ARC Review: Seduced by a Pirate by Eloisa James

 

Seduced by a Pirate

by Eloisa James

Fairy Tales #4.5

 

2.5 Feathers

Sir Griffin Barry has come home to England after over decade of being a pirate, his first though to see the wife he left on their wedding night when he was nothing but a scrawny 17 year old boy and hasn't seen since. When he sees her, he knows he will do anything he can to win her after years of neglect.

This is a novella in Elosie James' Fairy Tales series, and in Seduced by a Pirate it looks as though she has taken The Ugly Duckling and given it a twist! The duckling in question, Griffin, has grown from a scrawny man-boy in to a large, gorgeous and imposing pirate. I thought this was a fabulous idea; however, I did have a few problems with this novella.

The biggest issue I had with this novella was how quickly they went from having just met to Phoebe saying she wants an anullment to ohmygosh-i-love-yous, it happened far to quickly, literally in the space of hours. I understand that this is a novella so it isn't going to have the longer drawn out love story, but for me it seemed a bit forced and out of the blue. The other point I didn't like about this novella was that the hero was a bit of a hypocrite, and although he did own this, it still bugged me, he was angry when he thought his wife might not have been virgin, even though he left her unsatisfied) on their wedding night and gallivanted off to the sea for over ten years and was he celibate and faithful...NO! I wish she had had a love affair, I think I would have liked the heroine a lot more for it.

But despite these things, it was still a quick enjoyable read, especially if you are a fan of the series, it had some great funny moments in it, as well as a few tender ones.   

*ARC provided by publisher

ARC Review: Together for Christmas by Lisa Plumley



Together for Christmas

by Lisa Plumley

 

2.5 Feathers

Casey Jackson has left the warm climate of L.A. and his traditional anti-Christmas trip to somewhere tropical to come to Kismet a town the oozes Christmas and good cheer, but being a top troubleshooter he has to make sure that famous star and diva Heather Miller gets her Christmas special out on time and on budget. There is just one problem, her younger sister Kristen the delectable owner of a local diner and lover of all things Christmas!

One word can describe this book; sweet. Normally I don't mind sweet, but this book has practically put me in a sugar coma it was far too much for me, call me Scrooge but all the love and good cheer has made me want to destroy gingerbread houses, burn all paper snowflakes and bite the heads of gingerbread men (okay I might have done that one already)!

However, despite it's cloying sweetness this book was written well and had some really funny moments and banter between all the characters as well as not just one romance, but three! But, maybe because there were three different romances happening, I never really felt convinced by the main one between Kristen and Casey, they fell in love really quickly without seeming to know eachother very well at all.

This book just wasn't for me, it was aiming for Christmas charm and goodwill but instead left feeling like I do on Christmas day after I have had the one bowl of trifle too many!

*ARC provided by publisher

Purchase Links: Amazon

ARC Review: Dark Light of Day by Jill Archer

 

Dark Light of Day

by Jill Archer

Noon Onyx #1

 

2.5 Feathers

The war between good and evil, angels and demons, god and Lucifer has been fought...and the demons won. It is now post apocalypse thousands of years later and human life has gone on and Noon Onyx, a descendent of one of Lucifer's warlords, is about to start law school. But Noon has a secret, born with the waning magic something that has the exclusive providence of men, she is a freak of nature and wants to change it to the live giving waxing magic that she should have been born with. But Ari Carmine a fellow student with waning magic and is determined for her to change her mind and to accept herself as she is.

I really loved the idea of this book, most Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romances have at its centre a struggle between good and evil and I was excited to read a book where evil has won and to see how Jill Archer has imagined post apocalyptic society where demons now rule. I liked that she had pictured society as not really changing at all and angels and demons fading in to everyday life.

However, a few things stopped me from enjoying this book, mainly it was Noon herself I never warmed to her and as the book progressed I found her conflict about her magic tiresome and her constant hot and cold behaviour off putting. As this book was written in first person (from Noon's point of view) my irritation with Noon was constantly through out the book.

What was also strange about this book was the pacing, throughout most the book it slowly plodded along and then literally in the last few pages action exploded on the page and rapidly died back down again. It was very strange after the relatively slow build up in the rest of the book and it felt a bit like an after thought; as if the author had just remembered they had a mystery plot and decided to stick the resolution on the end.

Unfortunatly, although I really liked the idea of the book for me it didn't live up to its potential.

*ARC provided by publisher

Purchase Links: Amazon

ARC Review: Spin the Bottle by Rhian Cahill

2.5 Feathers

Spin the Bottle

by Rhian Cahill

(Party Games # 4)

Who knew that one game of Spin the Bottle can make two people confront their feelings for one another? This is exactly what happened with long time friends Lilli and Mackenzie.

Lilli McDermott is the hottest model in Australia. Her modeling career has taken her places she only dreamed of and has also made her a very rich woman. But riches and exotic places wasn’t all that Lilli wanted. So she pursued the two things in life that she has always wanted, her own fashion and perfume label and her long time crush, Mackenzie Harris. And nothing will stop her from what she wants. 

Mackenzie is best friends with Lilli’s brother Lachlan. He works for the McDermott family and lives with the McDermott siblings, which makes it that much more difficult for Mac to steer clear of Lilli and his feelings for her. It’s hard to stay respectful to Lachlan when Lilli is ruthless with her teasing. But enough is enough, and he’s going to show Lilli what happens when you play with fire.

After playing a round of spin the bottle at a party Lilli threw together, Mac can’t seem to keep his emotions in check and Lilli doesn’t seem to mind. One minute Lilli and Mac are rockin on each other in the hallway and the next minute they’re arguing. It’s a cycle that they put themselves through because they just don’t know what to do with all their pent up energy for each other. Lilli and Mac have great chemistry; it’s so great that at times it makes them act like teenagers.

I felt like I needed more interaction between not only the two of them but with Lachlan as well which made me wish this was a full length book. I did however like a lot of the hot scenes and the way Mac just melts for Lilli. 

All in all, if you’re looking for a quick read with hot little scenes, this will definitely be a good read for you.

*ARC provided by publisher

Purchase Links: Amazon

ARC Review: Impulse by Moira Rogers

2.5 Feathers

Impulse

by Moira Rogers
(Southern Arcana # 5)

Sera Sinclaire needs a holiday between a crazy ex husband who can't let her go and a town of over protective dominant werewolves she feels smothered. But, Sera is a the last of a dying breed, a coyote and a submissive one, but Sera isn't the only one who needs to get away Julio Mendoza, a very dominant wolf on the council needs to escape from his responsibilities before they swallow him up. Together they take a road trip and the initial attraction flares into something more, but a submissive coyote who values her hard earned independence be able to stay with a wolf as dominant as Julio...

Before I start this review, I should warn you that I haven't actually read the previous four books in this series, something that I think you really need to do before starting this, although it makes sense I didn't always understand who the people or the events that we're referenced and it did make it a I confusing; this doesn't read as a standalone very well.

Apart from the fact that I hadn't read the previous books, the main problem I didn't enjoy this book as much as I wanted was because I didn't feel a connection with the maim characters and I didn't feel the connection they had with one another either, they seemed to get to the I-love-yous too quickly for me to really buy it.

But it did sound like there was an interesting story arc going through these books, I didn't really always understand what was going on, but it made me curious enough to get the first book for my kindle and find out.

Although this book was okay, I think it would have been much better for me to have read it after reading the others, maybe the characters had built a rapport in the previous books that I missed, but as a stand alone I wouldn't recommend it, but I may give this series a try. 

*ARC provided by author

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: Dark Secrets by Desiree Holt

Dark Secrets

by Desiree Holt

2.5 Feathers

Riley Scott thought the small town of Freewill was far enough away from her controlling ex fiancee for it to be an ideal place to hide, to be inconspicuous. But Hawk the new Sheriff in town not only keeps sticking his nose in but also sparks heat in her that she tries her best to ignore. But the men who are looking for her are getting closer and Hawk may be her only chance of escaping.

Although this wasn't poorly written and the sex scenes in it were hot, just couldn't keep my interest focused on this book. The plot line was formulaic and a little boring and although the characters were okay, they were a little forgettable.

But maybe I am being harsh, this was a novella rather then a full length book so it is hard to fit anything to intricate. I just found that for the pages it had I was reading them more to get to the end rather then because I was enjoying it.

I would try Desiree Holt again, but this particular book just wasn't for me.

*Review copy provided by publisher

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: Pure Pleasure by Ava McKnight

2.5 Feathers

Pure Pleasure

by Ava McKnight

(Playing with the Boys # 2)

Giselle works for Scottsdale Live, a magazine that follows socialites in the area.  Since times are changing, they decided to look for new readers and in turn send Giselle on a new mission, way out of her element; off road racing.  When she gets to the races, her Manolo Blahnik’s are full of dust and she is nearly toppled over by some hot mechanic guy.  She has no idea what she’s gotten herself into.

Hot mechanic guy happens to be Ky, one of the most well-known racers on the track. Once Ky catches

Giselle’s eye he is determined to make her his.  They end up flirting, going to dinner, telling very intimate details of their lives and do bad things in a yacht; that so happens to be Ky’s. 

The next day, Giselle finds out that Ky is not just a mechanic that works in the pits, but the driver, and owner of his own racing company; a company that he inherited when his father died.  She is mortified that her one night stand/love at first sight heard her sad sob story of how she struggled in life and now she is completely embarrassed. 

Fast forward a few pages and Ky ends up finding her and they proclaim their undying hour long love for each other and live HEA.

What I like about the story?  The racing. I’m a car girl I can’t help it.  So when Giselle almost got smacked with a quarter panel because she was in the way, I laughed.  And when she stood in the pits and watched the qualifying, I gave a mental fist pump.  I found myself wanting more.  

What I didn’t like about this story?  I didn’t feel the connection between Giselle and Ky.  I didn’t even get a lightning bolt of attraction.  And I think that’s what made the falling in love in two days/ HEA unappealing.

Pure Pleasure is a short story about Love at first sight.  That moment in life where you lock eyes with that person and a connection is formed in seconds.  Within few minutes you are fused together with just a touch and by the time a few hours go by, you’ve done the deed and are now irrevocably and unequivocally in Love.  HEA?

*Review copy provided by publisher

Purchase Links: Amazon

Review: Her Wicked Ways by Darcy Burke

 

(More like 2.5 feathers!)

Her Wicked Ways

by Darcy Burke

Lady Miranda Sinclair has been sent away from London to the country with strict distant relations for her scandalous behavior, in the hopes it will tame her. However, her first act in Wooden Bassett is to kiss a highwayman as he robs their carriage...not the best of starts. Mr Montgomery Foxcroft, Fox to all those who know him, has had to resort to desperate measures to keep his orphanage safe, and has become a highwayman. But it doesn't seem all the bad when he steals a kiss from a beautiful young lady.

 There were a lot of things I did like about this book, the writing was good, the story was interesting and there were cute orphans, but for me it was ruined as I couldn't stand the heroin, Miranda, which in turn made me question the hero's, Fox's, taste (and yes intelligence).

 I could see what Ms Burke was doing with her, when she first arrives in Wooden Bassett she is a spoiled and arrogant Duke's daughter who judges everyone on appearance and what they have, and I grant by the end of the book she has vastly changed for the better. But despite her growth as a character and despite understanding some of their decisions she makes....I still couldn't stand her.

 But, despite not liking the main character I did enjoy the book and the hero, despite his questionable taste in women, was adorable and sexy. How can you resist a man who works night and day to keep cute orphans safe?

 Miranda's brother Lord Saxton was also an interesting character and I know the next book is about him and I am looking forward to reading it!

*Review copy provided by author

 

 

Purchase Links: Amazon