it comes to the character's, but something is definitely lacking and I can't think of the right word.

The two main characters, Paul and Julia, face personal issues that influence their decisions and choices in life and it can get frustrating to read about. But if we think about it a bit more, in real life, how difficult it is to do radical changes in our lives, to makes ourselves believe we can do it... things do work out in the end because this is a romance novel, but there's food for though for us too.

Their relationship progresses well, rather quickly to be honest, I think I would have liked a little less polite agreement and a bit more fighting their feelings so the book could have more strength, more vibrancy or something... everything is too perfect with them.

Sure, part of t is their personalities...I liked Paul more, I think his character is better developed, especially with little references here and thereto his thoughts, to what other think of him, how he feels about it...

Julia is someone we just met, I do have to say she sounds a bit whiny even if she has reasons for it! And she does, but it's my impression.

Still, they get a HEA, again too convenient and perfect and not as romantic as I imagined despite the interesting scene where Paul tells her he loves her...

The plot has some interesting elements. I liked knowing more about art and expectations artists face, I liked seeing how two people can rationalize even when they face difficult challenges in heir personal lives, I enjoyed seeing friends offer a hand and how Paul and Julia found comfort in their friendship and intimacy...

But then the main characters, despite their notions about reality and what should be done, still took too long to act in certain situations. I've said it's something expected in real life but in a story it would have been great to see them be braver or be decisive sooner.

I know it sounds complicated but what endeared me to the story can also be seen from a different, less "magical" perspective.

All in all, Paul's life as lawyer and falling in love and Julia's change of art inspiration and falling in love are wonderful themes to develop a romance plot, but all things considered, the narrative was  a little bit too perfect, too polished to make this as captivating as I hoped. It's enjoyable, fluid but I wanted a bit more out of it...

I'm still curious about book #3 and will read it soon.

Grade: 7/10

TBR Challenge: Miranda Davis - The Duke's Tattoo

After being grievously wounded at Waterloo, Jeremy Maubrey returns from war to find his new life as the tenth Duke of Ainsworth painful, dull and full of obligations. That is, until he wakes to find himself indelibly decorated in a mortifying place and mocking manner.
Though he cannot recall much of the hellish night when he was abducted and tattooed, he cannot forget the waif-like villainess responsible or her haunting eyes. Ducal duties must wait till he finds the culprit and takes his revenge.
Miss Prudence Haversham, Bath’s only female apothecary, knows she has a problem. A big, broad shouldered problem. At least she will have, if the tenth Duke of Ainsworth ever discovers she is to blame for tattooing him. Unfortunately, she meant to have tattooed the previous Duke of Ainsworth, who tried to debauch her and disgraced her with his lies. Worse yet, she learns this duke is one of four infamously implacable cavalry officers known as ‘The Horsemen of the Apocalypse.’
No sooner has the vengeful duke traced his abductress to Bath, than Prudence Haversham overturns the duke’s every expectation and intention. In turn, the duke proves himself an honorable and surprisingly forgiving man who earns the wary apothecary’s love. 

Comment: Here we are again, a new TBR post... March is the month for a recommended read. This book is the first I've tried by author Miranda Davis and I knew bout it on GoodReads because friends have read it and recommended it to anyone and I kind of decided to follow their advice and got the book a couple of months ago or something. I think it was appropriate for the theme and I had the hopes it would be a good story to get me back on the motivation to read, as the previous two books weren't very amazing to me.

This story presents us the duke of Ainsworth, a man who fought in the war and now is looking to finally marry and to do that he is thinking about attending balls and other social meetings. But the story starts with him waking up one morning and finding out he has a tattoo on his groin. And the only think he remembers is the eyes of the woman who did that to him.

The heroine is miss Prudence Haversham, a young lady of 27 - therefore considered a spinster - and she tattooed the duke because she thought he was his brother, someone who caused her unfair fall from grace. But since she got the wrong man, she feels bad about it but the harm is done. Hopefully, he will never discover who she is or care about it... but likely that would be too good to be true and he comes looking for her alright...

This was a very good book to me. I liked the characters, I liked the development, I loved the epilogue, I just didn't care much for some of the scenes where nothing was actually happening and how, from a certain point on, the action turned almost to a comedy of errors and delayed what could have been a more polished final section of the book.

The plot is quite imaginative as I don't recall any other novel where the heroine had tattooed the hero in his more private parts as revenge. But because she's not really a bad person, she regrets her impulsiveness (despite the years she imagined what she could do) when she realizes she got her revenge on the wrong man. Why she needs revenge in the first place is something we learn quickly but the explanation for it and all that happened after seemed too simple for me. But if people do struggle to communicate the simplest things, I can imagine how things got twisted as it happened here.

The duke then plans a revenge of his own when he learns who did the tattoo but then they slowly fall in love and to be honest I loved this part, it was both sweet and different even if quite reckless if one thinks about the conventions of the time.

Prudence is a fascinating character, more innocent than she seems at first, but I liked her practical side and the vulnerability, her dreamy feminine side as well..

The duke was more intriguing, seemed to have more layers to his personality, but after a certain point he has things to do and keeps delaying any sort of decisive action which kind of made me bored with him. 

As a couple they seem well matched, he's more impulsive than her despite the book's premise but overall I think they suit well. I enjoyed knowing them and seeing how their personalities would make them make decisions and have ideas about what the other would think when, in reality, both were more synchronized than they thought. The dialogues were good, their interactions always funny or intense and mattering...

But let's just say they discuss their feelings and it's wonderful but from then on to the end there is a part where everything drags and just doesn't seem to move along...I found this part a bit boring but because I was curious I kept reading and wanted to see the couple get their HEA.

HEA that is so lovely...I loved the epilogue for certain, so adorable!!

The secondary characters were interesting too, even those who played a smaller role. We are introduced to the duke's friends in the army and obviously they would be the heroes of the following novels. I feel curious about them and will read the next book, at least.

I liked the writing and for a first novel I think it was quite well. Sure some transition scenes or chapters didn't seem to flow as easily as others but if I have to consider this as a whole it was quite successful. I think this is a good historical story, focusing on many good and fascinating elements and not only caring about how well they match in bed. I was hoping to see them happy and although it was as smooth as it could have been, it was surely vibrant and captivating.

I do recommend it, despite its little leas than good parts in my opinion.

Grade: 8/10

TBR Challenge: GA Aiken - Light My Fire

The trouble with humans is that they're far too sensitive. Forget you put a woman in the local jail for a few months - and she takes it so personally! And yet she is the one trying to assassinate the queen. And now I'm trapped with Elina Shestakova of the Black Bear Riders of the Midnight... gods! That endless name!
But what am I to do? I am Celyn the Charming with direct orders from my queen to protect this unforgiving female.
Even more shocking, this unforgiving female is completely unimpressed by me. How is that even possible? But I know what I want and, for the moment, I want her. And I'm sure that she, like all females, will learn to adore me. How could she not when I am just so damn charming?

Comment: This month the theme for the TBR challenge is series catch-up, meaning we should read about in a series we're behind on. I picked this one because I was two books behind and now that I've read this one I still have another to read, which I'll try to do soon.

 

Light My Fire is the story of Celyn and Elina, two characters in the imaginative and mixed historical and fantasy world created by author GA Aiken, about a family of dragons and everyone, human and dragon, they meet and are related to, namely queen Annwyl the Bloody, the character in the center of it all.

In this novel, we keep following the lives of all the characters we know, and the story starts with Elina arriving at dragon queen Rhiannon's palace to kill her but all the dragons make fun of her and she's not really into it, so she doesn't mind if Celyn takes her to a cell. However, she is forgotten for 8 months until Rhiannon and Annwyl decide to get a treaty with Elina's people, a matriarchal society in the deserts of the north. Elina is then charged with the task of trying to get the agreement of her people for the treaty but things aren't as simple and Celyn goes with her. Although at first Elina can't understand his usefulness, they get used to each other and they almost made it but then there's a slight problem that changes everything...

 

I've been a fan of this Dragon Kin series since the beginning. I loved the world the author created and the first story felt more romantic than fantasy because it was more focused on the main characters. As time and installments have gone by, the focus started to be more dispersed and nowadays, this title included, the series show multiple characters, the focus is on everyone, many POVs. I understand more dedicated romance readers feeling the lack of it in the last books, but personally I still enjoy more the book as a whole and it's so much fun to keep up with everyone. In this I feel the author has managed to add and infer a wonderful sense of family and connections, even if the relationship between the characters isn't as simple or "normal" as we would like. Many of them fight and act tough but that's just the way they are.

 

I still feel amazed by how interested and captivated by this world I am, considering the author has other series under another name but the titles I've tried other than the ones by GA Aiken haven't won me over. I can tell some similarities but this world feels so well structured, so amazing and fascinating, while the other series - with a more contemporary setting - lack so much in my opinion.

 

This story wasn't as thrilling as some of the previous titles for me, though. Despite not caring much if the focus isn't always on the main couple of course that's part of the attraction and I want to see the romance well developed as well, but in this case, I got the feeling it wasn't a part of the story as worked on as other issues. I understand the flow of the story and how small things or seemingly inconsequential things are what we are supposed to get in terms of proof for the intensity - or not -in their developing relationship but this wasn't the best romance in the series. Celyn and Elina had a lot of interaction, some chemistry too, but their personalities weren't always a match. I got the feeling they sort of let themselves go with the flow but I can't say I saw proof of their feelings. They just accepted it based on one or two things... In this yes, I fear the too close proximity to the author's work as Shelley Laurens tone, where the romantic relationships are often too easy or not as structured and realistic. I would like to keep seeing a bit more focus on their feelings and thoughts and not only silly or loud behavior/opinions.

 

The plot is interesting, but let you be warned enough: yes the books can be read as stand alones, but honestly I don't think that's wise if one wants to keep the happenings straight. Many things might make sense now but there's a lot that happened than justifies or explains many situations we hear about or which are alluded to of course, knowing what happened before adds a lot more interest and layers to certain scenes and character's actions. In this novel, the focus is pretty much a treaty and a fight against an assassination plot, but certain things make more sense if we had read the previous books.

Overall, there's an understanding about everything, but it can be confused to follow without prior knowledge.

I also think this book in particular was a bit too dispersed on several subjects. Too much time spent dealing with things not always very important, especially in the first half. It's certainly funny and helpful to ascertain the character's personalities and choices, but quite repetitive in some cases without much advance to the plot.

 

Still, I'm a fan and so far the series hasn't disappointed me, despite my personal preferences and wishes for different details. I'll keep reading, I'm interesting in knowing more and seeing what will happen. There's always something else to know about every character and why they are like that. It's quite the feeling, how each book is an installment on a family and not only on the world itself.

Grade: 7/10