Review - Never Been Bit by Lydia Dare

TITLE:    Never Been Bit
AUTHOR:    Lydia Dare
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 363 pages
PUBLISHED:   Sourcebooks, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS:   Lydia Dare's paranormal historical romances feature the hottest theme in paranormal combined with the most popular time period in historical romance. This is the third in a trilogy of vampire Regency romances, where the glittering world of English high society is a playground for the rich, titled, and undead.


Vampire Alec McQuarrie's heart was broken long before it stopped beating. Now Alec's after-life is an endless search for pleasure. Young witch Sorcha Ferguson has come to London in search of a man, beast-or even a blood sucker-of her very own...

MY TAKE:    Once again Lydia Dare has entertained me immensely.  I reviewed In the Heat of the Bite earlier this year and was thrilled to get a chance to check out this book as well.  


The author has continued her hot streak with Alec and Sorcha.  Alec is a gentlemanly vampire who has known the fiery witch Sorcha all of her life.  When she announces that she is determined to ensnare a Lycan for her husband, Alec goes into protection overdrive.  The story that follows is hilarious, romantic and fun.  


Ms. Dare has a knack for creating characters that make you laugh and root for their success.  I love the fact that she has storylines occurring in the background the entire time.  The machinations of some of the secondary characters is fascinating.


This is a fun series with stories that stand well on their own but also make great additions to the entire collection.  I'm looking forward to the next Regency vampire story and to reading more about the wolfy men of her companion Lycan series.

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

Available NOW from:

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Kindle

The Book Depository

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Nook

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - Utterly Charming by Kristine Grayson

TITLE:     Utterly Charming     
AUTHOR:    Kristine Grayson
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 308 pages
PUBLISHED:   Sourcebooks, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS:   In the tradition of New York Times bestselling author Susan Anderson, comes a fresh and funny story of eternal love that already has the romance world buzzing.


In this thoroughly unique and irresistible romantic romp from a talented new author, a struggling Seattle lawyer, desperate to keep her fledgling law firm from going under, takes a case involving a strange but incredibly attractive man. Before she knows it, all of Nora's wishes come true, along with the realization that her client is Prince Charming...the real Prince Charming. There's just one problem: despite being a gorgeous hunk, he's a 1,000 year old magician who still has to deal with a Sleeping Beauty and one wicked stepmother before he and Nora can have a future together.

MY TAKE:    Kristine Grayson has obviously been having fun taking beloved fairytales and legends and giving them settings in the present.  She has done it again by providing the age-old tale of Sleeping Beauty and her Prince Charming several fun twists and new possibilities.  


Earlier this year I read Wickedly Charming and fell in love with Ms. Grayson's storytelling.  I liked her explanation that there are several Prince Charmings!  They are all from the same family and are the heroes for many of the lovely Princesses in the tales.  


So on to Utterly...  Sleeping Beauty is really named Emma and has been in her glass coffin for 1,000 years - being fought over by Aethlelstan Blackstone the Wizard (aka Prince Charming) and her wicked witch stepmother Ealhswith.  Their epic battles have been waged these many centuries and will finally come to an end when the lawyerly Nora takes charge of the situation.


This was a fun romp through fairytale land with many characters popping up.  The Fates were a real hoot as they tried out modern Punk wear.  One of my favorites had to be Sancho Panza.  The magical dwarf was hysterical and frankly stole the show for me.  I want much more of him!  Another part that had me laughing was when Nora's mother's boyfriend Jeffrey Chawsir had to convince Sancho and Emma that he knew he wasn't that Geoffrey Chaucer since they had both known the famous author.  The fact that Jeffrey also happened to be a professor of medieval studies just added to the humor.


The love story that was supposed to be Aethlelstan/PC and Emma/SB wasn't quite what the legends had made of it.  When the wizard and his sidekick Sancho meet up with Nora for the first time, sparks start to fly and Blackstone finds out that he's met his match.  The romance was sweet and made for a light, enjoyable read.

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

You can find your copy at:  

Amazon, Kindle, The Book Depository, Barnes & Noble, Nook

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - The Goblin King by Shona Husk

TITLE:    The Goblin King     
AUTHOR:    Shona Husk
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 319 pages
PUBLISHED:   Sourcebooks, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS:   Cursed by a Druid millennia ago, Roan lives a bleak existence in the Shadowlands, desperately trying to retain his soul and not succumb to the goblin horde. When a beautiful human summons him to grant a wish, he sees a glimmer of hope. But will she ever agree to be his queen?

MY TAKE:    I wasn't sure what to expect from a story that has a goblin as the romantic male lead.  My mental picture of what goblins look like was rather vivid.  I am glad to say that I have a new image in my mind thanks to Roan, the Goblin King.


Shona Husk has created a very un-fairytalelike fairytale romance.  Her characters are original and engaging.  I admit that I thought Eliza was a pain in the beginning.  She couldn't stand up for herself and somehow allowed herself to be placed in a very compromising situation.  Her own stupidity put her life in the hands of a man she didn't love or respect who was using and manipulating her for money. Her development and growth throughout the story was welcome and enjoyable.  I don't do well at all with weak female leads.


Roan was interesting and sexy, even when he was in his goblin form.  He had all of the right character traits that a woman wants in her hero:  honor, loyalty, intelligence, sex appeal, etc....  I was on his side from the very beginning and rooted for him to succeed.  


The Goblin King was a fun read that I enjoyed delving into.  For even more of this story, I was excited to find out that Summons: A Goblin King Prequel is now available for FREE at Amazon as well as for the Nook at Barnes and Noble. 
  

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

Grab yourself a copy: 

Amazon,  Kindle, The Book Depository, Barnes & Noble, Nook

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - Lady of the English by Elizabeth Chadwick

TITLE:   Lady of the English
AUTHOR:    Elizabeth Chadwick 
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 497 pages
PUBLISHED:   Sourcebooks, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS:   Two very different women are linked by destiny and the struggle for the English crown. Matilda, daughter of Henry I, is determined to win back her crown from Stephen, the usurper king. Adeliza, Henry's widowed queen and Matilda's stepmother, is now married to William D'Albini, a warrior of the opposition. Both women are strong and prepared to stand firm for what they know is right. But in a world where a man's word is law, how can Adeliza obey her husband while supporting Matilda, the rightful queen? And for Matilda pride comes before a fall ...What price for a crown? What does it cost to be 'Lady of the English'?

MY TAKE:    Elizabeth Chadwick is a name that is synonymous with fantastic historical fiction.  Her latest masterpiece Lady of the English, is yet another justification for this well-earned reputation.  

Daughter of Henry I and mother to Henry II, Empress Matilda's story is told in alternating viewpoints with that of her widowed stepmother Queen Adeliza and several male characters.  This technique allows the author to show us a much more human side of the abrasive Matilda than what has previously been told.  Her loving relationship with the pious peacemaker near her own age is an effective background for the tale of the strong woman who really should have become Queen of England.  Instead, she paved the way for one of its more colorful Kings to finally take the reins after many years of strife and open war.


I really enjoyed learning about the Empress, as she liked to be called.  I can't imagine how hard it would have been for her to be the beloved Empress of Germany, married to a man who loved and respected her and then to lose it all in a second.  She came home to a place she hadn't seen since she was 8, now at the ripe old age of 23, to be used as a political pawn by her father King Henry I.  To solidify his rule and further his machinations, she was married off to the Duke of Anjou who just happened to be an obnoxious boy of 14!  Getting a glimpse into this early life explains a lot about Matilda's behaviour and character in later years.  Her single-minded drive to claim the crown after her father's death, first for herself and then on behalf of her young son Henry, was amazing as well as disturbing.  


Ms. Chadwick's style of writing pulls the reader in immediately and doesn't let you go.  I was so engrossed in this story that I stayed up almost all night reading.  My emotions ran the full range while I was immersed in this book. I became very invested in many of the players.  The fact that Matilda and Brian were in love and couldn't act upon it was very sad.  Their devotion to honor and faith were amazing. I felt sympathy and outrage at the way Matilda was treated by her father and her husband; sadness at many of the atrocities that were committed against innocents and women; but I actually did find quite a bit of humor in young Henry's antics.  


One of my favorites was when he was 14 and gathered a band of misfits to unsuccessfully try to take a couple of the border castles from the English king.  Neither of his parents were aware of his misguided plans.  The fun really got started when he didn't have the funds to pay his outlaws or to get back home.  He decided to just waltz into the King's camp and ask his cousin Stephen for the money.  Stephen was highly amused by Henry's daring and after hosting him for many days sent him home to his father with many gifts and the requested money.  Since Stephen is the very king that Henry and his parents are trying to wrest the English crown from, this little escapade was that much more exciting and funny.


I also have to admit that I became very attached to Adeliza.  She was very diplomatic and made the perfect political wife to King Henry.  She became very protective of her stepdaughter Matilda and was a loyal friend to her for decades.  Her charity and goodness were well-known and she provided a calming and reasonable voice for Matilda. There is a point when she is saying goodbye to her second husband Will and doesn't know when or if she will see him again that had me bawling my eyes out.  Theirs was a love match and my heart was breaking for her and him.  He was also a character that I enjoyed.  The author shared his thoughts with us many times regarding his struggle between his loyalty to the current King (Stephen) and his love of Adeliza, friend and champion to Empress Matilda.  He has a few instances when he battles his own sense of honor in order to protect his wife and her stepdaughter.


This book is already residing on my keeper shelf and I highly recommend it.  Plan on being drawn into 12th century England and staying there a while with some magnetic characters that you won't want to leave.

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

Get a copy for yourself at:  Amazon, Barnes & Noble, The Book Depository

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - Midnight on Julia Street by Ciji Ware

TITLE:    Midnight on Julia Street
AUTHOR:    Ciji Ware
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 487 pages
PUBLISHED:   Sourcebooks, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS:   Ciji Ware's acclaimed time slip novel weaves together romance and history with the sultry and timeless flavor of two eras of New Orleans.


TV reporter Corlis McCullough's investigation of a century-old mystery involving spectacular 19th-century buildings under the threat of the wrecker's ball brings her back into the orbit of her old college nemesis King Duvallon. But now they're mature and companionable, and King shows Corlis a fascinating, hidden side of New Orleans society. Then she begins to be pulled back into the past where corruption, violence, and greed mirror the events of the current day.

MY TAKE:   I enjoy contemporary novels with characters that slip back in time, whether it is physical or just in the mind.  The back and forth perspectives of the modern Corlis and her namesake from the past was a very interesting tactic.  I appreciated the fact that it didn't step too heavily into the paranormal, but was right in line with the mystic qualities that surround New Orleans.


I admit to knowing just about nothing about New Orleans and its past so this was a very educational as well as entertaining story for me.  I learned quite a bit about The Big Easy's history from the 19th century up to today.  The plot was well done with a lot of historical fact mixed in with the drama of trying to save the condemned buildings.  The tension and attraction between Corlis and King was palpable with their own tumultuous personal history tied into their race against time and the bureaucracy.  


Ciji Ware is a master at giving her readers historical romance mixed with various other elements.  This book was a treat because it is actually a contemporary story with a heroine that can "see" into the past.  It was very apparent that the author's extensive experience with that of television reporting came in handy when she gave us the spitfire Corlis.


Lovely treat for historical and contemporary fans alike.

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

Available now from:  Amazon, Barnes & Noble, The Book Depository

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - The Landlord's Black-Eyed Daughter by Mary Ellen Dennis

TITLE:    The Landlord's Black-Eyed Daughter
AUTHOR:    Mary Ellen Dennis
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 474 pages
PUBLISHED:   Sourcebooks, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher for Review

FROM GOODREADS:  A fast-paced and passionate retelling of the story of two timeless lovers who would die for each other. If only they didn't have to. This gorgeous romance by author Mary Ellen Dennis gives the poem a whole new depth and a happy ending.

"Take one highly successful Gothic romance writer who just happens to be an innkeeper's daughter; add one disillusioned, devil-may-care highwayman who robs only the rich on principle; set them down in the turbulent, hypocritical times of late 18th-century England; season with a dash of humor, a splash of the paranormal, and a dollop of danger; and let the adventures begin... A fast pace, fluid writing, and an exceptionally well-crafted plot..." - Library Journal

MY TAKE:     Loreena McKennitt's haunting musical version of "The Highwayman" by poet Alfred Noyes is what drew me immediately to this book.  I have always loved that poem and then Ms. McKennitt's lovely voice brought life to the words for me. It is one of my favorite CDs and gets plenty of play at our house.


So, on to the book by Mary Ellen Dennis.  I had high hopes that the story would basically be a fleshed out version of the original.  While the poem did provide a slight backbone for the book, it was more of a suggestion than a foundation.  I do realize that trying to create an entire full fledged tale out of a poem of 1000 or so words would be tough, but I really did expect a bit more resemblance to the original.


That being said, I did enjoy the story.  Elizabeth is a fun heroine.  She is strong and opinionated and her being an accomplished writer drew me to her.  I loved that she wrote Gothic Romance novels.  The fact that her book is what finally connects her and Rand is a lovely touch.


Rand is a perfect "Robin Hood" character.  He is suave and swashbuckling while still having what counts - a heart.  He and his "Bess" really do make a great couple and drive the story.  The supporting cast weren't especially helpful and I didn't care for most of them.


While I did say I'd have liked it to follow the poem a bit more, I really am glad that the ending for The Landlord's Black-Eyed Daughter is more upbeat than the tragic ending of the original Highwayman and his Bess.


Elements of adventure, romance, historical fiction and a bit of paranormal activity make for a fun read.

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

Available now at:  Amazon, The Book Depository, Barnes & Noble



The Book of Secrets

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.

Review - Catriona by Jeanette Baker

TITLE:    Catriona
AUTHOR:    Jeanette Baker
INFO:    Paperback, Fiction, 381 pages
PUBLISHED:   Sourcebooks, 2011
SOURCE:   Received from Publisher

FROM GOODREADS:   Kate Sutherland always felt out of place in brash and modern Southern California. But when she comes to her ancestral home in the Shetland Islands to seek a mystical guide who may shed light on her true heritage, Kate is plagued with visions of a life from five centuries past.... A fiery young woman of royal English blood, Catriona Wells is determined to save her family from the deadly political clashes of 15th-century Britain. But Cat's cunning is no match for Scottish border lord Patrick MacKendrick. When this powerful warrior betroths her against her will, Cat must decide whether she dares to love him -- and to trust him with lives that are more precious to her than her own. 

Meanwhile Kate, whose dreams rapidly take on a reality of their own, is caught between a present-day attraction to a charming Scottish historian -- and risking everything in Catriona's dangerous world of passion and bloodshed.
MY TAKE:    Jumping between centuries and different people's perspectives can be confusing and distracting if not written carefully.  Jeanette Baker has done a masterful job of blending the stories of two women connected by blood and separated by time.


Strong characters are always a draw for me.  I like women leads who use their brains instead of simpering and whimpering around waiting for a man to solve their problems for them.  Both Kate and Catriona are dealing with issues of family, love and danger. Neither of them want to depend upon the men who have their hearts.  Trusting someone else to make things right for them is not an easy thing for either of them to do.


The men in this story are remarkable and quite memorable.  You have two hunky Scotsmen in the present who are both vying for Kate's attention ~ for two very different reasons.  Niall is a Scottish historian and Hunter is the Laird of the Sutherlands.  Catriona is married to Patrick MacKendrick for reasons that turn out to be much more than the politics intended.


I highly recommend Catriona to anyone who enjoys good historical fiction filled with romance and intrigue.  A lovely romp through the ages with some fascinating characters.

Out of 5 JEWELS, I give it:

Get your copy at:  Amazon, The Book Depository, Barnes & Noble 

~~~~~ Disclaimer:  All opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not receive monetary compensation for my reviews but do utilize affiliate links.  I may receive books in  order to facilitate a review, but this does not guarantee a good review - only a completely honest one.  Each review post denotes how I obtained the book.