Patricia's bookshelf: _setting-historicals en-US Wed, 18 Jan 2023 03:58:48 -0800 60 Patricia's bookshelf: _setting-historicals 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg <![CDATA[The Day of the Duchess (Scandal & Scoundrel, #3)]]> 31329331 The one woman he will never forget�
Malcolm Bevingstoke, Duke of Haven, has lived the last three years in self-imposed solitude, paying the price for a mistake he can never reverse and a love he lost forever. The dukedom does not wait, however, and Haven requires an heir, which means he must find himself a wife by summer’s end. There is only one problem—he already has one.

The one man she will never forgive�
After years in exile, Seraphina, Duchess of Haven, returns to London with a single goal—to reclaim the life she left and find happiness, unencumbered by the man who broke her heart. Haven offers her a deal; Sera can have her freedom, just as soon as she finds her replacement…which requires her to spend the summer in close quarters with the husband she does not want, but somehow cannot resist.

A love that neither can deny�
The duke has a single summer to woo his wife and convince her that, despite their broken past, he can give her forever, making every day The Day of the Duchess.]]> 405 Sarah MacLean Patricia 0
[spoilers removed]

Parts of the epilogue made me feel conflicted. [spoilers removed]]]> 4.14 2017 The Day of the Duchess (Scandal & Scoundrel, #3)
author: Sarah MacLean
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2017
rating: 0
read at: 2018/07/18
date added: 2023/01/18
shelves: _g_historical-romance, source_e-arc, dropped_dnf, 2018, _setting-historicals, age_adult
review:
I might read this at another time. I read very little in the beginning and had to skip to the final third - That worked for me. Knowing all the middle parts because of another review had me too anxious to actually read them. :/ Sorry about that, but I think it wouldn't have been "in good faith" to read this now and then complain about the content, fully aware what the content was. :/

[spoilers removed]

Parts of the epilogue made me feel conflicted. [spoilers removed]
]]> <![CDATA[The Duke Who Didn't (Wedgeford Trials, #1)]]> 55012301
Except now he’s back. Jeremy Wentworth, the Duke of Lansing, has returned to the tiny village he once visited with the hope of wooing Chloe. In his defense, it took him years of attempting to be serious to realize that the endeavor was incompatible with his personality.

All he has to do is convince Chloe to make room for a mischievous trickster in her life, then disclose that in all the years they’ve known each other, he’s failed to mention his real name, his title� and the minor fact that he owns her entire village.

Only one thing can go wrong: Everything.]]> 352 Courtney Milan Patricia 5 Chef's kiss. 3.90 2020 The Duke Who Didn't (Wedgeford Trials, #1)
author: Courtney Milan
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2020
rating: 5
read at: 2020/09/26
date added: 2022/05/28
shelves: 2020-2022, _g_historical-romance, _setting-historicals, age_adult
review:
Chef's kiss.
]]> <![CDATA[The Governess Affair (Brothers Sinister, #0.5)]]> 18492277
But after everything Miss Serena Barton has been through at the hands of his employer, she is determined to make him pay. She won't let anyone stop her—not even the man that all of London fears. They might call Hugo Marshall the Wolf of Clermont, but even wolves can be brought to heel...]]> 152 Courtney Milan 1937248062 Patricia 5
This was such a perfect little story, I can't find the words.

Courtney Milan = Dealing with complicated scenes in the best possible way.

Content warnings: [spoilers removed]]]> 4.02 2012 The Governess Affair (Brothers Sinister, #0.5)
author: Courtney Milan
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2012
rating: 5
read at: 2018/07/12
date added: 2020/03/28
shelves: 2018, _g_historical-romance, _setting-historicals, age_adult
review:
Excuse me while I swoon?

This was such a perfect little story, I can't find the words.

Courtney Milan = Dealing with complicated scenes in the best possible way.

Content warnings: [spoilers removed]
]]> Styxx (Dark-Hunter, #22) 15767586 Just when you thought doomsday was over...

Centuries ago Acheron saved the human race by imprisoning an ancient evil bent on absolute destruction. Now that evil has been unleashed and it is out for revenge.

As the twin to Acheron, Styxx hasn’t always been on his brother’s side. They’ve spent more centuries going at each other’s throats than protecting their backs. Now Styxx has a chance to prove his loyalty to his brother, but only if he’s willing to trade his life and future for Acheron’s.

The Atlantean goddess of Wrath and Misery, Bethany was born to right wrongs. But it was never a task she relished. Until now. She owes Acheron a debt that she vows to repay, no matter what it takes. He will join their fellow gods in hell and nothing is going to stop her.

But things are never what they seem, and Acheron is no longer the last of his line. Styxx and Acheron must put aside their past and learn to trust each other or more will suffer.

Yet it’s hard to risk your own life for someone who once tried to take yours, even when it's your own twin, and when loyalties are skewed and no one can be trusted, not even yourself, how do you find a way back from the darkness that wants to consume the entire world? One that wants to start by devouring your very soul?]]> 836 Sherrilyn Kenyon 1250029880 Patricia 1
This book (and maybe the fact that I had to skip huge parts of it) makes me so angry. The smallest crime it committed is destroying Ash's character, the biggest? I can't decide, how about existing?

I can't touch these books anymore because no matter how bad the torture-porn was before, this was the cherry on top.

This was such a painful, over the top, needlessly graphic and cruel way to "redeem" a character. I don't give a fuck if people think that the only way to redemption is for Styxx to go through hell forever and four days, this was so unnecessary.

Repeat with me: Torture is not entertainment. Sexualized torture and rape is not entertainment. IT IS NOT ENTERTAINING. THIS WAS NOT AND IS NOT NECESSARY.

(Also there are content warnings for a reason and you could fucking use them, publisher. See top of my review for example of what content warnings might look like and also fuck you.)

I'm not sure if Kenyon thinks it a personal challenge to make every sobstory worse than the one before, but she sure as fuck outdid herself with this one and I'm in such a bad mood about it, I can't even. Is this what people talk about when they see you get numb to porn when you watch too much of it? Has the torture-porn made her jaded to torture? WHO THE FUCK KNOWS? WHO THE FUCK CARES AT THIS POINT?

Trigger warnings for - and I feel sick writing them down:[spoilers removed]

And all of that in detail. Because WHY THE FUCK NOT, am I right?]]> 4.57 2013 Styxx (Dark-Hunter, #22)
author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.57
book published: 2013
rating: 1
read at: 2014/12/10
date added: 2018/08/06
shelves: 2014, _g_paranormals, age_adult, paranormal_reincarnation, _setting-historicals, _setting-otherworld, _setting-present, r_quicky, fuck-this
review:
Content warning: This review contains swearing because I feel very strongly about the contents of this book in a negative way. I have put spoilers in a spoiler tag.

This book (and maybe the fact that I had to skip huge parts of it) makes me so angry. The smallest crime it committed is destroying Ash's character, the biggest? I can't decide, how about existing?

I can't touch these books anymore because no matter how bad the torture-porn was before, this was the cherry on top.

This was such a painful, over the top, needlessly graphic and cruel way to "redeem" a character. I don't give a fuck if people think that the only way to redemption is for Styxx to go through hell forever and four days, this was so unnecessary.

Repeat with me: Torture is not entertainment. Sexualized torture and rape is not entertainment. IT IS NOT ENTERTAINING. THIS WAS NOT AND IS NOT NECESSARY.

(Also there are content warnings for a reason and you could fucking use them, publisher. See top of my review for example of what content warnings might look like and also fuck you.)

I'm not sure if Kenyon thinks it a personal challenge to make every sobstory worse than the one before, but she sure as fuck outdid herself with this one and I'm in such a bad mood about it, I can't even. Is this what people talk about when they see you get numb to porn when you watch too much of it? Has the torture-porn made her jaded to torture? WHO THE FUCK KNOWS? WHO THE FUCK CARES AT THIS POINT?

Trigger warnings for - and I feel sick writing them down:[spoilers removed]

And all of that in detail. Because WHY THE FUCK NOT, am I right?
]]> <![CDATA[It's In His Kiss (Bridgertons #7)]]> 8388039
MEET OUR HERO...

Gareth St. Clair is in a bind. His father, who detests him, is determined to beggar the St. Clair estates and ruin his inheritance. Gareth's sole bequest is an old family diary, which may or may not contain the secrets of his past... and the key to his future. The problem is—it's written in Italian, of which Gareth speaks not a word.

MEET OUR HEROINE...

All the ton agreed: there was no one quite like Hyacinth Bridgerton. She's fiendishly smart, devilishly outspoken, and according to Gareth, probably best in small doses. But there's something about her—something charming and vexing—that grabs him and won't quite let go...

MEET POOR MR. MOZART...

Or don't. But rest assured, he's spinning in his grave when Gareth and Hyacinth cross paths at the annual—and annually discordant—Smythe-Smith musicale. To Hyacinth, Gareth's every word seems a dare, and she offers to translate his diary, even though her Italian is slightly less than perfect. But as they delve into the mysterious text, they discover that the answers they seek lie not in the diary, but in each other... and that there is nothing as simple—or as complicated—as a single, perfect kiss.]]> 368 Julia Quinn Patricia 2
It's in his Kiss was in the beginning enchanting. Actually the first half or more was. And even after that the book wasn't bad, but through some actions the hero made himself very unlikeable and being the unforgiving person that I am, I had my problems with that and the fact that he got his happy end. Fuck this dude.

Gareth and Hyacinth both were very funny, witty characters with several scenes that made me giggle endlessly. Their story was a typical Quinn read so I'll leave it at that and won't repeat my or other people's other reviews about Quinn's writing and focus on why my rating is lower than I had expected when I started the novel.

The hero and his actions. [spoilers removed]

Wanting to possess a woman against what one assumes will be her wishes if she knew the whole truth = so romantic?

If Gareth had been honest or at least had dealt with the situation differently, this might have been a good read, but it pissed me off in the end, leaving me with the impression that I can't give more than 2 stars. In all honesty, I should give it minus two for the way the above was dealt with.]]> 4.18 2005 It's In His Kiss (Bridgertons #7)
author: Julia Quinn
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2005
rating: 2
read at: 2011/08/27
date added: 2018/08/03
shelves: 2011, age_adult, _setting-historicals, _g_historical-romance, source_borrowed-library, r_reviewed
review:
Julia Quinn is my first historical romance author; I'm reading her because of a challenge ( geht's zur Lesenacht.) so my experience with the genre is more than limited.

It's in his Kiss was in the beginning enchanting. Actually the first half or more was. And even after that the book wasn't bad, but through some actions the hero made himself very unlikeable and being the unforgiving person that I am, I had my problems with that and the fact that he got his happy end. Fuck this dude.

Gareth and Hyacinth both were very funny, witty characters with several scenes that made me giggle endlessly. Their story was a typical Quinn read so I'll leave it at that and won't repeat my or other people's other reviews about Quinn's writing and focus on why my rating is lower than I had expected when I started the novel.

The hero and his actions. [spoilers removed]

Wanting to possess a woman against what one assumes will be her wishes if she knew the whole truth = so romantic?

If Gareth had been honest or at least had dealt with the situation differently, this might have been a good read, but it pissed me off in the end, leaving me with the impression that I can't give more than 2 stars. In all honesty, I should give it minus two for the way the above was dealt with.
]]> <![CDATA[Splendid (The Splendid Trilogy, #1)]]> 110382 There are two things everyone knows about Alexander Ridgely. One, he's the Duke of Ashbourne. And two, he has no plans to marry anytime soon...

That is until a redheaded American throws herself in front of a carriage to save his young nephew's life. She's everything Alex never thought a woman could be—smart and funny, principled and brave. But she's a servant, completely unsuitable for a highborn duke—unless, perhaps, she's not quite what she seems...

American heiress Emma Dunster might be surrounded by Englishmen, but that doesn't mean she intends to marry one—even if she has agreed to participate in one London Season. When she slipped out of her cousins' home, dressed as a kitchen maid, all she wanted was one last taste of anonymity before her debut. She never dreamed she'd find herself in the arms of a dangerously handsome duke... or that he'd be quite so upset when he discovered her true identity. But true love tends to blossom just when one least expects it, and passion can melt even the most stubborn of hearts.]]> 396 Julia Quinn 0380780747 Patricia 4
The couple was cute and surprisingly enough one I had a very clear image of. I usually can't really picture people, but for some reason this time I did. So my high rating might be because that was a novelty.

He wondered if she'd mind if he threw her down on the blanket and tore off her clothing. (..) She looked heartbreakingly innocent. Alex sighed. She'd probably mind.


What I liked about them was that they were on more equal footing in terms of attraction and commitment. In Quinn's Bridgerton novels that doesn't really happen as often: The heroines often have been long in love with the heroes while the heroes wouldn't give them emotional commitment. Alex and Emma felt attracted to each other and although he (this being a typical Regency romance) had more experience, it didn't turn to the awkward-angsty atmosphere Quinn often creates.

Also, the hero and heroine had and were friends. This shouldn't be a surprise, but I can't remember many friendships in other Quinn novels. (Maybe because there were already too many side characters to begin with, given that at least in the case of the Bridgerton novels, there were 58 siblings) Actually, even if there were friendships, they were more tell than show and although even in Splendid, some parts felt "flat", they were overall satisfactory.

“I have thoroughly compromised your niece," Alex declared. "Will you plase insist that she marry me?"
Caroline didn't bat an eyelash. "This", she announced, "is most peculiar.�


As I've said, it wasn't perfect. The sweet scenes are only sweet within the context and can easily be understood as messed up, so while I genuinly enjoyed the book, I can't say it's been one of the best reads this year or even this month. It was, however, very good and if you're interested in it already, go for an excerpt and hopefully enjoy.]]> 3.83 1995 Splendid (The Splendid Trilogy, #1)
author: Julia Quinn
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.83
book published: 1995
rating: 4
read at: 2011/09/18
date added: 2018/08/03
shelves: age_adult, 2011, _setting-historicals, _g_historical-romance, r_quicky
review:
One of the better Quinn novels, in my opinion. While I felt uneasy with a few situations, it was overall really lovely. (My main issue is that I kept expecting conflicts, fights, arguments etc given how many pages were left at one point in the story while I didn't know *what* to expect.)

The couple was cute and surprisingly enough one I had a very clear image of. I usually can't really picture people, but for some reason this time I did. So my high rating might be because that was a novelty.

He wondered if she'd mind if he threw her down on the blanket and tore off her clothing. (..) She looked heartbreakingly innocent. Alex sighed. She'd probably mind.


What I liked about them was that they were on more equal footing in terms of attraction and commitment. In Quinn's Bridgerton novels that doesn't really happen as often: The heroines often have been long in love with the heroes while the heroes wouldn't give them emotional commitment. Alex and Emma felt attracted to each other and although he (this being a typical Regency romance) had more experience, it didn't turn to the awkward-angsty atmosphere Quinn often creates.

Also, the hero and heroine had and were friends. This shouldn't be a surprise, but I can't remember many friendships in other Quinn novels. (Maybe because there were already too many side characters to begin with, given that at least in the case of the Bridgerton novels, there were 58 siblings) Actually, even if there were friendships, they were more tell than show and although even in Splendid, some parts felt "flat", they were overall satisfactory.

“I have thoroughly compromised your niece," Alex declared. "Will you plase insist that she marry me?"
Caroline didn't bat an eyelash. "This", she announced, "is most peculiar.�


As I've said, it wasn't perfect. The sweet scenes are only sweet within the context and can easily be understood as messed up, so while I genuinly enjoyed the book, I can't say it's been one of the best reads this year or even this month. It was, however, very good and if you're interested in it already, go for an excerpt and hopefully enjoy.
]]> <![CDATA[The Duchess Deal (Girl Meets Duke, #1)]]> 33259027 When girl meets Duke, their marriage breaks all the rules�

Since his return from war, the Duke of Ashbury’s to-do list has been short and anything but sweet: brooding, glowering, menacing London ne’er-do-wells by night. Now there’s a new item on the list. He needs an heir—which means he needs a wife. When Emma Gladstone, a vicar’s daughter turned seamstress, appears in his library wearing a wedding gown, he decides on the spot that she’ll do.

His terms are simple:
- They will be husband and wife by night only.
- No lights, no kissing.
- No questions about his battle scars.
- Last, and most importantly� Once she’s pregnant with his heir, they need never share a bed again.

But Emma is no pushover. She has a few rules of her own:
- They will have dinner together every evening.
- With conversation.
- And unlimited teasing.
- Last, and most importantly� Once she’s seen the man beneath the scars, he can’t stop her from falling in love�]]> 389 Tessa Dare Patricia 4
The story: The Duke of Ashbury has been living isolated for approx. 2 years after surviving the war -disfigured- and finds himself needing an heir. For an heir one needs a wife. That is when the heroine and modiste, Emma, bursts into the scene, demanding to be paid for the wedding dress of his former fiance. Because he's slightly crazy, he proposes to her on the spot. She instead takes the money he owes and leaves. He arrives at her place of employ, hilarity ensues once again, they marry, romance and hilarity ensue. All is well. At one point there are vegetarian snacks that give the Dukely pumping system some issues.

Things to love about this:
- Emma's friendships. Whether we're talking about the ladies -and I hope all of them get their own stories!- or butler Khan ([spoilers removed]) or anyone, really. I loved all of them.

- Obviously, because it is Tessa Dare: The humor. I just cannot stop bookmarking the ridiculous things they say and do.

- Also as always: The characters being decent human beings. They might sometimes be wrong, argue, they have flaws and so on, yeah yeah, but they're kind when most people wouldn't even realize kindness was an option, and I love that so much.

- The romance. It's a historical romance novel, so it should be the romance that wins you over; but really, any reader worth their empty pockets knows that not all romance novels actually feature a sigh-worthy romance. This one had me sigh happily. :)

Content warnings: [spoilers removed]]]> 3.99 2017 The Duchess Deal (Girl Meets Duke, #1)
author: Tessa Dare
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2018/07/18
date added: 2018/07/24
shelves: 2018, _g_historical-romance, _setting-historicals, age_adult, source_e-arc, r_reviewed
review:
Another recommendation. I've got a lot of things to say about Tessa Dare's stories, but I'll keep it short instead.

The story: The Duke of Ashbury has been living isolated for approx. 2 years after surviving the war -disfigured- and finds himself needing an heir. For an heir one needs a wife. That is when the heroine and modiste, Emma, bursts into the scene, demanding to be paid for the wedding dress of his former fiance. Because he's slightly crazy, he proposes to her on the spot. She instead takes the money he owes and leaves. He arrives at her place of employ, hilarity ensues once again, they marry, romance and hilarity ensue. All is well. At one point there are vegetarian snacks that give the Dukely pumping system some issues.

Things to love about this:
- Emma's friendships. Whether we're talking about the ladies -and I hope all of them get their own stories!- or butler Khan ([spoilers removed]) or anyone, really. I loved all of them.

- Obviously, because it is Tessa Dare: The humor. I just cannot stop bookmarking the ridiculous things they say and do.

- Also as always: The characters being decent human beings. They might sometimes be wrong, argue, they have flaws and so on, yeah yeah, but they're kind when most people wouldn't even realize kindness was an option, and I love that so much.

- The romance. It's a historical romance novel, so it should be the romance that wins you over; but really, any reader worth their empty pockets knows that not all romance novels actually feature a sigh-worthy romance. This one had me sigh happily. :)

Content warnings: [spoilers removed]
]]> <![CDATA[The Governess Game (Girl Meets Duke, #2)]]> 36111620 He’s been a bad, bad rake—and it takes a governess to teach him a lesson

The accidental governess.

After her livelihood slips through her fingers, Alexandra Mountbatten takes on an impossible post: transforming a pair of wild orphans into proper young ladies. However, the girls don’t need discipline. They need a loving home. Try telling that to their guardian, Chase Reynaud: duke’s heir in the streets and devil in the sheets. The ladies of London have tried—and failed—to make him settle down. Somehow, Alexandra must reach his heart... without risking her own.

The infamous rake.

Like any self-respecting libertine, Chase lives by one rule: no attachments. When a stubborn little governess tries to reform him, he decides to give her an education—in pleasure. That should prove he can’t be tamed. But Alexandra is more than he bargained for: clever, perceptive, passionate. She refuses to see him as a lost cause. Soon the walls around Chase’s heart are crumbling... and he’s in danger of falling, hard.]]> 373 Tessa Dare 0062672126 Patricia 5 lovely romance story. It's one where I want to tell the poor souls who couldn't read an advanced copy that the wait will definitely be worth it.

Tessa Dare's characters are always insightful, lovable and ridiculous. They're adorable. Their stories leave me sighing happily, and despite all my misgivings when it comes to grand gestures, I accept all of theirs.

The Governess Game takes the cake with the morbid children, I suppose. And with freaking Malta. The only thing I regret is that, even though I apparently own an ARC of its prequel (The Duchess Deal) I haven't read it. In hinsight, it would have been better to start with it, as the characters reappear in this novel and I'm sure having read the first in the series would have made reading The Governess Game even better. (I've bookmarked the hell out of this regardless.)

The story is as follows: Alexandra for several reasons finds herself employed to Chase; she isn't actually a Governess but I'm handwaving aside the reasons. She is to educate and raise - for the summer - his wards. She is wonderful at that and I was delighted the entire time. Good parenting advice hidden inside there. Chase and her fall in love. There are some complications. It's all very wonderful.

The things that made this story special for me aren't necessarily that the hero was swoonworthy, although I'm sure he was, or that the heroine was magnificent, although she was, but that Tessa Dare managed what unfortunately a lot of other novels lately haven't: She made me feel invested in the story and giggly about silly things within. I've been rereading favourites lately just to get that.

So. Recommendation.

(Also the heroine has dark skin, pass it on.)

Content warnings: [spoilers removed]]]> 3.87 2018 The Governess Game (Girl Meets Duke, #2)
author: Tessa Dare
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2018/07/17
date added: 2018/07/17
shelves: source_e-arc, _g_historical-romance, _setting-historicals, 2018, age_adult, r_reviewed
review:
I'm saying this with a big dose of gratitude: This was a lovely romance story. It's one where I want to tell the poor souls who couldn't read an advanced copy that the wait will definitely be worth it.

Tessa Dare's characters are always insightful, lovable and ridiculous. They're adorable. Their stories leave me sighing happily, and despite all my misgivings when it comes to grand gestures, I accept all of theirs.

The Governess Game takes the cake with the morbid children, I suppose. And with freaking Malta. The only thing I regret is that, even though I apparently own an ARC of its prequel (The Duchess Deal) I haven't read it. In hinsight, it would have been better to start with it, as the characters reappear in this novel and I'm sure having read the first in the series would have made reading The Governess Game even better. (I've bookmarked the hell out of this regardless.)

The story is as follows: Alexandra for several reasons finds herself employed to Chase; she isn't actually a Governess but I'm handwaving aside the reasons. She is to educate and raise - for the summer - his wards. She is wonderful at that and I was delighted the entire time. Good parenting advice hidden inside there. Chase and her fall in love. There are some complications. It's all very wonderful.

The things that made this story special for me aren't necessarily that the hero was swoonworthy, although I'm sure he was, or that the heroine was magnificent, although she was, but that Tessa Dare managed what unfortunately a lot of other novels lately haven't: She made me feel invested in the story and giggly about silly things within. I've been rereading favourites lately just to get that.

So. Recommendation.

(Also the heroine has dark skin, pass it on.)

Content warnings: [spoilers removed]
]]> <![CDATA[Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord (Love By Numbers, #2)]]> 7781699 “Lord Nicholas is a paragon of manhood. And his eyes, Dear Reader! So blue!� Pearls & Pelisses, June 1823

Since being named on of London’s “Lords to Land� by a popular ladies� magazine, Nicholas St. John has been relentlessly pursued by every matrimony-minded female in the ton. So when an opportunity to escape fashionable society presents itself, he eagerly jumps—only to land in the path of the most determined, damnably delicious woman he’s ever met!

The daughter of a titled wastrel, Lady Isabel Townsend has too many secrets and too little money. Though used to taking care of herself quite handily, her father’s recent passing has left Isabel at sea and in need of outside help to protect her young brother’s birthright. The sinfully handsome, eminently eligible Lord Nicholas could be the very salvation she seeks.

But the lady must be wary and not do anything reckless� like falling madly, passionately in love.]]> 357 Sarah MacLean 0061852066 Patricia 0
It was a good story overall (have some issues with the Turkey story but I'm not yet sure how to explain) and I think I would've really enjoyed it before, but for some reason I didn't manage to get into the story and felt a little disconnected thorough it all. :/

The story was mainly about trust, so maybe that* kept me so far in meta that I couldn't connect?

* I've been thinking about conflicts in romance novels and how they're solved lately. Trust is often one of them, but not always as clearly as in this novel. The hero and heroine have trust issues (though his are addressed differently, especially in the beginning) and both are overcome in ways that are tangible - I kept thinking about how that translates into real life, whether their internal struggles should have been portrayed differently (smaller degree for example) etc. -- I guess thoughts like those might have been the reason why I didn't finish this story with a happy sigh even though I'm sure it wouldve been worth it.

Might reread in the future.]]> 3.87 2010 Ten Ways to Be Adored When Landing a Lord (Love By Numbers, #2)
author: Sarah MacLean
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2010
rating: 0
read at: 2018/07/16
date added: 2018/07/15
shelves: 2018, _g_historical-romance, _setting-historicals, age_adult
review:
I forgot that I had this since I'd originally skipped it in favour of Juliana's book. I wish I hadn't, though.

It was a good story overall (have some issues with the Turkey story but I'm not yet sure how to explain) and I think I would've really enjoyed it before, but for some reason I didn't manage to get into the story and felt a little disconnected thorough it all. :/

The story was mainly about trust, so maybe that* kept me so far in meta that I couldn't connect?

* I've been thinking about conflicts in romance novels and how they're solved lately. Trust is often one of them, but not always as clearly as in this novel. The hero and heroine have trust issues (though his are addressed differently, especially in the beginning) and both are overcome in ways that are tangible - I kept thinking about how that translates into real life, whether their internal struggles should have been portrayed differently (smaller degree for example) etc. -- I guess thoughts like those might have been the reason why I didn't finish this story with a happy sigh even though I'm sure it wouldve been worth it.

Might reread in the future.
]]> <![CDATA[The Duchess War (Brothers Sinister, #1)]]> 16300660
But that is precisely what she gets.

Because Robert Blaisdell, the Duke of Clermont, is not fooled. When Minnie figures out what he's up to, he realizes there is more to her than her spectacles and her quiet ways. And he's determined to lay her every secret bare before she can discover his. But this time, one shy miss may prove to be more than his match...]]> 271 Courtney Milan Patricia 4
The only reason why this didn't get five stars is because another review unintentionally spoiled me and this story requires a high level of emotional investment, both of which resulted in me feeling anxious for about 30-40% of the book.

As for the latter - the reader gets rewarded for that emotional investment, they really do. Especially if they don't read other reviews and feel like bad things are going to happen (when bad things didn't actually happen and really, reader/me, why do you have that kind of pessimistic imagination? It's a fucking romance novel. They tend to end with a HEA.) which makes them unnecessarily anxious the entire fucking time.

For those who might get anxious as well because of my review:

Not saying what those spoilers specifically entailed but why I had issues: [spoilers removed]

Saying what the spoilers were: [spoilers removed]

Content warnings: [spoilers removed]]]> 3.90 2012 The Duchess War (Brothers Sinister, #1)
author: Courtney Milan
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2018/07/12
date added: 2018/07/13
shelves: 2018, _g_historical-romance, _setting-historicals, age_adult, form-freebies
review:
I'll hopefully get into all the amazing points later - and there were many.

The only reason why this didn't get five stars is because another review unintentionally spoiled me and this story requires a high level of emotional investment, both of which resulted in me feeling anxious for about 30-40% of the book.

As for the latter - the reader gets rewarded for that emotional investment, they really do. Especially if they don't read other reviews and feel like bad things are going to happen (when bad things didn't actually happen and really, reader/me, why do you have that kind of pessimistic imagination? It's a fucking romance novel. They tend to end with a HEA.) which makes them unnecessarily anxious the entire fucking time.

For those who might get anxious as well because of my review:

Not saying what those spoilers specifically entailed but why I had issues: [spoilers removed]

Saying what the spoilers were: [spoilers removed]

Content warnings: [spoilers removed]
]]> <![CDATA[A Week to Be Wicked (Spindle Cove, #2)]]> 12944122
Minerva Highwood, one of Spindle Cove's confirmed spinsters, needs to be in Scotland. Colin Sandhurst, Lord Payne, a rake of the first order, needs to be... anywhere but Spindle Cove.

These unlikely partners have one week:
to fake an elopement
to convince family and friends they're "in love"
to outrun armed robbers
to survive their worst nightmares
to travel four hundred miles without killing each other.

All while sharing a very small carriage by day and an even smaller bed by night.
What they don't have time for is their growing attraction. Much less wild passion. And heaven forbid they spend precious hours baring their hearts and souls.
Suddenly one week seems like exactly enough time to find a world of trouble. And maybe... just maybe... everlasting love.]]> 430 Tessa Dare Patricia 4 tremendously enjoyed this read. It was near perfect, a micture of hilarious dialogues, romantic gestures, highly likeable and intelligent characters, and an overall great writing-style, A Week to be Wicked blew my mind and is one of the only historical romance novels that I will reread every year.

Tessa Dare is a wonderful author. I'm saying this mainly because she spoiled me rotten with this book and I absolutely loved her complex and deep characters. Complex characters who are still funny. Not just sarcastic, but genuinely funny.

"It's all right," she said. "You're through." "Jesus," he finally managed, pushing water off his face. "Jesus Christ and John the Baptist. For that matter, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John." Still not enough. He needed to reach back to the Old Testament for this. "Obadiah. Nebuchadnezzar. Methuselah and Job." "Be calm," she said, taking him by the shoulders. "Be calm. And there are women in the Bible, you know." "Yes. As I recall it, they were trouble, every last one."


Minerva and Colin were just splendid, though. They travel to Scotland and along the way hilarious things ensue. He makes up stories about how he was once buried sort-of-alive and saved by his sister -Minerva- to make their fellow travelers feel at ease with them. They run away from a mob, meet with some dubious fellas and in between.. fall madly in love.

I seldomly enjoy historical romance novels to this degree, but this time, I really did! Definite recommendation.]]> 4.09 2012 A Week to Be Wicked (Spindle Cove, #2)
author: Tessa Dare
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2012/04/27
date added: 2018/07/11
shelves: source_e-arc, age_adult, _g_historical-romance, 2012, _setting-historicals, r_reviewed
review:
I, wait, let me think of a good word, tremendously enjoyed this read. It was near perfect, a micture of hilarious dialogues, romantic gestures, highly likeable and intelligent characters, and an overall great writing-style, A Week to be Wicked blew my mind and is one of the only historical romance novels that I will reread every year.

Tessa Dare is a wonderful author. I'm saying this mainly because she spoiled me rotten with this book and I absolutely loved her complex and deep characters. Complex characters who are still funny. Not just sarcastic, but genuinely funny.

"It's all right," she said. "You're through." "Jesus," he finally managed, pushing water off his face. "Jesus Christ and John the Baptist. For that matter, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John." Still not enough. He needed to reach back to the Old Testament for this. "Obadiah. Nebuchadnezzar. Methuselah and Job." "Be calm," she said, taking him by the shoulders. "Be calm. And there are women in the Bible, you know." "Yes. As I recall it, they were trouble, every last one."


Minerva and Colin were just splendid, though. They travel to Scotland and along the way hilarious things ensue. He makes up stories about how he was once buried sort-of-alive and saved by his sister -Minerva- to make their fellow travelers feel at ease with them. They run away from a mob, meet with some dubious fellas and in between.. fall madly in love.

I seldomly enjoy historical romance novels to this degree, but this time, I really did! Definite recommendation.
]]> <![CDATA[Heir to the Shadows (The Black Jewels, #2)]]> 47957 Librarian's note: See alternate cover for this edition here.

Enough time has passed for the young girl Jaenelle, heir to the magical Darkness, for her physical wounds to heal, while amnesia keeps her frightening memories at bay. But with Saetan--a Black-Jewelled Warlord Prince and Jaenelle's foster-father--to protect her, she will continue to grow. Her magic will mature. Her memories will return. And Jaenelle will face her destiny when she remembers Daemon, Saetan's son, who made the ultimate sacrifice for her love....]]> 482 Anne Bishop 0451456726 Patricia 5 4.32 1999 Heir to the Shadows (The Black Jewels, #2)
author: Anne Bishop
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.32
book published: 1999
rating: 5
read at: 2016/08/15
date added: 2018/05/18
shelves: _g_fantasy, age_adult, _setting-alternate-universe, _setting-historicals, _setting-otherworld, 2016
review:
This series is so good. Also, HttS was less dark than its prequel - and having just read #1, I sincerely appreciate that.
]]> <![CDATA[Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart (Love By Numbers, #3)]]> 7963136
She lives for passion.

Bold, impulsive, and a magnet for trouble, Juliana Fiori is no simpering English miss. She refuses to play by society’s rules: she speaks her mind, cares nothing for the approval of the ton, and can throw a punch with remarkable accuracy. Her scandalous nature makes her a favorite subject of London’s most practiced gossips... and precisely the kind of woman the Duke of Leighton wants far far away from him.

He swears by reputation.

Scandal is the last thing Simon Pearson has room for in his well-ordered world. The Duke of Disdain is too focused on keeping his title untainted and his secrets unknown. But when he discovers Juliana hiding in his carriage late one evening—risking everything he holds dear—he swears to teach the reckless beauty a lesson in propriety.

She has other plans, however; she wants two weeks to prove that even an unflappable duke is not above passion.]]> 370 Sarah MacLean 0061852074 Patricia 0 3.97 2011 Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart (Love By Numbers, #3)
author: Sarah MacLean
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2011
rating: 0
read at: 2017/04/23
date added: 2017/04/23
shelves: 2017, _g_historical-romance, _setting-historicals, age_adult
review:
didn't have the patience to wait and read the second book. just needed to see Julianna again. she's so precious.
]]> <![CDATA[Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake (Love By Numbers, #1)]]> 6584134 A lady does not smoke cheroot. She does not ride astride. She does not fence or attend duels. She does not fire a pistol, and she never gambles at a gentlemen's club.

Lady Calpurnia Hartwell has always followed the rules, rules that have left her unmarried—and more than a little unsatisfied. And so she's vowed to break the rules and live the life of pleasure she's been missing.

But to dance every dance, to steal a midnight kiss—to do those things, Callie will need a willing partner. Someone who knows everything about rule-breaking. Someone like Gabriel St. John, the Marquess of Ralston—charming and devastatingly handsome, his wicked reputation matched only by his sinful smile.

If she's not careful, she'll break the most important rule of all—the one that says that pleasure-seekers should never fall hopelessly, desperately in love.]]> 397 Sarah MacLean 0061852058 Patricia 0
the side characters were delicious, and there was the typical historical-romance-type of humour, so really. good read. if only i knew why i got the feeling I missed something problematic.. *shrugs*]]> 4.06 2010 Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake (Love By Numbers, #1)
author: Sarah MacLean
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2010
rating: 0
read at: 2017/04/22
date added: 2017/04/22
shelves: 2017, _g_historical-romance, _setting-historicals, age_adult
review:
actually a really good read but i feel like there was something i missed and that i, had I not missed it, wouldn't have liked. does not make any sense, right? :'D

the side characters were delicious, and there was the typical historical-romance-type of humour, so really. good read. if only i knew why i got the feeling I missed something problematic.. *shrugs*
]]> <![CDATA[Silk Is for Seduction (The Dressmakers, #1)]]> 9466068 The allure of the perfect gown should be twofold:
ladies would die to wear it . . .
and gentlemen would kill to remove it!

Brilliant and ambitious dressmaker Marcelline Noirot is London's rising star. And who better to benefit from her talent than the worst-dressed lady in the ton, the Duke of Clevedon's intended bride? Winning the future duchess's patronage means prestige and fortune for Marcelline and her sisters. To get to the lady, though, Marcelline must win over Clevedon, whose standards are as high as his morals are . . . not.

The prize seems well worth the risk—but this time Marcelline's met her match. Clevedon can design a seduction as irresistible as her dresses;and what begins as a flicker of desire between two of the most passionately stubborn charmers in London soon ignites into a delicious inferno . . . and a blazing scandal.

And now both their futures hang by an exquisite thread of silk . . .]]> 371 Loretta Chase 0061632686 Patricia 4
BUT there were some parts that might destroy the book for people in one go. Spoilery trigger warning: [spoilers removed]]]> 3.89 2011 Silk Is for Seduction (The Dressmakers, #1)
author: Loretta Chase
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at: 2017/04/15
date added: 2017/04/17
shelves: 2015, _g_historical-romance, age_adult, listed_start-the-series, review-planned, _setting-historicals
review:
Oh, this was just a delight through and through. One of the best parts was that the narration treated even the obstacles with respect. 4-5 stars, I'd say.

BUT there were some parts that might destroy the book for people in one go. Spoilery trigger warning: [spoilers removed]
]]> Dragon Kiss (Dragon Kin, #1) 8759985 432 G.A. Aiken 3492267637 Patricia 1 Before I read it: I didn't like The Mane Event, but thought I might give the author another try. There are many people who like her writing, reviewers I usually agree with. I also wanted to read something about dragons for a while now; not in the epic fantasy, but the guilty pleasure, paranormal romance, I'm a dragon and a human, yadda yadda yadda way.

Actually I would have loved to get a contemporary/urban fantasy novel with dragons, but I couldn't find one. So, this one's got to do. ;) I'm mentioning this because my expectations of dragon novels are getting higher and higher day after day.

To Challenge a Dragon: While, from the two stories featured in Dragon Actually, it was the better one, I still didn't like it. It's not even that my wanting an urban/contemporary setting kept me from enjoying a historical one, but that several things felt very off to me.

- The writing itself seems to be just not my cup of tea. It's silly, but not in the Darynda Jones kind of way. It's unadultered crack, which is okay in short stories or when it fits the overall tone, but seemed forced here.

- The characters have this fight because of their secrecy. It's understandable to a point, but somewhat stupid, too. I'm editing this part right now because I realise I've been slightly biased about his not blaming her at all. It's possible that it felt off in the story, but in retrospect, I can't imagine a world in which not blaming someone is a bad thing, so there. ;) I'll talk more about this further along the review, but some background information first:

When they first meet he's in his dragon form, though he is able to shift to human; something humans aren't aware of. She's a fighter but weakened when he finds her, and though I can't remember why exactly, she stays with him for a while.

She later mentions she needs someone to train with, which results in him telling her he knows someone just right, secretly shifting to human, and meeting her.

This is where the conflict all starts, and it's so blatantly obvious why I didn't like it now, that I'm not sure why I struggled to verbalise my issues when I first wrote this: It's boring. It's the old "Use your words" issue I've read a hundred times, but it doesn't add anything fresh to it. Instead, it took my brainbaby and gutted it. (Yes, dragons are my brainbabies. I have thousands of things I want to read, and when authors write them, I feel very protective.)

So, she doesn't know it's the dragon and feels like betraying him by feeling attracted to "the knight", aka his human body. Betraying him because while they spent time together, she started to fall for the dragon, started trusting him and would most likely die for him too, based on his saving her life in the beginning of the book. They form a friendship, which was the best part of the entire story. (I'm very partial to fluff, especially this kind of fluff.)

So, it's understandable why she doesn't dare to tell him or the knight about her feelings, and I get why he can't find the courage to tell her about his identity either.

But I did find it somewhat annoying to have her be pissed at him when she finally finds out. Of course, she has a right to be, but given her own secrecy, it felt a little hypocritical.

- Their dealing with this is even more ridiculous and slightly disturbing as well. His demand for her to forgive him or else, as well as the way he deals with shit is plain stupid. It's been two years since I read this (yeah, I'm kind of OCDish about editing reviews when I stumble across them again, meh) and I still remember being angry about that.

Even though the entire conflict is a lack of sharing their thoughts with eachother, when their secrets are finally revealed, they instantly start to behave just like before. They should talk about what happened, but while he regrets that she's pissed (which is, even mentally, such a non-excuse, fuck you kindly), he never apologises. He doesn't say "Hey, dude, sorry for not being honest with you."

Instead, he tries to find excuses. Instead of giving her an actual explanation, time and space, he pulls an Old Skool move and practically forces himself on her. While it's not rape in the literal sense, it felt dubious and very "It's not rape if she liked it"-y to me. He's obviously taking advantage of her there, which.. no. Not cool.

Parts of the story were okay. Well, one and a half part: I liked them as friends. If the author had given them more time as that, if there had been more of a slowbuild "Yo, dude, we like the same shit and make some funnies" relationship, an actual emotional connection that passes lust, I'd have accepted most of the bullshit. I like him as a dragon, (though I can't claim him as one of my babies, ngl) but he isn't the same in human form which leads to the question of whether the author did that on purpose or if she simply couldn't get the nice guy (no, not Nice Guy, just a really nice dude) that he is into the stereotype of the knight who's training the heroine.

I admit that many of my issues with this story are problems I have with the genre in general: Love encompassing friendship? Nah, bro. We've got lust at first sight, and orgasmic epiphanies, and "YOU'RE MINE!". Very romantic. I miss the tingly feels, man. Give me the tingly feels.

Meeeh.

Second part, I'm tired of repeating myself, so I'll add something new that I disliked about this book. The entire second story was really weird, but since I took apart the first one already..

1. The characters. Authors create them, make them strong or weak, stubborn or not. As someone who reads a lot, I figure that certain things seem more important to me than to someone reading 3 books a month, but I'm pretty sure everyone wants characters with agency. Their personalities should shape their, let's say, favourite tv-shows, and the decisions they make should feel consistent. This consistency is what makes me enjoy a story even if I don't agree with a character's decisions. What I'm trying to say is, Laurenston fails to create enjoyable characters, which is just sad.

2. Eloberating on the fights: Instead of dealing with the actual problem, she lets the characters distract eachother and that's the end of their fight. That's just it. They will have the same argument again and again and then one of them - the one with the penis - will distract the heroine with sex or his arrogance or something else.

3. Lust and Love. Another thing I've mentioned before, but here comes to thing that annoys me so much: Not only does it feel like there is no real difference between lust and love in this novel, even if this wouldn't have been portrayed in the way it was - and the hero in the second part of the book is very sure that love is essential and needed in a more-than-forever-relationship - you don't see why they love eachother at all. There was, in fact, only one scene where I came close to not disliking the protagonists, which is absolutely NOT what I'd intend to have my readers feel if I were a writer.

4. The genre. I read an interview recently where the author said she wasn't thinking about her book in terms of genres or rules. It appears to me that Laurenston did. Many parts felt forced and she left out what could have been good for the sake of the "romance". Then again, see point three. It was actually just sex. (I'd say erotica, but no.)

In conclusion, this series, too, doesn't seem to be for me. I don't even remember the title of the second story, and Laurenston's writing feels so off to me, that, even if the characters were more memorable, I'm not sure I'd have continued. The truth is, I seldomly give up on books like this, but Dragon Actually wasn't even an easy/fast read.

Which brings me to the fifth point, which, truthfully, is only interesting to German speaking readers. (I read this partly in English and partly in German)

5. The translation sucked. If I recall correctly, the Mane Event wasn't that bad. But this? Oh, the horrors. It's not even the interpreters fault, I think. There are simply words and terms and sentences that don't work out in German. Also, "sein Ding" and "vögeln" was used way too often. I think he didn't even say something like "miteinander schlafen" or idk, "ficken". It was "vögeln". All the time. Gee, that was so annoying.

Both stories get 1.5 stars, because I wouldn't buy the books, wouldn't read them again and wish someone'd give me back my time. I also wouldn't recommend them to anyone except aspiring authors.

Sorry not sorry?

In retrospect, both stories really feel like an ambitious fanfiction. Like, if the characters had already been established in canon, the fannon lack of further characterisation and redeeming qualities might have almost been acceptable in the way that you read a few 50k words just because you really like a particular ship. It still wouldn't have been good fanfiction (or fanfiction based on a couple I don't get), but that would have been an excuse. (In other words, don't pull in your fanfiction if you rely way too much on canon, yo.)]]> 3.89 2004 Dragon Kiss (Dragon Kin, #1)
author: G.A. Aiken
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2004
rating: 1
read at: 2011/10/02
date added: 2017/04/17
shelves: 2011, age_adult, _setting-historicals, collections, review-on-old-blog, _g_paranormals, r_old-review
review:
Before I read it: I didn't like The Mane Event, but thought I might give the author another try. There are many people who like her writing, reviewers I usually agree with. I also wanted to read something about dragons for a while now; not in the epic fantasy, but the guilty pleasure, paranormal romance, I'm a dragon and a human, yadda yadda yadda way.

Actually I would have loved to get a contemporary/urban fantasy novel with dragons, but I couldn't find one. So, this one's got to do. ;) I'm mentioning this because my expectations of dragon novels are getting higher and higher day after day.

To Challenge a Dragon: While, from the two stories featured in Dragon Actually, it was the better one, I still didn't like it. It's not even that my wanting an urban/contemporary setting kept me from enjoying a historical one, but that several things felt very off to me.

- The writing itself seems to be just not my cup of tea. It's silly, but not in the Darynda Jones kind of way. It's unadultered crack, which is okay in short stories or when it fits the overall tone, but seemed forced here.

- The characters have this fight because of their secrecy. It's understandable to a point, but somewhat stupid, too. I'm editing this part right now because I realise I've been slightly biased about his not blaming her at all. It's possible that it felt off in the story, but in retrospect, I can't imagine a world in which not blaming someone is a bad thing, so there. ;) I'll talk more about this further along the review, but some background information first:

When they first meet he's in his dragon form, though he is able to shift to human; something humans aren't aware of. She's a fighter but weakened when he finds her, and though I can't remember why exactly, she stays with him for a while.

She later mentions she needs someone to train with, which results in him telling her he knows someone just right, secretly shifting to human, and meeting her.

This is where the conflict all starts, and it's so blatantly obvious why I didn't like it now, that I'm not sure why I struggled to verbalise my issues when I first wrote this: It's boring. It's the old "Use your words" issue I've read a hundred times, but it doesn't add anything fresh to it. Instead, it took my brainbaby and gutted it. (Yes, dragons are my brainbabies. I have thousands of things I want to read, and when authors write them, I feel very protective.)

So, she doesn't know it's the dragon and feels like betraying him by feeling attracted to "the knight", aka his human body. Betraying him because while they spent time together, she started to fall for the dragon, started trusting him and would most likely die for him too, based on his saving her life in the beginning of the book. They form a friendship, which was the best part of the entire story. (I'm very partial to fluff, especially this kind of fluff.)

So, it's understandable why she doesn't dare to tell him or the knight about her feelings, and I get why he can't find the courage to tell her about his identity either.

But I did find it somewhat annoying to have her be pissed at him when she finally finds out. Of course, she has a right to be, but given her own secrecy, it felt a little hypocritical.

- Their dealing with this is even more ridiculous and slightly disturbing as well. His demand for her to forgive him or else, as well as the way he deals with shit is plain stupid. It's been two years since I read this (yeah, I'm kind of OCDish about editing reviews when I stumble across them again, meh) and I still remember being angry about that.

Even though the entire conflict is a lack of sharing their thoughts with eachother, when their secrets are finally revealed, they instantly start to behave just like before. They should talk about what happened, but while he regrets that she's pissed (which is, even mentally, such a non-excuse, fuck you kindly), he never apologises. He doesn't say "Hey, dude, sorry for not being honest with you."

Instead, he tries to find excuses. Instead of giving her an actual explanation, time and space, he pulls an Old Skool move and practically forces himself on her. While it's not rape in the literal sense, it felt dubious and very "It's not rape if she liked it"-y to me. He's obviously taking advantage of her there, which.. no. Not cool.

Parts of the story were okay. Well, one and a half part: I liked them as friends. If the author had given them more time as that, if there had been more of a slowbuild "Yo, dude, we like the same shit and make some funnies" relationship, an actual emotional connection that passes lust, I'd have accepted most of the bullshit. I like him as a dragon, (though I can't claim him as one of my babies, ngl) but he isn't the same in human form which leads to the question of whether the author did that on purpose or if she simply couldn't get the nice guy (no, not Nice Guy, just a really nice dude) that he is into the stereotype of the knight who's training the heroine.

I admit that many of my issues with this story are problems I have with the genre in general: Love encompassing friendship? Nah, bro. We've got lust at first sight, and orgasmic epiphanies, and "YOU'RE MINE!". Very romantic. I miss the tingly feels, man. Give me the tingly feels.

Meeeh.

Second part, I'm tired of repeating myself, so I'll add something new that I disliked about this book. The entire second story was really weird, but since I took apart the first one already..

1. The characters. Authors create them, make them strong or weak, stubborn or not. As someone who reads a lot, I figure that certain things seem more important to me than to someone reading 3 books a month, but I'm pretty sure everyone wants characters with agency. Their personalities should shape their, let's say, favourite tv-shows, and the decisions they make should feel consistent. This consistency is what makes me enjoy a story even if I don't agree with a character's decisions. What I'm trying to say is, Laurenston fails to create enjoyable characters, which is just sad.

2. Eloberating on the fights: Instead of dealing with the actual problem, she lets the characters distract eachother and that's the end of their fight. That's just it. They will have the same argument again and again and then one of them - the one with the penis - will distract the heroine with sex or his arrogance or something else.

3. Lust and Love. Another thing I've mentioned before, but here comes to thing that annoys me so much: Not only does it feel like there is no real difference between lust and love in this novel, even if this wouldn't have been portrayed in the way it was - and the hero in the second part of the book is very sure that love is essential and needed in a more-than-forever-relationship - you don't see why they love eachother at all. There was, in fact, only one scene where I came close to not disliking the protagonists, which is absolutely NOT what I'd intend to have my readers feel if I were a writer.

4. The genre. I read an interview recently where the author said she wasn't thinking about her book in terms of genres or rules. It appears to me that Laurenston did. Many parts felt forced and she left out what could have been good for the sake of the "romance". Then again, see point three. It was actually just sex. (I'd say erotica, but no.)

In conclusion, this series, too, doesn't seem to be for me. I don't even remember the title of the second story, and Laurenston's writing feels so off to me, that, even if the characters were more memorable, I'm not sure I'd have continued. The truth is, I seldomly give up on books like this, but Dragon Actually wasn't even an easy/fast read.

Which brings me to the fifth point, which, truthfully, is only interesting to German speaking readers. (I read this partly in English and partly in German)

5. The translation sucked. If I recall correctly, the Mane Event wasn't that bad. But this? Oh, the horrors. It's not even the interpreters fault, I think. There are simply words and terms and sentences that don't work out in German. Also, "sein Ding" and "vögeln" was used way too often. I think he didn't even say something like "miteinander schlafen" or idk, "ficken". It was "vögeln". All the time. Gee, that was so annoying.

Both stories get 1.5 stars, because I wouldn't buy the books, wouldn't read them again and wish someone'd give me back my time. I also wouldn't recommend them to anyone except aspiring authors.

Sorry not sorry?

In retrospect, both stories really feel like an ambitious fanfiction. Like, if the characters had already been established in canon, the fannon lack of further characterisation and redeeming qualities might have almost been acceptable in the way that you read a few 50k words just because you really like a particular ship. It still wouldn't have been good fanfiction (or fanfiction based on a couple I don't get), but that would have been an excuse. (In other words, don't pull in your fanfiction if you rely way too much on canon, yo.)
]]> <![CDATA[Demon Angel (The Guardians, #1)]]> 42668 432 Meljean Brook 0425213471 Patricia 3
So much has happened to them, they did so many things � together, seperately, to eachother, to others, with others � and these things left a mark. They have some epic moments and while in other novels the hero and heroine fall in love but as a reader you don't get at all what connects them or why they feel the way they feel, Demon Angel made it absolutely clear.

Lilith and Hugh's relationship can't be explained with simply nouns like friendship or love, because it's more. After 800 years, after death and sacrifices it's more than that. They both saw the best and worst in others, they're companions, fighting for different sides and they simply know eachother so well.. It's not just the delusional love you get to read about in most of the pnr novels. Not in the least. Hugh and Lilith see eachother, their flaws, their imperfections, their good and bad sides, their best and worst and while I hate the cover and title and didn't love the whole novel, this made Demon Angel one of the reads I don't want to forget anytime soon!

Another example for the uniqueness:

Lilith says in one scene that because they both are so old and because they are who they are they can't be measured by normal, human standards. I usually hate stuff like that. If for example a shapeshifter is uber-possessive and they say: "Well, he is a dog.. It's his nature" I just want to bitchslap the heroine into sense. But in this novel it made sense, it felt right and having read some of the stuff that they've gone through it didn't bother me in the least, where it usually doesn't just bother me but can even keep me from finishing a novel.

Hugh was.. cute. He was funny, especially in the beginning, when he was just a young boy and confronted with Lilith's boldness. Also later. He's shy but.. he isn't. He's honest and wouldn't shy away from saying something just because it could embarrass him. It's a unique trait.

But it's hard to rate the novel by any standards. I can't give it more than 3.5 stars, because the romance wasn't that good in itself. It was more what you carry away from the book that makes Demon Angel better than the average. The writing style,t he story of them as two human (or non-human) beings and the love. Not the fucking or lust or passion, the love.

Sometimes the pacing or atmosphere felt a little off, for example the one time where Lilith said she hadn't seen Hugh laugh in a long time. I'm happy it didn't take more pages, but it came too abruptly.

There was much happening in the story and while the plot wasn't too thick, the sheer amount of things taking place were something I hadn't expected. That isn't to say Brook overnarrated anything. She didn't. The things she's written were important, they made the story what it is and created the uniqueness I was talking about earlier. It needed to be said and I suppose everything else would have let me to complaining about her skipping.. (skating? Geez, English, why you no like me?) over the background XD ]]> 3.55 2007 Demon Angel (The Guardians, #1)
author: Meljean Brook
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.55
book published: 2007
rating: 3
read at: 2011/09/21
date added: 2017/04/17
shelves: 2011, age_adult, _setting-historicals, _setting-present, review-on-old-blog, _g_paranormals, r_old-review
review:
After finishing Demon Angel I was very surprised. I hadn't expected something like that from a debut novel in the paranormal romance genre, but Brook kicked ass. Considering that this story is spanning over 800 years it shouldn't have surprised me that the book feels like a whole lifespan, but it did. The hero and heroine were so unique!

So much has happened to them, they did so many things � together, seperately, to eachother, to others, with others � and these things left a mark. They have some epic moments and while in other novels the hero and heroine fall in love but as a reader you don't get at all what connects them or why they feel the way they feel, Demon Angel made it absolutely clear.

Lilith and Hugh's relationship can't be explained with simply nouns like friendship or love, because it's more. After 800 years, after death and sacrifices it's more than that. They both saw the best and worst in others, they're companions, fighting for different sides and they simply know eachother so well.. It's not just the delusional love you get to read about in most of the pnr novels. Not in the least. Hugh and Lilith see eachother, their flaws, their imperfections, their good and bad sides, their best and worst and while I hate the cover and title and didn't love the whole novel, this made Demon Angel one of the reads I don't want to forget anytime soon!

Another example for the uniqueness:

Lilith says in one scene that because they both are so old and because they are who they are they can't be measured by normal, human standards. I usually hate stuff like that. If for example a shapeshifter is uber-possessive and they say: "Well, he is a dog.. It's his nature" I just want to bitchslap the heroine into sense. But in this novel it made sense, it felt right and having read some of the stuff that they've gone through it didn't bother me in the least, where it usually doesn't just bother me but can even keep me from finishing a novel.

Hugh was.. cute. He was funny, especially in the beginning, when he was just a young boy and confronted with Lilith's boldness. Also later. He's shy but.. he isn't. He's honest and wouldn't shy away from saying something just because it could embarrass him. It's a unique trait.

But it's hard to rate the novel by any standards. I can't give it more than 3.5 stars, because the romance wasn't that good in itself. It was more what you carry away from the book that makes Demon Angel better than the average. The writing style,t he story of them as two human (or non-human) beings and the love. Not the fucking or lust or passion, the love.

Sometimes the pacing or atmosphere felt a little off, for example the one time where Lilith said she hadn't seen Hugh laugh in a long time. I'm happy it didn't take more pages, but it came too abruptly.

There was much happening in the story and while the plot wasn't too thick, the sheer amount of things taking place were something I hadn't expected. That isn't to say Brook overnarrated anything. She didn't. The things she's written were important, they made the story what it is and created the uniqueness I was talking about earlier. It needed to be said and I suppose everything else would have let me to complaining about her skipping.. (skating? Geez, English, why you no like me?) over the background XD 
]]> <![CDATA[Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices, #2)]]> 10025305
With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister’s war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move—and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, but her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will—the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.]]> 498 Cassandra Clare 1416975888 Patricia 3 This will be pretty long, so here comes a little summary of what I've actually written: spoiler, spoiler, spoiler, rant, normal content, spoiler, spoiler, spoiler. (Scroll down to the first part that I bolded if you don't want to read my thoughts on why literature for young adult sucks most of the times. ; ))

So if you don't want to read this, close the window. I think I didn't leave out anything really important, except probably the actual plot -ha!- so if you're just looking for some Magnus or Jem or Sophie, CTRL + F will do.

Another warning: I just finished the novel and usually DO NOT publish reviews right after that.

Oh I know there are many, many people who've given up on YA. Most of the times I'm one of them. Is it some sort of conspiracy? Do these authors want us to hate reading? Do they want us to troll and be trolled?

, tell me, why did you write these novels and why, though I come to dislike them that much, can't I stop reading them? I can't even find the willpower to do something evil and illegally download your novels just so my curiousity won't increase your number of copies sold. Yes, there are people who actually did that. I have the pm's to prove it, though I never would.

So for those of you who didn't want to read the Clockwork Prince, and for those who did, and for those who just like to read an average half-rant-half-review, here it comes.

Books written for Young Adults tend to be stupid, with doormat heroines, who are naive and annoying and whiny and well, too stupid to live. We sometimes come across a good worldbuilding � as can be found in Unearthly or Matched � or some complex characters � The Summoning � and there are novels that are simply that well written that we're able to forgive the author for their money making agenda. It's their job after all.

I can see how girls would like Jace. He's always talking about how much he loves Clary and he's a little mysterious. He's a cynic and apparently that makes boys attractive. If only I were a boy.. The bad boy with a heart of gold. He's tortured and apparently people who have vaginas feel the deep need to safe this person. It doesn't matter that this is yet another way to proof to ourselves that we have some, any, worth, just as it doesn't matter that most readers aren't in love with the character but with what they think he is and with how they'd appreciate to be loved that much. Does it matter that it's quite shallow? No, because it's fiction and we all love to be loved.

The problem I have here is that Clare once said Will wasn't like Jace and the Infernal Devices series not the Mortal Instruments. To some extents that is true. Jace is actually a real manwhore whereas Will is just acting as if to make other people dislike him.

And yes: There are more characters and several of them are different from whom you'd associate them with. Comparing these two series' wouldn't be my intent at all, if it weren't for the fact that I'm critizing something that makes no sense if you don't know that Jace and William already lived once in another story written by this author.

Draco Malfoy everybody, was a sarcastic boy with a troubled past and/or some crazy-ass parents (Lucius and Jace's father; Will leaving his family because of something that's revealed in this novel) yet deep down he was good. He had to fight for this, but he was. He cared about Hermione and was truly in love with her in at least the first installment in Claire's Draco trilogy. Do you see the connections?

So what I'm saying is that this isn't that much better than the cheap paranormal romance novels I constantly bitch about. Same thing over and over again. But, well.. I still read the novels, don't I?

Jem. I am Team Jem. Or I've been and I still think I am, but Clare managed to strip away all that was amazing about him and hand it over to Will. The first 10-15 chapters were amazing. We've had great Jem action, but then he and Tessa were official (except that no one except them knew, but you know what I mean, they were a couple and later even engaged!) he lost his charme. I think many of us liked him because he has a sad history and a very short lifespan. He's a tragedy, he is the typical Asian lovestory, where in the end something horrible happens and everyone dies except one person who will forever mourn them.

The real difference between TMI and TID might yet be that unlike Clary, Tessa really is torn between Jem and Will. Where Simon was a sidekick, who later got his own book (except that he did not) Jem is actually a very interesting character with the potential to be more than just that. The problem here is, that he too, calls to our inner mothers. He's fragile, he's supposed to die, he has no family, he is lonely, he is friendly and kind and it makes him very loveable. And did I mention how he became less complex as soon as he proposed?

Yet Tessa is more attracted, at least in the beginning, to Will. Then, though, Jem and Tessa do have some serious action going on, though. They kiss, they touch, they fall into bed with eachother and I think they would at least have had some serious petting going on if it weren't for the drugs that suddenly fell off something and were all around his place, which was why Tessa had to leave. In this scene she's thinking this:
Her fingers wound tightly in his shirt, Tessa drew Jem down onto her, taking the weight of him onto her body with the feeilng that she was being given back something that had belonged to her forever, a bit of her that she had missed without knowing that she was missing it.

I think this scene implies a sort of bond that is more intense than what she's experiencing with Will despite all the tingling and kissing she has going on with him. In the beginning I really hoped so, but it wasn't about Jem, but what he stood for. About a hopeless situation and a tragedy. This role now falls onto Will. I had hoped that Will and Tessa would be eachothers confidantes, with him rebuilding the relationship to his family and her finding out her family's secrets, being single or in love with Jem. Now I'm not so sure anymore.

And despite the scene where she and Jem make out, she was later able to also kiss and make out with Will. (It's later lampshaded, but what the hell do I care.) Which is a lovetriangle � finally � but also quite stupid and in my opinion a little horrible of her, too. If she were a boy and he was torn between to girls, readers around the world would gasp and mourn and wail and scream and shout and insult Clare. The double standard behind this is rather annoying and I have to admit that even I would have problems if the situation was reversed, but it doesn't keep me from disliking the situation and Tessa's inability to stop being a victim and doormat. (In her defence, there were drugs in the lemonade she drank.)

Yes, Will does love her, but she doesn't know. The reader does and this apparently justifies her still wanting him. He did imply she could also be a prostitute? Who cares, he did it so she wouldn't love him. Yes, he did. But she doesn't know. Yeah, love isn't rational. But you don't have to act on it and for God's sake.. -sigh-

Will is a construct of things authors think readers will fall for. And I suppose these authors aren't wrong either, because Jace and Co are popular. I love me some Tod, so I can't say much about this horrible tendency. The reader is told � in a stupid way, if I may say so (and yes I may, it's my review after all!) - what his curse is:

When he was young, he freed a demon. The demon cursed him: Every person who would ever love him would die. One day later his sister was dead. The truth is that his sister died because of some poison, not because she loved him, but it's the reason why he's such an asshole. I don't really like that trope, but it was okay enough. So when he finally is told that he is allowed to love and let love, he's super cute and kind of the new Jem, because he meets Tessa who's by then already engaged and.. Well, he's miserable. He was hopeful, for the first time. His sarcastic self was gone (which I found very unrealistic. If you act like that for such a long time it's not that easy to simply let your role slip away.. But that's another matter altogether) and he was like a child. Fragile, all the things that made Jem Jem. So he went to Tessa and then he was miserable, because Jem was burdened already and one can't take away a dying man's love, right? Right.

Tessa will probably never be a favorite heroine of mine. But some news on her: Her mother's been a shadowhunter, that her brother Nate was in fact her cousin � her aunt's son! - and I have some suspisions about her heritage. Not sure yet, though.. I think they're wrong. Well. : / Some of her typical charactertraits: The need to tell everyone that she knows how to read. If someone quotes anyone, she has to mention whom it was from. The need to constantly compare Jem and Will. I suppose it needs to be done, but it's very annoying, especially when she has to FORCE herself to loosen up and kiss Jem, because of Will. Urgh, Tessa. Seriously. Jem might not deserve to get his heart broken, but he deserves freaking honesty from you. Bitch.

Nate and Jessamine. These two were weird. I really think they were and making Nate die before he tells Tessa what's been going on? Weak. I think their part in the plot was realistic enough, although Nate really wasn't complex enough and certainly did not feel real. I don't think Clare doesn't know a Nate � Don't we all know one? - but she couldn't bring him across properly.

Magnus. He is something different, isn't he? Sometime this year someone reviewed a short story that featured him and his now-boyfriend Alec. The reviewer stated that she doesn't really like them because it's creepy. He is old. And then she said something like 'and making him a young-old person, because he doesn't remember everything' (or something like that) doesn't make it any less creepy. Well, after this novel there is no doubt that he isn't an old-old person. He talks about the burden of immortality, and he did so in , too. He also kisses Will and tells his (ex-)girlfriend that Will is his .. well, not lover, but boyfriend sounds stupid, too.
The door to the drawing room stood open behind him. And there, framed in the archway, was Camille. (..)

(..)

“You are being ridiculous,� she said. “A child. You expect me to have the morals of some mundane when I am not human, and neither are you. Regardless, there is precious little you can do about it. I will not be dictated to, certainly not by some half-breed.� It was the Downworlders� own insulting term for warlocks. “You are devoted to me; you have said so yourself. Your devotion will simply have to suffer my diversions, and then we shall rub along quite pleasantly. If not, I shall drop you. I cannot imagine you want that.�

There was a little sneer in her voice as she spoke, and it snapped something inside Magnus. He recalled the sick feeling in his throat when the letter had come from Saint Petersburg. And yet he had waited for her return, hoping she had an explanation. That she would apologize. Ask him to love her again. Now that he realized he was not worth that to her—that he never had been—a red mist passed before his eyes; he seemed to go mad momentarily, for it was the only explanation for what he did next.

“It doesn’t matter.� He rose to his feet. “I have Will now.�

Her mouth opened. “You can’t be serious. A Shadowhunter?�

“You may be immortal, Camille, but your feelings are vapid and shallow. Will’s are not. He understands what it is to love.� Magnus, having delivered this insane speech with great dignity, stepped across the room and shook Will’s shoulder. “Will. William. Wake up.�

Will’s hazy blue eyes opened. He was lying on his back, looking upward, and the first thing he saw was Camille’s face as she bent over the back of the sofa, regarding him. He jerked upright. “By the Angel—�

“Oh, shush,� said Camille lazily, smiling just enough to show the tips of baby fangs. “I won’t hurt you, Nephilim.�

Magnus hauled Will to his feet. “The lady of the house,� he said, “has returned.�

“I see that.� Will was flushed, the collar of his shirt dark with sweat. “Delightful,� he said to no one in particular, and Magnus wasn’t sure whether he meant he was delighted to see Camille, delighted with the effects of the painkilling spell Magnus had used on him—certainly a possibility—or simply rambling.

“And therefore,� said Magnus, squeezing Will’s arm with a meaning pressure, “we must go.�

Will blinked at him. “Go where?�

“Don’t worry about that right now, my love.�

Will blinked again. “Pardon?� He glanced around, as if he half-expected people to be watching. “I—where’s my coat?�

“Ruined with blood,� said Magnus. “Archer disposed of it.� He nodded toward Camille. “Will’s been hunting demons all night. So brave.�

Camille’s expression was a mixture of amazement and annoyance.

“I am brave,� Will said. He looked pleased with himself. The painkilling tonics had enlarged his pupils, and his eyes looked very dark.

“Yes, you are,� Magnus said, and kissed him. It wasn’t the most dramatic kiss, but Will flailed his free arm as if a bee had landed on him; Magnus had to hope Camille would assume this was passion. When they broke apart, Will looked stunned. So did Camille, for that matter.

“Now,” Magnus said, hoping that Will would recollect that he was indebted to him. “We must go.�

“I—but—� Will swung sideways. “The tooth!� He dashed across the room, retrieved it, and tucked it into Magnus’s waistcoat pocket. Then, with a wink at Camille that, Magnus thought, God alone knew how she would interpret, he sauntered out of the room.

(..)

“Did you just kiss me?� Will inquired.

Magnus made a split-second decision. “No.�

“I thought—�

“On occasion the aftereffects of the painkilling spells can result in hallucinations of the most bizarre sort.�

The rest. It was a little weird. Sophie has a thing going on with Gideon, Charlotte and Henry finally talk to eachother, demon pox do exist. I have no idea what to say to all of that and I'm not really interested in talking about the plot, because it didn't bother me as much and I think it was readable, actually.

I won't start with the historical part.. I haven't studied it, I'm quite sure that what she did there would have led to instant marriage (because it's improper and all that), but it's Steampunk and I suppose Clare couldn't let her readers not get some good kissing scenes.

This novel wasn't as bad as I had expected, but it could've been better. Some conflicts felt too constructed - Jem and Tessa not talking because each of them thought the other one was disgusted by them and a very similiar thing going on between Henry and Charlotte? Urgh. Getting Sophie a love interest? Freaking demon pox? Well, then. Oh and it ends with Cecily, Will's sister arriving. I think Cliffhangers only work if you care and since I don't..

What I'm saying is that like an accident I can't not look, but I don't like what I'm seeing. Or, well, reading. It's not a bad accident, though. ]]> 4.42 2011 Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Devices, #2)
author: Cassandra Clare
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2011
rating: 3
read at: 2011/12/09
date added: 2017/04/17
shelves: 2011, age_young-adult, review-on-old-blog, _setting-historicals, _g_steampunk, _g_paranormals, r_old-review
review:
This will be pretty long, so here comes a little summary of what I've actually written: spoiler, spoiler, spoiler, rant, normal content, spoiler, spoiler, spoiler. (Scroll down to the first part that I bolded if you don't want to read my thoughts on why literature for young adult sucks most of the times. ; ))

So if you don't want to read this, close the window. I think I didn't leave out anything really important, except probably the actual plot -ha!- so if you're just looking for some Magnus or Jem or Sophie, CTRL + F will do.

Another warning: I just finished the novel and usually DO NOT publish reviews right after that.

Oh I know there are many, many people who've given up on YA. Most of the times I'm one of them. Is it some sort of conspiracy? Do these authors want us to hate reading? Do they want us to troll and be trolled?

, tell me, why did you write these novels and why, though I come to dislike them that much, can't I stop reading them? I can't even find the willpower to do something evil and illegally download your novels just so my curiousity won't increase your number of copies sold. Yes, there are people who actually did that. I have the pm's to prove it, though I never would.

So for those of you who didn't want to read the Clockwork Prince, and for those who did, and for those who just like to read an average half-rant-half-review, here it comes.

Books written for Young Adults tend to be stupid, with doormat heroines, who are naive and annoying and whiny and well, too stupid to live. We sometimes come across a good worldbuilding � as can be found in Unearthly or Matched � or some complex characters � The Summoning � and there are novels that are simply that well written that we're able to forgive the author for their money making agenda. It's their job after all.

I can see how girls would like Jace. He's always talking about how much he loves Clary and he's a little mysterious. He's a cynic and apparently that makes boys attractive. If only I were a boy.. The bad boy with a heart of gold. He's tortured and apparently people who have vaginas feel the deep need to safe this person. It doesn't matter that this is yet another way to proof to ourselves that we have some, any, worth, just as it doesn't matter that most readers aren't in love with the character but with what they think he is and with how they'd appreciate to be loved that much. Does it matter that it's quite shallow? No, because it's fiction and we all love to be loved.

The problem I have here is that Clare once said Will wasn't like Jace and the Infernal Devices series not the Mortal Instruments. To some extents that is true. Jace is actually a real manwhore whereas Will is just acting as if to make other people dislike him.

And yes: There are more characters and several of them are different from whom you'd associate them with. Comparing these two series' wouldn't be my intent at all, if it weren't for the fact that I'm critizing something that makes no sense if you don't know that Jace and William already lived once in another story written by this author.

Draco Malfoy everybody, was a sarcastic boy with a troubled past and/or some crazy-ass parents (Lucius and Jace's father; Will leaving his family because of something that's revealed in this novel) yet deep down he was good. He had to fight for this, but he was. He cared about Hermione and was truly in love with her in at least the first installment in Claire's Draco trilogy. Do you see the connections?

So what I'm saying is that this isn't that much better than the cheap paranormal romance novels I constantly bitch about. Same thing over and over again. But, well.. I still read the novels, don't I?

Jem. I am Team Jem. Or I've been and I still think I am, but Clare managed to strip away all that was amazing about him and hand it over to Will. The first 10-15 chapters were amazing. We've had great Jem action, but then he and Tessa were official (except that no one except them knew, but you know what I mean, they were a couple and later even engaged!) he lost his charme. I think many of us liked him because he has a sad history and a very short lifespan. He's a tragedy, he is the typical Asian lovestory, where in the end something horrible happens and everyone dies except one person who will forever mourn them.

The real difference between TMI and TID might yet be that unlike Clary, Tessa really is torn between Jem and Will. Where Simon was a sidekick, who later got his own book (except that he did not) Jem is actually a very interesting character with the potential to be more than just that. The problem here is, that he too, calls to our inner mothers. He's fragile, he's supposed to die, he has no family, he is lonely, he is friendly and kind and it makes him very loveable. And did I mention how he became less complex as soon as he proposed?

Yet Tessa is more attracted, at least in the beginning, to Will. Then, though, Jem and Tessa do have some serious action going on, though. They kiss, they touch, they fall into bed with eachother and I think they would at least have had some serious petting going on if it weren't for the drugs that suddenly fell off something and were all around his place, which was why Tessa had to leave. In this scene she's thinking this:
Her fingers wound tightly in his shirt, Tessa drew Jem down onto her, taking the weight of him onto her body with the feeilng that she was being given back something that had belonged to her forever, a bit of her that she had missed without knowing that she was missing it.

I think this scene implies a sort of bond that is more intense than what she's experiencing with Will despite all the tingling and kissing she has going on with him. In the beginning I really hoped so, but it wasn't about Jem, but what he stood for. About a hopeless situation and a tragedy. This role now falls onto Will. I had hoped that Will and Tessa would be eachothers confidantes, with him rebuilding the relationship to his family and her finding out her family's secrets, being single or in love with Jem. Now I'm not so sure anymore.

And despite the scene where she and Jem make out, she was later able to also kiss and make out with Will. (It's later lampshaded, but what the hell do I care.) Which is a lovetriangle � finally � but also quite stupid and in my opinion a little horrible of her, too. If she were a boy and he was torn between to girls, readers around the world would gasp and mourn and wail and scream and shout and insult Clare. The double standard behind this is rather annoying and I have to admit that even I would have problems if the situation was reversed, but it doesn't keep me from disliking the situation and Tessa's inability to stop being a victim and doormat. (In her defence, there were drugs in the lemonade she drank.)

Yes, Will does love her, but she doesn't know. The reader does and this apparently justifies her still wanting him. He did imply she could also be a prostitute? Who cares, he did it so she wouldn't love him. Yes, he did. But she doesn't know. Yeah, love isn't rational. But you don't have to act on it and for God's sake.. -sigh-

Will is a construct of things authors think readers will fall for. And I suppose these authors aren't wrong either, because Jace and Co are popular. I love me some Tod, so I can't say much about this horrible tendency. The reader is told � in a stupid way, if I may say so (and yes I may, it's my review after all!) - what his curse is:

When he was young, he freed a demon. The demon cursed him: Every person who would ever love him would die. One day later his sister was dead. The truth is that his sister died because of some poison, not because she loved him, but it's the reason why he's such an asshole. I don't really like that trope, but it was okay enough. So when he finally is told that he is allowed to love and let love, he's super cute and kind of the new Jem, because he meets Tessa who's by then already engaged and.. Well, he's miserable. He was hopeful, for the first time. His sarcastic self was gone (which I found very unrealistic. If you act like that for such a long time it's not that easy to simply let your role slip away.. But that's another matter altogether) and he was like a child. Fragile, all the things that made Jem Jem. So he went to Tessa and then he was miserable, because Jem was burdened already and one can't take away a dying man's love, right? Right.

Tessa will probably never be a favorite heroine of mine. But some news on her: Her mother's been a shadowhunter, that her brother Nate was in fact her cousin � her aunt's son! - and I have some suspisions about her heritage. Not sure yet, though.. I think they're wrong. Well. : / Some of her typical charactertraits: The need to tell everyone that she knows how to read. If someone quotes anyone, she has to mention whom it was from. The need to constantly compare Jem and Will. I suppose it needs to be done, but it's very annoying, especially when she has to FORCE herself to loosen up and kiss Jem, because of Will. Urgh, Tessa. Seriously. Jem might not deserve to get his heart broken, but he deserves freaking honesty from you. Bitch.

Nate and Jessamine. These two were weird. I really think they were and making Nate die before he tells Tessa what's been going on? Weak. I think their part in the plot was realistic enough, although Nate really wasn't complex enough and certainly did not feel real. I don't think Clare doesn't know a Nate � Don't we all know one? - but she couldn't bring him across properly.

Magnus. He is something different, isn't he? Sometime this year someone reviewed a short story that featured him and his now-boyfriend Alec. The reviewer stated that she doesn't really like them because it's creepy. He is old. And then she said something like 'and making him a young-old person, because he doesn't remember everything' (or something like that) doesn't make it any less creepy. Well, after this novel there is no doubt that he isn't an old-old person. He talks about the burden of immortality, and he did so in , too. He also kisses Will and tells his (ex-)girlfriend that Will is his .. well, not lover, but boyfriend sounds stupid, too.
The door to the drawing room stood open behind him. And there, framed in the archway, was Camille. (..)

(..)

“You are being ridiculous,� she said. “A child. You expect me to have the morals of some mundane when I am not human, and neither are you. Regardless, there is precious little you can do about it. I will not be dictated to, certainly not by some half-breed.� It was the Downworlders� own insulting term for warlocks. “You are devoted to me; you have said so yourself. Your devotion will simply have to suffer my diversions, and then we shall rub along quite pleasantly. If not, I shall drop you. I cannot imagine you want that.�

There was a little sneer in her voice as she spoke, and it snapped something inside Magnus. He recalled the sick feeling in his throat when the letter had come from Saint Petersburg. And yet he had waited for her return, hoping she had an explanation. That she would apologize. Ask him to love her again. Now that he realized he was not worth that to her—that he never had been—a red mist passed before his eyes; he seemed to go mad momentarily, for it was the only explanation for what he did next.

“It doesn’t matter.� He rose to his feet. “I have Will now.�

Her mouth opened. “You can’t be serious. A Shadowhunter?�

“You may be immortal, Camille, but your feelings are vapid and shallow. Will’s are not. He understands what it is to love.� Magnus, having delivered this insane speech with great dignity, stepped across the room and shook Will’s shoulder. “Will. William. Wake up.�

Will’s hazy blue eyes opened. He was lying on his back, looking upward, and the first thing he saw was Camille’s face as she bent over the back of the sofa, regarding him. He jerked upright. “By the Angel—�

“Oh, shush,� said Camille lazily, smiling just enough to show the tips of baby fangs. “I won’t hurt you, Nephilim.�

Magnus hauled Will to his feet. “The lady of the house,� he said, “has returned.�

“I see that.� Will was flushed, the collar of his shirt dark with sweat. “Delightful,� he said to no one in particular, and Magnus wasn’t sure whether he meant he was delighted to see Camille, delighted with the effects of the painkilling spell Magnus had used on him—certainly a possibility—or simply rambling.

“And therefore,� said Magnus, squeezing Will’s arm with a meaning pressure, “we must go.�

Will blinked at him. “Go where?�

“Don’t worry about that right now, my love.�

Will blinked again. “Pardon?� He glanced around, as if he half-expected people to be watching. “I—where’s my coat?�

“Ruined with blood,� said Magnus. “Archer disposed of it.� He nodded toward Camille. “Will’s been hunting demons all night. So brave.�

Camille’s expression was a mixture of amazement and annoyance.

“I am brave,� Will said. He looked pleased with himself. The painkilling tonics had enlarged his pupils, and his eyes looked very dark.

“Yes, you are,� Magnus said, and kissed him. It wasn’t the most dramatic kiss, but Will flailed his free arm as if a bee had landed on him; Magnus had to hope Camille would assume this was passion. When they broke apart, Will looked stunned. So did Camille, for that matter.

“Now,” Magnus said, hoping that Will would recollect that he was indebted to him. “We must go.�

“I—but—� Will swung sideways. “The tooth!� He dashed across the room, retrieved it, and tucked it into Magnus’s waistcoat pocket. Then, with a wink at Camille that, Magnus thought, God alone knew how she would interpret, he sauntered out of the room.

(..)

“Did you just kiss me?� Will inquired.

Magnus made a split-second decision. “No.�

“I thought—�

“On occasion the aftereffects of the painkilling spells can result in hallucinations of the most bizarre sort.�

The rest. It was a little weird. Sophie has a thing going on with Gideon, Charlotte and Henry finally talk to eachother, demon pox do exist. I have no idea what to say to all of that and I'm not really interested in talking about the plot, because it didn't bother me as much and I think it was readable, actually.

I won't start with the historical part.. I haven't studied it, I'm quite sure that what she did there would have led to instant marriage (because it's improper and all that), but it's Steampunk and I suppose Clare couldn't let her readers not get some good kissing scenes.

This novel wasn't as bad as I had expected, but it could've been better. Some conflicts felt too constructed - Jem and Tessa not talking because each of them thought the other one was disgusted by them and a very similiar thing going on between Henry and Charlotte? Urgh. Getting Sophie a love interest? Freaking demon pox? Well, then. Oh and it ends with Cecily, Will's sister arriving. I think Cliffhangers only work if you care and since I don't..

What I'm saying is that like an accident I can't not look, but I don't like what I'm seeing. Or, well, reading. It's not a bad accident, though.
]]> <![CDATA[Mr. Cavendish, I Presume (Two Dukes of Wyndham, #2)]]> 5956276 There went the bride...

Amelia Willoughby has been engaged to the Duke of Wyndham for as long as she can remember. Literally. A mere six months old when the contracts were signed, she has spent the rest of her life waiting. And waiting. And waiting... for Thomas Cavendish, the oh-so-lofty duke, to finally get around to marrying her. But as she watches him from afar, she has a sneaking suspicion that he never thinks about her at all...

It's true. He doesn't. Thomas rather likes having a fiancée—all the better to keep the husband-hunters at bay—and he does intend to marry her... eventually. But just when he begins to realize that his bride might be something more than convenient, Thomas's world is rocked by the arrival of his long-lost cousin, who may or may not be the true Duke of Wyndham. And if Thomas is not the duke, then he's not engaged to Amelia. Which is the cruelest joke of all, because this arrogant and illustrious duke has made the mistake of falling in love... with his own fiancée!

An unabridged recording on 8 CDs (9 hours, 48 minutes).]]> 370 Julia Quinn 0749908874 Patricia 3
I decided to review both books in one review, it makes more sense to me: Both books start about at the same time and their plots are intertwined; I would compare them anyway, so why not do it properly?

If you are a newbie to Historical Romance novels, I would probably recommend Julia Quinn. I am a newbie, and I really like her books. Usually, I need more serious, darker novels, but the light and funny atmosphere Quinn creates makes for a great read. The conflicts, mostly internally driven ones, are believable and although I wish she would write about middle class citizens instead of Dukes, and Viscounts, I like her stories.

If you buy this duet, you will get the following: A Duke, Thomas, and his fiancee, Amelia. Both don't have the best relationship, he rather disregards her and in my opinion both characters of the second novel are pale in comparison to Jack, the highwayman and maybe Duke, and Grace, the dowager's companion, the protagonists of the first novel � The Lost Duke of Wyndham.

Grace is -after losing her family- the companion of Thomas' grandmother; Jack is a long lost cousin and probably also the true Duke of Wyndham. His father died before he knew that he was the new duke and so Jack did never know either - As well as the Wyndhams never heard of his existence. He meets the dowager and Grace when he tries to rob them. (Obviously, the dowager recognizes his father in him..)

Jack is a great, funny, charming character. He is very intelligent, and is a loveable character. Grace is funny, witty, but sometimes a little too stubborn. She thinks she is below both Thomas and Jack because of their (maybe) Dukedom.

On the other side, we have Thomas and Amelia. They slowly learn to love eachother and it could almost be too late � When he finally realizes what she means to him, he might have to give her up. She is not 'his' fiancee, after all. But the one of the Duke of Wyndham. And if that is Jack, she is Jack's fiancee. (Who is not so happy about it either, because he fancies Grace, and she him.)

I did not like Thomas at all. He is, in my opinion, a very spoiled boy. I read his novel first, so I did not get all of the background story and I think that made it even easier to dislike him. He is told to be a very responsible person, but it is not shown. ;(

Compared, I think The Lost Duke of Wyndham is a much better novel than Mr. Cavendish, I Presume. It's funny, the protagonists are easy to like and love. The pacing 'feels' better, and for some reasons it feels as if the hero and heroine are the better people. I know, that's an evil thing to say. But anyway, I would recommend you to read the first novel, definitely! The second is just a maybe. It is a novel that people MIGHT enjoy, whereas The Lost Duke of Wyndham is one I'm quite sure most WILL like.]]> 3.37 2008 Mr. Cavendish, I Presume (Two Dukes of Wyndham, #2)
author: Julia Quinn
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.37
book published: 2008
rating: 3
read at: 2012/01/01
date added: 2017/04/17
shelves: form-physical-copy, age_adult, 2012, _setting-historicals, review-on-old-blog, r_old-review
review:
Least favorite Julia Quinn novel. Enjoyable, but I really did not like the hero. Reading the first installment of the series right now. And I truly have seldomly been in love with a hero as much as I am with Jack. Oooh. *swoon*

I decided to review both books in one review, it makes more sense to me: Both books start about at the same time and their plots are intertwined; I would compare them anyway, so why not do it properly?

If you are a newbie to Historical Romance novels, I would probably recommend Julia Quinn. I am a newbie, and I really like her books. Usually, I need more serious, darker novels, but the light and funny atmosphere Quinn creates makes for a great read. The conflicts, mostly internally driven ones, are believable and although I wish she would write about middle class citizens instead of Dukes, and Viscounts, I like her stories.

If you buy this duet, you will get the following: A Duke, Thomas, and his fiancee, Amelia. Both don't have the best relationship, he rather disregards her and in my opinion both characters of the second novel are pale in comparison to Jack, the highwayman and maybe Duke, and Grace, the dowager's companion, the protagonists of the first novel � The Lost Duke of Wyndham.

Grace is -after losing her family- the companion of Thomas' grandmother; Jack is a long lost cousin and probably also the true Duke of Wyndham. His father died before he knew that he was the new duke and so Jack did never know either - As well as the Wyndhams never heard of his existence. He meets the dowager and Grace when he tries to rob them. (Obviously, the dowager recognizes his father in him..)

Jack is a great, funny, charming character. He is very intelligent, and is a loveable character. Grace is funny, witty, but sometimes a little too stubborn. She thinks she is below both Thomas and Jack because of their (maybe) Dukedom.

On the other side, we have Thomas and Amelia. They slowly learn to love eachother and it could almost be too late � When he finally realizes what she means to him, he might have to give her up. She is not 'his' fiancee, after all. But the one of the Duke of Wyndham. And if that is Jack, she is Jack's fiancee. (Who is not so happy about it either, because he fancies Grace, and she him.)

I did not like Thomas at all. He is, in my opinion, a very spoiled boy. I read his novel first, so I did not get all of the background story and I think that made it even easier to dislike him. He is told to be a very responsible person, but it is not shown. ;(

Compared, I think The Lost Duke of Wyndham is a much better novel than Mr. Cavendish, I Presume. It's funny, the protagonists are easy to like and love. The pacing 'feels' better, and for some reasons it feels as if the hero and heroine are the better people. I know, that's an evil thing to say. But anyway, I would recommend you to read the first novel, definitely! The second is just a maybe. It is a novel that people MIGHT enjoy, whereas The Lost Duke of Wyndham is one I'm quite sure most WILL like.
]]> <![CDATA[The Lost Duke of Wyndham (Two Dukes of Wyndham, #1)]]> 3471792
Jack Audley has been a highwayman. A soldier. And he has always been a rogue. What he is not, and never wanted to be, is a peer of the realm, responsible for an ancient heritage and the livelihood of hundreds. But when he is recognized as the long-lost son of the House of Wyndham, his carefree life is over. And if his birth proves to be legitimate, then he will find himself with the one title he never wanted: Duke of Wyndham.

Grace Eversleigh has spent the last five years toiling as the companion to the dowager Duchess of Wyndham. It is a thankless job, with very little break from the routine... until Jack Audley lands in her life, all rakish smiles and debonair charm. He is not a man who takes no for an answer, and when she is in his arms, she's not a woman who wants to say no. But if he is the true duke, then he is the one man she can never have...]]> 371 Julia Quinn 0749937939 Patricia 5
I decided to review both books in one review, it makes more sense to me: Both books start about at the same time and their plots are intertwined; I would compare them anyway, so why not do it properly?

If you are a newbie to Historical Romance novels, I would probably recommend Julia Quinn. I am a newbie, and I really like her books. Usually, I need more serious, darker novels, but the light and funny atmosphere Quinn creates makes for a great read. The conflicts, mostly internally driven ones, are believable and although I wish she would write about middle class citizens instead of Dukes, and Viscounts, I like her stories.

If you buy this duet, you will get the following: A Duke, Thomas, and his fiancee, Amelia. Both don't have the best relationship, he rather disregards her and in my opinion both characters of the second novel are pale in comparison to Jack, the highwayman and maybe Duke, and Grace, the dowager's companion, the protagonists of the first novel � The Lost Duke of Wyndham.

Grace is -after losing her family- the companion of Thomas' grandmother; Jack is a long lost cousin and probably also the true Duke of Wyndham. His father died before he knew that he was the new duke and so Jack did never know either - As well as the Wyndhams never heard of his existence. He meets the dowager and Grace when he tries to rob them. (Obviously, the dowager recognizes his father in him..)

Jack is a great, funny, charming character. He is very intelligent, and is a loveable character. Grace is funny, witty, but sometimes a little too stubborn. She thinks she is below both Thomas and Jack because of their (maybe) Dukedom.

On the other side, we have Thomas and Amelia. They slowly learn to love eachother and it could almost be too late � When he finally realizes what she means to him, he might have to give her up. She is not 'his' fiancee, after all. But the one of the Duke of Wyndham. And if that is Jack, she is Jack's fiancee. (Who is not so happy about it either, because he fancies Grace, and she him.)

I did not like Thomas at all. He is, in my opinion, a very spoiled boy. I read his novel first, so I did not get all of the background story and I think that made it even easier to dislike him. He is told to be a very responsible person, but it is not shown. ;(

Compared, I think The Lost Duke of Wyndham is a much better novel than Mr. Cavendish, I Presume. It's funny, the protagonists are easy to like and love. The pacing 'feels' better, and for some reasons it feels as if the hero and heroine are the better people. I know, that's an evil thing to say. But anyway, I would recommend you to read the first novel, definitely! The second is just a maybe. It is a novel that people MIGHT enjoy, whereas The Lost Duke of Wyndham is one I'm quite sure most WILL like.]]> 3.52 2008 The Lost Duke of Wyndham (Two Dukes of Wyndham, #1)
author: Julia Quinn
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.52
book published: 2008
rating: 5
read at: 2012/01/03
date added: 2017/04/17
shelves: age_adult, _g_historical-romance, listed_former_or_old_favourites, _setting-historicals, 2012, review-on-old-blog, r_old-review
review:
This was so good!!

I decided to review both books in one review, it makes more sense to me: Both books start about at the same time and their plots are intertwined; I would compare them anyway, so why not do it properly?

If you are a newbie to Historical Romance novels, I would probably recommend Julia Quinn. I am a newbie, and I really like her books. Usually, I need more serious, darker novels, but the light and funny atmosphere Quinn creates makes for a great read. The conflicts, mostly internally driven ones, are believable and although I wish she would write about middle class citizens instead of Dukes, and Viscounts, I like her stories.

If you buy this duet, you will get the following: A Duke, Thomas, and his fiancee, Amelia. Both don't have the best relationship, he rather disregards her and in my opinion both characters of the second novel are pale in comparison to Jack, the highwayman and maybe Duke, and Grace, the dowager's companion, the protagonists of the first novel � The Lost Duke of Wyndham.

Grace is -after losing her family- the companion of Thomas' grandmother; Jack is a long lost cousin and probably also the true Duke of Wyndham. His father died before he knew that he was the new duke and so Jack did never know either - As well as the Wyndhams never heard of his existence. He meets the dowager and Grace when he tries to rob them. (Obviously, the dowager recognizes his father in him..)

Jack is a great, funny, charming character. He is very intelligent, and is a loveable character. Grace is funny, witty, but sometimes a little too stubborn. She thinks she is below both Thomas and Jack because of their (maybe) Dukedom.

On the other side, we have Thomas and Amelia. They slowly learn to love eachother and it could almost be too late � When he finally realizes what she means to him, he might have to give her up. She is not 'his' fiancee, after all. But the one of the Duke of Wyndham. And if that is Jack, she is Jack's fiancee. (Who is not so happy about it either, because he fancies Grace, and she him.)

I did not like Thomas at all. He is, in my opinion, a very spoiled boy. I read his novel first, so I did not get all of the background story and I think that made it even easier to dislike him. He is told to be a very responsible person, but it is not shown. ;(

Compared, I think The Lost Duke of Wyndham is a much better novel than Mr. Cavendish, I Presume. It's funny, the protagonists are easy to like and love. The pacing 'feels' better, and for some reasons it feels as if the hero and heroine are the better people. I know, that's an evil thing to say. But anyway, I would recommend you to read the first novel, definitely! The second is just a maybe. It is a novel that people MIGHT enjoy, whereas The Lost Duke of Wyndham is one I'm quite sure most WILL like.
]]> <![CDATA[To Challenge A Dragon (Dragon Kin, #1)]]> 3317386 Note: This story was reissued in the book Dragon Actually under the pseudonym G.A. Aiken together with another story!]]> 352 G.A. Aiken 1932866353 Patricia 1
Before I read it: I didn't like The Mane Event, but thought I might give the author another try. There are many people who like her writing, reviewers I usually agree with. I also wanted to read something about dragons for a while now; not in the epic fantasy, but the guilty pleasure, paranormal romance, I'm a dragon and a human, yadda yadda yadda way.

Actually I would have loved to get a contemporary/urban fantasy novel with dragons, but I couldn't find one. So, this one's got to do. ;) I'm mentioning this because my expectations of dragon novels are getting higher and higher day after day.

To Challenge a Dragon: While, from the two stories featured in Dragon Actually, it was the better one, I still didn't like it. It's not even that my wanting an urban/contemporary setting kept me from enjoying a historical one, but that several things felt very off to me.

- The writing itself seems to be just not my cup of tea. It's silly, but not in the Darynda Jones kind of way. It's unadultered crack, which is okay in short stories or when it fits the overall tone, but seemed forced here.

- The characters have this fight because of their secrecy. It's understandable to a point, but somewhat stupid, too. I'm editing this part right now because I realise I've been slightly biased about his not blaming her at all. It's possible that it felt off in the story, but in retrospect, I can't imagine a world in which not blaming someone is a bad thing, so there. ;) I'll talk more about this further along the review, but some background information first:

When they first meet he's in his dragon form, though he is able to shift to human; something humans aren't aware of. She's a fighter but weakened when he finds her, and though I can't remember why exactly, she stays with him for a while.

She later mentions she needs someone to train with, which results in him telling her he knows someone just right, secretly shifting to human, and meeting her.

This is where the conflict all starts, and it's so blatantly obvious why I didn't like it now, that I'm not sure why I struggled to verbalise my issues when I first wrote this: It's boring. It's the old "Use your words" issue I've read a hundred times, but it doesn't add anything fresh to it. Instead, it took my brainbaby and gutted it. (Yes, dragons are my brainbabies. I have thousands of things I want to read, and when authors write them, I feel very protective.)

So, she doesn't know it's the dragon and feels like betraying him by feeling attracted to "the knight", aka his human body. Betraying him because while they spent time together, she started to fall for the dragon, started trusting him and would most likely die for him too, based on his saving her life in the beginning of the book. They form a friendship, which was the best part of the entire story. (I'm very partial to fluff, especially this kind of fluff.)

So, it's understandable why she doesn't dare to tell him or the knight about her feelings, and I get why he can't find the courage to tell her about his identity either.

But I did find it somewhat annoying to have her be pissed at him when she finally finds out. Of course, she has a right to be, but given her own secrecy, it felt a little hypocritical.

- Their dealing with this is even more ridiculous and slightly disturbing as well. His demand for her to forgive him or else, as well as the way he deals with shit is plain stupid. It's been two years since I read this (yeah, I'm kind of OCDish about editing reviews when I stumble across them again, meh) and I still remember being angry about that.

Even though the entire conflict is a lack of sharing their thoughts with eachother, when their secrets are finally revealed, they instantly start to behave just like before. They should talk about what happened, but while he regrets that she's pissed (which is, even mentally, such a non-excuse, fuck you kindly), he never apologises. He doesn't say "Hey, dude, sorry for not being honest with you."

Instead, he tries to find excuses. Instead of giving her an actual explanation, time and space, he pulls an Old Skool move and practically forces himself on her. While it's not rape in the literal sense, it felt dubious and very "It's not rape if she liked it"-y to me. He's obviously taking advantage of her there, which.. no. Not cool.

Parts of the story were okay. Well, one and a half part: I liked them as friends. If the author had given them more time as that, if there had been more of a slowbuild "Yo, dude, we like the same shit and make some funnies" relationship, an actual emotional connection that passes lust, I'd have accepted most of the bullshit. I like him as a dragon, (though I can't claim him as one of my babies, ngl) but he isn't the same in human form which leads to the question of whether the author did that on purpose or if she simply couldn't get the nice guy (no, not Nice Guy, just a really nice dude) that he is into the stereotype of the knight who's training the heroine.

I admit that many of my issues with this story are problems I have with the genre in general: Love encompassing friendship? Nah, bro. We've got lust at first sight, and orgasmic epiphanies, and "YOU'RE MINE!". Very romantic. I miss the tingly feels, man. Give me the tingly feels.

Meeeh.]]> 4.39 2004 To Challenge A Dragon (Dragon Kin, #1)
author: G.A. Aiken
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.39
book published: 2004
rating: 1
read at: 2011/10/02
date added: 2017/04/17
shelves: 2011, age_adult, review-on-old-blog, _setting-historicals, paranormal_dragons, _g_paranormals, r_old-review
review:
I'm currently reading the novel "" in German and this is the first story in the book. (Read my Dragon Actually review if you want to know what I'm talking about when I say 'more about that one later')

Before I read it: I didn't like The Mane Event, but thought I might give the author another try. There are many people who like her writing, reviewers I usually agree with. I also wanted to read something about dragons for a while now; not in the epic fantasy, but the guilty pleasure, paranormal romance, I'm a dragon and a human, yadda yadda yadda way.

Actually I would have loved to get a contemporary/urban fantasy novel with dragons, but I couldn't find one. So, this one's got to do. ;) I'm mentioning this because my expectations of dragon novels are getting higher and higher day after day.

To Challenge a Dragon: While, from the two stories featured in Dragon Actually, it was the better one, I still didn't like it. It's not even that my wanting an urban/contemporary setting kept me from enjoying a historical one, but that several things felt very off to me.

- The writing itself seems to be just not my cup of tea. It's silly, but not in the Darynda Jones kind of way. It's unadultered crack, which is okay in short stories or when it fits the overall tone, but seemed forced here.

- The characters have this fight because of their secrecy. It's understandable to a point, but somewhat stupid, too. I'm editing this part right now because I realise I've been slightly biased about his not blaming her at all. It's possible that it felt off in the story, but in retrospect, I can't imagine a world in which not blaming someone is a bad thing, so there. ;) I'll talk more about this further along the review, but some background information first:

When they first meet he's in his dragon form, though he is able to shift to human; something humans aren't aware of. She's a fighter but weakened when he finds her, and though I can't remember why exactly, she stays with him for a while.

She later mentions she needs someone to train with, which results in him telling her he knows someone just right, secretly shifting to human, and meeting her.

This is where the conflict all starts, and it's so blatantly obvious why I didn't like it now, that I'm not sure why I struggled to verbalise my issues when I first wrote this: It's boring. It's the old "Use your words" issue I've read a hundred times, but it doesn't add anything fresh to it. Instead, it took my brainbaby and gutted it. (Yes, dragons are my brainbabies. I have thousands of things I want to read, and when authors write them, I feel very protective.)

So, she doesn't know it's the dragon and feels like betraying him by feeling attracted to "the knight", aka his human body. Betraying him because while they spent time together, she started to fall for the dragon, started trusting him and would most likely die for him too, based on his saving her life in the beginning of the book. They form a friendship, which was the best part of the entire story. (I'm very partial to fluff, especially this kind of fluff.)

So, it's understandable why she doesn't dare to tell him or the knight about her feelings, and I get why he can't find the courage to tell her about his identity either.

But I did find it somewhat annoying to have her be pissed at him when she finally finds out. Of course, she has a right to be, but given her own secrecy, it felt a little hypocritical.

- Their dealing with this is even more ridiculous and slightly disturbing as well. His demand for her to forgive him or else, as well as the way he deals with shit is plain stupid. It's been two years since I read this (yeah, I'm kind of OCDish about editing reviews when I stumble across them again, meh) and I still remember being angry about that.

Even though the entire conflict is a lack of sharing their thoughts with eachother, when their secrets are finally revealed, they instantly start to behave just like before. They should talk about what happened, but while he regrets that she's pissed (which is, even mentally, such a non-excuse, fuck you kindly), he never apologises. He doesn't say "Hey, dude, sorry for not being honest with you."

Instead, he tries to find excuses. Instead of giving her an actual explanation, time and space, he pulls an Old Skool move and practically forces himself on her. While it's not rape in the literal sense, it felt dubious and very "It's not rape if she liked it"-y to me. He's obviously taking advantage of her there, which.. no. Not cool.

Parts of the story were okay. Well, one and a half part: I liked them as friends. If the author had given them more time as that, if there had been more of a slowbuild "Yo, dude, we like the same shit and make some funnies" relationship, an actual emotional connection that passes lust, I'd have accepted most of the bullshit. I like him as a dragon, (though I can't claim him as one of my babies, ngl) but he isn't the same in human form which leads to the question of whether the author did that on purpose or if she simply couldn't get the nice guy (no, not Nice Guy, just a really nice dude) that he is into the stereotype of the knight who's training the heroine.

I admit that many of my issues with this story are problems I have with the genre in general: Love encompassing friendship? Nah, bro. We've got lust at first sight, and orgasmic epiphanies, and "YOU'RE MINE!". Very romantic. I miss the tingly feels, man. Give me the tingly feels.

Meeeh.
]]> Wrecked (Iron Seas, #3.4) 19050401
Originally published in the anthology Fire & Frost.]]> 103 Meljean Brook Patricia 4
As for the content, obviously Meljean can do me no wrong. I think I could throw my least favourite tropes at her and she'd make me love them. Though, I'll admit, there were no tropes in this one that I didn't like to begin with. Creepy (I accidently wrote crappy, yo, Freud?) relatives and stuff are kind of my thaaang.

(I also have to stop writing reviews/comments while listening to the KNB soundtrack, because it gets weird.)

Anyways, definitely recommend anything she writes. ]]> 3.96 2013 Wrecked (Iron Seas, #3.4)
author: Meljean Brook
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.96
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at: 2013/11/29
date added: 2017/04/17
shelves: 2013, age_adult, anthologies-novellas, _g_steampunk, review-quicky, _setting-alternate-universe, _setting-historicals, r_old-review
review:
I read this in the anthology it was originally published in, but I think I might actually buy it, too. I wish I could print it out.. I really love the cover and the fact that she put the anthology cover in the corner.

As for the content, obviously Meljean can do me no wrong. I think I could throw my least favourite tropes at her and she'd make me love them. Though, I'll admit, there were no tropes in this one that I didn't like to begin with. Creepy (I accidently wrote crappy, yo, Freud?) relatives and stuff are kind of my thaaang.

(I also have to stop writing reviews/comments while listening to the KNB soundtrack, because it gets weird.)

Anyways, definitely recommend anything she writes.
]]> <![CDATA[One Dance with a Duke (Stud Club, #1)]]> 6809488 One Dance with a Duke--the first novel in Tessa Dare's delightful new trilogy--secrets and scandals tempt the irresistible rogues of the Stud Club to gamble everything for love.
A handsome and reclusive horse breeder, Spencer Dumarque, the fourth Duke of Morland, is a member of the exclusive Stud Club, an organization so select it has only ten members--yet membership is attainable to anyone with luck. And Spencer has plenty of it, along with an obsession with a prize horse, a dark secret, and, now, a reputation as the dashing "Duke of Midnight." Each evening he selects one lady for a breathtaking midnight waltz. But none of the women catch his interest, and nobody ever bests the duke--until Lady Amelia d'Orsay tries her luck.
In a moment of desperation, the unconventional beauty claims the duke's dance and unwittingly steals his heart. When Amelia demands that Spencer forgive her scapegrace brother's debts, she never imagines that her game of wits and words will lead to breathless passion and a steamy proposal. Still, Spencer is a man of mystery, perhaps connected to the shocking murder of the Stud Club's founder. Will Amelia lose her heart in this reckless wager or win everlasting love?]]> 384 Tessa Dare Patricia 4
I'm infatuated with you, I cannot deny it. Physically speaking, you're a very attractive man. But I don't like you, the vast majority of the time. So far as I can gather, you behave abominably in public and are only marginally better in private. I only find you remotely tolerable when you're kissing me.


But I kept reading because Amelia was a fantastic heroine, and Spencer not so bad himself. There were several times where I just wanted to slap him. He's a complicated guy with a lot of issues, and I don't think his falling in love with Amelia itself could ever redeem him, but through her, he learnt a lot regarding emotions. ;)

Tessa Dare is a truly great author. I love how her scenes feel authentic even/especially when they jump from fluffy and ridiculous to honest, private, deep or downright tragic.

Even better was the way Amelia didn't decide between her brother and her husband:

Spencer was right; she did have to make a choice. But this wasn't a matter of deciding between her brother and her husband. It was a matter of deciding to seize happiness and let go of guilt.

Amelia was choosing herself.


IMO rather important. I read some negative reviews about how she picked her brother over her husband and how they didn't understand why Spencer had to go back and apologize to her, but I feel like this is.. sexist. Spencer wanted her all for himself. Despite her being an enabler for her brother's unhealthy behaviour, the truth of the matter was, he loved Amelia for being herself, and a part of that is her loyalty. He wanted her to decide between him and her brother, which is seriously stupid behaviour. I think it's good that the novel's POV made it obvious that him apologizing was necessary. Sometimes it comes across as if, for a man, all he must do is love the heroine and all is forgiven. Which seriously sucks, imo. I like that this isn't the case in Dare's novels. (Though, he was a jerk quite often prior to the final Jack-incident.)

Another issue for me was his talk of her virtue. In another Dare novel, the hero says something like, "Yeah, so you're no virgin. I'm no virgin, either." and I know that she obviously doesn't measure the worth of a woman by her lack of carnal knowledge. I also understand that it's realistic portrayal of society back then to have him mention that her lineage and virtue made her a good wife for him, and sadly all of that isn't much different in the present, but in combination with the Amelia-hate I saw, it leaves me with a bitter taste on my tongue. Or eyes..

I do feel sorry for Juno and Osiris, though. I mean, I think them together would have given me diabethis, but alas..

Anyways, a very funny and romantic read. I think Tessa Dare is my #1 Historical Romance go-to author. ]]> 3.83 2010 One Dance with a Duke (Stud Club, #1)
author: Tessa Dare
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at: 2013/03/31
date added: 2017/04/17
shelves: age_adult, _g_historical-romance, 2013, _setting-historicals, review-quicky, r_old-review
review:
I started this one because of a quote,

I'm infatuated with you, I cannot deny it. Physically speaking, you're a very attractive man. But I don't like you, the vast majority of the time. So far as I can gather, you behave abominably in public and are only marginally better in private. I only find you remotely tolerable when you're kissing me.


But I kept reading because Amelia was a fantastic heroine, and Spencer not so bad himself. There were several times where I just wanted to slap him. He's a complicated guy with a lot of issues, and I don't think his falling in love with Amelia itself could ever redeem him, but through her, he learnt a lot regarding emotions. ;)

Tessa Dare is a truly great author. I love how her scenes feel authentic even/especially when they jump from fluffy and ridiculous to honest, private, deep or downright tragic.

Even better was the way Amelia didn't decide between her brother and her husband:

Spencer was right; she did have to make a choice. But this wasn't a matter of deciding between her brother and her husband. It was a matter of deciding to seize happiness and let go of guilt.

Amelia was choosing herself.


IMO rather important. I read some negative reviews about how she picked her brother over her husband and how they didn't understand why Spencer had to go back and apologize to her, but I feel like this is.. sexist. Spencer wanted her all for himself. Despite her being an enabler for her brother's unhealthy behaviour, the truth of the matter was, he loved Amelia for being herself, and a part of that is her loyalty. He wanted her to decide between him and her brother, which is seriously stupid behaviour. I think it's good that the novel's POV made it obvious that him apologizing was necessary. Sometimes it comes across as if, for a man, all he must do is love the heroine and all is forgiven. Which seriously sucks, imo. I like that this isn't the case in Dare's novels. (Though, he was a jerk quite often prior to the final Jack-incident.)

Another issue for me was his talk of her virtue. In another Dare novel, the hero says something like, "Yeah, so you're no virgin. I'm no virgin, either." and I know that she obviously doesn't measure the worth of a woman by her lack of carnal knowledge. I also understand that it's realistic portrayal of society back then to have him mention that her lineage and virtue made her a good wife for him, and sadly all of that isn't much different in the present, but in combination with the Amelia-hate I saw, it leaves me with a bitter taste on my tongue. Or eyes..

I do feel sorry for Juno and Osiris, though. I mean, I think them together would have given me diabethis, but alas..

Anyways, a very funny and romantic read. I think Tessa Dare is my #1 Historical Romance go-to author.
]]> <![CDATA[Penelopes pikantes Geheimnis (Bridgerton-Reihe, #4)]]> 7194350
Colin Bridgerton is tired of being thought nothing but an empty-headed charmer, tired of everyone's preoccupation with the notorious gossip columnist Lady Whistledown, who can't seem to publish an edition without mentioning him in the first paragraph. But when Colin returns to London from a trip abroad he discovers nothing in his life is quite the same - especially Penelope Featherington! The girl haunting his dreams. But when he discovers that Penelope has secrets of her own, this elusive bachelor must decide...is she his biggest threat - or his promise of a happy ending?]]> 444 Julia Quinn 3899417089 Patricia 4 _______________________________________________________

Ich hatte es alles geplant. Ich wollte mein Eis fertig essen, mich an den PC setzen und wie der King eine Rezension schreiben, die die Welt verändern würde.

Das mit dem Eis hab ich hinbekommen. Den Rest..

Das Problem ist, dass ich diesen Teil der Bridgerton-Reihe einfach sehr dolle mochte und nicht mit dem Finger auf die Punkte zeigen kann, die mir am Meisten gefielen. - Etwas ungĂĽnstig, wo man doch in einer Rezension tolle und weniger tolle Dinge gegenĂĽberstellen soll.

Ich hatte es also alles geplant, aber Colin und Penelope und meine nicht vorhandene Eloquenz versauen es mir.



Deswegen nur ein paar kleinere Dinge. Vermutlich war Penelopes pikantes Geheimnis mein Lieblingsbridgerton. Ich konnte mich in sie hineinversetzen, ich hab mich in Colin verliebt, fand die Handlung toll. Joa. Leider wurde ich durch den ehemaligen Titel des Buches [spoilers removed] natĂĽrlich absolut durchgespoilert und wusste das Geheimnis sofort. Schade, aber das Buch war dennoch toll. :D

Quinn schreibt Quinn-ig, der Plot ist wirklich toll, die Charaktere sind wie sie eben sind und mehr krieg ich nicht ordentlich formuliert. Lacht mich nur aus, das kriegt ihr dann alle zurĂĽck! :<

]]> 3.87 2002 Penelopes pikantes Geheimnis (Bridgerton-Reihe, #4)
author: Julia Quinn
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2002
rating: 4
read at: 2011/06/25
date added: 2017/04/17
shelves: review-on-old-blog, 2011, _setting-historicals, _g_historical-romance, r_old-review
review:
4+ || Ich glaub, das war mein Lieblingsbridgerton. �
_______________________________________________________

Ich hatte es alles geplant. Ich wollte mein Eis fertig essen, mich an den PC setzen und wie der King eine Rezension schreiben, die die Welt verändern würde.

Das mit dem Eis hab ich hinbekommen. Den Rest..

Das Problem ist, dass ich diesen Teil der Bridgerton-Reihe einfach sehr dolle mochte und nicht mit dem Finger auf die Punkte zeigen kann, die mir am Meisten gefielen. - Etwas ungĂĽnstig, wo man doch in einer Rezension tolle und weniger tolle Dinge gegenĂĽberstellen soll.

Ich hatte es also alles geplant, aber Colin und Penelope und meine nicht vorhandene Eloquenz versauen es mir.



Deswegen nur ein paar kleinere Dinge. Vermutlich war Penelopes pikantes Geheimnis mein Lieblingsbridgerton. Ich konnte mich in sie hineinversetzen, ich hab mich in Colin verliebt, fand die Handlung toll. Joa. Leider wurde ich durch den ehemaligen Titel des Buches [spoilers removed] natĂĽrlich absolut durchgespoilert und wusste das Geheimnis sofort. Schade, aber das Buch war dennoch toll. :D

Quinn schreibt Quinn-ig, der Plot ist wirklich toll, die Charaktere sind wie sie eben sind und mehr krieg ich nicht ordentlich formuliert. Lacht mich nur aus, das kriegt ihr dann alle zurĂĽck! :<


]]> Outlander (Outlander, #1) 10964
Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into the intrigues of lairds and spies that may threaten her life, and shatter her heart. For here James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, shows her a love so absolute that Claire becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire—and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.]]> 850 Diana Gabaldon 0440242940 Patricia 0
I'll assume you know the basics about this book in this 'review', and there will definitely be spoilers while I'm discussing the more controversial parts. (I'll try to mark them, though.) Not sure there's a way to really summarise Outlander anyway, cause it's a darn long story. Well, here goes.

First and foremost, I enjoyed reading this. A lot. Still I want to talk about the things that bothered me, since there are enough enthusiastic ravings telling you why this book is the best thing ever. ;)

The problem with having a semi-modern woman (born 1918, 27 years old) timetravel into past, of course, is that her morals and mindset differ greatly from that of the periods actual inhebitants: Her point of view's one of the things we should be able to identify with, her role that of the outsider introducing us to the world, her estrangement with their customs reflected in ours.

That's a crucial point to timetravel stories and one Outlander ultimately failed to properly provide - Not because the heroine necessarily agrees with the social norms of the society she now is part of, but because her relatively helpless and powerless position as a woman denied her to do much about, well, her inheritently helpless and powerless position as a woman in a patriarchy as that. Next to that we also have convenient distractions, denying her to do much but somewhat reluctantly submit to the men in her life.

(In a non-fantasy historical romance novel, I can accept, or at least tolerate, good characters doing , in my opinion, horrible things, when in context that's what's seen as good/how they were raised/whatever. They don't do it because they are awful. But with Claire in the mix, it was harder to accept.)

However much this might be authentic, the overall lack of confrontation ([spoilers removed]) bothered me a lot.

Examples for this are the obvious ones, i.e. women, children and male privilege. She obviously doesn't want herself, other women or children to be beaten up, but eventually seems to acknowledge that it's a part of the time she now lives in and accepts it as that. ([spoilers removed])

While Outlander starts with a science fiction/paranormal device, timetravel, it doesn't provide an actual explanation, which was absolutely fine with me. I liked that it lampshaded and reversed certain "genre"-tropes while shamelessly using others: It was a fun read; not in the way that it was a comedy, which it wasn't, but in how the journey of Claire was entertaining, adventurous and fun to read about for the most part.

So, especially given the fact that it'll be adapted to screeeeeen, I feel like it's a recommendable read, but unlike the many raving fans, I don't think, if it had been written in the last five years, it would have been nearly as successful. (Pretty much like my former best friend is still convinced Buffy wouldn't be a big deal today. Yeah, sure, you moron. IT ONLY OPENED THE DOORS FOR BASICALLY EVERY SHOW ON TELEVISION YOU HEAR ME? - Maybe Outlander is another Buffy. I like it much better when I think about when it was written.)

I'm a bit lazy now and might edit this later, but here's other stuff you COULD or I HAD problems with. It's also triggery shit, so be warned.

Not marked spoilers following-

- Claire wonders if her first husband, Frank (who's presumably still in 1945) cheated on her. It felt like it to me, but was never revealed. They only interact pre!timetravel, and while she does think about him several times, I feel like their living apart from eachother for so long due to the war, did influence her not being really heartbroken about him. He's a nice guy, though. Funny, seems to like her, a bit of a professor-syndrome going on, too.

- If you have kids, or if you once were a kid, you might dislike Jamie and pretty much every other (male) character, or think of the women as too submissive in their acceptance that, apparently, being beaten up is a normal part of life. Claire asks him if he'd hit their children and he tells her he would. She doesn't think too much about it from that point on, probably because she's not pregnant and doesn't except to be any time soon (or at all) - This is one of the "convenient" things I talked about earlier when questioning why there are so little conflicts regarding her mindset vs. "theirs"

- Claire also doesn't spend too much time thinking about general sexism, spousal abuse, raping, whatever. It sometimes came across as almost lazy writing, but given the length of the novel, it might also be Gabaldon simply didn't have the time.

- There's definite slut-shaming, and blaming female victims of rape harlots vs. male victims survivors. It's more complicated than that, and I could find a lot of explanations and excuses, but if you were in a similiar situation, this book might trigger you a lot: Claire gets close to being raped several times, manhandled, abused. Telling Jamie no leads to him seducing her to say yes, which is almost annoying as it's common in the genre back then.

- There are witch trials, Claire just barely gets out of it.

- The main antagonist is bisexual, though he's only shown having sex with a man. A sadist, and, as far as Claire could figure out, was/still is in love with his younger brother, Alexander. That seems to be very one-sided, though, as he rapes inmates and calls at least one of them "Alex". He also mindfucks with them and, being an ancestor of Frank, looks almost exactly like him.

- Another character, who is gay, tried to rape an underage Jamie back in the day. When Claire finds out, she seems slightly upset, but when meeting him, thinks of him as a nice fella. I found that highly disturbing on many levels.

- There's a lot of sexist shit, many hypocrites. Even the narration itself seems to favour men over women, and implies that Jamie's love for Claire is an excuse for his behaviour.

- While this, too, might be due to her having grown up and being a nurse in WW2, I thought it was sad that she didn't spend any/more time thinking about books, movies, magazines, friends, razors, warm water, pasta, and music of her time. She reflects that the medical conditions are the worst, but apart from that, I missed some sort of nostalgia in her. The only times when there is conversation about her era, are one or two small talks with Jamie about not losing his hand, and one of the religious guys who she confesses to. (I liked that dude, though.) Less wolf pack and more of that, though, really.

- While Jamie is a stubborn man of his time, he is portrayed as "fair", which, in comparison, he probably is. But that belittles the fact that, for people who know "better", and I'll just assume that all of us know better, cause, ye know, beating up children is pretty bad. (I really hope you read other reviews or the book yourself, because Jamie is also a really cool guy. I'm just not sure I'd want to marry the dude, or, you know, let him come into close contact with my genitals. His temper? Definitely not for me.)

- Claire gets in a lot of stupid situations. Those, though, all seem very appropriate. It's not the kind of "too stupid to live I'll just, ya know, jump into the water with a shark and some three gallons of blood" thing. Given her circumstances, it does appear to be mostly reasonable for her to do the things she does, with minor exceptions. Those, however, got undermined by how other characters dealt with them and treated her. Is it bad to be mean to the horsies or steal your best friend's cookie? Sure. Should you get drowned for it? Well.

- Lalalala there's more, but I'm tired. I should copypaste my word document, but I'd need to find my laptop and email it to myself first, eek! My apologies.

If you read the sequels, let me know if any of these things got dealt with, please!]]> 4.25 1991 Outlander (Outlander, #1)
author: Diana Gabaldon
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.25
book published: 1991
rating: 0
read at: 2013/07/23
date added: 2017/04/17
shelves: 2013, age_adult, _g_historical-romance, paranormal_timetravel, review-quicky, review-planned, _setting-historicals, _g_paranormals, r_old-review
review:
I'm not sure about the rating yet, and I don't know whether I'll crosspost this on the blog or the tumblr ask I got recently, either.

I'll assume you know the basics about this book in this 'review', and there will definitely be spoilers while I'm discussing the more controversial parts. (I'll try to mark them, though.) Not sure there's a way to really summarise Outlander anyway, cause it's a darn long story. Well, here goes.

First and foremost, I enjoyed reading this. A lot. Still I want to talk about the things that bothered me, since there are enough enthusiastic ravings telling you why this book is the best thing ever. ;)

The problem with having a semi-modern woman (born 1918, 27 years old) timetravel into past, of course, is that her morals and mindset differ greatly from that of the periods actual inhebitants: Her point of view's one of the things we should be able to identify with, her role that of the outsider introducing us to the world, her estrangement with their customs reflected in ours.

That's a crucial point to timetravel stories and one Outlander ultimately failed to properly provide - Not because the heroine necessarily agrees with the social norms of the society she now is part of, but because her relatively helpless and powerless position as a woman denied her to do much about, well, her inheritently helpless and powerless position as a woman in a patriarchy as that. Next to that we also have convenient distractions, denying her to do much but somewhat reluctantly submit to the men in her life.

(In a non-fantasy historical romance novel, I can accept, or at least tolerate, good characters doing , in my opinion, horrible things, when in context that's what's seen as good/how they were raised/whatever. They don't do it because they are awful. But with Claire in the mix, it was harder to accept.)

However much this might be authentic, the overall lack of confrontation ([spoilers removed]) bothered me a lot.

Examples for this are the obvious ones, i.e. women, children and male privilege. She obviously doesn't want herself, other women or children to be beaten up, but eventually seems to acknowledge that it's a part of the time she now lives in and accepts it as that. ([spoilers removed])

While Outlander starts with a science fiction/paranormal device, timetravel, it doesn't provide an actual explanation, which was absolutely fine with me. I liked that it lampshaded and reversed certain "genre"-tropes while shamelessly using others: It was a fun read; not in the way that it was a comedy, which it wasn't, but in how the journey of Claire was entertaining, adventurous and fun to read about for the most part.

So, especially given the fact that it'll be adapted to screeeeeen, I feel like it's a recommendable read, but unlike the many raving fans, I don't think, if it had been written in the last five years, it would have been nearly as successful. (Pretty much like my former best friend is still convinced Buffy wouldn't be a big deal today. Yeah, sure, you moron. IT ONLY OPENED THE DOORS FOR BASICALLY EVERY SHOW ON TELEVISION YOU HEAR ME? - Maybe Outlander is another Buffy. I like it much better when I think about when it was written.)

I'm a bit lazy now and might edit this later, but here's other stuff you COULD or I HAD problems with. It's also triggery shit, so be warned.

Not marked spoilers following-

- Claire wonders if her first husband, Frank (who's presumably still in 1945) cheated on her. It felt like it to me, but was never revealed. They only interact pre!timetravel, and while she does think about him several times, I feel like their living apart from eachother for so long due to the war, did influence her not being really heartbroken about him. He's a nice guy, though. Funny, seems to like her, a bit of a professor-syndrome going on, too.

- If you have kids, or if you once were a kid, you might dislike Jamie and pretty much every other (male) character, or think of the women as too submissive in their acceptance that, apparently, being beaten up is a normal part of life. Claire asks him if he'd hit their children and he tells her he would. She doesn't think too much about it from that point on, probably because she's not pregnant and doesn't except to be any time soon (or at all) - This is one of the "convenient" things I talked about earlier when questioning why there are so little conflicts regarding her mindset vs. "theirs"

- Claire also doesn't spend too much time thinking about general sexism, spousal abuse, raping, whatever. It sometimes came across as almost lazy writing, but given the length of the novel, it might also be Gabaldon simply didn't have the time.

- There's definite slut-shaming, and blaming female victims of rape harlots vs. male victims survivors. It's more complicated than that, and I could find a lot of explanations and excuses, but if you were in a similiar situation, this book might trigger you a lot: Claire gets close to being raped several times, manhandled, abused. Telling Jamie no leads to him seducing her to say yes, which is almost annoying as it's common in the genre back then.

- There are witch trials, Claire just barely gets out of it.

- The main antagonist is bisexual, though he's only shown having sex with a man. A sadist, and, as far as Claire could figure out, was/still is in love with his younger brother, Alexander. That seems to be very one-sided, though, as he rapes inmates and calls at least one of them "Alex". He also mindfucks with them and, being an ancestor of Frank, looks almost exactly like him.

- Another character, who is gay, tried to rape an underage Jamie back in the day. When Claire finds out, she seems slightly upset, but when meeting him, thinks of him as a nice fella. I found that highly disturbing on many levels.

- There's a lot of sexist shit, many hypocrites. Even the narration itself seems to favour men over women, and implies that Jamie's love for Claire is an excuse for his behaviour.

- While this, too, might be due to her having grown up and being a nurse in WW2, I thought it was sad that she didn't spend any/more time thinking about books, movies, magazines, friends, razors, warm water, pasta, and music of her time. She reflects that the medical conditions are the worst, but apart from that, I missed some sort of nostalgia in her. The only times when there is conversation about her era, are one or two small talks with Jamie about not losing his hand, and one of the religious guys who she confesses to. (I liked that dude, though.) Less wolf pack and more of that, though, really.

- While Jamie is a stubborn man of his time, he is portrayed as "fair", which, in comparison, he probably is. But that belittles the fact that, for people who know "better", and I'll just assume that all of us know better, cause, ye know, beating up children is pretty bad. (I really hope you read other reviews or the book yourself, because Jamie is also a really cool guy. I'm just not sure I'd want to marry the dude, or, you know, let him come into close contact with my genitals. His temper? Definitely not for me.)

- Claire gets in a lot of stupid situations. Those, though, all seem very appropriate. It's not the kind of "too stupid to live I'll just, ya know, jump into the water with a shark and some three gallons of blood" thing. Given her circumstances, it does appear to be mostly reasonable for her to do the things she does, with minor exceptions. Those, however, got undermined by how other characters dealt with them and treated her. Is it bad to be mean to the horsies or steal your best friend's cookie? Sure. Should you get drowned for it? Well.

- Lalalala there's more, but I'm tired. I should copypaste my word document, but I'd need to find my laptop and email it to myself first, eek! My apologies.

If you read the sequels, let me know if any of these things got dealt with, please!
]]> <![CDATA[Wie bezaubert man einen Viscount? (Bridgertons, #2)]]> 4653644 384 Julia Quinn 3899415388 Patricia 3
First Thoughts

Huh, schon gut, dass ich die Bridgertons-Challenge begonnen habe - Auch der zweite Teil hat mir sehr gefallen. Dennoch muss ich zugeben, dass mir die Charaktere teilweise flacher vorkamen als Daphne und Simon. Anders als bei den Beiden, war Anthonys und Kates Beziehung etwas.. weniger real. Dennoch war die Handlung amüsant und sehr schön, weshalb ich 3+ Sterne vergebe und vermutlich bald den nächsten Teil Wie verführt man einen Lord? beginnen werde!]]> 4.17 2000 Wie bezaubert man einen Viscount? (Bridgertons, #2)
author: Julia Quinn
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.17
book published: 2000
rating: 3
read at: 2011/04/11
date added: 2017/04/17
shelves: 2011, review-on-old-blog, _setting-historicals, _g_historical-romance, r_old-review
review:
3+

First Thoughts

Huh, schon gut, dass ich die Bridgertons-Challenge begonnen habe - Auch der zweite Teil hat mir sehr gefallen. Dennoch muss ich zugeben, dass mir die Charaktere teilweise flacher vorkamen als Daphne und Simon. Anders als bei den Beiden, war Anthonys und Kates Beziehung etwas.. weniger real. Dennoch war die Handlung amüsant und sehr schön, weshalb ich 3+ Sterne vergebe und vermutlich bald den nächsten Teil Wie verführt man einen Lord? beginnen werde!
]]> <![CDATA[Wie verfĂĽhrt man einen Lord? (Bridgertons, #3)]]> 4653658 400 Julia Quinn 3899415396 Patricia 4
Deutsche Rezension

Für die habe ich „Wie verführt man einen Lord� gelesen und, hands down, geliebt.

Sophie ist aus einer unehelichen Verbindung des Earls und einer Zofe (oder Putzfrau? Zumindest niemand Adeligem) entstanden. Ihr Daddy hat sie nur als sein Mündel, nicht seine Tochter anerkannt, aber jedem war klar, wer sie ist. Später heiratet er und seine neue Frau, die böse Stiefmutter, und deren beiden Töchter, Rosamund und Posy, ziehen ein, machen Sophies Leben zur Hölle und lassen sie als Aschenputtel arbeiten, sobald der Vater gestorben ist.

Ihr wurde nicht einmal mitgeteilt, dass er ihr ein Erbe hinterlassen hat.

Tja, dann eines Tages arrangieren die anderen Dienstboten eine Überraschung für Sophie: Sie darf einen Maskenball besuchen. Blahblah, dort trifft sie Benedict, blahblah. Er behält von ihr nur einen Handschuh, findet sie nicht und tja, zwei Jahre später treffen sie sich wieder, als er sie vor ein paar ekelhaften Typen rettet und sie ihn daraufhin gesund pflegt.

Nur leider erkennt er sie nicht. Wartet immer noch auf die Frau im silbernen Kleid und will gleichzeitig auch die arme Sophie ins Bett zerren.

Obwohl ich eindeutig erkenne, warum einige Goodreaders dieses Buch nicht so sehr mochten � ist es bisher mein Liebling, glaube ich.

Simon und Daphne waren zwar in Ordnung, Anthony und Kate ebenfalls, aber irgendwie waren deren Beziehungen nicht .. hm. Also, Simon and Daphne vergucken sich in einander, er will sie aber nicht heiraten, will generell nie ein Kind bekommen, denn seine Kindheit war absolut beschissen. Excuse my language. Anthony und Kate mochten einander zwar auch, aber da er ja der festen Überzeugung war, sowieso sehr früh zu sterben, konnte er sie nicht heiraten, denn er wollte nur jemanden, den er niemals lieben würde.. Dann heiraten sie aber doch, wegen eines Vespenstichs.. Blahblah. Aber beide Paare fühlten sich eher gezwungen, einander zu heiraten (Stirb oder Heirate! Heirate oder mach sie zur Nutte der Stadt!) als dass sie sich wirklich aktiv dafür entschieden hätten. Und erst danach.. Tja, aber in Band Drei ist es eben nicht so.

Benedict küsst die Frau im silbernen Kleid, will sie sofort heiraten. Dann verschwindet sie allerdings. Zwei Jahre später trifft er dann Sophie, entwickelt auch Gefühle für sie (genauso wie sie Gefühle für ihn hat) und so weiter. Die Beiden küssen sich mehrmals, haben sogar Sex bevor sie dann letztenendes heiraten. Sie stammen aus unterschiedlichen Schichten � beziehungsweise ein wenig, denn eigentlich ist sie als Tochter des Earls ja nicht mittellos oder eine wirkliche Putzfrau.. Wie dem auch sei, I liked them.

Vielleicht machen diese Punkte das Buch ja sogar unrealistisch - das kann ich nicht einschätzen. Ich bin eigentlich kein Fan von Historicals und hab mich nicht genug mit irgendeiner Epoche auseinandergesetzt, um die Authentizität der Bücher zu beurteilen.

Im Endeffekt mochte ich das Buch; musste ab und zu loslachen; grinsen; hab mich gefreut; war traurig; hab mich darüber geärgert, dass Sophie und Benedict nicht einfach mal miteinander sprechen konnten, dass sie oft Stur waren, dass Benedict ihr so ein ekelhaftes Angebot gemacht hat und nicht einmal verstand, was sie daran abstoßen könnte; hab zum Schluss mal wieder Violet als unglaublich toll empfunden, das Buch geschlossen und mir gedacht: 4 Sterne. :)]]> 3.95 2001 Wie verführt man einen Lord? (Bridgertons, #3)
author: Julia Quinn
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2001
rating: 4
read at: 2011/06/17
date added: 2017/04/17
shelves: 2011, review-on-old-blog, _setting-historicals, _g_historical-romance, r_old-review
review:
For some reasons I liked this one better than the first two Bridgerton novels. I loved the Cinderella-plot, I liked the characters.. However sometimes the boo-hoo got too much. Anyway, since I participate in the Bridgerton Challenge, which is a German challenge, it seems only logical to write the review in German. :)

Deutsche Rezension

Für die habe ich „Wie verführt man einen Lord� gelesen und, hands down, geliebt.

Sophie ist aus einer unehelichen Verbindung des Earls und einer Zofe (oder Putzfrau? Zumindest niemand Adeligem) entstanden. Ihr Daddy hat sie nur als sein Mündel, nicht seine Tochter anerkannt, aber jedem war klar, wer sie ist. Später heiratet er und seine neue Frau, die böse Stiefmutter, und deren beiden Töchter, Rosamund und Posy, ziehen ein, machen Sophies Leben zur Hölle und lassen sie als Aschenputtel arbeiten, sobald der Vater gestorben ist.

Ihr wurde nicht einmal mitgeteilt, dass er ihr ein Erbe hinterlassen hat.

Tja, dann eines Tages arrangieren die anderen Dienstboten eine Überraschung für Sophie: Sie darf einen Maskenball besuchen. Blahblah, dort trifft sie Benedict, blahblah. Er behält von ihr nur einen Handschuh, findet sie nicht und tja, zwei Jahre später treffen sie sich wieder, als er sie vor ein paar ekelhaften Typen rettet und sie ihn daraufhin gesund pflegt.

Nur leider erkennt er sie nicht. Wartet immer noch auf die Frau im silbernen Kleid und will gleichzeitig auch die arme Sophie ins Bett zerren.

Obwohl ich eindeutig erkenne, warum einige Goodreaders dieses Buch nicht so sehr mochten � ist es bisher mein Liebling, glaube ich.

Simon und Daphne waren zwar in Ordnung, Anthony und Kate ebenfalls, aber irgendwie waren deren Beziehungen nicht .. hm. Also, Simon and Daphne vergucken sich in einander, er will sie aber nicht heiraten, will generell nie ein Kind bekommen, denn seine Kindheit war absolut beschissen. Excuse my language. Anthony und Kate mochten einander zwar auch, aber da er ja der festen Überzeugung war, sowieso sehr früh zu sterben, konnte er sie nicht heiraten, denn er wollte nur jemanden, den er niemals lieben würde.. Dann heiraten sie aber doch, wegen eines Vespenstichs.. Blahblah. Aber beide Paare fühlten sich eher gezwungen, einander zu heiraten (Stirb oder Heirate! Heirate oder mach sie zur Nutte der Stadt!) als dass sie sich wirklich aktiv dafür entschieden hätten. Und erst danach.. Tja, aber in Band Drei ist es eben nicht so.

Benedict küsst die Frau im silbernen Kleid, will sie sofort heiraten. Dann verschwindet sie allerdings. Zwei Jahre später trifft er dann Sophie, entwickelt auch Gefühle für sie (genauso wie sie Gefühle für ihn hat) und so weiter. Die Beiden küssen sich mehrmals, haben sogar Sex bevor sie dann letztenendes heiraten. Sie stammen aus unterschiedlichen Schichten � beziehungsweise ein wenig, denn eigentlich ist sie als Tochter des Earls ja nicht mittellos oder eine wirkliche Putzfrau.. Wie dem auch sei, I liked them.

Vielleicht machen diese Punkte das Buch ja sogar unrealistisch - das kann ich nicht einschätzen. Ich bin eigentlich kein Fan von Historicals und hab mich nicht genug mit irgendeiner Epoche auseinandergesetzt, um die Authentizität der Bücher zu beurteilen.

Im Endeffekt mochte ich das Buch; musste ab und zu loslachen; grinsen; hab mich gefreut; war traurig; hab mich darüber geärgert, dass Sophie und Benedict nicht einfach mal miteinander sprechen konnten, dass sie oft Stur waren, dass Benedict ihr so ein ekelhaftes Angebot gemacht hat und nicht einmal verstand, was sie daran abstoßen könnte; hab zum Schluss mal wieder Violet als unglaublich toll empfunden, das Buch geschlossen und mir gedacht: 4 Sterne. :)
]]> <![CDATA[Wie erobert man einen Duke? (Bridgertons, #1)]]> 4653605 396 Julia Quinn 389941537X Patricia 2
I enjoyed The Duke and I very much, rated it 3+ stars, and was grateful for having found the Bridgerton Reading Challenge.

But things have changed, and over the years, I sometimes read other Historicals and thought back to this one. Even more, I also became aware of certain social issues.

So now, I really can't say I like this book anymore. I don't. I like it for the fact that it introduced me to the genre, but I certainly don't like the content anymore.

2 stars max.

[spoilers removed]]]> 4.02 2000 Wie erobert man einen Duke? (Bridgertons, #1)
author: Julia Quinn
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2000
rating: 2
read at: 2011/04/09
date added: 2017/04/17
shelves: review-on-old-blog, 2011, _setting-historicals, age_adult, _g_historical-romance, r_old-review
review:
When I first read this, I was amazed. Wow, had I missed out on some fun! Back then, in 2011, I hadn't even liked Contemporary Romance all that much, and enjoying Historicals seemed like a foreign concept to me. (Oh, how the tables have turned..)

I enjoyed The Duke and I very much, rated it 3+ stars, and was grateful for having found the Bridgerton Reading Challenge.

But things have changed, and over the years, I sometimes read other Historicals and thought back to this one. Even more, I also became aware of certain social issues.

So now, I really can't say I like this book anymore. I don't. I like it for the fact that it introduced me to the genre, but I certainly don't like the content anymore.

2 stars max.

[spoilers removed]
]]> <![CDATA[The Perfect Rake (The Merridew Sisters, #1)]]> 485434
A renowned rake, Gideon, Lord Carradice, has a way of making ladies swoon. But when Prudence arrives at his doorstep and mistakes him for his cousin, the Duke, it is Gideon who’s infatuated. The delightful spitfire claims she and the Duke are engaged—although a taller tale was never told. In spite of the lies, Gideon is so taken with charming Prudence that he’s eager to join her game, especially if it will award him a stolen kiss or two. Now, Prudence’s plot is about to go terribly, albeit deliciously, awry...]]> 360 Anne Gracie 0425203956 Patricia 4
The story is as follows: The heroine, Prudence, and her younger sisters, are physically and emotionally abused by their guardian/grandfather. They escape to London and hatch a plan to be free of aforementioned grandfather. Shenenigans ensue.

There's a lot to be said about a known rake falling heads over heels, especially when the victim of his affections deserves to be the centre of someone's universe as much as Prue does. - If there were any character flaws she might have possessed, neither Gideon nor I could see them, which, A++ Anne Gracie. The two of them were also so.. mischivous, I suppose? They had and were great fun in all aspects. There first encounter alone had me bookmark the hell out of my ebook.

Prue's sister got the spot as beta-couple heroine, and that entire thing reminded me (in a good way) of Pride and Prejudice.

Seeing as there are no quotes here on Ĺ·±¦ÓéŔÖ yet, I'm going to go ahead and add some in the next few days. (I hope.)

Anyway; definitely a great read. Would read again. Content warning for [spoilers removed]]]> 3.90 2005 The Perfect Rake (The Merridew Sisters, #1)
author: Anne Gracie
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2005
rating: 4
read at: 2017/04/12
date added: 2017/04/17
shelves: 2017, _g_historical-romance, age_adult, _setting-historicals, r_reviewed
review:
The Perfect Rake is a fitting title, given that Gideon truly was just that.

The story is as follows: The heroine, Prudence, and her younger sisters, are physically and emotionally abused by their guardian/grandfather. They escape to London and hatch a plan to be free of aforementioned grandfather. Shenenigans ensue.

There's a lot to be said about a known rake falling heads over heels, especially when the victim of his affections deserves to be the centre of someone's universe as much as Prue does. - If there were any character flaws she might have possessed, neither Gideon nor I could see them, which, A++ Anne Gracie. The two of them were also so.. mischivous, I suppose? They had and were great fun in all aspects. There first encounter alone had me bookmark the hell out of my ebook.

Prue's sister got the spot as beta-couple heroine, and that entire thing reminded me (in a good way) of Pride and Prejudice.

Seeing as there are no quotes here on Ĺ·±¦ÓéŔÖ yet, I'm going to go ahead and add some in the next few days. (I hope.)

Anyway; definitely a great read. Would read again. Content warning for [spoilers removed]
]]> <![CDATA[The Perfect Waltz (The Merridew Sisters, #2)]]> 770595 341 Anne Gracie 0425206807 Patricia 4
After having finally found his sisters again, but being unable to help them cope with their trauma (or finding a good nanny to do just that), the hero Sebastian goes on to look for a sensible wife in London. He decides that Rational Elionore would do. But then comes Hope, and she's the Best Thing That Has Ever Happened. (Also, his friend Giles, really falls for Elionore, and hilarity ensues.)

There's a lot of "I Must Do The Right Thing By Everyone" going on; but instead of being annoyed by it, I was just anticipating the moment where everything'd work itself out. And it did, and I was happy. - The fact that the characters were all actually decent people helped, as well. As did the small little details Anne Gracie worked in: The fact that Sebastian kept placing Hope's hand on his chest in public without his knowledge, the twins' dreams, the dancing, the orphans, Aunt Gussie (bless her soul, she's hilarious) as well as Hope's and Sebastian's families.

Again, I liked the beta couple. I also got very anxious about Hope's twin-sister and the object of her affection (awful douchenoozle! The H/H didn't like him, so he must be Terrible), and will probably skip the third novel in the series for now. It's the Rational thing to do, whispered Elionore. ;P]]> 3.88 2005 The Perfect Waltz (The Merridew Sisters, #2)
author: Anne Gracie
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2005
rating: 4
read at: 2017/04/16
date added: 2017/04/17
shelves: 2017, _g_historical-romance, age_adult, _setting-historicals, r_reviewed
review:
After having devoured The Perfect Rake, I instantly knew that I had to read more Anne Gracie. So on I went, and read The Perfect Waltz. And it was great.

After having finally found his sisters again, but being unable to help them cope with their trauma (or finding a good nanny to do just that), the hero Sebastian goes on to look for a sensible wife in London. He decides that Rational Elionore would do. But then comes Hope, and she's the Best Thing That Has Ever Happened. (Also, his friend Giles, really falls for Elionore, and hilarity ensues.)

There's a lot of "I Must Do The Right Thing By Everyone" going on; but instead of being annoyed by it, I was just anticipating the moment where everything'd work itself out. And it did, and I was happy. - The fact that the characters were all actually decent people helped, as well. As did the small little details Anne Gracie worked in: The fact that Sebastian kept placing Hope's hand on his chest in public without his knowledge, the twins' dreams, the dancing, the orphans, Aunt Gussie (bless her soul, she's hilarious) as well as Hope's and Sebastian's families.

Again, I liked the beta couple. I also got very anxious about Hope's twin-sister and the object of her affection (awful douchenoozle! The H/H didn't like him, so he must be Terrible), and will probably skip the third novel in the series for now. It's the Rational thing to do, whispered Elionore. ;P
]]> <![CDATA[Romancing the Duke (Castles Ever After, #1)]]> 18052985 In the first in Tessa Dare's captivating Castles Ever After series, a mysterious fortress is the setting for an unlikely love . . .

As the daughter of a famed author, Isolde Ophelia Goodnight grew up on tales of brave knights and fair maidens. She never doubted romance would be in her future, too. The storybooks offered endless possibilities.

And as she grew older, Izzy crossed them off. One by one by one.

Ugly duckling turned swan?
Abducted by handsome highwayman?
Rescued from drudgery by charming prince?

No, no, and� Heh.

Now Izzy’s given up yearning for romance. She’ll settle for a roof over her head. What fairy tales are left over for an impoverished twenty-six year-old woman who’s never even been kissed?

This one.]]> 370 Tessa Dare 0062240196 Patricia 4
Content warnings:[spoilers removed]]]> 3.86 2014 Romancing the Duke (Castles Ever After, #1)
author: Tessa Dare
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.86
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2015/07/30
date added: 2017/02/28
shelves: 2015, _g_historical-romance, age_adult, review-planned, _setting-historicals
review:
This was silly and adorable. Not one of her best, I suppose, but really enjoyable. Tessa Dare hasn't disappointed me so far. 3-4 stars

Content warnings:[spoilers removed]
]]> <![CDATA[Winterblaze (Darkest London, #3)]]> 13389546 Once blissfully in love . . .

Poppy Lane is keeping secrets. Her powerful gift has earned her membership in the Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals, but she must keep both her ability and her alliance with the Society from her husband, Winston. Yet when Winston is brutally attacked by a werewolf, Poppy's secrets are revealed, leaving Winston's trust in her as broken as his body. Now Poppy will do anything to win back his affections . . .

Their relationship is now put to the ultimate test.

Winston Lane soon regains his physical strength but his face and heart still bear the scars of the vicious attack. Drawn into the darkest depths of London, Winston must fight an evil demon that wants to take away the last hope of reconciliation with his wife. As a former police inspector, Winston has intelligence and logic on his side. But it will take the strength of Poppy's love for him to defeat the forces that threaten to tear them apart.]]> 422 Kristen Callihan 1455520799 Patricia 0 3.91 2013 Winterblaze (Darkest London, #3)
author: Kristen Callihan
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.91
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at: 2016/11/23
date added: 2016/11/23
shelves: 2016, _g_paranormals, _g_steampunk, age_adult, _setting-historicals
review:
I was afraid that I'd find this an awkward read, but it was really good - as I should have gathered, given the author.
]]> <![CDATA[Daughter of the Blood (The Black Jewels, #1)]]> 47956 412 Anne Bishop 0451456718 Patricia 5 4.07 1998 Daughter of the Blood (The Black Jewels, #1)
author: Anne Bishop
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.07
book published: 1998
rating: 5
read at: 2016/08/14
date added: 2016/08/14
shelves: 2016, _g_fantasy, age_adult, _setting-alternate-universe, _setting-historicals, _setting-otherworld
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Last Night's Scandal (Carsington Brothers, #5)]]> 6957680 An unsuitable pair? Absolutely. But they just can't escape each other, no matter how hard they try.

After surviving the perils of Egypt, Peregrine Dalmay, Earl of Lisle is back in London, facing the most dire threat of all: his irrational family....and Miss Olivia Wingate-Carsington. A descendent of notorious—but very aristocratic—swindlers, the delectable redhead has the ability to completely unhinge him, and a long history of dragging him into her scandalous schemes.

Olivia may be Society's darling, but she's aware a respectable future looms menacingly. And so when Lisle is forced to go on a family mission, she sees this as the perfect chance for one last adventure—even if it is with the one man in the world she can't wrap around her finger: but really, she only wants to help�

Which is why Lisle and Olivia find themselves in a gloomy Scottish castle inhabited by spiteful ghosts and craven murderers...and a shocking secret: the greatest peril of all may be burning within their own stubborn hearts.

]]> 361 Loretta Chase 0061632678 Patricia 0 3.88 2010 Last Night's Scandal (Carsington Brothers, #5)
author: Loretta Chase
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2010
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2016/02/08
shelves: currently-reading, _setting-historicals, age_adult, _g_historical-romance, __for-hospital
review:

]]> Not Quite a Lady 1366340 Irresistible Force

Darius Carsington is a spectacularly handsome rake with a rare intelligence and no heart, a man who divides his time between bedding loose-moraled women and writing scholarly papers. He finds society's "perfect darlings" exceedingly boring. But there's something intriguing, and not quite perfect, about faultless Lady Charlotte Hayward. He senses a crack under her polished surface, and finding it is a challenge he can't resist.

Immovable Object

Lady Charlotte is so beautiful, charming, and gracious that no one has noticed what an expert she is at Not Getting Married. Early on, she learned a painful lesson about trust... and temptation. In the years since, she's devoted her life to being all she ought to be—and she's not about to let a man like Carsington entice her to do everything she shouldn't.

A Splendid Collision

But the rules of attraction can easily overpower the rules of manners and morals, and sometimes even the best-behaved girl has to follow her instincts, even if it means risking it all.

]]> 350 Loretta Chase 0749937955 Patricia 0 3.66 2007 Not Quite a Lady
author: Loretta Chase
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.66
book published: 2007
rating: 0
read at: 2016/02/08
date added: 2016/02/08
shelves: _g_historical-romance, _setting-historicals, 2016
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Captives of the Night (Scoundrels, #2)]]> 132602
But not being hanged for her husband's murder isn't enough for Leila. She wants to learn the truth --- all of it --- from Esmond, a man who's been lying all his life.]]> 342 Loretta Chase 0425209652 Patricia 0 3.63 1994 Captives of the Night (Scoundrels, #2)
author: Loretta Chase
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.63
book published: 1994
rating: 0
read at: 2016/02/07
date added: 2016/02/07
shelves: _g_historical-romance, age_adult, _setting-historicals, 2016
review:
i do love more-or-less pining heroes who respect women, so this was enjoyable. :)
]]> The Iron Duke (Iron Seas, #1) 7864587
But when Mina uncovers the victim's identity, she stumbles upon a conspiracy that threatens the lives of everyone in England. To save them, Mina and Rhys must race across zombie-infested wastelands and treacherous oceans-and Mina discovers the danger is not only to her countrymen, as she finds herself tempted to give up everything to the Iron Duke.]]> 384 Meljean Brook 0425236676 Patricia 5
Trigger warning:[spoilers removed]]]> 3.84 2010 The Iron Duke (Iron Seas, #1)
author: Meljean Brook
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.84
book published: 2010
rating: 5
read at: 2012/08/18
date added: 2015/07/27
shelves: age_adult, _g_steampunk, 2012, _setting-historicals, _setting-alternate-universe
review:
Wasn't this book perfection, though? The only thing I really don't like about it is the cover. Many people recommended this one to me, and I was a lover of Meljean Brook-novels before already.. But nothing could have prepared me for this.

Trigger warning:[spoilers removed]
]]> <![CDATA[Graceling (Graceling Realm, #1)]]> 5099602
Feared by the court and shunned by those her own age, the darkness of her Grace casts a heavy shadow over Katsa’s life. Yet she remains defiant: when the King of Lienid’s father is kidnapped she investigates, and stumbles across a mystery. Who would want to kidnap the old man, and why? And who was the extraordinary Graced man whose fighting abilities rivalled her own?

The only thing Katsa is sure of is that she no longer wants to kill. The intrigue around this kidnapping offers her a way out � but little does she realise, when she takes it, that something insidious and dark lurks behind the mystery. Something spreading from the shadowy figure of a one-eyed king...]]> 352 Kristin Cashore 0575084502 Patricia 5
I'm not very interested in discussing the "feminist agenda" that has gone into the writing of this book; mostly because it has already been discussed, but also because it's a matter of experience. I've experienced the characters in a certain way, and loved them for it. Someone else might not. It's certainly easier to recommend this title than many others, though. And having felt the sort of tiredness that comes with constantly being confronted with -isms in YA novels, an author not giving a shit about making the read a comfortable rainbow-clutter of "What are you saying, we *are* equal!" was very much necessary.

Anyways, highly recommend this one! I'm saving my copy for my sister, too. Too bad she's only eight and additionally not fluid in English yet..

Will write a review once I find the time. :)]]> 4.00 2008 Graceling (Graceling Realm, #1)
author: Kristin Cashore
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.00
book published: 2008
rating: 5
read at: 2013/10/24
date added: 2015/07/27
shelves: 2013, age_young-adult, form-physical-copy, _g_fantasy, review-planned, _setting-historicals, _setting-alternate-universe
review:
This was a marvelous, exciting, and fast read! I fell in love with the characters and worldbuilding very easily, and after my reading slump, that says a lot!

I'm not very interested in discussing the "feminist agenda" that has gone into the writing of this book; mostly because it has already been discussed, but also because it's a matter of experience. I've experienced the characters in a certain way, and loved them for it. Someone else might not. It's certainly easier to recommend this title than many others, though. And having felt the sort of tiredness that comes with constantly being confronted with -isms in YA novels, an author not giving a shit about making the read a comfortable rainbow-clutter of "What are you saying, we *are* equal!" was very much necessary.

Anyways, highly recommend this one! I'm saving my copy for my sister, too. Too bad she's only eight and additionally not fluid in English yet..

Will write a review once I find the time. :)
]]> Moonglow (Darkest London, #2) 13223523 Once the seeds of desire are sown . . .

Finally free of her suffocating marriage, widow Daisy Ellis Craigmore is ready to embrace the pleasures of life that have long been denied her. Yet her new-found freedom is short lived. A string of unexplained murders has brought danger to Daisy's door, forcing her to turn to the most unlikely of saviors . . .

Their growing passion knows no bounds . . .

Ian Ranulf, the Marquis of Northrup, has spent lifetimes hiding his primal nature from London society. But now a vicious killer threatens to expose his secrets. Ian must step out of the shadows and protect the beautiful, fearless Daisy, who awakens in him desires he thought long dead. As their quest to unmask the villain draws them closer together, Daisy has no choice but to reveal her own startling secret, and Ian must face the undeniable truth: Losing his heart to Daisy may be the only way to save his soul.]]> 384 Kristen Callihan Patricia 0 3.98 2012 Moonglow (Darkest London, #2)
author: Kristen Callihan
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at: 2015/05/16
date added: 2015/05/15
shelves: 2015, age_adult, _setting-historicals
review:
The beginning was a bit tough for me, but then I quickly fell in love with the characters. I really dig this author.
]]> <![CDATA[Firelight (Darkest London, #1)]]> 12104686 Once the flames are ignited . . .

Miranda Ellis is a woman tormented. Plagued since birth by a strange and powerful gift, she has spent her entire life struggling to control her exceptional abilities. Yet one innocent but irreversible mistake has left her family's fortune decimated and forced her to wed London's most nefarious nobleman.

They will burn for eternity . . .

Lord Benjamin Archer is no ordinary man. Doomed to hide his disfigured face behind masks, Archer knows it's selfish to take Miranda as his bride. Yet he can't help being drawn to the flame-haired beauty whose touch sparks a passion he hasn't felt in a lifetime. When Archer is accused of a series of gruesome murders, he gives in to the beastly nature he has fought so hard to hide from the world. But the curse that haunts him cannot be denied. Now, to save his soul, Miranda will enter a world of dark magic and darker intrigue. For only she can see the man hiding behind the mask.]]> 372 Kristen Callihan 1455508594 Patricia 4
I really like this author. Her couples are just so good together.]]> 3.76 2012 Firelight (Darkest London, #1)
author: Kristen Callihan
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.76
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2015/05/14
date added: 2015/05/13
shelves: age_adult, _setting-historicals, 2015
review:
Very good! I wonder if there will be more explanations as to people having abilities like Miranda's in the sequels.

I really like this author. Her couples are just so good together.
]]> <![CDATA[Four Nights With the Duke (Desperate Duchesses by the Numbers, #2)]]> 21877190
Evander Septimus Brody has his own reasons for agreeing to Mia's audacious proposal, but there's one thing he won't give his inconvenient wife: himself.

Instead, he offers Mia a devil's bargain...he will spend four nights a year with her. Four nights, and nothing more. And those only when she begs for them.

Which Mia will never do.

Now Vander faces the most crucial challenge of his life: he must seduce his own wife in order to win her heart—and no matter what it takes, this is the one battle he can't afford to lose.]]> 384 Eloisa James 0062223917 Patricia 3
But the hero never really managed to redeem himself. Everytime I started to forgive him, he'd do or say another awful thing. It was quite dramatic and the ending felt unresolved.

From everything I read of him, I might have enjoyed Edward's character more than those of the others.

So.. many mixed feelings about this. If you are sensitive to heroines being treated badly or humiliated (I had to skip parts in the beginning!) this particular book might not be for you. The writing suggests that I might enjoy other titles written by this author, though - not that this wasn't an entertaining read. The couple's issues just weren't my cup of tea.

First draft of review in the spoiler tags. (because I'm too lazy to find my review folder on my PC right now, I'm sorry)

[spoilers removed]]]> 3.92 2015 Four Nights With the Duke (Desperate Duchesses by the Numbers, #2)
author: Eloisa James
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.92
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2015/01/28
date added: 2015/04/07
shelves: source_e-arc, 2015, _g_historical-romance, age_adult, review-planned, _setting-historicals
review:
I'm not sure how I feel about this book. If all of Eloisa James' couples spend so much time fighting, the heros attempting to hurt the heroines as much as possible, she might not be an author for me. At the same time, I understand the allure and enjoyed many parts of this story.

But the hero never really managed to redeem himself. Everytime I started to forgive him, he'd do or say another awful thing. It was quite dramatic and the ending felt unresolved.

From everything I read of him, I might have enjoyed Edward's character more than those of the others.

So.. many mixed feelings about this. If you are sensitive to heroines being treated badly or humiliated (I had to skip parts in the beginning!) this particular book might not be for you. The writing suggests that I might enjoy other titles written by this author, though - not that this wasn't an entertaining read. The couple's issues just weren't my cup of tea.

First draft of review in the spoiler tags. (because I'm too lazy to find my review folder on my PC right now, I'm sorry)

[spoilers removed]
]]> <![CDATA[Lord Perfect (Carsington Brothers, #3)]]> 132598 The heir to the Earl of Hargate, Benedict Carsington, Viscount Rathbourne, is the perfect aristocrat. Tall, dark, and handsome, he is known for his impeccable manners and good breeding. Benedict knows all the rules and has no trouble following them—until she enters his life.

INFAMOUS
Bathsheba Wingate belongs to the rotten branch of the DeLucey family: a notorious lot of liars, frauds, and swindlers. Small wonder her husband’s high-born family disowned him. Now widowed, she’s determined to give her daughter a stable life and a proper upbringing. Nothing and no one will disrupt Bathsheba’s plans—until he enters her life�

SCANDALOUS
Then Bathsheba’s hoyden daughter lures Benedict’s precocious nephew into a quest for a legendary treasure. To recover the would-be knights errant, Benedict and Bathsheba must embark on a rescue mission that puts them in dangerous, intimate proximity. It’s a situation virtually guaranteed to end in mayhem—even scandal!—if anyone else were involved. But Benedict is in perfect control of events. Perfect control, despite his mad desire to break all the rules. Perfect control. Really.]]> 304 Loretta Chase Patricia 0 4.02 2006 Lord Perfect (Carsington Brothers, #3)
author: Loretta Chase
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.02
book published: 2006
rating: 0
read at: 2015/02/02
date added: 2015/02/01
shelves: 2015, _g_historical-romance, age_adult, _setting-historicals
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Beauty and the Blacksmith (Spindle Cove, #3.5)]]> 17664979 At last, Diana gets a romance of her own! But with the last man anyone in Spindle Cove expects...

Beautiful and elegant, Miss Diana Highwood is destined to marry a wealthy, well-placed nobleman. At least, that's what her mother has loudly declared to everyone in Spindle Cove.

But Diana's not excited by dukes and lords. The only man who makes her heart pound is the village blacksmith, Aaron Dawes. By birth and fortune, they couldn't be more wrong for each other...but during stolen, steamy moments in his forge, his strong hands feel so right.

Is their love forged strong enough to last, or are they just playing with fire?]]> 224 Tessa Dare Patricia 3 3.95 2013 Beauty and the Blacksmith (Spindle Cove, #3.5)
author: Tessa Dare
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2013
rating: 3
read at: 2015/01/28
date added: 2015/01/27
shelves: 2015, _g_historical-romance, _setting-historicals
review:

]]> <![CDATA[When Good Earls Go Bad (Dukes Behaving Badly, #1.5)]]> 22495005 Megan Frampton's Dukes Behaving Badly series is back, though this time it's an earl who's meeting his match in a delightfully fun and sexy novella!

What's a lovely young woman doing asleep in his bed? Matthew, Earl of Selkirk, is shocked to discover it's his new housekeeper! She's a far cry from the gray-haired woman he expected. Matthew is no fan of surprises, and Annabelle Tyne is pure temptation. Perhaps he shouldn't have had her hired sight unseen.

Annabelle, co-owner of the Quality Employment Agency, is no housekeeper, but she wasn't about to lose a potential client simply because there was no one to fit the bill. Imagine her shock when the earl arrives at his London townhome and she's awoken in the night by the most attractive man she's ever seen.

Matthew is a man who lives life by the rules, but sometimes rules are made to be broken � and being bad can be very, very good.]]> 208 Megan Frampton Patricia 2
The one element that is hit or miss is the narration. If you don't like the quirky narration of stories like Darynda Jones' First Grave on the Right, then I can almost promise you that you will not enjoy this one. Annabelle's quirky voice was a bit too much, even for me. I assume it might be the author's normal "voice", because even the uptight, "I don't like to waste time", Earl had a, admittedly still uptight, quirky voice. The narration made it feel as if the story was a Contemporary Romance in Regency clothing. - That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it threw me off a bit too often.

Maybe it's due to this that the characters were too much personifications of popular tropes than characters on their own; the rules-loving Matthew, who meets the adorably confused and chatty Annabelle. Even though the story employed new elements that would have otherwise stirred my interest ([spoilers removed]) the author's voice was so strong that it prevented me from really feeling the story as a story. I was always aware that what I was reading was make-belief, and couldn't connect with the characters because of that.

But here lies my problem: Everything I might criticise is directly related to the fact that I never became emotionally invested in the story due to, or so I assume, the "I don't have Attenti-oh a bunny!"-narration. I think people who don't mind this -read an excerpt to check!- might very much enjoy When Good Earls Go Bad. It certainly is different from your normal historical romance, in that the hero isn't a rake with vast experience, or in that the heroine makes her desires known and isn't shy to show her affection. No long discussions about their status, or what the ton might say, instead actual talk about condoms. All almost unheard of, sadly.

That's why I regret that I personally couldn't enjoy the story. It's almost been made for me, except that the concept worked better for me than the execution.]]> 3.64 2015 When Good Earls Go Bad (Dukes Behaving Badly, #1.5)
author: Megan Frampton
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.64
book published: 2015
rating: 2
read at: 2015/01/26
date added: 2015/01/27
shelves: source_e-arc, 2015, _g_historical-romance, age_adult, review-planned, _setting-historicals
review:
When Good Earls Go Bad was one of the stories that didn't work out for me, even though the premise was right up my alley. Annabelle, the heroine, is the co-owner of an agency for housekeepers, and a "fallen woman", who has to work as a housekeeper for the Scottish Earl Matthew.

The one element that is hit or miss is the narration. If you don't like the quirky narration of stories like Darynda Jones' First Grave on the Right, then I can almost promise you that you will not enjoy this one. Annabelle's quirky voice was a bit too much, even for me. I assume it might be the author's normal "voice", because even the uptight, "I don't like to waste time", Earl had a, admittedly still uptight, quirky voice. The narration made it feel as if the story was a Contemporary Romance in Regency clothing. - That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it threw me off a bit too often.

Maybe it's due to this that the characters were too much personifications of popular tropes than characters on their own; the rules-loving Matthew, who meets the adorably confused and chatty Annabelle. Even though the story employed new elements that would have otherwise stirred my interest ([spoilers removed]) the author's voice was so strong that it prevented me from really feeling the story as a story. I was always aware that what I was reading was make-belief, and couldn't connect with the characters because of that.

But here lies my problem: Everything I might criticise is directly related to the fact that I never became emotionally invested in the story due to, or so I assume, the "I don't have Attenti-oh a bunny!"-narration. I think people who don't mind this -read an excerpt to check!- might very much enjoy When Good Earls Go Bad. It certainly is different from your normal historical romance, in that the hero isn't a rake with vast experience, or in that the heroine makes her desires known and isn't shy to show her affection. No long discussions about their status, or what the ton might say, instead actual talk about condoms. All almost unheard of, sadly.

That's why I regret that I personally couldn't enjoy the story. It's almost been made for me, except that the concept worked better for me than the execution.
]]> <![CDATA[The Last Hellion (Scoundrels, #4)]]> 958521 A ferocious conflict of wills...

Vere Mallory, the Duke of Ainswood, has everything--he's titled, he's rich, he's devastatingly good looking--and he seems determined to throw it all away. Disreputable, reckless, and wild, the last of the Mallory hellions is racing headlong to self-destruction...until a mind numbingly beautiful blonde Amazon knocks him off his feet--literally.

An incendiary passion...

Lydia Grenville is dedicated to protecting London's downtrodden. Dissolute noblemen like Ainswood are part of the problem, not the solution. She would like him to get his big, gorgeous carcass out of her way so that she can carry on with her work. The problem is, Ainswood can no more resist a challenge, especially in female form, than he can resist the trouble she seems to attract.

If they can only weather their personal firestorm...
they might survive the real danger that threatens all they hold dear.]]> 379 Loretta Chase 0380776170 Patricia 0 3.98 1998 The Last Hellion (Scoundrels, #4)
author: Loretta Chase
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.98
book published: 1998
rating: 0
read at: 2015/01/27
date added: 2015/01/27
shelves: 2015, _g_historical-romance, age_adult, _setting-historicals
review:
Sexist pig of a hero mooning over an a grade feminist of a heroine, given the time period. Some parts bothered me, but overall, it was a joy to see him fall. Liked the beta couple well enough.
]]> <![CDATA[Vixen in Velvet (The Dressmakers, #3)]]> 15781045 From the Diary of Leonie Noirot: The perfect corset should invite its undoing . . .

Lethally charming Simon Fairfax, Marquess of Lisburne, has reluctantly returned to London for one reason only: a family obligation. Still, he might make time for the seduction of a certain redheaded dressmaker—but Leonie Noirot hasn't time for him. She's obsessed with transforming his cousin, the dowdy Lady Gladys, into a swan.

Leonie's skills can coax curves—and profits—from thin air, but his criminally handsome lordship is too busy trying to seduce her to appreciate her genius. He badly needs to learn a lesson, and the wager she provokes ought to teach him, once and for all.

A great plan, in theory—but Lisburne's become a serious distraction, and Leonie's usual logic is in danger of slipping away as easily as a silk chemise. Could the Season's greatest transformation be her own?]]> 384 Loretta Chase 0062100327 Patricia 0 3.73 2014 Vixen in Velvet (The Dressmakers, #3)
author: Loretta Chase
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.73
book published: 2014
rating: 0
read at: 2015/01/25
date added: 2015/01/25
shelves: 2015, _g_historical-romance, age_adult, _setting-historicals
review:
Liked the final revelation, but again had some small issues with the hero in comparison to how I felt about the heroine. (one issue was her name. it's very difficult to read kissing scenes and stuff (ahem) when you know people with that name, imo.)
]]> <![CDATA[Scandal Wears Satin (The Dressmakers, #2)]]> 12925825 From the Journals of Sophia Noirot: A dress is a weapon. It must dazzle his eye, raise his temperature... and empty his purse.

A blue-eyed innocent on the outside and a shark on the inside, dressmaker Sophy Noirot could sell sand to Bedouins. Selling Maison Noirot's beautiful designs to aristocratic ladies is a little harder, especially since a recent family scandal has made an enemy of one of society's fashion leaders. Turning scandal to the shop's advantage requires every iota of Sophy's skills, leaving her little patience for a big, reckless rake like the Earl of Longmore. The gorgeous lummox can't keep more than one idea in his head at a time, and his idea is taking off all of Sophy's clothes.

But when Longmore's sister, Noirot's wealthiest, favorite customer, runs away, Sophy can't let him bumble after her on his own. In hot pursuit with the one man who tempts her beyond reason, she finds desire has never slipped on so smoothly.]]> 372 Loretta Chase 0062100319 Patricia 4
If I could, I would be her. As my final reading update says, all I can do is aspire to be like her. Master Manipulator, stole my heart right away.]]> 3.89 2012 Scandal Wears Satin (The Dressmakers, #2)
author: Loretta Chase
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2015/01/24
date added: 2015/01/24
shelves: _g_historical-romance, 2015, age_adult, review-planned, _setting-historicals
review:
Really, there were some problems with this book, as there are always, with any book. In this case, I'm feeling lenient, and won't talk about the hero too much (otherwise, I might come to dislike him a bit too much, and that would be unfortunate, because I adore Sophy) and instead focus on the good things. Or the best thing. Which would be Sophy, who is just lovely.

If I could, I would be her. As my final reading update says, all I can do is aspire to be like her. Master Manipulator, stole my heart right away.
]]> <![CDATA[Enthralled (Breeds, #19.5; League of the Black Swan, #1.5; The Iron Seas, #3.5; Children of the Moon, #3.5)]]> 17212978 They have the power to hold you spellbound, to captivate your senses, and to keep you forever in their control. Forever enthralled�

#1 New York Times bestselling author Lora Leigh returns to her sensual world of the Breeds…as one stubborn Breed meets her match, and can no longer deny her mate—or the fierce desires of her own heart.

New York Times bestselling author Alyssa Day introduces the League of the Black Swan…and the dangerous game one woman plays when her family’s curse dooms her to kill the man she loves.

New York Times bestselling author Meljean Brook delivers a new story in her steampunk world of the Iron Seas…as a man who’s lost everything returns home to find that not only is his marriage in jeopardy, but he must now fight air pirates who intend to steal his one remaining treasure—his wife.

And Lucy Monroe, national bestselling author of the Children of the Moon novels…unleashes the feral passions of a werewolf on the body, mind, and soul of his prey, his lover, his lifemate.]]> 464 Lora Leigh 1101622482 Patricia 0 4.14 2013 Enthralled (Breeds, #19.5; League of the Black Swan, #1.5; The Iron Seas, #3.5; Children of the Moon, #3.5)
author: Lora Leigh
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2013
rating: 0
read at: 2013/11/29
date added: 2014/11/28
shelves: 2013, age_adult, on-hold_partially-finished, _g_steampunk, _setting-historicals, _setting-alternate-universe
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass, #2)]]> 17167166 "A line that should never be crossed is about to be breached.

It puts this entire castle in jeopardy—and the life of your friend."

From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul as black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.

Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.

Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena's world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie... and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for.]]> 420 Sarah J. Maas 1619630621 Patricia 4
But regardless of these things, I think I minimally enjoyed Crown of Midnight less? I'm pretty sure that had something to do with one of the conflicts in the latter half of the story. Even though it felt realistic and authentic, I just didn't like it as much as I might have another one.

Still, I think this one was pretty good. I'll have to think about this in a week again. Right after finishing a title I often either think very black-and-white. v_v]]> 4.35 2013 Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass, #2)
author: Sarah J. Maas
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at: 2014/02/21
date added: 2014/08/07
shelves: 2014, _g_fantasy, age_young-adult, paranormal_psychics, review-planned, _setting-alternate-universe, _setting-otherworld, _setting-historicals
review:
I think in some regards I preferred the prequel over this, but in others I didn't. I definitely enjoyed how Maas continued to write her characters as more than just one-dimensional plot-devices. The pacing was great, and the plot worked out, too.

But regardless of these things, I think I minimally enjoyed Crown of Midnight less? I'm pretty sure that had something to do with one of the conflicts in the latter half of the story. Even though it felt realistic and authentic, I just didn't like it as much as I might have another one.

Still, I think this one was pretty good. I'll have to think about this in a week again. Right after finishing a title I often either think very black-and-white. v_v
]]> <![CDATA[Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage (MacKenzies & McBrides, #2)]]> 7070067 Only one man could match a lady like this—scandal for scandal.

Six years ago, eighteen-year-old Lady Isabella Scranton scandalized all of London by eloping the night of her come-out ball with the notorious rake, Lord Mac Mackenzie. After three turbulent years of marriage, she scandalized London once again—this time by leaving him.

Now Mac has resurfaced, every bit as charismatic, and with one goal: to seduce Isabella back into his life and his bed even if it means acting like a real gentleman. But when Isabella rises to the challenge of posing nude for Mac's erotic paintings, her pent-up hunger for the decadent rake is exposed as well, and she finds herself unable to resist the smooth strokes of an artist at work.

But someone's been watching them—dangerously close. This ingenious forger with designs on Mac's paintings also sets his sights on Isabella herself. Deciding to become Isabella's protector, Mac vows to never leave her side, whether his independent and proud lady likes it or not.]]> 316 Jennifer Ashley 0425235459 Patricia 3
I already started the fourth book, but just now realised that maybe I should read Mac's book first after all.

As always with Jennifer Ashley, I'll go with 3.5 until I know where's what. ;)]]> 3.90 2010 Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage (MacKenzies & McBrides, #2)
author: Jennifer Ashley
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2010
rating: 3
read at: 2014/05/30
date added: 2014/08/07
shelves: 2014, _g_historical-romance, age_adult, review-planned, _setting-historicals
review:
I actually liked parts of this book better than I did the first installment of the series. I liked the relationship and banter, I think the conflicts were resolved neatly, and although I had a big moment of "ugh" when the portrayal of Mac felt more like lipservice than anything else (specifically, the fact that it was portrayed as if Mac wasn't kind of a Nice Guy TM at some particular moments, and as if there wasn't a huge gap in power between the two of them due to her being married to him) but overall, this book was very, very enjoyable.

I already started the fourth book, but just now realised that maybe I should read Mac's book first after all.

As always with Jennifer Ashley, I'll go with 3.5 until I know where's what. ;)
]]> <![CDATA[Any Duchess Will Do (Spindle Cove, #4)]]> 15724338 What’s a duke to do, when the girl who’s perfectly wrong becomes the woman he can’t live without?

Griffin York, the Duke of Halford, has no desire to wed this season—or any season—but his diabolical mother abducts him to “Spinster Cove� and insists he select a bride from the ladies in residence. Griff decides to teach her a lesson that will end the marriage debate forever. He chooses the serving girl.

Overworked and struggling, Pauline Simms doesn’t dream about dukes. All she wants is to hang up her barmaid apron and open a bookshop. That dream becomes a possibility when an arrogant, sinfully attractive duke offers her a small fortune for a week’s employment. Her duties are simple: submit to his mother’s “duchess training"... and fail miserably.

But in London, Pauline isn’t a miserable failure. She’s a brave, quick-witted, beguiling failure—a woman who ignites Griff’s desire and soothes the darkness in his soul. Keeping Pauline by his side won’t be easy. Even if Society could accept a serving girl duchess—can a roguish duke convince a serving girl to trust him with her heart?]]> 375 Tessa Dare 0062240129 Patricia 5
Any Duchess Will Do is funny, clever, and romantic. There were literally just two scenes that I didn't love, and one of them I already forgot entirely about, while the other was just a personal thing and had literally nothing to do with the book itself.

Full disclosure, though: I was especially excited about this story because of the blurb. Apparently, it's right down my alley.

Pauline's personality is absolutely loveable: She's just a servant, but the differences between her and the ton seem to amuse her, not make her feel annoyingly inferior. At the same time, it's not that she's invulnerable or untouchable. She has insecurities, she realizes that in the society she lives in, she'll always be "less", she has had a rough time growing up. Actually, she didn't even have time to grow up, she was expected to be just that by default.

I barely remembered Griff from 'A Week to be Wicked' until Minerva and Colin talked about him. I'll have to read the other books in the series and re-read AWtbW, but I enjoyed his character. He was realistically flawed, somewhat ignorant to other people's feelings, or his hold on them, but his character was just perfect, somehow.

The dynamics between those two certainly made for some entertaining hours: Their banter, their understandings, and their love for eachother. I'm not even sure what I loved more: The fluffy, comedic romance, or the angsty times. - And it's hard to decide, because Tessa Dare manages to weave serious heart-to-hearts and the most ridiculous dialogues together like a pro. - I've bookmarked so much, it's slightly embarrassing. ;)


In short:

I used to like Julia Quinn, but Tessa Dare manages to outshine her easily with her irreplacable, likeable and charming characters, addictive writing and actually existing almost hilarious, earnest plots.

4-5 stars. (I started reading when I went to bed, and it's 4am now, so..)]]> 4.01 2013 Any Duchess Will Do (Spindle Cove, #4)
author: Tessa Dare
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.01
book published: 2013
rating: 5
read at: 2013/03/29
date added: 2014/08/07
shelves: age_adult, _g_historical-romance, 2013, review-planned, _setting-historicals, source_e-arc
review:
It's safe to say that, after yet another fabulous read, Tessa Dare is my new go-to author when it comes to Historical Romance novels. Not only does she create amazing characters, she's also blessed with the ability to create them being amazing on their own, not because they shine in comparison to their awful acquaintances.

Any Duchess Will Do is funny, clever, and romantic. There were literally just two scenes that I didn't love, and one of them I already forgot entirely about, while the other was just a personal thing and had literally nothing to do with the book itself.

Full disclosure, though: I was especially excited about this story because of the blurb. Apparently, it's right down my alley.

Pauline's personality is absolutely loveable: She's just a servant, but the differences between her and the ton seem to amuse her, not make her feel annoyingly inferior. At the same time, it's not that she's invulnerable or untouchable. She has insecurities, she realizes that in the society she lives in, she'll always be "less", she has had a rough time growing up. Actually, she didn't even have time to grow up, she was expected to be just that by default.

I barely remembered Griff from 'A Week to be Wicked' until Minerva and Colin talked about him. I'll have to read the other books in the series and re-read AWtbW, but I enjoyed his character. He was realistically flawed, somewhat ignorant to other people's feelings, or his hold on them, but his character was just perfect, somehow.

The dynamics between those two certainly made for some entertaining hours: Their banter, their understandings, and their love for eachother. I'm not even sure what I loved more: The fluffy, comedic romance, or the angsty times. - And it's hard to decide, because Tessa Dare manages to weave serious heart-to-hearts and the most ridiculous dialogues together like a pro. - I've bookmarked so much, it's slightly embarrassing. ;)


In short:

I used to like Julia Quinn, but Tessa Dare manages to outshine her easily with her irreplacable, likeable and charming characters, addictive writing and actually existing almost hilarious, earnest plots.

4-5 stars. (I started reading when I went to bed, and it's 4am now, so..)
]]> <![CDATA[A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire, #3)]]> 13253102 Alternate cover for ISBN 055357342X/9780553573428

Here is the third volume in George R. R. Martin’s magnificent cycle of novels that includes A Game of Thrones and A Clash of Kings. Together, this series comprises a genuine masterpiece of modern fantasy, destined to stand as one of the great achievements of imaginative fiction.

Of the five contenders for power, one is dead, another in disfavor, and still the wars rage, alliances are made and broken. Joffrey sits on the Iron Throne, the uneasy ruler of the Seven Kingdoms. His most bitter rival, Lord Stannis, stands defeated and disgraced, victim of the sorceress who holds him in her evil thrall. Young Robb still rules the North from the fortress of Riverrun. Meanwhile, making her way across a blood-drenched continent is the exiled queen, Daenerys, mistress of the only three dragons left in the world. And as opposing forces maneuver for the final showdown, an army of barbaric wildlings arrives from the outermost limits of civilization, accompanied by a horde of mystical Others - a supernatural army of the living dead whose animated corpses are unstoppable. As the future of the land hangs in the balance, no one will rest until the Seven Kingdoms have exploded in a veritable storm of swords....]]> 1177 George R.R. Martin Patricia 4
I won't review this - I'm not sure if I could review a H/EF title, but here are some of my thoughts:

- I like Book!Dany a little better than Show!Dany. In the show she seems too self-confident for now reasons whatsoever except her having bedded Drogo and having been born a Targeryen. She's still too much to suffer through most of the times, but most of the characters are in this series with all their pride, arrogance and ignorance.
- I LOVE Jaime, and Brienne. His journey, though, is probably more interesting than hers, though I find her character interesting as well, given the genderroles back then. I'm not sure if she re-inforces the idea of manly women, or if her feeling uncomfortable in feminine clothes etc. is founded in how she's been treated most of her life and does the accept opposite.
- Book!Tyrion is duller than I had thought, but then, when he interacts with others, he isn't, and that IS the side we get to see in the show, so..
- Sansa! Oh God, I need more of this girl. How I despised her in the beginning, but now. <3
- The Hound's and Arya's interaction, too.. Plus, damn, but I really need to see where Arya is off too next. (Well, I *DO* because I've read about it once, but I want to really read the pages..)

... Okay, now I've gotten myself too excited to continue. Will pick up the next one! :D]]> 4.59 2000 A Storm of Swords (A Song of Ice and Fire, #3)
author: George R.R. Martin
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.59
book published: 2000
rating: 4
read at: 2013/04/30
date added: 2014/08/07
shelves: 2013, age_adult, _g_fantasy, paranormal_dragons, paranormal_psychics, _setting-alternate-universe, _setting-historicals
review:
What a treat this was! Now I really want a dramedy called "Brienne and Jaime: A Journey through Westeros"! I'm very excited about the next one, though I wouldn't be if I hadn't been spoiled. For some reasons I don't like the suspense too much. (It really drives me crazy.)

I won't review this - I'm not sure if I could review a H/EF title, but here are some of my thoughts:

- I like Book!Dany a little better than Show!Dany. In the show she seems too self-confident for now reasons whatsoever except her having bedded Drogo and having been born a Targeryen. She's still too much to suffer through most of the times, but most of the characters are in this series with all their pride, arrogance and ignorance.
- I LOVE Jaime, and Brienne. His journey, though, is probably more interesting than hers, though I find her character interesting as well, given the genderroles back then. I'm not sure if she re-inforces the idea of manly women, or if her feeling uncomfortable in feminine clothes etc. is founded in how she's been treated most of her life and does the accept opposite.
- Book!Tyrion is duller than I had thought, but then, when he interacts with others, he isn't, and that IS the side we get to see in the show, so..
- Sansa! Oh God, I need more of this girl. How I despised her in the beginning, but now. <3
- The Hound's and Arya's interaction, too.. Plus, damn, but I really need to see where Arya is off too next. (Well, I *DO* because I've read about it once, but I want to really read the pages..)

... Okay, now I've gotten myself too excited to continue. Will pick up the next one! :D
]]> Riveted (Iron Seas, #3) 15984041
Five years ago, Annika unwittingly endangered that secret, but her sister Källa took the blame and was exiled. Now Annika serves on the airship Phatéon, flying from port to port in search of her sister and longing to return home . . . but that home is threatened when expedition leader David Kentewess comes aboard.

Determined to solve the mystery of his own origin, David will stop at nothing to expose Annika’s secrets. But when disaster strikes, leaving David and Annika stranded on a glacier and pursued by a madman, their very survival depends on keeping the heat rising between them—and generating lots of steam . . .]]> 413 Meljean Brook 1101611359 Patricia 0 romantic romance, and the compelling writing. There is no Meljean Brook title I haven't loved so far, and Riveted didn't disappoint me in the slightest. :)

If only my sister had let me read it in one sitting. I usually enjoy books even more then.

(I read the first few pages in September 2012, but really started it on January 3rd, since I saved it to be my first read in 2013. :))

** Will review and shelf/categorize later (cause it sucks doing this stuff on my Netbook) **]]> 4.07 2012 Riveted (Iron Seas, #3)
author: Meljean Brook
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2012
rating: 0
read at: 2013/01/05
date added: 2014/08/07
shelves: 2013, _g_steampunk, age_adult, _setting-alternate-universe, _setting-historicals
review:
Say what you want, but Riveted was amazing. Meljean always creates worlds that I can't get enough of and characters I all but fall in love with, in fact, the only things all of her books have in common are the unique characters, actually romantic romance, and the compelling writing. There is no Meljean Brook title I haven't loved so far, and Riveted didn't disappoint me in the slightest. :)

If only my sister had let me read it in one sitting. I usually enjoy books even more then.

(I read the first few pages in September 2012, but really started it on January 3rd, since I saved it to be my first read in 2013. :))

** Will review and shelf/categorize later (cause it sucks doing this stuff on my Netbook) **
]]> <![CDATA[Here There Be Monsters (Iron Seas, #0.5)]]> 17411505
This companion novella is the introduction to the Iron Seas series and was previously published in the 2010 anthology, Burning Up.]]> 125 Meljean Brook 1101617896 Patricia 4 4.13 2010 Here There Be Monsters (Iron Seas, #0.5)
author: Meljean Brook
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at: 2012/09/03
date added: 2014/08/07
shelves: age_adult, anthologies-novellas, _g_steampunk, 2012, _setting-alternate-universe, _setting-historicals
review:
Would have liked to see more of how Mad Machen fell for Ivy, but apart from that, I loved it.
]]> <![CDATA[Mina Wentworth and the Invisible City (Iron Seas, #1.5)]]> 13409407
After Mina is called in to investigate the murder of an aristocratic bounder, her husband Rhys—known to the world as the Iron Duke—must overcome his fear for his new bride before his need to protect her tears them apart. But when she invites him to join her at the murder scene, a search for a mysterious killing machine puts her in more danger than ever before…a danger that leads straight back to Rhys.

Previously published in "The Iron Duke."

Includes a preview of Meljean Brook’s upcoming novel, "Riveted."]]> 104 Meljean Brook 1101564636 Patricia 5
(Funny little story.. I got this on September 4th 2012, but before I even read the first page, decided I should wait for when I *needed* to read this, which was yesterday/today. SO glad I managed to wait.)]]> 3.98 2012 Mina Wentworth and the Invisible City (Iron Seas, #1.5)
author: Meljean Brook
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2012
rating: 5
read at: 2014/02/23
date added: 2014/08/07
shelves: 2014, _g_steampunk, age_adult, review-planned, _setting-alternate-universe, _setting-historicals
review:
The beauty that is anything Meljean Brook writes. Alas, I don't think I'll ever stop enjoying her stories, and I'm thankful for that.

(Funny little story.. I got this on September 4th 2012, but before I even read the first page, decided I should wait for when I *needed* to read this, which was yesterday/today. SO glad I managed to wait.)
]]> Tethered (Iron Seas, #2.5) 16108916
Tethered along the south dock of Port Fallow, Captain Yasmeen Corsair’s magnificent new airship, Lady Nergüi, awaits its departure with adventurer and treasure-hunter Archimedes Fox. But this time, Yasmeen, a fearless mercenary who has always prided herself on a heart of steel, has reasons to worry when Miles Bilson, an acquaintance from Archimedes� earlier smuggling days, sends an urgent message requesting help.

With a past marked by betrayal, Archimedes wonders what his former partner could want—other than revenge. Yasmeen fears that Bilson could threaten everything Archimedes holds dear. Though both Archimedes and Yasmeen love the exhilaration of veering wildly off course, neither is prepared for where their newest risk will take them…or what it might cost them.]]> 198 Meljean Brook 110161790X Patricia 5
]]> 4.30 2013 Tethered (Iron Seas, #2.5)
author: Meljean Brook
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2013
rating: 5
read at: 2013/11/28
date added: 2014/08/07
shelves: 2013, age_adult, anthologies-novellas, _g_steampunk, review-planned, _setting-alternate-universe, _setting-historicals
review:
Fuck you and your fucking perfect stories, Meljean. I hate you so much, write mooooore. /hysterical sobbing


]]> The Windflower 533101
Every lady of breeding knows. No one has a good time on a pirate ship. No one, that is, but the pirates. Yet there she was, Merry Wilding—kidnapped in error, taken from a ship bound from New York to England, spirited away in a barrel and swept aboard the infamous Black Joke....

There she was, trembling with pleasure in the arms of her achingly handsome, sensationally sensual, golden-haired captor—Devon. From the storm-tossed Atlantic to the languid waters of the Gulf Stream, from a smuggler's den to a gilded mansion, Merry struggled to escape...to escape the prison of her own reckless passions, the bondage of sweet, bold desire...]]> 502 Laura London 055356806X Patricia 4 4.28 1984 The Windflower
author: Laura London
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.28
book published: 1984
rating: 4
read at: 2012/01/28
date added: 2014/08/07
shelves: age_adult, listed_former_or_old_favourites, _g_historical-romance, 2012, review-planned, _setting-historicals
review:

]]> <![CDATA[Angels' Flight (Guild Hunter, #0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 3.5)]]> 11455196 Angel's Wolf a vampire becomes fascinated with the seductive angel who rules Louisiana. But all is not what it appears to be in her court.

In Angels' Judgment a hunter must track one of her own gone bad, while surviving the deadly tests placed in her way by the archangels themselves. Unexpected backup comes from a stranger who might just be the most lethal threat of all...

Plus FIRST TIME IN PRINT

In Angels' Pawn a vampire hunter faces off against two rival factions and the angel manipulating them both, and a vampire whose help is not entirely selfless...

And NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED

In Angels' Dance an angel trapped in the mountain stronghold of the Refuge finds herself under siege by a warrior angel from a martial court.]]> 345 Nalini Singh 0425246817 Patricia 4
Sooo glad the novellas will be published! <3

* * *

I knew the first three already, and liked most of them, but the new story about Jessamy was really good, in my opinion. Wish it had been a full novel!]]> 4.30 2012 Angels' Flight (Guild Hunter, #0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 3.5)
author: Nalini Singh
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2012/03/01
date added: 2014/08/07
shelves: age_adult, anthologies-novellas, paranormal_psychics, 2012, review-planned, _setting-alternate-universe, _setting-historicals, _setting-futuristic, _g_paranormals
review:
Will there be another cover? Cause I'd like this novel to match my UK covers.. :D

Sooo glad the novellas will be published! <3

* * *

I knew the first three already, and liked most of them, but the new story about Jessamy was really good, in my opinion. Wish it had been a full novel!
]]> Geist (Book of the Order, #1) 8058609
Among the most powerful of the Order is Sorcha, now thrust into partnership with the novice Deacon, Merrick Chambers. They have been dispatched to the isolated village of Ulrich to aide the Priory with a surge of violent geist activity. With them is Raed Rossin, Pretender to the throne that Sorcha is sworn to protect, and bearer of a terrible curse.

But what greets them in the strange settlement is something far more predatory and more horrifying than any mere haunting. And as she uncovers a tradition of twisted rituals passed down through the dark reaches of history, Sorcha will be forced to reconsider everything she thinks she knows.

And if she makes it out of Ulrich alive, what in Hell is she returning to?]]> 294 Philippa Ballantine 0441019617 Patricia 4
There is a part of me that wishes I had read more Epic/High Fantasy novels, because I'm not sure if it was just an amateur-impression or if I'm actually right when I say that it felt like an Epic Fantasy novel written for people who usually don't like them:

There was the world-building: "Magic", "guilds", a historical setting. It had some semi-modern touches, however, and focussed not only on the world or the "wars/fights/training", but most importantly on the characters and, which is why I very much enjoyed it, their relationships. It wasn't as "long", as Epic Fantasy often is, but the characters were introduced less apologizing than characters in PNR and UF often are. Sorcha is in her mid/end 30-ies, and so on.

Have to think more about this book. Definitely going to read the sequel. If I was a bigger fan of the genre (whatever genre it might be) I'd probably give it a higher rating. Maybe Geist deserves its own genre, though. : D]]> 3.64 2010 Geist (Book of the Order, #1)
author: Philippa Ballantine
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.64
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at: 2013/03/03
date added: 2014/08/07
shelves: form-physical-copy, source_won, age_adult, paranormal_psychics, 2013, review-planned, _setting-alternate-universe, _g_fantasy, _setting-historicals, _g_paranormals
review:
I have no idea how to shelf this book and it's driving me nuts.

There is a part of me that wishes I had read more Epic/High Fantasy novels, because I'm not sure if it was just an amateur-impression or if I'm actually right when I say that it felt like an Epic Fantasy novel written for people who usually don't like them:

There was the world-building: "Magic", "guilds", a historical setting. It had some semi-modern touches, however, and focussed not only on the world or the "wars/fights/training", but most importantly on the characters and, which is why I very much enjoyed it, their relationships. It wasn't as "long", as Epic Fantasy often is, but the characters were introduced less apologizing than characters in PNR and UF often are. Sorcha is in her mid/end 30-ies, and so on.

Have to think more about this book. Definitely going to read the sequel. If I was a bigger fan of the genre (whatever genre it might be) I'd probably give it a higher rating. Maybe Geist deserves its own genre, though. : D
]]> <![CDATA[Heart of Steel (Iron Seas, #2)]]> 10558533
As the mercenary captain of Lady Corsair, Yasmeen has learned to keep her heart as cold as steel, her only loyalty bound to her ship and her crew. So when a man who once tried to seize her airship returns from the dead, Yasmeen will be damned if she gives him another opportunity to take control.

Treasure hunter Archimedes Fox isn't interested in Lady Corsair—he wants her coldhearted captain and the valuable da Vinci sketch she stole from him. To reclaim it, Archimedes is determined to seduce the stubborn woman who once tossed him to a ravenous pack of zombies, but she's no easy conquest.

When da Vinci's sketch attracts a dangerous amount of attention, Yasmeen and Archimedes journey to Horde-occupied Morocco—and straight into their enemy's hands. But as they fight to save themselves and a city on the brink of rebellion, the greatest peril Yasmeen faces is from the man who seeks to melt her icy heart.]]> 311 Meljean Brook 0425243303 Patricia 5
Where I liked Rhys, I downright worshipped Archimedes. And even though I could relate to both Mina and Yasmeen, I merely liked and respected Mina, whereas I want to BE Yasmeen, or spend at least another 100 hours inside of her head.

If I could, I'd write this book a lovesong, but all I'm able to do is draw weird faces, so as soon as I find my tablet -and brains- I'll add a little gif. *g*

Oh, and have I mentioned that this book was perfection? It was. The other one felt like perfection, and this one does too. Boy, Brook, what are you even doing to me? The only thing I didn't like about this one was.. okay, there were two things. No1: The cover. No2: Not long enough. And God, but I'm not sure what to be excited about more. Michael's book, or Riveted and #4. ]]> 3.93 2011 Heart of Steel (Iron Seas, #2)
author: Meljean Brook
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.93
book published: 2011
rating: 5
read at: 2012/08/19
date added: 2014/08/07
shelves: form-physical-copy, form-duplicates, source_secondhand, source_won, source_author-or-publisher, age_adult, _g_steampunk, listed_former_or_old_favourites, 2012, _setting-alternate-universe, _setting-historicals
review:
I swear, and I know, it should be impossible for a book to be this awesome, but it was. All of Meljean Brook's heroines have been amazing and unique so far, and I also adored all of her men, but few as much as Mr. Fox.

Where I liked Rhys, I downright worshipped Archimedes. And even though I could relate to both Mina and Yasmeen, I merely liked and respected Mina, whereas I want to BE Yasmeen, or spend at least another 100 hours inside of her head.

If I could, I'd write this book a lovesong, but all I'm able to do is draw weird faces, so as soon as I find my tablet -and brains- I'll add a little gif. *g*

Oh, and have I mentioned that this book was perfection? It was. The other one felt like perfection, and this one does too. Boy, Brook, what are you even doing to me? The only thing I didn't like about this one was.. okay, there were two things. No1: The cover. No2: Not long enough. And God, but I'm not sure what to be excited about more. Michael's book, or Riveted and #4.
]]> <![CDATA[Bitterblue (Graceling Realm, #3)]]> 13385877 576 Kristin Cashore 0575097191 Patricia 4
I liked that Bitterblue made certain mistakes, that she felt the way she did, had a bit of a mean streak to her. That she didn't magically find out the truth, sometimes instead trusted the wrong people. It made her somewhat more real to me, although I understand that with two former protagonists who had either much better instincts or a much better understanding of their surroundings, Bitterblue's actions might have seemed less.. let's call it healthy.

I'm a little unfair in my four star rating. I loved Bitterblue and I think the ending was a proof that Cashore wanted to hold on to her character's integrity, but at the same time, I just wasn't all that satisfied. The ending wasn't any more or less open than those of Graceling and Fire, yet I had much more issues with it. Maybe because there isn't a fourth book I can pull out of my shelf and read to satisfy myself, maybe because the romantic subplot of this book was very different from that of the first two books -and really just a subplot in the end- or because my heart ached for the characters and their loss, differently and much more than it had in Fire.

In the end, I could try to say that all these things seemed consistent and to be as much a part of the story as any other, but they left me with some bad feelings, and although I think it's okay for books to do that, and although I loved that Bitterblue was different than its prequels, I wish it had held more things in common with them.. or an ending that wasn't like theirs at all.

Because unlike Fire or Graceling, Bitterblue was dark in a very disturbing way. It was emotionally intense in a way that makes you feel somewhat dirty afterwards, and while the kingdom might one day find salvation or soap, I was left with only knowing that Bitterblue had a vague hope of a somewhat better future.

And after enduring the memories of Thiel, or reading parts of Lech's annuals, that was just not cutting it. The truth is, if you put your readers through that sort of emotional trauma -though I might be especially biased because of the nature of the crimes- you should at least have demanded your publisher only have your books sold with attached chocolates and the numbers to international mental care hotlines on the wrapper. I'm just sayin'.]]> 4.08 2012 Bitterblue (Graceling Realm, #3)
author: Kristin Cashore
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2013/10/27
date added: 2014/08/07
shelves: 2013, age_young-adult, _g_fantasy, paranormal_psychics, review-planned, _setting-alternate-universe, _setting-historicals, form-physical-copy, _g_paranormals
review:
I liked Bitterblue. I never had to wait, I never anticipated, so I think it's easier for me to have enjoyed it than it must have been for emotionally much more invested fans of this series.

I liked that Bitterblue made certain mistakes, that she felt the way she did, had a bit of a mean streak to her. That she didn't magically find out the truth, sometimes instead trusted the wrong people. It made her somewhat more real to me, although I understand that with two former protagonists who had either much better instincts or a much better understanding of their surroundings, Bitterblue's actions might have seemed less.. let's call it healthy.

I'm a little unfair in my four star rating. I loved Bitterblue and I think the ending was a proof that Cashore wanted to hold on to her character's integrity, but at the same time, I just wasn't all that satisfied. The ending wasn't any more or less open than those of Graceling and Fire, yet I had much more issues with it. Maybe because there isn't a fourth book I can pull out of my shelf and read to satisfy myself, maybe because the romantic subplot of this book was very different from that of the first two books -and really just a subplot in the end- or because my heart ached for the characters and their loss, differently and much more than it had in Fire.

In the end, I could try to say that all these things seemed consistent and to be as much a part of the story as any other, but they left me with some bad feelings, and although I think it's okay for books to do that, and although I loved that Bitterblue was different than its prequels, I wish it had held more things in common with them.. or an ending that wasn't like theirs at all.

Because unlike Fire or Graceling, Bitterblue was dark in a very disturbing way. It was emotionally intense in a way that makes you feel somewhat dirty afterwards, and while the kingdom might one day find salvation or soap, I was left with only knowing that Bitterblue had a vague hope of a somewhat better future.

And after enduring the memories of Thiel, or reading parts of Lech's annuals, that was just not cutting it. The truth is, if you put your readers through that sort of emotional trauma -though I might be especially biased because of the nature of the crimes- you should at least have demanded your publisher only have your books sold with attached chocolates and the numbers to international mental care hotlines on the wrapper. I'm just sayin'.
]]> Fire (Graceling Realm, #2) 6250211 Book by KRISTIN CASHORE 352 Kristin Cashore 0575085126 Patricia 5
It was easy to fall into the world and let it carry me along, if that makes any sense at all. The characters were complex, likeable, and had more depth to them on a broad scale than I had expected. I think I like that Cashore's royalty often seems to have a very good core, that there are always characters that are /good/. Of course, when I wished for this to be more complicated and then read Bitterblue I wanted to punch myself in the face, because wow, painful.

Not that she hadn't always subverted, averted and lampshaded certain elements. Katsa wasn't necessarily good, but she had an understanding of her doing, she didn't want to cause pain, and she suffered from it. Her friends, as well. With Fire it's the same. She has -and she has to have- a very strong understanding of morals, ethics, of what's good and what is not. She struggles with this thorough a big part if not the entire novel.

The loss in Fire seemed more real than that in Graceling. It was palpable. The tone of the novel was different. In hindsight I feel like the novels become gradually darker, even though the heroines themselves didn't.

As always, there were minor (and not so minor) things I could criticise, but this series has been a pleasure to read and I don't think those small things changed anything for me on the long run.]]> 3.99 2009 Fire (Graceling Realm, #2)
author: Kristin Cashore
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.99
book published: 2009
rating: 5
read at: 2013/10/26
date added: 2014/08/07
shelves: 2013, age_young-adult, form-physical-copy, _g_fantasy, paranormal_psychics, review-planned, _setting-alternate-universe, _setting-historicals, _g_paranormals
review:
I unfortunately read Bitterblue before reviewing this, and my thoughts are all over the place right now. Fire was a great book. It was also more heartbreaking than Graceling. (though less than its sequel)

It was easy to fall into the world and let it carry me along, if that makes any sense at all. The characters were complex, likeable, and had more depth to them on a broad scale than I had expected. I think I like that Cashore's royalty often seems to have a very good core, that there are always characters that are /good/. Of course, when I wished for this to be more complicated and then read Bitterblue I wanted to punch myself in the face, because wow, painful.

Not that she hadn't always subverted, averted and lampshaded certain elements. Katsa wasn't necessarily good, but she had an understanding of her doing, she didn't want to cause pain, and she suffered from it. Her friends, as well. With Fire it's the same. She has -and she has to have- a very strong understanding of morals, ethics, of what's good and what is not. She struggles with this thorough a big part if not the entire novel.

The loss in Fire seemed more real than that in Graceling. It was palpable. The tone of the novel was different. In hindsight I feel like the novels become gradually darker, even though the heroines themselves didn't.

As always, there were minor (and not so minor) things I could criticise, but this series has been a pleasure to read and I don't think those small things changed anything for me on the long run.
]]> <![CDATA[Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, #1)]]> 7171637 New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments series.

The year is 1878. Tessa Gray descends into London’s dark supernatural underworld in search of her missing brother. She soon discovers that her only allies are the demon-slaying Shadowhunters—including Will and Jem, the mysterious boys she is attracted to. Soon they find themselves up against the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization of vampires, demons, warlocks, and humans. Equipped with a magical army of unstoppable clockwork creatures, the Club is out to rule the British Empire, and only Tessa and her allies can stop them...]]> 479 Cassandra Clare 1416975861 Patricia 2 4.31 2010 Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices, #1)
author: Cassandra Clare
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.31
book published: 2010
rating: 2
read at: 2010/01/01
date added: 2014/07/10
shelves: form-physical-copy, _setting-historicals, age_young-adult, 2010-and-prior, _g_paranormals
review:

]]> <![CDATA[A Mackenzie Family Christmas: The Perfect Gift (MacKenzies & McBrides, #4.5)]]> 16181686
The Mackenzies gather for a clan Christmas and Hogmanay in Scotland. In the chaos of preparations for the celebration--the first of Hart and Eleanor's married life--one of Ian's Ming bowls gets broken, and the family scrambles to save the day. Daniel busily runs a betting ring for everything from the hour Eleanor's baby will arrive, to whether Mac's former-pugilist valet can win a boxing match. Ian begins a new obsession, and Beth fears that the loss of one of his precious bowls has made him withdraw once more into his private world.]]> 202 Jennifer Ashley 0986023876 Patricia 3 3.98 2012 A Mackenzie Family Christmas: The Perfect Gift (MacKenzies & McBrides, #4.5)
author: Jennifer Ashley
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2012
rating: 3
read at: 2014/05/31
date added: 2014/05/31
shelves: 2014, _g_historical-romance, age_adult, anthologies-novellas, _setting-historicals, form-freebies
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie (Mackenzies & McBrides, #1)]]> 11470394 Alternate cover edition of ASIN B004RKXHTK


It was whispered all through London Society that Ian Mackenzie was mad, that he'd spent his youth in an asylum, and was not to be trusted -- especially with a lady.

Yet Beth found herself inexorably drawn to the Scottish lord. Despite his decadence and his intimidating intelligence, she could see that he needed help- her help.

Because suddenly the only thing that made sense to her was...the Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie.]]> 338 Jennifer Ashley Patricia 3
Before I start this review, I'll have to admit to some things.

First off, I like Jennifer Ashley's books in a very complicated manner. I enjoy them, I often read them in one sitting and there were scenes in her Shifters series that I bookmarked solely to re-read them and not for review-purposes. At the same time, the feminist within me shakes her head at certain elements of her stories, not necessarily because they are anti-feminist, but because they need further explanation to make them "work" for me. Explanations that would destroy the pace of the story and are most likely therefore missing.

Secondly, I have not read any of Ashley's Historical Romance novels prior to this one. This has a lot to do with the fact that Historicals don't often work out for me, either. It's either the stories that all start to feel all too familiar, or the (realistic!) worldbuilding that makes me want to timetravel and beat every "gentleman" with a stick.

Thirdly, I know several kids (and am acquainted to some adults) who have Asperger's. Most of them have very severe symptoms, such as not being able to hold conversations, being very antsy around even their parents, etc. It was hard for me to start this book, knowing Ian had Aspergers, and disconnect him from the children I know. In a sense, I almost started reading with an "I won't like this" attitude, before I got a hold of myself.

The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie was a solid read. The characters were fleshed out, and there was a set of secondary characters that I've grown to like and be invested in. Truthfully speaking, I am very sure I'll continue this series just to know how their lives will turn out.

But Ian and Beth themselves, despite the love they have received from trustworthy reviewers, did not truly convince me. They didn't sell the story as much as Ashley's easy writing did. The pacing was great as always, and the "suspense" plot was interesting enough to bring the story along. Despite that, neither of the main characters managed to grab me.

I found Beth to be somewhat of a plain heroine. Not in the sense that she didn't have a personality or was different from others. It was more like a model being photographed in the wrong light. For some reasons, the picture didn't come out as well and attention-grabbing as it could have.

The same can be said for Ian. When you look at the facts, he's a remarkable hero in a Historical Romance novel. Despite that, I'm left wanting something more.

Despite that, I enjoyed spending my afternoon with them and their family. I enjoyed the entire novel, to be honest. There were certain little (or big) things that I appreciated more than even the final "I love you"s.

- The consent. There was no forced seduction or rape. Ian told Beth if she didn't want to, they'd stop. No "Tell me now, once I start I won't be able to stop", no "I can't contain myself, you'll like it". The fact that they started their relationship before they married might have helped with that.

- The eye-contact. It's one of these "smaller" things, but Ashley made it a big thing, and I found that very important. It was very satisfying to see that Ian wasn't just a "madman" when it fit the story, but thorough it all. That in the end, he wasn't "healed". Even though I'm not sure how I feel about Beth being an anchor to him, it is much easier to swallow the idea of her helping him, than her being his saviour.

- The family and their existing background. Maybe they already existed in another series by Ashley, I'm not sure, but all the Mackenzie brothers had a solid history. I liked those small (or big) hints.

- The mentions of MOGII/LGBT*QIA characters. Although they had minor "speaking" roles, they existed, and were handled, in my opinion, properly enough. I wish they had had more screentime, of course, but then, I also wish there were some more people of colour. Some things, it seems, I have to wait for a long time.

On the other handside, there were things that bothered me in the way that.. they made sense, but not unconditionally. And Ashley didn't always take the time to explain those conditions to the reader. It's ultimately okay the way she handled it for now, but I hope that in a few years the romance genre will have grown to the point where it will feel natural to add these conditions. (For example Ian comparing Beth to objects, not because he objectifies her, but because his mind works differently from hers; or Beth being with Ian not because he reminds her of her abusive father, despite the fact that many children from abusive families tend to be attracted to similarly abusive men or women)

There were also some typical problematic (romance-genre) elements. Thankfully not the rape and abusive is love-stuff, but things you get bombared with everywhere you look. And when your shields are down (as they usually are when you read) it's easy to forget about them, and even easier for them to fester somewhere in you. (And with you, I mostly talk about myself, but.. yeah..)

TLDR; solid book, some problematic elements, overall very enjoyable as long as you aren't sensitive when it comes to mentioned elements ;)

3-4 stars, I think. I always go with 3.5 when it comes to Jennifer Ashley.. IDK why.]]> 4.11 2009 The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie (Mackenzies & McBrides, #1)
author: Jennifer Ashley
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2009
rating: 3
read at: 2014/05/29
date added: 2014/05/29
shelves: 2014, _g_historical-romance, age_adult, listed_start-the-series, review-planned, _setting-historicals
review:
I'm still trying to sort everything out, so I'll have to edit this review some time in the future.. :/

Before I start this review, I'll have to admit to some things.

First off, I like Jennifer Ashley's books in a very complicated manner. I enjoy them, I often read them in one sitting and there were scenes in her Shifters series that I bookmarked solely to re-read them and not for review-purposes. At the same time, the feminist within me shakes her head at certain elements of her stories, not necessarily because they are anti-feminist, but because they need further explanation to make them "work" for me. Explanations that would destroy the pace of the story and are most likely therefore missing.

Secondly, I have not read any of Ashley's Historical Romance novels prior to this one. This has a lot to do with the fact that Historicals don't often work out for me, either. It's either the stories that all start to feel all too familiar, or the (realistic!) worldbuilding that makes me want to timetravel and beat every "gentleman" with a stick.

Thirdly, I know several kids (and am acquainted to some adults) who have Asperger's. Most of them have very severe symptoms, such as not being able to hold conversations, being very antsy around even their parents, etc. It was hard for me to start this book, knowing Ian had Aspergers, and disconnect him from the children I know. In a sense, I almost started reading with an "I won't like this" attitude, before I got a hold of myself.

The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie was a solid read. The characters were fleshed out, and there was a set of secondary characters that I've grown to like and be invested in. Truthfully speaking, I am very sure I'll continue this series just to know how their lives will turn out.

But Ian and Beth themselves, despite the love they have received from trustworthy reviewers, did not truly convince me. They didn't sell the story as much as Ashley's easy writing did. The pacing was great as always, and the "suspense" plot was interesting enough to bring the story along. Despite that, neither of the main characters managed to grab me.

I found Beth to be somewhat of a plain heroine. Not in the sense that she didn't have a personality or was different from others. It was more like a model being photographed in the wrong light. For some reasons, the picture didn't come out as well and attention-grabbing as it could have.

The same can be said for Ian. When you look at the facts, he's a remarkable hero in a Historical Romance novel. Despite that, I'm left wanting something more.

Despite that, I enjoyed spending my afternoon with them and their family. I enjoyed the entire novel, to be honest. There were certain little (or big) things that I appreciated more than even the final "I love you"s.

- The consent. There was no forced seduction or rape. Ian told Beth if she didn't want to, they'd stop. No "Tell me now, once I start I won't be able to stop", no "I can't contain myself, you'll like it". The fact that they started their relationship before they married might have helped with that.

- The eye-contact. It's one of these "smaller" things, but Ashley made it a big thing, and I found that very important. It was very satisfying to see that Ian wasn't just a "madman" when it fit the story, but thorough it all. That in the end, he wasn't "healed". Even though I'm not sure how I feel about Beth being an anchor to him, it is much easier to swallow the idea of her helping him, than her being his saviour.

- The family and their existing background. Maybe they already existed in another series by Ashley, I'm not sure, but all the Mackenzie brothers had a solid history. I liked those small (or big) hints.

- The mentions of MOGII/LGBT*QIA characters. Although they had minor "speaking" roles, they existed, and were handled, in my opinion, properly enough. I wish they had had more screentime, of course, but then, I also wish there were some more people of colour. Some things, it seems, I have to wait for a long time.

On the other handside, there were things that bothered me in the way that.. they made sense, but not unconditionally. And Ashley didn't always take the time to explain those conditions to the reader. It's ultimately okay the way she handled it for now, but I hope that in a few years the romance genre will have grown to the point where it will feel natural to add these conditions. (For example Ian comparing Beth to objects, not because he objectifies her, but because his mind works differently from hers; or Beth being with Ian not because he reminds her of her abusive father, despite the fact that many children from abusive families tend to be attracted to similarly abusive men or women)

There were also some typical problematic (romance-genre) elements. Thankfully not the rape and abusive is love-stuff, but things you get bombared with everywhere you look. And when your shields are down (as they usually are when you read) it's easy to forget about them, and even easier for them to fester somewhere in you. (And with you, I mostly talk about myself, but.. yeah..)

TLDR; solid book, some problematic elements, overall very enjoyable as long as you aren't sensitive when it comes to mentioned elements ;)

3-4 stars, I think. I always go with 3.5 when it comes to Jennifer Ashley.. IDK why.
]]> <![CDATA[Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1)]]> 13574861
Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.]]> 433 Sarah J. Maas Patricia 4
Fact is, I very much enjoyed the characters and worldbuilding. The plot was genuinely interesting, and even sidekick characters felt fullfleshed. (So much so that I want to read entire novels just about their lives, to be honest.)

What I liked the most was the "potential" I felt in the characters. You could see that they still had a journey ahead of them, that they had plans and wishes. It's not just a stumbling from one situation into another and maybe growing from that. (Not that I mind these situations, either. I just have a healthy appreciation for how Maas wrote this story.)]]> 4.24 2012 Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1)
author: Sarah J. Maas
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.24
book published: 2012
rating: 4
read at: 2014/02/21
date added: 2014/02/26
shelves: 2014, _g_fantasy, age_young-adult, paranormal_psychics, review-planned, _setting-alternate-universe, _setting-historicals
review:
This was good! 4-5 stars, but I suffer from enthusiastic reading syndrome with symptoms of nah nevermind, so I'll have to wait a week or two to really decide how much I enjoyed Throne of Glass.

Fact is, I very much enjoyed the characters and worldbuilding. The plot was genuinely interesting, and even sidekick characters felt fullfleshed. (So much so that I want to read entire novels just about their lives, to be honest.)

What I liked the most was the "potential" I felt in the characters. You could see that they still had a journey ahead of them, that they had plans and wishes. It's not just a stumbling from one situation into another and maybe growing from that. (Not that I mind these situations, either. I just have a healthy appreciation for how Maas wrote this story.)
]]> The Hook (Iron Seas, #0.6) 17838354
Meljean’s Note: This is a very short story that I wrote for a blog post at All Things Urban Fantasy during their Spooky Legends week. The challenge was to write about a famous urban legend in our characters� voices, and my urban legend was The Hook.

This story features Detective Inspector Mina Wentworth and Constable Newberry from The Iron Duke.]]> 5 Meljean Brook Patricia 0 3.54 2010 The Hook (Iron Seas, #0.6)
author: Meljean Brook
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.54
book published: 2010
rating: 0
read at: 2013/11/28
date added: 2013/11/29
shelves: 2013, age_adult, anthologies-novellas, form-freebies, _g_steampunk, _setting-alternate-universe, _setting-historicals
review:
Oooh, there need to be more of these shorts!!
]]> <![CDATA[The Lass Wore Black (Scottish Sisters #2)]]> 16045301 He was her Highland lover, but would he be her savior?

Catriona Cameron was once famed for her seductive beauty and charm. Now she saw no one, hiding from the world...and no one dared break through her self-imposed exile.

No one, that is, until Mark Thorburn burst into her home, and Catriona's darkened world began to have color again. Thorburn, secretly the heir to an Earldom, claimed he was a footman. But Catriona didn't care about the scandal their passion could cause...for this very touch sparked her back to a life of sensuality, one she thought she'd never have again.

Little does she know that Mark is part of a masquerade. One that will end when they become the target of a madman set on revenge. Mark realizes he will have to do more than win her love...he will have to save her life as well.]]> 384 Karen Ranney 0062197649 Patricia 4
The Lass Wore Black was a very good historical romance read. In the past, I had read many funny Historical Romance novels, such as Julia Quinn's. But The Lass Wore Black, despite its very humorous moments, was more sincere:

A genuinely scarred and flawed heroine, who redeems herself in a way that doesn't feel preachy, a heroine who struggles with her own shallow and petty mind, and her trauma-induced depression.

A character/personality-centered story; even though the hero was described as handsome, and most romance novels are very heroine-centered (if you aren't reading J.R. Ward, that is), there is a difference between, let's say, The Duke and I and The Lass Wore Black:

Catriona is not replacable; Mark isn't just silent, or broody. Something that I found very special: Even though we got to know quite a few things about Mark, he wasn't characterized as "his hobbies", or "his job", but his actual personality. (Like, there are many romance novels with the same hero over and over again, and the only difference is that the one likes soccer whereas the other one really loves to cook.)

Now, I haven't read any other Karen Ranney stories, so it's possible that all of her characters are the same, but from what I can tell of Jean's characterization, they aren't.

I think the thing I like most about The Lass Wore Black, is that Catriona really was/is flawed: She starts as a arrogant, beautiful girl. She really is just that, a girl. But then she loses what she always identified as: Her beauty. Her struggles were very realistic; she wasn't a saint, she hurt herself and others, and she isolated herself. She envied, she felt guilty, she became painfully aware of her selfishness and other flaws. - But thorough the novel, she never stopped being flawed, she just matured. She never became the women healed through love, but she did become a woman. She started to actually see the rest of the world.

Despite that, it's not like the author didn't put a big emphasis on the romance; she did. And it was very sweet, lovely, and sexy. :)

Additionally to that, it wasn't just the story itself that was different from other Historical Romance novels, but also the writing. I can't quite point out where it differed from other novels of the genre, but it slightly did.. But then, I'm not a pro-Historical-reader, so.

I really wonder how it comes I haven't read any truly awful Historical Romance novels (with the exception of one bodice ripper, that is). Maybe because I read so few of them, and they always satisfy my cravings? Or am I just very lucky?

In any case, 4 stars read. ]]> 3.43 2013 The Lass Wore Black (Scottish Sisters #2)
author: Karen Ranney
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.43
book published: 2013
rating: 4
read at: 2012/11/15
date added: 2013/08/01
shelves: age_adult, _g_historical-romance, 2012, review-planned, _setting-historicals, source_e-arc
review:
Okay, I'll just write down some random thoughts here and review it later.

The Lass Wore Black was a very good historical romance read. In the past, I had read many funny Historical Romance novels, such as Julia Quinn's. But The Lass Wore Black, despite its very humorous moments, was more sincere:

A genuinely scarred and flawed heroine, who redeems herself in a way that doesn't feel preachy, a heroine who struggles with her own shallow and petty mind, and her trauma-induced depression.

A character/personality-centered story; even though the hero was described as handsome, and most romance novels are very heroine-centered (if you aren't reading J.R. Ward, that is), there is a difference between, let's say, The Duke and I and The Lass Wore Black:

Catriona is not replacable; Mark isn't just silent, or broody. Something that I found very special: Even though we got to know quite a few things about Mark, he wasn't characterized as "his hobbies", or "his job", but his actual personality. (Like, there are many romance novels with the same hero over and over again, and the only difference is that the one likes soccer whereas the other one really loves to cook.)

Now, I haven't read any other Karen Ranney stories, so it's possible that all of her characters are the same, but from what I can tell of Jean's characterization, they aren't.

I think the thing I like most about The Lass Wore Black, is that Catriona really was/is flawed: She starts as a arrogant, beautiful girl. She really is just that, a girl. But then she loses what she always identified as: Her beauty. Her struggles were very realistic; she wasn't a saint, she hurt herself and others, and she isolated herself. She envied, she felt guilty, she became painfully aware of her selfishness and other flaws. - But thorough the novel, she never stopped being flawed, she just matured. She never became the women healed through love, but she did become a woman. She started to actually see the rest of the world.

Despite that, it's not like the author didn't put a big emphasis on the romance; she did. And it was very sweet, lovely, and sexy. :)

Additionally to that, it wasn't just the story itself that was different from other Historical Romance novels, but also the writing. I can't quite point out where it differed from other novels of the genre, but it slightly did.. But then, I'm not a pro-Historical-reader, so.

I really wonder how it comes I haven't read any truly awful Historical Romance novels (with the exception of one bodice ripper, that is). Maybe because I read so few of them, and they always satisfy my cravings? Or am I just very lucky?

In any case, 4 stars read.
]]> <![CDATA[A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire, #4)]]> 13497 Crows will fight over a dead man's flesh, and kill each other for his eyes.

Bloodthirsty, treacherous and cunning, the Lannisters are in power on the Iron Throne in the name of the boy-king Tommen. The war in the Seven Kingdoms has burned itself out, but in its bitter aftermath new conflicts spark to life.

The Martells of Dorne and the Starks of Winterfell seek vengeance for their dead. Euron Crow's Eye, as black a pirate as ever raised a sail, returns from the smoking ruins of Valyria to claim the Iron Isles. From the icy north, where Others threaten the Wall, apprentice Maester Samwell Tarly brings a mysterious babe in arms to the Citadel.

Against a backdrop of incest and fratricide, alchemy and murder, victory will go to the men and women possessed of the coldest steel and the coldest hearts.]]> 1060 George R.R. Martin 055358202X Patricia 4
Liked it, but I think the decision to split those two books the way Martin did might not have been the wisest.

Mainstream-character-wise I'm interested in Tyrion, Jon and Dany, but Sansa, Brienne and Jaime are infinitely more interesting to me most of the times. Plus.. Arya. Oh, Arya. Well, we'll see. :>]]> 4.16 2005 A Feast for Crows (A Song of Ice and Fire, #4)
author: George R.R. Martin
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.16
book published: 2005
rating: 4
read at: 2013/05/11
date added: 2013/05/12
shelves: 2013, age_adult, _g_fantasy, paranormal_dragons, paranormal_psychics, _setting-historicals, _setting-alternate-universe
review:
Given the fact that Martin split this title up, I fear for the fifth. I mean, all the characters I care about were in this (with minor exceptions like the Onion Knight) so the next one.. /sigh

Liked it, but I think the decision to split those two books the way Martin did might not have been the wisest.

Mainstream-character-wise I'm interested in Tyrion, Jon and Dany, but Sansa, Brienne and Jaime are infinitely more interesting to me most of the times. Plus.. Arya. Oh, Arya. Well, we'll see. :>
]]> <![CDATA[Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices, #3)]]> 6131164 Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy.

Tessa Gray should be happy - aren't all brides happy?
Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute.
A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan. He needs Tessa. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart, will do anything to save her.]]> 568 Cassandra Clare 141697590X Patricia 3
I won't read the blurb, I won't read the blurb, I won't read the blurb.

In the first two novels I was Team Jem all the way and I still like him more, but I think Clare took some of his charme and gave it to Will when she did what she did in the last installment.

I have to admit that although I dislike most novels for young adults and although I don't think Clare's books are thaaaat good, I still intend to finish this and the TMI series.]]> 4.55 2013 Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices, #3)
author: Cassandra Clare
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.55
book published: 2013
rating: 3
read at: 2013/04/19
date added: 2013/04/19
shelves: 2013, _setting-present, _setting-historicals, _g_steampunk, age_young-adult, _g_paranormals
review:
I enjoyed this so much more than I expected, especially after The Great Dissappointment That Was The Second Novel. But I think Clare managed the book in a consistent manner. Liked it. Some parts I really, really liked. :)

I won't read the blurb, I won't read the blurb, I won't read the blurb.

In the first two novels I was Team Jem all the way and I still like him more, but I think Clare took some of his charme and gave it to Will when she did what she did in the last installment.

I have to admit that although I dislike most novels for young adults and although I don't think Clare's books are thaaaat good, I still intend to finish this and the TMI series.
]]> A Most Scandalous Proposal 15778746 In Ashlyn Macnamara’s stunning romance debut—perfect for fans of Julia Quinn, Eloisa James, and Sabrina Jeffries—two childhood friends in Regency England discover love with the most unlikely of partners: each other.

After watching her beloved sister Sophia pine over the ton’s Golden Boy for years, Miss Julia St. Claire has foresworn love and put herself firmly on the shelf. Unfortunately, her social-climbing mother and debt-ridden father have other ideas, and jump at the chance to marry Julia off to the newly-named Earl of Clivesden…the man of Sophia’s dreams.

Since resigning his Cavalry commission, Benedict Revelstoke has spent his time in London avoiding the marriage mart. But when he discovers that the Earl of Clivesden has set Julia in his sights, Benedict tries to protect his childhood best friend from the man’s advances—only to discover more than friendship driving his desire to defend her. He surprises them both with the force of his feelings, but when she refuses him and her father announces her betrothal, he fears he’s lost her forever—until Julia approaches him with a shocking scheme that will ruin her for all respectable society�

…and lead them into an exquisite world of forbidden pleasures.]]> 352 Ashlyn Macnamara 0345534743 Patricia 3
Proper review and rating later. Got school now. First third might have gotten 4 stars, but the second half probably not more than 2, so I'll settle for 2.5/3 for now.]]> 3.62 2013 A Most Scandalous Proposal
author: Ashlyn Macnamara
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.62
book published: 2013
rating: 3
read at: 2013/04/02
date added: 2013/04/08
shelves: source_e-arc, age_adult, _g_historical-romance, 2013, review-planned, _setting-historicals
review:
This started very well. The first third or so, where the former relationships between the characters were established, was very, very enjoable. But especially the last third (or even half), was dull and annoying. Possibly related to the author's "debut"-status, but there were things she should've avoided. The women who started out as fresh and stubborn ended up "demure", now that they'd been sexed up. I very much hated how the men treated the women then, and used their power against them. Especially the manipulation ("seduction") made me grimace the entire time through. Don't get women drunk to sleep with them, don't plan to use their sleepiness in the morning to your advantage. Just saying.

Proper review and rating later. Got school now. First third might have gotten 4 stars, but the second half probably not more than 2, so I'll settle for 2.5/3 for now.
]]> <![CDATA[Unbound (Time Hunters #2.5, Shifters Unbound #4.5, The Elementals #1.5)]]> 15808851 Desire is released in these original stories by four masters of paranormal romance.

In Enforcer, New York Times bestselling author Angela Knight revisits the world of Guardian and genetically engineered Temporal Enforcers Dona and Alerio who combine their talents—and fight their passions—as they investigate a time-travel murder spree.

USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Ashley continues her Shifters Unbound series with Perfect Mate. Bear Shifter Cormac is determined to take single mom Nell as his mate, despite her objections—until her sons are endangered and she desperately needs help.

National bestselling author Jean Johnson returns to her Vulland Chronicles with The Hunter’s Cabin. On the run after being falsely accused of treason, ex-prince Kiereseth and his companion Vielle take refuge in a snowbound cabin—and in each other’s arms.

In No Surprise More Magical, Hanna Martine expands on the fascinating world she introduced in Liquid Lies. After dissolving their arranged marriage, Ofarian guard David pairs up with the heartbroken Kelsey to try to thwart an enemy to their race and win her heart on his own terms.]]> 441 Angela Knight 0425257797 Patricia 3
All in all, this anthology was a disappointment. I loved neither Knight's nor Ashley's story. Knight's sci-fi-ish romance story featured several highly unerotic sex-scenes and left things.. open. They might have been explained in the full novels (eg. the hero's distrust? The heroine thought about his "betrayal" in the past several times, but the issue wasn't resolved by the end of their story.) but for a "new" reader, I feel conflicted. The worldbuilding was rather spectacular and promising, but the characters.. meh - despite their great potential.

Ashley's Shifter novella wasn't bad, either, but I couldn't quite connect with Nell (or Cormack). It was quite predictable, though I don't think that's a particularly bad thing, considering the length. Some Graham and Reid, though, that was nice. I've got some issues with the novel's anti-human POV. It's not overly present or anything like that, but in comparison to the portrayal of the shifters.. It's one of those things that bothers me.

Regardless of that, I don't think the reads were a waste of time. I'm just not sure if I'd recommend buying the anthology. Depends on how big of a fan you are of those authors, I guess.]]> 3.89 2013 Unbound (Time Hunters #2.5, Shifters Unbound #4.5, The Elementals #1.5)
author: Angela Knight
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.89
book published: 2013
rating: 3
read at: 2013/03/24
date added: 2013/03/24
shelves: age_adult, anthologies-novellas, _g_science-fiction, _g_steampunk, 2013, review-planned, _setting-alternate-universe, _setting-futuristic, _setting-historicals, _setting-present, _g_paranormals
review:
First of all, I haven't finished this anthology. I still need to read the Steampunk story, but in light of how I'm not the biggest Steampunk fan, got this anthology for the Jennifer Ashley story, and only read Angela Knight's because several bloggers recommended her to me, I decided to shelf it as "read" for now and get back to "The Hunter's Cabin" once I read a few reviews for Jean Johnson's other works.

All in all, this anthology was a disappointment. I loved neither Knight's nor Ashley's story. Knight's sci-fi-ish romance story featured several highly unerotic sex-scenes and left things.. open. They might have been explained in the full novels (eg. the hero's distrust? The heroine thought about his "betrayal" in the past several times, but the issue wasn't resolved by the end of their story.) but for a "new" reader, I feel conflicted. The worldbuilding was rather spectacular and promising, but the characters.. meh - despite their great potential.

Ashley's Shifter novella wasn't bad, either, but I couldn't quite connect with Nell (or Cormack). It was quite predictable, though I don't think that's a particularly bad thing, considering the length. Some Graham and Reid, though, that was nice. I've got some issues with the novel's anti-human POV. It's not overly present or anything like that, but in comparison to the portrayal of the shifters.. It's one of those things that bothers me.

Regardless of that, I don't think the reads were a waste of time. I'm just not sure if I'd recommend buying the anthology. Depends on how big of a fan you are of those authors, I guess.
]]> <![CDATA[On the Way to the Wedding (Bridgertons, #8)]]> 6477554 371 Julia Quinn Patricia 3 is making me feel uncomfortable. This time, however, there wasn't.

The main difference between books 1-4 and 7 and this one (haven't read 5 or 6 yet) is that the conflict in the end is plot-driven. Of course, if the characters weren't who they are there wouldn't have been the end-result, but their love was clear and both of them knew it, so there wasn't a moment of "I'm the only one in love" in the last.. 30 percent or more, although they had neither been engaged nor married at the time (and weren't until the very end)

]]> 3.98 2006 On the Way to the Wedding (Bridgertons, #8)
author: Julia Quinn
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.98
book published: 2006
rating: 3
read at: 2011/10/06
date added: 2012/04/19
shelves: 2011, age_adult, _g_historical-romance, _setting-historicals, review-planned
review:
This was so not-awkward, that I'm surprised. Because, most of the times, something in Julia Quinn's books is making me feel uncomfortable. This time, however, there wasn't.

The main difference between books 1-4 and 7 and this one (haven't read 5 or 6 yet) is that the conflict in the end is plot-driven. Of course, if the characters weren't who they are there wouldn't have been the end-result, but their love was clear and both of them knew it, so there wasn't a moment of "I'm the only one in love" in the last.. 30 percent or more, although they had neither been engaged nor married at the time (and weren't until the very end)


]]> <![CDATA[Kiss of the Highlander (Highlander, #4)]]> 112754 A laird trapped between centuries...

Enchanted by a powerful spell, Highland laird Drustan MacKeltar slumbered for nearly five centuries hidden deep in a cave, until an unlikely savior awakened him. The enticing lass who dressed and spoke like no woman he’d ever known was from his distant future, where crumbled ruins were all that remained of his vanished world. Drustan knew he had to return to his own century if he was to save his people from a terrible fate. And he needed the bewitching woman by his side....

A woman changed forever in his arms...

Gwen Cassidy had come to Scotland to shake up her humdrum life and, just maybe, meet a man. How could she have known that a tumble down a Highland ravine would send her plunging into an underground cavern � to land atop the most devastatingly seductive man she’d ever seen? Or that once he’d kissed her, he wouldn’t let her go?

Bound to Drustan by a passion stronger than time, Gwen is swept back to sixteenth-century Scotland, where a treacherous enemy plots against them... and where a warrior with the power to change history will defy time itself for the woman he loves....]]> 396 Karen Marie Moning 044023655X Patricia 4 4.30 2001 Kiss of the Highlander (Highlander, #4)
author: Karen Marie Moning
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.30
book published: 2001
rating: 4
read at: 2012/03/27
date added: 2012/03/27
shelves: age_adult, paranormal_timetravel, 2012, review-planned, _setting-historicals, _setting-present, _g_paranormals
review:
I have some problems with the time-travel-element which unfortunately doesn't really work out so far, BUT the rest of the book was pretty damn good. Review to come!
]]> <![CDATA[Shifter Made (Shifters Unbound, #0.5)]]> 11361747 Hard Mated.

Alanna, sister to a Fae prince, is sent on a thankless mission--to return to medieval Ireland and coerce a Shifter to craft an incredible sword. Niall O'Connell, master sword maker of the old Kingdom of CiarraĂ­, hates Fae, resenting the time when Shifters were little better than Fae slaves. But Alanna's heartbreaking story and her beauty are difficult to resist. Together, she and Niall forge a sword that changes Shifter history, at the same time forging an unbreakable bond between themselves.

This novella is prequel to the Shifters Unbound series, a standalone story that tells how the Sword of the Guardian came to be.

This is a 10,000 word novella. In print in  Hard Mated. ]]> 49 Jennifer Ashley 1941229913 Patricia 3
A) Insta Lust/Insta Love.
B) Where did I get this from? It was on my Kindle, but.. where did I get it from? Where? HELP?? o_Ă´]]> 4.04 2011 Shifter Made (Shifters Unbound, #0.5)
author: Jennifer Ashley
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.04
book published: 2011
rating: 3
read at: 2012/02/12
date added: 2012/02/12
shelves: age_adult, anthologies-novellas, _setting-historicals, review-planned, 2012, _g_paranormals
review:
I've had two issues with this book:

A) Insta Lust/Insta Love.
B) Where did I get this from? It was on my Kindle, but.. where did I get it from? Where? HELP?? o_Ă´
]]> <![CDATA[One Night Is Never Enough (Secrets, #2)]]> 8597576 From the first glimpse he knew he must have her—even if only for a single night.

Powerful, ruthless, seductive—the lord of London's underworld—Roman Merrick gets anything he wants...and he burns for Charlotte Chatsworth, a polished jewel in the glittering ton. So he engages her debt-ridden gambler father in a game of chance, wagering ten thousand pounds against one night with the man's exquisite daughter. And Roman Merrick never loses.

But one night is never enough.

Charlotte is devastated to learn that her reprobate father has lost her in a card game to the most dangerous man she's ever met. With the threat of ruin behind every corner, Charlotte embarks upon a perilous path with the man she cannot forget. But in truth, it's Roman who has everything to lose—for a game undertaken for pleasure alone soon has him gambling his heart. And love and passion unleashed could bring his great, dark empire tumbling down.]]> 372 Anne Mallory 0062017306 Patricia 4
you really enjoyed this book, but thought that once in a while something was missing to make it better. You are sure that several people will have similiar issues, e.g. won't be able to relate to the heroine and hero, or think that parts of the story should have been changed, cut, or longer.

BUT Mallory wrote a nice story here and since the only other Historical Romance novels you've read so far were written by Julia Quinn, it also made you view certain hings differently: One Night is Never Enough was less light, to a degree a little more mature, and the hero wasn't a Duke. Yay! So, it's safe to say that you liked it despite the few minor flaws.

Please buy some other books written by Anne Mallory. She's cool.

Sincerely,

Patricia]]> 3.79 2011 One Night Is Never Enough (Secrets, #2)
author: Anne Mallory
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.79
book published: 2011
rating: 4
read at: 2012/02/11
date added: 2012/02/12
shelves: age_adult, _g_historical-romance, 2012, review-planned, _setting-historicals
review:
Dear Future Self,

you really enjoyed this book, but thought that once in a while something was missing to make it better. You are sure that several people will have similiar issues, e.g. won't be able to relate to the heroine and hero, or think that parts of the story should have been changed, cut, or longer.

BUT Mallory wrote a nice story here and since the only other Historical Romance novels you've read so far were written by Julia Quinn, it also made you view certain hings differently: One Night is Never Enough was less light, to a degree a little more mature, and the hero wasn't a Duke. Yay! So, it's safe to say that you liked it despite the few minor flaws.

Please buy some other books written by Anne Mallory. She's cool.

Sincerely,

Patricia
]]> <![CDATA[How to Marry a Marquis (Agents of the Crown, #2)]]> 5956278 She’s trying to follow the rules�

When Elizabeth Hotchkiss stumbles upon a copy of How to Marry a Marquis in her employer’s library, she’s convinced someone is playing a cruel joke. With three younger siblings to support, she knows she has to marry for money, but who might have guessed how desperate she’s become? A guidebook to seduction might be just the thing she needs—and what harm could there be in taking a little peek?

…But he’s making his own

James Sidwell, the Marquis of Riverdale, has been summoned to rescue his aunt from a blackmailer, a task that requires him to pose as the new estate manager, and his primary suspect is his aunt’s companion, Elizabeth. Intrigued by the alluring young woman with the curious little rulebook, he gallantly offers to help her find a husband� by practicing her wiles on him. But when practice becomes all too perfect, James decides that there is only one rule worth following—that Elizabeth marry her marquis.]]> 375 Julia Quinn 0749908807 Patricia 4
I like Quinn's stories. They are light, but not too much so. They are a little angsty, but not annoyingly so. (This one imo even less than the Bridgertons) It's the perfect mixture and they make for a good read. There were some things I didn't like too much, which is why I can't give the novel five stars.

Still, I have never thought I'd like historicals and Julia Quinn managed to make me love her books: The Bridgertons, Splendid and now How to Marry a Marquis. ]]> 3.74 1999 How to Marry a Marquis (Agents of the Crown, #2)
author: Julia Quinn
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.74
book published: 1999
rating: 4
read at: 2011/12/26
date added: 2012/02/09
shelves: form-physical-copy, age_adult, _g_historical-romance, 2011, _setting-historicals, review-planned
review:
I should also order the first one, seeing as the protagonists make an appearance here again.

I like Quinn's stories. They are light, but not too much so. They are a little angsty, but not annoyingly so. (This one imo even less than the Bridgertons) It's the perfect mixture and they make for a good read. There were some things I didn't like too much, which is why I can't give the novel five stars.

Still, I have never thought I'd like historicals and Julia Quinn managed to make me love her books: The Bridgertons, Splendid and now How to Marry a Marquis.
]]> <![CDATA[What Happens in London (Bevelstoke, #2)]]> 6368034 Rumors and Gossip . . . The lifeblood of London

When Olivia Bevelstoke is told that her new neighbor may have killed his fiancée, she doesn't believe it for a second, but, still, how can she help spying on him, just to be sure? So she stakes out a spot near her bedroom window, cleverly concealed by curtains, watches, and waits . . . and discovers a most intriguing man, who is definitely up to something.

Sir Harry Valentine works for the boring branch of the War Office, translating documents vital to national security. He's not a spy, but he's had all the training, and when a gorgeous blonde begins to watch him from her window, he is instantly suspicious. But just when he decides that she's nothing more than an annoyingly nosy debutante, he discovers that she might be engaged to a foreign prince, who might be plotting against England. And when Harry is roped into spying on Olivia, he discovers that he might be falling for her himself . . .

]]> 328 Julia Quinn 0749941898 Patricia 4
What is this type of thing called? Companion-series'? It's not a real Spin Off after all.

* * *

Finished:

I'm too lazy to write a review now. However, here come a few impressions:

1. See above, I like the same setting-thing.
2. Very funny and I love that she included that darn novel.
3. Also nice that the protagonists orignally didn't like eachother.
4. Not that much angst this time. The main conflict had nothing to do with the protagonists, but with the situation they were in. Don't know if I like or dislike it. It was easier to read, but felt a little hollow in the end.. And here I was the first one to complain that I didn't like all the angst.
5. Friends first. Yes, the hero and heroine actually felt as if they were friends.
6. The pedo vibe. I don't know why but for some reasons the hero didn't feel as if he was 28, but 58 and the heroine wasn't ~20, she was suddenly 15 in my mind. Not all the time, but sometimes.
7. No real connection. Again, I don't know why, but it didn't work out this time.

BUT I think it is a very enjoyable, light and funny read. Where I would usually give this a 3 star rating, I think the funny parts (and there were lots) were really good and damn, it's almost 2012, why not give the book a freaking 4 stars? Right. : ) ]]> 3.97 2009 What Happens in London (Bevelstoke, #2)
author: Julia Quinn
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2009
rating: 4
read at: 2011/12/30
date added: 2011/12/30
shelves: form-physical-copy, _setting-historicals, source_secondhand, _g_historical-romance, age_adult, 2011, review-planned
review:
I love that this novel and the Bridgertons are really set in the same world. (I think the ex spies as well. There was a Lady Danbury after all.. I need to check back and look if I'm right or not..)

What is this type of thing called? Companion-series'? It's not a real Spin Off after all.

* * *

Finished:

I'm too lazy to write a review now. However, here come a few impressions:

1. See above, I like the same setting-thing.
2. Very funny and I love that she included that darn novel.
3. Also nice that the protagonists orignally didn't like eachother.
4. Not that much angst this time. The main conflict had nothing to do with the protagonists, but with the situation they were in. Don't know if I like or dislike it. It was easier to read, but felt a little hollow in the end.. And here I was the first one to complain that I didn't like all the angst.
5. Friends first. Yes, the hero and heroine actually felt as if they were friends.
6. The pedo vibe. I don't know why but for some reasons the hero didn't feel as if he was 28, but 58 and the heroine wasn't ~20, she was suddenly 15 in my mind. Not all the time, but sometimes.
7. No real connection. Again, I don't know why, but it didn't work out this time.

BUT I think it is a very enjoyable, light and funny read. Where I would usually give this a 3 star rating, I think the funny parts (and there were lots) were really good and damn, it's almost 2012, why not give the book a freaking 4 stars? Right. : )
]]> <![CDATA[Dark Beginnings (Lords of the Underworld, #0.5, 3.5, 4.5)]]> 7100301
"The Darkest Fire" - He is the guardian of Hell, more monster than man. She is the goddess of oppression, more angel than woman. Together they will enter the flames to battle a horde of demon lords - and discover a passion unlike any other...Discover the origins of Pandora's box and the demon spirits trapped within.

"The Darkest Prison" - passion and danger collide in this brand-new Lords of the Underworld adventure! Once, Atlas, the Titan god of Strength, was the Greek goddess Nike's slave. Now, he is her master. And soon these sworn enemies destined to destroy one another will be forced to risk everything for a chance at love.

"The Darkest Angel" - An iron-willed demon assassin, the angel Lysander has never known lust - until he meets Bianka. Spawned from the bloodline of Lucifer, the beautiful but deadly Harpy is determined to lead the purehearted Lysander into temptation.]]> 458 Gena Showalter 0778303713 Patricia 4 4.37 2010 Dark Beginnings (Lords of the Underworld, #0.5, 3.5, 4.5)
author: Gena Showalter
name: Patricia
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2010
rating: 4
read at: 2011/11/02
date added: 2011/11/02
shelves: 2011, collections, age_adult, paranormal_psychics, _setting-present, _setting-otherworld, _setting-historicals, source_borrowed-library, _g_paranormals
review:

]]> <![CDATA[An Offer From a Gentleman: the 2nd Epilogue (Bridgertons, #3.5)]]> 6794372
Especially Posy Reiling, the decidedly not evil stepsister from An Offer From a Gentleman. She's been living with the Bridgertons for three years, but despite Violet's most fervent matchmaking, she hasn't found a husband. Posy claims she's content to remain a spinster, but Sophie Bridgerton has other plans..]]> 24 Julia Quinn 0061965561 Patricia 4 3.83 2009 An Offer From a Gentleman: the 2nd Epilogue (Bridgertons, #3.5)
author: Julia Quinn
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.83
book published: 2009
rating: 4
read at: 2011/10/05
date added: 2011/10/05
shelves: 2011, age_adult, _g_historical-romance, _setting-historicals
review:

]]> <![CDATA[The Viscount Who Loved Me: The 2nd Epilogue (Bridgertons, #2.5)]]> 3653782 34 Julia Quinn 006123544X Patricia 4 3.90 2006 The Viscount Who Loved Me: The 2nd Epilogue (Bridgertons, #2.5)
author: Julia Quinn
name: Patricia
average rating: 3.90
book published: 2006
rating: 4
read at: 2011/10/05
date added: 2011/10/05
shelves: 2011, age_adult, _g_historical-romance, _setting-historicals
review:

]]>