Shoreline: 2nd Edition by Jennifer Loy

My rating: 2.5 of stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Fantasy
Content: Strong language, Several sex scenes that start out steamy but end up mostly fade to black.



Dr. Trina Parker flies to the island of Oahu for a medical conference. All she wants is for the conference to be over and to get some peace and quiet at the Lanikai beach house she rented for the week. One night, while taking a dip in the ocean, she gets caught underwater between two figures in a struggle-enemies, rivals...and mermen. Soon, Trina finds herself on the adventure of a lifetime. Journeys into the depths of the sea, secret cures, and an intimate relationship with a mythical creature, challenge all the science Trina has learned as fact. Will she choose the love of her life, her career, or get the best of both worlds?

Another guilty pleasure read because sometimes I guess I just need to read this kind of stuff. I'm a little embarrassed to admit that, but anyhow... I read the one I had bought for the reading challenge (Merman's Kiss) and thought to myself, surely books with mermen in them have to be better than this one was... apparently not.

I picked this one up because it was a stand-alone, and it sounded more romantic than erotic, which is NOT my thing. I will say that my main problem with this book wasn't the Merfolk, although there were a few issues there, especially in the beginning. My main problem with this book is the main character. How can a character be a doctor who is so intelligent, but still be too stupid to live at the same time?

There were a lot of interactions between characters in this book that didn't make sense. For example (minor spoilers here), a woman is attacked and left unconscious, and then found by a man she just met a few days before. Instead of taking this unconscious woman with a head wound to the hospital, he tries to take her back to her house, but it's locked and he can't get in, so he takes her to his place and puts her in his bed. This woman wakes up in the middle of the night beside this man she doesn't really know and just takes it in stride. He did nothing to her, but she doesn't know that. She doesn't freak out. She doesn't try to leave. People don't act this way! This is also a woman who was sexually assaulted as a teen. I think she would have been traumatized by this experience. We do come to understand why the man probably didn't take her to the hospital much later in the book, so that part made sense after that, but why get in the bed with her? This same woman is almost raped by a different man near the beginning of the book and she doesn't seem phased by that either. Unbelievable.

So obviously I had some real problems with the way characters behaved in this book, and I thought this was pretty dumb and cheesy at times, but also kind of romantic at times too, but not nearly enough to make up for the things I didn't like. For the life of me I just can't figure out why it was so hard to put down. I enjoyed reading it enough to give it 3 stars, but the other issues with the story make me want to give it 2 stars. That's the reason I settled on 2.5.

The House on Tradd Street by Karen   White

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Mystery, Paranormal
Content: Strong language, A couple spend the night together off page.

Practical Melanie Middleton hates to admit she can see ghosts. But she's going to have to accept it. An old man she recently met has died, leaving her his historic Tradd Street home, complete with housekeeper, dog, and a family of ghosts anxious to tell her their secrets.

Enter Jack Trenholm, a gorgeous writer obsessed with unsolved mysteries. He has reason to believe that diamonds from the Confederate Treasury are hidden in the house. So he turns the charm on with Melanie, only to discover he's the smitten one...

It turns out Jack's search has caught the attention of a malevolent ghost. Now, Jack and Melanie must unravel a mystery of passion, heartbreak, and even murder.

I've thought about reading this book for years, and looking for a new mystery series to read, I decided I was finally interested enough to give it a try. Right from the start I disliked the main character Melanie. Why was this woman selling real estate, and old real estate at that, to begin with? She had no appreciation for it. Also how does a woman get to be 40 years old and still be so clueless about men? Melanie overall was kind of an idiot.

Then there was Jack who I couldn't stand in the beginning. He came off as rude, overbearing, and controlling at first, with the way he grabbed her arm and wouldn't let her leave when she got upset with him. Then he insisted on ordering what he wanted her to eat at the restaurant. Plus he kept calling her Mellie; a name that she asked him not to call her. This stuff happened right after he met her for the first time which made it worse. Fortunately, Jack improved a lot over the course of the book. I ended up hoping he and Melanie would eventually get together. Unfortunately Melanie didn't improve. Sure, her attitude changed about the old houses, and we got some insight into why she felt that way, but many other annoying things stayed the same.

As far as the mystery went, it felt kind of paint by numbers. Most of it was predictable, and most of the time it felt like the characters were led from clue to clue, instead of actually using their brains. What made me interested in this book in the first place, was the paranormal aspect of it. I like stories with creepy ghosts. Unfortunately these ghosts weren't as creepy as I had hoped they would be, but they were still the best part of the book, and interesting enough to keep me reading. I also liked the Charleston setting and could easily picture it since I've been there.

This book is kind of a weird paranormal cozy mystery mashup that reads like chick-lit. It wasn't all bad, but it wasn't great either. I still liked it enough to give it 3 stars, and will give book two a try.

City of Bones by Martha Wells

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Post apocalyptic, Fantasy
Content: Strong language, Sex is implied



Where once great galleons roamed the sea,
sand ships now traverse the Great Waste,
and a glittering chain of city-states
dots the desert that has no end... 

Khat, a member of a humanoid race created by the Ancients to survive in the Waste, and Sagai, his human partner, are relic dealers working on the edge of society, trying to stay one step ahead of the Trade Inspectors and to support Sagai's family. When Khat is hired to find relics believed to be part of one of the Ancients' arcane engines, they are both reluctant to become involved. But the request comes from the Warders, powerful mages who serve Charisat's Elector.

Khat soon discovers that the deadly politics of Charisat's upper tiers aren't the only danger. The relics the Warders want are the key to an Ancient magic of unknown power, and, as all the inhabitants of Charisat know, no one understands the Ancients' magic.

I love Martha Wells's Murderbot series, but this one is quite different, so I wasn't sure if I would end up liking it or not. However, the plot sounded interesting so I gave it a try. I shouldn't have worried. Wells has an easy writing style that I'm able to quickly immerse myself in, right from the get-go.

The tiered city element to this story reminded me a little of the tower of Babel. It also reminded me of a couple of other books I've read, with the least wealthy being at the bottom, of course, and the most wealthy being at the top of the city structure. Other than that, this was kind of different from anything I've read before. There are both fantasy and sci-fi elements incorporated into this post apocalyptic-type story. I thought the world was very well drawn. Wells is definitely a master at world building. There is so much about the history and culture of this world packed into this book, but yet it's blended into the story so you never feel like you're getting an info dump. I found the ancients and their magic and technology very interesting.

This is a stand-alone, but it could have easily been part of a series. There is a lot more that the author could have explored, and I was rather frustrated at where we leave the relationship between the characters in the end, but I still really enjoyed this book and liked the characters immensely.

Sweet Tea and Sympathy by Molly Harper

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romance 
Content: Strong language, a make out scene, a sex scene that is moderately detailed


Nestled on the shore of Lake Sackett, Georgia is the McCready Family Funeral Home and Bait Shop. (What, you have a problem with one-stop shopping?) Two McCready brothers started two separate businesses in the same building back in 1928, and now it’s become one big family affair. And true to form in small Southern towns, family business becomes everybody’s business.

Margot Cary has spent her life immersed in everything Lake Sackett is not. As an elite event planner, Margot’s rubbed elbows with the cream of Chicago society, and made elegance and glamour her business. She’s riding high until one event goes tragically, spectacularly wrong. Now she’s blackballed by the gala set and in dire need of a fresh start—and apparently the McCreadys are in need of an event planner with a tarnished reputation.

As Margot finds her footing in a town where everybody knows not only your name, but what you had for dinner last Saturday night and what you’ll wear to church on Sunday morning, she grudgingly has to admit that there are some things Lake Sackett does better than Chicago—including the dating prospects. Elementary school principal Kyle Archer is a fellow fish-out-of-water who volunteers to show Margot the picture-postcard side of Southern living. The two of them hit it off, but not everybody is happy to see an outsider snapping up one of the town's most eligible gentleman. Will Margot reel in her handsome fish, or will she have to release her latest catch? 

I've read a couple of other books by Molly Harper that were from the paranormal romance genre, and I liked them. They were funny, and that's what I wanted when I picked up this book. This is the first contemporary romance I've read from her, and it was indeed funny at times. I loved the setting in the small Georgia town, the small town politics, the petty rivalries, the busybody neighbors who know too much, and the meddling family members. It had a nice folksy southern charm to it, and I had no problem picturing the cabins by the lake or the characters sipping sweet tea while they opined life's problems. I also thought the love interest Kyle, was dreamy, and I loved his kids, especially June.

I don't read a lot of contemporary romance, but when I find an author I like I'll keep reading, and that's what I intend to do with this series. If you like your romance sprinkled with humor then you might like this.

One other note- there's an Aunt Tootie in this book, which leads the main character to wonder why southerners don't know not to name their kids things like Tootie. This made me smile, because I had an Aunt Tootie when I was growing up. When we got older we called her Aunt Pat, but that was her nickname when we were kids.

Age of Empyre by Michael J. Sullivan

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Content: Strong language


A door opens. An army of dragons advance. And the fate of the living rests with the dead.

After obtaining the secret to creating dragons, the leader of the Fhrey has turned the tide of war once more—but gaining the advantage has come at a terrible price. While Imaly plots to overthrow the fane for transgressions against his people, a mystic and a keeper are the only hope for the Rhunes. Time is short, and the future of both races hangs in the balance. In this exciting conclusion to the Legends of the First Empire series, the Great War finally comes to a climactic end, and with it dawns a new era in the Age of Empyre.

"All too often, that which we are most certain of is that which we are most wrong about; and that which we are wrong about can change everything."

This series has been a roller coaster of emotions for me. I'm sad that it's over, but also glad to have completed it. I will say that I feel like this series started out really strong, with the first two books being my favorites, but gradually got weaker as it went on. This was probably my least favorite book in the series, but I'm still giving it 3.5 stars.

While I liked this, I felt like it dragged a bit at times, and the part in the underworld went on too long. It got a little dark and depressing for me, but maybe that was just my mood. Also, for some reason I didn't feel the same connection to the characters that I felt in the previous books, although I still loved them.

On the positive side though, I loved that we got to visit some characters who had died in previous books in the underworld and the closure that brought to their story lines. I loved that we got to see themes of love and forgiveness in this book. I loved the growth of these characters throughout the series. And I especially loved the unlikely heroes.

I knew going in that this wasn't going to be one of those happily ever after kind of series, and indeed the ending was bitter-sweet, but at the same time it was just right. Brin, as usual was amazing, and the way her story ended up was pretty perfect. I've wondered throughout the series what happens to the Book of Brin, and now I know. Overall I liked the way things ended for all the characters, with only one minor unfulfilled wish on my part.
 [I wanted to actually get to read about Percephone and Raithe being reunited in the afterlife. I know they most certainly did, but I wanted to witness it. After she sacrificed so much happiness, that would have been a nice bonus. (hide spoiler)]
I enjoyed this series, especially the characters. They left a positive mark on me, and I smile when I think of them.

"I had always worshiped heroes in stories. I had no idea I was surrounded by them."

July 2020 Book Club: The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle

For our book club in July we read a book that I had already read and reviewed here, The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. I'm going to just repost my review and add in a few photos of the refreshments my creative friends came up with. As I mentioned before, we usually try to come up with refreshments that somehow tie into the theme of the book. I have to say, they hit it out of the park!

The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Mystery, Fantasy
Content: Strong Language, Implied Sex  



How do you stop a murder that’s already happened?

At a gala party thrown by her parents, Evelyn Hardcastle will be killed—again. She's been murdered hundreds of times, and each day, Aiden Bishop is too late to save her. Doomed to repeat the same day over and over, Aiden's only escape is to solve Evelyn Hardcastle's murder and conquer the shadows of an enemy he struggles to even comprehend—but nothing and no one is quite what they seem.
 
The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle is a mystery that crosses over a bit into the fantasy genre. The best way to describe it would be Quantum Leap meets Groundhog Day, set in an Agatha Christie like novel. I don't think I've ever read a mystery quite like this.

After what I thought was a bit of a slow start (it seemed to take a while to find out who Evelyn Hardcastle was and how she fit into the story) I found it impossible to put down, and it kept me guessing the whole time. Every time I thought I knew what was going on something else got thrown in there that I didn't see coming.

"If this isn't hell, the devil is surely taking notes."

  The story is set in a place called Blackheath and it really isn't what it seems. I really can't say much more in my review without spoiling things, but I thought this was a well written book. I really couldn't tell that this was a debut author. The story is well constructed with lots of bits and pieces that all come together very nicely in the end, and that can be hard to do in a time loop kind of story. I definitely recommend this one.

The Hollow Crown, The Silent Shield, and The Forsaken Throne

These last three books in the Kingfountain series have been great fun to read. I took a slight detour to read Muirwood because that world factors into these last three books quite heavily. After reading Muirwood I was afraid these would be more of the same (too heavily focused on religion, characters that weren't as likable as I wanted), but that wasn't the case. I was also skeptical of how much I would like focusing on the children of the characters from the previous three books, but I ended up loving these books just as much as the previous three.

Throughout these three books, the author keeps us guessing about whether we can trust a couple of people, one especially, and I liked that little bit of intrigue. There was just the right amount of romance and intrigue in this series, and although it's YA, I feel like it's a series that any age can read and enjoy. It's one of the few of late that I've wanted to actually binge read, and if other reads hadn't gotten in the way I would have. It ended up being my go-to for listening while in the pool.

While this is a light read, and the author has the tendency to tell a little more than I would like-- oh and there is the deus-ex-machina thing that gets used a couple of times, I can't help but find these books so very readable. In the end I liked how things were wrapped up for each of the characters in this series. I'm going to miss it.



The Hollow Crown by Jeff Wheeler

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Content: Clean


Following the downfall of a tyrant, years have passed in prosperity for the kingdom of Ceredigion. Now, as the time comes to celebrate the new king’s nuptials, the specter of a new enemy emerges to destroy all that has been painstakingly built in those years.

Tryneowy Kiskaddon has grown up learning military and diplomatic strategy from her father, one of the king’s closest advisors. She feels her destiny lies in defending the kingdom as a knight, not as a Wizr as her parents have decided, though no lady of the realm has taken up the sword in a century. As she seeks to understand her own Fountain-blessed powers, she studies in the tradition of her mother while training in secret and closely following the realm’s politics, alarmed by her mother’s vision of an impending clash and a devastating future.

But the pieces on fate’s game board are in motion, and on the eve of battle, a threatening force irrevocably changes the future of the kingdom and her own. Does Trynne have what it takes to maneuver Ceredigion’s key players into position and outsmart the kingdom’s enemies—even those still concealed in shadow?




“No pain that we suffer, lass, no trial that we experience is ever for naught. Hardships teach us qualities we can get in no other way. Like patience, faith, fortitude . . . and humility.”  ― Jeff Wheeler, The Hollow Crown




The Silent Shield by Jeff Wheeler

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Content: Clean


Thrust into the heart of events threatening to rip her kingdom apart, young Trynne Kiskaddon will gain new powers and see old allies fall and new heroes rise as the battle for the kingdom and the lands beyond begins.

Courtly intrigue and rumors of invasion plunge Kingfountain into turmoil as the search for Trynne’s father begins in earnest. But Trynne’s quest to learn the truth of Owen’s sinister disappearance is sidetracked when tragedy strikes her family once again. Suddenly, the future of the kingdom rests in her hands as she struggles to learn—and control—the power that can keep the threatening Deep Fathoms at bay.

When King Gahalatine unleashes his overwhelming forces against the realm, Trynne must draw on her political instincts, warrior training, and Fountain-blessed magic if she hopes to survive the chaos to come. But a final, epic confrontation will force Trynne into an unimaginable choice: save her kingdom and the lives of her people, or lose the one who means more to her than life itself.

Art by Maelstromarts https://www.deviantart.com/maelstromarts/art/Shield-Maiden-264283204

“Isn’t it tragic how we women always compare ourselves to one another? Comparing our faults to others’ perfections?”  ― Jeff Wheeler, The Silent Shield




The Forsaken Throne by Jeff Wheeler

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Content: Clean


A devastating disaster has left the Forbidden Court in ashes, its fountains destroyed, and its magic at risk. It was destined as the site of Trynne Kiskaddon’s coronation as empress. Now, all Trynne can imagine is the roar of flames, the cries of Gahalatine’s people, and the smell of cinders in a city gone dark. Tragic as the threat to Kingfountain is, it’s nowhere near as foul as the treachery posed by Morwenna. Saboteur, conspirator, and full-blood sister of the king, she is prepared to set forth a wave of destruction that will eliminate everything that stands between her and possession of the throne.

But Trynne has her weapons, too—her magic, her resilience, her skills at intrigue, and especially, Fallon. The man who once swore his allegiance to Morwenna now stands by Trynne’s side as they venture into the unknown to protect those they love, reunite with a family scattered by diabolical forces, and safeguard a kingdom…as well as the destiny the Fountain has for each of them.

“What we do tomorrow starts with a thought. Truly the best way to predict your future is to create it.”  ― Jeff Wheeler, The Forsaken Throne




 

The Sisters of the Winter Wood by Rena Rossner

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Category: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fantasy, Fairy Tale
Content: It is mentioned that a married woman cheated on her husband, A lot of making out.


In a remote village surrounded by vast forests on the border of Moldova and Ukraine, sisters Liba and Laya have been raised on the honeyed scent of their Mami's babka and the low rumble of their Tati's prayers. But when a troupe of mysterious men arrives, Laya falls under their spell-despite their mother's warning to be wary of strangers. And this is not the only danger lurking in the woods.

As dark forces close in on their village, Liba and Laya discover a family secret passed down through generations. Faced with a magical heritage they never knew existed, the sisters realize the old fairy tales are true...and could save them all.

Art by Umbrafen at Deviantart.com

Art by Elena Kukanova https://www.deviantart.com/ekukanova

“There are many types of love. But there is nothing like a sister.”


This book read a lot like a fairy tale, and that included fairy tale logic, which at times had me yelling at the characters to not be so foolish. The parents of these teenage girls leave them home alone in the woods for an undetermined amount of time because they must journey elsewhere, and can't take them with them. They ask a family in the village to look in on them, but make little to no preparations for their daughters before they leave, which coincidentally also happens to be at the worst possible time. Needless to say, in no time at all the girls are in trouble. This of course is irresponsible and short-sighted on the parents part, but that's what I mean by fairytale logic. All that being said, I still was able to appreciate certain things about this book.

This is a YA novel and it does show. It's heavy with romance and feelings of self-doubt, but it also has a beautiful theme of sisterly love. These sisters are very different from each other and the older one, Liba too often compares herself to her younger sister, Laya, whom she views as more beautiful and graceful. Laya is a swan, so it's hard for Liba, a bear, to feel beautiful next to her. What I really liked was how Liba discovers that she has her own unique value and that she has her own kind of beauty. While Laya might be beautiful, she is young and impetuous, and could learn a lot from her older sister, who seems to be blessed with more common sense.

The author took some Jewish history and incorporated it into this book, which made it interesting and a bit different from other stories I've read. The theme of antisemitism was woven throughout the story. And there is real fear that the Jews in the village may not be safe for much longer. On top of this there are the mysterious fruit sellers who come to the village and seem to be up to no good. This part of the book is what kept me turning the pages.

This is a unique blend of shape-shifters, Jewish history, and fairytale. Overall I think it was an oddly different book, but not in a bad way. It reminded me of Katherine Arden's The Bear and the Nightingale a bit, but also Naomi Novik's Spinning Silver as well, but I have to say that I liked both of those better, maybe because they felt more mature.

The Scourge of Muirwood by Jeff Wheeler

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Category: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Content: Clean


When a deadly plague is unleashed in the land of Muirwood, the fate of the world is placed in the hands of a young woman named Lia. Charged to be a magical protector, Lia volunteers to be sent on a desperate quest to rescue the squire Colvin, her love, and his pupil Ellowyn Demont, the alleged heir to the fallen kingdom of Pry-Ree. Still recovering from the injuries of her last adventures, Lia sets off across land and sea warning the kingdom of the oncoming plague. The journey leads her to Dochte Abbey, where her friends are supposedly held. Instead, though, a fallen enemy lies in wait for her, as well as an unbearable new truth. The revelation will force Lia to choose between the lives of her closest friends and her deepest desires…

This is the last book in the Muirwood trilogy and I liked it the least of the three. Everything I complained about in the last book was present here. Yet again too much religious reference. Too message heavy. Character's actions that don't make sense at times. If this had been the first series I had ever read by Wheeler I probably would never have tried any of his other works. Which would have been a shame because The Kingfountain series is leaps and bounds better than this one, even if this world does play a big part in the plot of book 6 in that series (which is why I read this one in the first place). Even though I didn't like this very much I don't regret reading it. It gave context to what was happening at the end of the other series.

Peace Talks by Jim Butcher

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy
Content: Strong Language



When the Supernatural nations of the world meet up to negotiate an end to ongoing hostilities, Harry Dresden, Chicago's only professional wizard, joins the White Council's security team to make sure the talks stay civil. But can he succeed, when dark political manipulations threaten the very existence of Chicago--and all he holds dear?

 

I can't think of another book that I looked more forward to reading this year. Like everyone else who loves this series, I've been waiting for 6 years for this book to come out! Was it worth the wait? Yes! Yes it was! This is the first of two books in The Dresden Files that will be released this year, and that goes a long way to make up for the six years.

Overall this book was great. There were some developments that I was pleasantly surprised about, mainly because I had either given up on anything happening on that front, or because it was something I had not considered. There were other developments that made me sad, but hopeful that things will be alright in the end.

Ever since the book Changes I've missed certain things. The boarding house with the sub-basement in particular, and Harry just having a place to call home in general. There is a point in this book where Harry laments the lack of a home, as well, and it felt like a nod to the way I felt. Harry also ends up making a discovery in Marcone's compound. The compound that was built on the old boarding house site. I won't say what it is, but it made me smile, and then it made me angry right along with Harry.

This remains one of my all time favorite series, and I'm looking forward to reading Battle Ground in September, which by the way, releases the day before my birthday. What a nice birthday present that will be!

“Home, like love, hate, war, and peace, is one of those words that is so important that it doesn't need more than one syllable. Home is part of the fabric of who humans are... It's where you eat the best food... It's where you and your mate are the most intimate. Its where your raise your children, safe against a world that can be horrible things to them. It's where you sleep, safe. It's where you relax. It's where you dream. Home is where you embrace the present and plan the future. It's where the books are. And more than anything else, it's where you build the world that you want.”