Reading Fanatic Reviews
Romantic FantasyEcrivain by Elizabeth Dunlap
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Google Play, Smashwords, Mondadori, Angus & Robertson, and Indigo (Chapters)
Ecrivain*
A Writing Academy!
What a novel concept for a fictional academy! There are so many YA novels written about various types of magical schools, but this one is a nonmagical one just for writers. Calliope’s parents decide to send her off to a boarding school that has no extracurricular activities because they want her to focus on her schoolwork and not on writing. They had been most displeased to see that she had spent time working on a story for a writing contest rather than her homework; they do not approve of dreamers. Little did her parents know that the academy they sent her to was actually a secret school just for would-be writers; of course, anyone who has taken French would understand that a school called Ecrivain would have something to do with writing! I thought this was a fun take on the academy concept. I thought the bit with the parents was a little overblown, and sometimes Calliope’s reactions to what happened to her at school seemed a bit much as well. But as a lover of literature and writing, I found myself smiling more than once at the happenings in this book.
Social Skills Training Collection by Gerald Confienza
Available at Amazon only
Free with Kindle Unlimited
Social Skills Training Collection*
May Help If Socially Awkward or Introverted
This box set includes three different books that the author states will help you in social situations if you consider yourself to be socially awkward or introverted. The first book covers what the author considers to be social intelligence, including understanding body language and voice tonality, and then branches out into ways to put your best foot forward in conversation, work environments, dating, and social media. The second book is geared toward the social introvert. The third book is about conversation and drills down into specifics like how to maintain the flow at the beginning, middle, and end of a conversation as well as how to handle difficulties if they come up and specific ideas for particular scenarios. Each of these topics is relatively short, but the author actually does have some good tips and insights on all of these topics. Two of the books within the set end with a 30-day challenge to get the reader engaged. While this book wouldn’t teach a socially awkward or introverted person everything they need to know about these topics, it does provide some key concepts that could help make social interactions less awkward by giving the person strategies for different situations.
Something So Sweet by Meika Usher
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Thalia, Mondadori, Angus & Robertson, Indigo (Chapters), and Bol.de
Something So Sweet*
Coming Home is Complicated
Coming back to her hometown for a visit after a not-so-successful foray in the big city, the heroine finds some things have remained the same while others have changed. Her old flame, the one she left when she chose to go away, is still of interest, but his younger cousin is even more so. The author was able to convey lightness and humor throughout the story in a convincing way. I think humor is hard to pull off in stories, but this author was able to make the tone feel light and playful most of the time. She did pull away from this when needed, like when showing the heroine’s disillusionment with her job. Sometimes, it felt like there were too many song references. I think that’s a danger when used in books as all readers may not be familiar with all the songs (so may perhaps miss the context they are meant to impart). But all in all, this is a fun contemporary romance.
Narcissist by Keith Coleman
Available at Amazon only
Free with Kindle Unlimited
Narcissist*
Narciccism, For Those Being Manipulated by It
This is a surprising book. After having read so many nonfiction books that take a shallow look a topic, this was refreshingly detailed yet concise. The author first describes and then defines narcissism, even using and explaining the detailed clinical definition. Clinical narcissism has an exact definition that the ordinary person may not think of when they hear the term. It is not just merely being self-centered; someone diagnosed with narcissism is manipulative of those with whom they are in a relationship, often to the detriment of the other person. He then digs deeper and discusses the weapons that narcissistic can use against people they interact with. This book is meant for people who are at the mercy of the narcissist, not for the narcissist himself or herself. So a further section gives ideas about how to cope with a narcissist if you must have one in your life. He ends the book with tips on how to overcome narcissistic abuse. If you have a controlling and manipulative person in your life who only seems to think about themselves, whether or not you term him or her a true narcissist, this book will help clarify what may be going on and give tips and strategies for dealing with the situation.
Kidnapping the Viscount by Ruth Ann Nordin
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Google Play, Scribd, Smashwords, Mondadori, Angus & Robertson, and Indigo (Chapters)
Kidnapping the Viscount*
More Silly than Funny, More Immature than Mature
I didn’t know quite what to make of this book. When I read the blurb, the premise sounded fun and different for a Regency. The way that it is actually executed comes across as silly rather than funny. The heroine got herself in the initial mess (which essentially is the entire book’s purpose to fix) by listening to the wrong person rather than her own heart and caring more about social climbing than love. The book just feels like a series of pointless and improbable events. There is definitely some drama and misunderstanding, but the interactions between the characters come across as not only unrealistic but actually rather childish for people of their age and social standing. At times, there was too much melodrama and giddiness. This book could have been written humorously but still maintain the proper adult level of interaction. The version of “love” that both the hero and heroine exhibit seems to be more along the lines of teenage crushes rather than mature, adult love.
Holiday Fling by Tracy Broemmer
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Mondadori, Angus & Robertson, and Indigo (Chapters)
Holiday Fling*
Deeper than Hallmark Holiday Romance
The cover of this book might make you think that this is a Hallmark-style holiday romance. While this book does have some elements of those sweet and relatively fluffy romances, the substance of this book goes much deeper. At the start of the book, the heroine is struggling on several levels, physically and mentally. The author has done an excellent job showing how a woman who had been through what the heroine had would feel and how that would affect her thinking about herself and the world around her. Given what has happened, I can understand the heroine’s desire to pull away from what she’s known and retreat for the holidays. I found it interesting, too, that the author chose to stick to just the perspective of the heroine. Most of the romances I read alternate viewpoint between the hero and heroine. What this limitation does here is really force us to see the world through the heroine’s eyes. We don’t know the hero’s motivations any more than she does. Like her, we can only surmise. I did find myself wondering why he did what he sometimes did. The chemistry between the two characters was off the charts. The story had all the elements that I like in a romance: a relatable heroine, a wonderful hero, good interactions between them, and a little something more than just the romance at stake. If you enjoy heartfelt contemporary holiday romance, you might enjoy this book.
The Secrets of the Sixth Night by Dayna Quince
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Mondadori, and Angus & Robertson
The Secrets of the Sixth Night*
Not as Good as Others in the Series
I have read several books in the Northumberland Nine series, and this one has darker themes than the other ones. The book even starts at night, when Luna is out attempting to gather herbs that are only easy to distinguish at night. She happens to see three men in conversation on the beach. Are they smugglers? Is their host involved? At least two are other members of the house party, two brothers. The two men are not pleased that she has seen them, and after some amount of time, figure out that she hasn’t seen or heard anything and swear her to silence. The brothers have been caught up in drama caused by the younger one, not smuggling, and the elder brother is wounded from stepping between his brother and the man he was dueling with. The hero’s brother is definitely an irresponsible young man who makes bad decisions and doesn’t seem to care how his actions affect his brother.
I didn’t care for this book as much as I did for the others in the series that I’ve read. The others felt relatively light and fun, but this one had a fair amount of troublesome issues, including that the hero could have died without the care of the heroine. I like my Regencies to be a bit more upbeat and more about the play of manners and decorum than things like duels and possible death. I am an RN, and some of the ways that healing practices were portrayed were highly inaccurate for the time. It makes sense to our modern understanding to sterilize equipment and think of not introducing more potential means for infection, but people back then wouldn’t have thought that way. The germ theory of infection was not a part of medical science until much later in the 1800s and even then acceptance was slow (20+ years). I did like the other books in the series, so I will continue with it, but I did find this book a disappointment compared to the rest.
Blade’s Edge by Val Roberts
Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBooks, Kobo, 24 Symbols, Thalia, Mondadori, Angus & Robertson, and Bol.de
Blade's Edge*
Excellent Romantic Space Opera
Having read a fair amount of science fiction when I was younger, I have to say I like the modern trend within the genre so much better. I love sci-fi with strong female characters and where there is a good gender balance. I have come to really enjoy, as well, sci-fi romances, which didn’t exist back in the day. It was more guy, “buddy” sci-fi. This book had so much going on that I love to see in a space opera: political intrigue, lots of action, culture clash, characters who make a big story personal, and of course, a little romance. I thought it was cool, too, that romance didn’t just exist between the hero and heroine. The author showed the loving relationship between an older couple as well; what a delight! There is so much going on in this book, but the author is able to give each character presence and voice as well as strong motivations, goals, and conflicts. I felt immersed in the world pretty quickly and didn’t want to stop until I got to the end. This world is so complex and the character so fascinating it is perfect for a series; I look forward to digging into the next book.
Lover’s Gift by Adom Sample
Available at Amazon only
Free with Kindle Unlimited
Lover's Gift*
Stunning Deep Perspective Read
This is a fantastic book. I don’t think I’ve read perspective this deep ever. The book alternates between the viewpoints of Isabella, Dante, and Nathan. Isabella and Nathan are in a rather horrid marriage at the start, and Dante is a man who has become obsessed with Isabella and believes that he loves her from afar. I’m not going to go into too much detail because this book needs to be experienced first hand, as it is so emotionally raw. I thought the cover was a little misleading because, for whatever reason, I thought this was a historical book, but it is a contemporary romance. There is a bit more profanity than I am comfortable with, but it actually made contextual sense within the story. It wasn’t gratuitous. This book is definitely dark at times, as books about controlling relationships can be. If you don’t mind a little darkness and little profanity, this book is a stunning experience.
Brotherhood of Dragons by Sarah J. Stone
Available at Amazon only
Free with Kindle Unlimited
Brotherhood of Dragons*
Nice Set of Interconnected Dragon Shifter Novels
Okay, I’ll admit it, I’m a massive fan of cheaply priced box sets. I love books that are written in a series, but sometimes it can be frustrating as a reader to have to wait for the next installment! How delightful to have them all together so you can binge read. While each book could stand on its own, each being about a different brother from the same family, the entire series has an overarching and interweaving plot which adds depth to the stories and reader experience. We also get to see the various characters interact throughout all the books. I love that. If you enjoy books about dragon shifters, this set should tick all the boxes for you.
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