Category: B reviews (Page 55 of 74)

A Gentleman Undone by Cecilia Grant

May 25, 2013 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I’ve had this on my TBR for ages – I bought it and planned to read it as a special treat and as often happens, I kind of forgot about it. When I got Ms. Grant’s new book A Woman Entangled I was reminded I hadn’t read A Gentleman Undone yet and I like to read in order so…

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) A seductive beauty turns the tables on a gentleman gaming for the guiltiest of pleasures in this rich and sensual Regency romance from beloved newcomer Cecilia Grant.Lydia Slaughter understands the games men play—both in and out of the bedroom. Not afraid to bend the rules to suit her needs, she fleeces Will Blackshear outright. The Waterloo hero had his own daring agenda for the gaming tables of London’s gentlemen’s clubs. But now he antes up for a wager of wits and desire with Lydia, the streetwise temptress who keeps him at arm’s length.A kept woman in desperate straits, Lydia has a sharp mind with a head for numbers. She gambles on the sly, hoping to win enough to claim her independence. An alliance with Will at the tables may be a winning proposition for them both. But the arrangement involves dicey odds with rising stakes, sweetened with unspoken promise of fleshly delights. And any sleight of hand could find their hearts betting on something neither can afford to risk: love.

What worked for me (and what didn’t): Cecilia Grant has a way with words. Her style immerses me in the atmosphere of the novel and I have great appreciation for the way the words are crafted to create beauty and lyricism. That’s not enough of course. For a romance novel to work it has to be more than poetic words – the characters have to attract me in some way and I have to buy into the love story. Here, I did find a lot to like in the characters and I was invested in their love story, but there was something missing in the final stages which stopped this from being the perfect read.

Own the Wind by Kristen Ashley

May 23, 2013 / Kaetrin

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

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) Too hot to handle…Tabitha Allen grew up in the thick of Chaos–the Chaos Motorcycle Club, that is. Her father is Chaos’ leader, and the club has always had her back. But one rider was different from the start. When Tabby was running wild, Shy Cage was there. When tragedy tore her life apart, he helped her piece it back together. And now, Tabby’s thinking about much more than friendship…Tabby is everything Shy’s ever wanted, but everything he thinks he can’t have. She’s beautiful, smart, and as his friend’s daughter, untouchable. Shy never expected more than friendship, so when Tabby indicates she wants more–much more—he feels like the luckiest man alive. But even lucky men can crash and burn…

What worked for me (and what didn’t): This is the first book by Ashley published through Grand Central with Amy Pierpont editing. It is a much tighter book than those I’ve read previously and there is less of the run on sentences (which I kind of missed actually). All of the sentences made sense and the copy editing was very clean. The book fell down for me a little at the end but that was about plot rather than anything else – it kind of fizzled for me rather than ending with a grand finale. I did love Shy and Tabby together and their interactions were the best parts of the book

“Do you wanna know why it’s you?” I asked quietly, my hand gliding up his arm to his chest.
“Don’t wanna piss you off, Tab, but I don’t give a fuck. I’m happy just rejoicin’ that it is.”

Untamed by Anna Cowan

May 13, 2013 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley. It’s been on my radar for a while now.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) Outspoken and opinionated, Katherine Sutherland is ill at ease amongst the fine ladies of Regency London. She is more familiar with farmers and her blunt opinions and rough manners offend polite society. Yet when she hears the scandalous rumours involving her sister and the seductive Duke of Darlington, the fiercely loyal Katherine vows to save her sister’s marriage – whatever the cost.Intrigued by Katherine’s interference in his affairs, the manipulative Duke is soon fascinated. He engages in a daring deception and follows her back to her country home. Here, their intense connection shocks them both. But the Duke’s games have dangerous consequences, and the potential to throw both their lives into chaos…

What worked for me (and what didn’t): Have you ever had the experience of seeing something in your peripheral vision more clearly than when you look straight on? I had that a few times when reading this book. That sense of something just outside my grasp.While I had some problems with the story, there is also a lot to like. There is some lovely poetry in the writing.

This was the piano as she hadn’t even known it could be played – subdued passion that she was fairly sure wouldn’t be allowed in public. One melody tripped lightly ahead of the other, follow me. The second was slow; it would never catch the first but ran under it, as deep as an ocean.

She had never heard anything so beautiful.

There is also subtlety and cryptic phraseology from time to time. There are multiple and carefully woven plot threads. A little here, a little there. I felt, for most of the book, like I was playing a particularly elaborate game of cat’s cradle – it had the potential to be anywhere on the scale from a beautiful and magnificent creation to a crazy tangled mess.

Country Mouse & City Mouse by Amy Lane and Aleksandr Voinov

May 5, 2013 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I received a review copy from the publisher so I’d understand the second book (which I got via NetGalley).

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) Owen may be a bit of a country mouse, but he’s loving his vacation in London. After a long day playing tourist, he’s on the hunt for some cheap beer and a good burger. Instead he finds a man hunting him, an arrogant prick with only one thing on the brain: the kind of meat that doesn’t come on a bun.Eighty-hour weeks at a trading desk don’t leave Malcolm Kavanagh much time for meaningful relationships. Besides, in his world, everything’s a competition-even sex. When his newest one-night-sub fails to show, Malcolm sets his sights on the pretty young Yank on the bar stool beside him.Owen’s all for an adventure with a native, but he’s not the pushover Malcolm thinks he is, and Malcolm’s not as shallow as he tries to be. They both soon learn that nothing’s too intimate to share with a stranger, and the strangest things happen when two people share the most important pieces of their hearts.

What worked for me (and what didn’t): I write this having finished Country Mouse and not having started City Mouse. This novella, clocking in at just under 80 pages, tells the story of the initial meeting and first weekend together of Owen and Malcolm. It ends in a hopeful HFN because, as can be expected, they really don’t know each other well enough for a believable HEA. I think in some ways the blurb and the title worked against me. I didn’t see Owen as particularly ‘country’. He was an American new to London but he didn’t react with fear to the big city. It’s not like he’d never seen traffic or high rise buildings. His own self reference as ‘a bit of a country mouse’ didn’t sit right to the way I saw him. And Malcolm isn’t the Dom the blurb led me to expect. Taking out those two items which did throw me off the scent a bit, I did enjoy this story. Once Malcolm and Owen had made it back to Malcolm’s penthouse, the characters started to shine and I began to get a handle on who these men are and why they could be so good together.

I’m over at AudioGals today…

May 3, 2013 / Kaetrin

with a review of Sophie Kinsella’s I’ve Got Your Number, narrated by the brilliant Jayne Entwistle. This was made of win for me. See why here.

Lady Luck by Kristen Ashley

April 30, 2013 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: It was the next one in the series. 🙂

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) Ty Walker was wrongly imprisoned and for the five years he was inside, he honed his plan so when he gets out, he has nothing but vengeance on his mind.But then he walks straight to stylish, leggy, beautiful, goofy Lexie Berry and he suddenly has something else to think about. He knows within seconds he wants her and within days he can love her but with the filth that was flung at him clinging; he also knows he can’t have her.Since birth, Lexie Berry has been Lady Luck’s favorite toy and because of that, Lexie is cautious. But within a day, she senses Ty is something special. With her luck, however, she can’t trust it. Then she finds out what was done to Ty and she’s willing to do anything to make it right.

Even what Ty will never forgive her for doing.

Ty clings to vengeance and Lexie goes all out to give him back the time he lost. But Ty is battling demons within and they’re up against dirty cops and criminals who will stop at nothing to sway Lady Luck against them. All Ty and Lexie have is hope Lady Luck will finally swing their way.

What worked for me (and what didn’t): Of all the Kristen Ashley books I’ve read so far, this one is my least favourite. It’s not that I didn’t like it; I did. But there were some things which bothered me and that detracted from my enjoyment of the story.I did like the mixed race hero (he’s half African American, half Caucasian) and race was an issue and theme throughout the story. I did like that Lexie didn’t blink an eye at being in a relationship with him. She didn’t see his colour as any kind of barrier. I also liked that Ty’s friends didn’t either. I liked that there was more racial diversity in this book. Continue reading