Showing posts with label anthology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label anthology. Show all posts

Monday, 20 June 2022

Blog Bliz: Fantasy Short Stories by Suzanne Rogerson


A collection of stories featuring favourite characters from Visions of Zarua and ‘Silent Sea Chronicles’, plus a glimpse into the new series, ‘Starlight Prophecy’.

The Guardian
With an assassin picking off wizards one-by-one, Kalesh visits Cassima, a former student, hoping to persuade her to re-join the Royal Wizards and use their protection to keep her family safe.Kalesh’s newest charge, Paddren, has strange visions which link to a past event known only to a select few. The knowledge hidden in Paddren’s visions is invaluable so Kalesh must guard the boy at any cost.
Can Kalesh keep his students off the assassin’s radar long enough for his order to stop the killer?

Garrick the Protector
Fifteen-year-old Garrick is helping at his uncle’s farm when his cousin’s illegal use of magic threatens the family’s safety.
Mara is in immediate danger from the Assembly who deem all magic as a threat. The only safe place for her is the Turrak Mountains where exiled mystics have found sanctuary alongside the island’s Sentinel.
Can Garrick get Mara to safety before the Assembly catch up with them?

War Wounds
Conscripted to fight off raiders, Calder finds the months of bloody battle unleash a sixth sense buried inside him.
Finally released from duty, he travels home and encounters a mysterious woman who insists his life is destined to serve a higher purpose. Calder rejects her claims, wanting only to return to a simple existence with his wife.
But can Calder pick up his old life when the powers within him have been stirred? And why does he feel such misgivings about his return?

All three stories give readers a tantalising glimpse into the fantasy worlds created by Suzanne Rogerson.

Purchase Link - http://mybook.to/fantasySS

Review

Though unrelated, these three stories each hark back to classic epic fantasy of swords and magic. They act as a prologue of sorts to a full length story - one novel, one trilogy, and one upcoming series, and all give a peek into these worlds without spoiling the plot or needing additional context. There's even an excerpt from the already-released books to pique further interest!

I found The Guardian bittersweet as it plays out like a foregone conclusion, as much as I and the characters hope otherwise. Garrick the Protector was probably my favourite, showcasing a teenager determined to be strong when the world turns on his family. War Wounds was the most complex, with the horror of war from both sides and a dollop of mystery and threat.

The stories draw you in and leave you wanting to know just a bit more about these characters and what happens next. If you're looking for some fantasy to jump into, these bite-sized stories will give you a good taste of something new - and if you've read these books already, these will give you some backstory of your favourite characters.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of these stories via Rachel's Random Resources; all opinions are my own

Author Bio  

Suzanne lives in Middlesex, England with her husband, two children and a crazy cocker spaniel.

Her writing journey began at the age of twelve when she completed her first novel. She discovered the fantasy genre in her late teens and has never looked back. Giving up work to raise a family gave Suzanne the impetus to take her attempts at novel writing beyond the first draft, and she is lucky enough to have a husband who supports her dream - even if he does occasionally hint that she might think about getting a proper job one day.

Now an author of four novels including the Silent Sea Chronicles trilogy and her debut, Visions of Zarua, Suzanne hopes the dreaded ‘W’ word will never rear its ugly head again!

She loves gardening and has a Hebe (shrub) fetish. She enjoys cooking with ingredients from the garden and regularly feeds unsuspecting guests vegetable-based cakes.

Suzanne collects books, is interested in history and enjoys wandering around castles and old ruins whilst being immersed in the past. She likes to combine her love of nature and photography on family walks, but most of all she loves to escape with a great film, binge watch TV shows, or soak in a hot bubble bath with an ice cream and a book.

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Tuesday, 22 June 2021

Blog Post: Midsummer Magic at Miss Moonshine’s Emporium


Are you ready to meet Miss Moonshine? Life may never be the same again…

It’s summer in Haven Bridge and Miss Moonshine is getting ready for a busy season. From the window of her Wonderful Emporium, at the heart of the pretty Yorkshire town, she watches and waits, weaving plans to bring happiness to all who step through her door. For Miss Moonshine is no ordinary shopkeeper. She may not have what you want, but she will always have what you need…

Nine romantic novelists from Yorkshire and Lancashire, including best-selling and award-winning authors, have joined together to create this anthology of uplifting stories guaranteed to warm your heart. This magical collection of contemporary romances will make you laugh, cry and wish for a Miss Moonshine in your own life.

Purchase Links
UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Midsummer-Magic-Miss-Moonshines-Emporium-ebook/dp/B094W5FVWF/
US - https://www.amazon.com/Midsummer-Magic-Miss-Moonshines-Emporium-ebook/dp/B094W5FVWF/

Review

In the town of Haven Bridge is a little second-hand shop run by an eccentric old woman. You might not find what you're looking for, but you will find what you need - especially if what you need is love! This is a charming anthology of short, sweet romances, tied together by a little old lady who might just be magic.

Each story is a perfect bite-sized morsel filled with a range of main characters and themes (non-spoilery synopses ahead, skip if you want to go in fresh!):

We start with A Glitch in Time where some of Miss Moonshine's more overt magic helps Nicola gain a new perspective on life. I loved seeing the different reactions and how they each adjusted.

Second is Caught Red Handed, where a very bad beginning at Miss Moonshine's somehow leads to the best time. Eventually. There's a hilarious scene with fruit, which is all I will say without spoilers.

Next is the gorgeous Three Butterflies, an opposites attract where uptight perfumier Olivier must share a houseboat with free spirit Tamsin.

One of my favourites is GU1909, about a woman who runs a mechanics, overshadowed by grief. I loved the unconventional setting and Maddie's delight in the old car.

The Secret of Greymoor Hall is a fun treasure hunt of a story and a love letter to antiques as Miss Moonshine pulls off one of her bigger miracles.

The bittersweet The Treasure Seekers also investigates grief and how what you want might not be what you need.

In Ginny's Ghost, idle conversation with a friend leads to great inconvenience for baker Ginny, whose delectable creations almost floated off the page (I wish!).

Another of my favourites is I Shall Wear Purple, about a widow, abandoned in a rest home after her children convinced her to sell up. I really liked this second chance romance with older leads.

Finally, Music, Love, and Other Languages is a lovely story about the joy and universality of music.

If you're looking for some low-conflict, high-sweetness romance to brighten your day, please give this a go!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Rachel's Random Resources; all opinions are my own

Author Bio

The nine Miss Moonshine authors – Mary Jayne Baker, Sophie Claire, Jacqui Cooper, Helena Fairfax, Kate Field, Melinda Hammond, Marie Laval, Helen Pollard and Angela Wren – meet up regularly in the little mill town of Hebden Bridge, on the border between the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire – hence their group name, Authors on the Edge. This picturesque town, home to many writers, artists and musicians, was the inspiration for their magical character Miss Moonshine, and their uplifting series of anthologies featuring romance and happy endings.

Saturday, 22 February 2020

The Arrangement by Sylvia Day; Minerva Spencer; Kristin Vayden

This is a collection of novellas, all involving arranged marriages. Specifically, we have one story with matchmakers and two with marriages of convenience, and the overall effect is... mixed.

Mischief and the Marquess by Sylvia Day
I have to say, this was my least favourite of the three. I felt like we started in the middle of the series and skipped to the end. The most frustrating thing was that no-one ever explains exactly why or how Sophie is so ruined that she can't imagine a happy ending with Justin. I do however give Justin kudos for considering it unthinkable that he would sleep with Sophie and not marry her, and then following through. He was possibly my favourite of the heroes for his integrity and common sense.

The Duke's Treasure by Minerva Spencer
Beau needs money. Jo has money, and has secretly been in love with him for five years. Her father brokers the match from his deathbed, a match that has its roots in tangled relationships from - you guessed it - five years ago. I enjoyed how Beau and Jo got to know each other and you know what? I changed my mind. I love how Beau made a conscious decision to honour and befriend his new wife, even as his ex-fiancee and current sister-in-law crashes the honeymoon. I do think this one finished quite abruptly though.

The Inconvenient Countess by Kristin Vayden
In a flip of the previous story, Diana needs money and Brook needs respectability. This one made a little bit less sense than the other one and I found the story even more rushed. Of course, the best part was how Brook and Diana both decided that while this wasn't an ideal situation, they would make the best of it and learn to live with the other - and of course, 'live with' turns to love with startling alacrity.

Overall, this was a decent but not great collection of stories that had good relationships but where (likely due to word limits) the plots all fell by the wayside. Three stars.

Disclaimer: I received an ARC via NetGalley; all opinions are my own.

Tuesday, 24 October 2017

Sweet Christmas Romances 2017

Right what it says on the tin

Are you looking for some sweet romances this holiday season? Then look no further than this collection of five stories. Each is chock-full of Christmas cheer and enough sweetness to make your teeth hurt! As a bonus, each one ends with a recipe that featured in the story and I can’t wait to try some of them out.

 My favourite story was Analeigh's Christmas Cupcakes by Jennifer Conner about a cupcake baker who suffers a hit and run on the way to a wedding that could make or break her business. I adored how the hero was a down-to-earth tow truck driver and how he helped Analeigh – not just with a ride but in the kitchen! I have a soft spot for guys who enjoy domesticity without being showy. My other favourite was Margie's Magic Cookie Bars by Laura Strickland about a couple of unrequited crushes. I absolutely loved when Margie finally realised what a tool her crush was – it was super satisfying to read.

The other stories were also fun, though I’m not a huge fan of insta-love or love triangles. Still, if light and fluffy is what you want, I’d definitely recommend this anthology.

Four sugary stars


I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Tuesday, 11 July 2017

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