Swords & Stilettos by Kristen D. Van Risseghem

Sturgeon’s Law states that 90% of everything is crud. Too often, I’ve picked up a YA book with high hopes, only to find myself reading the same old tired tropes and bored out of my head. I was delighted to find Swords & Stilettos bucks the trend falls solidly into the good 10%. It’s full of tropes, chock-a-block with clichés – and it all works.

There’s a love triangle, mean girls, werewolves and fairies, angels and demons locked in a cosmic war, and one seemingly normal girl caught in the middle. In a different book, this could all be a mess of tortured tropes, but in this one, it’s a blast to read.

Apart from the mean girls (whose mean motivation is hinted at, but never fully revealed), there’s no sense of “not like other girls” that haunts too many YA novels. Zoe enjoys shopping and fashion and spending time with her girl friends. In fact, I would’ve liked to see her interacting with them some more, especially at the beginning, as their friendships seems a little more informed than realistic.

Otherwise, her relationships are sweet and believable, especially Kieran struggling with but accepting his love is unrequited. I’m sick of the love triangle taking over a story and am so glad it is used and then discarded. Zoe does dip into TSTL sometimes, but that’s more an offshoot of her protective streak than thoughtlessness.

My only disappointment is that title is Swords & Stilettos, but while the former played a significant part, the latter were rather lacking. I would personally have liked more ass kicking in high heels, but that’s probably just me.

If you want realistic, walk on by, but if you are looking for a solidly well-written story with likeable characters, pick this book up and enjoy. I’m certainly looking forward to the next one.

Five troperiffic stars.

I received a copy of this story from the author through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

All Who Wander by April Alieda

I wanted to enjoy this book. I expected to enjoy this book. Cosy small-town romance with magic pies? Sign me up! Alas, twas not to be. Alex and Duncan’s story just wasn’t what I wanted.

The most interesting character in this book was Aunt V, hands down. I didn’t really get a feel for any of the other characters, even the main ones. What they were feeling and thinking, sure, but not who they were as people. Even the magical Miss Sadie could have done with more page time.

Still, for the majority of the book, I thought I would give it a 4-star rating. The slap-kiss-slap-kiss romance was nicely sweet and fluffy, and not totally predictable. Unfortunately, the editing really let it down. The stream-of-consciousness narration was impaired by slippages from third-person to first, and from past tense to present. Even from the beginning, there were little inconsistencies and questions that could have been smoothed over with a single line of explanation, like: “Two parents with Blood Type A would only have children with the same.”

Speaking of the adoption storyline, it felt very shoe-horned in (don’t even get me started on the divorcee part). It’s used as an excuse for Alex to come to Anastasia, batted around a bit, then pretty much forgotten until her family turn up for a chapter or two. Then they disappear and are never mentioned again. It all seems very inconsistent, but I was willing to overlook it.

The kicker came at 88% when a character already labelled as BAD refers to Alex as a “g*psy sl*t”, except “slut” was the only word that was censored. For the uninformed, “g*psy” is a slur; to see it uncensored when “slut” was asterisked-out BOOTED me out of the story. It felt ridiculously harsh for such a sweet book so far, as if someone has said, “this guy isn’t bad enough, we need to make sure the audience hate him”. Well, mission accomplished.

So to recap, four-star story, losing one star for poor editing and another for a totally unnecessary and oddly censored slur. It’s really a pity, because the author and the series show such promise, too.

Two uncensored stars.

I received a copy of this story from the author through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Written on the Stars by Norma Budden

This sweet short story has a lot to like in it. It’s a second chance romance with two interesting main characters, some lovely descriptions, and sound advice for life as well as love. I liked how it was the guy who went completely head-over-heels, though he didn’t push, and how the girl stood her ground.

The ending was sweet but came all too soon. I would have loved the story to be more fleshed out. I felt like I was coming into the story at the dénouement, after the big misunderstanding but just before the happily ever after. As such, there was a lot of backstory included, but even more that was missed out or glossed over. I got very little sense of what Sarah and Mike’s relationship was like before, other than his parents disapproving, or what the characters had done during their seven years apart.

Three sweet stars

I received a copy of this story from the author through ReadingAlley in exchange for an honest review.

Piercing the Veil by Nicole L. Taylor

It’s the little things that matter.

Piercing the Veil has a classic plot: a coming-of-age Lost Princess, complete with family secrets, mysterious powers, and a forbidden first romance. Nicole L. Taylor wraps all of this together with a pinch of darkness and some serious geeking out over Shakespeare. When the plot got going, I was happy to be swept along for the ride.

Unfortunately, it’s the little things that matter. Things like the inconsistent italicisation of pop culture references, or the misspelling of –esque as –esk. The devoted and overprotective grandmother okaying her 15-year-old granddaughter going on a date with a 20-year-old. The refusal of the main character to accept magic, when she and her cousins are already telepathic and she’s an empathetic mindreader. The love triangle I saw from a mile off, which I thought had been killed off nicely but appeared to rear its ugly head afterwards. The overly-analytical first-person narrator who was so self-aware it jarred me out of my suspension of disbelief. The excessively ornate turn of phrase, stilted dialogue, and constant telling, not showing.

On the good side, kudos for the explicit takedown of rape culture and that perfect scene where the heroine tells the love interest off for messing her around. There's a lot of miscommunication in this book, but it is followed by actual apologies, which makes up for it.

This is a debut novel and it shows. It’s an original twist on some classic tropes, but it’s dressed for prom on the first day of school. It ends on a semi-cliff-hanger and I want to know what happens next, as long as Ms. Taylor leaves the purple prose at home.

Three cobalt stars accented with little flecks of gold

I received a copy of this story from the author through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Murder in White Lace by Karen Sue Walker

I’ve read lots of cosy mysteries. Coffee stores, yarn stores, bakers. None of the settings have given me nearly so much joy as the bridal boutique managed by Max. Brides come in looking for a dress and then Max makes their dreams come true. Even for Tiffany, the Goth who is in love with an accountant.

Every bride-to-be, except Jennifer. She is rude, demanding, and constantly changing her mind. At last, she’s happy with her wedding gown – then falls down dead in the fitting room. Suddenly, the supporting cast of hundreds (individually charming but a bit overwhelming) insist that Max investigate, because apparently she’s great at that. The sexy police detective insists she leave it to the professionals before she even decides to ask around, but as they come across as incompetent and short-sighted, I don’t blame her for doing her own thing. If a threatening note comes while you have the alleged killer in custody, might that not be a hint that you have the wrong person?

Murder in White Lace follows all the rules of a classic cosy mystery: small town murder, main character investigates to clear own name or name of friend, lots of suspects with motive, main character considers leaving but eventually stays due to friendly persuasion or act of God, and romantic lead is set up for following books.

The strength of this book lies in the setting and the characters. The bridal boutique, as mentioned previously, is adorable, and Crystal Shores comes across as a town where everyone knows everything about everyone. It’s not gossip if it’s just two friends catching up, you know? There are a lot of supporting characters in this series and most of them drop by the store early on to be introduced – I probably should’ve noted them down because they pop up again at game nights and at restaurants. Their abundance does not make them any less charming, however, and I hope they stay in Crystal Shores.

I wasn’t terribly impressed with the chemistry between Max and Detective Cruz and the ending was a tad bittersweet for my tastes, but you know what? I enjoyed this book. It’s fun, fluffy, and fashionable, and I look forward to reading the next one.

Four fashionable stars

I received a copy of this story from the author through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Breath of Fire by Amanda Bouchet

Wow.

This book is fantastic. It’s everything I want in a fantasy novel. There are magic and monsters, fighting galore and a romance between two characters who are both powerful and powerfully stubborn.

The first in the series (highly recommended both for itself and to understand this one) left us with one big question: When will Griffin find out the truth about Cat? Turns out, not very long at all. The action starts in the very first chapter and keeps rolling onwards, to the very end. The final pages set us up for what I anticipate will be a thrilling finale and I can’t wait to read more!

The world-building is intricate and original, with a pantheon borrowed from Greek mythology but a geography and a society all of its own. This help keeps the Gods straight – no need for a glossary to remember who each one is. I would’ve liked a map, though, especially as our heroes travel even further than the last book. We don’t get to see many differences between the three nations, but maybe that’s because they are destined to be reunited anyway.

Cat goes through interesting character growth as they travel the realms: she starts off willing to sacrifice everything (including herself) for her friends and learns the best way to help everybody is to let them take their own risks and to look after herself a bit more. This is a twist on the usual ‘learns to be less selfish and help others’ as Cat needs to learn that she is needed alive and well.  Griffin chips away at her self-hatred with stubbornness and love until she can see her true destiny is not about destruction, but about a new beginning. In some ways, she’s an unreliable narrator: all her risks seem calculated at the time, but boy, is she bad at math.

If you have any fondness for magic-and-monsters fantasy with bickering heroes on a quest: well, start with A Promise of Fire then come read this one because this series just keeps getting better and better.

Five scorching stars.

My Maker's Keeper by Tiffany Current

At first glance, this book starts like a Twilight knock-off: teenager starts high school in a new town, supported by a caring single parent, with a twist: she’s the vampire. BUT if you can get past the knee-jerk reaction to the actual story, it’s well worth your time.

Hannah is an eminently sympathetic main character: she wants nothing more than a normal life and only slowly does she realise how much vampirism has changed her and the future ahead of her. Beyond the thirst for blood, super senses, and mesmerism, there’s a part of her that craves more. The arrival of her Maker Lucas and his sister Vivian tips her new life on its side and that’s when the plot kicks off for real. It’s sexy, action-packed, and ends with a bang.

I’m not a fan of the love triangle (or quadrangle, really) that the author has set up but it seems semi-resolved by the end of the book. I hope that it will not be a recurring plot point when there are so many more threads to continue. I want to know how far this conspiracy reaches, where will Hannah go to college, and what is up with Jackson!?

If a teenage paranormal romance is what you’re looking for and you don’t mind things getting steamy, give this book a try. It’s an entertaining and engaging high school romance with a bloody twist.

Four bloody stars

I received a copy of this story from the author through ReadingAlley in exchange for an honest review.

The Haunting of Hotel LaBelle by Sharon Buchbinder

Tallulah sees dead people. No, really. Her mother was institutionalised for her visions so Tallulah’s medicine woman grandmother cautioned her against revealing her talents. Instead, she is a hotel inspector, travelling the country with her pet pug Franny. When she step into the Hotel LaBelle, she has no idea that she will meet a not-quite-ghost who will turn her life upside down.

This was a fun read – the plot was fast-paced, the dialogue witty, and the research into and portrayal of the Native Americans was fantastic. The book pulled no punches when it came to the effect of colonisation which I really appreciated. It also highlighted some moral discrepancies between Lucius (born 100 years ago) and Tallulah (an independent woman, thank you very much). He starts off rather annoying and pushy, but they learn to get along and there is a spectacular declaration of love at the end.

My main criticism is that it bounces around genres a bit too much for my liking. It starts off as a paranormal romance and blitzes through crime, legal thriller, and back to romance. Each part has its own mini-conflict to resolve and this made it a bit disjointed. The romance tied it together but the instant attraction felt a little forced and the miscommunication was repetitive at times.

If you are looking for a whirlwind romance with fantasy and echoes of the Wild West, give this book a try!

Four fast-paced stars

I received a copy of this story from the author through ReadingAlley in exchange for an honest review.

Mermaid Trouble by Andy Mulberry

If you’re looking for a fast, fun, fantasy novel, this book is for you. It was almost over too quickly, really, and could have done with a bit more backstory and fleshing out. It’s like an appetiser for the rest of the series – just enough to make you hungry, not enough to fill you up.

I really enjoyed the main character’s down to earth, slightly cynical attitude. She is refreshingly sensible and understandably confused at all the weird stuff that happens to and around her.

The main thing that stops me from enjoying this book fully is that it does not explain the rules of this world early on. I don’t mind ambiguity, secrets, or an unreliable narrator, but we don’t know if magic is a usual or accepted part of this world and how Lana’s ability fits into this. There are a couple of infodumps later that help, but by then the story is almost over.

I am also slightly put off by the pre-romance between Lana and Kellan, given she has a perfectly nice boyfriend already. A heroine who cheats is not one I am predisposed to like or empathise with.

Despite the above, this was an interesting concept and I would not be averse to picking up the next one in the series.

Three expectant stars.

I received a copy of this story from the author through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Making of Henri Higgins by Elizabeth Dunk

Henri Higgins is bored with his successful life as a high-profile magazine editor, so his friend suggests a challenge: two weeks to turn a protégé into the next big thing. Henry meets Elizabeta, a cleaner at his office – and the rest is history.

I enjoyed this book. It is a low-key love letter to Canberra, dropping names and places all over the place, though not the name of the Prime Minister (I guess they change too quickly for that). The cast is diverse; Elizabeta is Peruvian and she corrects Ree pretty sharply for assuming she is Colombian and can cook, her daughter has Downs and this is a major plot point. I can’t comment on the author’s portrayal of Angie as accurate or not, but I felt she handled it with sensitivity and sympathy. The descriptions of both clothes and decorations are sumptuous, until you feel you can picture everything the characters see and talk about. Best of all, it was a really interesting look at fame – how to achieve it, how to handle it, and what happens afterwards

I did have a few minor quibbles with the book. Some of the pop culture references felt a little forced, and dialogue in other languages (French and Aimara) was not always translated or clear from the context. The title is not terribly accurate either, as the story is more about Elizabeta and her journey to fame, or even about Ree and Elizabeta’s relationship.

The fame competition seemed to overshadow the romance; which was perfectly fine with me, as it was by far the more interesting part of the book for me. In fact, the insta-lust and sudden jolts of desire were sometimes off-putting and pulled me out of the narrative. Ree and Elizabeta also had a big problem with miscommunication, but there was sufficient grovelling to satisfy by the end.

Four fashionable stars

I received a copy of this story from the author through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Lord Bachelor by Tammy L. Bailey

The premise of this book is interesting: a Lord must marry well to maintain his title and fortune. He finds himself on a dating show but falls in love with a penniless shopkeeper.

Unfortunately, this book was a letdown from almost the get-go. The ‘hero’ is an absolute ass – arrogant and pushy, with pretty much no redeeming features besides his looks, title, and wealth. He cannot work out why he is so attracted to a woman so unlike his normal type (‘gorgeous and simpering’). The heroine is somehow struck with a terrible case of insta-lust on their first meeting and therefore is unable to say no properly, even when he pushes his way into her life, her shop, her room – even crashing her college course. At one point, he makes to go through her personal things, only stopping when she physically tackles him. Worst of all, he enjoys baiting her and making her mad. She gets genuinely upset on several occasions and he sits there, enjoying the show. That’s not burgeoning love, that’s just being a dick.

The side characters seemed to step straight from a stock persona dramatis. The third member of the unnecessary love triangle (who I was rooting for, not going to lie), the odd ‘fairy godmother’ character, the Cinderella-like stepmother and stepsister, the TV producer who is inexplicably the hero’s friend,  the other contestants on the show (almost unanimously portrayed as greedy and grasping), Lord Rushwood’s aristocratic family – all could have been interesting with more fleshing out, but were instead paper-thin.

Some of the description is beautiful, especially when it comes to the environment. When applied to the characters, it borders more on abuse of adjectives, with far more telling than showing. This became less apparent as the book wore on, but I’m not sure if the descriptions became more subtle or if I started skipping over them.

The ending felt like a poorly plotted deus ex machina, but since I was hanging out for it, I can’t complain too much. I’m just glad this book is done. At least the spelling and grammar were good, saving it from single star disgrace.

Two disappointed stars.

I received a copy of this story from the author through ReadingAlley in exchange for an honest review.