Reading Fanatic Reviews
Romantic FantasyA Duke a Dozen by Shana Galen
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Scribd, 24 Symbols, Thalia, Mondadori, Angus & Robertson, Indigo (Chapters), Bol.de
A Duke a Dozen*
Regency May-December Romance with a Gender Switch
This book intrigued me because I always appreciate a romance that features an older heroine. Why should only younger women have all the fun! I was surprised, though, that the hero was younger and not by just a small amount. They had a 15-year age difference between them. So I was interested to see how this book would go.
The first part of the book seemed a little bit too insta lust to me. Right in the first chapter, the duke is already mentally expressing his “admiration” of her and her assets from when he’d seen her at a ball the night before his older brother’s death. I’m not usually a fan of those kinds of stories. Also, I didn’t like how at times it felt like the characters weren’t really true Regency, or at least not the way we think of Regency romance. They were both more forward than I would have thought them to be, especially on early acquaintance. At times, they seemed more modern in their sensibilities.
But I’m glad that I stuck with it. I found the banter between the duke and the countess to be most amusing, starting when she came over to ask for a big favor and they then played billiards. That scene was a lot of fun, and that delightfulness carried on to different parts of the book, though not all. The book did have a serious subplot about Anabel’s missing daughter. The duke is actually a swoon-worthy hero, despite the insta lust, because once he realized what was really going on, he tried very hard to be the proper gentleman, and always acted in her best interest even if she didn’t want him to. The Wanton Widow has more than a few secrets, and I really enjoyed how the duke helped her put the ghosts of the past at rest. All in all, I found this to be a very different, but rather enjoyable read.
The Triple Threat Guided Workouts by Yara Guillard
Available at Amazon only
Free with Kindle Unlimited
The Triple Threat Guided Workouts*
Workouts Safe for the Keto Diet and Intermittent Fasting
On Amazon, the title and book description state that this book is meant to be an audio book buddy for you to use during a workout. I’m not exactly sure how that works on the Amazon end, but when I got this from my favorite online book review site, it came as just a regular Kindle book. I think something is lost in the translation just looking at the words of an audiobook such as this. The author is a trainer who has created what she believes are effective workouts for her clients who are on the keto diet and use intermittent fasting. She has designed workouts that have three key elements, stretching and flexibility, low-level cardio, and stability exercises. She states that her clients have had very good results with this. The core of this book is essentially 12 different workouts. She wants you to set up a month’s long exercise regimen of three workouts per week, with at least a day off in between, so each of the 12 workouts is for one session. The exercises looked basic and good, appropriate for someone who is putting their body in a stress state. If you are into keto and intermittent fasting and have been wondering what to do for your workouts, this book may be just what you are looking for.
Be a Holistic Healing Heroine by Yara Guillard
Available at Amazon only
Free with Kindle Unlimited
Be a Holistic Healing Heroine*
Good All-Round Keto/IF Guidebook
In this book, fitness trainer Yara Guillard attempts to explain keto and intermittent fasting (what they are, the “science” behind it, and how to implement it) and give hints and tips that will help you live a more keto-friendly life if that’s your diet of choice. While I didn’t necessarily agree with some of her scientific statements—as an RN who has taken a lot of anatomy and physiology—I believe that much of the rest of the information is sound, like how to deal with the keto flu and handle social aspects of having such a restricted diet. Of course, since she is a trainer, the information about exercise is probably spot-on; she did also put out another book at the same time just on keto-friendly workouts. So long as you don’t take the science too seriously, I think this is a worthwhile book if you are following a keto and intermittent fasting plan.
Rogues Come Out at Night by various authors
Available at Amazon, iBooks, Scribd, 24 Symbols, Thalia, Mondadori, Angus & Robertson, Indigo (Chapters), and Bol.de
Rogues Come Out at Night*
Regency that’s Out of This World
What a different collection of Regency romance! Regency is my absolute favorite subgenre of romance, and I quite often pick up box sets. They’re usually the standard Regencies, which of course is fine. So this set surprised me. Each story is still wholly Regency, but all have a paranormal or fantastical twist to them. There are several time travel ones, some with magic, and even one that dealt with ghosts. As I do read a lot of Regency sets, I was familiar with all the authors, I think, except for one. What a delightful collection of not-your-garden-variety Regency romance.
Tantric Massage by Rozella Hart
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Google Play, 24 Symbols, Thalia, Mondadori, Angus & Robertson, Indigo (Chapters), and Bol.de
Tantric Massage*
Not Worth Your Time or Money
Oh, my gosh! What a poorly written book! If you read it out loud, the language comes across as so childish. The information contained is generic and could be easily sourced on the internet. There’s a deep history to tantra, but this book displays none of those foundations. The illustrations are a joke. If you have any interest in this topic, you would be best to pass this book up and find another one.
No More Bad Dates by Kate O’Keeffe
Available at Amazon only
Free with Kindle Unlimited
No More Bad Dates*
Light on Romance, Heavy on Family and Friends
I have read the books in the previous series, the one that this is a spin-off of. I really enjoyed that set of books. I didn’t find this book to be nearly as entertaining. I think it’s because I felt it was light on the actual romance. It is billed as a romantic comedy, after all, so you would expect some good romantic aspects. Not nearly as much interaction happened between the hero and the heroine as I would have thought or hoped. It seemed to be more about the heroine and her family and friends than the romantic relationship. There is definitely some humor here, for sure, and that is enjoyable. But I didn’t feel there was a good balance between the romance and the comedy; the romance took too long to develop. It is well written otherwise. The author does have a knack for writing about groups of female friends in a way that makes them feel like they could be real women you could meet.
Magic and Mystery Box Set by Lily Webb
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Google Play, Mondadori, and Angus & Robertson
Magic and Mystery Box Set*
The First Books of the Series
I was a latecomer to the Magic and Mystery series, so I was delighted to be able to pick up the first three books in the series as a single box set. Zoe is a witch who has only just coming to realize the extent of her powers, and I liked watching her evolution. It is sure a bumpy ride for her. I enjoyed seeing, too, more of the backstory and interactions between her and the other characters. These books are relatively light and are easy reads. The author does a good job setting up a paranormal world, make it seem completely logical that magic is an everyday happenstance because, in the world of the books, it is. So the author has managed to make the paranormal aspect seem integral and not fantastical, which I don’t think is always an easy thing to do. Well balanced, nice set of books.
Digital Hand Lettering and Modern Calligraphy by Shelly Kim
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Google Play, Thalia, Mondadori, Angus & Robertson, Indigo (Chapters), and Bol.de
Digital Hand Lettering and Modern Calligraphy*
Amazing Book on Hand Lettering in the Modern Age
What a visually stunning book! I have done the standard style of calligraphy since I was a teenager (and I am more than double that age now!), so I have an appreciation for hand lettering and calligraphy. The book is not only beautiful to look at, but it is the perfect primer for someone who really wants to get into this. The book is structured into four sections. The first talks about the basics, including tools and strokes. The second section is about taking your hand lettering digital, and the third specifically talks about working with hand lettering on the iPad. Finally, the book ends with a series of projects. It is lavishly Illustrated with full-color photos of the tools, the hand lettering/calligraphy, and the steps to the projects. If you have any interest in this topic, I highly recommend you pick it up. I would certainly recommend the paperback version; it and the eBook are close in price anyway, so you might as well get the full appreciation of what it all looks like in a physical book. If you read and follow along, it will set you up to be a good hand letterer—both by hand and in print.
Don’t Feel Stuck in Love by Jaclyn Nicole Johnston
Available at Amazon only
Free with Kindle Unlimited
Don't Feel Stuck in Love*
Wonderful Collection of Exercises and Journaling That Could Be Used For More
I was surprisingly delighted by this book. I tend to be a very picky nonfiction reader because I have written some myself, and I really think that nonfiction should promise what it’s going to deliver and deliver on that promise. This book did that and then some.
While this book is about love, specifically finding your perfect ideal relationship, the exercises that she gives throughout the book could actually be applied to anything that you want to help bring about in your life, like pursuing your passion instead of just having a job. For instance, exercises and journaling about things like clearing blocks and figuring out what you really want can apply to many situations.
She sells herself short in the subtitle. This is not just a book about journaling. While each section has a journaling exercise, she has done so much more. She gives you actual tactile exercises to do for many topics, which do appear as though they would key into different aspects of your right and left brain and subconscious and conscious minds. The book is a bit jargon-y in places, with buzzwords like “kaizen” and mindset being used. But the exercises she offers are rock solid. Excellent job, Ms. Johnston.
Premonition by Gisele Vezelay
Available at Amazon only
NOT with Kindle Unlimited
Premonition*
Jane Austen Fanfiction with a Supernatural Twist
I am a big fan of Jane Austen fanfiction. In fact, when I was in nursing school a few years ago, I rewarded myself with a Kindle at Christmas, for which Amazon rewarded me with one month’s access to Kindle Unlimited. For whatever reason, I filled my subscription with Jane Austen fanfiction and read through books as often as I could (which isn’t easy when you are in nursing school!). So I have read many, many Jane Austen fan fiction books, from the absolute worst to some pretty amazing ones. And I am always on the lookout for a new book or a new author to satisfy that craving for Miss Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy.
This author is new to me, but I am delighted that I have found her. This book lived up to my expectations of what good Jane Austen fanfiction should be. It is just a little off from canon, which I always like. The language is elevated; I could hear some of the actors from the 1995 BBC production as well as the 2005 movie in my head as I was reading the dialogue. I always consider that a good sign. I liked the paranormal aspect of this one. One of my absolute favorite pieces of Jane Austen fanfiction is actually “Haunting Mr. Darcy,” by Karalynne Mackrory, which is unfortunately only available in paperback at this time. While this book by Ms. Vézelay is not humorous like that one, the paranormal aspect is still enjoyable. Mr. Darcy is a bit more forward in this one, and I found that refreshing. Imagine him asking Elizabeth for the first two dances at the Netherfield Ball right after the Bennet sisters meet Mr. Wickham in town; loved it! The book was refreshingly free from issues with grammar, punctuation, and usage. I am a professional copyeditor, so these types of errors can really distract me and keep me from enjoying a story. I’m so glad this wasn’t an issue here.
I do have two quibbles with the author. One is that she refers to Lady Catherine as Lady de Burgh. She is the daughter of an earl, so her correct address would be Lady Catherine, I believe. Second, I would not call this novel Gothic. In fact in the blurb, she called it “sweet Gothic.” If you understand the term, no Gothic novel could be called sweet. For me, when I think of gothic fiction, I think of Wuthering Heights, The Fall of the House of Usher, and Frankenstein—and perhaps even Northanger Abbey by Miss Austen herself. This book is supernatural or paranormal, but I wouldn’t call it gothic.
But this minor categorization issue did not detract from the story, of course. I highly recommend it.
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