Review: Beauty and the Blacksmith by Tessa Dare

Beauty and the Blacksmith by Tessa Dare

Book 3.5 of the Spindle Cove series

Publisher: Avon Impulse

Publication Date: April 30, 2013

Rating: 4 stars

Source: eARC from Edelweiss

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

Summary (from Goodreads):

 

At last, Diana gets a romance of her own! But with the last man anyone in Spindle Cove expects...

Beautiful and elegant, Miss Diana Highwood is destined to marry a wealthy, well-placed nobleman. At least, that's what her mother has loudly declared to everyone in Spindle Cove.

 

But Diana's not excited by dukes and lords. The only man who makes her heart pound is the village blacksmith, Aaron Dawes. By birth and fortune, they couldn't be more wrong for each other...but during stolen, steamy moments in his forge, his strong hands feel so right.

Is their love forged strong enough to last, or are they just playing with fire?

What I Liked:

 

First, a warning: I have not read any of the other books in this Spindle Cove series. In fact, I've never read anything by Tessa Dare. So, I may not know the relationships of some characters to others, or background of the setting or several characters, or so on. Nevertheless, that did not stop me from understanding and enjoying this book

 

I really liked this book. It is a novella, and therefore, it is short, but it is fun and swoony and so CUTE! I was thrilled by the character development in this book, despite the brevity of the story. Diana is a sturdy character from the beginning, but she definitely develops some more backbone as the story progresses. 

 

Aaron is FABULOUS. Ever since Will Turner, I have acquired a liking for blacksmiths. Well, Aaron is no exception. Right from the start, he is one to make your heartstrings kick. He did not undergo too much character development, but I feel like he didn't need to. But maybe I am just biased. *wink wink*

 

Even though I have not read any of the other Spindle Cove books, I got a good feel and understanding of the setting of the story. The place of the story is exquisitely described, and subtly, the author draws the readers into Spindle Cove. The time period is unmistakably historical - Regency, if I am not mistaken. I love Regency-era fiction. But that is no secret.

 

YAY for no love triangle! No foreseeable love triangle, anyway. Diana and Aaron get a nice ending, as is expected. But it is a CUTE ending. This book is so cute. I love the sort-of proposal scene. If you read the novella, you will love it as well. 

 

I know this is a novella, but when this book ended, I was dying for more! Good thing there was a preview of the next book that filled the last 25% of this book, right? NO. Because now I want more of that book! I think I have found myself a new historical fiction author to love!

 

What I Did Not Like:

 

I don't really have any complaints with this book. I enjoyed it; it was a quick and engaging read. Why 4 stars and not 5 stars? It feels like a 4-star book to me. It's a great historical fiction read! 

 

Would I Recommend It:

 

Of course I would! Especially if you have read the previous books in this series, or plan on doing so. Although, my recommendation would be to read the series in order. BUT, as with me, it is not necessary.

Rating:

 

4 stars. This novella is absolutely adorable!

 

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!

Book Spotlight: Summer's Desire by Olivia Lynde

Hello, all! Today I am spotlighting a beautiful, New Adult, romance book by a super sweet author! Check out the steamy excerpt at the end of the post!

Summer's Desire by Olivia Lynde

Publication Date: March 20, 2013

Summary (from Goodreads):

A girl who has lost her voice, and a boy who carries a world of anger bottled up inside.

A girl haunted by soul-crushing guilt and regret, and a boy who knows he can't afford the weakness of feeling—not if he is to survive.

Summer and Seth meet by chance and become unlikely friends. In each other, they find a safe haven... and respite from the darkness haunting them both. 

Until they are betrayed.

Can they ever regain their friendship? And if they do, can they trust each other enough to take the biggest risk of all: falling in love?

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Smashwords

Excerpt:

He pushes me gently in a reclining position. I lie back, supporting my head on the armrest. Then before I realize what's happening, he lifts my legs with one arm, sits down as well, and resettles my legs on his lap. After which he leans down toward me in a fluid motion and proceeds to scrutinize my grazed lip. 

I keep completely still, staggered at our intimate pose. Inside me though, it's the furthest thing from "still" that there could possibly be. Instead, flickers of fire are surging and sizzling in a carnival of sparks. All of a sudden I feel woozy. 

"Breathe, Sunny," he orders softly, and I let a rush of air fill my lungs. [...] 

He's started cleaning my lip with the antiseptic and I flinch a little. 

"Sorry," he murmurs and blows gently above the corner of my mouth, where my skin is stinging. His lips are so close now that I would only have to lean forward a little and I could feel them on my own. [...] 

Fortunately, he finally retreats a little, removing the temptation of his lips from my immediate reach. He's staring at me with very intent blue eyes, his gaze focused on my mouth. I know that he's only doing this to examine the small wound there—yet still I'm beset by new waves of desire flowing through me. I have trouble breathing once again. 

He touches his finger to the bow of my lower lip and moves it slowly in a sensual slide. Sweet mercy, I wish he would stop! He's driving me crazy, fraying the fetters of my control. My heart is slamming against my ribs like a sledgehammer, and my skin feels too tight. 

My lips part and his blue eyes flash with enigmatic purpose, lids dropping to half-mast. Suddenly his head is lowering toward me. The feverish excitement inside me spreads and surges out of bonds. Overcome, I look up into Seth's eyes. His lips are coming closer still, so close to mine. And for a moment the world stops breathing.

YUM, right!? Get your ecopy of this book TODAY! Check out the buy links above. Thank you, lovely blog readers!

Review: Sanctum by Sarah Fine

Sanctum by Sarah Fine

Book One of the Guards of the Shadowlands series

Publisher: Marshall Cavendish Children's/Amazon Children's Publishing

Publication Date: October 16, 2012

Rating: 5 stars

Source: Public Library

Summary (from Goodreads):

“My plan: Get into the city. Get Nadia. Find a way out. Simple.”

A week ago, seventeen-year-old Lela Santos’s best friend, Nadia, killed herself. Today, thanks to a farewell ritual gone awry, Lela is standing in paradise, looking upon a vast gated city in the distance—hell. No one willingly walks through the Suicide Gates, into a place smothered in darkness and infested with depraved creatures. But Lela isn’t just anyone—she’s determined to save her best friend’s soul, even if it means sacrificing her eternal afterlife.

As Lela struggles to find Nadia, she’s captured by the Guards, enormous, not-quite-human creatures that patrol the dark city’s endless streets. Their all-too-human leader, Malachi, is unlike them in every way except one: his deadly efficiency. When he meets Lela, Malachi forms his own plan: get her out of the city, even if it means she must leave Nadia behind. Malachi knows something Lela doesn’t—the dark city isn’t the worst place Lela could end up, and he will stop at nothing to keep her from that fate.

What I Liked:

It is SO easy to review books I love. And seriously, I loved this book. I haven't rated a new book with 5 stars in a long time! Nor have I found a new favorite in a long time! This book is definitely a new favorite. There are books that you enjoy, that you really like, or maybe even love, but then, there are those that you absolutely love and know it's one of your favorites.

Well. That's this book. It's no secret that I love fantasy books. I believe this book is considered fantasy, and perhaps paranormal. The world that Fine creates outside of the current, modern-day world is fascinating. Th setting is amazing, and it feels like it could be a real place! I got a feel of its dank, suffocating nature within the first pages of Lela being in the city. The setting is... wow.

The characters are even more amazing. Lela is a fantastic heroine - tough, spunky, and hardened. She is hurt immensely from her past, but she works through her problems as the book goes along. That was something I did not expect. YA heroines rarely have cruel backgrounds, and yet Lela has had a difficult past. Her past makes her strong, and ultimately keeps her alive.

Malachi... oh, Malachi. That guy is TERRIFIC. I can't even begin to express how much I truly like him. He is the Captain of the Guards (hot guy signal number one), and he handles his power with ease and grace (hot guy signal number two), even though he is young (hot guy signal number three). He has a haunted past - and I am NOT kidding when I say haunted (hot guy signal number four). He's a geniunely good guy though (hot guy signal number five). And, well, he's HOT. Physically. Trust me. 

The plot of this story is pretty straightforward at first: get Nadia out. But there are so many bumps and twists along the way! I did see some coming, but then others, especially the end, I did not see coming. And while I'm there, the ending is a good one. A little different, but good.

NO LOVE TRIANGLE! EVERYONE, REJOICE! This probably couldn't be one of my favorite books if it had a love triangle. But it doesn't! And I now have a new favorite book! Bliss :D

(And if anyone wanted to know; I waited three days before writing this review - just so the book would sink in, and I could truly assess the book.)

What I Did Not Like:

NOTHING. There was nothing that I did not like about this book. Or at least, that I can think of right now. Don't judge me!

Would I Recommend It:

YES! And believe me, I mean that. It's been so long since I regarded a book as one of my FAVORITES, and thus making the series one of my favorite series. But one thing is for sure: I can't wait to read Fractured!

Rating:

5 stars. I am so happy that I found a new book to love. It's not very day I give a book 5 stars, or call it one of my favorites. It's been too long! I really hope other readers will take a chance with this one.

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!

Stacking the Shelves (#17)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, in which bloggers share the books and swag they've received in the past week!

So, what did I get in the week of Sunday, April 14th to Saturday, April 20th?

(all links to Goodreads are provided!)

In the mail:

A paperback copy of Changeling by Philippa Gregory

A "We've Got History" tote bag

A Rush by Eve Silver bookmark

Three The S-Word by Chelsea Pitcher bookmarks

The S-Word buttons

A Wounded Name by Dot Hutchinson swag

From NetGalley:

The S-Word by Chelsea Pitcher

From Edelweiss:

Find Me by Romily Bernard

I love books. That is all.

Feature and Follow Friday (#15)

The Feature & Follow is a creative meme that allows bloggers to get to know each other, and gain more followers! It is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.

If you would like, it would be great if you followed me via Email, GFC, Linky, Bloglovin, or Google+ (all on the right). Let me know in the comments if you did, leave a link to your blog, and I will comment and follow back! I always do, I promise! Thank you!

Q: If you could hang out with any author (living) who would it be and what would you want to do?

Kristin Cashore, author of the following:

  

I love fantasy, and I love the world that Cashore has created in these books. I know that whatever Cashore writes in slow and deliberate, what she wants it to be, and not what a deadline is telling her to write (Bitterblue took like, four years!). I would love to meet Kristin Cashore. We'd probably have some interesting conversations about world happenings.

Also, I would love to meet Sara Walsh, author of:



She lives in Maryland. I live in Maryland. BUT, even though Maryland LOOKS like a small state, it's really not THAT small. We're easily at least an hour apart from each other. Same with me and Brigid Kemmerer, author of:

     

It sucks that Sarah Walsh and Brigid Kemmerer live in the same state as me (in fact, I think THEY live close to each other, but really far from me), and I've never met them. But, I know I will soon!

How about you, lovely people! Let me know in the comments your response, and how you follow me! I always follow new people back!

Review: Thief of Shadows by Elizabeth Hoyt

Thief of Shadows by Elizabeth Hoyt

Book Four of the Maiden Lane series

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Publication Date: June 26, 2012

Rating: 4 stars

Source: Publisher - won THIS giveaway

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

Summary (from Goodreads):

A MASKED MAN . . .

Winter Makepeace lives a double life. By day he's the stoic headmaster of a home for foundling children. But the night brings out a darker side of Winter. As the moon rises, so does the Ghost of St. Giles-protector, judge, fugitive. When the Ghost, beaten and wounded, is rescued by a beautiful aristocrat, Winter has no idea that his two worlds are about to collide.

A DANGEROUS WOMAN . . .

Lady Isabel Beckinhall enjoys nothing more than a challenge. Yet when she's asked to tutor the Home's dour manager in the ways of society-flirtation, double-entendres, and scandalous liaisons-Isabel can't help wondering why his eyes seem so familiar-and his lips so tempting.

A PASSION NEITHER COULD DENY

During the day Isabel and Winter engage in a battle of wills. At night their passions are revealed . . . But when little girls start disappearing from St. Giles, Winter must avenge them. For that he might have to sacrifice everything-the Home, Isabel . . . and his life.

What I Liked:

I did like this book, but not as much as the odd numbers of this series. The protagonists had strong personalities in this book, and definitely fit well together. I usually love the hero, and in this case, it was no different with Winter Makepeace.

Winter is different from the other heroes of the series, because he isn't a lord, or a Duke, or some rich and mighty noble. He's a poor schoolteacher and orphan home manager. He has so much depth, but in a different way from the other male protagonists of the series. His background isn't troubled or dark (though he thinks it is), but he is filled with angst and bitterness from his work as the Ghost. Winter is so complex; he feels he has to save everyone, but he can't save himself from his depressive ways.

Isabel is a feisty heroine, and a good match for Winter. She is different from the other heroines, save Hero, because she is a lady of rank. Maybe this is my problem with the even numbered-books? They're of ladies of rank, not poor ladies. But then. Book Five deals with Lady Margaret, so maybe not. Anyway. Isabel is a widow, and she has her own problems. I like her with Winter.

The chemistry and romance between these two are different, because of Isabel's situation, and Winter's situation (not telling!). But, I found it at times endearing, and a tad irritating. It didn't take away from my overall opinion of the book though. 

Another fabulous ending! I already knew the ending to this particular book, as I read Book Five before I read any of the other books. It was an excellent ending, and I am happy that this book was so fulfilling!

What I Did Not Like:

This book wasn't my favorite of the series. Like Book Two, I didn't really connect with the heroine. I didn't really feel Isabel as a person, and I didn't really like her intrusiveness. It just didn't work for her.

I was also a tiny bit bored at times. Winter isn't your, um, typical male, so the chemistry between the two characters is different. Sometimes, it's a good different, but other times, not really.

Otherwise, I really liked this books :)

Would I Recommend It:

YES! It's not my favorite (that would probably be Book One, Book Three, or Book Five), but I really liked this book. As always, this series is a fine example of amazing historical romance.

Rating:

4 stars. This one was excellent, as was the rest of the series, but it wasn't my favorite. It's definitely a great addition to the series though!

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!

Waiting on Wednesday (#16): Of Beauty and Beast by Stacey Jay

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week, I'm featuring:

Of Beauty and Beast by Stacey Jay

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: July 23, 2013

Summary (from Goodreads):

In the beginning was the darkness, and in the darkness was a girl, and in the girl was a secret...

In the domed city of Yuan, the blind Princess Isra, a Smooth Skin, is raised to be a human sacrifice whose death will ensure her city’s vitality. In the desert outside Yuan, Gem, a mutant beast, fights to save his people, the Monstrous, from starvation. Neither dreams that together, they could return balance to both their worlds.

Isra wants to help the city’s Banished people, second-class citizens despised for possessing Monstrous traits. But after she enlists the aid of her prisoner, Gem, who has been captured while trying to steal Yuan’s enchanted roses, she begins to care for him, and to question everything she has been brought up to believe.

As secrets are revealed and Isra’s sight, which vanished during her childhood, returned, Isra will have to choose between duty to her people and the beast she has come to love.

Author Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

I've never read anything by Stacey Jay (I know she has many books out), but I love retellings! I love Beauty and the Beast! And Delacorte Books, as a whole, always has books that impress me. I can't wait to read this one!