Review: Chocolat (Chocolat #1)

Chocolat by Joanne Harris
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Love this movie--it's one of my favorites. The book is good, and mostly the same, yet very different.

You still get to live in the world of Vianne Rocher. And Anouk, and the small-town life in France. You get the same dose of magical realism. You get a different Roux. Slightly different characters all-around. But beautifully descriptive writing and a good story. 3 1/2 stars.

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Review: The Assassin's Blade (Throne of Glass #0.1-0.5)

The Assassin's Blade by Sarah J. Maas
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A collection of five short stories that show you (mostly) how Celaena became the beautiful, trained assassin you know and love. They fill in a lot of the gaps and you will have a better understanding of her character and like her even more.

A must read for anyone who enjoyed Throne of Glass.

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Review: Wicked White (Wicked White #1)

Wicked White by Michelle A. Valentine
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

In the interest of transparency, this is NOT my usual genre. I don't typically read contemporary romance or new adult. That being said, the book was ok. I think if you like these genres you would probably love this book.

Meet Ace. He's a rock star who walked away from it all when his mother died. He's hiding in podunk Ohio. Meet Iris. She's an aspiring broadway singer who comes home after her grandmother died (who raised her, like all good book grandmas) to get the trailer park she owned back on track. Ace (who can't figure out that maybe not going by the totally common first name of Ace isn't a good idea when you are on the lam) rents a trailer from her. He's hot and cold. He pushes her away like a huge ass, then gets all protective and stalkery. She's angsty and dumb, and they deserve each other.

It ends like you would expect any New Adult romance genre to end. Enjoy your soppy HEA, people.

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Review: When a Scot Ties the Knot (Castles Ever After #3)

When a Scot Ties the Knot by Tessa Dare
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm a sucker for a historical romance. Especially one with a smart, unconventional heroine. This one was good stuff. Funny and sweet.

Madeline grew up shy and more interested in drawing than in men. To avoid being paraded throughout the London season, she made up a lover. A Scottish Officer, no less. And wrote herself fake letters and sent them to this fake person. But, wait! He's real. And he's gotten her letters over the years, and comes to find her after the war ends. What's a girl to do? Well, since he's handsome and sexy and brave, she falls for him. He falls for her. And they all lived happily ever after. Or did they? Read it yourself to find out--I'm no book spoiler!

If you like smart female leads with spirit, you will like this book. Enjoy.



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Review: The Bronze Horseman (The Bronze Horseman #1)

The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have been wanting to read this book for a long time. Glad I finally got around to it. It's a great piece of historical fiction and romance. There is something for everyone packed into these 900 pages. War. Love. Death. Starvation. History. Hope. And a cliffhanger to lead you right into book 2.

Tatiana meets Alexander by chance, and falls for him before realizing he is her older sister's boyfriend. Bad luck, Tatiana. Alex wants to end it with Dasha and be with Tatiana, but she won't allow it. They suffer in silence (mostly) through war, poverty, and terrible life in Russia. There is always hope that these star-crossed lovers will make it, and that sustains you through the cold Russian winters.

A really great book. Worth every hour I invested in it. Now to track down book 2.

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Review: The Dancing Master

The Dancing Master by Julie Klassen
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

It all started with a romance reading challenge. I doubt I ever would have checked this book out of the library otherwise. And I liked it, because I am a sucker for a HEA.

Alec is a dancing and fencing master. I guess those go together because they both take grace and rhythm. He moves with his family to the Regency England version of the town from Footloose. Not kidding. Dancing is not allowed, and Alec is blackballed, beaten, and harassed at every turn. Julia, the rebellious, beautiful Julia, is the Ariel in this story. It's about the small-mindedness of small towns, and God, and change. And everybody cuts Footloose at the end, so it made me happy. 3 stars.

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Review: Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir

Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir by Jenny Lawson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

You know how you listen to someone and you think, "This is my life she is describing?" Now you have me listening to this audiobook.

Jenny Lawson is insane. And funny. And her husband is a saint. She's a great storyteller. I want to drive to Jen's house and hang out and swap stories. Her stories made me think about similar times in my marriage, and I loved it.

I laughed out loud several times and had to rewind the story to catch it all. 4 stars.

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Review: Obsidian (Lux #1)

Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Great book! This was a happy surprise. Both main characters were pretty great. I was prepared to hate them both, but somehow it all worked.

First of all, Daemon Black. Yes, he's a jerk. He's bossy, he's hot/cold, and you should hate him. But somehow he is this swoon-worthy book boyfriend. You know you shouldn't fall for the bad boy, but you do. Katy does, too. Against her better efforts. Girl, no judgment here. Guess we both have a thing for sexy aliens.

I'm in for book 2. Because I'm secretly a 16-year-old girl at heart.

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Review: A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America Along the Appalachian Trail

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America Along the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Follow Bryson and his friend down the A.T. Watch them hike, out of shape and unprepared. Listen to them bicker and moan about hunger. And learn a little bit about the history of the trail and environmental issues as you traverse the US.

Mostly interesting, I found some parts to be boring, a few exceedingly so, but still a good read. If Bryson's goal was to get my old butt to want to get back on the trail and connect with nature, then mission accomplished. Three stars.

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Review: Train Station Bride

Train Station Bride by Holly Bush
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A nice historical romance. I expected less, to be honest. Love it when I get pleasantly surprised!

A comedy of errors creates a mix up at the train station, and two strangers end up married. Not the two strangers who thought they would be married. You see, in the days of old, people were so desperate to be married that they answered ads in the paper to get hitched. Thankfully those times have changed. Two perfectly nice people are able to find happiness together despite obstacles and odds. Awwww! You know I'm a sucker for a HEA. Don't judge me.

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Review: The Cat Who Played Post Office (The Cat Who #6)

The Cat Who Played Post Office by Lilian Jackson Braun
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Qwill and the cats are getting settled into the K Mansion, some people are murdered, and Qwill continues to be on the prowl as a mustachioed ladies man. This last part is the least believable.

Qwill moves into the Klingshoen Mansion, as part of his incredibly lucky inheritance. He seems to be dating the town doctor while constantly asking her cousin, the lawyer, out to dinner, drinks, whatever. Really, Qwill? Get over yourself. You are NOT a ladies man. I refuse to believe it.
Anyway, I digress. He discovers one of the former maids left town without taking her things, and he realizes something's fishy. Or at least Koko realizes something's fishy, and leads Qwill to the clues, as usual. Smart kitty! And then lots of things happen, including murders, and the crime is solved. Hooray!

Extra bonus fun: Mr. Q brings Mrs. Cobb up north to be his housekeeper. She's awesome and I'm glad she's back in the series. Now let's get Arch Riker up there permanently (you know it's coming!) and the gang can all live happily ever after.


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Review: Bear's Gold (Erotic Shifter Fairy Tales #1)

Bear's Gold by Yvette Hines

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I've never read an erotic shifter romance. Very new genre for me. It was pretty ok.

Riley gets into a car accident while fleeing her creepy, terrible ex. She's rescued by Theo, who is a hot were-bear with two cute twin were-bear boys. And he lives in Den County (get it, Den?) with an entire community of were-bears.

It was fun, a little cheesy, and had my favorite kind of ending: HEA.




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Review: Rise (Tempting Tales #2)

Rise by Keira Andrews
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

M/M erotic version of Jack and the Beanstalk, in case you were wondering. That should tell you all you need to know to determine if this book is for you.

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Review: Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor (Friday Harbor #1)

Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor by Lisa Kleypas

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Now I want to visit Friday Harbor. I enjoyed this cute, cheesy romance about love and second chances.

Meet Mark. He loses his sister in an accident and is suddenly the father to his niece, Holly. He's doing the best he can raising her with his brother.

Meet Maggie. She's a widow who owns a toy store at Friday Harbor. For those of you who are not new to the romance genre, I'll just bet you can guess what happens next! But I won't spoil it for you. I'll let you find out for yourself.

Maggie makes me a little crazy with her waffling and hot/cold reaction to Mark. He sounds like a saint wrapped up in a hot, coffee-roasting, lumberjack body. Grrrrr! Yummy.

It's cute. It's sappy. You might tear up a little at the end. I'm not saying I did, because I just had something in my eye. You can't prove otherwise.



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