Reading Fanatic Reviews
Romantic FantasyLove Done Write by Amelia Foster
Love Done Write*
Writer and Biggest Fan Get Together
Harrison Winslow is a staid university professor by day, divorced and with post-divorce relationship troubles, who writes erotic novels under a pseudonym to protect his and his university’s reputation. Sydney is probably his biggest fan, a young hairdresser who sneaks off to read his weekly postings as soon as they hit his website and is always the first to comment on them. They flirt a little bit publicly, but then in an inebriated haze, she mistakenly sends him her true and steamy reaction to his story via email. Then things start to heat up between them. After playing a little bit of cat and mouse while trying to decide whether to get together more than digitally, they meet up and hook up.
Harrison, though he is far older than Sydney, has had fewer partners than she has. They both do a little teaching and learning here. This book contains a lot of steamy scenes, both one-sided and as a couple. Although the author didn’t let us know early on, it turns out that Sydney writes as well, and that leads to a very interesting end of the book. I liked the clever use of texts and emails as well as more standard dialogue and narrative sections.
This book had minor issues with punctuation. Namely, commas were often forgotten between two independent clauses in a complex sentence. But it wasn’t overly distracting.
If you like erotic May/ December romances, this book may be for you.
Salem’s Trial by Township by Amanda Kimberley
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Scribd, Mondadori, Angus & Robertson, and Indigo (Chapters)
Salem's Trial by Township*
Strange Novel About Salem in the Time of the Witch Trials
I found this novella to be peculiar. It features a newly-arrived Irish couple, the Gilchrists, in Salem, Massachusetts, around the time of the witch trials. They’ve come to take over property owned by a cousin who has passed. A busybody neighbor, Edith, harasses them about several things–their religion, their dress, and their tithing to the local church; apparently, as one character said, she is generous with other people’s money. She demands that the couple give 75% their apple crop to the church to help feed the community. For some reason, everybody seems to take this woman seriously–including the Gilchrists–which seems a little crazy to me. She even gets a judge to come along with her and harass them at one point. She wants to accuse the man of witchcraft unless she gets her way.
The writing itself was very stiff. Characters spoke in ways that nobody talks. The backstory was given in large, data-dump chunks in dialogue. As I was reading along, I couldn’t quite believe that this one woman would have such an impact on the people of her community, especially when it eventually became clear that she often stood to gain from her shenanigans. On a completely different note, the cover doesn’t seem to fit the book at all. While I’m not from Massachusetts, I have visited, and the area around Salem looks nothing like this. The woman in the cover painting seems to be standing in a place like Scotland rather than in Massachusetts.
I cannot recommend this book.
Treading the Uneven Road by L. M. Brown
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Mondadori, Angus & Robertson, Indigo (Chapters)
Treading The Uneven Road*
Collection of Stories Bound By Place, Time, and Faith
What a lovely collection of interwoven stories that supposedly take place in the 1980s and 1990s small-town Ireland near Sligo. I was drawn to the book because I actually visited Ireland in the early 1990s myself. Some of the little cultural moments in the book (like the coin-taking phone box) brought back fond memories.
This is not a straight-up novel, but each story is tied together in a variety of ways. Sometimes the same character is multiple stories. The use of the imagery of the river that runs through town and the iconography of Roman Catholicism are other threads that weave in and out of the stories, sometimes in the foreground (as the story about the Bishop who fathered a child) and sometimes in the background (the statue of the Virgin Mary by the river seems to be a beacon for residents of the small town).
Each story has a unique tone and voice, though there seems to be a dream-like quality to all of them and time seems to be fluid in them as well. The second story is told in the third person omniscient, which is unusual.
While I enjoyed the book, I originally downgraded it by one star due to punctuation and context errors. I received an ARC over a month before its publication date, so I let the author know, and she told me that she was making corrections. I am giving this book 5 stars in the hopes that she did that, as this is truly a good piece of literary fiction.
I did receive a review copy, but that did not affect my review.
Sweet Compromises by Dean Hodel
Sweet Compromises*
Romance and Reticence
This book is an odd combination of romance and reticence. Skye, the heroine, is coming up on the first birthday that will not be shared with her twin. He was a nurse in the military and was accidentally fatally shot. He has tasked a friend to bring her a final note from him on their birthday with the instructions that this man is here to help her through her grief so that she can move on. Caleb is a strange hero. It takes a bit to pick apart his history but suffice to say he is very closed off emotionally. Skye appears to be all happiness, but her pain at the loss of her family makes life difficult for her. Did twin Stephen hope to heal both his friend and his sister and bring them together? Is Caleb willing and able to open up himself up to someone else? What about the new project manager at a neighboring ranch, who seems to have an interest in Skye? Part of what makes this book odd for me is that it is often touching in recounting some of their separate histories, fears, and doubts while at other times, characters discuss concepts in a way that people just don’t talk and think about them. For instance, at the very start, Caleb talks about wanting to help heal Skye. It just seemed odd to see him think like this when he barely knows her. The problem had more than the usual amount of errors with grammar, punctuation, and usage. For instance, the need for another quotation mark at the start of a new paragraph of dialogue said by the same person was not followed. The story had some interesting characters aside from the main ones, and it looks like from the epilogue that this is the start of a series.
This Scot of Mine by Sophie Jordan
This Scot of Mine*
Can an English Bride Break a Scottish Curse?
It’s always fun when a romance starts with a curse! In fact, this book starts with a curse that impacts all men of the McLarin line; they will not live to see their firstborn draw his first breath.
This curse has held for five generations. The current last of the male line has been very restrained in his approach to women. He knows he cannot have a family and children like most men, but he is able to find comfort with a widow who is barren.
Our heroine is hightailing it to Scotland on the heels of ruin. She consciously set up her ruin in order to evade marriage to a man whom she was discovering was cruel. Rolland states he will not let her go, so the only thing she can think of to tell him is that she is pregnant with another man’s child. She isn’t, of course. She removes to Scotland to live out her days with her brother.
Her brother, Marcus, let’s Hunter McLarin know about his sister’s downfall, and immediately the laird offers marriage. It seems an ideal circumstance for him, as he can have a wife and a child. We the reader know she’s not really with child, and Clara does grapple with whether she wants to marry this man at all, whom she first saw brawling in a pub, and then if she wishes to deceive him in order to marry. Her companion and brother think she should marry and not disclose that she is not really pregnant until after the marriage; none of the English group believes in curses and can’t quite believe that the Scot does. Only Marcus’s wife has qualms about Clara marrying before full disclosure.
They do marry, and he quickly discovers that she is not pregnant; the laird is NOT pleased. Honestly, this is the only part I did not enjoy the book. McLarin is a complex, broody, careful, and thoughtful man, but his response to finding out about this seems counter to the man we had come to know in the earlier part of the book. He does become more like himself again, but after his response to her after their wedding night, I almost stopped reading the book because I so disliked his reaction to it. I never like it when the hero acts cruelly to the heroine right after marriage consummation.
From their one time together, of course, Clara becomes pregnant. The rest of book deals with the emotional aftermath of this, as Hunt falls victim to small accidents that put him in peril, putting all on edge about the possibility that the curse has merit. The book does have a satisfying, HEA resolution.
Except for the one part I didn’t like, I found a book to be well written. The book starts with Clara as she is heading to Scotland from London, now a ruined woman. The author does a good job of only telling us what we need to know as we need to know it. For instance, the author only reveals at first that Clara is ruined, but we don’t know why or how. Even as the book goes along, we only learn a little at a time about the entire situation that transpired between her and her former betrothed. The book has solid plot turning points as the story unfolds.
A Dragon’s Heart by Tina Glasneck
A Dragon's Heart*
Jilted Bride Finds New Life in Magical 18th Century France
What a remarkably well-done book! We meet the heroine, Mia, as she is being jilted on her wedding day. Worse, her affianced has run off with her stepsister.
Mia is a tour guide in a French castle, and she has a great affinity for her Norse heritage. Having nowhere to stay now that her groom has run off, she convinces those at work to let her stay in the castle overnight until she gets herself sorted out. Not one but two people at the castle suggest she should wish on the full blue moon. She thinks it is silly but does anyway. She wakes up in 18th century France, thinking at first she is part of an elaborate modern-day war re-creation. As the plot progresses, she realizes that she is taking on some aspects of the life of the ancestor she was named after. She meets Lord Dumont, whose portrait back in present times she had often admired with some degree of longing, and their adventure to save themselves in this historical and mythical old-time France begins. Will they be safe? Will changes be wrought in the past that can change the future? What happens when Mia goes back to her time?
This book is told from Mia’s perspective. The author does a remarkably good job of getting inside her head, first as she goes through what could arguably be said is the worst day of her life (the near wedding day) and then through her harrowing adventures in fantastical 18th century France. Sometimes deep point of view is not done well by authors, who make it seem like too much navel-gazing or imbue it with too little action. Tina Glasneck is able to avoid both problems. What she did was create an exceedingly sympathetic character who felt real with her self-esteem issues, fears, and desires.
The book has some of the common issues with punctuation, grandma, and usage, but this did not detract from the story.
If you enjoy well-written fantasy stories with a touch of history written from deep point of view, you might find this book to be a good read.
French Restoration by Sara Claridge
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Scribd, Angus & Robertson, and Mondadori
French Restoration
Chateau Restoration with Intrigue and Romance
This tale about the restoration of a French chateau has both mystery and romance. Alex, the wealthy American new owner of the chateau, wants it converted into an exclusive luxury hotel. Working with him is a French interior designer, Chantal, who has unique ideas that align with his vision. Both characters have complicated pasts and hopes for the future. But something’s amiss at the chateau. Strange things keep happening that put the project at risk and even in danger, and these incidents escalate as the book goes on. What secrets are in Chantal’s past? Will the chateau renovation actually get completed? Will Alex prove himself to his father and take over the company?
I didn’t like the hero much at first and actually had a hard time getting past that. He comes across as a bit of a chauvinist, which is not my favorite kind of hero in a romance! He tends to make wild, usually sexist assumptions about Chantal. We do find out that this is due to a recent nasty breakup, but he’s still a bit of a jerk at times. Chantal was intriguing, as it was clear there was a bit more to her than what could be seen at the surface.
There were some issues with grammar, punctuation, and usage, but this did not overly detract from the story.
If you like stories with a different setting than is typical, like modern France, and enjoy a little bit of intrigue with your romance, you might find this story enjoyable.
I did receive a free advance copy, but that did not affect my review.
Beneath the Earth by Skye MacKinnon and Laura Greenwood
Beneath the Earth*
A New Member for the Harem and Troubles with Magic
In this installment of the Seven Wardens series, the pursuit of waffles has still not resolved! I love this silly little continuing theme in the series. What is more important is Macey has added another man to her harem. Something’s not quite right with her magic, and it turns almost violent as she has a strange compulsion to stay in the water and drag Ronan in. Other issues are going on in the greater world. Something is not quite right with Earth magic in Belgium, and the Great Orca is attacking the seelies. What will happen with Macey’s magic and Earth magic? Will the Great Orca be defeated? What will they do about the ever-present danger behind the Voice?
The book had some issues with grammar, punctuation, and usage. In particular, commas appeared to be missing between independent clauses in compound sentences, but that did not really detract from the fun of the adventures and characters in the book.
If you’ve enjoyed Macey’s and her men’s previous adventures, you will enjoy this next installment.
Forbidden Desires Anthology
Forbidden Desires*
Fun Collection of Reverse Harem Firsts in Series or Prequels
This is a collection of mostly firsts in a series or prequels by RH authors. The stories range in concept. There are otherworldly ones: two with wolf shifters, two about royalty (one that’s more fantastical and one that’s more witchy), and one about alien shifters. There are also some contemporary ones that have to with business, the medical field, acting, and even a special camp.
The boxset introduced me to series and authors I didn’t know about and will now follow; it’s always fun to discover new authors! The collection didn’t seem to have too many issues with grammar, punctuation, or usage.
If you like or have an interest in the RH concept, you might find this small taste from a variety of authors will wet your whistle.
NOTE: This anthology appears to no longer be available.
The Viscount’s Promise by Joyce Alec
Available at Amazon only
Free with Kindle Unlimited
Rejecting the Rogue
Did He Commit The Crimes?
What a dramatic beginning for this book! We are placed in a courtroom where a man is being sentenced for murder. On the dock, the accused man proclaims his innocence and asks his friend in the courtroom take care of his sister. After exacting this promise, the accused then drinks from a vial and keels over dead. After a year of mourning has passed, this friend, Lord Sharpe, as well as a kindly marquess and marchioness, come to town to support this sister, Julianna, in a London season. Lord Sharpe has been troubled by the brother’s claim of innocence and is not quite willing to believe that his former friend is guilty. Will Lord Sharpe figure out the correct murderer who framed his friend? Will he fall for Julianna himself or help her to wed another man?
I found the character of Lord Sharpe to be an interesting one. He is not portrayed as the typical Regency romance hero, who can definitely be a little touchy-feely to appeal to modern readers. Instead, he is portrayed as stiff and formal at first, bringing to mind Mr. Darcy (although he is more willing to dance!). He’s one of the reasons I think the book should have been longer. It would have been more appropriate for him to gradually become more comfortable in Julianna’s presence, and a longer book would have been needed for his character to relax. For a novella, this book has some surprising twists and turns. In fact, that’s the second reason why I think the book should have been expanded: to give more insight into thoughts, emotions, and events of the story.
I thought it odd that states that it takes place in “Nineteenth century, England” while the cover states it is a Regency; why not be specific if you are as on-point as Regency? The Regency period is a very narrow timeframe in English history and certainly not nearly as vague as the 19th century!
There are some issues with grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Surprisingly, even a character’s name was misspelled. Sometimes the baron is either referred to as Baron Holland or Baron Hollard. There are some issues with word choice as well, as sometimes the same or similar words were used right next to each other.
Despite all that, this is a relatively well written short Regency suspense.
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