Moonlit Waltz by Kathleen Collins

Cinderella with a twist or two

I thought I knew what I was getting into with this book - girl named Ella with a widowed father? Cue the pumpkin! But from the beginning, it is clear there are a few twists. First of all, they are werewolves. Second, Ella isn’t alone - she has a brother, and neighbours next door who care about her, and that’s just the start of things! There were enough little changes that I honestly didn’t know how the story would end. You would think this was worrying, but I trusted the author to get us to a happy ending as I was not disappointed.

I would’ve liked a little more about the werewolf side of things, perhaps an ending that wasn’t so pat given the twists to get there, but that may have spoiled the clean lines of a charming little tale.

If you want a fairytale retelling that is a little different but still has that dreamy fairytale quality, give this book a go

Four and a half moonlit stars

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

Pink Lock Picks and Sequined Witch Hats by Carla Rehse

Magical romp with a poor little rich girl

I don’t know how I feel about this book. One the one hand, it’s a fun fantasy romp in the vein of the Mortal Instruments that hurtles along so fast, you miss the plotholes. On the other, it’s the story of a spoiled rich girl who mobilises her considerable resources and talents only for her own benefit - or to ‘help’ whichever boy she fancies herself in love with.

She always knows best, even when it’s obvious that she doesn’t, and I can’t bring myself to care about her. The other characters all dance around her or are obstacles for her to complain about. I’d like to think she’s learnt some compassion by the end, but I doubt it.

It was a fun enough read, but there are enough similar books out there that I probably won’t pick up the sequel.

Three sequinned stars

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

Retrograde by Kat Hauser

When Helena is hit by a truck, estranged husband Joachim takes advantage of her amnesia to try their relationship again. He thinks they’ve been given a second chance but Helena can tell that something is wrong.

This was an interesting book with evocative prose. Unfortunately, the feeling this evokes is bleakness. Helena is at first dazed by her accident then unsure how to work out this tangle that Joachim has put her in. Joachim has convinced himself that he can win Helena back but isn’t even sure that he wants to.

It wasn’t always clear what Helena remembered and Joachim’s gaslighting really creeped me out, but my main problem was that the story didn’t go anywhere – I was surprised when it got dark, but then it never went deeper than a murky grey. It doesn’t have much of a climax – the story tails off, and like the characters, you’re left wondering what happens next. Perhaps that’s the point, but it’s not what I look for in a book.

Three grey stars

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

Magic in her Eyes by Donna Dalton

This book opens with a woman talking to a tree.

No, really.

Her name is Meredith Talbot and she is in charge of an orphanage for children with special abilities, each of them with abilities that could get them labelled a witch. Their only safety is in their distance from the prying eyes in town. When the handsome Preston Booth moves them to the fort for protection from a marauding band of Indians, all their secrets risk being brought to light.

This is a pretty good book. The main characters are interesting, each with their own problems, and both grow to be better people through knowing the other. The children make an engaging supporting cast and without giving too much away, the true villains of the piece are the narrow-minded and the greedy. I liked that the author played with expectations.

The story felt a little rushed at times and I would’ve liked it a little longer, but it’s definitely worth a read, especially as it’s not your typical romance setting.

Four prescient stars

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

Tougher in Texas by Kari Lynn Dell

I know nothing about rodeo (and to be honest, I still know nothing about rodeo though the author does her best to make it understandable). What I know are books, and this one is a good ‘un.

I loved the main characters. Cole has a big heart, an inability to express himself, and a stubborn will that is akin to a bolder rolling downhill. His autism has made relationships difficult, though we are more told than shown this.

Shawnee is feisty and smart, a cancer survivor who knows that cancer doesn’t go away, it just goes into hiding. She is wary of long-term relationships because she doesn’t want anyone else hurt when the other shoe drops. She is prickly and sweet and so wonderfully real.

Their slow burn romance was satisfying and funny, and for a nice change, Shawnee did not double back from pursuing her dreams at the last moment. She kicks ass and gets the guy, and does not forgo kicking ass to get the guy, either. I really appreciated this.

Not having read any of Ms Dell’s earlier books, I did not understand the initial animosity between the two, nor could I really keep track of the rather large list of characters, most of whom only appear for a scene or two. I could tell some were from past books and others were possibilities for future ones, but all in all it was a bit much. This is a failing of longer romance series but this one is only the third book so there isn’t so much of an excuse.

Despite this, it was an enjoyable read with two fantastic leads and I might track down other books by the author. If rodeo / road trip romances are your thing, or slow burning enemies to lovers, or well-written people with flaws who still come out on top, then give this book a go.

Four fightin' stars

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

The Forgotten Beasts of Eld by Patricia McKillip

An enchantress lives in a castle in the mountains, alone but for her menagerie of mythical creatures. To the people below, they are barely-remembered beasts of old tales and she is not much different. Her solitude is shattered when a man knocks on her door with a baby in his arms.

This is a beautiful book, mystical and magical. There is romance, but it is not a romance – it is more of a coming-of-age as Sybel leaves her mountain home and discovers the world outside her gates. She is at once powerful and fragile, scheming and naïve. She is ill-used and makes mistakes, but rises above like the Liralen, the legendary bird she has never been able to call.

The setting is fantastical and familiar, a typical agrarian kingdom with a touch of magic on the side; the prose is powerful and dreamlike, timeless in its simplicity. Normally I rate books on how much I want to read more, but the ending was so perfect it defies this. If you enjoy fantasy beyond heroic quests and sword fights, please read this.

Five magical stars

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

Faerie Fruit by Charlotte English

Barren fruit trees begin bearing beautiful fruit as magic seeps into a small town. Something is wrong in Faerie and the town of Berrie-on-the-Wyn is somehow caught in the middle.

I liked this book, unconventional as it is. The prose is old-fashioned but once you get used to it, strangely hypnotic. The characters are varied (and a bit hard to keep track of) but give the book a delightful small-town feel. There are no huge surprises in store but the little ones keep it interesting.

The climax of the book was a little confusing and it veered between over-explanation and leaving the reader hanging. I might need to do a full reread to see what I missed, because even now, the finer details leave me a little uncertain.

There was no big conflict, no sense of tension in this book, but the writing is beautiful and I enjoyed reading it, and in the end that’s all you can ask of a book.

Four jewelled stars

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