STOP DRAGON MY HEART AROUND by Susannah Scott is a sizzling emotional drama that continues the fantastic story of the dragon shape shifters' quest to save their race. I give 3 stars and continue to recommend this series to all dragon lovers.
In the novel, Tee (Tallulah) is a Native American woman living off her reservation and working as a concierge at the Crown Jewel casino hotel. Aside from trouble on the reservation and the cut-throat competition between Tee and another concierge for the title of best/highest grossing concierge and the accompanying bonus, Tee struggles with her feelings for Leonidas, her boss and the second in command at the Crown Jewel. They recently shared a passionate kiss, but Leo is suddenly fighting his desire for her.
Leonidas has been left in command of the Crown Jewel by the honeymooning Alec, the King of the Dragons. He feels the pressure to keep the business running smoothly, but even more so, he feels the struggle between his incredible desire for Tee and his natural desire to continue his family line. Only his destined mate will help him save his waning dragon form. Since Tee doesn't have his dragon mark, Leo accepts that he must look elsewhere for his mate, but he is beginning to wonder whether he wants anyone else besides Tee.
I enjoyed STOP DRAGON MY HEART AROUND. This second installment of the Las Vegas Dragons series was more dramatic and less action-packed than the first, but such is life; not every person's story is the same. I applaud Susannah Scott's varying the challenges in each character's life. The book title is also a nice play on words.
I liked the characters, especially Tee with her inner struggle to move on from Leo even though she is in love with him. Since it has been a while since I read the last novel, I could have used some more substantive scenes with Leo and Tee that establish their relationship. The declarations of love were just a bit thin and unsubstantiated for me.
The romance was graphic and sufficiently pervasive to make this novel appropriate for adults only.
I also appreciated the description of tribe politics and the tension between the old and young members of the tribe when discussing the tribe's future; that aspect provided some interesting depth to the plot. I would have liked to see some more drama with Roy. In the beginning of the novel, he seems like a major character, and I expected more drama surrounding the competition--more scheming, more back-stabbing. While we hear what happens to him in the end, I would have liked to see a scene involving Roy and Leo's confrontation. I feel like Roy's character provided such an opportunity to add complexity and depth to the overall plotline, but ultimately, I felt like the opportunity was missed. As with Roy's character, the reader learns very little about Leo's family in Australia, though they could have been a greater presence in the novel.
On the technical side, there were a few typos and blocking issues, but they weren't overly distracting.
Overall, I liked STOP DRAGON MY HEART AROUND and look forward to the next book in the series about Jane and Nico.
**Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=13744.
Monday, June 9, 2014
The Mark of the Tala (Twelve Kingdoms #1) by Jeffe Kennedy - 5 Stars
Magical, Magnificent and Mesmerizing - THE MARK OF THE TALA by Jeffe Kennedy will keep you glued to your seat until the end. I give it 5 stars and recommend to all.
In this character-rich novel that has the same spirit as the Game of Thrones series, Princess Andi (Andromeda) is the middle of three sisters born to the high king over the twelve kingdoms. She is used to blending in, being invisible, and feels most at ease while out riding her horse. One day while out riding, she meets a tall, dark and handsome man and his intimidating wolf-hounds. She thinks she is being attacked, but he claims to be taking her back where she belongs as his queen, according to the treaty. That one interaction turns Andi's world upside down, and she soon learns that nothing is as she was taught.
I absolutely loved this novel. The reader gets all the intrigue and plot twists as the Game of Thrones series, but the entire book is told from Andi's perspective, so it is easier to follow. I love the initial lesson offered by the novel, that history is a matter of perspective, and knowledge is useful in understanding all sides of the political dice.
I loved the characters, how unique they are, and especially the sisters, their interactions and love for each other despite their differing personalities. The world building is fantastic, easy to imagine and understand, and simply magnificent in its richness and complexity. The romance is understated and well done.
The pace and plotline were also well done. With plenty of characters to deepen the plot and plenty of action to keep the plot moving, the reader cannot help but want to read the book in one sitting to find out how it ends.
I cannot wait until the next book in the series and highly recommend THE MARK OF THE TALA to all readers.
**Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=669.
In this character-rich novel that has the same spirit as the Game of Thrones series, Princess Andi (Andromeda) is the middle of three sisters born to the high king over the twelve kingdoms. She is used to blending in, being invisible, and feels most at ease while out riding her horse. One day while out riding, she meets a tall, dark and handsome man and his intimidating wolf-hounds. She thinks she is being attacked, but he claims to be taking her back where she belongs as his queen, according to the treaty. That one interaction turns Andi's world upside down, and she soon learns that nothing is as she was taught.
I absolutely loved this novel. The reader gets all the intrigue and plot twists as the Game of Thrones series, but the entire book is told from Andi's perspective, so it is easier to follow. I love the initial lesson offered by the novel, that history is a matter of perspective, and knowledge is useful in understanding all sides of the political dice.
I loved the characters, how unique they are, and especially the sisters, their interactions and love for each other despite their differing personalities. The world building is fantastic, easy to imagine and understand, and simply magnificent in its richness and complexity. The romance is understated and well done.
The pace and plotline were also well done. With plenty of characters to deepen the plot and plenty of action to keep the plot moving, the reader cannot help but want to read the book in one sitting to find out how it ends.
I cannot wait until the next book in the series and highly recommend THE MARK OF THE TALA to all readers.
**Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=669.
Leave No Stone Unturned (Lexie Star #1) by Jeanne Glidewell - 2 stars
LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED by Jeanne Glidewell tells the tale of a woman who suspects that her new son-in-law murdered his previous wife, and who sets out to investigate before informing her daughter of her suspicions. While the plot presented an intriguing idea, the execution of that idea left much to be desired. I give it 2 stars for its slow pace, simplistic plot, and unrealistic romance.
In this first installment in the Lexie Starr series, Lexie Starr grapples with the conundrum of whether to tell her newlywed daughter, Wendy, that her new husband, Clay, may be a murderer. She takes some rather risky steps to find out the truth – leaving no stone unturned in her quest – and in the process, Lexie’s car is sabotaged, Wendy is abducted, and all of their lives are put in danger. Oh, and Lexie falls in love.
Overall, the idea behind the books is intriguing: If you thought a loved one was in a relationship with a murderer, would you tell your loved one, and if so, when would be the appropriate time? Unfortunately, there were several problems that made my interest in this novel fizzle away like helium leaving an untied balloon, the first being the pace of the novel. The beginning was too slow, and the ending was too fast. There were many pages that contained information that did nothing to advance the plot, instead causing the reader to be caught in a quagmire of minutia.
For example, the history of Wendy’s charm bracelet is detailed, as is its loss and the efforts to replace it. Also, the reader gets almost a moment by moment view of Lexie’s visits to the dentist and auto mechanic prior to leaving on her road trip. These scenes were unnecessary in their length. It is enough for the reader to know that Lexie inquired with a Stone Van Patten, who lived in South Carolina, about finding the pieces for a replacement charm bracelet, and that she went to the mechanic and had her car serviced before embarking on her trip. The number of pages devoted to those issues were wasted on me to such an extent that I nearly quit reading. The novel took entirely too long to get to the point. The pacing issue also reared its head in the end of the novel, where the resolution was so fast that I felt as if I had whiplash. The climax and resolution could have been expanded to create a more balanced novel.
There were also several opportunities to expand the plot and give it more substance and depth, but in the end, the linear plot led me exactly in the direction I expected. I won’t give anything away, but I will say that I’m always disappointed when I can guess the ending correctly at the halfway point in a mystery novel.
As for the romance, the novel depicts a more mature relationship between Lexie and Stone, which is nice departure from the typical romance novel. The book is definitely a mystery novel with romantic elements, rather than a romance with a bit of mystery, and contains no graphic scenes that would make it inappropriate for younger readers. Still, the romance was not believable given the incredibly short amount of time that passes from first meeting to the declarations of love. I could have been satisfied with the resolution of the mystery leaving a question as to whether Stone and Lexie would try to make something of their mutual affection, and then adding an epilogue wherein some months or year later they decide to get hitched because of their love for each other.
Overall, I was disappointed in LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED. The issues I raise here can certainly be addressed in any future Lexie Starr mystery novels though, and because I love mystery novels, I’m definitely willing to give the next installment in this series a chance to entertain me.
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Beyond by Maureen A. Miller - 4 stars
Don your intergalactic spacesuits, BEYOND by Maureen A. Miller will take you to unknown galaxies and introduce you to some odd beings. This young adult science fiction novel is a fantastic read, and I give it 4 stars.
In the novel, seventeen-year-old Aimee Patterson is accidentally abducted by aliens while out for a walk, and due to the rotation of the galaxies, can't be returned to her planet for five Earth years. While on the Guardian ship Horus, Aimee meets a lot of people--some really handsome, some creepy--and has some interesting experiences. When the ship is affected by a disease, Aimee must work with Warrior Zak to find a cure.
I really liked this novel. For someone who hasn't read much true science fiction, BEYOND is a great introduction into the genre. The technological ideas will blow your mind. I imagined a much more complex plot with schemers and master manipulators, but in the end the plot was straightforward and simple. Whether that added to or detracted from the book, I'm not sure; I enjoyed reading it either way.
I would have liked some more distinction of time on the ship. Understandably, time on the ship is not the same as Earth time, but based on Aimee's routine, it seems like she is only away from Earth for three Earth nights before being returned. The reader only knows of 2 times that Aimee sleeps and one meal; yet Aimee is told that it will be something like an Earth month that she has to remain on the ship before being able to return to Earth, and her body grows into a more adult womanly figure. Time paradoxes aside, the passage of time in the novel was not clearly illustrated, and so it was a tad difficult to get my bearings.
The romance was sweet and a great illustration of the sublime nature of teenage love, but the issue with time makes it difficult for me to determine whether the declarations of love are believable.
On the technical side, the pace was well done, and there weren't any grammatical issues that detracted from my enjoyment of the book.
Overall, this was a great novel, and I look forward to reading the next in the series, telling us what happened to Zak after Aimee is returned to Earth.
**Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=8953.
In the novel, seventeen-year-old Aimee Patterson is accidentally abducted by aliens while out for a walk, and due to the rotation of the galaxies, can't be returned to her planet for five Earth years. While on the Guardian ship Horus, Aimee meets a lot of people--some really handsome, some creepy--and has some interesting experiences. When the ship is affected by a disease, Aimee must work with Warrior Zak to find a cure.
I really liked this novel. For someone who hasn't read much true science fiction, BEYOND is a great introduction into the genre. The technological ideas will blow your mind. I imagined a much more complex plot with schemers and master manipulators, but in the end the plot was straightforward and simple. Whether that added to or detracted from the book, I'm not sure; I enjoyed reading it either way.
I would have liked some more distinction of time on the ship. Understandably, time on the ship is not the same as Earth time, but based on Aimee's routine, it seems like she is only away from Earth for three Earth nights before being returned. The reader only knows of 2 times that Aimee sleeps and one meal; yet Aimee is told that it will be something like an Earth month that she has to remain on the ship before being able to return to Earth, and her body grows into a more adult womanly figure. Time paradoxes aside, the passage of time in the novel was not clearly illustrated, and so it was a tad difficult to get my bearings.
The romance was sweet and a great illustration of the sublime nature of teenage love, but the issue with time makes it difficult for me to determine whether the declarations of love are believable.
On the technical side, the pace was well done, and there weren't any grammatical issues that detracted from my enjoyment of the book.
Overall, this was a great novel, and I look forward to reading the next in the series, telling us what happened to Zak after Aimee is returned to Earth.
**Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=8953.
Unforgettable You by Marci Boudreaux - 3 stars
UNFORGETTABLE YOU by Marci Boudreaux is an emotional contemporary romance in the spirit of the movie Notting Hill that provides a lovely afternoon escape into the lives of an innkeeper and a movie star. I give it three stars.
In the novel, Carrie Gable is attempting to save her mother-in-law Doreen's ancestral homestead by opening it up to a group of actors who are filming a movie in her Iowa town. While dealing with the large group, Doreen's Alzheimer's gets worse, and handsome actor Will Walker becomes the shoulder for Carrie to lean on. When the movie wraps, Carrie and Will have to figure out how to make a long distance relationship work. But real life is never easy, and unexpected events conspire to keep them apart.
I enjoyed UNFORGETTABLE YOU. The plot was a simple and modern but loose interpretation of the Cinderella story --the servant falls in love with Prince Charming. There were several aspects of the novel that could have been expanded to enrich the story, but that is more of a personal preference. The ending was satisfying, even if a bit foreseeable.
The characters were well illustrated and believable, giving the novel some strong emotional muscle. Sensitive readers will definitely need tissues. The dialogue was witty, and readers can clearly see the friendship deepening. I could have used a bit more expansion of Carrie's turn around in the end, though; it seemed a bit abrupt.
There was a funny near-reference to The Princess Bride's ROUS's (Rodents of Unusual Size); the comment about 50-pound rats might have been a bit funnier if that connection were expressly made. The depiction of life with Alzheimer's was accurate, but that aspect of the novel is not the focal point. And the romance was definitely realistic, but graphic enough to be appropriate for adults only.
There were some technical issues that were distracting and occasionally confusing. In the very beginning, there was not enough narration to give context to the dialogue. Occasionally, wording was awkward or incorrect (e.g., ravage v. ravish), or revisions were incomplete, leaving behind extraneous words.
Overall though, the novel is a nice weekend read, and if you like contemporary romance, you'll want to put this on your reading list.
**Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=13673.
In the novel, Carrie Gable is attempting to save her mother-in-law Doreen's ancestral homestead by opening it up to a group of actors who are filming a movie in her Iowa town. While dealing with the large group, Doreen's Alzheimer's gets worse, and handsome actor Will Walker becomes the shoulder for Carrie to lean on. When the movie wraps, Carrie and Will have to figure out how to make a long distance relationship work. But real life is never easy, and unexpected events conspire to keep them apart.
I enjoyed UNFORGETTABLE YOU. The plot was a simple and modern but loose interpretation of the Cinderella story --the servant falls in love with Prince Charming. There were several aspects of the novel that could have been expanded to enrich the story, but that is more of a personal preference. The ending was satisfying, even if a bit foreseeable.
The characters were well illustrated and believable, giving the novel some strong emotional muscle. Sensitive readers will definitely need tissues. The dialogue was witty, and readers can clearly see the friendship deepening. I could have used a bit more expansion of Carrie's turn around in the end, though; it seemed a bit abrupt.
There was a funny near-reference to The Princess Bride's ROUS's (Rodents of Unusual Size); the comment about 50-pound rats might have been a bit funnier if that connection were expressly made. The depiction of life with Alzheimer's was accurate, but that aspect of the novel is not the focal point. And the romance was definitely realistic, but graphic enough to be appropriate for adults only.
There were some technical issues that were distracting and occasionally confusing. In the very beginning, there was not enough narration to give context to the dialogue. Occasionally, wording was awkward or incorrect (e.g., ravage v. ravish), or revisions were incomplete, leaving behind extraneous words.
Overall though, the novel is a nice weekend read, and if you like contemporary romance, you'll want to put this on your reading list.
**Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=13673.
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Crossroads by Glory Rabenaugh - 1 star
CROSSROADS by Glory Rabenaugh proffers an interesting plot idea wherein a teenage coven has to figure out how to save its High Priestess from certain death. If that were the story illustrated in this novel, I might have enjoyed a small part of it. However, that is not the story told; rather this novel seems to be about how a young woman is caught in between several men and gets manhandled throughout. I did not enjoy this novel and would not recommend to any reader.
In the novel, Reece and her twin brother, Hunter, attend a private boarding school in New England. Reece is the High Priestess of her coven, made of up 13 other students, one of whom is her best friend and former boyfriend, and another who is her present boyfriend. The tragic love triangle is further complicated by the appearance of a vampire who is fated to save Reece from certain death, but is the vampire really her savior?
I felt utterly cheated by this novel; I felt like I was promised a teenage paranormal romance, and I got an erotic, paranormal violent drama where women are not treated respectfully. The plot was simple, which isn't a bad thing, necessarily, except that to make up for the dearth of plot, sex scenes, violence and submission/domination were used to fill the pages.
The novel begins in such a way to suggest this is a young adult novel, with all the main characters being in high school. However, this is anything but a YA novel. There is entirely too much sex for this novel to be appropriate for teens. There is also a lot of physical violence by young men against Reece--she's attacked by football players and almost raped, her boyfriend gets rough with her and hits her, her new boyfriend nearly strangles her. There is so much body-checking--shoving Reece up against something--that it could have been a game of ice hockey.
The violence against Reece also highlights her shallow character. Reece's character doesn't develop. If anything, she regresses. For someone who is supposed to be so powerful, she seems to have no sense of control over her own body. She also isn't a very nice person. Despite the narrator's assertion that she is a popular student because she treats everyone with respect, she's superficial and inconsiderate. Even though she knows that Nathan is in love with her, it is even verbalized, she is entirely too touchy feely with him, going so far as to sit on his lap. When you are sensitive to someone's feelings, you try to do whatever it takes to spare them hurt. Reece's actions simply reflect her lack of consideration of Nathan's feelings.
Also, despite her noble decision to wait to sleep with a guy, she sleeps with two guys within two weeks' time, showing her to have no better morals or decision making ability than any other teenager.
Moreover, there is no romance in this novel; it really is all lust and magical connections. There was no substance to the relationships, and given the bondage, submission and domination attitudes, this novel earns a rating of 5 out of 5 on the heat scale. It really should be labeled as an erotic novel instead of romance.
Along with Reece's character issues, the only character that actually changes over time is Piers, and his change isn't for the better, either. There doesn't seem to be any other kind of character development.
Certain aspects of the novel were also perplexing. First of all, where are Reece's parents? They actually allow her to spend the night at Nathan's house? We know nothing about them except that they don't supervise their children. How do they fit into the Coven? There is no mention of their connection except that the Book of Shadows was passed down to Reece from her family. What Book does her family use? Do they stop belonging to a coven once they graduate from high school? And why don't her parents get involved if her life is in danger? It just doesn't make any sense.
On the technical side, it seems as if the novel was originally written in first person, but when revised, the perspective was changed to the third person and the novel wasn't cleaned up. The words and pronouns used were inconsistent, e.g., myself instead of himself and we instead of them. There were also pervasive subject-verb, verb-object and verb tense disagreements, e.g., using "had went" instead of "had gone"
If all of the foregoing hadn't disappointed me, the ending is a cliffhanger. While the immediate issue of Reece's safety is resolved, the ending of the novel just hangs there waiting for the next installment to explain the newly introduced character. Clearly you need to read all of the books in the series to know what's going on, but honestly, after this book, I am not interested in any other book in the series. If you like erotic novels, you may like this book and series, but if you are looking for a bit more substance in your reading material, this is not the book for you.
**Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=11034.
In the novel, Reece and her twin brother, Hunter, attend a private boarding school in New England. Reece is the High Priestess of her coven, made of up 13 other students, one of whom is her best friend and former boyfriend, and another who is her present boyfriend. The tragic love triangle is further complicated by the appearance of a vampire who is fated to save Reece from certain death, but is the vampire really her savior?
I felt utterly cheated by this novel; I felt like I was promised a teenage paranormal romance, and I got an erotic, paranormal violent drama where women are not treated respectfully. The plot was simple, which isn't a bad thing, necessarily, except that to make up for the dearth of plot, sex scenes, violence and submission/domination were used to fill the pages.
The novel begins in such a way to suggest this is a young adult novel, with all the main characters being in high school. However, this is anything but a YA novel. There is entirely too much sex for this novel to be appropriate for teens. There is also a lot of physical violence by young men against Reece--she's attacked by football players and almost raped, her boyfriend gets rough with her and hits her, her new boyfriend nearly strangles her. There is so much body-checking--shoving Reece up against something--that it could have been a game of ice hockey.
The violence against Reece also highlights her shallow character. Reece's character doesn't develop. If anything, she regresses. For someone who is supposed to be so powerful, she seems to have no sense of control over her own body. She also isn't a very nice person. Despite the narrator's assertion that she is a popular student because she treats everyone with respect, she's superficial and inconsiderate. Even though she knows that Nathan is in love with her, it is even verbalized, she is entirely too touchy feely with him, going so far as to sit on his lap. When you are sensitive to someone's feelings, you try to do whatever it takes to spare them hurt. Reece's actions simply reflect her lack of consideration of Nathan's feelings.
Also, despite her noble decision to wait to sleep with a guy, she sleeps with two guys within two weeks' time, showing her to have no better morals or decision making ability than any other teenager.
Moreover, there is no romance in this novel; it really is all lust and magical connections. There was no substance to the relationships, and given the bondage, submission and domination attitudes, this novel earns a rating of 5 out of 5 on the heat scale. It really should be labeled as an erotic novel instead of romance.
Along with Reece's character issues, the only character that actually changes over time is Piers, and his change isn't for the better, either. There doesn't seem to be any other kind of character development.
Certain aspects of the novel were also perplexing. First of all, where are Reece's parents? They actually allow her to spend the night at Nathan's house? We know nothing about them except that they don't supervise their children. How do they fit into the Coven? There is no mention of their connection except that the Book of Shadows was passed down to Reece from her family. What Book does her family use? Do they stop belonging to a coven once they graduate from high school? And why don't her parents get involved if her life is in danger? It just doesn't make any sense.
On the technical side, it seems as if the novel was originally written in first person, but when revised, the perspective was changed to the third person and the novel wasn't cleaned up. The words and pronouns used were inconsistent, e.g., myself instead of himself and we instead of them. There were also pervasive subject-verb, verb-object and verb tense disagreements, e.g., using "had went" instead of "had gone"
If all of the foregoing hadn't disappointed me, the ending is a cliffhanger. While the immediate issue of Reece's safety is resolved, the ending of the novel just hangs there waiting for the next installment to explain the newly introduced character. Clearly you need to read all of the books in the series to know what's going on, but honestly, after this book, I am not interested in any other book in the series. If you like erotic novels, you may like this book and series, but if you are looking for a bit more substance in your reading material, this is not the book for you.
**Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=11034.
The Inconvenient Duchess by Christine Merrill - 3 stars
THE INCONVENIENT DUCHESS by Christine Merrill provides a classic early Regency period romance that can be enjoyed by any fan of romance. I give it three stars.
In the novel, Lady Miranda Grey shows up on the doorstep of Marcus Radwell, the fourth Duke of Haughleigh, in the middle of a storm, expecting to meet and possibly marry the duke. The machinations of Marcus' mother induced Miranda's visit, but unbeknownst to Miranda, the dowager duchess died six weeks before her arrival.
Stranded in the Haughleigh house with two unmarried men, Miranda has little choice but to accept Marcus' reluctant and unromantic proposal. A marriage is hastily conducted, and with only a note to inform his vulnerable new wife, Marcus immediately travels to London to take care of marriage legalities.
While Marcus is away, his exiled and bitter younger brother, St. John, uses his charm and good looks to sow discord in the already fragile marriage. When Marcus returns home, Miranda is so suspicious of him and insecure in the marriage that drama and misunderstandings abound.
For the most part, I enjoyed this novel. The marital challenges seem authentic for a hastily arranged marriage. The insecurity and uncertainty about what the other partner thinks and feels is typical for any relationship, and certainly magnified in this arranged marriage. The romance is graphic, appropriate for adults only.
The characters and dialogue tend to be believable, but there is a feeling of overreliance on narration to convey the thoughts and feelings of the characters. There is also a bit too much rumination of those thoughts and feelings (at least on Miranda's part), and occasionally, those thoughts seem contrived. For example, after a serious heart to heart conversation about how terrible Marcus' first marriage was and how shallow, deceitful and opportunistic his first wife was, Miranda walks away with the message that she needs to be more like Marcus' first wife. This just did not make sense to me, especially after Marcus repeatedly says that he wants Miranda to be herself, honest about what she thinks and feels. If I skip all the parts like this that annoy me, I have no problems enjoying the book.
I definitely enjoyed the ending - how the issue with St. John was resolved, and what Marcus gives Miranda as a Christmas gift.
If you are a fan of the classic Harlequin romance novels, this is the novel for you, and if you prefer something a bit more substantial, you can still enjoy this novel with a little self-editing.
**Review shared with The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=7923..
In the novel, Lady Miranda Grey shows up on the doorstep of Marcus Radwell, the fourth Duke of Haughleigh, in the middle of a storm, expecting to meet and possibly marry the duke. The machinations of Marcus' mother induced Miranda's visit, but unbeknownst to Miranda, the dowager duchess died six weeks before her arrival.
Stranded in the Haughleigh house with two unmarried men, Miranda has little choice but to accept Marcus' reluctant and unromantic proposal. A marriage is hastily conducted, and with only a note to inform his vulnerable new wife, Marcus immediately travels to London to take care of marriage legalities.
While Marcus is away, his exiled and bitter younger brother, St. John, uses his charm and good looks to sow discord in the already fragile marriage. When Marcus returns home, Miranda is so suspicious of him and insecure in the marriage that drama and misunderstandings abound.
For the most part, I enjoyed this novel. The marital challenges seem authentic for a hastily arranged marriage. The insecurity and uncertainty about what the other partner thinks and feels is typical for any relationship, and certainly magnified in this arranged marriage. The romance is graphic, appropriate for adults only.
The characters and dialogue tend to be believable, but there is a feeling of overreliance on narration to convey the thoughts and feelings of the characters. There is also a bit too much rumination of those thoughts and feelings (at least on Miranda's part), and occasionally, those thoughts seem contrived. For example, after a serious heart to heart conversation about how terrible Marcus' first marriage was and how shallow, deceitful and opportunistic his first wife was, Miranda walks away with the message that she needs to be more like Marcus' first wife. This just did not make sense to me, especially after Marcus repeatedly says that he wants Miranda to be herself, honest about what she thinks and feels. If I skip all the parts like this that annoy me, I have no problems enjoying the book.
I definitely enjoyed the ending - how the issue with St. John was resolved, and what Marcus gives Miranda as a Christmas gift.
If you are a fan of the classic Harlequin romance novels, this is the novel for you, and if you prefer something a bit more substantial, you can still enjoy this novel with a little self-editing.
**Review shared with The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=7923..
A Lesson In Love (Lesson #9) by Jennifer Connors - 5 stars
Cue the fireworks! A LESSON IN LOVE concludes Jennifer Connors' Lessonseries with a long awaited happily ever after. I give it 5 stars and recommend to all lovers of the romance genre.
In this ninth installment of the Lesson series, our romance heroine Ginny is thrust into her last romance novel. The year is 1813 and Ginny is thoroughly confused when she finds herself in Miss Samantha Rylan's fourteen year-old body at her father's funeral. Life quickly gets very rough for Ginny, but she uses all that she's learned over the years and her many lives to escape from dangerous situations and build a great life. At twenty-one, she travels to England from America to meet her only living relative, the ailing Earl of Carlisle, and almost immediately meets her mega-hunk, Andrew Blake William Clarke, the seventh Duke of Rutland.
Drew has only had the Rutland title for a couple of years and must learn to live his own life and make his own decisions, despite his mother's toplofty temperament. He and Samantha/Ginny strike up an unlikely friendship, and after some life-altering experiences, fall in love. The only problem is that Ginny doesn't get to stay in 1820; she has a life to return to in 21st Century America.
After waking from her coma, Ginny is given a clean bill of health and returns to work. However, in addition to having seriously weird and vivid dreams that include characters from her friend's romance novels, Ginny has acquired some unlikely talents. Ginny can now speak fluent French, ride a horse, and fence. She has also grown in self-confidence in inexplicable ways. Finally, she decides to make some changes in her life and travels to London to meet Dr. Westhaven, a university professor doing research on people like her who have awoken from comas with some new skills or talents. Is this professor The One? No spoilers here; you will just have to read the book to find out.
I loved this book, mostly because I've been looking forward to seeing what happens to Ginny when she returns to her real life. I also like that the "lesson" in love seems to be a culmination of all the previous lessons Ginny learned through her various romance heroines' lives, underlining the fact that relationships take more than just passion or friendship, but trust and selflessness, etc.
The dialogue and plotlines--both in the novel and in Ginny's real life--were believable, and the pace was excellent. I am so glad that the book was 300 pages long because I started to become sad around page 200, anticipating the end of the novel and series.
As with the other books in this series, the romance is graphic and detailed, making the book appropriate for adults only. In so many of the books in the Lesson series, Ginny makes fun of romance novels, and here, in an amusing turn of events, when Dr. Westhaven reads her journal detailing her dreams since waking from the coma, she tells him that her journal is very detailed. Dr.Westhaven is not expecting just howdetailed it is, though, and tells her, "You weren't kidding about it being detailed." To which Ginny responds, "No, I wasn't. Should I have warned you more vehemently?" Dr. Westhaven then says, "Perhaps. I was beginning to think you might have a future as a romance novelist."
All in all, followers of this series will not be disappointed in this last installment. It is a must read.
**Review shared with The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=13705.
In this ninth installment of the Lesson series, our romance heroine Ginny is thrust into her last romance novel. The year is 1813 and Ginny is thoroughly confused when she finds herself in Miss Samantha Rylan's fourteen year-old body at her father's funeral. Life quickly gets very rough for Ginny, but she uses all that she's learned over the years and her many lives to escape from dangerous situations and build a great life. At twenty-one, she travels to England from America to meet her only living relative, the ailing Earl of Carlisle, and almost immediately meets her mega-hunk, Andrew Blake William Clarke, the seventh Duke of Rutland.
Drew has only had the Rutland title for a couple of years and must learn to live his own life and make his own decisions, despite his mother's toplofty temperament. He and Samantha/Ginny strike up an unlikely friendship, and after some life-altering experiences, fall in love. The only problem is that Ginny doesn't get to stay in 1820; she has a life to return to in 21st Century America.
After waking from her coma, Ginny is given a clean bill of health and returns to work. However, in addition to having seriously weird and vivid dreams that include characters from her friend's romance novels, Ginny has acquired some unlikely talents. Ginny can now speak fluent French, ride a horse, and fence. She has also grown in self-confidence in inexplicable ways. Finally, she decides to make some changes in her life and travels to London to meet Dr. Westhaven, a university professor doing research on people like her who have awoken from comas with some new skills or talents. Is this professor The One? No spoilers here; you will just have to read the book to find out.
I loved this book, mostly because I've been looking forward to seeing what happens to Ginny when she returns to her real life. I also like that the "lesson" in love seems to be a culmination of all the previous lessons Ginny learned through her various romance heroines' lives, underlining the fact that relationships take more than just passion or friendship, but trust and selflessness, etc.
The dialogue and plotlines--both in the novel and in Ginny's real life--were believable, and the pace was excellent. I am so glad that the book was 300 pages long because I started to become sad around page 200, anticipating the end of the novel and series.
As with the other books in this series, the romance is graphic and detailed, making the book appropriate for adults only. In so many of the books in the Lesson series, Ginny makes fun of romance novels, and here, in an amusing turn of events, when Dr. Westhaven reads her journal detailing her dreams since waking from the coma, she tells him that her journal is very detailed. Dr.Westhaven is not expecting just howdetailed it is, though, and tells her, "You weren't kidding about it being detailed." To which Ginny responds, "No, I wasn't. Should I have warned you more vehemently?" Dr. Westhaven then says, "Perhaps. I was beginning to think you might have a future as a romance novelist."
All in all, followers of this series will not be disappointed in this last installment. It is a must read.
**Review shared with The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=13705.
Midnight Hunt (Bonded by Blood #3) by Arial Burnz - 4 stars
MIDNIGHT HUNT by Arial Burnz provides a tumultuous roller coaster of a plot and, depending on a reader's disposition, will provide thrilling twists and turns or will cause vertigo and disorientation. Either way, I give it 4 stars.
In this third installment in the Bonded by Blood Vampire Chronicles, Broderick spends eighty years mourning the loss of his wife and soulmate, Davina, only to be drawn to the Kingdom of Germany during a time of religious and social unrest. Not only do the characters deal with the Inquisition, but werewolves are known to roam the countryside killing and cursing unfortunate villagers. The Elementals--those people who control a natural element such as earth, air and fire-- have gone into hiding, but it doesn't take long for Broderick to meet a Fire Witch, Monika, who reminds him of his beloved Davina. Together, Broderick and Monika fight against the werewolves, the Inquisition, and an old foe in hopes of fulfilling The Prophecy and providing redemption for all Vamsyrians.
Overall, I enjoyed MIDNIGHT HUNT. I like the new female protagonist, Monika. She is not timid or weak, but she is still soft and feminine. The werewolf aspect of the book is also interesting, and enough lore is described to make this piece of the puzzle fit nicely in the overall series plotline.
The romance was believable, and I liked how Broderick continues to show his faithfulness to Davina while attempting to figure out if Monika is really Davina reincarnated. The romance is graphic, though, earning a heat rating of 4 out of 5, and sex scenes are pervasive and detailed throughout the entire novel, making this novel appropriate for adults only. I felt like there were about 3 sex scenes too many for the plot, but that is more of a personal preference. The scenes did not detract from the plot, though I felt they slowed the pace a bit.
On the technical side, overall the pace of the novel was good, but there were some editing issues that tripped me up and detracted from my enjoyment of the novel. Overall, though, this series continues to be worth reading for any vampire lover. So don't miss out!
**Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=10987.
In this third installment in the Bonded by Blood Vampire Chronicles, Broderick spends eighty years mourning the loss of his wife and soulmate, Davina, only to be drawn to the Kingdom of Germany during a time of religious and social unrest. Not only do the characters deal with the Inquisition, but werewolves are known to roam the countryside killing and cursing unfortunate villagers. The Elementals--those people who control a natural element such as earth, air and fire-- have gone into hiding, but it doesn't take long for Broderick to meet a Fire Witch, Monika, who reminds him of his beloved Davina. Together, Broderick and Monika fight against the werewolves, the Inquisition, and an old foe in hopes of fulfilling The Prophecy and providing redemption for all Vamsyrians.
Overall, I enjoyed MIDNIGHT HUNT. I like the new female protagonist, Monika. She is not timid or weak, but she is still soft and feminine. The werewolf aspect of the book is also interesting, and enough lore is described to make this piece of the puzzle fit nicely in the overall series plotline.
The romance was believable, and I liked how Broderick continues to show his faithfulness to Davina while attempting to figure out if Monika is really Davina reincarnated. The romance is graphic, though, earning a heat rating of 4 out of 5, and sex scenes are pervasive and detailed throughout the entire novel, making this novel appropriate for adults only. I felt like there were about 3 sex scenes too many for the plot, but that is more of a personal preference. The scenes did not detract from the plot, though I felt they slowed the pace a bit.
On the technical side, overall the pace of the novel was good, but there were some editing issues that tripped me up and detracted from my enjoyment of the novel. Overall, though, this series continues to be worth reading for any vampire lover. So don't miss out!
**Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=10987.
Sunday, March 9, 2014
The Price of Desire by Joe Goodman - 5 stars
THE PRICE OF DESIRE by Jo Goodman weaves a beautiful, dark and complicated tale about love, tragedy, betrayal, and redemption in post-regency England. I give it five stars and highly recommend it to all romance readers.
In THE PRICE OF DESIRE, Olivia Cole spent nearly half of her life being used and controlled by wicked men. After escaping their clutches, she is taken in by her brother, Alastair, who ultimately falls into the same pattern as their father when he "gives" her to a London gaming hell owner as collateral for his debt, in place of his emerald and diamond ring, a treasured family heirloom.
Viscount Breckenridge may operate his establishment of questionable morals on the fringe of high society, but he has a strong reaction to Alastair's actions. His admirable response to having a "guest" has a far-reaching impact and changes many lives. Ultimately, each of the characters learns exactly how much desire has--or will--cost them.
First and foremost, I have to say that I loved this book, not because it was a happy and "feel-good" novel, but because it was raw and dealt with some hard truths about how much evil there is in the world. I appreciate how, whether lustful, lecherous, greedy or righteous, each major character is faced with the cost of their desires. Not all receive their comeuppance, but as compared to the usual romance novel, this one actually deals in reality, however harsh it may be.
Given the thematic elements and graphic nature of the novel, it is suitable for adults only. I almost feel as though the title should have been a bit more reflective of the gritty nature of the book.
The characters are well-illustrated, and I liked how the characters' lives and backgrounds are revealed gradually through dialogue. Romance books often succumb to the weight of narration, so instead of being told a story, it feels as if the reader is being told about a story. Not so here; in many instances, the reader doesn't get all the facts up front, or a character may lie at first about an event, only to give the real version later, after trust has been developed with the other character. These kinds of interactions are more realistic than the cookie cutter contrivances that dominate the world of romance novels, which makes me a huge fan of Jo Goodman and this book.
The pace is fantastic, and each major character seems to have a subplot attached to them, giving the novel a richly complicated and suspenseful feeling.
If you can deal with the difficult elements in the novel, THE PRICE OF DESIRE is a must read.
Review shared with The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=13164.
In THE PRICE OF DESIRE, Olivia Cole spent nearly half of her life being used and controlled by wicked men. After escaping their clutches, she is taken in by her brother, Alastair, who ultimately falls into the same pattern as their father when he "gives" her to a London gaming hell owner as collateral for his debt, in place of his emerald and diamond ring, a treasured family heirloom.
Viscount Breckenridge may operate his establishment of questionable morals on the fringe of high society, but he has a strong reaction to Alastair's actions. His admirable response to having a "guest" has a far-reaching impact and changes many lives. Ultimately, each of the characters learns exactly how much desire has--or will--cost them.
First and foremost, I have to say that I loved this book, not because it was a happy and "feel-good" novel, but because it was raw and dealt with some hard truths about how much evil there is in the world. I appreciate how, whether lustful, lecherous, greedy or righteous, each major character is faced with the cost of their desires. Not all receive their comeuppance, but as compared to the usual romance novel, this one actually deals in reality, however harsh it may be.
Given the thematic elements and graphic nature of the novel, it is suitable for adults only. I almost feel as though the title should have been a bit more reflective of the gritty nature of the book.
The characters are well-illustrated, and I liked how the characters' lives and backgrounds are revealed gradually through dialogue. Romance books often succumb to the weight of narration, so instead of being told a story, it feels as if the reader is being told about a story. Not so here; in many instances, the reader doesn't get all the facts up front, or a character may lie at first about an event, only to give the real version later, after trust has been developed with the other character. These kinds of interactions are more realistic than the cookie cutter contrivances that dominate the world of romance novels, which makes me a huge fan of Jo Goodman and this book.
The pace is fantastic, and each major character seems to have a subplot attached to them, giving the novel a richly complicated and suspenseful feeling.
If you can deal with the difficult elements in the novel, THE PRICE OF DESIRE is a must read.
Review shared with The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=13164.
My Steadfast Heart (Thorne Bros. Trilogy #1) by Jo Goodman - 5 stars
Jo Goodman knocks it out of the park again with MY STEADFAST HEART (Thorne Brothers Trilogy #1). In this complex and difficult tale of family, love and loss, the author makes you laugh and cry and immediately download the next two books in the trilogy. I give it 5 stars.
In this first installment of the Thorne Brothers trilogy, Colin Thorne has lost his entire family after his parents are murdered by highwaymen and his brothers are adopted by different families. Colin is sold to a sea captain just weeks before a solicitor arrives at the workhouse searching for him.
Captain Colin Thorne wins a wager made with the Earl of Weybourne on how fast Colin can sail his clipper roundtrip from London to Boston. The Earl challenges Captain Thorne to a duel, accusing him of cheating to win the wager, and then forces his niece, Mercedes, to keep Colin from showing up to the duel. What follows is a richly embellished plotline where nearly every major character has an agenda.
I loved this novel. I've read several series of books based on the heart-wrenching scenario of separated or lost siblings. This is one of the best, and is distinct from those other trilogies.
One of my foremost thoughts about MY STEADFAST HEART is "This is a romance novel?!" The romance in this novel is so unconventional that the novel might be better categorized as historical fiction instead of a romance. One hundred pages into the novel, and no romance in sight. The focus of the novel is clearly the drama and intrigue, not your stereotypical warm and fuzzy relationship between Mercedes and Captain Thorne, and in my opinion, the novel is the better for it.
The romance is graphic and the circumstances are not for the faint of heart, so the novel is appropriate for adults only.
The characters in the novel have depth and complexity that can rival any daytime television drama. The pace and suspense were fantastic. I kept guessing how the story would proceed, how the characters would react, but I was wrong every time. It was so refreshing.
The conclusion of the novel leaves you eager to read the next novel. I highly recommend MY STEADFAST HEART to all.
*Review shared with The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=13267.
PS - the other books in the series are just as good!
In this first installment of the Thorne Brothers trilogy, Colin Thorne has lost his entire family after his parents are murdered by highwaymen and his brothers are adopted by different families. Colin is sold to a sea captain just weeks before a solicitor arrives at the workhouse searching for him.
Captain Colin Thorne wins a wager made with the Earl of Weybourne on how fast Colin can sail his clipper roundtrip from London to Boston. The Earl challenges Captain Thorne to a duel, accusing him of cheating to win the wager, and then forces his niece, Mercedes, to keep Colin from showing up to the duel. What follows is a richly embellished plotline where nearly every major character has an agenda.
I loved this novel. I've read several series of books based on the heart-wrenching scenario of separated or lost siblings. This is one of the best, and is distinct from those other trilogies.
One of my foremost thoughts about MY STEADFAST HEART is "This is a romance novel?!" The romance in this novel is so unconventional that the novel might be better categorized as historical fiction instead of a romance. One hundred pages into the novel, and no romance in sight. The focus of the novel is clearly the drama and intrigue, not your stereotypical warm and fuzzy relationship between Mercedes and Captain Thorne, and in my opinion, the novel is the better for it.
The romance is graphic and the circumstances are not for the faint of heart, so the novel is appropriate for adults only.
The characters in the novel have depth and complexity that can rival any daytime television drama. The pace and suspense were fantastic. I kept guessing how the story would proceed, how the characters would react, but I was wrong every time. It was so refreshing.
The conclusion of the novel leaves you eager to read the next novel. I highly recommend MY STEADFAST HEART to all.
*Review shared with The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=13267.
PS - the other books in the series are just as good!
Saturday, February 22, 2014
A Rogue by Any Other Name (1st Rule of Scoundrels) by Sarah MacLean - 4 stars
A Rogue By Any Other
Name (The First Rule of Scoundrels) by Sarah MacLean tells the tale of
two childhood friends reunited after more than a decade of trials and
tribulations, ultimately finding that true friendship never dies. I give it four star and recommend to all.
In the novel, Michael Lawler and Penelope Marbury are childhood friends who correspond after Michael leaves for Eton. Many letters are provided as introductions to each chapter, giving the reader a deeper understanding of what the characters were going through during that time. Michael’s parents die and he becomes the Marquess of Bourne, and later he loses the entirety of the marquessate’s unentailed holdings to a man named Langford in one hand of blackjack (vingt-et-un), leaving him with a cold and empty manor house. He vows to get his properties back and his revenge on Langford.
In the novel, Michael Lawler and Penelope Marbury are childhood friends who correspond after Michael leaves for Eton. Many letters are provided as introductions to each chapter, giving the reader a deeper understanding of what the characters were going through during that time. Michael’s parents die and he becomes the Marquess of Bourne, and later he loses the entirety of the marquessate’s unentailed holdings to a man named Langford in one hand of blackjack (vingt-et-un), leaving him with a cold and empty manor house. He vows to get his properties back and his revenge on Langford.
Penelope has suffered her share of heartache, as
well, being jilted by her fiancée, the Duke of Leighton, then later having no
success in finding a suitable husband amidst the disparaging gossip of the ton.
At twenty-eight, she feels firmly established as a spinster and gives up
hope of finding a husband until her father forces her to do so in order to
salvage her younger sisters’ chances at matrimony. Her father wins the land around Michael’s
manor house from Langford in a card game and attaches it Penelope’s dowry,
assuring her of many proposals to come.
Michael and Penelope meet, in a way by chance, and he abducts her
holds her hostage in his manor house so that she will be forced to marry him. The deed is done, and the two have to figure
out how to be married before either or both of them is destroyed or runs mad.
I must say that I liked this book the first time I read it,
but a staggering revelation at the
end of No Good Duke Goes Unpunished (The Third Rule of Scoundrels) made me decide
to re-read all the books a second time. Now
I will say that I really liked this
book. I think with this series the old
adage about the whole being greater than the sum of its parts is true. My enjoyment of the first book in the series
was increased exponentially when considered in light of books two and
three. Now I am eagerly awaiting book
four!
The pace of the novel is great; there is always something
happening to move the plot forward, and there are no superfluous scenes. I really liked how the reader is given the backstory
of Michael and Penelope’s friendship through their letters – much more
interesting than heavy narration and occasionally even adds some comedic relief
to an otherwise heart-breaking relationship history. To wit, when the declarations of love are spoken, the reader
can more easily accept the feelings as having depth and duration. The development of the romantic relationship
is believable. It is also on the graphic
side, so appropriate for adults only.
The plotline is simple, but not mind-numbingly so, and the other owners of Michael's gaming establishment, The Fallen Angel, provide excellent depth to the plot. Character development is also well done. Narration mixed with direct communication of
the characters’ thoughts show how the character come to think the way they do
and how their motivations and reasoning changes.
This series is a must read.
Thursday, February 13, 2014
Resolutions by Teri Riggs - 3 stars
Hold on to your seats, RESOLUTIONS by Teri Riggs will take you on one wild ride. I give it three stars for the fabulous action, but also for the numerous grammar issues.
In the novel, Drug Enforcement Agent Eve Taylor is injured and captured during an operation at a Columbian drug lord's compound. She is rescued by her old boyfriend, Dillon "Mac" McKenna, and while recovering from her injuries, they reconnect romantically. The issue that separated them two years prior has not been resolved, though, and as they battle assassins and traitors, they must learn to work together in order to stay together and alive.
For the most part, I really liked the action in this novel. It was quick and dirty. At times, it could have been a bit more descriptive; the dots could have been more clearly connected. Overall, though, the action fit well with the plot and kept the pace of the book moving at a nice clip.
The romance was believable, but graphic and frequent enough to make the novel appropriate for adults only. The arguments between Eve and Mac are frustrating because they both seem to repeat themselves, but perhaps given their situation and their suppressed emotions, these repetitive arguments are realistic. In any case, the reader will certainly feel some of the characters' frustration.
On the down side, there were some significant and distracting grammar errors--adjectives used where nouns or adverbs were appropriate, and vice versa, in both the English and the Spanish used in the novel. There is also no explanation as to what "IDEA" stands for, which was seriously bothersome. Every time the acronym was used, my mind kept trying to figure it out instead of staying immersed in the action.
Overall, the book was fairly enjoyable and should be a nice afternoon read for any action lover.
**Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=12754.
In the novel, Drug Enforcement Agent Eve Taylor is injured and captured during an operation at a Columbian drug lord's compound. She is rescued by her old boyfriend, Dillon "Mac" McKenna, and while recovering from her injuries, they reconnect romantically. The issue that separated them two years prior has not been resolved, though, and as they battle assassins and traitors, they must learn to work together in order to stay together and alive.
For the most part, I really liked the action in this novel. It was quick and dirty. At times, it could have been a bit more descriptive; the dots could have been more clearly connected. Overall, though, the action fit well with the plot and kept the pace of the book moving at a nice clip.
The romance was believable, but graphic and frequent enough to make the novel appropriate for adults only. The arguments between Eve and Mac are frustrating because they both seem to repeat themselves, but perhaps given their situation and their suppressed emotions, these repetitive arguments are realistic. In any case, the reader will certainly feel some of the characters' frustration.
On the down side, there were some significant and distracting grammar errors--adjectives used where nouns or adverbs were appropriate, and vice versa, in both the English and the Spanish used in the novel. There is also no explanation as to what "IDEA" stands for, which was seriously bothersome. Every time the acronym was used, my mind kept trying to figure it out instead of staying immersed in the action.
Overall, the book was fairly enjoyable and should be a nice afternoon read for any action lover.
**Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=12754.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Take a Chance on Me by Jennifer Dawson - 4 stars
TAKE A CHANCE ON ME by Jennifer Dawson is a richly illustrated, character-driven novel that is definitely worth the risk. I give it 4 stars and recommend it to all lovers of contemporary romance.
In the novel, Maddie Donovan leaves her controlling fiancé at the altar, and with only fifty dollars in her tiny beaded purse and the wedding dress on her back, runs away from home. When her car breaks down, she schleps several miles in her wedding heels to the nearest sign of civilization, a bar owned by Mitch Riley.
Mitch Riley fled his own drama three years prior to Maddie's dramatic entrance, and has since been living quietly in his grandparents' farmhouse and running a dive bar. He falls in love at first sight with Maddie, and tries to keep her in town and in his home as long as possible. Both of their lives are upended, and both experience some significant epiphanies. Can they get it together before they push each other away?
I enjoyed TAKE A CHANCE ON ME. The characters were well-illustrated and developed. Despite the love at first sight aspect, which for me usually evokes incredulity, there is substantial support for the relationship, making it believable. There was plenty of humor and witty dialogue, and I loved how each of the characters was clearly unique.
The plot unfolds at a nice pace, and there is a nice balance between the dialogue and narration. I would have liked for the title to be found somewhere within the dialogue, to give it a more obvious connection to the substance, but that is just a personal preference. The relationships illustrated in the novel all have some sort of risk involved, making the title adequately reflective of the novel.
The romance is extremely graphic, including bondage and submissive/dominant aspects, earning a rating of 5 out of 5 on the heat scale. This is definitely an adults only novel.
Overall, I enjoyed the novel and am intrigued by how the characters fare in the next novel in the Something New series.
**Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=12987.
In the novel, Maddie Donovan leaves her controlling fiancé at the altar, and with only fifty dollars in her tiny beaded purse and the wedding dress on her back, runs away from home. When her car breaks down, she schleps several miles in her wedding heels to the nearest sign of civilization, a bar owned by Mitch Riley.
Mitch Riley fled his own drama three years prior to Maddie's dramatic entrance, and has since been living quietly in his grandparents' farmhouse and running a dive bar. He falls in love at first sight with Maddie, and tries to keep her in town and in his home as long as possible. Both of their lives are upended, and both experience some significant epiphanies. Can they get it together before they push each other away?
I enjoyed TAKE A CHANCE ON ME. The characters were well-illustrated and developed. Despite the love at first sight aspect, which for me usually evokes incredulity, there is substantial support for the relationship, making it believable. There was plenty of humor and witty dialogue, and I loved how each of the characters was clearly unique.
The plot unfolds at a nice pace, and there is a nice balance between the dialogue and narration. I would have liked for the title to be found somewhere within the dialogue, to give it a more obvious connection to the substance, but that is just a personal preference. The relationships illustrated in the novel all have some sort of risk involved, making the title adequately reflective of the novel.
The romance is extremely graphic, including bondage and submissive/dominant aspects, earning a rating of 5 out of 5 on the heat scale. This is definitely an adults only novel.
Overall, I enjoyed the novel and am intrigued by how the characters fare in the next novel in the Something New series.
**Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=12987.
Love in the Library (Brides of Bath #5) by Cheryl Bolen - 3 stars
LOVE IN THE LIBRARY, book five in The Brides of Bath series by Cheryl Bolen, is a sweet and easy to read romantic mystery, but lacks the depth and dimension to be enjoyable as such. I give it three stars for being too obvious.
In the novel, widowed Catherine Bexley is frantic to locate her late husband's only treasure, an extremely rare manuscript of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. Having been left nothing but the book by her spendthrift late husband, Catherine hopes to sell the manuscript and live frugally off the proceeds for the rest of her life. The only problem is that the manuscript has been stolen.
Meanwhile, the bank has given her a two-week notice of foreclosure and eviction, and she is being pursued by the dreadfully dull and socially inept Mr. Longford, who has been in love with her since before her marriage. Having no idea how to go about finding the stolen manuscript, Catherine offers fifteen percent of the manuscript's sale price to Mr. Melvin Steffington, the younger twin to Sir Elvin Steffington and holder of a doctorate in classical literature from Oxford, to help her find it.
I have been looking forward to LOVE IN THE LIBRARY since I finished the last book in The Brides of Bath series. I love this series, but I was so annoyed by Catherine Bexley's giggling that I had a difficult time getting through this installment. Catherine is twenty-seven years old, but acts like she is thirteen. I understand the concept of a "location joke" for which you have to be at a particular location at a particular time to understand the humor, but there was not enough description of the setting and situation to transport the reader to the location. Hence, much of what Catherine felt was funny did not seem even remotely humorous to me.
I also correctly identified the thief in the first few chapters. It is always disappointing to guess "who dunnit" so early because it means that for the rest of the novel, I am bothered by the characters' failure to consider the motives of all the people in Catherine's world and figure it out. My early revelation also caused the pace to feel slow, and even though the overall plot is interesting, I felt like the character development was lacking.
Overall, this fifth installation in The Brides of Bath series feels like it is more appropriate for the young adult market. While the writing isn't bad, it just feels too simple to be written for an adult audience.
** Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=12542.
In the novel, widowed Catherine Bexley is frantic to locate her late husband's only treasure, an extremely rare manuscript of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. Having been left nothing but the book by her spendthrift late husband, Catherine hopes to sell the manuscript and live frugally off the proceeds for the rest of her life. The only problem is that the manuscript has been stolen.
Meanwhile, the bank has given her a two-week notice of foreclosure and eviction, and she is being pursued by the dreadfully dull and socially inept Mr. Longford, who has been in love with her since before her marriage. Having no idea how to go about finding the stolen manuscript, Catherine offers fifteen percent of the manuscript's sale price to Mr. Melvin Steffington, the younger twin to Sir Elvin Steffington and holder of a doctorate in classical literature from Oxford, to help her find it.
I have been looking forward to LOVE IN THE LIBRARY since I finished the last book in The Brides of Bath series. I love this series, but I was so annoyed by Catherine Bexley's giggling that I had a difficult time getting through this installment. Catherine is twenty-seven years old, but acts like she is thirteen. I understand the concept of a "location joke" for which you have to be at a particular location at a particular time to understand the humor, but there was not enough description of the setting and situation to transport the reader to the location. Hence, much of what Catherine felt was funny did not seem even remotely humorous to me.
I also correctly identified the thief in the first few chapters. It is always disappointing to guess "who dunnit" so early because it means that for the rest of the novel, I am bothered by the characters' failure to consider the motives of all the people in Catherine's world and figure it out. My early revelation also caused the pace to feel slow, and even though the overall plot is interesting, I felt like the character development was lacking.
Overall, this fifth installation in The Brides of Bath series feels like it is more appropriate for the young adult market. While the writing isn't bad, it just feels too simple to be written for an adult audience.
** Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=12542.
Jessamine's Folly by S.G. Rogers - 3 stars
JESSAMINE'S FOLLY by S.G. Rogers is a sweet and satisfying turn of the century romance that will leave you wanting more. I give it three stars.
At sixteen years old, beautiful Jessamine Foster was orphaned, destitute and plagued by callous, malicious, and neglectful relations. She becomes the companion of Lady Amelie Kirkland, the seventh Earl of Kirkland's sister, and soon finds herself unfortunately distracted by the handsome earl. Navigating her life as a companion, not the "social equal" of her employer or the household servants, is difficult enough without the spiteful machinations of Miss Olivia Hightower, daughter of Sir Bartholomew Hightower, who was Kirkland's father's business partner. Olivia is determined to maintain the marriage arranged for her and Kirkland by their fathers and seeks information to ruin Jessamine. What she stumbles onto with the help of Jessamine's cousin, Charlotte, is a greater mystery and scandal than she imagined.
For the most part, I enjoyed JESSAMINE'S FOLLY, although I must say at the outset that the title does not reflect the substance of the novel. I found no folly attributable to Jessamine, only to her parents, her aunt, uncle and cousin. If falling in love with Kirkland is supposed to be the "folly," it would have been nice to have a literary cue to tie in the title with the plot, perhaps Jessamine telling herself that "to fall in love with Kirkland would be folly."
My other initial reaction is that the book could have been a full-length novel if the first chapter and epilogue had not summarily dispensed with the initial setting and the conclusion to the novel. The beginning seemed rushed and short on character details. I had so many questions, the first on my list being: Why didn't Jessamine speak with or write to her uncle about how her aunt and cousin treated her? For someone who could so calmly stand up to her aunt, you would think she would have been a bit more proactive in dealing with such vile treatment. As to the conclusion, while most readers like their villains to get their comeuppance, it would have been more satisfying for the reader to experience it, instead of being told about it. All in all, there seemed to be little character development.
The development of the romantic relationship between Kirkland and Jessamine was also truncated. At the point where their love is declared, there hasn't been enough time spent together or conversation shared to support the feelings, and so it seems contrived.
The romance is sweet--chaste, or chastely described kisses only--and I don't recall there being any actual cursing, making this novel appropriate for any age.
I enjoyed the plotline. It had some nice twists and surprises, but I so wanted to see more of the characters' interactions and histories to establish their characters, and more of their lives after the scandal breaks and resolves.
There were also some minor issues with how people were described that were distracting. For example, some quick research would reveal that an earl's daughter would be marrying up if she married a marquess, a title that comes from the French "marquis," and is one step down from a duke. If that point was couched in teasing or sarcasm, it needs to be more obvious for the jest to be conveyed to the reader.
I would definitely recommend JESSAMINE'S FOLLY for a quick afternoon read, but I would also love to see a revised/full-length version of the novel.
** Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=12748.
At sixteen years old, beautiful Jessamine Foster was orphaned, destitute and plagued by callous, malicious, and neglectful relations. She becomes the companion of Lady Amelie Kirkland, the seventh Earl of Kirkland's sister, and soon finds herself unfortunately distracted by the handsome earl. Navigating her life as a companion, not the "social equal" of her employer or the household servants, is difficult enough without the spiteful machinations of Miss Olivia Hightower, daughter of Sir Bartholomew Hightower, who was Kirkland's father's business partner. Olivia is determined to maintain the marriage arranged for her and Kirkland by their fathers and seeks information to ruin Jessamine. What she stumbles onto with the help of Jessamine's cousin, Charlotte, is a greater mystery and scandal than she imagined.
For the most part, I enjoyed JESSAMINE'S FOLLY, although I must say at the outset that the title does not reflect the substance of the novel. I found no folly attributable to Jessamine, only to her parents, her aunt, uncle and cousin. If falling in love with Kirkland is supposed to be the "folly," it would have been nice to have a literary cue to tie in the title with the plot, perhaps Jessamine telling herself that "to fall in love with Kirkland would be folly."
My other initial reaction is that the book could have been a full-length novel if the first chapter and epilogue had not summarily dispensed with the initial setting and the conclusion to the novel. The beginning seemed rushed and short on character details. I had so many questions, the first on my list being: Why didn't Jessamine speak with or write to her uncle about how her aunt and cousin treated her? For someone who could so calmly stand up to her aunt, you would think she would have been a bit more proactive in dealing with such vile treatment. As to the conclusion, while most readers like their villains to get their comeuppance, it would have been more satisfying for the reader to experience it, instead of being told about it. All in all, there seemed to be little character development.
The development of the romantic relationship between Kirkland and Jessamine was also truncated. At the point where their love is declared, there hasn't been enough time spent together or conversation shared to support the feelings, and so it seems contrived.
The romance is sweet--chaste, or chastely described kisses only--and I don't recall there being any actual cursing, making this novel appropriate for any age.
I enjoyed the plotline. It had some nice twists and surprises, but I so wanted to see more of the characters' interactions and histories to establish their characters, and more of their lives after the scandal breaks and resolves.
There were also some minor issues with how people were described that were distracting. For example, some quick research would reveal that an earl's daughter would be marrying up if she married a marquess, a title that comes from the French "marquis," and is one step down from a duke. If that point was couched in teasing or sarcasm, it needs to be more obvious for the jest to be conveyed to the reader.
I would definitely recommend JESSAMINE'S FOLLY for a quick afternoon read, but I would also love to see a revised/full-length version of the novel.
** Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=12748.
Saint Sin by Mary Gillgannon - 2 stars
SAINT SIN by Mary Gillgannon could have been a nice read, but it fell flat in all the important categories. It lacked character development, romantic development, and believable romance. I give this novel 2 stars only because the premise of the book has potential, but I don't recommend this book in its current state.
In SAINT SIN, twenty-five year old Ariella Lyndgate is finally getting a season in London, but her younger brother has ruined it by losing an unbelievable amount of money gambling. In order to save her brother, Ariella approaches the gaming den owner to work out a repayment schedule, but the owner provides only one way for Ariella to pay back her brother's debt--by stealing the Blue Moon, a large diamond owned by the notorious recluse, Michael St. Cyr, Earl of Penwell.
In her efforts to gain access and steal the diamond, Ariella has to spin some serious tales, and when those lies fail, she resorts to using her feminine wiles. Her efforts backfire, though, when she falls in love with Penwell and realizes that she's wronged him. Making up for her subterfuge won't be easy.
While the premise of the book--a young woman attempts to help her brother get out of debt--could have been developed into an enjoyable story, I did not enjoy this novel. From the start, Ariella's actions and reactions seemed contrived, and her interactions with Penwell were outrageous. There was very little character foundation for the reader to understand Ariella's irrational behavior, and there was no character development for her at all. Despite Ariella's proclaimed "change of heart", her character flaws in the beginning of the novel remained her flaws through to the end.
I honestly didn't see that much change in Penwell's character either. His only epiphany was that he was in love with Ariella, which when looked at closely, only highlights the fact that there was no foundation for, or development of, the romance. Their relationship was purely physical, and so the declarations of love in the end lacked any kind of credibility.
The purely physical aspect of the romance was also extremely graphic and pervasive, with some light bondage, earning a 5 out of 5 on the heat scale. Given the number of pages devoted to the physical intimacies, while this novel was categorized as your typical romance, it really should be categorized as erotic.
On the technical side, there were many typographical errors, including inconsistency throughout the novel of how the name of Penwell's former love interest is spelled--Alexandria or Alexandra. Given all of the foregoing, I would not recommend this novel to any readers.
(Editor's Note: We have changed the category to Erotic Romance)
** Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=11064.
In SAINT SIN, twenty-five year old Ariella Lyndgate is finally getting a season in London, but her younger brother has ruined it by losing an unbelievable amount of money gambling. In order to save her brother, Ariella approaches the gaming den owner to work out a repayment schedule, but the owner provides only one way for Ariella to pay back her brother's debt--by stealing the Blue Moon, a large diamond owned by the notorious recluse, Michael St. Cyr, Earl of Penwell.
In her efforts to gain access and steal the diamond, Ariella has to spin some serious tales, and when those lies fail, she resorts to using her feminine wiles. Her efforts backfire, though, when she falls in love with Penwell and realizes that she's wronged him. Making up for her subterfuge won't be easy.
While the premise of the book--a young woman attempts to help her brother get out of debt--could have been developed into an enjoyable story, I did not enjoy this novel. From the start, Ariella's actions and reactions seemed contrived, and her interactions with Penwell were outrageous. There was very little character foundation for the reader to understand Ariella's irrational behavior, and there was no character development for her at all. Despite Ariella's proclaimed "change of heart", her character flaws in the beginning of the novel remained her flaws through to the end.
I honestly didn't see that much change in Penwell's character either. His only epiphany was that he was in love with Ariella, which when looked at closely, only highlights the fact that there was no foundation for, or development of, the romance. Their relationship was purely physical, and so the declarations of love in the end lacked any kind of credibility.
The purely physical aspect of the romance was also extremely graphic and pervasive, with some light bondage, earning a 5 out of 5 on the heat scale. Given the number of pages devoted to the physical intimacies, while this novel was categorized as your typical romance, it really should be categorized as erotic.
On the technical side, there were many typographical errors, including inconsistency throughout the novel of how the name of Penwell's former love interest is spelled--Alexandria or Alexandra. Given all of the foregoing, I would not recommend this novel to any readers.
(Editor's Note: We have changed the category to Erotic Romance)
** Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=11064.
The Magic Between Us by Tammy Falkner - 4 stars
THE MAGIC BETWEEN US by Tammy Falkner is a magical tale of love and redemption that could be enjoyed by all if it weren't for the incredibly graphic sex scenes that saturate the novel's pages. I give it 4 stars and recommend it to any adult who loves novels featuring magic.
In the novel, Cecelia and Marcus, lifelong fae friends who are deeply in love with each other, are separated when Marcus is called to live in the human world and take his rightful, titled place in the ton. Marcus believes he must leave his old life and Cecelia behind; Cecelia is understandably devastated, but six months later, when called by Marcus' grandmother to use her magic to help ease Marcus' transition, Cecelia cannot refuse. Cecelia's love for Marcus thrusts them back into each other's life, and the sparks fly. Can their love overcome the difficulties and dangers within their families?
I enjoyed Cecelia and Marcus' story. The description of the fae world was just enough to aid the story, although I would have liked a bit more. Also, even though I could tell that there were other books in this series that chronologically precede this book, enough of the previous drama was summarized to allow the reader to understand what was happening.
The plot was straightforward with a couple of subplots that added depth to Marcus and Cecelia's story, and the novel was well paced. I liked the characters, especially the illustration of personal growth for some of them. The emotional upheaval of Marcus' abandonment was so palpable that I cried for Cecelia, but the novel also had some comic moments.
The only thing I did not like about this novel was the sheer number of pages dedicated to illustrating in minute, graphic detail the physical relationship between Marcus and Cecelia. It felt gratuitous and voyeuristic. It was also shocking because prior to those pages, which number in the double digits, the novel felt like a young adult novel. Clearly it is not. On the heat scale, it rates 4 out of 5, and probably should be categorized as "erotic" instead of "romance".
Other than that, the book was well written, and I recommend it to all adults who like magic in their novels.
**Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=12562.
In the novel, Cecelia and Marcus, lifelong fae friends who are deeply in love with each other, are separated when Marcus is called to live in the human world and take his rightful, titled place in the ton. Marcus believes he must leave his old life and Cecelia behind; Cecelia is understandably devastated, but six months later, when called by Marcus' grandmother to use her magic to help ease Marcus' transition, Cecelia cannot refuse. Cecelia's love for Marcus thrusts them back into each other's life, and the sparks fly. Can their love overcome the difficulties and dangers within their families?
I enjoyed Cecelia and Marcus' story. The description of the fae world was just enough to aid the story, although I would have liked a bit more. Also, even though I could tell that there were other books in this series that chronologically precede this book, enough of the previous drama was summarized to allow the reader to understand what was happening.
The plot was straightforward with a couple of subplots that added depth to Marcus and Cecelia's story, and the novel was well paced. I liked the characters, especially the illustration of personal growth for some of them. The emotional upheaval of Marcus' abandonment was so palpable that I cried for Cecelia, but the novel also had some comic moments.
The only thing I did not like about this novel was the sheer number of pages dedicated to illustrating in minute, graphic detail the physical relationship between Marcus and Cecelia. It felt gratuitous and voyeuristic. It was also shocking because prior to those pages, which number in the double digits, the novel felt like a young adult novel. Clearly it is not. On the heat scale, it rates 4 out of 5, and probably should be categorized as "erotic" instead of "romance".
Other than that, the book was well written, and I recommend it to all adults who like magic in their novels.
**Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=12562.
Midnight Captive (Bonded by Blood #2) by Arial Burnz - 4 stars
MIDNIGHT CAPTIVE by Arial Burnz is a fantastic follow-up to the first book in the Bonded by Blood series, establishing the series with a clearer direction and exciting action. I give it 4 stars.
MIDNIGHT CAPTIVE begins seventeen years after the first book in the series, Midnight Conquest, and gives readers the love story of Cailin MacDougal (Davina's daughter/ Broderick's stepdaughter) and James Knightly, son of Alistair Knightly, partner in the MacDougal Shipping Company. Angus Campbell is still plaguing Broderick's family, attempting to use physical harm to Davina and Cailin to exact his revenge against Broderick.
Broderick is called away on an uncertain quest, leaving his family in James' care. After his departure, Cailin overhears Angus' human minions discussing a plot to abduct her and Davina and deliver them to Angus. Cailin plans accordingly and isn't disappointed. Angus' plan goes awry, though, because Davina is not abducted, and because Broderick is away from home and has no idea they are in danger. He also didn't plan for Cailin to have a special amulet to protect her from him in specific, subtle and powerful ways. James is on her trail and faces serious emotional and physical trauma to get to her. Ultimately, James and Cailin must work together to escape Angus' clutches.
MIDNIGHT CAPTIVE was everything I was looking for in book one of the series. It is important to note, though, that reading the books in order will help you understand immediately what's going on in book two. I started with book two and quickly realized that I need to stop and read book one first. It made a HUGE difference.
So, in MIDNIGHT CAPTIVE, the history of the Vamsyrian race and the prophecy concerning the Vamsyrians and God's chosen one are both explained in greater detail, giving the reader a much deeper understanding of the world in which these characters live. Readers also get to see more of Cordelia and learn about her part in the prophecy. I like how the prophecy and history of the Vamsyrians incorporate Biblical events and how some of the dialogue echoes scriptures. Also, the concept of the existence of other supernatural beings is addressed, giving us the reason for the creation of werewolves! The whole supernatural plot is well done, captivating in both its substance and delivery.
The novel also provides explanations of major events of the past seventeen years. This is crucial to another aspect of the book--the development of the romance between Cailin and James. Their attachment is clearly understood from the unfolding of their childhoods--when they met, James' father's neglect and abandonment, James' affection and admiration of Cailin's character and personality even when she was young, etc. The romance is believable.
The romance is also graphic, so appropriate for adults only.
The plot canters along nicely, and there were very few distracting typos or editing issues.
Overall, I really enjoyed MIDNIGHT CAPTIVE, and cannot wait to read book three in the series to see where immortality takes Broderick and his family next.
**Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooksreview.php?bookid=8272.
MIDNIGHT CAPTIVE begins seventeen years after the first book in the series, Midnight Conquest, and gives readers the love story of Cailin MacDougal (Davina's daughter/ Broderick's stepdaughter) and James Knightly, son of Alistair Knightly, partner in the MacDougal Shipping Company. Angus Campbell is still plaguing Broderick's family, attempting to use physical harm to Davina and Cailin to exact his revenge against Broderick.
Broderick is called away on an uncertain quest, leaving his family in James' care. After his departure, Cailin overhears Angus' human minions discussing a plot to abduct her and Davina and deliver them to Angus. Cailin plans accordingly and isn't disappointed. Angus' plan goes awry, though, because Davina is not abducted, and because Broderick is away from home and has no idea they are in danger. He also didn't plan for Cailin to have a special amulet to protect her from him in specific, subtle and powerful ways. James is on her trail and faces serious emotional and physical trauma to get to her. Ultimately, James and Cailin must work together to escape Angus' clutches.
MIDNIGHT CAPTIVE was everything I was looking for in book one of the series. It is important to note, though, that reading the books in order will help you understand immediately what's going on in book two. I started with book two and quickly realized that I need to stop and read book one first. It made a HUGE difference.
So, in MIDNIGHT CAPTIVE, the history of the Vamsyrian race and the prophecy concerning the Vamsyrians and God's chosen one are both explained in greater detail, giving the reader a much deeper understanding of the world in which these characters live. Readers also get to see more of Cordelia and learn about her part in the prophecy. I like how the prophecy and history of the Vamsyrians incorporate Biblical events and how some of the dialogue echoes scriptures. Also, the concept of the existence of other supernatural beings is addressed, giving us the reason for the creation of werewolves! The whole supernatural plot is well done, captivating in both its substance and delivery.
The novel also provides explanations of major events of the past seventeen years. This is crucial to another aspect of the book--the development of the romance between Cailin and James. Their attachment is clearly understood from the unfolding of their childhoods--when they met, James' father's neglect and abandonment, James' affection and admiration of Cailin's character and personality even when she was young, etc. The romance is believable.
The romance is also graphic, so appropriate for adults only.
The plot canters along nicely, and there were very few distracting typos or editing issues.
Overall, I really enjoyed MIDNIGHT CAPTIVE, and cannot wait to read book three in the series to see where immortality takes Broderick and his family next.
**Review originally written for The Romance Reviews.com at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooksreview.php?bookid=8272.
Midnight Conquest (Bonded By Blood Vampire Chronicles #1) by Arial Burnz - 3 stars
MIDNIGHT CONQUEST by Arial Burnz combines a new theory of vampirism with a medieval Scottish setting, kicking off a new series of paranormal romance. The characters are missing some depth, though, and the pace is on the slow side, which present some challenges for the reader. I give it 3 stars.
In the novel, Broderick MacDougal is transformed into a Vamsyrian (aka vampire) after a horrific string of events in which he loses his entire family, including his wife. After thirty years wandering, searching for his nemesis, and using his immortal gifts to read palms with a band of gypsies, he falls in love with Davina, a Scottish lady who has also suffered injustice and betrayal at the hands of others, but he must overcome her severe distrust of men in order to save both of their lives.
MIDNIGHT CONQUEST proffers a new theory (new to me at least) of vampirism – that vampires were the creation of Satan to get revenge on God. When people are transformed, they are given the option to choose the Army of Light, which is exactly what it sounds like, instead of being bound to the night. Various aspects of vampire lore are also highlighted--sleeping during the day, silver, etc. The reader is not given much information about the two groups, the Vamsyrians and the Army of Light, and I would have liked to see more of the history there.
The characters are fairly sympathetic, and readers can easily understand the baggage associated with each. The novel was a bit light on character development, though, in that I often wondered about the characters' motivations--why they did what they did considering the circumstances. It seemed like the characters didn't really learn anything and spent a long time proceeding along the same route until a switch is flipped and suddenly they are on a different track.
This was also an issue for me in the romantic development. The reader isn't given much information to understand why Broderick and Davina "love" each other beyond the mystical or cosmic pull. I would have liked to see more real/regular time spent together and less of Broderick's lusty dreams and attempts to persuade Davina with physical lures. The romance is appropriate for adults only.
The plot unfolds a bit too slowly for me, rather like shooting a rubber band--everything is slow for a while until the climax and then it's all over too quickly. I also knew what was going to happen before any kind of foreshadowing was provided, which was disappointing.
Overall, the novel provided enough interesting substance to make me wonder where the series is going. I'll definitely be reading book 2 in hopes of getting answers to my questions.
**Review originally written for The Romance Reviews at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=2737.
In the novel, Broderick MacDougal is transformed into a Vamsyrian (aka vampire) after a horrific string of events in which he loses his entire family, including his wife. After thirty years wandering, searching for his nemesis, and using his immortal gifts to read palms with a band of gypsies, he falls in love with Davina, a Scottish lady who has also suffered injustice and betrayal at the hands of others, but he must overcome her severe distrust of men in order to save both of their lives.
MIDNIGHT CONQUEST proffers a new theory (new to me at least) of vampirism – that vampires were the creation of Satan to get revenge on God. When people are transformed, they are given the option to choose the Army of Light, which is exactly what it sounds like, instead of being bound to the night. Various aspects of vampire lore are also highlighted--sleeping during the day, silver, etc. The reader is not given much information about the two groups, the Vamsyrians and the Army of Light, and I would have liked to see more of the history there.
The characters are fairly sympathetic, and readers can easily understand the baggage associated with each. The novel was a bit light on character development, though, in that I often wondered about the characters' motivations--why they did what they did considering the circumstances. It seemed like the characters didn't really learn anything and spent a long time proceeding along the same route until a switch is flipped and suddenly they are on a different track.
This was also an issue for me in the romantic development. The reader isn't given much information to understand why Broderick and Davina "love" each other beyond the mystical or cosmic pull. I would have liked to see more real/regular time spent together and less of Broderick's lusty dreams and attempts to persuade Davina with physical lures. The romance is appropriate for adults only.
The plot unfolds a bit too slowly for me, rather like shooting a rubber band--everything is slow for a while until the climax and then it's all over too quickly. I also knew what was going to happen before any kind of foreshadowing was provided, which was disappointing.
Overall, the novel provided enough interesting substance to make me wonder where the series is going. I'll definitely be reading book 2 in hopes of getting answers to my questions.
**Review originally written for The Romance Reviews at http://www.theromancereviews.com/viewbooks.php?bookid=2737.
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