Reading Fanatic Reviews
All Kindle Unlimited ReviewsNOTE: These books were in Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited program at the time that I posted the reviews. They may not still be in the program, as authors can opt out every 3 months. If you find a book that is no longer in the program, don’t hesitate to contact me, and I will update the review.
Loony Town by Paula Lester
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Loony Town*
Strange Magic at the Retirement Community
Things are rarely quiet for long at the Sunnyside Retired Witches Community! Zoey was having a lovely moment a flying kite with her boyfriend when she was called back to the community. Apparently, an insurance agent has been murdered on the premises. That’s not all. Strange magics are occurring, and odd energy blips seem to happen around them. Are the residents of the community involved in the murder? Why do these magic blitzes happen?
I’ve read all the books in this series so far, and they are a delight. The author is able to make the characters seem realistic even though this is a magical setting, and she can inject humor into what could be very serious scenes about the crime. In this book, most of the magic that goes awry is just plain funny (the sweatbands!). I love when I see that a new book in this series pops up because I can’t wait to read it.
A Trail of Breadcrumbs by D. E. Dennnis
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A Trail of Breadcrumbs*
More Grimm Murders
The Grimm twins are pulled into another investigation by the mother of a woman who was recently murdered in the Siren Woods. This brings up memories and questions about others who were killed at or found missing from that spot. As the siblings dig deeper, they find themselves confronting issues with the cold cases as well as their current one. I’ve read several books in this series by now, and I quite enjoy the banter and interaction between Monica and Michael, the twins. They seem much like a real brother and sister. In this book, the author created a proper mystery novel, not as simple novella as many seem to be these days, with multiple plotlines, murders, and red herrings to keep interest and the pages turning. As in the other novels in the series, the twins have to fight resistance from the local police department while they’re trying to figure out everything else. One of the twins is even endangered. I like all the different secondary characters as well, as they flesh out the plot and add much to the multiple storylines. Some of these are recurring characters, while others were new. Dialogue is realistic and at times funny but still remains heightened and tells us just what we need to know.
The Arrangement Box Set by Madison Quinn
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The Arrangement Box Set*
How Will Their Complicated Arrangements Turn Out?
What a long and complicated love story for Kenzie and Nicholas! I’m glad that I got this as a duet, as the story definitely is not over after book one. This is so complex I barely know where to start. Both of the main characters have complicated and hurtful pasts. They get into an arrangement to help Nicholas with some bad PR that his firm is getting. Kenzie is strapped for cash, as she has been since she fled for her life because of an abusive partner; so she agrees to the plan of playing the fake girlfriend for business functions. The author actually did an outstanding job of not making the first part of their relationship sexualized at all. In the beginning, for both, it was strictly an arrangement that was working out well for both parties; they actually became real friends first. So I would definitely call this a slow-burn romance. Even by the end of the first book, not much had happened on that front, though some of their thoughts and feelings towards each other were beginning to change. The second book ramps up the romance much faster. They make a new arrangement, this time a marriage of convenience that he hopes will quell all rumors that have been threatening his company from inside and out. I love how Nicholas is so kind and protective of her, especially after he realizes the extent of her history. There are definitely some dangerous elements in this book, ghosts from the past who still affect the present. If themes and scenes of abuse easily trigger you, you should steer clear of this. I will admit, though, that this book did have me enthralled and made me care about the characters so that I didn’t want to put it down.
The Duke’s Desire by Elizabeth Elliot
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The Duke's Desire*
Hero and Heroine Change and Grow
I am a great fan of Regency romance, and while I have read quite a few lately, most of them have left me desiring something different, something of a little more quality. I’m delighted to say I found that with this book. I loved that the heroine was a little older and not the stunning beauty that seems to be required of all heroines in romance (whether contemporary or historical). She was smart, kind, and compassionate—which is exactly how I like my Regency heroines to be. The hero was an approachable and likable one, not to irascible for once, but rather a good and decent man with a great affection for those in his care (like his sister). So the two main characters were simply a delight. The machinations of a plot though, kept them romantically apart for a while because all assumed that the heroine’s more beautiful younger sister would be the perfect match for him. It was a delight to see the hero and heroine’s blossoming affection, and both characters grew as people as well during the course of the novel. Unfortunately, this is far too uncommon in romance and especially Regency romance; so finding that here was a lovely surprise. Both these two characters had to learn more about themselves and how to fully appreciate another person. There were some issues with grammar, punctuation, and spelling, including surprising ones like incorrect verb forms and wrong forms of other words. This was somewhat distracting, unfortunately. But in the end, I found this to be a sweet, relatively low angst story that was simply a pleasure to read.
Stained Bonds by Helen Scott and Serena Akeroyd
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Stained Bonds*
Learning More about Father and the Sires
Marcella and the boys are back! We learn much about Marcella’s father and the four Sires. Many conflicts keep this book moving, and much space is given to RH fun. In fact, there might be a little too much as the latter; there seems to be a lot of it presented in very vivid detail. While I always enjoy the arc of the individual stories within this series, I’m always somewhat repulsed by the level of profanity in the books as I don’t really see a need for it; I think authors believe they need to do so to appeal to late-teen, early twenties readers. There were some issues with grammar, punctuation, and usage, including a dangling modifier right in the first paragraph. If you’ve enjoyed the other books in this series, you’ll most likely enjoy this one that looks deeper into the entire world of the series. If you are new to this series, you definitely need to start at book one because it does build book by book.
Freya by Celeste Barclay
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Freya*
Repetitious, Emotionally Overwrought Tale
When I read the first book of the series, Leif, I actually asked the author if she was going to do a book about Freya because I so enjoyed her character in her brother’s book. I was thrilled to see this novel listed at one of my favorite book reviewer sites. Unfortunately, I am disappointed in this book, though I do I seem to be in the minority. We do know from the last book that Freya is a brave and strong shieldmaiden, but in this book—while we do see some of that—that is overshadowed by her mercurial emotional states.
I found this book to be very repetitious. Freya and Erik seemed to repeat their mental and emotional meanderings both verbally and in thought, and the substance of these rarely changed as the book progressed. They both seem to have crazy jealousy that doesn’t make sense in the first part because they don’t yet mean anything to each other. I rolled my eyes at how many times each described or was caught up in the gorgeousness of the other or reflected on how much every member of the opposite sex desired the other. In other descriptions, too, everything about them is superlative to the other: fiercest, biggest, etc. Really… please.
Erik seems to be smitten right from the start, and he just seems over-the-top, deeply in love in a way that just seems unbelievable from what happened in the last book and what is happening this book. Can he truly love a woman whom he doesn’t really know (in part because she rebuffs him all the time)? Especially to the extent that he either thinks or states. He is willing to take whatever Freya is willing to offer, and he is supports her positions and decisions that have to do with the greater story and series arc.
Freya pulls away for several reasons, including the fear that her warriors will respect her less and the fear that Erik will move on once he has satisfied himself physically with her. (Both of these fears come up repeatedly, even when they initially appear to be resolved.) Given that Freya has been led her father’s warriors and battled at their side for some time, it just seems strange to me that respect would be a concern that would keep her from Erik. Over the years, shouldn’t she have garnered their respect, no matter what man interests her? I also found Freya’s character to be a little too spiky emotionally; it seemed like any little thing could set her off, and she always interpreted what Erik said wrong.
There is quite a bit of head hopping in this book. Sometimes, it happens within a paragraph or alternating paragraphs. Sometimes, too, the narrator shifts briefly to the omniscient perspective. There are some issues with punctuation (commas), grammar, and word choice/spelling (e.g., whether for weather); hopefully, this was cleared up before publication, as I did receive an ARC copy. I didn’t feel like the plot was well-balanced. For at least half the book, even though they were on a scouting raid, the focus was on the emotional turmoil of the romance. I would have liked to have seen that balanced out better with the plot about Hakin and Inga.
Grits, Gamblers, and Grudges by Paula Lester and Lisa B. Thomas
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Grits, Gamblers, and Grudges*
Skeleton in the… Basement?
I’ve enjoyed the two previous installments in this series, and this one was just as delightful. It’s got all the things that I love about paranormal cozy mysteries: a beleaguered heroine, quirky cast of characters, a small town that is more than it seems, a little supernatural flair to take it out of the ordinary, and a mystery that has a few surprises that make it fun to follow. Paige certainly had a rough go right from the start. Not only did she need to take out a loan for plumbing repairs, but the plumber finds a skeleton. An inspector comes out to look at the plumbing but discovers Paige has been living there in a commercial-only zone; she gives Paige two weeks to get out, or she’ll be fined and the bookshop closed. Could deceased Aunt Nora actually be responsible for the skeleton found in the basement of the bookshop? I enjoy the author’s writing style, as I can just slip right back into the world she has created as if I never left. Looking forward to more in the series.
Missing You by Shereen Vedam
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Missing You*
Spy Heroine in Cozy Mystery?
I am a big fan of cozy mysteries, so I was intrigued by this book. Cozies usually take place in small, made-up towns full of quirky characters; the mystery of themselves can be either silly or serious. I found I didn’t particularly like this book because I just couldn’t get behind the idea of cozy mystery heroine being an actual spy. Whenever the heroine mentioned her job, it just didn’t ring true for a cozy mystery. It seemed to make the whole book too serious for a cozy. Also, parts of the book took place outside of a small town (yes, I know it is listed as a travel mystery!); to me, that is one of the requirements of a cozy (that and an amateur sleuth). The concept just didn’t work for me. The writing itself is fine, at times humorous though not as often as is usually the case for a cozy mystery. It took a while, too, to get to the actual mystery of the book; it felt like the book meandered for quite a while without much purpose (or interest). The romance line fell flat for me as well. I’ve read other books by this author and enjoyed them, but this one was not my cup of tea.
The Memories of Duke by Elaine Hart
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The Memories of Duke*
Stilted Language and Uninspired Plot
This very short novella can be read in under an hour. The heroine discovers the duke after he’s had a riding accident and has subsequently lost his memory. She’s able to get him inside and tends to him. His family and friends are searching for him, and they finally find him three days later with the heroine. The duke cannot remember or recognize these people still, so he asks that the heroine come back with him so that he can have one person whom he knows.
This book has some very awkward praising and dialogue that seems neither wholly Regency nor wholly contemporary. It is overly formal; the thoughts themselves don’t seem like natural ones people would have. The book also has issues with grammar, punctuation, and usage. Commas are problematic on several counts. A few wrong words were used. I do have one historical quibble. I don’t believe that back in Regency times there was anything so formal as a nursing school. Even a hundred years ago, it was more common for nurses to be trained right in a hospital, not in a school, and this would only have lasted for a few weeks.
While the Dragon’s Away by Joynell Schultz
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While the Dragon's Away*
Growth and Evolution in This Installment
Roommate issues, which start the novella, are the least of Ruby and Ty’s problems in this book. Ruby doesn’t only have to balance her human concerns but also magical ones. Secrets are revealed as Book 2 delves deeper into the world acknowledged in Book 1—and these will have an impact on Ruby and Ty’s future. This book asks questions that I’m looking forward to future ones answering, particularly about the magical realm that Ty is a part of (and Ruby is to a certain degree). Ruby seems more grown up in this book, and her relationship with Ty continues to evolve. Magic, when used, appears to have consequences that can’t always be foreseen.
As I’ve come to expect from Ms. Schultz’s work, the world of this book is fully imagined and well described, yet she doesn’t overburden the narrative with too much at once. At this point, we’re only getting glimpses of the full extent what magic means and the mostly unseen magical realm, but it is enough to tantalize and make you wonder about the full extent of it all. I, for one, am looking forward to the next installment of the series.
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