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CW: heroine was tortured and experimented on by her ex-husband (off page), violence including futuristic weapons, gory medical details, miscarriage (off page).
A Space Princess finally free of her abusive ex-husband who experimented on her uses her unwanted skills to help find her kidnapped brother, causing her bodyguard extreme consternation. Along the way she comes in to her strengths and finds out the very bodyguard who rejected her all those years ago has been in love with her, forever.
Super delicious slow burn space opera, I adored the world building, the action, and the concept of a strong princess who isn't necessarily physically strong, but who uses everything she has to fight for her family.
Told in 1st POV, I really wanted Ian's POV as his motivations are very unclear for a long time and I would love to see things from his perspective. But, this is truly Bianca's story and she is the star and you'll love her. If you like romantic suspense, this is a perfect jump into Sci-Fi romance because it has all the best elements of suspense plus the science fiction elements. I was kept on the edge of my seat as Biana, Ian and the rest of their friends and family (hello Ada Loch) try to find Ferdinand.
Spoilery comments and CWs below:
I LOVE when wounded characters have to heal together, and the scene in the medical tank was exceptionally tension building. Proper use of an aphrodisiac and lingering touches. It takes so long for these two doofs to kiss but it was real worth the wait.
CW: heroine was tortured and experimented on by her ex-husband (off page), violence including futuristic weapons, gory medical details, miscarriage (off page).
A Space Princess finally free of her abusive ex-husband who experimented on her uses her unwanted skills to help find her kidnapped brother, causing her bodyguard extreme consternation. Along the way she comes in to her strengths and finds out the very bodyguard who rejected her all those years ago has been in love with her, forever.
Super delicious slow burn space opera, I adored the world building, the action, and the concept of a strong princess who isn't necessarily physically strong, but who uses everything she has to fight for her family.
Told in 1st POV, I really wanted Ian's POV as his motivations are very unclear for a long time and I would love to see things from his perspective. But, this is truly Bianca's story and she is the star and you'll love her. If you like romantic suspense, this is a perfect jump into Sci-Fi romance because it has all the best elements of suspense plus the science fiction elements. I was kept on the edge of my seat as Biana, Ian and the rest of their friends and family (hello Ada Loch) try to find Ferdinand.
Spoilery comments and CWs below:
I LOVE when wounded characters have to heal together, and the scene in the medical tank was exceptionally tension building. Proper use of an aphrodisiac and lingering touches. It takes so long for these two doofs to kiss but it was real worth the wait.
CW: heroine was tortured and experimented on by her ex-husband (off page), violence including futuristic weapons, gory medical details, miscarriage (off page).
If you follow me on Twitter you may know Speed is my absolute favorite Romance movie of all time. Keanu Reeves as LAPD SWAT Officer Jack Traven is my favorite fictional boyfriend.
I've been searching for a romance that gives me some of the same feels as Keanu and Sandra's blazing chemistry in that perfect film and well, Misadventures in Blue by Sierra Simone is the closest I've come yet!
She's 17 years older and the lead detective on the case they are working together. He doesn't care. Smoking hot and delicious.
CW for gun violence, on and off page, grief from losing a spouse to police work and gun violence.
I've been searching for a romance that gives me some of the same feels as Keanu and Sandra's blazing chemistry in that perfect film and well, Misadventures in Blue by Sierra Simone is the closest I've come yet!
She's 17 years older and the lead detective on the case they are working together. He doesn't care. Smoking hot and delicious.
CW for gun violence, on and off page, grief from losing a spouse to police work and gun violence.
I read a few Johanna Lindsey's stolen from my mother around the age of 11 or 12 (most significantly Prisoner of My Desire and Savage Thunder, omg), and they certainly made an impression on my young psyche. If I would have read Gentle Rogue at that same time, I think I would have loved it way more than I did reading it today.
That said, it was immensely readable and fun looking at it through the context of the time and place it came from. I loved Georgie the most and for a book from 1990 she is a damn delight. She's not afraid of sex, doesn't feel ashamed about wanting sex once she figures out that she isn't actually nauseous (so silly), and she's not afraid to stand up to her brothers and James Mallory when she can.
I didn't like that James didn't tell Georgie that he recognized her right away nor did I like that he made her do things no cabin boy would have ever been asked to do, so that took away some of his charm, not to mention that he's probably a slave owner. Yikes. I did love the banter between James and Georgie, especially once the jig was up.
As having never read any of the other Malory books, I was meh about all the other characters, and I felt the last third of the book was way too long and not enough about James and Georgie's relationship, which felt mostly settled besides them refusing to realize they loved each other.
That said, it was immensely readable and fun looking at it through the context of the time and place it came from. I loved Georgie the most and for a book from 1990 she is a damn delight. She's not afraid of sex, doesn't feel ashamed about wanting sex once she figures out that she isn't actually nauseous (so silly), and she's not afraid to stand up to her brothers and James Mallory when she can.
I didn't like that James didn't tell Georgie that he recognized her right away nor did I like that he made her do things no cabin boy would have ever been asked to do, so that took away some of his charm, not to mention that he's probably a slave owner. Yikes. I did love the banter between James and Georgie, especially once the jig was up.
As having never read any of the other Malory books, I was meh about all the other characters, and I felt the last third of the book was way too long and not enough about James and Georgie's relationship, which felt mostly settled besides them refusing to realize they loved each other.
Library Circulation aid Poppy is intrigued by the "library troll" in the basement. She doesn't like that everyone teases Ben for being a loner archivist more interested in his work than being social and she also thinks he is super hot. One cup of slightly spilled hot chocolate brought as a gift to bring Ben out of his office to the staff holiday party leads to a night of debauchery in the stacks.
Overall for a short story this felt uneven. From the author note at the back Ben is neuro-divergent, but this isn't exactly laid out in the story itself. Also, as a library worker, many of the details of how work life is at the library felt unrealistic. Serving alcohol at a staff party then expecting two staff members to stay and close up the library, with patrons still there, felt not quite right.
Poppy's character felt more fleshed out than Ben and their quick jump into banging at work, with coworkers still there, also didn't work for me personally.
Overall for a short story this felt uneven. From the author note at the back Ben is neuro-divergent, but this isn't exactly laid out in the story itself. Also, as a library worker, many of the details of how work life is at the library felt unrealistic. Serving alcohol at a staff party then expecting two staff members to stay and close up the library, with patrons still there, felt not quite right.
Poppy's character felt more fleshed out than Ben and their quick jump into banging at work, with coworkers still there, also didn't work for me personally.
Lazlo Strange is a dreamer. An orphan raised by severe monks who struggles his way into a fulfilling if lonely and ill-paid position as a librarian, where he discovers ancient stories about a magical realm to the west of an unpassable desert. Enchanted by these tales, Lazlo carefully and loving collects every scrap of evidence of the country he can only call "Weep" as the actual name appears to have been erased from the minds and mouths of anyone who try to utter it. Mocked for his passion, but also used by the city's elite researchers, Lazlo is vindicated when a contingent from the lost country suddenly appears and asks for the best and the brightest to travel with them and solve a pressing problem. Lazlo is chosen, for reasons he doesn't quite understand, and finds that Weep's problems are due to the atrocities of gods who left indelible scars on the city and its denizens. He also begins to dream of a beautiful blue-skinned girl...
Sarai is the Muse of Nightmares, a godling. She and her fellowing godlings secretly survived a horrible massacre that left their parents, the gods, and their half-siblings dead. Sarai uses her power to invade the dreams of the citizens of Weep to make them pay, but upon encountering Lazlo, a different narrative appears...
Hauntingly beautiful, with a thread of horror lurking quietly beneath the surface. A tale that shows how two different perspectives on an event can drive the lust for revenge which ultimately hurts all those involved.
So good. I can't even begin to describe how the ending made me feel, and now I can't wait for the second book!!
Sarai is the Muse of Nightmares, a godling. She and her fellowing godlings secretly survived a horrible massacre that left their parents, the gods, and their half-siblings dead. Sarai uses her power to invade the dreams of the citizens of Weep to make them pay, but upon encountering Lazlo, a different narrative appears...
Hauntingly beautiful, with a thread of horror lurking quietly beneath the surface. A tale that shows how two different perspectives on an event can drive the lust for revenge which ultimately hurts all those involved.
So good. I can't even begin to describe how the ending made me feel, and now I can't wait for the second book!!
A woman with Psy powers who believes she's losing her mind because she's starting to have emotions finds out she's not broken and that her race has hidden a terrible secret after she learns she's the mate of a were-panther.
I enjoyed the world building a lot and immediately felt immersed in this world of Psy and Changelings. I loved the steamy intensity of Sasha and Lucas's chemistry, even if I wanted to kick Lucas a bunch of times. Super alpha cat to the extreme.
The sheer amount of time Sasha's "night sky eyes" were referenced grew a bit tiresome for me (I listened to most of the story on audio) as did how much Lucas manhandled her.
As a newbie to paranormal, what was missing for me was the humor. Slave to Sensation is very serious, and while well done and totally readable, I personally crave some acknowledgment of how ridiculous suddenly being in bed with a giant ass panther would be (besides some giggles and petting). I wanted more bananas if that makes sense?
Sasha reminded me of Emma from A Hunger Like No Other (Book 1 of the IAD series by Kresley Cole) but I'm hoping that like that series I'll settle in to the world and characters as I read.
Definitely a good read, just not exactly my cup of tea. The audio narration was superb.
I enjoyed the world building a lot and immediately felt immersed in this world of Psy and Changelings. I loved the steamy intensity of Sasha and Lucas's chemistry, even if I wanted to kick Lucas a bunch of times. Super alpha cat to the extreme.
The sheer amount of time Sasha's "night sky eyes" were referenced grew a bit tiresome for me (I listened to most of the story on audio) as did how much Lucas manhandled her.
As a newbie to paranormal, what was missing for me was the humor. Slave to Sensation is very serious, and while well done and totally readable, I personally crave some acknowledgment of how ridiculous suddenly being in bed with a giant ass panther would be (besides some giggles and petting). I wanted more bananas if that makes sense?
Sasha reminded me of Emma from A Hunger Like No Other (Book 1 of the IAD series by Kresley Cole) but I'm hoping that like that series I'll settle in to the world and characters as I read.
Definitely a good read, just not exactly my cup of tea. The audio narration was superb.
Would you give a second chance to the man who broke your trust and your heart? 19 year old Tate fell for 21 year old Sam during her first trip to London. Growing up sheltered due to her parents' failed marriage, Tate is finally out experiencing the world and falling in love for the quiet man who becomes her travel companion along with her grandmother and his grandfather. But Sam destroys Tate's trust and world when he sells her secret to the tabloids, launching her life into a completely new trajectory and bringing her estranged movie star father back into it.
Cut to almost 15 years later and Tate is set to star in a movie with her father for the first time, a film absolutely perfect for her. But once she lands on set she realizes the screenwriter is no other than Sam, the boy who took her virginity and her heart that fateful London trip, now a man who she still feels something for.
As Tate acts out the role of a lifetime, can she find true love or trust with any of the men in her life?
I'm positive there will be many readers for this story, unfortunately this wasn't a story I connected with. Only being given Tate's POV of the story led this to feel more like women's fiction. Tate and Sam are rarely on page together, not enough for me to believe their HEA. Tate spent six days with Sam at 19 before he did something really bad, and he did NOT grovel close to enough for me to forgive him.
The romance arc didn't feel like the most important part of the story, it is more about Tate's journey accepting herself, her feelings, and realizing that sometimes you'll never have the relationship you want with a family member, no matter how hard you act in front of the cameras.
The rest is spoilers so please avoid if you don't want them.
I also figured out *why* Sam did what he did right away, and it was shitty and she immediately forgives him which is her right, but. And then he ghosts on her when news breaks that HE was the one who spilled the beans all those years ago, and she again forgives her when she reads four emails he sent before the movie started filming. Eh. I wanted more. I just really miss the dual POV Christina Lauren stories that were more fun and romance specific. I wish them well on this journey as I think it is working for a lot of readers, just not me.
Cut to almost 15 years later and Tate is set to star in a movie with her father for the first time, a film absolutely perfect for her. But once she lands on set she realizes the screenwriter is no other than Sam, the boy who took her virginity and her heart that fateful London trip, now a man who she still feels something for.
As Tate acts out the role of a lifetime, can she find true love or trust with any of the men in her life?
I'm positive there will be many readers for this story, unfortunately this wasn't a story I connected with. Only being given Tate's POV of the story led this to feel more like women's fiction. Tate and Sam are rarely on page together, not enough for me to believe their HEA. Tate spent six days with Sam at 19 before he did something really bad, and he did NOT grovel close to enough for me to forgive him.
The romance arc didn't feel like the most important part of the story, it is more about Tate's journey accepting herself, her feelings, and realizing that sometimes you'll never have the relationship you want with a family member, no matter how hard you act in front of the cameras.
The rest is spoilers so please avoid if you don't want them.
Do yourself a favor and listen to this on audio book. The narrators are AMAZING.
Graduate assistant Reese is astonished when she discovers Jason, a 28 year old Army Veteran taking her mother's class and challengers her every word, is the same person who writes the passionate, intelligent, and oh so sexy term paper she's fallen in love with.
Jason finds himself finding more and more reasons to spar with the princess who grew up so differently than him but who also seems to be the one woman he can truly be himself with.
Opposites attract in this delicious enemies to lovers tale that also features an amazing secondary cast of characters I'm dying to know more about. Please and thank you for a novella featuring the romance between Jason's Dad and Reese's mom!
CW for parental death (off page, in the past), grief, panic attacks, alcohol use
I'm hiding this detail about Jason behind a spoiler not because it is bad but because it was so good and it was so unexpected!
When Reese and Jason finally decide to have sex, Reese discovers Jason has a prosthetic leg! It is such a minor part of the story but so excellently handled and I loved this rep.
Graduate assistant Reese is astonished when she discovers Jason, a 28 year old Army Veteran taking her mother's class and challengers her every word, is the same person who writes the passionate, intelligent, and oh so sexy term paper she's fallen in love with.
Jason finds himself finding more and more reasons to spar with the princess who grew up so differently than him but who also seems to be the one woman he can truly be himself with.
Opposites attract in this delicious enemies to lovers tale that also features an amazing secondary cast of characters I'm dying to know more about. Please and thank you for a novella featuring the romance between Jason's Dad and Reese's mom!
CW for parental death (off page, in the past), grief, panic attacks, alcohol use
I'm hiding this detail about Jason behind a spoiler not because it is bad but because it was so good and it was so unexpected!
Well this was something. Highly readable yet skewed more closely to urban fantasy than romance for me personal tastes, especially with the many different viewpoints. I felt myself skimming to get back to Wrath and Beth's parts, which were fun if ridonkulous. The vampire "rules" Ward creates for this world are fascinating, especially the way you either are or are not a vampire (no change by biting), the breeding cycles, and the brotherhood itself. I have to admit I kept hearing Matrix style techno music in my head whenever one of these leather clad beast men showed up on the page.
An alternate title for this story could have been "Everybody wants to Fuck Beth." Beth was refreshingly normal for a PNR romance, she wasn't exceptional except for her outer beauty, but I also felt terrible for her. Sure you're an orphan because your Vampire dad want's to protect you, but he couldn't have found some nice people to take you and provide money for you? He's just going to have his manservant take secret photos of you for your whole life? Yikes.
Wrath's "blindness" also made no sense to me. He wasn't blind! He had a hard time seeing, but could constantly react to the way Beth looked. I didn't get the point of this plot device.
I also chucked a lot at some of the way Wrath phrased things, for a Vampire so huge and tough he sometimes had some great, kind of silly ways of saying things. I can't think of an example now but it did make me laugh.
I've been told this first book of the series is one of the weaker ones, so I may be interested in reading a few more.
CW for on page sexual assault, graphic violence, drug use, transphobia, etc. etc.
An alternate title for this story could have been "Everybody wants to Fuck Beth." Beth was refreshingly normal for a PNR romance, she wasn't exceptional except for her outer beauty, but I also felt terrible for her. Sure you're an orphan because your Vampire dad want's to protect you, but he couldn't have found some nice people to take you and provide money for you? He's just going to have his manservant take secret photos of you for your whole life? Yikes.
Wrath's "blindness" also made no sense to me. He wasn't blind! He had a hard time seeing, but could constantly react to the way Beth looked. I didn't get the point of this plot device.
I also chucked a lot at some of the way Wrath phrased things, for a Vampire so huge and tough he sometimes had some great, kind of silly ways of saying things. I can't think of an example now but it did make me laugh.
I've been told this first book of the series is one of the weaker ones, so I may be interested in reading a few more.
CW for on page sexual assault, graphic violence, drug use, transphobia, etc. etc.
I now know and love and understand what "PMB" stands for (pouty man bear)! What a great character.
All Duke Crawfod wants from life is to work hard and then relax hard, preferably with a grill out, a cold Budweiser, and a few minutes of uninterrupted Sports Center viewing. But living with your four recently divorced sisters, two newlyweds, and a three-year-old means Duke never really gets what he wants.
So, Duke isn't really looking for anything, but finds himself completely entranced by the new girl in town. Samantha Waverly is his boss's step-sister, a children's illustrator with the biggest, brownest doe eyes he's ever seen, that make him want to protect her, especially once he gets to see her sparkling personality in action. He also wants her, more than he's ever wanted anyone before.
But, there's no way in hell this tiny woman is going to want a dirty, scruffy, hairy, beer bellied-giant is there?
Samantha is such a fun heroine, and I loved her enthusiasm for life, her art, and for Duke. This story was a bit insta-love for me, but I didn't even really care. There is a ton of slamming against the wall sexy-times, and who doesn't love that?! Also, nice to see a hero who doesn't have a perfect six-pack. I sure don't!
Holy shit the audio book version of Duke is even better than print version Duke. Absolutely filthy and heart-warming all at the same time. Grunty, fucking hero at his finest.
All Duke Crawfod wants from life is to work hard and then relax hard, preferably with a grill out, a cold Budweiser, and a few minutes of uninterrupted Sports Center viewing. But living with your four recently divorced sisters, two newlyweds, and a three-year-old means Duke never really gets what he wants.
So, Duke isn't really looking for anything, but finds himself completely entranced by the new girl in town. Samantha Waverly is his boss's step-sister, a children's illustrator with the biggest, brownest doe eyes he's ever seen, that make him want to protect her, especially once he gets to see her sparkling personality in action. He also wants her, more than he's ever wanted anyone before.
But, there's no way in hell this tiny woman is going to want a dirty, scruffy, hairy, beer bellied-giant is there?
Samantha is such a fun heroine, and I loved her enthusiasm for life, her art, and for Duke. This story was a bit insta-love for me, but I didn't even really care. There is a ton of slamming against the wall sexy-times, and who doesn't love that?! Also, nice to see a hero who doesn't have a perfect six-pack. I sure don't!
Holy shit the audio book version of Duke is even better than print version Duke. Absolutely filthy and heart-warming all at the same time. Grunty, fucking hero at his finest.