Review: Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon by Kerrelyn Sparks

Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon by Kerrelyn Sparks

Book Three of The Embraced series

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Publication Date: March 27, 2018

Rating: 3 stars

Source: eARC from NetGalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

From the brilliant imagination of Kerrelyn Sparks comes a bold new fantasy romance series in which passion and magic collide. Behold the Embraced…

Gwennore has a talent. An Elf able to track down the cause of an illness and heal it, she’s a valuable asset to her people. But when the kidnapping of a young girl thrusts Gwennore into the very heart of the realm of the dragons, she discovers not only a place of power and magic, but also a haunted land, plagued by an ancient curse that all but ensures extinction to the royal family. But when she meets the smoldering General Silas Dravenko, they strike a bargain—save the country from its cursed illness, and he will return the kidnapped girl. She’s been raised never to trust a dragon, but never did making a deal with the devil feel so good…

Silas has no way of curing the family he’s loyally served for years. But when a beautiful elf, long considered the enemy of the dragons, comes bursting into his world, Silas is awakened to passion and desire in a way he’s never felt before. But can he trust a sworn enemy to save the very existence he holds dear? And can their love survive those that threaten to tear them apart? 

What I Liked:

This is one of those cases in which I'm like, I enjoyed this book buuuuuuuut... I also didn't really care for it. It was an okay read and not terrible but definitely not a new favorite or anything like that. I'm sure others will find this a great addition to the series. But I had a hard time really caring about the female protagonist, Gwenmore, and that can kill enjoyment pretty quickly.

But I didn't totally dislike her. Gwenmore is one of the five adopted sisters raised in a convent on a lonely island, and she is the third to leave and face her destiny. One afternoon when she is playing with her little niece, she is captured by a dragon - only to be rescued by another dragon. The dragon takes her to the royal family of Norveshka, where she is taken in by Silas Dravenko, general of the royal army. When he realizes that she is a healer, he asks for her help in getting rid of a curse that has stricken his country for generations. Gwenmore never intended to stay in Norveshka, but how can she leave when she has fallen in love with the charming, smoldering general?

Overall I thought Gwenmore was an okay protagonist, though she really got on my nerves at times (see below). I liked that she began to trust in herself as the story went on - and she began to trust Silas (something she doesn't do easily). It was good to see her grow into her gift and herself. She is an innocent girl, with a great deal of power.

I loooooooooved Silas. He is flirtatious and roguish, with a very strong sense of honor and selflessness. He never hesitates to save Gwenmore or anyone else, and always puts everyone else first. He may seem confident and full of swagger, but deep inside, he is lonely. I loved his charming self, but I also loved his more vulnerable self. He is persistent but respectful of boundaries. Silas is a good guy, and for the life of me, I wanted to strangle Gwenmore for being so poor to him sometimes.

I love all things dragons, and there is a nice amount of dragons in this story. I was curious to see how the author would work them in, and I was very happy about how she did it. Like you expect it, but it's still nice to see how it is worked in. The kingdom of Norveshka has a long and heartbreaking history, very much centered around its dragons. All of which is revealed in this book!

I adore Silas's officers, the male secondary characters! Dimitri and Aleksi are hilarious - honestly, the brotherhood in this book is awesome. They have such a great camaraderie, something I always like to see among males in any type of novel. I hope all of them get their own happily ever after!

The conflict of this book centers mostly around getting rid of the curse that plagues Norveshka - something sinister has been at work for centuries. Gwenmore is an extraordinary healer (she has interesting elvish gifts!), and she is confident that she can find the source of the curse. But there is a familiar evil standing in the way. 

The other part of the story is the romance, which was sweet and frustrating. I'll talk about the "frustrating" part in the next section. But for the most part, it was a sweet and sometimes spicy romance. I think I wanted more from the romance, but I also appreciated the progression of the romance and the tension. Mostly sparked by Silas, which was part of my frustration.

Theoretically I liked this book, but I finished it feeling rather dissatisfied, like something was missing. Or maybe I just wasn't that into it, like I was the other books. This wasn't a bad book, and I'm sure others will love it.

What I Did Not Like:

I got so fed up with Gwenmore around halfway through the book. You know the phrase "the lady doth protest too much"? Yeah. Gwenmore was seriously annoying. She rejected Silas over and over, despite the fact that internally she was telling herself to go for it, and physically she really wanted to in addition to mentally/emotionally, but she kept shutting doors in his face (literally) or running away (literally). This was not cute. This was not part of a merry chase. This was absolutely annoying, and also heartbreaking to see (on Silas's end).

You know what would have redeemed this crap? Silas, walking away from Gwenmore (rather than being the persistent guy that he is). And Gwenmore having to chase after him. That would have made her realize that a good man wanted her and he had no bad intentions when it came to her - and she was in the wrong by turning him down (knowing that she wanted to be with him, physically and emotionally). Gwenmore is kind of an idiot? I really wanted the ending of the book to have Silas leaving her after she rejects him one more time, and Gwenmore realizing that she's a complete dumba** and runs to him.

Does this happen? No. Of course not. Because Silas keeps trying to win her over - which is cool of him, but seriously? I don't love this. It's romantic but also kind of icky - men shouldn't be putting in all of the effort. The woman should be too (in this case we're dealing with a male/female couple), and Gwenmore didn't do any of this. She didn't fight for the relationship, she put no effort into it. Instead, it was all "omg Gwenmore is hot, I want her so much, I want to kiss her, I'm not going to stop trying to get her to admit she wants me, even though she keeps rejecting me", and then Gwenmore keeps rejecting him, until finally her hormones take over her common sense. Seriously? This is stupid. Gwenmore needed to put in some actual effort into the chemistry, and eventually the relationship. The chase wasn't fun because Gwenmore was so annoying with her constant rejections. She saw each one hurt his feelings and THAT made her sad, but she never did anything about it.

Authors. Do better. Let the girl chase. Get rid of this notion that a man should be the one doing all of the chasing. I like it sometimes, it works with some books, but really, let's not keep this up all the time. (I'm referring to M/F couples specifically, as is the case with this book.)

Would I Recommend It:

I recommend the series in general - the first two books are excellent. This one was okay for me but not super great, but I suppose I'd still recommend it to those who have read the previous books in the series. If you've read none of the series, definitely do not start with this one. Start with book one and go in order, even though they are standalone companion novels. The series will make more sense that way, and also I personally think this third book is the weakest of the three. But in general, this fantasy romance series is really good. The romances are sweet and passionate, the men are sweet, charming alphas, and the women are strong, innocent women. I like these match-ups!

Rating:

3 stars. I wish I'd liked this one more, especially since we're dealing with a dragon (mmm, fiery), and an elf (magical!). I was frustrated with Gwenmore and the romance. But I adored so many of the other characters, and the story in general was pretty good. I'm definitely going to be reading book four (and book five). I hope we'll see cameos of Silas and Gwenmore, as we saw a lot of Leo and Luciana (and heard about Rupert and Brigitta) in this book!

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Review: So I Married a Sorcerer by Kerrelyn Sparks

So I Married a Sorcerer by Kerrelyn Sparks

Book Two of The Embraced series

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Publication Date: August 29, 2017

Rating: 4 stars

Source: eARC from NetGalley

Summary (from Goodreads):

Growing up on the Isle of Moon, Brigitta knows nothing of her past, except that she is Embraced: born with powers that forced her into hiding. Everything changes when she learns she’s a princess, hidden away from her villainous half-brother who now rules the kingdom. But he knows about Brigitta, and he’ll do anything to get her back. Unless a certain roguish pirate has anything to say about it…

Rupert is both an infamous pirate and a sorcerer with the power to harness the wind. He’s been waiting nineteen years for revenge—and he needs Brigitta to get it. What begins as a kidnapping of the fiery beauty turns into a fierce attraction. But can he win the captive princess’s heart?

What I Liked:

So far, this series has been a delight. I can't remember the last time I had so much fun reading a fantasy/paranormal romance novel! I mean, I'm sure I've read fun ones in the past, but somehow, this series seems to stick out to me. I adored How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days, and I am happy to say that I loved this companion sequel just as much!

This book follows Brigitta, one of the five orphans at the convent on the Isle of Moon. Luciana is now a queen, living with her husband the king and pregnant with twins. The other three girls, including Brigitta, are on the way to visit Luciana and Leo, when their ship is taken over by the military. As it would turn out, Brigitta is a hidden princess, and her half-brother (a king) wants her to to come back to the kingdom. Brigitta hands herself over to pirates (who were lying in wait) in order to save her friends and in order to be safe from her half-brother's military. The pirates are commanded by Rupert, a wind sorcerer who is bent on getting revenge on Gunther (Brigitta's half-brother). Brigitta is now Rupert's captive, but Rupert finds that he doesn't want to use her for his vengeful means. Brigitta knows she should despise the pirate, but the rogue is not as dastardly as his pirate's reputation would make him out to be. There is something more to Rupert, something beyond his pirate lifestyle and Embraced abilities. Rupert is hiding something that could change his and Brigitta's lives forever.

The best way to describe this book is fun and romantic. It has such a light tone to it, and it's also so sweet and occasionally steamy. There were many times when I chuckled out loud, and sighed, and smiled. This is a romance novel that you don't have to be in the mood to read. It is drama-free, angst-free, etc. Such an enjoyable read!

Brigitta is the type of heroine that I would love to be friends with, in real life. I can see parts of myself in her, so I relate to and understand her (even though obviously we have such different lives, ha!). She is kind, selfless, and sweet, and innocent in many ways. But she is also fierce and loyal and determined. She isn't totally strong-willed and kickbutt and gutsy like many of the heroines we see in romance today. I respect those heroines, but I love this different type of heroine. The kind that is sweet and innocent, but also strong and assertive in her own way.

And then there is Rupert, who is a perfect foil to Brigitta. He is tall, handsome, muscular, commanding, and simply put, big. He has a presence and an air of leadership about him. He is secretive and reveals little about himself, but he is very selfless and chivalrous. He does kidnap Brigitta but he lets her go pretty quickly - in a sense. She doesn't leave him even when he tells her that it is her choice, partly because he can protect her, partly because she was already interested in him.

The romance is so sweet and swoony! You might think, Stockholm Syndrome much??? But that is not present in this story. Brigitta isn't quite held against her will - okay, she is, but she isn't. It's hard to explain. Rupert gives her the choice to go but she leans who he is, and she decides to fight with - and for - him. I love the progression of the romance! They have instant chemistry from the start, and there are some seriously steamy moments between them as the story goes on. I liked seeing Brigitta break down Rupert's walls and I liked seeing him let her in. These two are so sweet together, and they get along so perfectly. A balanced pair, not without their faults.

We get to see a lot of the characters from the previous book, especially Brody! Brody is the coolest messenger/friend. I like how he watched over Brigitta and also gave Rupert a chance. I loved seeing the tiny cameos of Luciana, Leo, and the new presence of their twins. Too bad we don't get to know the twins' names though. We also get to see the other three orphan girls, and we get a peek into their futures. I can't wait to read their books!

Some of the new characters that I loved were Stefan, the captain of Rupert's ship, and Sister Fallyn, who wasn't technically new because she is a nun at the Isle of Moon. But the two of them have their own romance going on, which is hilarious and adorable. It was fun to see the captain and the nun skirt around each other and still fall for each other.

This book has a fairly fast pace, though it isn't overwhelmingly so. I appreciated the quick pace and the constant change of events. All of the action was exciting and interesting. You will never be bored if you pick up this book! Heck, I feel like rereading it already. It's not just a romance novel. The plot surrounding the story - Brigitta's impending meeting of her evil brother, her brother's plans for her, Rupert's plan for saving her, etc. - is just as engrossing as the unfolding romance.

All in all, this book was so fun and wonderful. My heart is happy and full. I hope the rest of the series continues to be this lovely to experience!

What I Did Not Like:

I can't think of anything specific, other than I wanted more sexy times between Rupert and Brigitta! There were only two sexy times (and one wasn't actually sex?) and hey, this is a full-length novel. Let them get it on! Don't get me, wrong the tension building up to things was really well-written. But the one sexy time happened towards the end. There needed to be one or two more!

Anyway that's not a deal-breaker. The chemistry is hot, so I wanted more, but that's okay!

Would I Recommend It:

If you like adult paranormal romance, or adult fantasy romance, or simple adult romance in general, definitely try this series. How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days was excellent, and this new book was just as great. I love the pairings - sweet girls and sexy, commanding men. I know the trope isn't for everyone but I love it!

Rating:

4 stars. I can't wait to read Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon! Dragons are my favorite! There are some dragons in this book, so maybe one of them will be important in the next book. It could not come soon enough!

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Blog Tour: How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days by Kerrelyn Sparks

Hello everyone! Welcome to the blog tour for How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days by Kerrelyn Sparks. You may have already seen my review of this book, which I've posted HERE. I adored the book! It's a fun and swoony fantasy romance novel that I highly recommend. Read more about it below!

My review | Swoon Thursday

About the Book:

How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days by Kerrelyn Sparks

Book One of The Embraced series

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Publication Date: March 7, 2017

***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***

Summary (from Goodreads):

Luciana grew up on the Isle of Moon, hidden away because of her magical powers. But when her father arrives, he offers her a choice: remain on the island or return with him and marry the Beast of Benwick in order to save their legacy—and her father's life.

Lord Leofric, the Beast of Benwick, has not been touched since he was a child. Born with the power to harness lightning, he is a danger to everyone he touches. When he meets his betrothed, he expects a loveless, lonely marriage...until he discovers she's vastly more powerful than he realized. But is she strong enough to withstand his touch?

If they can survive, their love will alter the future of the kingdom. But will their extraordinary powers cost them everything?

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About the Author:

KERRELYN SPARKS is the New York Times bestselling author of the Love at Stake series. Visit her online at www.kerrelynsparks.com.

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The Excerpt:

Chapter Four

As Leo and his companions rode north, the rain began, and the rolling green landscape gave way to increasingly taller hills. Their horses went at full gallop, eating up the miles before the rain could turn the dirt road into a sea of mud.

By the time they passed the second beacon, the rain was pounding on them. Their uniforms were drenched, their hair plastered to their heads. The hills had become mountains, and flocks of sheep huddled in the narrow glens where a few trees could give them shelter.

Thunder clapped overhead, and Leo spotted the first flash of lightning to the west. Good. He was going to need all the power he could get. Normal people didn’t stand a chance against the winged creatures that breathed fire. People like his father.

Leo had heard the story many times over a campfire. His father’s last battle had been against the Norveshki. Cedric had plowed through a dozen of their fierce warriors, but when a dragon had attacked, all his bravery and expertise had been in vain.

Another flash of lightning, this one a little closer. Leo would need to break off from the group soon. As they neared the village, a mountain loomed to the right, topped with craggy cliffs and a beacon tower. It was Mount Baedan, which the village was named after. He spotted a cliff that overlooked the village. That was the perfect place.

“My lord.” Nevis drew his attention to a horseman charging toward them. A scout.

Leo and his companions slowed to a stop. “Report,” he said, loud enough to be heard over the pouring rain.

The scout bowed his head, causing a puddle of rain to slosh off the brim of his cap onto his chest. “Four dragons from Norveshka have attacked the village of Mount Baedan.”

“No warriors?” Leo asked.

“None, my lord. Just the dragons. They swooped into the valley and set the village ablaze to force the people from their homes. While the villagers ran to a nearby cave, two of the dragons captured two small children and flew away.”

Leo stiffened, his hands tightening on the reins, as the men around him cursed under their breaths. Ten years ago, the dragons had started snatching sheep. Now they were nabbing small children.

He glanced westward, hoping to see another flash of lightning streak across the sky. He needed the power now. “The rain put out the fires,” the scout continued. “The villagers are starting to leave the cave. A group of men rode out, hoping to rescue the two children.”

Leo swallowed hard as bile rose up his throat. The rescue attempt would be in vain. Men on horseback could not cross the mountains as fast as a dragon could fly.

Thunder cracked overhead so loud, the men flinched. “Ride on to the village,” Leo shouted at them. “The last two dragons could still be close by. I’ll take care of them. You protect the people.” He turned his horse and started up the slope of Mount Baedan.

Higher and higher his horse climbed, but eventually the path became too muddy. Leo dismounted and patted the horse, the quilted material now drenched through.

“Go join the others.” He gave the horse a slap on the rump, and it started down the mountain.

Leo abandoned the muddy path that snaked back and forth up the mountainside. Instead, he scrambled straight up the rocky slope. He was halfway up when a bolt of lightning shot from the sky and struck the ground thirty yards away, blasting a boulder into bits.

Yes! The lightning had found him and was zeroing in. Energy from the blast rolled toward him, seeking him out in waves he couldn’t see, but could feel. His skin tingled. His hair, which had been plastered to his head, now crack- led as it lifted into the air.

Thunder boomed overhead, sending another wave of energy toward him. It slithered under his damp clothes, giving him a slight shock. Then an increase in power. And speed. He charged up the mountainside faster than any human could go.

Anticipation swelled inside him as he reached the first set of cliffs. Another lightning bolt ripped through the sky, this one hitting only fifteen yards away. It blasted through the rocks, causing the cliff to crumble away. As the ledge beneath his feet trembled, he ran and leaped.

He landed on the next cliff six feet away as thunder cracked and the first cliff tumbled down the mountainside. More energy surged into him, and he scrambled higher up the mountain. Faster. In a race against the next strike.

He reached the highest cliff. Nearby on the mountain summit, the beacon tower stood, deserted in the storm, its flame long smothered by the rain. The village lay nestled in the valley far below. He spotted houses built of stone with their thatched roofs burned away. The chapel of Enlightenment partially destroyed. The village lookout tower stood as high as the chapel bell tower and was manned by a lone villager. No doubt, he was keeping an eye out for the last two dragons.

Nevis and his troop arrived, and the villagers poured from their homes to welcome them. Leo winced at the sight of small children running about. Dammit, Nevis, get them back into the cave.

A rumbling noise echoed through the valley, sounding much like thunder, but Leo knew better. It was the beating of dragon wings. The last two dragons had waited for the people to reappear.

Leo ripped off his gloves and threw them down, along with his bow and quiver. Then he drew his sword and pointed it to the sky. “Now!”

Lightning broke through the dark clouds, racing toward him. He widened his stance and braced for impact. It struck his sword, fracturing so that a dozen smaller streaks shot off in a circle around him.

The major portion of the lightning sizzled down his sword, eager to reach his flesh. It hit his bare hand and jolted him so hard he fell to his knees and dropped the sword. The dozen fractured shards rebounded, drawn to him like a magnet. They pounded into him, jerking him back and forth. Thunder cracked over him so loud his ears rang.

Power surged through him, so fierce and scorching he thought his skin would melt, his guts would boil, and his head burst like a kernel of corn dropped into a fire. Pain and power, power and pain, he could no longer tell the difference. He only knew he wanted it, wanted to drink it in, soak it up, and claim it all.

The fiery torture eased to a warm, buzzing sensation, and he found himself on all fours, gasping for air. How many times had he endured this? And it still hurt like hell. He rested back on his knees and splayed his hands in front of him. Sparks skittered around his fingers like a host of fireflies.

Good, but not enough. The Beast wanted more.

He grabbed his sword and hefted himself to his feet. “More, dammit!” He lifted his sword in the air.

Lightning struck again, driving him to his knees and knocking the sword from his grip. He cried out as both pain and power ripped through him. Nevis was right. Someday he would explode.

Thunder cracked around him as if he’d become the center of the storm. His ears grew numb, only hearing the buzz of energy pulsing around him. This time, when he examined his hands, streaks shot out a few yards. Not enough to kill a dragon.

He fumbled for his sword once again. Nevis’s question reverberated in his head, bouncing off the inside of his skull. Do you enjoy courting death? Over the years, he’d found he could take in more power each time, but what was the limit? How would he know when it was too much?

He stumbled to his feet and slowly lifted the sword. When he had the weapon only waist-high, the lightning streaked toward him. Like a desperate lover, it pounced, not even waiting till he was fully cocked. It struck hard, flinging him through the air into the wall behind him. His head cracked against stone, and he crumpled into a heap.

Rain splattered on his face, keeping him conscious. The pain was merely the price he paid for the ability to protect his people. The pain would be fleeting.

The power he could keep for months.

He rose to his feet. If he were normal, he’d have suffered a concussion and some broken bones. Hell, if he were normal, he’d be dead. But instead, he swelled with strength and power. Tiny streaks of lightning swirled around him so fast, he appeared to glow.

He strode to the edge of the cliff to see what was happening. The dragons were flying low, probably to avoid the lightning. They swooped down at the screaming villagers, herding them away from the cave. Making them easy to prey upon.

With the superfast speed he now possessed, Leo pulled a length of coiled rope from his sword belt and tied one end loosely to a tree deeply rooted in the rock wall of the cliff. The other end, he tied to one of his metal arrows. He grabbed his metal bow, nocked the arrow, and imbued them with some of his energy. Now, when he shot the arrow, it would fly faster and farther.

He aimed for the lookout tower and let the arrow fly. It whistled through the air and struck the top wooden beam of the tower, embedded deep. Continuing at his fast speed, Leo tightened the rope, tossed his bow and quiver over his shoulder, sheathed his sword, then looped the sword belt over the rope. He ran to the cliff’s edge and pushed off.

Hanging on to the belt, he careened down the length of the rope. Just before crashing into the tower, he swung his legs up and over the top beam and landed on the top plat- form. The lone villager gaped at him.

“Go!” he shouted. With lightning sizzling around him like a golden nimbus, he didn’t need to speak twice.

The villager scrambled down the ladder, yelling that the Beast had arrived.

After dropping his sword belt on the platform, Leo quickly readied another arrow and pivoted, searching for the dragons. Even though it was possible for him to simply shoot a lightning bolt from his hand, he’d learned from experience that raw power didn’t always go exactly where he wanted it to go. Since there was a chance of hitting innocent bystanders or setting their homes on fire, he preferred to use a metal arrow imbued with his power so he could control the force and trajectory.

There, through a steady sheet of rain, a pair of red, glowing eyes was glaring at him. The dragon was perched on the bell tower of the chapel. It sat up, expanding its chest, a sure sign it was about to breathe fire.

Leo released enough energy to make sparks pop and crackle around the metal arrow. When he shot it, the arrow would fly with enough speed and power that it would actually pierce the dragon’s scaly skin and release an electric shock wave through the creature’s body.

He aimed for the dragon’s chest, but just as he let the arrow fly, the dragon pushed off, flying straight at him. Fire erupted from the dragon’s mouth, forcing him to drop flat onto the platform. Flames shot over him, missing him by a few inches. Meanwhile, the arrow hit the dragon’s hip.

Sparks spread from the arrow, jerking the dragon around in midair. It shrieked, then shot up into the sky and turned north toward Norveshka. Leo notched an arrow to shoot again, but screams below made him look down.

The second dragon had grabbed a child. 

“Nevis!” Leo shouted. “Catch it!”

Nevis spurred his horse and galloped after the dragon. It was gaining altitude, now higher than the rooftops of the houses.

Leo sent a surge of energy into his bow and arrow and aimed, trying to keep a safe distance from the child. The arrow zipped through the air. Direct hit to the dragon’s tail. Sparks exploded around the wound, racing up the dragon’s body, and it jolted, bellowing in pain and dropping the child. A dress flapped in the wind. It was a little girl.

Nevis charged onward as she tumbled from the sky. Villagers screamed, then let loose a round of cheers as Nevis managed to catch her.

The dragon flew away, filling the sky with an angry roar.

Leo lowered his bow and arrow and watched through the rain as the villagers crowded around Nevis. The little girl was safely deposited in the arms of her crying mother. Nevis glanced back at Leo and gave him a thumbs- up before being dragged off his horse by a swarm of happy villagers.

With a cheer, the villagers led Nevis and his men into the cave. Boys led the horses, including Leo’s horse, to the stables. Women dashed into their homes to gather cups and jugs of beer and wine. A few men rushed into a nearby pen to slaughter a lamb. Leo wasn’t sure if the village was celebrating the rescue of one child or drowning their sorrows for the two who were lost, but clearly they intended to partake of food and drink. And even more clearly, it was a celebration he could not attend.

He glanced at his hands. Sparks still shimmered around his fingers. One false move, and lightning would streak from his fingertips, possibly killing someone. He’d been in such a hurry he’d left his gloves on the cliff. With a sigh, he picked up his sword belt, then buckled it on.

The rain was still pelting him, so he climbed down the ladder to a second platform just below. Drops of rain leaked between the wooden planks overhead, and the wind blew more rain at him, but it was an improvement. He sat in the driest corner and rested his back against a wooden pillar. For a short while, because he had released so much energy, he would feel all right. But soon the pain would start again.

He spotted two men rolling a cask toward the cave. The villagers must have run out of beer. Sounds of laughter emanated from the cave. Soon he could smell the scent of a lamb roasting over a fire. His stomach grumbled. A quick search of his pockets came up empty.

With a sigh, he leaned his head against the pillar. Alone again. It was always this way. He was too damned dangerous to be near anyone. Even Nevis had learned to stay away from him when he had this much power.

 He closed his eyes as a memory flitted across his mind. The first time lightning had found him, he’d been only five years old. One strike had sent him flying, and he’d crumpled onto the ground, twitching uncontrollably. His nanny had run to him. Calling out to him, she’d touched his face. Then a surge of energy had shot through her, and she’d col- lapsed beside him dead.

His first victim. Someone he’d dearly loved.

“I didn’t mean to . . .” Leo whispered, the sound whisked away with the wind. “Forgive me.”

Since then, everyone had known to keep their distance. And if a stranger didn’t know, he soon learned when he heard the new name Leo had been given.

Never touch the Beast.

Never let the Beast touch you.

The rain continued to fall. The energy inside him spread throughout his body, expanding, rebelling against the narrow confines of his human shell, demanding to be released and used. Not now. He had to keep as much power as possible so it would be available whenever he needed it.

 The sun lowered in the sky, and the wind became more chilled against his wet clothes. He welcomed the cold. It made it easier to deal with the energy boiling inside him, threatening to escape like steam from a kettle.

The strains of a pipe and fiddle came from the cave. The people were dancing, their music accentuating the thud- ding rhythm in his head. The energy kept expanding, pushing against the inner walls of his skull, pushing so hard he expected to hear the sound of bone cracking. He squeezed his eyes shut, gritting his teeth against the pain.

Sometimes he thought this was the worst part about his gift. The headaches would torture him until either he released some power or it managed to escape on its own.

“My lord?” a female voice spoke below.

Swoon Thursday (#211): How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days by Kerrelyn Sparks

- From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering

- Try to make the swoon excerpt 140 characters (or less), if you are going to tweet about it. Use the hashtag #YABOUND when tweeting

This week, my swoon is from How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days by Kerrelyn Sparks!

"For now, there are only a few words I want to hear." He pressed gently on her lower lip. "You can tell me faster, slower, harder, and - " He leaned closer till his mouth was only a breath away from hers.

Sweet goddesses, yes. Please kiss me.

He pressed his lips lightly against hers, then pulled back to look at her. "Softer."

Was that it? She needed more.

"Then there's my favorite-" He cradled her head with his hands. "- don't stop."

Her hands slipped up to his shoulders. "Don't stop."

He smiled, then leaned over to give her a slow, languid kiss, one that made her feel cherished and warm, as if she could gently melt into him. And the more she melted, the more she wanted to feel. There was the sweet pressure and nibbling he was doing to her lips, the strength of his broad shoulders beneath her hands, the softness of his hair as it curled around her fingers.

- ARC, page 250

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Read my review of How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days

Sorry y'all, I stopped there to keep things (mostly) PG-13. :D I loved this scene. This is the first time that they touch each other, and it's also Luciana's first kiss. =) (Her first, well, everything. Hint hint.) I loved this book!

Review: How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days by Kerrelyn Sparks

How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days by Kerrelyn Sparks

Book One of The Embraced series

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Publication Date: March 7, 2017

Rating: 4 stars

Source: eARC from NetGalley

***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***

Summary (from Goodreads):

Luciana grew up on the Isle of Moon, hidden away because of her magical powers. But when her father arrives, he offers her a choice: remain on the island or return with him and marry the Beast of Benwick in order to save their legacy—and her father's life.

Lord Leofric, the Beast of Benwick, has not been touched since he was a child. Born with the power to harness lightning, he is a danger to everyone he touches. When he meets his betrothed, he expects a loveless, lonely marriage...until he discovers she's vastly more powerful than he realized. But is she strong enough to withstand his touch?

If they can survive, their love will alter the future of the kingdom. But will their extraordinary powers cost them everything?

What I Liked:

How to Tame a Beast in Seven Days is a funny, swoony, and sweet romance novel that is sure to charm readers. It's a quick read that will have you smiling throughout the story. I can't remember the last time I read a book (adult novel or otherwise) and felt light and happy during the entire thing. This book always had a light, hopeful, upbeat tone to it, even when there was the occasional dangerous scene. I really liked this book!

Luciana grew up on the Isle of Moon in a convent with several other orphaned girls. She is Embraced, which means she has extraordinary magical powers. The story opens with her father arriving at the convent to take her with him. It turns out, she has a father, and she had a twin sister, but the twin, Tatiana, died. Luciana goes with her father in order to save him; if she doesn't pretend to be her dead twin Tatiana, and wed the Beast of Benwick, her father will be killed and the Vindalyn holdings would be seized by the greedy king. Leofric of Benwick, Lord Protector of the Realm, has quite the reputation. He is Embraced, and his touch kills. He gets struck by lightning and absorbs the power of the lightning, which makes him extremely powerful and extremely deadly. But Luciana finds that he is not the monster everyone makes him out to be. He is selfless and willing to die for her and her father, as well as the people he serves, as Lord Protector. Their marriage was ordered by the king, but no one expected them to fall for each other.

The beginning is a little slow, but once Luciana and Leo meet (unofficially and then officially), I was really hooked. Their interactions were always interesting - and I was dying to know when Leo would find out who Luciana really was (remember, she is pretending to be her twin sister, who is actually dead). 

From the start, I knew I would like Luciana. She is so sweet and kind, and she has the interests of her convent sisters and her father at heart. She drops everything to save her father, even if it meant marrying the Beast of Benwick. And even in meeting Leo and getting to know him, Luciana looks at him with an open mind and an open heart. I love how sweet Luciana is. It's rare that you'll find a sweet yet assertive heroine in romance novels - too often, she's either too assertive and bossy, or too innocent and naive. Luciana is a great combination of the two.

Oh Leo. Leo is my favorite of this book. He is so complex and different, and my heart broke for him. Every time someone referred to him as the Beast, or whispered or pointed or assumed something bad about him... worse still was when he would call himself a monster and think of himself in such a negative light. The poor man needed a hug! No one has really touched him since he was very young. He is isolated, and yet he is incredibly selfless and brave. He's a noble warrior with a good heart, and it's really too bad that everyone is terrified of him. He's such a good guy. He's also quite the wicked charmer, once one gets past his mask of indifference.

You probably can already tell, but this is based on Beauty and the Beast! Hence the sweet heroine and the isolated, tortured hero. Leo isn't actually a "beast" - he's a young, handsome young man - but he has the power to kill anyone with his lightning touch. But he's also incredible powerful, with all of the lightning he can harness. Luciana's power as an Embraced seems to be discerning the future, though she isn't quite proficient. She can also see and speak to ghosts.

I love the cast of secondary characters! Nevis, Leo's best friend, is hilarious (and eats with no shame, which is always funny). Brody, another friend of Leo's, is a sweetheart, and he's an enigma too. Luciana's father the Duke is a nice man, and she and him grow close despite not knowing each other for nineteen years. There are important ghosts in the story - yep, you read that correctly. Luciana's dead twin, Tatiana becomes an important secondary character. I liked seeing her and Luciana grow closer, despite Tatiana being an utter brat, initially. 

One of the things that worried me a little was how Luciana's deception was going to impact Leo. It turns out that Tatiana was a spoiled, selfish brat, and she had a lover. Luciana, on the other hand, is a sweet and polite girl who was raised in a convent (and therefore, a virgin). I was worried about what Leo would think of "Tatiana" and when he would find out that "Tatiana" is actually Luciana. BUT I think the author did a great job with the reveal, and the timing of the reveal. Leo actually starts to pick up fairly quickly on the fact that "Tatiana" is not who she says she is. 

The romance is so sweet! I feel like I'm overusing the word "sweet", but the romance can definitely be described as sweet. Luciana falls in love with Leo very quickly, which didn't bother me at all. The title says "seven days" and that is actually how long they have, from meeting each other, to getting married. The story goes on for a month after the wedding, but all of the falling in love occurs in a week. This worked for the story, and didn't feel rushed at all (despite the fact that it was only seven days). Leo and Luciana develop a strong emotional connection from the start. Leo is pretty much a goner upon first sight. Luciana quickly realizes that Leo is a good man, and her kind disposition lends itself to her keeping an open mind with him. The romance is sweet and chemistry between the pair is pretty steamy. Not the most fiery of romances, but they have their moments. They have great chemistry, for a sweet, cute pair. 

I also liked how both protagonists develop internally. Luciana develops a relationship with her father, her sister (a ghost), and her dead mother (also a ghost). She has a whole family that she never had before, in addition to a handsome husband. And Leo - he's gone years without being touched, or loved. He's also withdrawn into himself. I had so much respect for Leo as he continued to serve everyone, despite everyone being afraid of him or blaming him for things he didn't even do. The author did an amazing job with the character development of both of these protagonists, with all of their issues in the past, and present. 

The plot aside for the romance has to do with the selfish, murdering king who wants older, powerful land holdings for himself. The Duke (Luciana's father) has a lot of power and a lot of land. The king sends assassins to kill both Luciana and her father many times. The king also wants Leo dead since Leo is a direct heir to the throne (he is the king's nephew), among other reasons. So the climax of the book comes down to Leo and Luciana fighting for their lives. 

Overall, I was quite pleased with this book! It was cute and light, funny and sweet. I love Beauty and the Beast retellings, and this one did not disappoint.

What I Did Not Like:

This isn't really a complaint because I'm satisfied in general (really, I am!), but I would have loved a little more steam in the romance. Don't get me wrong, there are a couple of sex scenes and smoldering non-sex scenes, but I wouldn't have minded more. There was really only one major sex scene and I feel like there should always be two or three. But again, this isn't really a complaint because the author did a good job with the chemistry, in general.

Would I Recommend It:

I definitely recommend this book to those who love adult romance. This is a fantasy romance set in medieval times, so it's kind of historical fantasy romance. There is plenty of magic (abilities, shifters, dragons, elves), plenty of humor, and plenty of swoon between Leo and Luciana. I dare you not to fall in love with Leo! I think he's a new favorite book boyfriend. 

Also... the guy on the cover is a perfect Leo. I don't usually comment on a book's cover because the author has no control over that, and often times, the cover models don't quite match the character. But the cover model of this book's cover pretty much matches the Leo in my head. Maybe the hair could be a little more red but in general, he is perfect!

Rating:

4.5 stars. I'm trying to decide if I want to round up or down, and my general thing is that if I'm undecided, I'll round down for the time being. This book is more than likely going to end up in my top ten adult novels of 2017, at the end of the year! I am definitely looking forward to reading So I Married a Sorcerer. 

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