“Cappy, this place is like Willy Wonka does Halloween. This is like Stepford meets the Addams family. Who built this place? Tim3,5 stars rounded up
“Cappy, this place is like Willy Wonka does Halloween. This is like Stepford meets the Addams family. Who built this place? Tim Burton?”
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Oh dear, it is that time of the year ... when I get this little itch to read a few books that are loosely concerned with Halloween. As I have never been or ever will be (never say never, but seems I am old enough now to venture the "never"-word) a fan of the horror genre, the books I seek need to present the theme on a light, maybe even sugary basis. No tricks for me, only treats, thank you very much!
So, no Tim Burton-ish images:
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but something kitschy and cosy-like:
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Anyway, this will suffice by the way of a long intro.
Kristen Painter's Nocturne Falls series fairly meet my needs in this respect.
The books, including this one, the intro to her series, delivers exactly what they promise: light and fun paranormal romance with quite likeable characters, quirky small-town setting and some plot to go with the romance not getting too overwhelming. Also, if smut is not your thing, I think these books are safe for you to try (some kissing and cuddling and referring to couples having sex, but nothing explicit). They also do not take themselves too seriously, which is always a plus!
The setting is pretty irresistible: halloween-all-round-the-year small town to hide the existence of its paranormal denizens.
While the chemistry between the MCs in this particular book does not exactly leap off the page, they are both pleasant. With some minor drawbacks to drive the plot forward, most of the time they act like adults who actually discuss problems when they arise and try to sort them out.
A nice little read altogether. Narrator B.J. Harrison does credit to it all....more
“All right. We can handle this,” Ian said. “We’ll do it randomly. Coin toss.” “That works,” Matt said. “You got a coin?” “No. Get one out of your desk.”“All right. We can handle this,” Ian said. “We’ll do it randomly. Coin toss.” “That works,” Matt said. “You got a coin?” “No. Get one out of your desk.” “You think I keep coins in my desk?” Matt asked incredulously. “Do I also go to the saloon and get weirdly possessive of my horse?” “Whatever. Kennedy?” “I literally can’t remember the last time I touched a coin.”
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3,75 stars
A funny and well-written book with a solid, credible love story, totally likeable MCs and a cute bunch of supporting characters. Also, well balanced sugar & snark and just the right length.
My first book by Lauren Layne and definitely not the last. I am going to read the other 2, earlier books in the series.
Last year I was getting really picky/prickly about romance books and it seemed I just could not find any to read without *eyerolling* and *sighing* at the unnecessary boredom and silliness they provided (no, I was not expecting rocket science, just amusement!) , so I was positively surprised and entertained by this particular book.
Also, it has a trope I like: the elegant, seemingly detached man in suit (yes, you can add a little glowering, BUT NOOOOO Heathcliffe-vibes!!)
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and the long-suffering, faithful assistant who thinks she has no chance in hell.
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So, there was fun, a totally credible romance, some actual character development, all packed up in a nice little package and it was not overlong! I also have to give it to the author that she just knew how much sugar you can take and she totally went with the right balance.
Much recommended if you are in a mood for a little lift-me-up romance.
I listened to the audiobook which was for free in the Audible Escape package. The switching POVs of heroine/hero worked very well b/c of the female/male narrator....more
A Scottish foot-soldier's advice on how to impress women
"You strip down to your skin, and then you have a dip in the loch. Wait until she com[image]
A Scottish foot-soldier's advice on how to impress women
"You strip down to your skin, and then you have a dip in the loch. Wait until she comes looking for you. Because she will. They always do. But pretend not to notice when she does. And then - just when she's close enough to see and she's been watching for a while, you rise up out of the water. Like a dolphin. Or a mermaid. Shooting up through the mist and pushing your hair back with both hands"-Rabbie thrust both hands through his hair to demonstrate-"with all the little beads of water trickling down over the ridges of your shoulders and chest." He danced his fingers down his belly. "Like so." Monroe snorted. "So he's supposed to go down to the loch at half-crack o' the morning, paddle about in the frigid water for an hour or two, and then emerge? I'm finding it difficult to believe she'd see anything impressive."
A good question why I read it, because I am not a fan
A. of the book or TV series Outlander (I have never read/watched either) B. of the Guy-in-the-Scottish-Kilt-Trope C. of historical inaccuracy (hell, I am a bitter enemy to it!)
It was fresh, smart, funny, amusing and ... verra sexy (sorry, I just had to...). And the benchmark for it: it made me suspend most disbeliefs I may have had on credibility. The love story is solid & believable, it's very nicely built up from beginning to almost the end where we have a little will they/won't they, but nothing to upset the balance too much.
The narrator, Carmen Rose also made a great job of it and did credit to the lovely Scottish accents.
But anyway, THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU, if YOU like - men-in-kilts - Scottish castles & Highland scenery - the forced marriage trope - want to learn about the mating rituals of lobsters... as in ... Nephropidae.
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Anyhoo, this is total fun, just don't expect any historical accuracy....more
The 75,000 USD Question is: what happens when the First Son & a Royal Prince of the British Realm, between them & in front of flashing cameras manage The 75,000 USD Question is: what happens when the First Son & a Royal Prince of the British Realm, between them & in front of flashing cameras manage to destroy an effing expensive wedding cake (yep, the 75K-one) b/c of an altercation?
Well, everything is allowed in LOVE and WAR. OR? Maybe not.
“Sugar, I cannot express to you how much the press does not give a fuck about who started what,” Ellen says. “As your mother, I can appreciate that maybe this isn’t your fault, but as the president, all I want is to have the CIA fake your death and ride the dead-kid sympathy into a second term.”
“You,” she says, “are going to make nice with Henry. You’re leaving Saturday and spending Sunday in England.” Alex blinks. “Is it too late to take the faking-my-death option?”
4 WELL-DESERVED STARS for one of the most delightful, hilarious & clever romantic comedies I've read in ... well ...ages?
No matter how unrealistically wish-fulfillment the set-up is, there is something refreshingly believable and hopeful in the story as a whole and the set of characters were lovable, not just the main ones, but supporting cast as well.
And honestly, who wouldn't love a prince, especially after he confessed that his favourite British author is JANE AUSTEN. Right? Right.
The way Alex & Henry are developing feelings for each other is totally plausible, because there's nothing insta about it. It goes gradually from seeming animosity (hiding attraction, of course) to friendship / flirting / sex and then love. It also helps that the story is not only about this, but has the convincing backdrop of a re-election campaign for Alex's mother, the President of the US which gives space to growth of character, the excitement of some political intrigue and lots of laughter.
And the characters.... I loved Alex & Henry, of course, as well as their friends & family, but my shining star was Zahra, the long-suffering Head of HR for Madam President and how she terrorizes (=successfully manages) everyone around her including Alex. I enjoyed each & every one of their exchanges.
“This has been going on for seven months? That’s why you—Oh my God, I thought you were getting into international relations or something.” “I mean, technically—” “If you finish that sentence, I’m gonna spend tonight in jail.” And you”—she rounds on Henry—“you need to get back to fucking England now, and if anyone sees you leave, I will personally end you. Ask me if I’m afraid of the crown.”
PLUS, Zahra also gets her HEA, which I totally loved. I kind of hoped for this, without actually expecting that to happen, so I was very positively surprised by it.
OH & let's not forget about when Alex comes clean about his relationship with Henry to his mother:
"CALENDAR REQUEST FROM MOM: 2 P.M. WEST WING FIRST FLOOR, INTERNATIONAL ETHICS & SEXUAL IDENTITY DEBRIEF. An hour later, there are several cartons of Chinese food and a PowerPoint cued up. The first slide says: SEXUAL EXPERIMENTATION WITH FOREIGN MONARCHS: A GRAY AREA. "
PRICELESS.
SO, if you are in need of some light, funny, exciting, moving & romantic entertainment, I encourage you to choose this book.
(And this is only in brackets, but the minus 1 star is for the sex scenes. Boy, were they awkward & tiresome! They were the proverbial "neither fish, flesh, nor good red herring" It was this kind of, let's see, how should sex scenes be included that go on for pages and pages and pages, but at the same time not describing anything that may be construed by the readers as concrete sexual acts. All the time I kept wondering: Ummm, are they doing something/anything? They should have been avoided altogether and the story would have been none the worse for it.)...more
I admit that it would never have crossed my mind to read this book if it wasn't for Georgie's excellent review which got me intrigued.
Once again, NEVEI admit that it would never have crossed my mind to read this book if it wasn't for Georgie's excellent review which got me intrigued.
Once again, NEVER JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER and all that!
Georgie was totally right and I found this book refreshingly entertaining and original despite the usual romance tropes. The MC Barbara (actually having brains and not afraid to use 'em) was delightful and it was good to see how well she and her "hero" complemented & challenged each other and made each other to develop. ...more
A pleasant, heart-warming story about the miracle of christmas, yet it mostly manages to stay on the level of reality & credibility, which is a refresA pleasant, heart-warming story about the miracle of christmas, yet it mostly manages to stay on the level of reality & credibility, which is a refreshing change compared to those poorgirlmeetsmillionaire stuff out there. It is also an easy & relaxing read. I liked it a lot....more
I enjoyed this installment, though not as much as the first one. I loved both Annabel and Ewan up to the point where the author sacrificed their totalI enjoyed this installment, though not as much as the first one. I loved both Annabel and Ewan up to the point where the author sacrificed their totally credible, refreshingly honest and down-to-earth characters to some idiotic plot device & made them act like romantic idiots as well. A great pity....more
Another of those instances where I wrote quite a good review (even if I say so myself!), but because I tried to do some update on that ghastly GR App Another of those instances where I wrote quite a good review (even if I say so myself!), but because I tried to do some update on that ghastly GR App on the phone (I cannot tell you how much I loathe it) it's just gone. :(
OK, so it wasn't exactly Shakespeare or Hardy, but I did work with it. :(((((...more
Still stuck with 3 stars on re-reading. It is entertaining, with a lovely main character and her circle of friends are adorable, especially Eddie. He Still stuck with 3 stars on re-reading. It is entertaining, with a lovely main character and her circle of friends are adorable, especially Eddie. He may be a typical gay BFF, but he is an absolute SCREAM. The love interest is also cute, but the author barely lets them any screen/page-time together, so their attraction is not very convincing.
Yet, I am glad I stuck with the series, for the 2nd book Christmas at Carrington's is one of my favourite Xmas-reads and also much better than this one. ...more
I enjoyed it more 2nd time round, apart from the Tom-goes-incommunicado business and its explanation, which in this3,444444 stars on my Grinch-o-Meter
I enjoyed it more 2nd time round, apart from the Tom-goes-incommunicado business and its explanation, which in this day and age is "totes" ridiculous and unrealistic.
Predictable with a typical chick-lit plot (he loves me... wait ... he doesn't, oh.. he does/I am so over him... wait!.. I am not!) but the characters are utterly likeable. And author Alexandra Brown just really knows how to throw a proper Christmas-read-party. Very irresistible in a guilty-pleasure sort of way.
Take a rather grand, old-fashioned, yet provincial department store in an English seaside town:
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add the Christmas shopping season:
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mention the characters eating/drinking coffee, hot chocolate and cakes and stuff (so this does not affect my waist size)
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make sure there's a happy ending and there you go....more
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