Category: Fantasy Romance

Review: The Stone Prince

4/28/2016

The Stone Prince
by Gena Showalter

Synopsis

Reduced to kissing the marble statue in her garden, Katie James is amazed when it warms to life in her embrace. Trapped for many years as a statue, Jorlan en Sarr must convince Katie to fall in love with him or he will once again turn to marble.

Review

Romance Read Thursday is back readers! Sorry for the hiatus - let's get back to it!

That super short synopsis does not doe this book justice! This is my second Showalter book and I think she's become one of my go-to authors. Possible spoilers ahead.

Katie is a strong and independent woman who is embarrassed by the stone prince that sits in the garden of her newly acquired house. Unable to help herself, she gives the statue a kiss - and feels it come alive beneath her touch. Jorlan en Sarr is a being stuck in a curse/spell on earth when his actual home seems to be among the stars (yup, an alien folks). Jorlan will slip back into that spell if he doesn't get Katie to fall in love with him. Katie finds herself endeared to him - but will it be enough to stop the spell?

I LOVED this book! It was adorable and just the right kind of light and funny read I needed. I have been reading the Fever series and it has done a number on my nerves - so I definitely needed this. Katie and Jorlan are so funny together, but also very sweet. I enjoyed reading from both of their POVs and especially Jorlan learning about modern times. If you are looking for something short, sweet, and funny to read - look no further.

I'll tell you what a woman's job is, it's building her self-discipline
so she doesn't kill every man she sees. - Frances

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March 07th, 2016

3/7/2016

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Rocked by Love
by Christine Warren

Synopsis

Kylie Kramer knows that she's putting her life in danger when she decides to investigate her friend's mysterious death. What she doesn't know is that she's being watched over by a powerful protector. A legend in stone who has defended humanity throughout the ages. A rock-hard savior who swoops down from the sky, scoops Kylie into his impossibly strong arms, and draws her into a world that no mortal woman can imagine...or resist.

ROCKED BY LOVE

As the strongest of the gargoyles, Dag is sworn to destroy the demons that threaten Kylie's world before returning to his stony slumber. But the burning desire she ignites in him is even harder to fight-an all-consuming force that, once unleashed, can never be tamed. As their passion grows, so do the ranks of a demonic army plotting to take over the earth. When the ultimate battle begins, Dag and Kylie must face some demons of their own-to carve out a love that's stronger than time...

Review

This book got my attention because, hello, gargoyles! Does anyone else remember that animated series? I loved it. So, color me surprised when I was looking through NetGalley books and came across this! Anyway - I digress...

I love reluctant lovers - you know, two people who don't want to care about the other, but ultimately do? Yeah, that's my catnip. I enjoyed how Dag has no idea what is going on because he's very much the old school person stuck in a modern world due to being asleep for a very, very long time. Kylie was an awesome protagonist because she spoke in Yiddish when overly excited or worried, and her brand of talent is that of being a cybergeek. I do love my geeks in books - especially those containing romance. At first, I was wary of reviewing this book because it is 4th in a series - but Warren does such a great job at explaining what is going on to the reader without making it sound long-winded or confusing. Basically, there is a world of guardians (gargoyles), their Wardens, and magic really does exist. Basically, Dag (gargoyle) protects Kylie, the cybergeek who is important to saving the world from the Nocturni and all impending doom.

In most books, you can get a sense of this insta-love and you get insta-something in this story. It is more like insta-curiosity which I enjoyed. I loved that Kylie is so weird (in a totally good way) that seeing this gargoyle in front of her doesn't freak her out...and I doubly-loved that it's when he transforms to his human-like self where she feels more nervous. It's hilarious. Did I mention that the women from the previous books that wake up these guardians end up being their mates? *insert eyebrow wiggle here*

There is a lot of detail in this story. I cared about the characters, swooned in all the swoony parts, and it definitely makes me want to check out the first books in the series!

"A warrior from the moment of his summoning
to his last gasp of air."

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Review: Through the Veil

2/23/2016

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Through the Veil
by Colleen Halverson

Synopsis

Where the fairy tale ends, destiny begins.

Elizabeth Tanner is no Tinkerbell, and her life is no fairy tale. Broke and drowning in student loans, the one thing she wants more than anything is a scholarship from the Trinity Foundation. But after the ancient Irish text she's studying turns out to be more than just a book, she becomes their prisoner instead. And when Trinity reveals Elizabeth is half-Fae, she finds herself at the center of a plot to save the magical races of Ireland from a brutal civil war.

As Commander of Trinity's elite warriors, Finn O'Connell isn't used to having his authority challenged. He doesn't know whether to punish or protect the infuriating young woman in his custody. When he discovers the Dark Fae want to use Elizabeth's abilities to control the source of all power in the universe, he'll risk everything to help her.

At the mercy of Trinity and enslaved to the Dark Fae, Elizabeth finds herself alone on the wrong side of an Irish myth thousands of years in the making. Refusing to be a pawn in their game, Elizabeth has to fight her way back to the man she loves, but to do so, she must wage her own war against the magic that binds her.

Review

If there is something that I love, it's falling in love with ficitonal characters. I love when they are well developed and I can feel as if I know them, want to be them, or admire them. If I can do any of those with a character - yeah, I'm in love. I start my review as such because this is how I felt with Elizabeth and Finn. It's always touch and go with fantasy novels because I want some romance, but an awesome story and background with it too. Luckily with this story I got both! I loved Elizabeth and Finn - they were well-developed and the chemistry between them ever sparkling.

*insert dreamy sigh here*

The story was fast-paced and kept me wanting more. I loved the involvement of Irish lore - it made the story that much richer. There are also some sexy moments in this story - as anyone who has read my blog before can say - I did not mind such sexy moments.

*insert not so subtle wink here*

Through wonderful and intricate world-building and characters that are more than lovely, any fantasy reader (and not) will enjoy this read.

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Review: Bloodfever

2/18/2016

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Bloodfever (Fever Series #2)
by Karen Marie Moning

Synopsis

I used to be your average, everyday girl but all that changed one night in Dublin when I saw my first Fae, and got dragged into a world of deadly immortals and ancient secrets. . . .

In her fight to stay alive, MacKayla must find the Sinsar Dubh—a million-year-old book of the blackest magic imaginable, which holds the key to power over the worlds of both the Fae and Man. Pursued by assassins, surrounded by mysterious figures she knows she can’t trust, Mac finds herself torn between two deadly and powerful men: V’lane, the immortal Fae Prince, and Jericho Barrons, a man as irresistible as he is dangerous.

For centuries the shadowy realm of the Fae has coexisted with that of humans. Now the walls between the two are coming down, and Mac is the only thing that stands between them.

Review

I was finally able to finish this book! It's not for lack of the book being good - because it is VERY good! It's just super easy for me to get distracted by the television or other books or the internet.

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!

In this second installment of the Fever series by Moning, we have more answers, but far more questions. Mac is living at the bookstore with Barrons (forced proximity is my catnip - add a bookstore to the mix and I'm over the moon!!!!) trying to hone her skills to become a better OOP detector. Barrons is as enigmatic as ever. Lots of stuff happens: Mac's father comes to get her, only to be magically persuaded by Barrons to leave without her; V'lane saves Mac only to place her in Faeryland giving her an illusion of spending time with her sister (this was a really sad and touching scene -for sure); and Mac and Barrons...well, let's just say a side of their "relationship" that we haven't really seen starts getting more uncovered, which is awesome!

I really crave sexy times for Barrons and Mac, but there is so much more to the story that it helps with the cravings...a little. If anything those little moments where Barrons shows he cares about Mac in more than the OOP sense is what does me in. Barrons is a jerk - except that I kinda want to hug him most of the time.

Mac learns more about her sidhe-seer bloodline and finds a couple of might-be friends: a young sidhe-seer who seems as tough and lonely as Mac and a guy named Christian - we don't know much about him except that he seems to know A LOT about Mac. I can't wait to read the next book!

"One day you may kiss a man you can't breathe without, and find breath is of little consequence." - Jericho Barrons

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Review: Beyond the Highland Mist

12/3/2015

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Beyond the Highland Mist
Highlander #1
by Karen Marie Moning

Synopsis
He would sell his warrior soul to possess her. . . .

An alluring laird...

He was known throughout the kingdom as Hawk, legendary predator of the battlefield and the boudoir. No woman could refuse his touch, but no woman ever stirred his heart—until a vengeful fairy tumbled Adrienne de Simone out of modern-day Seattle and into medieval Scotland. Captive in a century not her own, entirely too bold, too outspoken, she was an irresistible challenge to the sixteenth-century rogue. Coerced into a marriage with Hawk, Adrienne vowed to keep him at arm's length—but his sweet seduction played havoc with her resolve.

A prisoner in time...

She had a perfect "no" on her perfect lips for the notorious laird, but Hawk swore she would whisper his name with desire, begging for the passion he longed to ignite within her. Not even the barriers of time and space would keep him from winning her love. Despite her uncertainty about following the promptings of her own passionate heart, Adrienne's reservations were no match for Hawk's determination to keep her by his side. . . .

Review
If you've been reading my reviews for awhile, you have come to understand that I do not like half naked - or just plain naked people on the covers of my books. I barely like having any person on my book covers - naked or clothed. So, it took me a while to get this book at my library. Once I did get it, however, it took me a day to read it. It's really good! Now - let me step back a little. Do any of you read the Smart Bitches Trashy Books podcast? If you don't already, I very much recommend it. Well, the main podcast person, Sarah, says that some books are so addicting that she refers to them as "crack." This book - is crack ladies and gents. Unlike the Fever series by Moning, that I believe the masses will like because it has more action/adventure than sexy times (in the first book - I haven't read the rest of the series), the Highlander series is silly at times, X-rated, and addicting. There's a highlander that has slept with every living woman during his time (it seems), fairies, and, oh yeah, TIME TRAVEL. I don't think I would have liked this book as much if it didn't involve time travel, actually. I love that Adrienne came from the future and has the sass of her time too. Hawk is a flawed, strong, and sexy hero. Anyway - I loved this book because it reminded me of a fairy tale...except this is an x-rated fairy tale. Yeah :)

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Review: The Stone Prince

I'll tell you what a woman's job is, it's building her self-discipline
so she doesn't kill every man she sees. - Frances

March 07th, 2016

"A warrior from the moment of his summoning
to his last gasp of air."

Review: Through the Veil

Review: Bloodfever

"One day you may kiss a man you can't breathe without, and find breath is of little consequence." - Jericho Barrons

Review: Beyond the Highland Mist

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Review: The Stone Prince

I'll tell you what a woman's job is, it's building her self-discipline ​so she doesn't kill every man she sees. - Frances

March 07th, 2016

"A warrior from the moment of his summoning ​to his last gasp of air."

Review: Through the Veil

Review: Bloodfever

"One day you may kiss a man you can't breathe without, and find breath is of little consequence." - Jericho Barrons

Review: Beyond the Highland Mist

Want to receive monthly highlights from Book Fidelity? Sign up!

Categories

Archives

I'll tell you what a woman's job is, it's building her self-discipline
so she doesn't kill every man she sees. - Frances

"A warrior from the moment of his summoning
to his last gasp of air."