When Beauty Tamed the Beast

Mar 282012
 

Linnet Berry Thynne was ruined in the eyes of the ton. Caught kissing a prince who then wants nothing to do with her, not to mention it wasn’t even all that pleasant! Wearing a gown that makes her look pregnant, her humiliation and ruination is complete.

Piers Marchant a doctor and Earl has a fearsome reputation and a temper to match which has earned him the nickname of the beast. Injured as a child he is supposedly unable to perform (if you get my drift)!  With no prospect of an heir in sight his father jumps at the chance of his son having a bride, already with child and a royal one at that.

Being a medical man it does not take him long to realise things are not as they seem and despite Linnet’s beauty, he is determined she will never marry the beast.

This is another great book by Eloisa James and I really enjoyed it. It is supposedly a very loose adaptation of the fairytale Beauty and the Beast, and if the title had not indicated so, I would not necessarily have thought to associate it.

I loved the characters, Dr Piers is hilarious – his bedside manner leaves much to be desired and you get the impression his life would be much simpler if his patients died so he could cut them open and see what was going on.  Sarcasm seems to be his forte and he does not care who he upsets or what he says. Linnet is feisty, just as sarcastic and gives as good as she gets, almost enjoying taunting him. This leads to some funny conversations between the two of them.

The story is almost exclusively set in Wales and it was great to have a setting other than the traditional London for a regency romance. I found the snippets about medicine and treatment fascinating but how accurate they are I am not sure, Piers did seem ahead of his time in some aspects of his treatment. Historical accuracy is not a strong feature of this book but to be honest it was not a problem for this story. Some books need rich historical description, others don’t, the characters easily carried the story no matter how historically inaccurate some of their behaviour was!

Of course it is based on a fairytale and fairytales always have a happy ending so I got the warm fuzzies which I like in my books. It wouldn’t be an interesting or entertaining story however if there were not a number of obstacles and incidents before we reach that point.

If you are looking for a romance with accurate historical descriptions and behaviour this may not be you, if however you like a touch of humour, strong characters and can overlook the historical licence – read it!

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

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Lover Reborn

Mar 272012
 

I found Lover Reborn really interesting and a bit different from the rest of the series.  It has all the facets I’ve come to expect and love about J.R. Ward’s work but it felt like she’d put something extra into Lover Reborn.  Several threads from the last couple of books get resolved and while yet more open, they are in a direction I didn’t expect.  I have the utmost respect for Ward in doing this as I couldn’t see quite how the usual good guys vs. bad was going to keep going book after book.  Don’t get me wrong, it has worked perfectly up until now, but it felt time for a change, and Ward has delivered that.

This book is mainly about Tohrment and his grief over the loss of his wife, a few books before.  The impact that loss had on him and the Brotherhood was huge and has been a very poignant note as time has gone on.  When I heard this would be his story, I couldn’t wait to read it, wondering if there was anything that could heal his shattered heart or give him the will to live again.

It’s a story about cycles and redemption, of grief and coming to terms with who you are, not just for Tohr but other members of the Brotherhood and their extended families too.  It was beautifully written, emotionally charged and several times my heart was in my mouth over events I didn’t think could or would happen.  The new threads coming into the story are gripping and make me feel a fresh love for this series all over again.  There are so many possibilities and directions the next book can go in that I honestly don’t know what will happen.  With previous books I could hazard a guess but I am truly in the dark about it now.

As always the characterisations are just so well done, I feel like I know them, that I experience their stories with them instead of watching them via words on a page.  My heart has bled for Tohrment for so long, for John Matthew, for Blay and Qhuinn, for No’One and her tragic existence.  Just so much emotion and passion accompanies these warriors, whether they are fighting to save their race or being with the loves of their lives.  Another point I have to note is the humour and camaraderie Ward gives to the Brothers.  The banter is often crude but hilarious with one liners coming out of nowhere and it makes you feel part of them as they trade funny insults and release much built up tension.

Without a doubt one of my absolute favourite series’ and J.R. Ward delivers a stunning read every time.  I can’t recommend it enough!

Rating: ★★★★★ 

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A Rogue by Any Other Name

Mar 262012
 

Michael, the Marquess of Bourne, has waited a decade to get his revenge, hiding from polite society and becoming a partner in London’s most famous gaming hell. Soon he would reclaim what was rightfully his, even if in order to do so he would have to ‘persuade’ Lady Penelope Marbury to marry him, vowing his wickedness would never touch her.

Lady Penelope has had a rough time in the ton, none of it of her own making. At twenty eight she still holds out for a love match but circumstances push her into marriage to the Marquess of Bourne. He had once been her dearest childhood friend – what had happened to him during the ten years he disappeared?  Where had the boy she once knew gone?

This was a fantastic book and right from page one, which starts ten years before the story proper, I was totally engrossed and by page two I felt like crying! The characters came to life so easily they seemed to jump off the page at me. The interspersing of child and young adult letters throughout the book were both humorous and heartbreaking, I could feel Penelope’s desperation through them as the years progressed. The pain both of them were in was heart-rending at times and they are both so stubborn you start to feel there will never be a happy ending. Never fear though, this is after all an historical romance. The story focuses on the darker side of London’s aristocracy in Regency England and I am starting to find I love that aspect more than the glittering ballrooms.

I am finding it really difficult to find anything to criticise about this book so I won’t!

I was unable to finish the book in one sitting as work most inconsiderately got in the way. I found I was counting the hours until I was able to get back to reading it. I got in from work and by 7.30pm I realised I hadn’t fed the kids (but at least I had finished the book). Fortunately they are old enough to get something if they were that hungry so don’t worry I didn’t starve them!

This is the second Sarah Maclean book I have read and it will definitely not be the last!

Rating: ★★★★★ 

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Alterant

Mar 122012
 

Evalle Kincaid is having a bad day, actually, make that week! Despite saving mankind from annihilation and proving her loyalty to the Beladors, the Tribunal of ruling Gods and Goddesses still hold her Alterant background against her. Called to face them to answer for words uttered in the heat of battle, the only support she has is Brina, her warrior queen and Evalle is tasked with returning three escaped Alterants or face the consequences. To top it off something or someone is causing Alterants to go berserk and change into their monstrous form, killing any humans they find.

Wow, this book was action packed from the get go and in my opinion far superior to the first one in this series. I would say however, do not under any circumstances read this without reading Blood Trinity, the first novel, otherwise you will be mightily confused. This book takes up immediately where the previous one left off and I would advise you to re-read the last few chapters of Blood Trinity to re-familiarise yourself with what happened. I didn’t do this and it took me a while to remember what actually happened in the story the day before!

The tribunal are so unjust I want to scream at them and tell them to stop being so mean (childish of me I know!) I am sure it will all work out in the end but injustice is rife in this book and I wish just once Evalle could get a break.  She is a strong character however, and of course takes it on the chin, accepts her lot and gets on with it.

While this book is primarily about Evalle, we also get more insight into Tzader and Quinn and I am looking forward to finding out more in future books. It seems story lines are being set up nicely for them to have more of a starring role in later books.

There is a lot more of Storm and his very protective attitude (can you say hot!) towards Evalle as he tries to break down some of the barriers caused by her past experiences. We also find out about a secret he has that will surely make Evalle see him differently if she knew.

There is so much going on in this book there is no time to get bored with it and as the book progresses the tension ramps up even more. I was holding my breath at times as I became totally immersed in the story.

The only criticism I would have is that I did not get any warm fuzzies at the end, and we are left with more questions than answers. It’s clear that the next book will take up immediately where this one finished and while this often annoys me, I am sure the warm fuzzies will come at the end of the series. Since the story is so multi layered (and getting more so!) I am happy to wait until the next book in the hope some happy ever afters will occur - although with the Tribunal involved I wouldn’t bet on it!

Rating: ★★★★½ 

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On a Wild Night

Mar 062012
 

Amanda Cynster cannot find a man worthy of her love in the ballrooms of the ton. Taking matters into her own hands she ventures where no self respecting young lady should ever go, but where eligible gentleman can always be found!

Martin, the Earl of Dexter has shunned the ton since the scandal surrounding him 10 years previously. After rescuing Amanda from a risky situation, one of her own making, he finds he cannot avoid her at his usual haunts. Is she stalking him or is she as uninterested as she appears?

While I enjoyed this book, I felt it didn’t quite catch my imagination as some of the previous Bar  Cynster stories have.  It was quite a bit longer than previous books of this series, which of course is not usually a problem for me but I felt that those extra pages seemed to be filled with sexual encounters rather than advancing the story. While I love sex scenes as much as the next person, I found the encounters were repetitive, and I even found myself skimming over them after the first couple!

It did seem a bit strange having a woman as the dominant character in this setting – but of course no self respecting Cynster is going to pick a fop to be her partner, and sure enough it becomes clear Martin is as much an alpha male as the Cynster cousins – I do love a good alpha male!

As I find with all Stephanie Laurens work, the 19th century comes alive and it was good to get an idea of what goes on in entertainments outside the ballrooms we are so used to reading about. The story was very focused around Martin and Amanda, almost to the exclusion of other people, which I felt was unusual. While we do get to meet others, I did find myself becoming a bit bored with the two main characters, and wished there was more outside interaction. From the hints in this story, I am looking forward to the book I think is coming with Amanda’s twin sister as the heroine.

It wasn’t until about halfway that the story picked up pace with a mystery needing to be solved and the Cynster cousins making cameo appearances.  Since I love the Cynster cousins, that’s where the book became interesting for me.

Overall, despite the criticisms above I enjoyed this novel and will still be looking to read anything by Stephanie Laurens I can get my hands on!

Rating: ★★★☆☆ 

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Exogene

Mar 052012
 

Once I finished Exogene, and then had time to think about it, I spent an hour ranting at my husband about the unjust and detestable treatment of the Germline warriors. I wanted to know how the military or government could treat human beings like machines, even ones that have been genetically engineered. I wanted him to tell me what possible justification there could be for the abuse, the deplorable behaviour, and how they couldn’t see what I could see; that the Germline warriors were real human beings, with real emotions. But this wasn’t on the news. This wasn’t in the tabloids or broadsheets. It’s fiction presented with such brilliant character insight, such incredible realism that I felt truly angry at the injustice it represented.

It’s rare a book that causes such a visceral response in me, but with Exogene, T.C. McCarthy gets it just right. The story is stark, harrowing and grim but brilliant in its execution. He doesn’t waste words or go into lengthy descriptions, but still says everything he needs to with compact, emotional sentences. He gets the pace spot on, both time and huge distances being covered in a few pages, and yet you feel as if you have lived every one of those steps yourself.

The story is told through the eyes of Catherine, a first generation Germline soldier and being in her head was both tragic and fascinating. There are so many elements to her character, experiencing her indoctrination, watching her sisters embrace their faith or go insane, the decisions she makes rather than just following orders, her only understanding of the world is the one that her creator’s have given to her. As she travels and discovers her own truths, my heart ached for her more and more. Every loss, her constant weariness and even her madness resonated with me. McCarthy has written an utterly believable and realistic female character. Her determination to keep going, to overcome each obstacle and to choose her own path make her a character to be remembered.

Like Germline, I read Exogene in a single day, unable to stop until I had turned the very last page. Then I had to think about it for a while, let the experience wash over me and sort out how I actually felt and how much I had been affected. The story is told in a mixture of present tense, flashbacks and hallucinations and while that might sound confusing, it does work well.

There weren’t as many background characters in this book but we get numerous glimpses of Catherine’s ‘sisters’, both first and second generation. Megan was especially interesting and it was a shock how, almost casually, things changed for her.  Margaret was a more tragic figure, different, but just as engaging, I hope we will see her again. As with the first book, the ending of Exogene did surprise me, but for different reasons. The letter at the end caused a huge emotional response in me and I was left a bit speechless.

Exogene is a heartbreaking, brutal look at near-future warfare that is so far outside my comfort zone it may as well be another dimension. Thankfully, McCarthy manages to ground the story with realistic characters, and delivers a book which challenges and entertains in equal measure.

I truly cannot wait for the third book in this series, to see where T.C. McCarthy will be taking us next.

Rating: ★★★★★ 

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My Dangerous Duke

Mar 022012
 

The Duke of Warrington is an assassin for the Order, serving his country as he was raised to do. He has earned the nickname The Beast for his ruthless nature. When he returns home for a brief visit to his castle he finds his tenants, trying to avoid his wrath, have left him a ‘bed-warmer’.

Kate Madsen is an innocent woman abducted from her isolated cottage drugged to appear drunk, made to look like a whore and given to the Duke as a ‘gift’. The Duke soon realises she is not who she appears to be and together they try to unravel the reasons surrounding her abduction. Does it have something to do with the ancient curse affecting the Warrington line?

This story was really good, it immediately grabbed my attention with the opening chapter dealing with Kate just after she has been abducted. The storyline was very strong and action packed, moved along at a realistic pace and kept me engrossed throughout the entire book. I found myself reading at the oddest times (for me anyway) just so I could find out what happens next – most notably while I was cooking tea; I had one hand on the book and one hand on the spoon! In fact I was so focussed that I forgot to cook the vegetables!

It was really good to have a strong plot alongside the romantic element and if the author’s other books are anything like this I cannot wait to read them. This is a sexy intense historical romance novel with more than a hint of action, adventure and intrigue!  I cannot wait to read the rest of the books in the ‘Inferno Club’ series.

Rating: ★★★★★ 

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Rivers of London

Mar 012012
 

Over the last few days I picked up and put down two or three books from Grete’s insane to-read pile, reading the first 10 or 15 pages, trying to find something to peak my interest. I tried a little bit of sci-fi, a little bit of fantasy and even some survival horror. However, it took only six pages of Rivers of London to know that I was hooked and that this was the lucky winner in the ‘what will Tony read next’ competition.

Ben’s writing is engaging, clear and easy to read.  His characters are rich from the outset and get more complex as the story goes on, and his take on London Urban Fantasy (should be a sub-genre in its own right) is both unique and compelling.

The book is populated by solid, realistic British coppers, and if Ben hasn’t worked for the police it would seem he certainly has someone on the inside (or, he’s good at research, but that didn’t sound as exciting).  The police procedure elements of the story were interesting and provide a good backdrop to the drama.  They ground the tale in a believable reality, despite the very rapid introduction of ghosts, wizards and other mythical beings.

Our main protagonist, Constable Peter Grant, discovers very early on that he can see ghosts and sense magic, which is just about all that saves him from a life stuck pushing paper around in the worst part of the police force.  He, his friend and fellow copper Lesley May and England’s Last Wizard, Inspector Nightingale, embark on a dangerous murder investigation where the felon is clearly not playing by the same rules.

Although the introduction of magic and ghosts happens quickly, Ben doesn’t dwell on people accepting or disbelieving it all.  Instead, we get a stoic acceptance that this kind of thing goes on, and if it goes on, it has to be handled, and if it’s going to be handled, then the Constabulary should be the people to handle it.

The pace is solid, and builds nicely towards the end.  There are really two stories going on here, the crime that Peter and Nightingale investigate, but also, the topic the book title alludes to.  The involvement of modern day living representations of the rivers of London is unique and one of the things that sets this book apart from what could have been a pastiche of Felix Castor or Harry Dresden.

Throughout the tale we are given hints of a dark past for magic and an agreement, and hence room to grow the back story.  We also get clear hints that Inspector Nightingale is more than he appears to be.  We barely scratch the surface of the mystery of the Folly and its even more mysterious maid, Molly.

Added to all of this, Ben Aaronovitch clearly doesn’t shirk away from putting his major characters at risk, and I’ll say no more than that so as not to spoil anything.

I described this book on twitter as “like blancmange with a severed finger in it – light and fluffy but filled with gore“.  The scenes are vivid, the magic is believable, the characters are engaging, rich and well thought out, and there are some really clever scenes.  Rivers of London is a superb example of what urban fantasy is all about.  You will not be disappointed.

Rating: ★★★★¼ 

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The Duke and I

Feb 292012
 

Simon Bassett, the Duke of Hastings, finds himself besieged by all the mamas of the ton looking for a suitable husband for their darling daughters. Frustrated with the relentless pursuit, he has vowed he will never marry.

Daphne Bridgerton has had two seasons in London but is holding out for a husband she has at least some affection for. Her mother is determined to push every eligible bachelor her way and the balls are becoming one nightmare after another.

Simon is an old friend of her overprotective brothers and after meeting, Simon and Daphne hatch a plot to avoid their perpetual nightmare.  They pretend to be courting for the season ensuring her mother is happy and his matchmaking mothers look elsewhere.

All seems to be going well until their desire for each other gets out of control and the situation moves to pistols at dawn!

This book was really enjoyable and had some very humorous moments. I particularly enjoyed Daphne receiving the ‘talk’ from her mother – oh how things were different in those days! I also experienced sadness at times, especially as Quinn describes Simon’s childhood experiences.  In fact Julia’s writing made me feel all sorts of different emotions, exactly what I want from a good story.

Unlike several similar books there was not as much focus on society, the ways of 19th century England and the rituals of the ton. Julia focused very much on the Bridgerton family and the relationship between Simon and Daphne which was definitely good enough to keep the story flowing nicely. I love Daphne’s mother, and the behaviour of her youngest brother and sister had me giggling to myself at times.

This is not, by any means, a sickly sweet romance despite the focus being primarily on Simon and Daphne and I am very excited to have discovered a new series which has enough brothers and sisters (thus books!) to keep me going for a while.

Rating: ★★★★☆ 

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Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake

Feb 272012
 

Lady Calpurnia Hartwell (Callie to her friends), is an acknowledged spinster.  She sits in the ‘spinster seating’ at balls and wears the lace hat that denotes her as such. At the age of 28 she knows no one would ever offer for her and has resigned herself to her fate. Her romantic inclinations, caused by reading endless romance novels, are left unsatisfied despite fantasies of a chance meeting 10 years ago in her début season. When her 18 year old sister falls in love and is betrothed in her first season, Callie eventually decides she has had enough of being a simple spinster and decides to make a list of things she wants to do, starting with being kissed. Passionately!

Gabriel, Marquess of Ralston is a notorious rake whose reputation is well known. When he meets Lady Calpurnia hiding in the garden at a society ball he engages her in conversation but forgets her as soon as he leaves, little knowing the impact he had on the then 18 year old. Ten years on he is surprised with a half sister he did not know existed, and despite her being the very image of his despised mother he knows he must do all he can to bring her out into society. Knowing he will need some female help with this, his opportunity arrives when that very evening a lady shows up in his bedchamber asking for a kiss.

I really enjoyed this story. In so many books the lady ‘left on the shelf’ is still only 22/23. Having a 28 year old be the heroine, someone well and truly confined to the shelf, made a refreshing change. As an acknowledged spinster Callie has much more freedom than other young ladies and I loved her attitude. I really found myself drawn into the story and when it seemed she might get discovered doing something outrageous I felt my pulse beat faster as if I was there with her, willing her to make it. I was so involved in the story, at one point I was even holding my breath!

I have read a lot of historical romance and this by far rates among my favourites. Other than the girl meets boy part, the plot was totally unique; the idea of the list and the things on it – totally scandalous!

Without a doubt I will be looking out for more books by Sarah Maclean.

Rating: ★★★★★ 

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