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.
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