Ensnared by Rita Stradling

I like reading fairytale retellings. There’s something fascinating about a new spin on an old favourite. On picking up this book, I thought it looked promising – a near future version of Beauty and the Beast. Alainn goes into captivity in place of an android named Rose to keep her father out of prison. Honestly, after finishing the book, I reckon she shouldn’t have bothered.

The first half of the book wasn’t bad, as it chronicled the growing relationship between Alainn and Lorcann, a scarred billionaire recluse with a phobia of germs and other humans. An android is therefore the perfect companion, in his eyes.

It was just about 51% of the way through that I got seriously squicked. There’s something off about two people falling in love and having sex when one is still under the impression that the other is a robot. There’s a level of dishonesty there that is later handwaved but I can’t get past. I avoided throwing my iPad across the room but put the book down for at least two weeks.

When I did, I found the novel took a left turn from romance to techno-thriller. It all seemed sudden and unnecessary, especially the Cara plotline, and like an excuse to avoid the honest communication that the first half lacked. The only bright spot was Colby taking his sister to task for steamrolling over a girl’s anxiety.

While this wasn’t a badly written book, spelling and grammar-wise, something about its handling of mental illness left me uncomfortable, and the resolution felt rushed and unsatisfying. As such, I can only give it two robotic stars.

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

Silver Silence by Nalini Singh

Sometimes I feel like my rating system is broken. I found myself drawn into this book and thoroughly enjoyed reading it, but as I measure it against the others in this fantastic series, I rated it four stars when there are five-star books I did not like nearly as much.

Anyway, I found this a great romance as usual. The characters are unique and interesting; the bears delightful. The backing plot felt a little weak in this one - perhaps a result of so many happy couples working together, thwarting the bad guys at every turn - but there are some tantalising hints about what might turn up in the future and I eagerly await whatever comes next.

Four (or should that be five?) fantastic stars

Down Among the Sticks and Bones be Seanan McGuire

Some people shouldn't have children.

Almost more a character study than a novella, this is an evocative look at parents and choices. It's simple and moving to see Jacquline and Jillian grow from their parents' creations into the familiar figures of Jack and Jill on the freedom of the Moors. 

I didn't love this as I loved the first book, but that is more personal than on its own merits - this will no doubt speak more than the first to other readers. I would've enjoyed an epilogue, but perhaps that is an entirely new story as this one is perfect on its own.

Five free stars

Enchanters by K. F. Bradshaw

Too much for one book

Enchanters is an epic fantasy spanning a magical world where magic is in short supply. The premise is interesting, but unfortunately the execution is lacking.

There are too many characters in this book. I didn't know enough about most to care about them and the ones we did know, I didn't like because both. Kept. Whining. Some of the side characters were interesting but only got a scene or two every few chapters - enough so you'd know what was happening, not enough to really know or root for them. There were so many interpersonal relationships that had promise that ultimately went unfulfilled.

Plot-wise, a lot was happening as well. The path to the final conflict was littered with multiple barriers and events that could have taken a book on their own. I just felt like a lot was stuffed in but then almost sped through to get to the next.

This isn't a bad book, but with so much in it, I felt like some good editing and rewriting could've elevated it to a great one.

Three stuffed stars

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through ReadingAlley in exchange for an honest review.

Donn's Hill by Caryn Larrinaga

Cosy mystery with a side of creepy 

It's an old story - the new person in town seeking a fresh start, a murder that casts everything into question. The twist in this particular tale is Mac’s psychic powers and they add a delightfully creepy edge, especially at the beginning. 

Aside from that, the book is well written, the supporting cast varied and interesting, the mystery fast paced, the answer not easily obvious, and the overall effect extremely promising. 

Five psychic stars

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author via ReadingAlley in return for an honest review

A Little of Chantelle Rose by Cristina Hodgson

Fun escapist fantasy

There's something alluring about a book that throws reality of the window and dives straight into the story line we all secretly wish we have. Film stars, pet dolphins, pretty dresses, hot guys at every turn. Chantelle starts with nothing and ends up with - well, a lot more, let me tell you. It's a roller-coaster of improbable events.

Unfortunately, this fun is undermined by the main character. For a book like this to be effective, you gotta be able to identify with the lead - or at least like them. It's not as satisfying otherwise. Chantelle is naive (goes into contracts blindly), rude, paranoid (assumes everyone is out to get her), and far too quick to a) fall in love and b) assume the worst of both men she falls for. Besides that, she's the only fleshed out character in the book.

I think I would have quite enjoyed this but a little of Chantelle Rose was quite enough for me. 

Three exasperating stars

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author via NetGalley in return for an honest review

Learning to Love by Sheryl Browne

Tragedy and charity: a recipe for happy families 

I enjoyed reading this book. It is a sweet character-driven romance with a large cast of interesting characters, from harried mother Andrea and her unsupportive husband/fiancé/boyfriend Jonathan to awkward neighbour David and his uncommunicative son Jake. The author has a talent for large casts, to not only keep them straight, but imbue all of them with life and heart. 

I loved seeing the families blend together and especially how Ryan grew up to help Jake deal with the recent upheavals in his life. The best parts of the book were as they all adjusted to living together as an large but wonderful family. I was less enamoured of the love triangle subplot and the cheating undertones, no matter how despicable one party is. In particular, I felt the triangle could've been dropped entirely. There was enough going on, both plot-wise and relationship-wise, without it. 

The romance at the heart of the book felt natural, even if the two of them were by turns clueless and terrible at communication. The end felt like a 'well-finally' for all involved, including me. 

Four family stars

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author via NetGalley in return for an honest review

Dream Me by Kathryn Berla

Intriguing premise with beautiful prose and a confusing ending

The only way to describe this book is dream-like. The prose is evocative of that perfect summer’s day on the beach, where everything is so real and so surreal at the same time. It is easy to get swept away in this story, though the feeling doesn’t last past the end of the book.

The premise is interesting: at the end of the world, Earthlings are leaving in hope of finding a new planet but some choose to go back in time, not physically but mentally. Zat chooses to inhabit Babe’s dreams and they fall in love.

The characters were interesting and varied, especially the supporting cast. I really liked LeGrand and Alonso and felt they both deserved a little more page time – I want to know if this summer changed their lives or if it was an idyllic blip they would both leave behind.

For me, the main romantic plot was a bit of a letdown as it started with insta-love and ended in – well, I don’t really get how it ended. Dreams are confusing and by the end, I wasn’t exactly sure what was real and what wasn’t. I was left vaguely unsatisfied and still can’t work out why. I much preferred the subplot of Babe making friends at the Country Club.

The other issue I had with this book (and it’s a minor one but bear with me) is Babe's attitude to the rich kids, especially Mattie Lynn. She assumes they’re all spoiled and shallow, and though LeGrand dispels those stereotypes for himself, Mattie Lynn doesn’t get enough time on the page to do the same. I think we are supposed to infer there is more to her than meets the eye, but Babe’s disparaging point of view does not help matters at all. It comes off very ‘pretty + rich = mean’ which is a tired old path by now.

I wanted to love this book, but I only loved the writing, not the whole.

Three surreal stars

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

Find Her by Elisabeth Rose

Romantic thriller builds to non-stop finale 

This book reads much like a movie script. It sets the stage, introduces the characters, makes things go wrong (more than they were), and then as the mystery gets solved, makes more and more things go wrong. I really enjoyed the little touches that built the characters, especially the bits of Jax being a teacher. 

There were a few moments that annoyed me; mostly the characters being too stupid to live and the police being particularly obtuse at times. The second half went way faster than the first – a lot was packed in but it felt a little repetitive. 

I felt this was more thriller than romance but both led to a satisfying conclusion. 

Four full-speed stars

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author via NetGalley in return for an honest review

Behind the Mask: A Superhero Anthology

Stunning smorgasbord of super stories 

These stories are bite-sized and range from light-hearted to heart-breaking. The superhero genre is an old one by now, but these authors each manage to put their own spin on the people behind the masks. Some of them made me uncomfortable with the angsty 'reality' that superheroes would bring, others were a total mind-screw. My favourites were those that kept the optimism of the genre alive, but through a different lens. 

Standouts for me – though others can and will like others – were Madjack by Nathan Crowder (a Bowie tribute), Eggshells by Ziggy Schultz (about asking and needing help), and Salt City Blue by Chris Large (slice of life with sudden superpowers). 

Great to dip into or to plough through in a sitting, will almost certainly make you rethink that desire for superpowers. 

Five super stars

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author via NetGalley in return for an honest review

It had to be you be Melissa Kate

Enemies to a fake second chance romance 

It might sound like a lot to fit into one story but it works. This is a fast-paced, fun read. Sometimes it seems as if the entire cast are trying to get the main characters together which is very entertaining. Some of the dramas that Oliver goes through seemed a bit improbable but if you can suspend your disbelief it'll go down just fine. 

Unfortunately, the book could definitely have done with more editing. While the spelling and grammar were fine, multiple phrases were used incorrectly and one character was called by the wrong name (made especially jarring by the right name being used three sentences later). 

I enjoyed this book and it had all sorts of catnip for me, but the mistakes detracted from the final experience. 

Four flawed stars

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author via NetGalley in return for an honest review

The Language of Flowers by Christina Rose Andrews

A sweet but meaningful second chance romance 

While reading this eBook on my tablet, I was told they had never seen someone concentrating so hard on a tv show. Once I corrected their misapprehension about my choice of entertainment, I was SO INVESTED I cut the small talk short to get back to the story. 

I'll be quick: I enjoyed this book. It mixes some classic elements (second chance romance) with some less common ones (male point of view). The characters drew me in; they are both realistic and flawed. Both have plenty of baggage and miscommunication, but wonder of wonders, they actually (minor spoiler) GO TO COUNSELLING and hash it out. It was one of the most cathartic scenes I have ever read. The backing cast are interesting and numerous, each with a story I think I’d like to hear - but they don’t detract from the romance at the heart of this book.

The first-person, train of thought style took a few chapters to get used to, but I stopped noticing within a few chapters. I perhaps might have liked the teaching to be more than a background thing, but the story was still well-fleshed out so I didn't feel the lack terribly. 

Overall, this is a sweet and satisfying read with enough meat to make it interesting. Go and give it a try. 

Five floral stars

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this story from the author in return for an honest review.