Review: Nice Earls Do (Goode's Guide to Misconduct #0.5) by Susanna Craig

    

Print Length: 91 pages

Publisher:  Zebra (December 27, 2022)

From Goodreads.com: To readers of her popular magazine, Goode’s Guide to Misconduct, “Mrs. Goode” is an expert in all domestic matters. Household management, home décor, entertainment... there is nothing about which she lacks an opinion. Who better to assist the Earl of Bennett, newly appointed guardian to his niece and nephew, in turning his house into a home?

The widowed Lady Manwaring is the farthest thing from a domestic doyenne, so when asked to pose as Mrs. Goode on behalf of the book’s true author, she warily agrees. On arrival, she’s surprised to discover that Lord Bennett is actually her childhood friend, Kit Killigrew. Tabetha might be an imposter, but her attraction to Kit is all too real...

After years separated from the woman of his dreams, Kit’s eager to do more than play house. Will Tabetha’s big reveal ruin everything, or lay the foundation for true love?

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My Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5

I have to give this author credit. Starting off their new series with a prequel novella takes guts. In my experience, these types of novels typically come later on once a series is developed. 

Sadly, there is a reason they are often done this way and it (in my humble opinion) is because novellas rarely give the reader what they need in terms of story and character development. Take this novel for instance, Kit and Tabetha were childhood friends who may have at one point fancied each other. We don't know for sure because we are given no real backstory showing where they may have fallen in love when they were younger (although we are told that they did). We aren't even sure of the details surrounding her marriage other than she was "unhappy" and she had to "protect her step-son" (and given the fact he is old enough in this novel to pass as her lover and is the one to act upon certain things  makes me wonder just what she was protecting him from). 

I will say that I enjoyed Kit and Tabetha together, I just wish there had been more depth to this novel (or at least a bit of drama, or some potential problem for them to overcome). Oliver was the real star of the show, and (for me at least) the most interesting. I hope we get to see more of him as the series progresses. 

Speaking on the series, I am interested in reading at least the first one when it releases as I have read other novels by this author and enjoyed them immensely. She has a strong writing style and a solid concept in her characters, overall plots, but as I said, this one just needed to be longer in order for it to really work for me. 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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                                             Nice Earls Do is available on Amazon.com

                                          

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Book Blast! Stolen from the Demon Prince by Laurne Crowne

         

Title: Stolen from the Demon Prince

Author: Laurne Crowne
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Tour Hosted by: Inkslinger PR

The demon prince is possessive, jealous, and determined to protect what is his.
Can the prince ever see me, a former fae slave, as his equal?
Or will he always see me as only a possession to protect?

The longer Leo and I are in the demon kingdom, the more obvious it becomes to both of us that it's not safe for me to stay there with him. Demons want to take me from him at every turn, and rival factions are eager to use me as a pawn to hurt the prince.

When it seems impossible for us to be together, will the prince abandon his title, throne, and kingdom for me?

Or should I seek out the fae city and find a new home with my own kind?

Despite all of the forces working against us, deep down I know that the only home I've ever wanted was with him.

Unfortunately for me, there are demons who will refuse to let that happen.

All books in the Sins of the Blood War series contain spicy tension, deliciously steamy scenes, characters who talk (and curse) like adults, and occasional moments of violence. Leo's a prince who can do whatever he wants, after all, and in this book, what he wants is her.

Amazon 

Lauren Crowne writes sexy, funny, action-packed fantasy and paranormal romance, transporting readers into a world of fae, demons, wolf shifters, and more. You'll want to root for her bold heroines and hot heroes, neither of which are afraid to fight for the ones they love. Sold to the Demon Prince is the first book in the Sins of the Blood War trilogy, with all three books following the same couple as they try to hold on to their passion for each other even when the world seems against them. When she isn't writing, Lauren is addicted to drinking iced coffee, forcing her husband to watch funny TikToks, and traveling with her husband and three kids. 

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Review: The Santa Killer (DI Barton #6) by Ross Greenwood

    

Print Length: 437 pages

Publisher:  Boldwood Books (September 12, 2022)

From Goodreads.com: The Santa Killer is coming to town…

One night less than two weeks before Christmas, a single mother is violently assaulted. It’s a brutal crime at the time of year when there should be goodwill to all. When DI Barton begins his investigation, he’s surprised to find the victim is a woman with nothing to hide and no reason for anyone to hurt her.

A few days later, the mother of the woman attacked rings the police station. Her granddaughter has drawn a shocking picture. It seems she was looking out of the window when her mother was attacked. And when her grandmother asks the young girl who the person with the weapon is, she whispers two words.

Bad Santa.

The rumours start spreading, and none of the city’s women feel safe - which one of them will be next?

He’s got a list. It’s quite precise. It won’t matter even if you’re nice.

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My Rating: 4 stars out of 5

First, let me begin by saying that technically this can be read as a stand-alone. Yes, there are mentions of relationships between the members of the department. Yes, there were one or two mentions of the book prior to this one (which incidentally was the only one in this series that I hadn't read). However, I believe it would be easy enough to enjoy this one without the benefit of the others (although I do highly recommend reading them if you enjoyed this one). 

Second, I would call this story (and the others in this series) police procedurals, not thriller novels. Yes, there are moments of thrill/suspense when we are witnessing things from the killers' perspectives and moments of the same when we are seeing things from the point-of-view of the victims. Still, on the whole, this story is mostly told from DI Barton's perspective so we get a lot of the day-to-day work that goes into actually solving crimes as well. 

What I enjoy most about this author, and this series, is the way that he manages to add just enough realism that you begin to believe in the story. Not only with DI Barton and his family (And the enjoyable way his wife teases him and his children argue with one another), but when it comes to one of the families where a suspect may be hiding. It made me, as a reader, not only think about the plight of these characters but also empathize (to an extent) with them. Whether they were guilty or not, you could understand why they may have done what they were accused of. 

I also enjoyed the red herrings that cropped up, although at times, I will admit that I found certain chapters a bit tedious. Sometimes it was because there was a lot of detailed information to read through, other times it was because it seemed like nothing was happening other than the characters doing things they had already done (for example, walking the dog). 

However, on the whole, I think this novel will be enjoyed by fans of the series (as sad as it is to find out this will be the last when I think there is still more to be discovered).  I will read more from this author, and am, in fact, looking forward to the new series that is mentioned at the end of this book.

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                                         The Santa Killer is available on Amazon.com

                                         (for free if you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited)

                                          

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Review: Darkest Power (The Dark Ones Saga #6) by Rachel Van Dyken

   

Print Length: 238 pages

Publisher:  Van Dyken Enterprises (December 13, 2022)

From Goodreads.com: "...Eventually, the worship of Horus stopped. For the favored god had finally turned his back on his people—and disappeared.

Until now…"

What's the god of the sky and war supposed to do when I’m stuck in modern-day Seattle with a team of immortals who've dropped me right in the middle of a battle between good and evil?

I move in with Tarek, a werewolf, in an effort to join society and learn about modern times. Then I start my own TikTok and go to my brother’s bar to watch the ridiculous humans attempt to fall in love over and over again.

Listen, I’ve already done my part in saving the world from a catastrophe a month ago—which is how I found myself in this very seat at the bar, stuck in a time that's no longer my own.

I’m bored out of my mind until I start bartending at Sin and am forced to train the new hire—Evi. She's clumsy, shows up late to all of her shifts, constantly has it out for me, and doesn't sleep. Ever. Which would make her a great asset, except as the full moon gets closer, she gets harder to control.

When I find out the truth behind her identity, I know I must go down into the Abyss—to the immortals’ greatest enemy—to help her ascend. If she doesn't, she'll lose an eternity's worth of immortality and pitch the world into chaos. And yes, going to my friends’ enemy is wrong, but I'll stop at nothing to save her.

Even if it means she dies at my hands.

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My Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5

Let me begin by making two things perfectly clear. To begin with, I am not a fan of paranormal romances. I never have been. It's a personal pet peeve of mine and not a reflection on the author. 

The second is that I have seen some people saying that this could be read as a stand-alone novel. And while I agree that it CAN be, I also think the majority of people will be confused if this is the first book from the Dark Ones Saga that they pick up. Heck, I have read all of them,  and I was still confused. 

Speaking on just this novel alone, I liked the Egyptian aspect being mixed in with the Japanese. It was different, and I enjoyed the different "words of wisdom" before each chapter. Horus and Kit were both interesting characters in their own right, and I was extremely interested in both her backstory and the potential for them to have been lovers in another time and place. However, I just never connected with them in the way I think the author meant for me to. This may be because when I wasn't confused and trying to remember the prior books, I was overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information that had been dumped on me just within the pages of this book.

Don't get me wrong, I definitely think that this book will appeal to a variety of people, especially those who are fans of Rachel in general or those who enjoy paranormal romances. It just isn't on my top list for this year. 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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                                         Darkest Power is available on Amazon.com

                                          

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Review: The Widowmaker (Black Harbor #2) by Hannah Morrissey

  

Print Length: 304 pages

Publisher:  Minotaur Books (December 6 2022)

From Goodreads.com: Ever since business mogul Clive Reynolds disappeared twenty years ago, the name "Reynolds" has become synonymous with "murder" and "mystery." And now, lured by a cryptic note, down-on-her-luck photographer Morgan Mori returns home to Black Harbor and into the web of their family secrets and double lives. The same night she photographs the Reynolds holiday get-together, Morgan becomes witness to a homicide of a cop that triggers the discovery of a long-buried clue.

This could finally be the thing to crack open the chilling cold case, and Investigator Ryan Hudson has a chance to prove himself as lead detective. If only he could stop letting his need to solve his partner's recent murder distract him. But as Morgan exposes her own dark demons, could her sordid history be the key to unlocking more than one mystery?

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My Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

To start, I think it is worth mentioning that while the details aren't gratitious, there are mentions of child abuse (both physical and sexual). This abuse is what makes Morgan the way she is, and has caused her to do some of the things that she has prior to the events of this story taking place.

I enjoyed her character, the way she sees the world, and her uncanny ability to unnerve the people around her. It made her stand out from a lot of the other characters that I have read recently. I also enjoyed Ryan's character. He was flawed in a way that made sense. When his best friend is guned down in an apparent robbery, he is unable to just walk away from the case even though he's not investigating it. I feel like his reactions and reasonings made sense, and I found that he and Morgan had an interesting dynamic when they were on the page together. 

I was also intrigued by the Renyold's family dynamic. Their affection for each other came across clearly, as did their many eccentricities. In fact, I would have been curious to get more of the family's reaction once the truth came out. How would Elenor especially react to learning the truth of what happened to her husband all those years ago?

So what may you ask kept this from being a 4 star (or higher) review? Sadly, it was the final showdown of all things. Yes, you read that right. That moment that the entire book was leading up to is what ruined it. And no, it wasn't ruined because of WHO was behind it, although that in itself was a bit weird. 

No, it lost me with the sheer improbability of things. Despite all of the times I had already suspended disbelief in order to overlook some things (I mean, what kind of cop hears the things that happened at "The Ruins" and overlooks it, justified as it may have been)? But the detail the author went into describing how Morgan was shot in the chest, (feeling her ribs explode), there would have been no way she could have gotten up and run away from her attacker, nor do any of the other things she did that lead up the killer ending up where they did. Which was a darn shame because the buildup of who was behind things had kept me glued to the pages. 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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                                         The Widowmaker is available on Amazon.com

                                          

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Review: The Reluctant Countess (Would-Be Wallflowers #2) by Eloisa James

 

Print Length: 384 pages

Publisher:  Avon Books (November 29, 2022)

From Goodreads.com: Giles Renwick, Earl of Lilford, has never made a fool of himself over a woman--until he meets Lady Yasmin. Yasmin is ineligible for his attention in every way: not as a wife, certainly not as a mistress (she is a lady!), nor even as a friend, since they vehemently dislike each other. Her gowns are too low, and her skirts are dampened to cling to admittedly lovely thighs. She loves to gossip--and giggle.

She isn't dignified, or polite, or even truly British, given that her father's French ancestry clearly predominated. Not to mention the fact that her mother had been one of Napoleon's mistresses, a fact she makes no effort to hide.

So what--in heaven's name--possesses him to propose?

And what will he do if she says yes? 

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My Rating: 1 star out of 5

I have been sitting here for a few days trying to put into words just what a disaster this novel turned out to be. But since it would be a disservice to my readers if I skipped reviewing this simply so I could forget I had ever read it, I am going to try and get my thoughts out. 

To begin with, even though it was a historical ROMANCE, this novel featured THREE main characters; Yasmin, Giles, and Giles' sister Lydia. Sadly, absolutely none of them were tolerable in the slightest. 

First, let us talk about our Heroine. Yasmin flaunts the fact that she's different from the other women around her. She seemed to be the kind of character I could enjoy, until she let Giles browbeat her into attempting to be something she wasn't. It was also annoying how she was constantly back and forth with Giles. Yes I will marry you, no I won't, no wait I changed my mind. It was too over the top even for me. Also I'm still trying to figure out how having "dampened" skirts could be even remotely comfortable. And I'm not talking about them being dampened from arousal, no I mean she purposely uses water to wetten her skirts to make them cling to her legs. Nothing like walking around in wet skirts, am I right, ladies? I also wish she had stood up for herself more than she did. I get it; you're used to being called names, so you don't let it bother you, but for heaven's sake, start putting people in their places, and maybe they won't be so nasty to you in the first place. 

Then we have our supposed Hero. Giles lusts after Yasmin. He isn't in love with her. He doesn't even particularly seem to like her (a fact she points out more than once), but that doesn't stop him from bedding her. Then for whatever reason, he decides that he wants to marry her because he loves everything about her. Except again, he doesn't. In fact, even though it was his idea to keep their betrothal a secret as to not anger his sister, he becomes enraged at the fact that men still flock to Yasmin. The same way they always have. He demands she act "like a dignified countess" and stop wearing the clothing she preferred, then takes it out of her when she does what he asks of her, and men still flock to her proving her point that it's not how she dresses, it's just who she is. Oh, and whenever anyone says anything bad about her (you know, the woman he supposedly loves), he doesn't defend her. At all. 

And finally, we have Lydia. She was easily the most dislikeable of the bunch. She gossips maliciously about Yasmin without even knowing her, nearly outs herself as having been caught in a compromising position to the man's mother, then blames Yasmin for "tattling." And to top it off,  Lydia goes out of her way to sabotage her brother's relationship (while being engaged to someone herself, nonetheless). In fact, you end up feeling bad for her fiance, who eventually comes to understand just how vile his wife really is (but not before she does something so scandalous that she would never be welcomed back into polite society). I think it is worth mentioning that their family was the subject of malicious and cruel gossip most of their lives, so the fact that she would do the same to someone else makes it even more abhorrent. 

In fact, the only remotely likable ones were Yasmin's grandfather and one of her "suitors" (and I use that term loosely as they were really more friends than anything else). 

Sadly, the characters are the main reason that I couldn't get into this book. At every turn, I wanted just to delete this mess and be done with it, but I kept hoping it would improve. I also expected there to be, at some point, a moment when Lydia is held accountable for any of her many actions, but not only does this not happen, we are expected to believe that by the epilogue, she has become friendly with Yasmin? Huh? How? These are the kinds of things we need to see happening on the page instead of just being told about them later. 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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                                    The Reluctant Countess is available on Amazon.com

                                          

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Review: How to Win a Wallflower (Rebels with a Cause #3) by Samara Parish

                        

Print Length: 254 pages

Publisher:  Forever (December 13, 2019)

From Goodreads.com: When John Barnesworth inherits unexpectedly, he abandons his solitude and returns to London to settle his brother's affairs, only to discover his estates are crumbling and he is now betrothed to his brother’s unpleasant fiancée. Her dowry might save him from ruin, but at what cost? His only hope lies with the vivacious, charming Lady Charlotte Stirling, whose audacious solution to John's troubles might actually work. If only he can keep his feelings for her out of the equation . . .

Lady Charlotte Stirling knows she can’t fall for John. He’s her brother’s best friend, he’s engaged to her mortal enemy, and he wants to return to America. Not to mention he’d never survive in her bustling social life. She can, however, try to solve his money problem. But the closer she gets to ensuring his freedom, the harder it is to let him go . . .

                                                         *******************

My Rating: 2 stars out of 5

I remember reading this author before and having a love/hate relationship with their books, but when I saw Charlotte was the lead, I decided I would give her another shot because I loved Charlotte in How to Deceive a Duke.

Sadly, all of the things I dislike about this author are still true. And I will be the first to admit that this is more of a "me' problem than it is with the author. You see, this author does a remarkable job when it comes to writing interesting characters with obvious chemistry. Charlotte manages to be headstrong but helpful. She loves her family and her friends, and there is (literally) nothing she wouldn't do for them. Likewise, while flawed and despite wanting nothing to do with the title that has been passed to him, John puts aside his own life to set things to rights on his estates. When the two are together, sparks fly, even when they both know nothing can come of it. 

Eventually, as with all romance novels, the couple faces a hurdle that seems insurmountable. So they devise a plan to overcome it. And then something else happens, and something else happens, and something else happens, and then ..... well, you get the idea. It was as though just as soon as the couple solves one problem facing them, another one pops up (and a couple of them were ridiculous and far-fetched, in my opinion). It got to the point where I stopped caring if they ever got their happily ever after because I just wanted the book to be finished so the endless reams of trouble would stop. 

Again, I recognize that this is more of an issue with myself as a reader and the things I expect from an author/story, and I do believe others will get more enjoyment from this book than I did. 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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                                   How to Win a Wallflower is available on Amazon.com

                                          

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Freebie Friday!

 

Every other Friday, I will be sharing a (small) collection of books that I have added to my to-be-read pile. At the time of posting, all of these books will be FREE from Amazon (but I highly encourage you to double-check the price before you purchase as we all know how quickly these things can change). 

I don't know about you, but the first thing I notice about a book is the cover; if the cover doesn't catch my eye for one reason or another, I won't even bother looking for more details. In the spirit of this - all books will be linked BY their covers; simply click on one if it catches your eye to be taken to the appropriate link on Amazon. 

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Review: The Rogue's Brazen Lady (The Oxford Set #5) by Ava Bond

Print Length: 261 pages

Publisher:  Ava Bond (December 1, 2022)

From Goodreads.com: The charming baseborn son of a duke.

Michael Trawler is a roguish businessman, focused entirely on growing his wealth in a desire to prove himself. At the wedding of his dear friend's little sister, he is shocked to fall in love with the bride, Viola Lynde.

An exiled belle of the season.

Viola is the petite, vicarious and beautiful of an Earl, with the ton at her feet. However, when she deserts her fiancé at the alter, she is thrown from society, and from her home, by her father.

At a Christmas party, they are reunited.

On Viola's return to England, she attends her brother's Christmas Party in rural Sussex, and is intrigued to find Michael there. Neither of them expects the wild attraction that soon burns between them, but given the disapproval of Viola's brother, Viola's past secrets and Michael's own ambitious for his future, can their affair possibly lead to anything more?

                                                         *******************

My Rating: 3 stars out of 5

I have mixed feelings about this story. 

On one hand, it didn't matter that this was the fifth in the series. I was able to read (and enjoy) it as a stand-alone novel. The relationships were clearly defined, and the cast of characters was small enough that they were easy to keep track of. 

But on the other? To begin with, I felt like I had read this story before. To the point that I went and looked up this author to see if I had perhaps read a different version of this story or others by her that would explain it. I had not.  There was also the issue of Viola being allowed to do certain things that were well beyond the scope of propriety with little to no consequences (and Michael just being an idiot, plain and simple; I mean, I get it his father was a villain meant to be over the top so we would dislike him, but this just went above and beyond that). Another complaint I had with this one is that once these characters did bed each other, that seemed to be all they cared about. I get it. Sex is fun. But I shouldn't have to forgo pages of character development for the sake of them showing time and again how compatible they are in the bedroom. In fact, I found myself skipping those pages altogether out of sheer boredom, hoping there would be a better resolution than the one we ended up with. 

That is not to say that this is a poorly-written novel. Quite the contrary. I enjoyed the novel for what it was; I wish there had been something that made it firmly stand out from the other novels in this genre. However, I would read this author again. 

DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.

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                                    The Rogue's Brazen Lady is available on Amazon.com

                                             (for free if you subscribe to Kindle Unlimited)

                                          

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