I’m at Dear Author today, reviewing Reward of Three by Kelly Jamieson. I enjoyed the first book very much and the second one not quite as much. Unfortunately the third book pushed my buttons in the wrong ways.
Tag: novella (Page 25 of 29)
Why I read it: This book of “novelettes” contains offerings by some of my favourite authors and proceeds go to a worthy cause.
I decided to review Real Feelings separately for a couple of reasons:
1. The review for the entire anthology was way too long and the section about Real Feelings was the longest individual bit.
2. I had lots of thoughts about the story which I wanted to tease out separately to the other novelettes in the anthology.
What it’s about: (from Goodreads) What happens when love gets caught in the rain?
In this romance anthology, RITA-Award winning author Molly O’Keefe shows us the power of a city thunderstorm from the top of a skyscraper, while Amy Jo Cousins soaks us in a rain in Spain. New York Times bestselling author Ruthie Knox’s heroine is devastated by a winter storm, while a summer thunderstorm grants Alexandra Haughton’s hero and heroine a second chance at love. Rain sparks self-awareness in the robot in Charlotte Stein’s story and allows Mary Ann Rivers’s heroine to fall in love with her hero and her own art. Rain causes romance between the college students in Audra North’s and Shari Slade’s stories, while romance causes rain in Cecilia Tan’s myth-inspired tale of a sacrifice to a demi-god. Nine romance novelettes, edited by Sarah Frantz.
All proceeds from the volume will be donated to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (www.rainn.org), the largest anti-sexual violence organization in the United States
What worked for me (and what didn’t): What a fascinating concept this story had. Set some unspecified time in the future, a woman buys an android, basically as a sex toy. But when she turns him on (heh) she finds that issues of will and consent are important and she struggles with the morality of their “relationship”. He was programmed to serve her in any capacity she wishes. He has no free will, She literally owns him. The Dear Reader note at the front indicates that Ms. Stein wanted to explore these kinds of issues in a “safe” kind of way and it is a very novel idea indeed. Moira feels so uncomfortable with her power over her android, she does not immediately seek a sexual relationship with him – even though that’s what she bought him for. I suppose it is spoilerish to say that the android (who calls himself Michael), becomes sentient but I felt it was the intention of the plot all along so I don’t feel major qualms about letting it slip here. (Also, the blurb gives it away.) And it is in this aspect I found the most things to ponder and talk about anyway. Michael says:
“The more I saw you angry at the idea of owning me, the more I imagined deciding for myself. The more I became Michael. You made it all right for me to become Michael.”
My review of Destiny’s Tarot by Thea Harrison, narrated by Sophie Eastlake is up at AudioGals today. I really enjoy this series on audio and it’s nice to be able to get the novellas in that format with the same narrator.
Why I read it: I was provided with a review copy by the author via NetGalley
What it’s about: (from Goodreads) Pia and Dragos’s magical young son Liam (the Peanut), is growing at an unprecedented rate, and if that isn’t enough, he is also exhibiting new, and unpredictable, magical gifts. To protect him, the concerned parents decide to move to upstate New York.
Both Dragos and Pia relish the idea of leaving behind the city. They finally have the space to indulge their Wyr side, and Liam can grow in safety. It’s a breath of fresh air—literally—but their idyllic situation is shattered when Dragos is injured in a freak accident.
Stripped of his memory and bereft of Pia’s taming influence, there’s nothing holding back Dragos’s darkest side. And in order to restore her family and save her mate, Pia must confront the most powerful menace in Elder Races history.
It’s going to take more than a penny to fix this…
What worked for me (and what didn’t): I like revisiting favourite heroes and heroines and seeing how their happy ever after is progressing but what is even more special is when we get to see them fall in love all over again. I don’t think it’s too spoilery to say that’s what happens after Dragos loses his memory in an accident. Pia has to fight for him first though – he is hurt and confused and he doesn’t remember anything about their life together and who they are to each other (and it is a joy to see the heroine doing the rescuing too I must say).
Why I read it: I enjoyed the first two books in the series so I bought this one as soon as it came out.
What it’s about: (from Goodreads) When love is at stake, all bets are off.
Fast and hard. Despite her best intentions, that’s the way Tatiana Belikov rolls, and over the past year she’s tumbled head over heels for her former ex-lover. Hot, indulgent, and ready to cater to her every dirty whim? There’s no way she could resist.
Wyatt Caine is the house, and the house always wins—but love is a precious commodity that rarely crosses his table. His game plan? Drown his woman in pleasure before she realizes he’s hardly a safe bet.
Their happiness burns brighter than the spotlights on the Strip, but when his past rears its ugly head, casting a shadow on their bliss, Wyatt has an important decision to make: time to fold…or go all in.
What worked for me (and what didn’t): I’ve come to expect hot sexy scenes in this series and this book did not disappoint – there’s even a brief f/f/m scene which was both kind of tame but super hot so I think it would work even for those who may not usually read f/f.
In this story, Wyatt and Tatiana have been together for a year. They haven’t said “I love you” but both are thinking it. Both are also nervous about fully committing out loud – for fear the other might not be ready or might run. What I really like about this series is that even when they have fears, even when their thoughts are at times immature and knee jerk, they act like adults. The set up was that Tatiana and Wyatt were together as teenagers/young adults and split amicably (but nevertheless both of them had broken hearts) ten years earlier. They split because they were immature. They didn’t have what it took back then to push past their fears and insecurities and communicate like adults. When they got back together, both of them decided to consciously act like grown ups. And they do. I found this both sympathetic (they’re not perfect people and they still have irrational thoughts and fears and knee-jerk reactions – just like everyone does) and also kind of charming. Given that my least favourite trope in romance is the Big Misunderstanding, it only stands to reason that I would have much love for the opposite of it. Sensible adults getting over themselves and putting their relationship first. That is so romantic and sexy to me I can’t even tell you.
Why I read it: I was provided with a review copy by the publisher via NetGalley.
What it’s about: (from Goodreads) It started as a girls’ outing to California’s beautiful Channel Islands State Park. When Ella Hammond embarks on a kayaking trip with sexy adventure guide Paul Dawson, sparks fly—but so does gunfire from a boat of drug smugglers.
Now Ella and Paul are on the run, soaked and stranded in a rocky hideout. Ella feels like she’ll never be warm again. Until Paul shares his body heat—igniting a fire between them that’s nearly too hot to handle!
What worked for me (and what didn’t): Ella is on a camping/hiking long weekend with her sister Abby and Abby’s teenage daughter, Brooke. When Brooke’s father cancelled at the last minute, Ella and Abby stepped in to save the trip. They are planning a day kayaking trip over to nearby San Miguel Island off the Californian coast. Their guide is the sexy Paul Dawson (brother of the heroine, Paige, from Scenes of Peril). Because: reasons, Paul and Ella end up kayaking alone. They are both single and have both been significantly affected by the San Diego earth quake (featured in Aftershock) and it is clear that there is chemistry and attraction between them. There is a “no fraternising” rule though so Paul is cautious about pursuing things.
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