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lynseyisreading's reviews
1361 reviews
A Monsoon Rising by Thea Guanzon
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
The Marriage Hex by Sarah Blue
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson
adventurous
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
The Highlander's Prize by Mary Wine
4.0
It's fair to say I use a totally different set of criteria when reviewing my hunky highlander books than I do for any of my other genres. Really, I'm just looking to fall a little bit in love, or at the very least, enjoy watching the two main characters fall in love. And in this book, I got just that.
They are two very likeable main characters as well. You've got Clarrisa, illegitimate but acknowledged daughter of the late King of England, and you have Broen, the young, recently appointed Laird of the MacNicols clan. Both had their merits; Clarrisa was strong emotionally after the awful upbringing she'd received. It seemed no one really knew what to do with someone of royal blood that should on the one hand be respected, but as a bastard, was also to be sneered at. So it seemed they ostracised her quite a bit and this formed the incredible character we meet in this book, as she's about to be married off, or sold off is probably more accurate, to the King of Scotland who hopes to create ties to England with the marriage and to hopefully therefore prevent any future attacks.
Broen was a much more simple character but no less endearing. He is an attractive man and as such has a certain way with the ladies, but since the death of his father and being made the new Laird, hasn't really given the lasses much of his time. Until the feisty Clarissa stumbles into his lap of course. I really enjoyed watching Broen's playfulness. Enticing Clarissa into letting him steal a kiss, then further challenging her to kiss him back. It was all quite heady stuff. Their relationship was totally believable and I even shed a few tears right at the end at the seemingly awful situation they faced.
My only complaint would be that as much as I enjoyed the chase, the teasing and the hot smexy times, I just wish they had gotten to the love stage a bit earlier on. I felt like they had only just reached the point of understanding their feelings when the book ended. I believe if that point had been brought forward a little, the stressful part at the end would have had even more impact.
That said, I really enjoyed reading this and will add Mary Wine to my ever-increasing and growing larger by the second list of good hunky highlander writers.
4 Stars! ★★★★
Review Copy: Received from the publisher for an honest review
They are two very likeable main characters as well. You've got Clarrisa, illegitimate but acknowledged daughter of the late King of England, and you have Broen, the young, recently appointed Laird of the MacNicols clan. Both had their merits; Clarrisa was strong emotionally after the awful upbringing she'd received. It seemed no one really knew what to do with someone of royal blood that should on the one hand be respected, but as a bastard, was also to be sneered at. So it seemed they ostracised her quite a bit and this formed the incredible character we meet in this book, as she's about to be married off, or sold off is probably more accurate, to the King of Scotland who hopes to create ties to England with the marriage and to hopefully therefore prevent any future attacks.
Broen was a much more simple character but no less endearing. He is an attractive man and as such has a certain way with the ladies, but since the death of his father and being made the new Laird, hasn't really given the lasses much of his time. Until the feisty Clarissa stumbles into his lap of course. I really enjoyed watching Broen's playfulness. Enticing Clarissa into letting him steal a kiss, then further challenging her to kiss him back. It was all quite heady stuff. Their relationship was totally believable and I even shed a few tears right at the end at the seemingly awful situation they faced.
My only complaint would be that as much as I enjoyed the chase, the teasing and the hot smexy times, I just wish they had gotten to the love stage a bit earlier on. I felt like they had only just reached the point of understanding their feelings when the book ended. I believe if that point had been brought forward a little, the stressful part at the end would have had even more impact.
That said, I really enjoyed reading this and will add Mary Wine to my ever-increasing and growing larger by the second list of good hunky highlander writers.
4 Stars! ★★★★
Review Copy: Received from the publisher for an honest review
Firelight by Kristen Callihan
5.0
This book just about ticked all of my boxes. I'm a fan of Paranormal Romance and an occasional dabbler in the Historical Romance genre, and this book is such a perfect blending of the two, coupled with exceptional storytelling, great characters and a captivating romance. I LOVED it!
I would urge anyone about to read this not to read any spoilery reviews, nor to read the prequel, Ember, first, because one of the biggest thrills for me with this book was the guessing game I had to play with regards to Archer's character and why he has to wear that damned mask! I knew very little of the plot going in. Basically just that it was a Beauty and the Beast type story with paranormal/supernatural stuff thrown in. I think that's the best way to approach it because you really are teased and tantalised with clues and it just wouldn't have been the same had I known what was under there before I was supposed to. Trying to work it out from the strange behaviour and occasional random comment from other characters was killing me! It was so frustrating that other people clearly knew and yet he wouldn't tell his wife, Miranda. And until she finds out, we are in the dark too. It made the book unputdownable.
Miranda, our leading lady also has a secret, but in her case we as a reader know the secret way before anyone else, so that was a lot less painful. It helped, I think, make it more believable that Miranda would fall in love with a man she's never laid eyes on as well. Because she of all people knows exactly what it means to have something you fear showing others in case they reject you for it. Their back stories really complemented each other.
Which brings me to the other thing that I loved- the romance! I loved both characters in equal measure, really. I might have gotten a bit cross with Archer occasionally. But even he admits that he can be an unpardonable ass at times. Some of his behaviour was borderline for me, like the alley scene for example. I wish he hadn't behaved that way. But he redeemed himself. And looking back now, knowing what I know (finally!), I can understand his fears and frustrations and forgive him. Kinda.
I also enjoyed much of the dialogue between the pair. It was possibly a touch sugary sweet towards the end, but most of it was lovely and had I not been tearing through the pages, unwilling to slow down, I could have found many great quotables to share with you.
To sum up, this wasn't a perfect novel, there were a couple of issues I could nitpick on if I was being a stickler, but I decided to go for 5 stars just because it was so original and the romance so captivating that it definitely belongs in the "I loved it" category" more than the "I really liked it" one. I can't wait to read the next one, Moonglow, when it comes out in August 2012.
Review Copy: Received from the publisher for an honest review
I would urge anyone about to read this not to read any spoilery reviews, nor to read the prequel, Ember, first, because one of the biggest thrills for me with this book was the guessing game I had to play with regards to Archer's character and why he has to wear that damned mask! I knew very little of the plot going in. Basically just that it was a Beauty and the Beast type story with paranormal/supernatural stuff thrown in. I think that's the best way to approach it because you really are teased and tantalised with clues and it just wouldn't have been the same had I known what was under there before I was supposed to. Trying to work it out from the strange behaviour and occasional random comment from other characters was killing me! It was so frustrating that other people clearly knew and yet he wouldn't tell his wife, Miranda. And until she finds out, we are in the dark too. It made the book unputdownable.
Miranda, our leading lady also has a secret, but in her case we as a reader know the secret way before anyone else, so that was a lot less painful. It helped, I think, make it more believable that Miranda would fall in love with a man she's never laid eyes on as well. Because she of all people knows exactly what it means to have something you fear showing others in case they reject you for it. Their back stories really complemented each other.
Which brings me to the other thing that I loved- the romance! I loved both characters in equal measure, really. I might have gotten a bit cross with Archer occasionally. But even he admits that he can be an unpardonable ass at times. Some of his behaviour was borderline for me, like the alley scene for example. I wish he hadn't behaved that way. But he redeemed himself. And looking back now, knowing what I know (finally!), I can understand his fears and frustrations and forgive him. Kinda.
I also enjoyed much of the dialogue between the pair. It was possibly a touch sugary sweet towards the end, but most of it was lovely and had I not been tearing through the pages, unwilling to slow down, I could have found many great quotables to share with you.
To sum up, this wasn't a perfect novel, there were a couple of issues I could nitpick on if I was being a stickler, but I decided to go for 5 stars just because it was so original and the romance so captivating that it definitely belongs in the "I loved it" category" more than the "I really liked it" one. I can't wait to read the next one, Moonglow, when it comes out in August 2012.
Review Copy: Received from the publisher for an honest review
Raven Calls by C.E. Murphy
4.0
This book picks up almost immediately after the events at the end of the last book, Spirit Dances, with our lovely protagonist Joanne Walker on her way to Ireland to take care of that pesky werewolf bite. I had some very big expectations for this book after the way the last book ended, and in most ways those expectations were met, maybe even surpassed. And yet, I can't help deducting one respect point for the missing characters in this instalment. Phone calls are all well and good (very good, actually) but after being made to wait six books (SIX books!) for something to happen between Jo and Morrison, and then to have this be what I call a "departure book" - basically a book in a series that sticks out as separate from the rest in some way and can often be referred to as "the one where she goes to ... " and to have nearly all of the secondary characters I've grown to know and love be absent as well, was a slight disappointment.
However, that was basically my only complaint with this book. The rest of it was grade A awesome. The narrative was fresh and funny as ever. Joanne has always been comical, but some of her inner thought processes in this one had me laughing out loud. I love the way she weighs up her options when she faces a new situation or danger. She counts them on one hand, then on the other hand, then on the third hand...it really tickled me. One of my favourite passages that displays this:
"On the positive side, I'd caught a banshee with nets before. On the less positive side, it had taken Sheila's help to hold it in place. But on another positive side, I was a lot more confident in my powers than I had been then. Of course, on the negative side that confidence was currently stymied by a werewolf bite and general uncertainty about using my skills at full bore. Then again, back on the positive side --- apparently I was an octagon---if things were going to explode, they might take a banshee or too along with them."
This kind of dithering made the narrative seem friendly and relatable and I could really connect well with Jo because of it. Obviously her Shamanic and fighting skills have both improved exponentially since book one, but that doesn't means she always knows exactly what to do in any given situation. There is no "How to be a badass Shaman" handbook, after all. So seeing her face down the bad guys even with this level of uncertainty, really upped my respect for her as a main character.
The delightful Gary, her septuagenarian BFF was with Joanne for some of the book which I was very thankful for, and his scenes were as sweet as can be and often highly amusing as well. They really are very close friends now, probably more like family, actually, and it's just adorable to watch. We also meet some interesting new characters, revisit some old ones, as well take on some amazing creatures, beasties and bad guys. All of the things you have come to expect from this series is here (Except Morrison!).
I'm really, and I do mean REALLY, looking forward to the next book and just hope (wish, pray, expect, demand) that the rest of the gang will be reunited once more and that we will also find out what Jo will be doing now that she is officially unemployed...
I give this 4 stars and a big, fat Morrison-shaped heart.
Review Copy: Received from the publisher for an honest review
However, that was basically my only complaint with this book. The rest of it was grade A awesome. The narrative was fresh and funny as ever. Joanne has always been comical, but some of her inner thought processes in this one had me laughing out loud. I love the way she weighs up her options when she faces a new situation or danger. She counts them on one hand, then on the other hand, then on the third hand...it really tickled me. One of my favourite passages that displays this:
"On the positive side, I'd caught a banshee with nets before. On the less positive side, it had taken Sheila's help to hold it in place. But on another positive side, I was a lot more confident in my powers than I had been then. Of course, on the negative side that confidence was currently stymied by a werewolf bite and general uncertainty about using my skills at full bore. Then again, back on the positive side --- apparently I was an octagon---if things were going to explode, they might take a banshee or too along with them."
This kind of dithering made the narrative seem friendly and relatable and I could really connect well with Jo because of it. Obviously her Shamanic and fighting skills have both improved exponentially since book one, but that doesn't means she always knows exactly what to do in any given situation. There is no "How to be a badass Shaman" handbook, after all. So seeing her face down the bad guys even with this level of uncertainty, really upped my respect for her as a main character.
The delightful Gary, her septuagenarian BFF was with Joanne for some of the book which I was very thankful for, and his scenes were as sweet as can be and often highly amusing as well. They really are very close friends now, probably more like family, actually, and it's just adorable to watch. We also meet some interesting new characters, revisit some old ones, as well take on some amazing creatures, beasties and bad guys. All of the things you have come to expect from this series is here (Except Morrison!).
I'm really, and I do mean REALLY, looking forward to the next book and just hope (wish, pray, expect, demand) that the rest of the gang will be reunited once more and that we will also find out what Jo will be doing now that she is officially unemployed...
I give this 4 stars and a big, fat Morrison-shaped heart.
Review Copy: Received from the publisher for an honest review