Category Archives: Anthologies

Review – Hotter On The Edge (Anthology) – Erin Kellison – KC Klein – Jessa Slade

February 29, 2012

Expected Release Date: February 2, 2012 (Available Now!)
Publisher: Self-Published
Imprint: N/A
My Source for This Book: Smashwords (Gift from the author)

All That Glitters by Erin Kellison

Author’s Website: http://erinkellison.com/
Part of a Series: No
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

Cheated out of a fortune by the Sol royal family, lowborn Simon Miner will do anything to get his revenge, no matter how ruthless. When Princess Mica Sol, a terraforming expert, is shot out of the sky on the way to her sister’s lavish wedding, she fears the worst—scavengers—and flees into an alien jungle to avoid capture. But the man who pursues and captures her is none other than Simon, her former lover. Passions reignite as violence rocks Sol City, and Simon and Mica must fight for love, family, and their world… or lose everything.

What Worked For Me:

  • While I’m not usually a fan of estranged lovers in romance, I definitely prefer them in novellas because it helps the pacing along. In this particular case, I loved all of the emotional baggage between Simon and Mica.
  • Mica was a wonderful heroine.  Resourceful and intelligent without being superhero unrealistic, she’s also got quite a few emotional vulnerabilities to help round out her character.
  • I enjoyed that the action in this story wasn’t limited to Mica’s sojourn into the jungle.  The fast pacing and high level of danger continued throughout the story without getting in the way of the romance, which I definitely appreciated.
  • I loved the many shades of gray to Simon’s character. While he was certainly cast into a bad light by events outside of his control, he wasn’t perfect, and that just made him even more appealing to me.
  • I also greatly enjoyed the ideas surrounding terraforming, and the different approach to it that Mica suggested.
  • The conflict that originally resulted in Mica and Simon’s estrangement appealed to me as well — there was no single Big Misunderstanding, which I found refreshing. Instead,  there was an issue of Mia and Simon being from different societal classes, but unjust governmental regulations, family pressure, and even the characters’ personal beliefs that they weren’t quite “good enough” for the other, all added together to create the rift between them.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • I admit that I was a little disappointed that the original conflict — that of Mica fleeing into the alien jungle — was resolved so quickly.  Perhaps it was my own fault for slightly misreading the blurb, but I still wasn’t expecting a “return to civilization” so early on in the story.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. Having never read anything by Erin Kellison, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect, but the fast pacing, captivating world-building, and delicious chemistry between the protagonists quickly had me hooked.  As of right now, this story is a standalone, but I for one am sincerely hoping that it is expanded on in the future.
4.5/5 Stars

 To Buy a Wife by KC Klein

Author’s Website: kckleinbooks.com
Part of a Series: Set in the same world as Dark Future
Series Best Read In Order: Probably, but worked well as a standalone.
Steam Level: Hot

Official Blurb:

In a harsh land where corruption rules and women are few, cold realist Hudson Land must purchase a wife to save his farm. Instead of an auction, he witnesses the start of an execution. With his first look at a beautiful woman in years, Hudson knows he has to have her—no matter the cost. Lake, a chemist and a rebel fighter, is resigned to her death, but when some back-hill farmer rescues her from the chopping block she has no intention of simply becoming his wife. She’s pledged her life to the Rebellion and being bought for some stranger’s bed doesn’t change a thing, though his soft caresses have her longing for more. As lies and secrets build between them, are the quiet moments during the nights they’ve shared enough to stand against two warring factions in a world where only the strong survive?

What Worked For Me:

  • I’m desperately in love with the universe Ms. Klein created in Dark Future, and was thrilled to see it expanded on in this story. Chock full of corruption, abuse, and despair, this dystopian world is unapologetically harsh and oppressive. And I love it.
  • I really enjoyed the angst caused by the whole “purchasing a wife” part of their society. Not only is this similar enough to arranged marriages of old, but it also adds the added emotion of being literally bought and sold as a commodity, which is quite difficult for a heroine as strongly opinionated as Lake.
  • Two words: Virgin. Hero.
  • I also liked the fact that even though there wasn’t much time covered in this novella, I could actually find the Happily Ever After to be believable between Hudson and Lake. Even though they started off as enemies, they not only had good sexual chemistry but also complemented each other in their personalities enough that it was believable when they started having deeper feelings for each other so rapidly.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • I was a little iffy about a scene that involved ritualistic forced nudity, and the subsequent exhibitionism.  My readers know that this is so not my thing, so it was definitely a bit uncomfortable to read. However, one of my criteria for this sort of thing, as far as my ratings go anyway, is how comfortable the characters themselves are with it.  In this case, while Lake wasn’t exactly thrilled at the prospect, she soon found quite a bit of enjoyment, and as such, it was only a minor negative point in the story.
  • Holy crap could Hudson have had a longer name when it came to a tattoo?! *faints*  Ok, so not actually a “negative” point for the story, but definitely one that made me sympathetic as all get out for Lake.
I’m a huge fan of Ms. Klein’s universe from Dark Future, so I actually picked up this anthology for this story alone.  One thing I love about her writing is that she’s not afraid to push the limits of what might be “comfortable” to read, and instead explores the very dark side to what is turning out to be a very intriguing dystopian world.
While it was a bit painful for me to read the love scene due to the exhibitionism and forced nudity, I know that this was intentional — this world is not supposed to be comfortable, and it’s absolutely not.  Women are treated as commodities and possessions, corrupt leaders (called Elders) control absolutely everything, and the individual people  in society are left quite powerless.  It’s a world that is absolutely ripe for revolution, and I’m highly anticipating future installments to the series.
 A very solid 4/5 Stars.

Enslaved by Starlight by Jessa Slade

Author’s Website: http://jessaslade.wordpress.com/
Part of a Series: No
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

Transformed by empathic crystals into the perfect paramour, Benedetta Galil is the last treasure of her fading world. When raiders attack—seeking to corrupt the crystals and conquer all of charted space—she gives herself as a prize to the one man in the universe who values freedom over power. Mercenary sheership Captain Corso Deynah left oppression behind him on a burning planet and has no use for a sex slave, even one as seductive as Benedetta. But while he stubbornly resists her body, her fierce spirit tempts him, and he will risk everything—his ship, his seclusion, the very stars—to win not just her passion but her love.

What Worked For Me:

  • Corso is delicious.  Seriously, yummo. A mercenary, he’s still got little patience for people who try to manipulate him, even when there’s profit in it for him, and he has even less patience and respect for what he sees as the sexual slavery of those who are trained up as Benedetta has been.
  • The world-building in this novella was fantastic. The entire concept of not only the l’auraly but of the qva’avaq itself was quite fascinating, especially with the resulting social dynamic.  I loved the original concept and the implications of having other groups in control of the qva’avaq mines.
  • I really enjoyed the amount of action in this book as well. From enemy attacks to personal betrayals, there was enough physical danger to keep things interesting without getting to the point where both the characters and the reader became exhausted.
  • I loved Benedetta’s actions towards the end in regards to her l’auralya status.  I can’t say more because it is a spoiler, but that was the point where I truly began to love her as a character.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • I admit, I was very hesitant to read this story because the idea of a heroine who has been trained by birth to some day be what is essentially a sexual slave to someone bothered me.  This is a minor point, because what sounded so awful in the beginning actually turned into something far more meaningful over the course of the story. I only mention it because it was probably about halfway through before I began to change my mind about Benedetta to the point that I enjoyed that aspect of her character.
I have never had the pleasure of reading any of Jessa Slade’s books before, but I can promise you, this novella will not be my last.  I wasn’t quite sure, going into this story, whether or not it would be something I would enjoy — after all, “trained” lovers simply aren’t my thing in romances.  However, I’m very glad I gave it a chance, because I soon fell not only for Corso and Benedetta, but for the entire world Ms. Slade had created.
Full of subtle nuances and a horrifying betrayal, Enslaved By Starlight was easily one of my favorites in this anthology.
4/5 Stars
–

All three of these stories were well-edited, and none of them had a stereotypical “indie” feel to them, even though they were technically self-published.  I know that a lot of readers tend to shy away from self-published titles for this reason, and wanted to reassure my readers that all three of these stories were high quality, not just in their storylines, but also in the technical aspects as well.

I highly recommend this anthology to any fan of sci-fi romance — all three stories were fast-paced, full of beautiful world-building, and highly romantic.

A wonderfully solid 4/5 Stars

Also posted in Sci-Fi and/or Futuristic – 1 Comment

Review: A Regency Holiday (Anthology) – Bell Bridge Books – Rebecca Hagan – Lynn Kerstan – Allison Lane – Alicia Rasley

November 15, 2011

Click Bookcover To Visit Purchase Page

Expected Release Date: November 15, 2011 (Available Now!)
Publisher: Bell Bridge Books
Imprint: N/A
My Source for This Book: Netgalley

Official Blurb:

– FOUR Favorite Regency Authors

– THREE never-before-in-print Christmas novellas

– TWO rakes, one rascal and a devilish Marquess

– ONE beloved classic now back in print . . .

. . . adds up to the perfect Regency collection for holiday reading! 

Coventry Christmas by Rebecca Hagan

Author’s Website: http://rebeccahaganlee.net/
Part of a Series: No
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Chaste

Official Blurb:

In Coventry’s Christmas, Rebecca Hagan Lee offers a charming new story-with Christmas approaching, Annabel Thurston is ordered from the family home by her father’s widow and must seek the protection of her guardian, Deverel Brookfield, eighth Marquess of Coventry. Unfortunately, the Devil of Coventry has little use for Christmas and even less for proper young ladies.

What Worked For Me:

  • I loved that Deverel was a bit of a scoundrel.  I’ve always been a fan of reformed rakes, so the mere fact that he avoided celebrating Christmas by instead indulging in twelve nights of debauchery was surprisingly appealing
  • The entire circumstances surrounding Annabel’s appearance at a house of ill-repute was quite amusing, and it was very entertaining to see the various ways others tried to protect her from the knowledge that she was literally moments away from being recruited into working at a brothel.
  • I also enjoyed the backstory that explained why Deverel disliked Christmas with a passion bordering on zealotry.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • Despite the fact that Annabel and Deverel had actually met as children, I found the extreme speed of their courtship to be a bit off-putting.  Fans of whirlwind romances and love at first sight will adore this story, but for me, it was a bit too unbelievable.

Overall, a fast, amusing read. Despite the unbelievable speed of the courtship, and the slight melodrama of Dev’s reactions when confronted about his traumatic past, this was quite an entertaining story.

3.5/5 Stars

Star of Wonder by Lynn Kerstan

Author’s Website: http://www.lynnkerstan.com/
Part of a Series: No
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Chaste

In the never-in-print Star of Wonder, Lynn Kerstan brings her special brand of magic to the page when an exotic and dangerous stranger arrives to disrupt the meager Christmas of Stella Bryar, who has struggled to support the family retainers in the wake of her father’s death.

What Worked For Me:

  • Oh how I adore a mistrustful heroine. Stella was fantastic, with her quick temper, loyalty to her staff, and perhaps most importantly, her ability to admit when she was wrong.
  • I also enjoyed Kiro’s subterfuge and hidden reasons for trying to track down Sella’s father.  It added a lovely tension to the story, and also helped to develop him as a character, since he was so torn about his actions and his purpose.
  • I liked the side characters in this story as well. Instead of just being “filler”, they added another level of realism to the story, and also gave Stella a reason to act as she did.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • Again, the speed of the relationship wasn’t really my thing.  That said, however, the animosity that originally existed between Stella and Kiro did begin to evolve into a sense of camaraderie as the story progressed, so this is actually a rather minor point in the story.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this story. The rivalry and mistrust between Stella and Kiro added a wonderful level of tension to the story, and the entire intrigue surrounding the Star was wonderful.   The side characters added quite a bit to the story (even that blasted cat), and it was one of the sweeter endings in the anthology.

4/5 Stars

A Christmas Homecoming

Allison Lane’s newest Christmas treat is A Christmas Homecoming. When prodigal son Alex Northcote returns from a six year absence to take control of the family estate, he must run a gauntlet of possible brides, who have all been installed for a holiday house party by his determined grandmother. Avoiding the trap would have been so much easier, if the guest list hadn’t included a quiet widow, who once jilted him for another.

Author’s Website:  http://www.eclectics.com/allisonlane/index.html
Part of a Series: No
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Chaste

What Worked For Me:

  • I admit, I don’t usually enjoy widowed mothers as heroines in romances. I’m not really sure why that is, but it’s something I’ve noticed over the years. However, I really liked Sarah. She wasn’t the “merry widow” sort, which appealed to me, and her estranged relationship with Alex was wonderful.
  • Alex was a bit of a jerk, but he was an appealing jerk.  For one thing he was honorable, and for another, he was able to swallow his pride and apologize when he’d been in the wrong.  He was justified in being hurt and angry at Sarah’s “betrayal”, but I think that one of the things that appealed to me the most about Alex was his willingness to take his share of the blame in the whole situation.
  • I loved that there was so much more to Sarah’s betrayal than Alex had imagined, and I also enjoyed the vicious gossip that surrounded her.
  • Watching Alex and Sarah realize that they were still the same people inside that they’d fallen in love with so many years before was wonderful. Little things like the brush of a hand, or a mischievous smile went a long ways towards making their HEA a believable one, which I greatly appreciated.  On the same note, simply giving them a previous relationship helped to add credence to their rapid courtship in this story, because there was already such a strong history between them.
  • I’ve always enjoyed abused heroines. Call it shadenfraude if you will,  but there’s just something immensely appealing about watching a heroine who’s had a bad go of things finally get a happy ending.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • Despite my enjoyment of Sarah’s recovery from an abusive relationship, I think at times the heartbreak of the situation was a little too much for me.  While her situation was certainly a reality for a multitude of young ladies in her day, I still found it a bit too tragic for my tastes, despite the lovely happy ending.

 Overall, this was my second favorite story of the anthology.   The angst caused by Sarah’s situation and Alex’s resulting resentment of her, coupled with the family issues that surrounded them both, was delightful.

4.5/5 Stars

In the classic Home for Christmas, Alicia Rasley gives us a Christmas with a bit of intrigue. When Verity receives an unexpected invitation from her estranged father to spend the holidays at his Cornwall estate, she accepts with delight, but must scramble to find a husband for her fatherless child, ever mindful of her father’s attention to propriety. Could a handsome and enigmatic stranger solve all her problems?

Author’s Website: http://www.rasley.com/
Part of a Series: No
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Chaste

What Worked For Me:

  • I loved that Verity had truly had a child out of wedlock. So many historical novels shy away from this reality, and have the “mother” turn out to be an aunt or somesuch, but in this case, the fact that Verity had fallen in love with a young man and given birth to his baby outside of wedlock appealed to me a great deal, especially since her intended had not been a cad, but had instead perished at sea.
  • I also really enjoyed how Eric played along with Verity, though his bemusement and irony at the situation were constantly apparent.
  • Eric’s history and reasons for being secretive were wonderful, and I loved how circumstances made it seem as though a HEA was impossible for the longest time.
  • The strained relationship between Verity and her father added a large amount of tension to the story, and while I was a bit uncomfortable with her deceit at first, the mere fact that it was her desire to see that her daughter be acknowledged as legitimate, thereby securing her future, made it both understandable and forgivable.  As cruel as it may be, the simple reality is that in those times, the sins of the parents are certainly visited on innocent children, and Beth would have been left to suffer an incredibly cruel fate had Verity not undertaken such a pretense.
  • I also greatly enjoyed the sexual tension in this story. While still remaining in the “chaste” category, it was apparent that both Verity and Eric were greatly attracted to each other, and I think that the underlying passion between them was one of the things that made their HEA plausible.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • The small bit at the end with Eric’s family seemed to break up the action a bit. While it was obvious that this was a pivotal part of the story, it seemed to throw off the pacing that had been established.

This story was, quite literally, the perfect way to end the anthology.  Out of the four, it was by far my favorite, with a touch of mystery, plenty of family issues, and a love that felt real despite the fast nature of the courtship.  Eric was delicious (who wouldn’t want to hook up with a sexy sea captain?!) and Verity just felt so realistic.  I also enjoyed the plot with the dagger, and for absolutely loved Verity’s daughter, Beth.

4.5/5 Stars

—

Overall, this was a quick, cozy read, perfect for fans of holiday stories.  While I personally tend to prefer that my romances lean a bit more towards the steamy side, the sweetness of these four stories quickly won me over.

Ideal for fans of holiday historical romances, with intrigue, estrangement, bitterness, and joy all wrapped up into one very entertaining package, this anthology is a must this holiday season.

A very solid 4/5 Stars.

Also posted in Historical, Short Story Or Novella – 0 Comments

Review: Jane Austen Made Me Do It – Ballantine Books – Laurel Ann Nattress, Ed.

October 11, 2011

Click on Bookcover to Visit Purchase Page

Expected Release Date: October 11, 2011 (Available Now!)
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Imprint: Ballantine Books
Author’s Website: http://janeaustenmademedoit.com/
My Source for This Book: Netgalley
Part of a Series: No
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level:

Official Blurb:

“My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” If you just heaved a contented sigh at Mr. Darcy’s heartfelt words, then you, dear reader, are in good company. Here is a delightful collection of never-before-published stories inspired by Jane Austen—her novels, her life, her wit, her world.

In Lauren Willig’s “A Night at Northanger,” a young woman who doesn’t believe in ghosts meets a familiar specter at the infamous abbey; Jane Odiwe’s “Waiting” captures the exquisite uncertainty of Persuasion’s Wentworth and Anne as they await her family’s approval of their betrothal; Adriana Trigiani’s “Love and Best Wishes, Aunt Jane” imagines a modern-day Austen giving her niece advice upon her engagement; in Diana Birchall’s “Jane Austen’s Cat,” our beloved Jane tells her nieces “cat tales” based on her novels; Laurie Viera Rigler’s “Intolerable Stupidity” finds Mr. Darcy bringing charges against all the writers of Pride and Prejudice sequels, spin-offs, and retellings; in Janet Mullany’s “Jane Austen, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!” a teacher at an all-girls school invokes the Beatles to help her students understand Sense and Sensibility; and in Jo Beverley’s “Jane and the Mistletoe Kiss,” a widow doesn’t believe she’ll have a second chance at love . . . until a Miss Austen suggests otherwise.

Regency or contemporary, romantic or fantastical, each of these marvelous stories reaffirms the incomparable influence of one of history’s most cherished authors.

Normally, I review anthologies by listing the individual author, their details, a short blurb for the story, and then a small “What worked/didn’t work for me”.  However, as this has over twenty short stories rather than a small handful of novellas, I am skipping the individual critiques and simply going with a basic overview of the entire anthology.

This collection of short stories spanned quite a large range of Jane Austen-inspiration. While some were delightfully ridiculous, such as”Intolerable Stupidity” by Laurie Viera Rigler, others are more serious and in keeping the the general spirit Austen’s original texts, such as “Waiting” by Jane Odiwe.

In the end, I tended to gravitate more towards the stories set during the regency era, as frankly, that is one of the things I adore about Jane Austen to begin with.  While stories such as “Jane Austen’s Ghost” were bright points in the non-historical stories, I really found that a lot of the entries were rather lacking, and honestly read about like fan-fiction.

Perhaps it is merely that I am out of practice in reading short stories, and have become spoiled by the amount of story development and resolution that I’ve become accustomed to in novellas from other anthologies.

As it was, however, the “meh” feeling of most of the stories overshadowed the few gems, and I was left feeling a little disappointed.  That said, I did enjoy many of the stories, despite not having been blown away, and I think that fans of Jane Austen “sequels” and fanfiction will enjoy this collection.

3/5 Stars

Also posted in Historical, Short Story Or Novella – 3 Comments

Review: Supernatural Anthology – Zebra – Larissa Ione, Alexandra Ivy, Jacquelyn Frank, G.A. Aiken

September 16, 2011

Click on Bookcover to Visit Purchase Page

Expected Release Date: September 1, 2011 (Available Now)
Publisher: Kensington Books
Imprint: Zebra

Vampire Fight Club – Larissa Ione

Author’s Website: http://larissaione.com
Part of a Series: Yes, Demonica 5.5/Lords of Deliverance 1.5
Series Best Read In Order: Yes
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

When a wave of violence forces shapeshifter Vladlena to go undercover, her first stop is a haven of vice—with a dangerously sexy vamp in charge. Both Vladlena and Nathan are hiding something, but they can’t conceal the lust that simmers between them . . .

What Worked For Me:

  • As a HUGE fan of the series, I loved seeing the brothers and everyone else at UG, as well as simply being immersed in the Demonica universe once again.
  • I loved the twist with Lena’s “disorder”, especially in regards to *ahem* smexin.
  • The entire idea of the fight club fascinated me. I loved that so many members of the Underworld would basically sacrifice themselves in the ring in exchange for favors from the boss.
  • I also, of course, loved the sensuality — Ms. Ione has always been able to write incredibly hot scenes without sacrificing plot, and this story is a wonderful example.
  • The reference to Nathan’s sire was very interesting as well, and I can’t wait for the other Lords of Deliverance books to find out exactly what the deal is with them.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  •  While the entire point of Lena’s going undercover at the fight club was to investigate and gain revenge for the death of her brother, it rather felt as though she didn’t mourn him very long at all.

While newcomers to the series will likely not appreciate the cameos and references of minor characters from the series, as a fan, I thoroughly enjoyed them.   The pacing was well done, though of course, the relationship was a bit rushed, but that’s the case in almost every novella you’ll ever read, so that didn’t bother me at all.

Recommended for fans of shifter heroines with nothing to lose, of vampire heroes consumed by the need for revenge, and of taking down a malicious criminal boss with explosive action.

4/5 Stars

Darkness Eternal – Alexandra Ivy

Author’s Website: http://www.alexandraivy.com
Part of a Series: Yes, Guardians of Eternity 7.5
Series Best Read In Order: Yes
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

After being held captive by one vampire for four centuries, Kata had no intention of taking another one to the underworld with her. Yet even in the pits of hell, there’s no ignoring the intoxicating desire awakened by his touch. . .

What Worked For Me:

  • A fan of the Guardians of Eternity series, I of course was interested in how the story would play out with Kata and Uriel. I loved that Kata had a prejudice against vampires, and that Uriel had a prejudice against the Jinn, and that they both had to overcome that in order to be together.
  • I also love the mythology of the entire series, including, of course the fact that vampires often recognize their mates within a short time after meeting them.
  • The sex was hot and intense, and I loved the additional angst added by Uriel’s reluctance to actually take a mate.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • Granted, it’s been a while since I’ve read these books (whenever it was the last Guardian’s one came out), but I could have sworn that Kata had been raped by the Jinn. I’m obviously mistaken, but even so, it wasn’t until halfway through when that misconception was cleared up (after she and Uriel had made love).  The novella even mentions that she’d been locked in a room with an evil Jinn and hinted that what occurred was against her will at first and so I think even new readers might get the sense that she’d “gotten over” what had happened to her mighty quickly.
  • I was annoyed at the Deus Ex Machina in the story. It made everything feel very surreal and almost lessened the feeling of danger that they were in.

A neutral point, I’m still unsure how I feel about the Jinn’s actions in the end.  I can’t say more without being a spoiler, just suffice it to say on one hand it was bittersweet and on the other, it seemed totally effed up.

While I don’t think this story will work well as a standalone, I definitely recommend it for fans of the series (if for nothing more than the fact that it will likely feature somehow in the next novel).

3/5 Stars

Kane – Jacquelyn Frank

Author’s Website:
Part of a Series: Yes, Nightwalkers 1.5
Series Best Read In Order: Yes
Steam Level: Steamy (?)

Official Blurb:

Kane knows Corrine was meant to be his. . . just as he knows that truly possessing the lovely human is forbidden. But on the night of the Samhain moon, the beast in every demon is stronger than reason, and Kane’s hunger is more powerful than any punishment. . .

What Worked For Me:

  • I enjoy fated-to-be-mated stories in general, so that trope was very appealing to me.
  • I was also fascinated by the idea of Demons and Druids and dormant Druid genetics and the like.
  • I also love the idea of Demons and Humans being forbidden to have contact, and the star-crossed lovers aspect that brings into the story.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • There was a huge deal made about Jacob (Kane’s brother) being an enforcer and how his punishments were harsh and how hard it was on Jacob knowing he had to punish his brother and blah blah blah and then Kane feeling fear about his punishment and then.. Nothing.   No, really, nothing. He goes from being devastated at being separated from Corrine and dreading this unnamed fearsome punishment to “Oh, Corrine is sick so we’re gonna just have you hand out with her but don’t touch her, mmkay?”  It threw me for a major loop.
  • So Jacob, who was responsible for separating Kane from Corrine,  was mated to Isabella, a recently “awakened” Druid who… is Corrine’s.. sister?  And that apparently Jacob’s blood had already awakened Isabella’s Druid blood by touching her and whatnot, yet nobody ever considered that the same could happen to Corrine when Kane touched her? I mean, they knew it was possible, and if Corrine was Isabella’s sister, wouldn’t someone think to watch the poor girl for a couple days and see if she was okay rather than allow her to almost die due to the lack of Kane’s presence?  Granted, I didn’t finish this one so that could’ve been explained later, but… really?
  • Corrine is seriously ill for a few days, wakes up in a strange place, naked, next to a big man who is chained to the bed.  Said big man proves not only can he read her mind but also that he can control her actions as though she were a puppet.  Yet, she not only hangs around naked without even attempting at modesty, but… kisses him to prove a point?  I mean, I get the whole “Samhain moon” impulse and what not that took over once she started kissing him, but to kiss him to begin with? I’m sorry, if I think I’ve been kidnapped, and the guy chained next to me has shown he can both read and control my mind, “kissing him to prove a point” is SO not on the agenda.
  • The use of mind control over Corrine was the last straw for me.  Kane had already controlled her so he could touch her in the beginning (chaste touches, so that was less weird I guess), but then he used his mind to force her back in bed (granted for her own safety) but at the same time made her snuggle naked against him.  Then when she went to kiss him to prove a point, he “held her there with his mind” for a few seconds until the biological imperative to ride him like a rodeo kicked in? That smacked too much of rape to me, and I simply couldn’t finish it.

This one was a huge disappointment to me, because I love Jacquelyn Frank’s novels. Drink of Me, Seduce Me in Dreams, Seduce Me in Flames, those have long been favorites on my PNR list.  I admit, I’ve never read the rest of the Nightwalker series (which, I think this is more like a prequel to some of the stories already out?), but to be honest, if this story is typical of it, I’m glad I’ve avoided it thus far.

The mind reading and mind control just didn’t appeal to me, as it seemed too invasive and too much like rape (physical and psychological).  Perhaps it’s simply because I’m such a private person, but I just can’t find anything sexy about it.

To be perfectly fair, it may simply be a matter of needing to have read the rest of the series first.  The other stories in this anthology all felt to me as though they wouldn’t stand as well on their own, so I imagine this one is no different. Having not read the original series, I think that may have put this story at a slight disadvantage with me.

As such, fans of the Nightwalker series will probably enjoy it, simply because it’s a side story involving what is apparently a major character from the series.  For me, however, this was a big fat DNF.

Dragon on Top – G.A. Aiken

Author’s Website: http://www.gaaiken.com/
Part of a Series: Yes, Dragon Kin 4.5
Series Best Read In Order: Yes
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

Escorting the highborn Bram through deadly Sand Dragon territory will try Ghleanna’s patience. . . and her resolve. For Bram is determined to enhance the journey with a seduction no female could resist. . .

What Worked For Me:

  • While warrior heriones aren’t usually my forte, I admit, I loved Ghleanna.  There’s just something about a woman who’s idea of telling her brother to shut up is to headbutt him that appeals to the mean girl in me.
  • I absolutely adored that Bram was actually turned on by Ghleanna’s scars.  This was also important since, well, she was covered in scars and any man who didn’t appreciate the beauty of that simply wouldn’t last long with her.
  • I also liked the politics involved with the Fins, especially Ghleanna’s decision to earn the loyalty of the troops.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • Even having read (most) of the Dragon Kin series, I still got quite confused on names.  I think it was the overabundance of characters, especially since many of their names are similar, that kept throwing me off.
  • As always, I’m not a big fan of characters whose nudity doesn’t bother them.  Ghleanna was running around naked for quite a bit of the story, and she and Bram were interrupted mid-coitus more than once yet continued as though they hadn’t been bothered. Yes, yes, they’re shifters, and as such nudity doesn’t bother them and blah blah blah. I know that, but it still just isn’t my thing.

While neither a positive or negative point, readers unfamiliar with the series should realize that there is an enormous amount of very casual violence in this series, and this story is no exception.  There is near-constant blood and gore and fighting, treated as though it were nothing at all. While this doesn’t bother me, I do think some readers may be put off by it.

I admit, G.A. Aiken’s Dragon Kin series is a guilty pleasure for me. I don’t typically like bold, brash, and frankly, bitchy heroines, but these stories always have a way of beautifully blending casual violence and roughened edges with something slightly vulnerable and turning it into a thing of wonder.

Recommended for fans of brash heroines, beta heroes with a penchant for scars, and of dragon shifters finally opening their eyes to see what’s been right in front of them all along.

4/5 Stars

—

All four of these stories, I felt, would not work well as a standalone.  Even having read three out of four of the series before, I was slightly lost on occasion, especially with Dragon On Top, even though that was one of my favorites.

Overall, this anthology was a bit of a let-down for me. While I of course greatly enjoyed Larissa Ione’s Vampire Fight Club, if for no other reason than I’m a fangirl of the entire Demonica Universe, and I also enjoyed G.A. Aiken’s Dragon on Top as a total guilty pleasure, Darkness Eternal by Alexandra Ivy was a bit of a disappointment, especially since I have read and enjoyed the entire series.  Rounding it out with one of the rare DNF‘s for me was Kane by Jacquelyn Frank, which was incredibly disappointing as a fan of her other novels outside of the series Kane is set in.

In the end, I would recommend this anthology only for fans of a specific series.  I personally consider myself a fan of all four authors, and of three out of four of the series, and even I couldn’t really get full enjoyment out of the collection.

Technically my rating is going to be an average of 2.75, but as I always round up, final rating 3/5 Stars.

Also posted in Erotica, Paranormal Romance, Short Story Or Novella – 1 Comment

Review: Wild & Steamy Anthology – Meljean Brook – Jill Myles – Carolyn Crane

August 4, 2011

Click on Bookcover to Visit Purchase Page

Expected Release Date: August 2, 2011 (Available Now!)
Publisher: Self Published
Imprint: N/A
My Source for This Book: Amazon.com

 

The Blushing Bounder by Meljean Brook

Author’s Website:  http://meljeanbrook.com/
Part of a Series: Yes, Iron Seas 1.5
Series Best Read In Order: Yes
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

A Tale of the Iron Seas – While the search for a killer puts Constable Newberry’s life in danger, he faces a danger of another kind: to his heart, by the woman forced to marry him. What will it take for this prudish bounder to convince his wife to stay?

Contable Edward Newberry and his wife, Temperance, are “bounders”, people whose ancestors fled England when the Horde first attacked, and now that the threat are over, are returning to England.  In this universe, while the New World still follows the social mores of what we would call the Regency era (ie a woman’s reputation is everything, and any kind of contact between the sexes is frowned upon without a proper chaperone), but England is much more relaxed and practical about such matters.

Temperance was a governess in Manhattan City, and formed a very sweet (and very chaste) friendship with Constable Newberry, whose blushes never failed to charm her.  However, she fell very ill with consumption and made the decision to invest the small inheritance she’d gained from her grandfather into a quiet hospice setting at a sanatorium.   As she was about to leave, she realized Edward had come to say goodbye to her, only, Edward had different ideas.  He kissed her, of all things, which immediately set into motion a hasty marriage and banishment to the awful and filthy city of London.

Temperance might have been able to forgive him, had he merely been overcome by passion, but when she asked him shortly following his marriage if he had planned all of this — their marriage, his receiving her inheritance, and their move to London — he confirmed that it had indeed been his plan.

Now dying and miserable, Temperance despises her new husband (though she can’t help but to notice the nice fit of his trousers or the way his broad shoulders fill a doorway every now and again), and she merely wants to find some quiet enjoyment before she dies.

Things are never as simple as that, however, because Temperance witnesses a murder in the alley below her bedroom window, and worse, the murderer got a good look at her as well.

Willing to do absolutely anything to protect the woman he adores, Edward puts both his life, and his heart, on the line.

What Worked For Me:

  • I, of course, love anything that comes from the Iron Seas series. I fangirled all over Here There Be Monsters as well as The Iron Duke, and here I am, fangirling all over this one.  It was wonderful to see Mina and her brothers, as well as to be introduced to new mechanical appendages that I don’t recall having seen before.
  • Two words: Virgin Hero *dies* I do love me some Constable Newberry, with his shy attitude at odds with his physical size, and seeing him with Temperance was absolutely wonderful.
  • I really enjoyed getting the POV of a bounder for once, as the previous works in the series have both been from the POV of an English character. It was fun seeing both their reactions to the wanton and sometimes downright shocking social mores of London, and the misconceptions and prejudices they had from having lived in a different country.

What Didn’t Work For Me:

  • It didn’t really bother me, but I think that readers unfamiliar with the series will be a bit lost what with all the references to Bugs and The Horde, as well as the physical modifications that most residents of London have undertaken.  New readers will also likely not appreciate Mina’s character (she’s the heroine of The Iron Duke, by the way), nor the references to her family, which is a shame.

Overall, I of course loved it. In fact, the entire reason that I bought this anthology was I read the EXCERPT ON MELJEAN BROOK’S WEBSITE and got sucked right back into the world of The Iron Seas.  While I think that new readers might be fairly lost, any fan of the series will definitely appreciate the cameos and references to other characters, as well as the insights as to the lives and attitudes of bounders.

That said, however, this story could also serve as an admirable intro into the world of The Iron Seas for readers who haven’t had the opportunity to read earlier works.  Of course, I personally think new readers should immediately go out and read both Here There Be Monsters and The Iron Duke instead, but I’m a bit biased on that front because I enjoyed both of those stories so much.

Recommended for fans of steampunk done the right way, of being forced into a marriage of convenience, and of allowing yourself to finally embrace the love that’s been waiting for you all along.

Keywords: Meljean Brook, Steampunk, Steam Level: Steamy Forced Marriage, Marriage to Avoid Scandal, Plain Heroine, Spinster Heroine, Serious Illness or Injury, Series Best Read In Order, Virgin Hero, Virgin Heroine

5/5 Stars

Vixen by Jill Myles

Author’s Website:  http://jillmyles.com/

Part of a Series: No
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Hot

Official Blurb:

Miko’s denied her were-fox nature for far too long and turned her back on her vixen heritage. But when she meets two very sexy cat-shifters, she has to decide if she truly wants to give up on her frisky side, or embrace it. Because the were-fox in her doesn’t want to choose between both men…it wants them both. 

Miko is a were-fox, or, as her mother Japanese mother prefers, kitsune.  Just like vixens in the wild, were-fox females tend to be extremely promiscuous, needing more than one mate to satisfy their needs.

Determined to avoid mimicking her mother’s harem of men, Miko lives in the middle of nowhere in Texas. Her theory? Since she can’t control herself around men, the best thing to do is to avoid men altogether.

However, when a local (and illegal) fox-hunting group forms, her mother sends along two very sexy cat-shifters to protect her until the hunters can be stopped.  Now, forced to live in close quarters with not one but two extremely desirable men, Miko knows that she can’t choose between the delectable Sam and Jeremiah, and luckily for her, she might not have to.

What worked for me:

  • I admit, polyamory is not really my go-to genre of romance. That said, however, this one was not only sweet and sexy, but also believable, which is a definite plus for me.
  • I definitely enjoyed that Jere and Sam had shared a woman in the past successfully, because that meant they weren’t likely to have fits of jealousy in the future. This makes the HEA much more believable, and I don’t have to worry about them splitting up in the future because they suddenly decide they don’t want to share.
  • Sam and Jeremiah were both absolutely delicious, and I loved that they were so different.
  • The action scenes (not those types of action scenes, you pervs!) were thrilling and added a needed sense of danger and urgency to the story, as well as giving some needed tension between Miko and the guys.
  • The love scene was nice and tasty without delving into the kinkier realms of most menage stories, which I enjoyed.

What didn’t work for me:

  • There was a definite TSTL Moment for Miko.  While I understood her independent nature, as well as the fact that had she told Sam or Jere about her plan, they’d have put a stop to it, but even so, it pushed the limits of what an intelligent person would do.

Overall, this one was a lot more enjoyable than I’d anticipated. I’m not typically a fan of polyamory simply because I don’t find it realistic, but the fact that Jere and Sam had previously been in a polyamorous relationship made things much more believable to me.  Add to that the danger of the fox hunters, and the delicious sexual tension throughout, and this one gets a solid 4/5 from me.

Keywords: Jill Myles, Menage, Polyamory, Shapeshifters, TSTL Moment, Steam Level: Hot

 

Kitten-tiger & the Monk by Carolyn Crane

Author’s Website:  http://authorcarolyncrane.com/
Part of a Series: Yes, Disillusionist Trilogy 2.5
Series Best Read In Order: Worked well as a standalone
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

Sophia Sidway, Midcity’s most dangerous memory revisionist, seeks out the mysterious Monk in the wasteland beneath the Tangle turnpike, hoping for redemption…but it turns out that the Monk is not all that pious, and the turnpike is no turnpike at all.

Sophia Sidway is a memory revisionist. She has the ability to remove a person’s memory from up to a day prior, and to replace them with very realistic memories of her choosing. While she cannot replace emotion, she’s become a master of designing replacement memories to coincide with the emotions of the original memory, making her talent both amazing and incredibly dangerous.  The daughter of a notorious mob boss, Sophia has used her powers for all sorts of evil over the years, including ruining the life of her one true love, Robert.

Now, she’s so very tired of it all, and seeks the Monk, a mysterious and dangerous Disillusionist, known for being able to “reboot” criminals and send them on their way as productive citizens.

Unfortunately for Sophia, the only man who knows how to contact the Monk turns out to be the one man she thought she’d lost forever.  Facing Robert is one of the most painful things that Sophia has ever had to do, but she is willing to do absolutely anything to put an end to her life as a revisionist, even if it means opening up old wounds.

What worked for me:

  • I really appreciated that this book worked so well as a standalone.  While I was vaguely familiar with Ms. Crane’s Disillusionist series (it’s been on my TBR list for quite a while), I felt that I had all of the information necessary to follow along in what is obviously an incredibly rich and diverse world.
  • Robert was absolutely delicious.  The epitome of a tortured hero, Robert had lived through many disappointments, but none so much as the ultimate betrayal from the one woman he had given both his heart and his trust to.  Now, so many years later, he’s a bitter man who has turned his greatest act of vengeance into his greatest masterpiece.
  • I loved that Sophia wasn’t as slick as she thought she was.  Robert was well aware of her powers even though she thought he was clueless, and that made both of their actions so much more poignant in the end.
  • The entire world with the Tangle, the cannibals, and the Disillusionists is so incredibly fascinating that as a reader, I couldn’t help but be sucked in, joyously waiting to be chewed up and spit out by the grit and darkness of the world Ms. Crane has created.
  • Though I haven’t read the other novels in the series, I have a feeling that fans of the series will enjoy a few small cameos and references to characters who are obviously from the rest of the series.

What didn’t work for me:

  • ….
    ….
    I got nuthin.  Seriously.

WOW.  Simply. Wow.  While I purchased this book solely for Meljean Brook’s story, The Blushing Bounder from the Iron Seas universe, I have to say that this story would’ve made the purchase worth every penny.  I have never had the pleasure of reading Ms. Crane’s Disillusionist trilogy (an oversight I intend to rectify as soon as possible), but this story was able to grab me and draw me into a world of dark crime, incredible powers, harrowing danger, and lost love.

An incredibly solid 5/5 Stars, and no joke, I would rate it higher if possible.

Keywords: Carolyn Crane, Estranged Lovers, Serious Illness or Injury, Steam Level: Steamy, Urban Fantasy, Part of a Series, Secret Identity, Tortured Hero, Tortured Heroine.

–

 

Overall, this anthology is a must-have for fans of paranormal romance. It literally has something for everyone: steampunk, shapeshifters, urban fantasy, polyamory,  forced marriages, and estranged lovers. It runs the gamut from a virgin hero and heroine to a rather promiscuous heroine and everywhere in between.

Only $2.99 at Amazon, I would gladly have paid that price for any one of these novellas by themselves, so for all three, this is an incredible bargain, that fans of PNR would be fools not to purchase.

Final rating, a delightfully solid 5/5

Also posted in -- Book Bargains --, Paranormal Romance, Steampunk, Urban Fantasy – 0 Comments

Review: Midsummer Eve at Rookery End – E-Scape Press – Elizabeth Hanbury

June 25, 2011

Click on Bookcover to Visit Purchase Page

Expected Release Date: September 1, 2009 (Available Now!)
Publisher: E-Scape Press
Imprint: N/A
Author’s Website: http://www.elizabethhanbury.com/
My Source for This Book: Gift from the publisher
Part of a Series: Interconnected stories rather than a series
Series Best Read In Order: Work well as standalones
Steam Level: Warm

Official Blurb:

One Midsummer Eve, three Regency love stories……
Midsummer Eve is the traditional time for love divination, when gentlemen and ladies can hope to meet their true love. Lord and Lady Allingham hold a lavish ball every year at their country estate, Rookery End, for the Regency ton to celebrate this custom. Amid this romantic setting, six people are about to fall in love…

 

Siren’s Daughter

Miss Deborah King had her heart broken six years ago by a dastardly man who spurned her love and left her standing at the altar — in fact, he left England altogether, the horrible coward!  Despite having received other offers for her hand in the time since then, she has never found a man who appeals to her on the same level as that horrible Sir Benedict Catesbey, the odious man.

Now that her cruel aunt has died, leaving her free to pursue her own amusements, she spots the villain himself across a crowded ballroom at Rookery End, Lord and Lady Allingham’s country mansion, and though her anger and disgust at his presence rush in at full force, her aching heart can’t help but note that the blackguard is just as handsome as ever.

Vowing to avoid him until she can make a dignified escape from the country party, she hies off to the conservatory, only to come face to face with the man she despises — and still loves.

But is Benedict the scoundrel that he appears?

This was hands down my favorite story in the anthology, and a great way to start things off.  I can’t say much without giving away important details, but the mere idea of estranged lovers reuniting after many years is one that has always been able to make my heart ache in a good way.

Unlike most short stories, this one actually seemed to be a good length, as the previous relationship of Benedict and Deborah made the fast pace much more appealing to me.

4.5/5 Stars

 

Blue Figured Silk


The notorious fifth Marquess of Shaftesbury begins his evening by planning and liaison with a dashing widow — a woman who knows the score and whose heart will certainly will remain untouched throughout their licentious encounters.   Witnessing the widow’s cold-blooded negotiations for his patronage, he’s more than a little disgusted with his own behavior, but before he can ruminate further on his lifestyle and ennui, his eye is caught by plainly dressed and obviously distressed young women being forced to dance with the lecherous Sir Ralph Vesey — a man whose vices put even Shaftesbury’s wicked lifestyle to shame.

Shaking off the feeling that there is something more to the young lady in question, he heads to the garden for his assignation, vowing to find the young woman when he returns.

Eve Leighton is not an ugly woman. Rather, she’s merely average, and compared to her lovely younger sister, completely dowdy. Her own mother cannot wait to see her married off, claiming that her unmarried status is harming her sister’s chances of a good match, though they both know that for a falsehood. Instead, her mother’s desperation to rid herself of her burdensome eldest daughter has driven her to insist that Eve encourage the horrible Sir Vesey, even though Eve herself cannot stand the man, and indeed, even fears him a little.

Deciding to avoid him by going for a walk in the garden, she is soon accosted by Sir Vesey, and it appears that if she cannot evade him, she may suffer a fate worse than death.

So what do you get when you add up a perfectly amiable albeit plain young woman, a matchmaking mama, a lecherous villain, a bored rake, a jealous sister and an irate widow?

I should start off with a personal disclaimer: I don’t care for “love at first sight”, especially in short stories, where the declarations of said love often come so close on the heels of first meeting each other. I much prefer that if it is a case of love at first sight, that they keep mum about it for a while, even if it turns out to be a whirlwind courtship, and then when the declarations come later, it’s mentioned at that time. Or something.   Even so, this was a cute story.  A fairly “plain” heroine, a rakehell hero (and really, who doesn’t like a reformed rake??), and a really cute play on names at the end, I enjoyed this one in spite of myself.

Fans of Love At First Sight will definitely enjoy this one, and despite it having lost a star from me for the sudden and unlikely immediate declarations of undying love, I still say 3.5/5

 

A Scandal At Midnight

Verity Brook has come down in the world. Once a debutante herself, hard times have forced her to lower herself to the position of governess. Never quite fitting in, as the other governesses are wary of the fact that she has more in common with their charges than with them, she spends her time chaperoning Amelia, who is very close to Verity in age.

Amelia’s normally doting father has become completely taken with the idea of marrying Amelia off to Sir Tristan Millforte, despite the fact that as an heiress, she need not marry for money or title, and perhaps more importantly, the fact that she is so obviously in love with George Devaynes and that her devotion is returned.

Despite Amelia’s cajoling, her father refuses to consider any other path for her than marriage to Sir Tristan, and no amount of arguing, pouting, or plotting can change his mind.  In an uncharacteristic moment of obedience, Amelia agrees to attend the midsummer eve ball at Rookery End and become better acquainted with Sir Tristan.

As any parent of a teenager can tell you, however, her sudden about-face simply meant that she had other things planned, and before Verity can barely take a breath, Amelia has run away with George to elope!

Horrified that her charge would undertake such a scandalous risk, despite her sympathy for the position her father has put her in, Verity immediately tracks down Sir Tristan and demands his help in stopping the errant lovers from eloping.  After all, if he had any sort of compassion at all, he would realize that Amelia and George are desperately in love and remove himself from the situation rather than insisting on a marriage of convenience that could only ever make Amelia miserable.

However, when she finally comes face to face with the man she’s built up as a villain in her mind, not only is much younger and more *ahem* virile than she’d imagined, but he also has no idea what she’s talking about when she insists that his pursuit of Amelia is the cause of all her woes.

Again I feel my disclaimer is appropriate — I still don’t care for LAFS stories.  That said, however, if I were to take out the declarations of undying love after having known each other for only a few hours, this story would’ve been a solid 5/5.   Verity has come down in the world, certainly, but she’s still a regal woman who has no compunction to putting people in their place when she witnesses a wrongdoing.   Sir Tristan, while amused at the little curmudgeon who practically accosted him, could’ve easily told her to take herself off like a good little governess and cease bothering him, and yet he goes above and beyond what any outsider to the situation would’ve been expected to do.  His kindness and willingness to help Verity went a long way in my opinion, and I can certainly see why Verity would become infatuated with him.

4/5 Stars

 

—

 

Overall, this was a delightful collection of connected short stories.  While the Love At First Sight theme is far from a favorite of mine, I loved Ms. Hanbury’s writing style, as well as her heroines. Spunky and determined without being true hoydens, it was understandable that our heroes would fall for them, albeit, perhaps not quite so quickly ;)

Available from Amazon on Kindle for around two dollars, this is perfect for readers who are tired of some of the overly smutty stories being pushed by publishers these days, and a very enjoyable way to spend the afternoon by the pool.

4/5 Stars

Also posted in -- Book Bargains --, Historical, Short Story Or Novella – 1 Comment

Review: Brief Encounters – E-Scape Press – Phillipa Ashley – Nell Dixon – Elizabeth Hanbury

June 22, 2011

Click on Bookcover to Visit Purchase Page

Expected Release Date: May 7, 2011 (Available Now!)
Publisher: E-Scape Press
Imprint: N/A
Authors’ Websites:
http://phillipa-ashley.com/
http://www.nelldixon.com/
http://www.elizabethhanbury.com/
My Source for This Book: Gift From the Publisher

Official Blurb:
Brief Encounters is a sparkling new anthology of six romantic short stories. Sweet and sexy, contemporary and historical – the collection has something for everyone and is written by three top romantic authors Phillipa Ashley, Nell Dixon and Elizabeth Hanbury.

—

Plus One Guest by Nell Dixon

Part of a Series: No
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Warm
Time Period: Contemporary

Lucy has only a few more days to find her “Plus One” guest for her dreadful cousin’s wedding — her wedding to the man that Lucy once thought was “The One” before the perfect-bodied cousin stole him from her.  Desperate to not show up alone, she asks her nerdy, uber-unfashionable boss Harry to go with her, never dreaming he’d agree.  He surprises her by not only agreeing to go, but for also putting some effort into his appearance. Not GQ material by any means, Harry still cleans up rather well, and as the day progresses, Lucy begins to wonder what other surprises Harry might hold…

Incredibly sweet and surprisingly funny, this short story was all about rethinking preconceptions and realizing that sometimes what you’ve been looking for has been under your nose all along.

American readers should be aware that there are quite a few colloquialisms not native to the states, but not to the extent that it actually detracted from the story.

4/5 Stars

A Weekend in Venice by Nell Dixon

Part of a Series: No
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Chaste
Time Period: Contemporary

A few months ago, Kay’s life was turned upside down when a terrible accident landed her in the hospital and took the life of her fiance, Laurence.  Now recovered physically, she takes a trip to Venice to get away from it all. Still heartbroken, she is disappointed by the splendors of the city, and stumbles upon a glassware shop.  Inside the shop, a man named Roberto insists that she visit his family’s glass factory, telling her that there is magic in his family’s glass.  Can Kay find the healing she so desperately needs in Venice?

This one was less about romance, and more about healing from grief.  While sweet, I wish this one had been longer, especially at the end.

2.5/5 Stars

Miss Pattingham Requests by Elizabeth Hanbury

Part of a Series: No
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Warm
Time Period: Historical/Regency

A reformed rake, Gyles Beaufort is in love. Having suitably convinced his would-be bride that he is sincere in both his affections and his commitment to devote himself to her happiness, he and Miss Ward have announced their engagement, and by all appearances, are deliriously happy. That is, until one day Gyles receives a missive ending their engagement, and immediately afterwards, Merryn is nowhere to be foundears.   Three weeks later, Gyles’ search for her has remained fruitless, and in low spirits,  he receives a request to visit his former childhood nanny Miss Pattingham, whom he still provides for in her retirement.

But Miss Pattingham is more than just a doddering old women wishing to visit with her former pupil.  What surprises does the intrepid woman have up her meddling sleeves?

I thoroughly enjoyed this one.  A big (but understandable) misunderstanding, a meddlesome old nanny, and two lovers destined for each other.

An adorable 4/5 Stars

The Virtuous Courtesan by Elizabeth Hanbury

Part of a Series: Prequel to Midsummer Eve at Rookery End collection
Series Best Read In Order: Works well as a standalone
Steam Level: Warm
Time Period: Historical/Regency

Leonora is on a mission — to recover a painting that her father had sold without her knowledge. Forced into subterfuge, she disguises herself as a boy and breaks into the house of Lord Allingham to retrieve the painting.  Unfortunately for her, the old Earl has recently died, and his heir happens to be nursing a hangover in the very study where the painting, The Virtuous Courtesan, resides.  Caught red-handed attempting to steal back the painting, she and the new Lord Allingham discover that there is a deeper story on both sides, as well as an incredible attraction.

This was an adorable story, and very well written. The only thing that gave me pause was the fact that I’m not a fan of love at first sight, so it did lose a full star from me for that. Otherwise, this was an enchanting addition to this anthology, and I admit I’m interested in reading the rest of the Midsummer Eve at Rookery End collection.

3.5/5 Stars

Feast of Stefan by Phillipa Ashley

Part of a Series: No
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level:
Time Period: Contemporary

Nick has been in love with Sarah for the past year, and now that it’s been almost two years since her husband died, he’s finally decided it’s time to make a move on her. The night that he finally gets the courage to ask her out, a stranger moves to town to work in the electronics factory that Nick works at.   Stefan is handsome, charismatic, and obviously attracted to Sarah.  Realizing that he’s no competition for Stefan, Nick backs off from his determination to woo Sarah, and in time befriends Stefan as well, though his heart is breaking every time he realizes that Sarah is falling for Stefan.  The night before Stefan is due to return to his home country, he throws a party at the local pub, but Sarah is late and Nick can’t raise her on the phone. Ordinarily, this wouldn’t be an issue, but with a freak snowstorm at play, Nick worries that something could’ve happened to her.  Nick and Stefan head out into the storm to check on Sarah, about a mile away, but is Sarah okay?

This was a cute story. There almost seemed to be a tiny hint of the paranormal, but nothing was ever confirmed. I always enjoy stories with unrequited love, and this one was no exception.  A very solid 4/5 Stars

A Bolt From The Blue by Phillipa Ashley

Part of a Series: No
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Warm
Time Period: Contemporary

This short story chronicles Lisa’s journey to get over her ex, whom she caught cheating on her with his physio. Going for a mountain hike in Converse sneakers was probably not the best idea, as she and her friend Carolyn soon find out, as Carolyn breaks her ankle and has to be airlifted off the side of the mountain. Left alone with a “mountain of a man” she dubs “Hagar the Horrible”, Lisa makes her way back down the mountain, trying to make conversation with a man who plainly has no interest in her.

A few days later, she visits the office of the mountain rescue to thank the group who airlifted Carolyn out, to make a donation to their cause… and to see if she can find “Hagar” again.

Having been given his direction, she discovers him in an artist’s gallery, where the graphic designer in her immediately appreciates his talent. They get to talking and soon one thing leads to another.. But can two broken hearts mend each other?

The only story in the anthology that is told in the first person POV, it was also the only one where the two main characters never actually share their names.  However, that didn’t seem all that important.  The ending was strangely satisfying despite that fact, and I did enjoy it.

American readers should probably be aware that dialing 999 in many countries is the equivalent of dialing 911 here in the States, but that’s a very trivial issue.

3.5/5 Stars

—

Six bite-size stories for under $2? You really can’t beat that, and this anthology is perfect when you need a quick pick-me-up but don’t have time to sit down to a full-length novel. The best thing about this anthology, however, is that there’s something for everyone, with both contemporary and historical stories, and even one with a possible hint of the paranormal.

Overall, I’d say this one is probably a 4/5, with my favorites being Plus One Guest by Nell Dixon and Miss Pattingham Requests by Elizabeth Hanbury.

 

 

Also posted in Contemporary, Historical, Short Story Or Novella – 1 Comment

Review: Wedding of the Century & Other Stories – HQN – Mary Jo Putney – Kristin James – Charlotte Featherstone

May 21, 2011

Click on Bookcover to Visit Purchase Page

Expected Release Date: May 31, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: HQN
Author’s Website:

http://www.maryjoputney.com/
http://www.writerkristenjames.com/
http://www.charlottefeatherstone.net/

My Source for This Book: Netgalley

 

The Wedding of the Century by MARY JO PUTNEY

Part of a Series: No
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

Stunningly beautiful and extraordinarily wealthy, Sarah Vangelder had always wanted more for herself than to be sold into marriage for the price of a dukedom. But marriage to Justin Aubrey might be the adventure she’s always dreamed of…

I rather felt that the blurb was a tiny bit misleading for this one.  One thing that it failed to mention was the fact that Sarah was actually in love with someone else entirely when her mother contracted for her to marry Justin.

Even so, this was probably my favorite story of the anthology.

What worked for me:

  • I really liked that Sarah and Justin’s first time wasn’t all beautiful and perfect.  Sarah didn’t magically enjoy his lovemaking, and there was really nothing romantic about it. While I don’t think I’d want to read that type of thing all the time, it was definitely a nice change of pace from the antagonistic and shy virgins who have a glorious deflowering.
  • I actually liked all of the angst caused by Sarah’s self-imposed frigidity, and I enjoyed the seemingly conflicted advice she received from her aunt.
  • One thing I adore in historical romances is arranged marriage, and when you combine it with one where the hero actually has unrequited feelings for the heroine, it’s simply dreamy for me.

What didn’t work for me:

  • I really didn’t care for the Big Misunderstanding with Paul, and Justin’s reaction to it. It seemed out of character for him (which I suppose was the point), and then to have him leave immediately afterwards and not see her for a while made me want to smack him.

Overall, I did enjoy this one.  The premise of an arranged marriage, combined with the heroine’s belief that a “lady” should never show passion in the marriage bed added up to delicious angst and a wonderful romance.

4/5 Stars

Tags for this story: American Heroine In England, Arranged Marriage, Imperfect First Time, Hero In Pursuit, Marry For Money, Unrequited Love, Victorian

Jesse’s Wife by KRISTIN JAMES

Part of a Series: No
Series Best Read In Order: N/A
Steam Level: Steamy

Official Blurb:

When a late-night walk on her father’s ranch inadvertently destroys her reputation, Amy McCallister finds herself married off to Jesse, a sinfully handsome farmhand. But can he convince her to give him her heart, despite their rocky beginning?

What worked for me:

  • Again, I enjoy the whole arranged marriage/hero in pursuit premise. In this case, Jesse feels that he’s unworthy of Amy because he’s an illiterate nobody and she’s the daughter of a wealthy rancher.
  • I also really liked that Amy couldn’t cook!  That amused me to no end, especially since she often burned supper because she got sidetracked with a book (I’ve SO done that!).

What didn’t work for me:

  • I was a little annoyed with the beginning, since I felt like Jesse should have stepped in before Amy ever got into the buggy.
  • The ending was a bit abrupt to me — I would’ve liked for a small epilogue or something I think.

I enjoyed this one quite a bit. While I was frustrated with Jesse’s inaction at the beginning of the story, and the mere suggestion that Amy might have to marry her would-be rapist, I did enjoy the fact that they’d been friends for years, and that Jesse had pretty much saved himself for Amy.

That said, I wish the ending hadn’t been quite so abrupt.   Recommended for fans of virgin heroes, plain and bookish heroines (who can’t cook), and marriages to avoid scandal. 3.5/5 Stars.

Tags for this story: Hero In Pursuit, Friends To Lovers, Marriage Of Convenience, Marriage To Avoid Scandal, Plain Heroine, Sexual Assault, Tortured Hero,  Unrequited Love, Virgin Hero, Western Romance

Seduced by Starlight by CHARLOTTE FEATHERSTONE

Part of a Series: Yes, Follow up to Sinful and Addicted
Series Best Read In Order: Probably, but worked well as a standalone.
Steam Level: Hot

Official Blurb:

Jase Markham, London’s most dashing—and notorious—rake, has loved his brother’s fiancée for as long as he can remember. When his brother casts Blossom aside, Jase is determined to finally make her his—if she’s willing to overlook his scandalous reputation!

What worked for me:

  • I think this was probably one of the hotter stories in the anthology.
  • Fans of Sinful and Addicted will probably enjoy this one, as the two families from those stories definitely play a huge part in this one. I personally liked that even though I had never read the previous stories, I didn’t feel lost at all.

What didn’t work for me:

  • Eh, I’m not a fan of men who are in love with someone then go out and shag other women. Blech.
  • I was a little put off by the fact that Blossom’s reputation didn’t suffer at all from her broken engagement. Perhaps it’s simply because I read so many regencies, and this was set in a later time period where perhaps it wasn’t such an issue, but it was still a slight disappointment.
  • I really didn’t care for the fact that their first time of lovemaking was completely glossed over, as was the wedding details. We’re talking a it-had-been-several-days-since-it-happened type thing — not even a “fade to black” or anything.
  • Jase claimed his reputation had been carefully cultivated and wasn’t fully true.  I don’t believe him, because there was nothing to indicate that he didn’t truly live up to his reputation. As Blossom’s father mentioned, in his time there’d been people who assumed that he couldn’t possibly be as bad as his reputation made him out to be, but that he assured him, he was.

While this story had all the sensuality I love from Charlotte Featherstone, it just didn’t do it for me. Perhaps it was because I wasn’t fully invested in the characters since I hadn’t read her previous novels in the series. As it is though, this was more of a 3/5 Star story. Recommended for fans of independent women in history, reformed rakes, and marriages to avoid scandal.

Tags for this story: Hero In Pursuit, Family Issues, Friends To Lovers, Marriage to Avoid Scandal, Reformed Rake, Unrequited Love

Continue reading “Review: Wedding of the Century & Other Stories – HQN – Mary Jo Putney – Kristin James – Charlotte Featherstone” »

Also posted in Historical, Short Story Or Novella – 0 Comments

Review: The Pleasure Garden – Spice – Amanda McIntyre – Charlotte Featherstone – Kristi Astor

April 12, 2011

Click on Bookcover to Visit Purchase Page

 

Expected Release Date: Available Now!
Publisher: Harlequin
Imprint: Spice
Author’s Website: http://www.amandamcintyre.net/
http://www.charlottefeatherstone.net/
http://kristi-cook.com/
My Source for This Book: Netgalley
Part of a Series: No
Steam Level: Hot to Scorching

Official Blurb:

Many lifetimes ago, the beautiful MAY QUEEN found exquisite seduction not with her husband, but in the arms of the GREEN MAN—the passionate ruler of all that is warm and light. And thus began the earth’s most torrid love triangle.

Now three women of diverse eras are drawn to the mystical site of the Celtic queen’s tragic demise. Their fiery obsession ignited by BELTANE MAGIC is barely perceived, but erotically felt. With each kiss, their passion would break an ancient curse— and reunite a love most profound…

•CINNEA•
Driven by an unseen force, the goddess maiden seduces the one man forsaken by law and principle—an Irishman soon for the priesthood…

•CATHERINE•
The future countess of Fairfax House yearns for illicit nights and perfect love in the arms of her betrothed’s cousin…

•EMMALINE•
She inherits a decrepit house and garden that awakens in her a raw sexual awareness, the likes of which she can abide alone no longer…

I’ll be honest. I had this book for quite some time before I actually finished it.  Even though the premise appealed to me, I had a hard time getting into it, especially at first. I’m not certain if I was simply not in the mood for historical erotica, or if it was something about the writing that put me off, but this is probably the longest it’s ever taken me to review a book in years.  However, once I got into it, I was pleasantly surprised.

Sacred Vows by Amanda McIntyre – 2.5 Stars

I had a hard time getting into this one. To be fair, it was the first book in the anthology, and as such, had to set up both the mythology of the Garden, as well as stand as its own story.

What worked for me:

  • I’m a big fan of stories where lovers are separated due to circumstances out of their control, so this aspect of the story really appealed to me. I enjoyed not only the political reasoning behind their separation, but the familial aspect as well.
  • The love scenes were quite well-written and very hot.
  • The angst of Cara possibly marrying Edmund’s skeevy friend worked quite well.

What didn’t work for me:

  • I really, really disliked
    SPOILER ALERT SelectShow Spoiler
  • I felt like the resolution came about much too quickly. While I understand that there is a definite page limitation when writing for an anthology, I wish less time had been spent on some of the other plot devices and more time devoted to uncovering the terrible plot and resolving it.

Overall, I hate to say it, but I really wasn’t very impressed.  I did like the author’s writing style, and the love scenes were very tasty, but I never really connected with the characters themselves. I think my biggest problem may have been that I simply wasn’t into the time period, or the conflict between English and Gaelic at that time.  Unfortunately though, even though I enjoyed the writing style, since I wasn’t really able to get into this one, I have to say 2.5/5

Perfumed Pleasure by Charlotte Featherstone – 4 Stars

I enjoyed this story much more than the first one.  Charlotte Featherstone has such an amazingly lush writing style. All of her works that I’ve read are so earthy and rich, and the chemistry and angst between her main characters are always incredible.

What worked for me:

  • Oh I do adore a physically scarred hero, and Joscelyn is certainly no exception. Horribly wounded in war, he’s the subject of pity and ridicule, both of which are devastating in their own right. He feels as though he has nothing to offer Catherine, and her love and sensuality are the only thing that can bring him around.
  • Normally I have trouble with the length of short stories, but as I mentioned, Charlotte Featherstone’s writing is always so rich that I feel it’s rather like an expensive piece of chocolate — something to be savored, but best served in small amounts.  Don’t get me wrong, I’ve certainly enjoyed her longer works, but in this case, I thought the length was quite perfect.
  • Out of all of the stories, I felt the strongest parallel between Catherine and Joscelyn’s relationship and that of the May Queen and the Green Man whose garden sets the stage for seduction.

What didn’t work for me:

  • I prefer that my heroes pine for the heroine when they are away from them. There was once sentence that jumped out at me as rather distasteful, though I know it was intended to be romantic.  ”Every woman he had taken while away in the war he’d pretended was Catherine.” Now, I know that’s supposed to be romantic — the hero was technically pining for his lost love even as he scratched a biological itch, but that sort of thing has never appealed to me. Aside from the fact that I don’t like when a hero is sexually involved with anyone but the heroine, I can’t help but pity the women he was with, that he was making love to them while pretending they were someone else.

Between the forced betrothal to Edward, and Joscelyn’s scars and feelings of unworthiness, the romance felt the strongest and the love scenes were delightfully erotic without being crude. 4/5 Stars

Rites of Passion by Kristi Astor – 5 Stars

What worked for me:

  • I really loved that Emmaline was a war widow. While she and her husband had not had a lot of time together, as he died in the war shortly after their wedding, she truly loved him and had found him quite satisfying as a lover. Too often widows (and widowers, for that matter) were in a loveless or even abusive marriage with their deceased spouse, and then of course the hero comes along and shows them that not all men are like that. It was quite refreshing to require Emmaline to have to move beyond her grief and find love again.
  • I’m a big fan of the doctor/patient theme in romances, and even though Emmaline was technically a nurse rather than a doctor, I didn’t let minor trivialities like that get in the way of my enjoyment.
  • I admit I found it quite appealing that Jack was impotent from his war wounds before he met Emmaline. While it’s not very realistic that he’d suddenly be cured, you have to admit there’s something romantic about being the only woman in a long time to have been able to physically affect a man like that.
  • I loved that there was no “villain” in this story, as opposed to the others. There was merely stubbornness and insecurities, which made it feel more “real” for lack of a better term.

What didn’t work for me:

  • I didn’t care for the fact that Jack had so recently broken up with his fiancée.  I felt bad for Claire, despite the fact I was overjoyed that Jack and Emmaline had found each other.

I can honestly say that this one was my favorite of the entire book. I’d not read any works by Kristi Astor before, but I can confidently say that this one will not be my last.

 

While this book as a whole got off to quite a shaky start for me, once I got into it, I was very pleasantly surprised with just how much I enjoyed it overall.  All three stories were very hot, and I thoroughly enjoyed the recurring theme of the May Queen and the Green Man in the garden. Even though the first story wasn’t really my cuppa tea, the next two more than made up for it, settling in for  4/5 Stars overall.

Also posted in Erotica, Historical, Paranormal Romance – 0 Comments

Review: The Guy Next Door Anthology – HQN – Lori Foster – Susan Donovan – Victoria Dahl

February 27, 2011


 

The Guy Next Door anthology brings together three of the hottest contemporary romance authors of our day, Lori Foster, Susan Donovan, and Victoria Dahl.

Lori Foster introduces us to Jett and Natalie in  Ready, Set, Jett. Natalie is a school teacher from a wealthy but fairly dysfunctional family, and Jett is a private investigator with an FBI and military background, and a very loud, boisterous family.   Together they find truth in the old adage of “opposites attract”.

A vacation from her no-strings romance with her sexy next-door neighbor. That’s what Natalie Alexander needs to get her head—and heart—together. But her solo trip south turns into a disaster when gorgeous Jett Sutter turns up with another challenge.

This story is the prequel of sorts to Lori Foster’s newest book, When You Dare, scheduled for release April 26, 2011.

What worked for me:

  • I adore books where the hero is the one pursuing a relationship while the heroine is the one trying to keep things strictly physical.
  • The small touch of kink definitely added a nice bit of flavor to the story.
  • I really liked Buddy.
  • This story started off sexy to the extreme, without crossing the line into erotica.
  • The pacing was great. Often times short stories really rush from sexual interest into the I Love You’s. However, since Natalie and Jett had already been having an affair before Jett confronted Natalie wanting more, things didn’t feel rushed.

What didn’t work for me:

  • Jett is an absolute gamma male. He decides what he wants, and refuses to take no for an answer, completely bulldozing over Natalie. Of course, readers will likely forgive him for this simply because we’ve been allowed a glimpse inside his heart and mind and realize that he’s only acting this dominant because he’s falling for her and is desperate for her to stop trying to keep him at arm’s length. The added bonus of seeing that she is also falling in love, but is too afraid of heartbreak to risk reaching for more in their relationship is what really softened me up about Jett’s behavior.
  • When in a bondage situation where there is no pre-established safeword, it bothers me when the heroine says to stop, the hero acknowledges that she truly wants to stop, and yet the hero merely pauses the action to try to “convince” her to continue. Don’t get me wrong, this was not a rape situation in the least, but still, that made me a bit uncomfortable.

Overall, this was a very sexy tale, with just the right amount of sweetness, and I am anxious to read the continuation, When You Dare, by Lori Foster when it is released. 4/5 Stars

Gail’s Gone Wild by Susan Donovan

Single mom Gail Chapman insists on chaperoning her teenage daughter’s spring-break trip to Key West. But she never expects to face temptation—in the hunky form of Jesse Batista, the mysterious man in the cottage next door.

Oh this story was a complete gem!  It brought back all sorts of memories of my own spring break, though alas, there was no handsome Jesse Batista next door. Still, I had to laugh because I can completely see myself as “that mom” laying down the law for my children when it comes time for them to go on spring break.  Hearing that Gail’s idea of a vacation is sitting on the porch and reading sounds incredibly familiar to me.

What worked for me:

  • The chemistry and banter between Gail and Jesse was absolutely delicious.
  • I loved how Jesse was so wary of women because of the disaster of his last fling, where a crazy fan managed to fool him into thinking she was a sweet girl only to drag his name through the papers with false allegations of abuse and paternity suits.
  • I really liked the rather fast pacing of this story. It was set during Spring Break, so of course everything is going to be a whirlwind and a bit of a blur. I normally prefer to be shown rather than told about various experiences, but in this case it really worked.
  • I loved that Holly turned into the overprotective one on the trip.

What didn’t work for me:

  • Gail’s little temper tantrum when Jesse finally came clean about who he really was annoyed me. Granted, she pulled her head out of her butt fairly quickly, but still, I think she completely overreacted considering they’d only known each other for slightly over a week.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. This is also the one story in the anthology that is complete with an epilogue, rather than a setup for a new series.  4/5 Stars


Just One Taste by Victoria Dahl
All-work-and-no-play businessman Eric Donovan won’t be distracted by a “businesswoman” who’s all wrong for him. Beth Cantrell owns a women’s erotica shop! And she has a juicy little secret. Can she tempt him to put pleasure before business for once?

This story was a bit more iffy for me.

Both Beth and Eric know that being seen with the other will be bad for their reputations. If Eric is caught seeing Beth, who has a reputation as a party girl due to her occupation, his own reputation as a serious business owner could suffer. Beth, on the other hand, doesn’t want to be seen with straight-laced Eric because as an executive in a women’s erotica shop, she is expected to date “bad boys” as all the other employees do.  As such, they both go out of their way to keep their affair away from prying eyes.

Unfortunately, however, this allows Eric to deceive Beth with a lie of omission simply because there’s no one else who can correct her misconception.

What worked for me:

  • Eric and Beth are completely explosive together. Their one encounter in a hotel room was intense and incredibly erotic.

What didn’t work for me:

  • I really didn’t like the fact that Eric never corrected Beth’s assumption that he was really his younger, lady-killer brother.  Despite the fact that this was technically a lie of omission, and he did feel guilty about it, I felt this deception was a little too much for me to handle. While I understand that at first it was supposed to be a quick fling, and that as things progressed, perhaps it just never seemed to be a good time to come clean, I still lost a lot of respect for him as a character.
  • This was not a self-contained story in the least. It is a prequel to Victoria Dahl’s new trilogy, starting with Good Girls Don’t, and the characters in this story won’t be picked up until Real Men Will, which the third book in the trilogy and therefore won’t be available until November 2011.  The story ends with Beth not even knowing Eric’s real name, and the couple has no plans of continuing their relationship. This is not my idea of a “good” romantic story’s ending.

I’m normally a big fan of Victoria Dahl, but it pains me to have to be completely honest with my rating. Because of the deception, and the fact that this story is most decidedly incomplete, I have to say 2/5 Stars.

 

Some readers have complained that Ready, Set, Jett was also incomplete, but I felt that Lori Foster did a good job in finishing out Jett and Natalie’s story with only a hint of a teaser of the next book in the series.  Gail Gone Wild was the only one in the collection that didn’t feel as though there was “more to come”, since it was complete with an epilogue, and I appreciated that.  Just A Taste felt much too much like a prequel teaser that really should have been given away free on the author’s website in my opinion rather than packaged into an anthology that forced readers to pay for it.
Overall, I did enjoy reading this anthology, despite the many issues. Therefore, I’m going to go with a final 3.5/5 Stars

Also posted in Contemporary – 4 Comments
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