This is the second book in this duology. Marina and Caspian have to return to Marina's family and people to convince them that Selkies and Sirens can This is the second book in this duology. Marina and Caspian have to return to Marina's family and people to convince them that Selkies and Sirens can live together in harmony, despite many years of fearing and distrusting one another. Marina's family believes her to be under Caspian's siren magic and influence and so it will be a struggle to convince them of her true feelings.
I enjoyed that this was a duology, as I find that some of these series can be too drawn out over numerous books. Everything moved at a good pace and was wrapped up satisfactorily. I really enjoyed the characters and the story line....more
During the War of the Roses, it was alleged that Edward, son of the late Duke of Clarence, was hidden away as a child, to be brought forward at the riDuring the War of the Roses, it was alleged that Edward, son of the late Duke of Clarence, was hidden away as a child, to be brought forward at the right moment to become the rightful King of England.
John who been brough up on a remote farm, is told that he is in fact Edward, and he gets taken away on an adventure, and given different names as he goes along. This covers the time period from Richard III to Henry VII and all of the plots afoot during that time.
The book is written in a very authentic feeling way, including words and phrases that would have been used at the time. The author shows a very bawdy side to this history, which was very amusing to read about.
At its heart, this book of historical fiction is a coming-of-age story, about a boy going through adolescence through the turmoil of not knowing where he belongs and who to trust.
I really enjoyed this book, and always love revisiting the Tudors through the eyes of side characters in history. I love that the author chose this character from a footnote that she found.
Thank you to Bloomsbury and Netgalley for the advanced copy of this ebook....more
Natalie Vos, heiress to the Vos wine legacy, has returned home to Napa Valley with her tail between her legs after being fired from her high powered NNatalie Vos, heiress to the Vos wine legacy, has returned home to Napa Valley with her tail between her legs after being fired from her high powered New York job. She needs to figure out where she belongs in the world.
August is an ex-SEAL who is trying to make a go of running a vineyard, but not succeeding. He needs help and someone to give him a chance.
Natalie needs access to her trust fund, but can only access it when she gets married. Her and August agree to a mutually beneficial business arrangement, a fake marriage so that they can both get ahead. The problem is that they hate each other. Or do they?
I battled a bit with this one. I'm all for cheesy but this one was way too contrived, even for me. Some cute moments, but overall I didn't love it....more
Ivy lives in England in the 1800s, except it's not the England we know about today. During the War of the Roses an immortal faerie queen came from anoIvy lives in England in the 1800s, except it's not the England we know about today. During the War of the Roses an immortal faerie queen came from another realm and took over the throne.
Every citizen of England is given a chance to make a bargain with the queen, but the price is sometimes very high or bizarre.
When Ivy arrives to make her bargain, the queen announces that her son is ready to get married and that eligible girls can put their names forward to compete for his hand. Ivy jumps at the chance because her family has fallen on hard times due to her sister's bargain before her.
But Ivy needs to watch her back and her heart.
I really enjoyed this book and especially the alternate history element. I love a good faerie story, complete with all the trickery. I really didn't know it was the first in a duology and I need book 2 to be released immediately after that ending!...more
The Priest is hiding a monstrous secret, barely keeping his violent urges under wraps, when he comes across a syren near his shores. He needs to have The Priest is hiding a monstrous secret, barely keeping his violent urges under wraps, when he comes across a syren near his shores. He needs to have her, he wants to keep her as his own, he wants to do depraved things to her.
It turns out that I'm not really into the whole priest trope. I'm also not really into this kind of violence, and I prefer my heroes morally grey, not morally defunct.
That being said, I do enjoy the worlds and stories that this author creates, and I will look for more of her books in future....more
4.5 stars Lila has had a rough go of it lately. Her husband left her for another woman, her teenage daughter is acting out, her mother died, her stepfa4.5 stars Lila has had a rough go of it lately. Her husband left her for another woman, her teenage daughter is acting out, her mother died, her stepfather has moved in, and her house is falling apart.
Out of the blue, her estranged biological father also arrives on her doorstep for a place to stay. She really doesn't know how she's going to handle all of the chaos, but somehow she has to figure it out.
This story was an open invitation to join Lila and her family's lives. Reading this book, I felt as though I was present in the crumbling old house and that I got to know each of these characters personally. This author is truly excellent at creating characters that feel like real people.
I thoroughly enjoyed Lila's journey and her character growth. It is filled with all of the emotions, and it is layered and quirky. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a big family drama.
Thank you to Penguin Randomhouse South Africa for the gifted copy of this book....more
Emma comes across a viral Reddit post, where a guy posts a really funny story. In his story he also reveals that he is cursed: every girl he has ever Emma comes across a viral Reddit post, where a guy posts a really funny story. In his story he also reveals that he is cursed: every girl he has ever dated has found her soulmate after breaking up with him. The same is true for Emma and so she reaches out to him, and they agree to date and break the curse.
Emma is a travelling nurse who never stays very long in one place, but she decides to go to Minnesota to have a fun few weeks of the summer with Justin from Reddit, knowing that she'll move on again in a few weeks. She's never been able to settle down, and is always running from committment.
She soon realises that she's in way over her head with Justin, and he has a secret which means he can't leave to follow her on her nomadic lifestyle, if they were to go beyond the summer.
I think that this author has become one of my new favourites. Her characters are so well fleshed-out, so vibrant, her dialogue so funny and the story lines are so cute. There is also depth and real feeling behind reading these stories. I thoroughly enjoyed this one and "Part of Your World" before this. Will definitely read more of her books in future....more
Liam Noone, hotel magnet, has fallen to his death from the cliff at his secluded beach house. His daughter Nora is contacted by her estranged half broLiam Noone, hotel magnet, has fallen to his death from the cliff at his secluded beach house. His daughter Nora is contacted by her estranged half brother Sam, because he needs her help in investigating their father's death. Sam doesn't believe that their father could have accidently fallen from a spot he knew so well. Was he actually alone that night?
I was immediately drawn into the story by the author's writing style, which is very layered. This isn't a quick, page-turning murder mystery (which I had sort of expected), but rather a deep relationship study. We are introduced to complicated family and romantic relationships, with a lot of secrets and lies.
Although this was more relationship-centered, I did feel as though some of the characters were slightly flat, and I think a slightly longer book could have fleshed them out a little bit more.
Overall I really enjoyed this story, and was definitely invested right until the end. ...more
Six friends meet for dinner one night. Later on, two car accidents occur on the same road, and one person ends up dead. The lives of these friends wilSix friends meet for dinner one night. Later on, two car accidents occur on the same road, and one person ends up dead. The lives of these friends will never be the same.
This story is set in the affluent suburbs of Cape Town, and the descriptions in the book made me feel like I was driving around Cape Town myself while reading. I really enjoyed the familiarity of setting, especially having just been to Cape Town on holiday myself.
Although this book follows the plot of the car crashes that happened on the fateful night, I actually think that this story is more of an in depth character study of these friends and their lives. They all have their complex personalities, their secrets, their hopes and desires, all wrapped up in day to day life.
Although this is a short book, with short chapters, don't think that you will fly through this. It requires concentration and thought, you need to give these characters time to get to to know them.
Thank you to Penguin South Africa for the gifted copy of this book....more
3.5 stars Hades and Persephone have to go to war to save the world and their way of life in this final installment in this series. I must say that this3.5 stars Hades and Persephone have to go to war to save the world and their way of life in this final installment in this series. I must say that this book had a very engaging plot, that was full of surprises and shocking moments. There was definitely more to this book than the previous one, which kind of just felt like smut with some plot mixed in. I enjoyed this final installment much more than the previous books.
The characters are really done well, and Persephone really grew from book one into a true goddess and queen. Hades was an awesome character, but I liked him better when he wasn't with Persephone. Hermes and Hecate were truly amazing.
Overall, this series is enjoyable, and has really piqued my interest in the ancient Greek gods, but it misses out on being truly one of the greats that I will remember and come back to one day. I think that there was a lot more that could have been done with the story to bring a bit more structure and resolution. ...more
This is the story of A Touch of Malice, but told from Hades and others' points of view.
I skimmed and skipped through a lot because at this point I'm wThis is the story of A Touch of Malice, but told from Hades and others' points of view.
I skimmed and skipped through a lot because at this point I'm wanting to just get this story over with, and the repetition is getting to me. Some interesting parts, specifically Dionysis, but overall, I might be getting a bit over this series.
A proper re-editing, where the stories are combined into one book with multiple POVs would be much better.
3.5 stars. As soon as Hades and Persephone get engaged, Persephone's mother Demeter brings a deadly and unending snow storm on the land. Persephone, wh3.5 stars. As soon as Hades and Persephone get engaged, Persephone's mother Demeter brings a deadly and unending snow storm on the land. Persephone, who has been sheltered her whole life, now has to start to learn more about the gods, their rules, and their vindictiveness. She also needs to learn how to control and embrace her powers, which are more vast than she ever thought.
Given all the politics, will her and Hades ever be able to be together?
I enjoyed the plot in this one. I must say that I still believe that their relationship is quite insubstantial, and there are actually too many spicy scenes. I daresay it actually gets a bit boring chapter after chapter.
Given where the plot of this book ended, which was quite explosive, I am excited to continue and see how it all ends....more
3.5 stars. This is A Touch of Ruin told from Hades' perspective. I enjoy the story from his point of view more than from Persephone's. Overall I enjoy3.5 stars. This is A Touch of Ruin told from Hades' perspective. I enjoy the story from his point of view more than from Persephone's. Overall I enjoy the look into the lives of the gods. Hecate and Hermes especially need more time on the page, because they are awesome.
I am battling with the main relationship though because they literally do not communicate and there's nothing more than lust at this point. I hope we can get some proper romantic development in the next book....more
3.5 stars Hades and Persephone's relationship has gone public, and she is still so uncertain about so many things. She also starts to realise that she3.5 stars Hades and Persephone's relationship has gone public, and she is still so uncertain about so many things. She also starts to realise that she doesn't know as much about Hades as she would like to fully commit to him.
In moments of insecurity and fear, Persephone makes some really poor choices, which badly affects her relationship even further.
I liked Persephone a bit more in this book. She does some seriously stupid stuff, but I can see where it comes from, and she sort of reminds me of someone I know. So I get her. I hope that Hades and Persephone can learn to actually communicate in the next book and that their relationship can become a bit more than what it is....more
3.5 stars This is the first book of the Hades & Persephone series, but told from Hades' perspective. I am a bigger fan of Hades in this story and so I 3.5 stars This is the first book of the Hades & Persephone series, but told from Hades' perspective. I am a bigger fan of Hades in this story and so I definitely enjoyed this more than the first one. I also enjoyed seeing what he was up to when he wasn't with Persephone, as it added to the world building.
It wasn't my absolute favourite thing that I had to re-read some scenes in their entirety. Perhaps this could have just been done as bonus chapters?
This series is enjoyable overall so far so I'm on to book 3....more
Rune's whole life changed forever when the witch queens were overthrown. Now witches are caught and publicly executed. Rune has to hide that she is a Rune's whole life changed forever when the witch queens were overthrown. Now witches are caught and publicly executed. Rune has to hide that she is a witch by pretending that she's a vapid socialite. But by night she is the Crimson Moth, helping to free witches who have been caught.
When she needs to free a particularly important witch, she decides to try to seduce Gideon, captain of the witch killers. Gideon has been hunting the Crimson Moth for two years. He has a suspicion that it is Rune, and so he puts his own plan into action to catch her.
Somewhere along the line, they seem to forget that they are meant to be pretending. But there's no way that they could even conveive being together.
I enjoyed this story a lot. The magic system is a bit messy and gross, but I am invested in Rune and Gideon's characters and storyline....more
Ruby McTavish is a notorious woman. Not only is she the richest woman in North Carolina, but she was kidnapped as a baby and all four of her 4.5 stars
Ruby McTavish is a notorious woman. Not only is she the richest woman in North Carolina, but she was kidnapped as a baby and all four of her husbands died somewhat suspiciously. Now she has died and the remaining McTavish family is fighting over the large family estate.
Camden, Ruby's adopted son, has inherited everything, but he actually wants nothing to do with the McTavish legacy and fortune. When his uncle dies he goes back to the home he left over ten years ago to sort out the estate once and for all. Camden's wife Jules seems determined that Camden must claim what she believes is rightfully theirs.
Upon their arrival, all the family secrets start to come out into the open.
This book had me gripped right from the beginning. I loved the twists and turns, the way that the secrets were revealed, and just the storytelling in general. Highly enjoyable family drama, with a touch of gothic vibes....more
Millie is married with two children and is finally living in domestic bliss. Her and her husband have bought a dream house on Long Island and everythiMillie is married with two children and is finally living in domestic bliss. Her and her husband have bought a dream house on Long Island and everything is going well.
But it's weird that they managed to get the house for below the asking price. And it's weird that their one neighbour keeps peering at them out of the window. And it's weird that Millie's son has started acting out. Her husband has started keeping secrets from her, or is it that he's always kept secrets?
This one got off to a bit of a slow start for me but I really got hooked by the twists and turns. Another enjoyable page turner by this author....more
Marina is a selkie princess who lives isolated with her people on remote islands. They have always been taught to fear the sirens who betrayed them anMarina is a selkie princess who lives isolated with her people on remote islands. They have always been taught to fear the sirens who betrayed them and who pose a threat to them.
The night that Marina is forced into an arranged betrothal, her father and betrothed capture a siren male for imprisonment and torture. Marina finds herself drawn into the jail cells to see him for herself and she is immediately intrigued and then captured, as he escapes and takes her hostage.
I enjoyed this novel a lot. Marina and Caspian are great characters and I am really enjoying the world created as well. Diving into the second book straight away....more
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