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I'm Over at Dear Author...

with a review of Full Moon by Mari Carr.

See what I thought here.

Tea for Three by Anne Douglas

Why I read it:  This book was recommended to my by one of my Twitter friends when we were having a discussion about m/m/f menage stories, so I went and bought it.

What it's about: (from author's website)   Straight, gay or in between, turning thirty’s never easy.

Craig wonders just where his life is heading. His relationship with Jack is satisfying, to say the least. But deep down, he sometimes still craves the soft touches of a woman.

Something’s bugging Craig, and Jack knows it. Some sort of pre midlife crisis that he just can’t understand. The sex is hot and demanding. Their home life is comfortable without being too familiar. But he just can’t help feeling he might be about to lose the love of his life.

Then they meet lovely, loyal and slightly broken Wren Browne. It doesn’t take long to realize, they might have just have found the solution to both of their problems.

Love isn’t tidy or simple; it doesn’t come packaged in neat little boxes. And sometimes you have to set the table with tea for three.

What worked for me (and what didn't): If there are two men and one woman in a romance, my personal preference is that it is an m/m/f rather than an m/f/m story.  I have enjoyed m/f/m stories but I think they work better where there is a sexual connection between all three parties - it has something to do with my sense of equality I think.   When GrowlyCub said that she thought this book was one of the better examples of the genre, I couldn't resist.  I didn't end up liking it as much as she did, but I did enjoy it.

July Round Up

On Paper/eBook

Mad About the Boys by JL Merrow and Jo Myles - B  This anthology is a collection of 1 new and 4 previously published short stories featuring m/m/f romance (which is my favourite kind of menage story).   

Dinner for Three (Merrow) is a wonderful start to the anthology, a contemporary about two happily coupled guys who are interested in expanding their relationship to include their oblivious housemate Claire - I could happily have read a full length novel about this trio.  Because of the very short word count, the characterisations are necessarily very thin and the story doesn't take us beyond one day of encounters.  What there was however was so very engaging, I was sad when the story ended - I really wanted more.
   
In the Greenwood (Myles) is a paranormal fairy tale of a wood sprite who brings two men together and then manages to become real - again, this story suffered a bit from the short length but it's fairy tale quality meant that a certain air of unreality was to be expected and made the story work better than it would have otherwise.

The Antithesis of Magic (Merrow) is about a man with no magic in a world full of magic users, who finds he is the perfect third for a fairy and a werewolf who need him.  I wasn't clear exactly on why Gus was needed and there wasn't really any relationship between the three so it was the least satisfying in terms of romance.  If it had been expanded to a longer story so I could see a courtship/developing relationship, I would have enjoyed this much more because the set up and the tone of the story was great.   

Changeling (Merrow) Another fairy tale type story, this was a lot more successful for me.  The connection between Meg and Adam/Thistledown was apparent and, I felt the characters were more developed. Certain character-types were representative/short cuts, but this works in a fairy tale so that's not a criticism - rather a clever use of the style.    

Kiss Mark Two (Myles) This contemporary story was a delight and, in my opinion, the best of the book.  Like my other favourite, Dinner for Three, it is a contemporary, but this time it is an m/f couple who hook up with his best friend.  Like the first story in the anthology, I could happily have read a whole novel about them, but the story did feel remarkably complete for all of the short word count.  I enjoyed the tone and the characters very much. I think I'd quite like a friend like Ruby.

All in all, the anthology was a lot of fun and perfect for when you're time poor or perhaps having trouble deciding what to read next.

BUY IT:

AMAZON       KOBO

A Witch's Handbook of Kisses and Curses by Molly Harper, narrated by Amanda Ronconi

Why I listened to it:  I have enjoyed all of the Jane Jameson/Half Moon Hollow books on audio and picked this one up at Audible when it was released.

What it's about: (from Goodreads):  Nola Leary would have been content to stay in Kilcairy, Ireland, healing villagers at her family’s clinic with a mix of magic and modern medicine. But a series of ill-timed omens and a deathbed promise to her grandmother have sent her on a quest to Half-Moon Hollow, Kentucky, to secure her family’s magical potency for the next generation. Her supernatural task? To unearth four artifacts hidden by her grandfather before a rival magical family beats her to it.

Complication One: Her grandfather was Mr. Wainwright and the artifacts are lost somewhere in what is now Jane Jameson's book shop.

Complication Two: her new neighbor, Jed Trudeau, who keeps turning up half naked at the strangest times, a distraction Nola doesn't need. And teaming up with a real-life Adonis is as dangerous as it sounds, especially when he’s got the face of an angel and the abs of a washboard—can Nola complete her mission before falling completely under his spell?

What worked for me (and what didn't): To be honest, I nearly quit this one about 10 minutes in. I usually enjoy Amanda Ronconi's narration but her accent for the narrator and main character, Nola, was putting me off.  I persisted, in the hope I'd get used to it.  Fortunately, by the middle of Chapter 3, it was explained that Nola's accent was a horrid mashup of Boston and Ireland and maybe something else.  And you know what? That's exactly what Nola's accent sounded like.  I thought it was Ms. Ronconi doing a really bad Irish accent.  But I did her a disservice when I thought that - she actually voiced the character as written - it's just that it's not written right at the beginning of the story so it was a little hard to understand at first.  When there were Irish characters, Ms. Ronconi did a fine Irish accent.  I can't say I'm sorry that the Boston dropped out of Nola's accent for the most part by the latter part of the story.  It did sound a bit like Ms. Ronconi's teeth were clenched and that can't have been comfortable.

I'm Over at AudioGals...

with an audiobook review of Laura Kinsale's The Dream Hunter narrated superbly by Nicholas Boulton.

Go here to check it out.

Hotter Than Ever by Elle Kennedy

Why I read it:  I have been eagerly awaiting Dylan's book since the straight boy BJ scene in Feeling Hot (which was my introduction to the series) so I bought this one on release day.

What it's about: (from Goodreads)  When you land in hot water, swim for safety—or let the fire burn. 

An Out of Uniform Story

Claire McKinley has just experienced every bride’s nightmare. The groom is a no-show, and now she must face five hundred guests alone. Furious and humiliated, Claire seeks help from the most unlikely candidate—her almost-brother-in-law, who promptly whisks her away to his apartment in San Diego, where she can recover her pride in peace and quiet.

Dylan Wade is no fan of Claire’s, but no way can he leave the jilted bride in her time of need. Bringing her home seems like a good idea—until he remembers his new roommate. Dylan’s relationship with Aidan is…complicated. And with Claire thrown into the mix, life becomes even more…complicated.

Claire is blindsided by her attraction not only to Dylan, but also to Aidan, a man she’s just met. Soon they’re caught up in an all-consuming sexual storm they can’t fight even if they wanted to. Yet Claire wonders if it can last, or if she’s just setting herself up for more heartache.

What worked for me (and what didn't): I enjoyed this story and it certainly lived up to its title (oh mama! *fans self*), but the ending came too abruptly for me and there were some things glossed over or not mentioned which meant that the book didn't end quite as well as it started. Still, I was a lot of fun and overall, another great addition to the series.

Power Exchange by AJ Rose

Why I read it:  I read a review of Safeword (the sequel to this book) recently at SmexyBooks and it reminded me I had this one on my TBR.  I've already bought Safeword too.

What it's about (from Goodreads):  From the moment Detective Gavin DeGrassi steps into the world of BDSM to solve the brutal slaying of Dom George Kaiser, his course is not his own. Mesmerized by the context in which the victim lived and the images of the lifestyle seared into his soul, Gavin must find a way to navigate these unknown waters. With his personal life in upheaval due to marital trouble, and his professional life uncertain with the assignment of a new partner, Gavin needs all the help he can get understanding the case.

Enter Ben Haverson, a psychologist and a well known Dom. With Ben’s help as a consultant and attention to Gavin's own murky truths, Gavin delves deeper than he ever thought he would into the world of restraints and paddles. Forced to scrutinize his true nature and his innermost desires, Gavin has a choice: keep the fear of submitting at bay, or dive in and solve the case with the knowledge he gains. When another victim is discovered, Gavin’s choice is made for him, and he’s pulled headlong into the deepest, most emotional journey of his life.

Unfortunately for him and Ben, a killer has noticed, has taken stock, and has set his sights on the D/s pair. Can Gavin outwit him, or will his first exchange of power be his last?

Warning: Some readers may find this book triggering and will wish to avoid it.  There is off page and on page (male) rape as well as some fairly graphic violence (all on the part of the villain).

What worked for me (and what didn't): I had heard nothing but good things about this book and it turned out to be just what I was in the mood for.  I stayed up way too late the other night finishing it.  It's not without flaws, but overall, it was a great read and I'm excited to read the second book in the series and see where the author takes these characters next.

Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

Why I read it:  I received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley.  

What it's about: (from author's website)  “Bono met his wife in high school,” Park says.

“So did Jerry Lee Lewis,” Eleanor answers.

“I’m not kidding,” he says.

“You should be,” she says, “we’re 16.”

“What about Romeo and Juliet?”

“Shallow, confused, then dead.”

“I love you,” Park says.

“Wherefore art thou,” Eleanor answers.

“I’m not kidding,” he says.

“You should be.”

Set over the course of one school year in 1986, Eleanor & Park is the story of two star-crossed misfits – smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try. When Eleanor meets Park, you’ll remember your own first love – and just how hard it pulled you under.

What worked for me (and what didn't): I didn't know a lot about this book going in.  I knew it was YA, I wasn't entirely sure how much romance would be there and whether it would have a traditional HEA (it did not, but romance readers, don't be scared - it doesn't end badly and Eleanor and Park are only 16/17 in the story).  When I started reading, as much as I was engaged when I was reading, I found myself sometimes reluctant to pick it up again.  Not because it wasn't good.  That's not the case at all.  The writing is lovely and the characters are drawn so well.  No, it was because there was an aspect to this book which was painful to read.  Eleanor's story in particular is sad.  I was worried for a lot of the book that things would not end well for her.  I had a deep sense of foreboding throughout the story which made me increasingly reluctant to keep going.  Perversely, the further I got into the story, the faster I read and the last third of the book took one day whereas the first two thirds took a week.

Im Over at AudioGals...

with an audiobook review of Cecilia Grant's A Woman Entangled, narrated by Susan Ericksen.  See what I thought here.

I'm Over at ARRA...

with a review of Nora Roberts' newest release, Whiskey Beach.

See what I thought here.

Agony/Ecstasy anthology edited by Jane Litte

Why I read it: Sometimes, I'm in the mood for a short story, kind of  like a sorbet.  I'd had this on my TBR for some time, having bought it ages ago, and I decided to intersperse the stories with my other reading.

What it's about: (from Goodreads)  All new stories of punishing extremes and unbearable pleasure... 

 

With historical, contemporary, and futuristic backdrops, this outrageously diverse collection of original stories explores every conceivable variation of BDSM erotica--from knitting circles to the Titanic to a retelling of The Little Mermaid. Featuring all-new stories by Meljean Brook, Jean Johnson, Bettie Sharpe, Jill Myles, Margaret Rowe, Sara Thorn, and more, this book has everything a reader could hope for in an erotic romance.

What worked for me (and what didn't): 

Agony

Transfixed and Transformed, the two stories by Anne Calhoun in the anthology (one each in Agony and Ecstasy) were about the same pairing, one from her POV, one from his.  I liked these stories very much and could happily have read a whole book about them.  That said, the stories did feel complete and I didn't feel at all shortchanged.  For me, these stories showed how a skilled writer can immerse me in a character in a very short space of time.  After I got finished enjoying them, I did sit back and think about how cleverly it was achieved.  Short is not my forte, so I'm particularly impressed when it's done as well as this.

The Sybil by Jean Johson had a Warprize/Game of Thrones type feel to it.  I liked the worldbuilding which was fairly detailed for such a short story, but the ending was not only unclear but it also bent toward the traditional and that kind of let it down a little I thought.

In the Arms of the Heiress by Maggie Robinson

*NB This review first appeared in the July ARRA newsletter - so the format is slightly different and it's also shorter than usual.*

There aren’t many historical romances around set in 1903 so when I got the chance at an early copy of this book (which is now out), I jumped at the chance.  Louisa Stratton is the heiress of the title.  Her parents died when she was a child and she was raised by her Aunt Grace – a cold woman whose motives are murky – even when Grace is being kind, she is more cruel than anything.  After inheriting her fortune at age 25, Louisa escapes with her maid, Kathleen, to the continent, to get away from her awful family.  After a “indiscretion” with a local landowner at age 17, Louisa’s activities have been much curtailed and she’s been a virtual prisoner at the family estate, Rosemont.   A year after her “escape”, she discovers some oddities in her finances and receives reports that her aunt is very ill.  Against her own desires, she decides she needs to go home for Christmas and check on things.  There is a problem though.  To stop Aunt Grace from fussing, Louisa has told her family she has met and married one Maximillian Norwich – a man whose perfection is only eclipsed by the fact that he doesn’t exist. 

 

Mrs. Evensong, a rather mysterious woman who runs an employment agency and seems to have a knack for solving problems and matchmaking, locates Captain Charles Cooper, a man suffering from PTSD after serving in the Boer War in Africa, to play the part of Max for a month.  In pretending to be married, Louisa and Charles find opportunities for indiscretions of their own and along the way, they fall in love.

Louisa is flighty, she talks all the time, she loves driving her motor car (albeit that she does it very badly) and she is also an early adopter of feminism and the suffragist cause.  She makes for quite a delightful heroine.  Charles/Max came from very humble beginnings but was elevated by the factory owner who employed the rest of his family and sent to Harrow and thence to the Army as an officer.  Charles’ experiences in the War are touched upon and I would have liked to have this more fully expanded actually.  But those aspects of the story are very serious and sad and don’t really fit well with the light-heartedness that is Louisa and the rest of the book.

I did love the early 1900s setting and those bits for me were the best part of the book.  The rise of the motorcar, early suffragettes, women working and the way Louisa wasn’t at all class conscious.  Louisa and Charles were fun together too and I very much liked how Louisa was frank in her desire for Charles and not at all shy to take the lead in intimacy.  Ultimately, I think the book tried to be too many things – a mystery, the farcical aspects of Louisa and Charles’ deception and relationship, the seriousness of Charles’ PTSD, the complicated relationship between Louisa and her family and the book felt a little disjointed for me.  Louisa is a delightful character however and I was happy to see her well settled with Charles at the end – and surrounded by people who love listening to her talk!

Grade:  C+

BUY IT:

AMAZON     BOOK DEPOSITORY

The Bell Curve of the HEA

The other day I was pondering why some books work better for me than others; why some books leave me dissatisfied at the end, even when they meet the genre conventions of the HEA.  Perhaps I'd had too much pizza but I came up with what I like to call "the bell curve of the HEA".  (*I'm aware that it's not actually a bell curve, but it is a curve and it sounds good so I'm keeping it.  Also, maths isn't my strong suit.  Go with me here.)

It isn't an absolute answer, but it does go toward explaining why some books don't work for me.

In most romance novels (perhaps this is true of other genres also but I'm sticking with what I know), the "happiness graph" might look something like this:

Winner!

And the Winner of a Kindle copy of Lick by Kylie Scott is

 Sabina van Nijnatten-Bestulic

Congratulations Sabina!  I have sent you an email regarding your prize. so check your inbox!

Thanks to all who participated in the giveaway.

Curve Ball by Charlotte Stein

Why I read it:  I've had this on my TBR for some time - I can't remember exactly when I picked it up (Goodreads tells me I got it for free so there must have been a promotion), but it came up in a Twitter discussion recently so I decided to open it up.

What it's about: (from Goodreads)  When Judy Myers is offered a relaxing vacation to get away from her latest heartbreak, she can’t say no. A cruise on her brother’s yacht sounds like heaven...until she realises her brother’s best friend has been invited along for the ride.

Steven Stark is big, he’s loud, and he’s obviously not interested in the plump, plain little sister he used to tease unmercifully. In fact, he’s still quite happy to tease her – until she turns the tables on him. Now Steven can’t seem to keep his thoughts, or his hands, to himself. And worse, Judy’s not sure she can resist the attraction she’s kept buried for so many years.

Being trapped on a boat isn’t the best place to be, when you’re suddenly thrown a hunky curveball.

What worked for me (and what didn't): I usually like Charlotte Stein's authorial voice and this was no exception but there wasn't enough of the hero to really satisfy me.  Judy is a plus-sized girl - a self described "fat chick".  (On Twitter, the author described her as a size 18-20, but it is not specified in the book).   She is on a small yacht in the Mediterranean with her brother and his wife and her brother's best friend, Steven Stark.  Judy has had a crush on Steven for the longest time but has never imagined anything could ever come of it.  While Steven is described as a very big man, his description is all in terms of muscle rather than flab.   

Making it Last by Ruthie Knox

Why I read it:  I received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley.  I read and enjoyed How to Misbehave a while back (this marks the start of Tony and Amber's relationship) and I have the other two Camelot books on my TBR.  But I am a sucker for marriage in trouble stories so I decided to read this one out of order after being assured by the author that doing so wouldn't spoil the other books. 

I don't think it's absolutely essential to have read How to Misbehave first but I do recommend it.

What it's about: (from Goodreads)  A hotel bar. A sexy stranger. A night of passion. There’s a part of Amber Mazzara that wants those things, wants to have a moment — just one — where life isn’t a complicated tangle of house and husband and kids and careers. Then, after a long, exhausting “vacation” with her family, her husband surprises her with a gift: a few days on the beach . . . alone.

Only she won’t be alone long, because a handsome man just bought her a drink. He’s cool, he’s confident, and he wants to take Amber to bed and keep her there for days. Lucky for them both, he’s her husband. He’s only got a few days in Jamaica to make her wildest desires come true, but if he can pull it off, there’s reason to believe that this fantasy can last a lifetime.

What worked for me (and what didn't): It has been 14 years since the events of How to Misbehave.  Tony and Amber now have three sons, the youngest of whom (Jake) is 6 and has recently started school.  Tony is working 80 hour weeks and far from home because the housing industry is in the toilet - he's gone by 5.30 and doesn't get home until around 10 most nights.  If they're lucky, he and Amber have half an hour to talk before they fall asleep.  Amber is feeling particularly lost and lonely - the kids are all at school, she barely sees her husband and somewhere along the way her sense of self has disappeared in what she is to everyone else in her life.  Tony and Amber still love each other but that isn't enough.

Unsticky by Sarra Manning

Why I read it:  Brie from Romance Around the Corner recommended this to me and I managed to snag a copy from my local library.

What it's about: (from Goodreads)  STATE OF GRACE
Money makes the world go round - that's what twenty-something Grace Reeves is learning. Stuck in a grind where everyone's ahead apart from her, she's partied out, disillusioned, and massively in debt. If she's dumped by another rock-band wannabe, squashed by anyone else at her cut-throat fashion job, or chased by any more bailiffs, Grace suspects she'll fall apart...

GRACE UNDER PRESSURE
So when older, sexy and above all, wealthy art-dealer Vaughn appears, she's intrigued against her will. Could she handle being a sugar daddy's arm-candy?

SAVING GRACE
Soon Grace is thrown into a world of money and privilege, at Vaughn's beck and call in return for thousands of pounds in luxurious gifts, priceless clothes - and cash. She's out of her depth. Where's the line between acting the trophy girlfriend, and selling yourself for money? And, more importantly, whatever happened to love?

What worked for me (and what didn't): Brie thinks this book isn't a romance.  I think she's right.  It doesn't fit squarely into the genre romance conventions but it does have a very strong romantic thread and there is a HEA (which is mandatory for me) but I suppose it is a bit more chick lit than romance.  Having said that, the romance thread is very strong so I'd recommended it for romance readers.

I'm Over at Dear Author...

with a review of Charlotte Stein's super dirty (in a good way) novella, Make Me.

See what I thought here.

I'm Over at Romance Around the Corner...

with my Heroine Week post.  Brie has collected a whole week's worth of wonderful posts celebrating heroines in romance.  My post is about giving a heroine a second chance and how my hero-centric readerly-ness is becoming more centrist.  Or something.

Brie also drew the picture on the banner above and Mary Ann Rivers and I would like it on a T-Shirt!