Soul Breaker and Shade Chaser, City of Crows Books 1 & 2, Clara Coulson

Soul Breaker, City of Crows Book 1,  Clara Coulson 

Genre:  Mystery & Thrillers, Sci Fi & Fantasy
Now, Cal is a newly minted detective at the often mocked Department of Supernatural Investigations. By day, the agents of DSI are called “Kooks” by local law enforcement. By night, they’re known as “Crows,” reviled by the supernatural underworld. After my review request on Netgalley was granted for book two in this series ( hurrah and thanks ) I looked up book one for background info, and found its on KU so I read that first.
Its a fabulous read and sets out the scene for the events of the whole sereis, how and why Cal joined the team, what its aims are.

This series centres around one of the DSI teams, of which Cal is a rookie member, and brings in people from other supernatural groups; witches and warlocks, werewolves, vampires and of course the dangers of the Eververse, a kind of parallel universe full of baddies 😉
I loved Cal, didn’t expect to as he’s just 22, and one of my pet hates is when the new member of a team has all the skills and fun and does stuff the long time members can’t, despite their skills and knowledge.
It works here though, it’s fun with Cal, he kind of bumbles accidently into danger, scrapes out by the skin of his teeth, luck and much wit ( I adore his irreverent humour), and even though he knows he’s in well over his head his morals, the reason he joined the DSI, won’t let him sit back in safety.

As well as Cal ( Hot Crow as Witch Erica calls him), there are some great characters here. Erica is a very skilled witch who’s currently sleeping with Cal, a kind of friends with benefits relationship. Its a fine line as officially none of the groups share info, and help out only when it affects their group, or the public might get involved. The DSI (Crows) are looked down on by the rest of the police, as they don’t really know what they do, just see their cases taken over, and there’s a lot of resentment about that. So far the public don’t know about the other creatures that live in their world, but for how long I wonder? Its certainly getting harder to hide events. As well as Cal and Erica, main characters are DSI team leader Nicholas Ryder, team members Ella and Amy, along with others, Cooper the archivist, Marcus the leader of the Witches, and this time we meet some werewolves too.

Its a race a minute action, though not in the dull, heavy, battle weary style that I hate. Things don’t go to plan, clues are found by accident,  or by someone unknown pushing them in the right direction. There’s a smattering of sex with Erica, lots of action, some of it pretty gruesome! We really got to see Cal and understand him as a person, as well as going along with him on an incredible journey in search of Eververse creatures and trying to prevent catastrophe to the human world.
You could read this as a stand alone, but book two is on KU, or only £2.99 to buy and well worth it. Its the best supernatural fun read I’ve enjoyed for a while, and I’m really looking forward to more.
I’m not sure if this is a trilogy, it looks like it might wrap up in a third book, or an on-going series – I’m hoping for that of course.

Its a fun read, lots of magic and spells, lots of action, lots of humour from Cal, a good plotline with a great group of characters, that promises to be entertaining for several books ( please Ms Coulson!).
Its a story I quickly raced through, and will definitely join my re-readers file.

Stars: five, a cracking, fun read.

 

Shade Chaser, City of Crows Book 2,  Clara Coulson 
 

Genre:  Mystery & Thrillers, Sci Fi & Fantasy

After my review request was granted ( hurrah and thanks ) I looked up book one for background info, and found its on KU so I read that first.
Its a fabulous read and sets out the scene for the events of this book, how and why Cal joined the team, what its aims are.

This series centres around one of the DSI teams, of which Cal is a rookie member, and brings in people from other supernatural groups; witches and warlocks, werewolves, vampires and of course the dangers of the Eververse, a kind of parallel universe full of baddies 😉
I loved Cal, didn’t expect to as he’s just 22, and one of my pet hates is when the new member of a team has all the skills and fun and does stuff the long time members can’t, despite their skills and knowledge.
It works here though, it’s fun with Cal, he kind of bumbles accidently into danger, scrapes out by the skin of his teeth, luck and much wit ( I adore his irreverent humour), and even though he knows he’s in well over his head his morals, the reason he joined the DSI, won’t let him sit back in safety.

As well as Cal ( Hot Crow as Witch Erica calls him), there are some great characters here. Erica is a very skilled witch who’s currently sleeping with Cal, a kind of friends with benefits relationship. Its a fine line as officially none of the groups share info, and help out only when it affects their group, or the public might get involved. The DSI (Crows) are looked down on by the rest of the police, as they don’t really know what they do, just see their cases taken over, and there’s a lot of resentment about that. So far the public don’t know about the other creatures that live in their world, but for how long I wonder? Its certainly getting harder to hide events. As well as Cal and Erica, main characters are DSI team leader Nicholas Ryder, team members Ella and Amy, along with others, Cooper the archivist we met in book one, Marcus the leader of the Witches, and this time we meet some werewolves too.

Its a race a minute action, though not in the dull, heavy, battle weary style that I hate. Things don’t go to plan, clues are found by accident,  or by someone unknown pushing them in the right direction. There’s a smattering of sex with Erica, but also there seems to be a bit of a man crush on Cal by Cooper, the archivist who Cal saved in book one from dying in the Eververse, risking his own life. Though it’s not billed as a romance read, I do enjoy a side of romance with my reading, and here it’s a perfect balance, lots of story with just a hint of maybe possibilities- even if its just in my head, so that works well for me.

You could read this as a stand alone, but book one is on KU, or only 99p to buy and well worth it. Its the best supernatural fun read I’ve enjoyed for a while, and I’m really looking forward to more.
I’m not sure if this is a trilogy, it looks like it might wrap up in a third book, or an on-going series – I’m hoping for that of course.

Its a fun read, lots of magic and spells, lots of action, lots of humour from Cal, a good plotline with a great group of characters, that promises to be entertaining for several books ( please Ms Coulson!).
Its a story I quickly raced through, and will definitely join my re-readers file.

Stars: five, a cracking, fun read.

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

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Still Air, (Portland ME 4), Freya Barker.

Still Air, (Portland ME 4), Freya Barker.

Genre:  romance,

I came into this series via the second book, which I loved, and somehow missed the third one, but when I saw this I felt I just had to read it, I was so absorbed by Cruel Water, and Viv and Ike. As a couple they felt so right and their stories were so haunting.
I really hoped for more of that with Still Air, but though I enjoyed it, felt the storyline was very realistic, loved seeing the folk at the Skipper again, I wasn’t so convinced about Pam and Dino.

I love both of them as individuals, and the bit I saw of them before left me thinking they were balanced, confident individuals who just didn’t like each other….and yet that was really a face both wore, to keep their own problems hidden.
Poor Pam, when her story came out I was gutted for her, we always strive as parents but life has a way of dumping us in the s hit sometimes. I can see now why she’s so driven, so forceful in helping others put their lives back together.
Then there’s Dino, a quiet guy, couple of kids and we always think he’s content with life, but we find out that too is a public face, behind the scenes he’s got a broken marriage, with a drug addict, callous, bitchy ex, and two teens who’ve seen the fallout in recent years.
Things come to a head and he and Pam cross paths closely. Its make or break time, will they give in to that attraction between them or have one huge fallout!

I really enjoyed looking at the various issues, they’re true for so many people. I love when Dino’s gut reaction to his daughter’s friend is along the lines of No Way you’re getting close to that troublemaker…and then has to pull back when he realises that his son has made some very similar mistakes, and yet he sees Jonas as someone who’s made mistakes, is trying hard now to get past them and stay on track, and if he’s not to be hypocritical he needs to see Gina’s friend in the same way.
So that part was perfect, the issues, the drama, the way they overcame things, a cracking five star read but the romance – and that’s my real reason for reading – just didn’t feel quite right.
It was perfectly written, spicy and sensual, and yet I couldn’t really feel that magic “pull” that sense that they belong together, just can’t stay away. Viv and Ike had that, the sense that they were predestined almost, that somehow life would always set them on each others paths. For Pam and Dino though I felt they were together by convenience rather than destination, like eating a sandwich when you’re hungry rather than going out for a gourmet dinner.

Overall I enjoyed it, felt it was a good read, but expected a little more 😦 from the romance.
Still, that’s me, I can see others feel Pam and Dino are perfect together, you may too.

Stars: four, a great storyline that felt all too real, but I wasn’t convinced wholly by the romance.

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

Ride a Painted Pony, Kathleen Eagle

Ride a Painted Pony,  Kathleen Eagle

Genre:  romance, woman’s fiction

I so, so wanted to love this story, romance, a touch of suspense and horses – it sounded perfect, and yet it just didn’t work for me 😦

Maybe if I pick it up in a few months and try again I might enjoy it – there’s nothing I specifically disliked about the story.
Its well written and has characters that feel real, it was just that I didn’t actually like them. I need to love the leads, need to be worried about them, down when they’re sad, happy when they’re on the up, but they just left me feeling nothing, indifferent to them. I just didn’t really care where they went, what was going to happen.

I felt the story was very slow paced too, I enjoyed the start but once they got to the farm I seemed to be always waiting, waiting for some action, something to happen and it just didn’t feel real to me.

I can see others love it and that’s great, I’m happy for them and maybe at a different time I might enjoy this but I don’t think so. It has happened but I think this is just going to be one that I’ll pass on finishing.
I gave it to halfway but just wasn’t invested enough in the characters or plots to continue. There’s too many other books I could be reading. That’s not a reflection on the book of course, just on how I feel about it. Reading and what we enjoy is as individual as we are, and there will never book a book everyone loves, we all look for different things, have different priorities. Liking stories is a very subjective thing, what one person adores another will feel indifferent to and yet others will hate.
.
Stars: Two, a miss for me but a hit for others.

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

How Not to Let Go, Emily Foster

How Not to Let Go,  Emily Foster

Genre:   Romance, New Adult

I’d only reads the sample of How Not to Fall, and after reading this I really want to read that.
How Not to Let Go is an incredible read, full of emotions that really pulled at me, had me on the edge of tears. It is a romance read, very much so, but very, very different to the typical ones we see.

I think even though I loved this I’d have got more, understood more if I’d read the first story. Its very connected to this book, Charles family and background is so flawed, so integral to how he feels here, the problems he has, the way he just feels he’s just not good enough for her, can’t be what she deserves and needs. Yet he can’t seem to stay away, can’t quite let go of her.
Its clear to the reader he loves her as much as she loves him but he just can’t let himself love. And that’s the problem, letting go, feeling, trusting, giving oneself over to someone else, he just can’t take that step.

Annie- oh she’s wonderful, adored by her parents and yet she’s not spoiled, they have money but she’s not showered in material goods. What it has given her though, this precious background full of love, is so much self confidence, not in an OTT arrogant way, but just that she knows and acknowledges her strengths, and she’s always a glass half full person, always looking at the positives. I really enjoyed her.

The story picks up from their separation, to where they’re both moving on, but shattered, broken it feels.
At first I though Annie was the more distraught one, but as I came to know Charles ( and perhaps would have got this earlier if I’d read book one), I understood that actually he’s really struggling underneath that facade he puts forward. He’s a different man inside, but he’s so used to controlling himself, putting his needs last and looking after everyone else, that what we see is only a shadow of the actual man. Oh I was soooo in love with him, even when I wanted to scream “ just hug her Man, give her a chance”.

There were times when I felt the novel got a little too wordy, too literate and “clever”, that the continual metaphors and references were a bit much, and I had to keep stopping to work out what exactly the author meant by them, it took time to understand what she was getting at.
I didn’t really follow Charles’  family dynamics, didn’t know why no-one really stood up to his father, why his mum stayed with him – he really was an awful, obnoxious ranter. Again maybe that was in the first book, but it became clear by the end of this.
It didn’t spoil how I loved the story, but maybe would have helped me understand Charles a little more.

Their love seems destined, their Thing, their Something, is just meant to be, but somehow Charles keeps getting in his own way. Annie is so open, so ready to accept any and everything, to take Love as part of the natural progress of Annie and Charles but he can’t.
It took most of the book before I really understood why. I’d got early on he had some serious issues, but somehow each time they look like their being overcome something happens and more arise and I see they’re deeper than I thought.

I can’t end with mentioning Charles family, the good side – their mum and Abba – wonderful, Biz, I want to know more of her, and of course Simon.
Simon is even more of a genius that Charles, works in some super secret role for the UK Gov, and he’s got issues beside the ones he shares with Charles and Biz about their father. He’s an Albino, and has a really bad stutter. I loved the way he could quote and sing without stuttering.
Years ago one of our friends had a severe stroke which left him with impaired speech, and a really bad stutter and yet, like Simon, he could sing perfectly, never stumble on a word. The brain is an incredible thing isn’t it?
I do hope Emily has a book (or books) in store for Simon. He really deserves to find love, to feel that someone loves him for himself, not because he’s family, not because he’s a genius but just because he’s Simon.

I was so entranced by the connection between Charles and Annie, enjoyed reading about how he had to work through some serious mental issues caused by his awful father, the way they were described ( rage mountain etc), the way he talked things through with therapist Clarissa. That part led me to understanding more of him and how he struggled with expressing and understanding his feelings. On the face it seems simple, love someone and they love you and that’s it but this made me think of how many people are like Charles, deserving and wanting love but feeling they just can’t.
With PTSD and similar problems becoming more and more recognised, metal health issues are so important for people to move forward from them.

Of course what I haven’t mentioned is the sex, I can see from reviews that this was a big part of book one. Here its a more minor role but wow – when they do get together its incredible; sensual, erotic, steamy and also very much linking to the issues Charles has. It shows how pervasive childhood influences are, how they seep in and affect so much of our adult lives.

And I’ve rambled a bit, well – a lot, but its such a wonderful read, so focussed, so intense, so different from the myriad of fluffy Alpha heroes that dominate romance. I like those sometimes, there are some really well written ones, but there are far more that are just simplistic and formulaic. This book is romance at the very opposite end of the scale to that. I loved it, loved way the characters felt so real, the situations what many of us have been through, loved the British terms – as a UK reader I appreciated Ar se not Ass!!!

Stars: Five, one to keep, to savour rereading – preferably after reading the first book.

ARC supplied for review purposes by Netgalley and Publishers

The Prince’s Plan, E. M. Youman

The Prince’s Plan,  E. M. Youman

Genre:  New Adult, Romance

I really didn’t know what to expect with this, loved the description but the author only has a 14 page short, and a quick non fic read out, so they weren’t any help for me to try to see if her writing style and I gel.
I hummed and hawed for a bit and finally took the plunge.

And I’m so glad I did. Don’t be fooled by the title, this is no fluffy romance, no fifty times removed royalty tale, but a very realistic and at times gritty romance. I really enjoyed it even though it was very slow to get started.

That start was just so, so slow though, and TBH I didn’t like what we saw of either Danny or Marnie to begin. He comes over as a typical selfish, arrogant star, only wanting to help Marnie to appease guilt he feels over his past. Marnie is just an enigma, we don’t know why or how but she’s prostituting herself for drugs, and doesn’t want to get clean.
I really couldn’t take to them, and maybe if this hadn’t been a review I’d have given up, but that would be a shame and I’d have missed out on what’s been a great read, with characters that are flawed, do things wrong, aren’t always grateful for help – real people actually just like most of us.

Addicts have their own code of morality – basically everything is someone else’s fault. They steal, its your fault for putting temptation in front of them, take drugs when they’ve promised to give up – your fault again for believing them…and that’s how it goes. they’ll lie, cheat, steal from closest family, nothing matters when they need the next hit.
So after a real tragedy Danny is currently clean, and when he sees Marnie he sees a chance to help someone. Its not all goodness of the heart stuff though, his main reasons are his conscience and hoping to pay for some past issues that way. You can’t change the past though, whatever good deeds you do in the present.
Marnie comes to stay, but is sullen, unhappy, argues with him….and you’d think being an addict himself he’d know all that is par for the course, but he’s kind of shocked, he expected her to be grateful.
He’s tough with her though, insists she works hard, sticks to a routine and slowly things start to work out.
Right from the start there’s a sizzle between them but he’s determined not to go there and makes that plain to Marnie from day one.

Working so closely they get to understand each other better, and of course want to help each other. That doesn’t always go well, especially as like us they only know parts of the past.
Marnie’s clearly holding a huge secret, and its not until quite well in the book we begin to get hints of what it is and why she fell into drugs. When it does come out its heart-breaking, and by then I’d come to like her and admire what she was trying to do, even though when she lapsed I was wanting to shout at her “no…Marnie, no!”
There’s so much going on here as well as the fame and drugs story, and its so real, so true and sad, when often books tend to romanticise drugs and addiction. You know the sort, 30 days in rehab and they come out clean and perfect, when most times its a hard slog with lots of setbacks.

There’s an incident towards the end that shocked me, came out of the blue and led to some huge changes. One part of me was saying “what the heck is going on? where did that come from? and why?” Yet odd things like that really do happen, and they have a huge impact on so many lives. It seemed to bring Danny and Marnie much closer, made them look at each other and how they feel.

Its a not a sex fest romance, Danny does have *interludes* with other ladies, but between him and Marnie very little happens until the end. That works, fits the story, and the reasoning and incidences that led to that felt very genuine.
I really enjoyed this book, far more than I thought I would. Its very character based, really gets into the minds of both of them, and how addiction changes people, how easy it is to get started and how hard to stop.
It shows well too how family and friends get hurt by addicts, how they lose trust, faith, can’t ever really believe they are clean until a proven time has passed. Even then addicts are always addicts, it only takes one time to spiral them back.

If you want light and fluffy romance, a spicy, sensual easy read this isn’t the book for you.
If you want some tough and gritty drama, real characters and situations with a romance that finally ends in a HEA then try this. Its got all that and more!!

Stars: Four and a half, a great read, but I wish it hard been a little quicker to start, and that I’d have liked Marnie and Danny earlier. That would have made it a five for me.

ARC supplied by Netgalley and publisher

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Merry Christmas to you all, and thanks for being part of this blog in 2016 – lets hope 2017 is a happy, healthy and wealthy new year for everyone.

May all your dreams come true.

Jeannie

The Paper Magician trilogy snapped up by Disney.

 

Back in Oct 2014 I added a post about a terrific YA book I’d read called the Paper Magician, first in a trilogy. I really loved it, one of those rare YA reads that suit all ages. Clearly Disney agree as they’ve just bought the film ( I can’t bring myself to write Movie – its Film in UK!!) rights to all three books, it was announced in March this year and Charlie Holmberg, the author, has just announced the contracts have now been signed. well done to her, a great start considering this was her debut novel!!

Oddly looking at the critical reviews I’d usually agree, with US phrases in a UK setting that grate with UK readers, but I must have missed them. normally those stick out so it must have been such a good read I glossed over them. Perhaps Disney will sort that out but I doubt it, and sadly things like that really stand out in films 😦

https://jeanniezelos.wordpress.com/2014/10/27/the-paper-magician-charlie-n-holmberg/

 

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disney-nabs-movie-rights-paper-877728

Some great Sci-fi and Fantasy reads on KU for Christmas

Some terrific sci-fi and Fantasy reads on KU for a limited time. I’ve read a few. Great way to escape mentally from all the Xmas  bickering and family arguments joy and goodwill.

Link – https://t.co/FZYzNwUXTf

This series I love and they are all currently on KU – The QUENTIN BLACK MYSTERY books

A few more favourite reads

The Lie  Karina Halle

bought this on early price promotion a while back, I always look out for things like that from authors who’s work I love.

I love Karina’s style and this book was the usual gripping, rivetting surprise. She’s got the knack of making things that seem totally unlikely to feel real, to bring characters to life and once again I found I was really wanting things to work out well for Briggs and Natasha.
I love the way Karina’s characters feel so real that I empathise with them, get sad and happy when they do, they really feel like friends of mine. I first found her via the fabulous Experiment in Terror series – a great read and one I’ve gone through more that once! Now I’ve come to live her contemporary works too and they are as varied as the suspense Artist trilogy, or these contemporary romance reads. A real mutli tasking author able to write across genres and still keep readers hooked.
A great story to join The Pact, the Offer and The Play. ( read and loved all those too )

 Fix You Carrie Elks (this book led me on to others of hers)

https://jeanniezelos.wordpress.com/2014/02/13/fix-you-carrie-elks/

The Spiral Down, Aly Martinez

This is currently on KU, a great way to try new to you authors. that’s a fabulous way of reading for people like me who devour books.

Please Don’t Stop The Music (Choc Lit):Jane Lovering

…
Shifting Shadows: Stories From the World of Mercy Thompson.. Patricia Briggs

http://amzn.to/2hUbMge  – Link to Amazon uk Patricia Briggs page

Fire Touched: Mercy Thompson Book 9 Patricia Briggs

I’ve the whole series of this, have reread several times and its always great to get back with Adam, Mercy and the gang. a sereis I’m happy to pay full price for 😉

…
The Duality Paradigm (Blood & Bone Trilogy Book 1)

http://amzn.to/2hGVxme

got this back in April when it was free, haven’t read the two next ones though.

Rock You (Fallen Star Book 1) Candy J Starr

http://amzn.to/2i0055d currently free and I enjoyed this but haven’t bothered with the three follow ups, which don’t have great reviews, are short and just seem to have dragged the story out for no reason.

…

Marrying Mister Perfect (Reality Romance Book 1)Lizzie Shane

Fun light romance, still free 🙂

Blood Gift/Gate, the Wolf within Series Amy Lee Burgess

http://amzn.to/2hZZDDS Link to author page

 another two series that I’ll happily re read my way through

…

Queer Trade KJ Charles

I’ve had lots of this authors stories via Netgalley but this one I bought. Again she’s an author who’s books I love to reread. All M/M reads, set back in time, some paranormal some not. My favorites are still her Magpie Lord novels.

Jaz Parks series Jennifer Rardin

http://amzn.to/2i02EEn

I read this series in my pre kindle days, love it and now have them on kindle. sadly Jennifer died after finishing this series, so there are no more books from her.

No Small Parts, Ally Blue

No Small Parts,  Ally Blue

Genre:  LGBTQIA, Romance

I love the Bluewater Bay series, we’re on to book 16 now, and unlike some other long running series it still feels fresh and original.
I think maybe that’s because so many different authors are involved, each bringing their own style and yet still retaining core standards for the characters. So for example Anna in this book is just the same kind of person we know from meeting her in earlier books, she still acts and feels like the Anna we’ve come to know.

This time we’ve Nat, a BB inhabitant who’s got work as an extra. He’s got some talent and soon catches director Anna’s eye for that – he also catches Raphael’s eye too – he’s assistant to Solari, one of the main cast, and Nat is attracted to Solari not knowing that she’s already in a relationship. Confused??
Solari sees something in Nat though, and they become good friends, and that brings him into Raphael’s orbit where he realises that he returns Raphael’s interest.

Poor Nat though has problems. He lives with and looks after his dad, who’s addicted to his pain meds, keeps taking too many. That’s causing him issues, and means he gets confused and is in danger when alone.
Nat’s sister isn’t interested in helping, nor is his uncle. His dad wasn’t a very nice man to either of them, and they leave poor Nat to cope.
Its tough on him though, and he feels very alone when we first meet him. Added to that his dad knows he’s Bi, doesn’t like it when he’s involved with a man, and  can’t see why he can’t just choose a woman to have a relationship with. Weird isn’t it how people think attraction and love can be choices….
Nat loves his acting break, and when his talent is recognised he’s so happy. The extra money will come in useful too, he’s supporting his dad and has been working additional jobs to pay for meds and sitters etc.
Once he gets involved with Raphael he feels so much better, someone to love, to talk to, to be with, and they’re both excited about his possible opening career wise. He’s such a sweet man, so loving, so hard working and determined to support his dad even though he isn’t helping himself. Nat keeps thinking of the man he was when he was a kid and his mum was still alive, and hoping he’ll return. His dad’s problems aren’t going to get better though and mean he’s tied to the Bay, and he knows that Raphael will return to Hollywood at some point 😦

Raphael’s a lovely man too, very devoted to his career but in an honest way. He wants to get into directing but he’s not afraid of the hard work it’ll take.
When he meets Nat and they get closer both of them don’t think too far ahead, but its wonderful watching them fall for each other, seeing them grow closer, have the support of each other.

Just when everything is going well it all goes wrong, and I so felt for Nat, he’s so full of guilt and I hated the way he just couldn’t see into a positive future, the way he was so gutted at what had happened that he wouldn’t let himself be happy, wouldn’t move forward. Raphael was trying so hard to help him, but ultimately only he could make the decision about what to do.

Stars: Four, a lovely story, back in the Bay with some old characters and new ones.

ARC supplied by Netgalley and publisher