Review: The Pharaoh's Cat by Maria Luisa Lang

Title: The Pharaoh's Cat
Author: Maria Luisa Lang
Genre: Historical Fiction, Adult
Publication date: May 6th 20153
Pages: 184 (paperback)
Source: own-it

The Pharaoh’s Cat, a tragicomic fantasy narrated in the present tense by the cat himself, tells of a free-spirited, wise-cracking stray in ancient Egypt who suddenly acquires human powers and immediately captivates the young Pharaoh, making him laugh for the first time since his parents’ death.

The cat becomes the Pharaoh’s constant companion and, at the royal palace and on a tour of Egypt, participates in the festivities, developing an insatiable appetite for good food, wine, and gossip. Gradually, he renews the Pharaoh’s ability to enjoy life and inspires him to become a stronger leader. The bond of selfless love they share will change Egypt’s destiny.

The cat has a good friend in the High Priest of the god Amun-Ra and seeks his help in solving the mystery of his human powers and the supernatural manifestations that plague him. He has a mortal enemy in the Vizier—the second most powerful man in Egypt--who hates him for his close relationship with the Pharaoh. The Vizier’s persecution of the cat ultimately results in his fleeing with the High Priest to present-day New York City, where they find an ally in an Egyptologist’s daughter.

Goodreads

Ancient Egypt has always fascinated me in many ways, the way that the pharaoh’s ruled, how they build pyramids, the gods they worshipped… their whole culture is just so intriguing. So when Maria Luisa Lang approached me with the question to read her book I immediately said yes. And I am glad that I did because I got so much more than I expected!

The Pharaoh’s cat tells the adventures of a cat in ancient Egypt through the eyes of a cat. It might sound a bit odd but it was really great story and refreshing as well. It is not every day that you read a book through the eyes of a cat. From the very start I fell in love with Wrappa-Hamen, he really behaves like most cats I know. He’s lazy and basically only thinks about his next meal, but somehow his little adventures always turn into a big mess which was often quite hilarious. What I really loved that Wrappa-Hamen’s thoughts were exactly what I always imagined my cat to think. I do not know how the author managed to get the cats character so spot on but I imagine that she must have studied her own cat for a long while.

I really loved the way how the author decided to tell the story of some big events in Egypt. She managed to weave in the ancient Egyptian culture in her book in a way that it made it light and easy to understand.  I cannot tell how accurate all the events where in this book but I am sure that some of them are based on reality. And it wonderful that the author also gave descriptions of how the temples and the houses looked like. I definitely picked up some new things by reading this book.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick and fun read, it was perfect to fill up a nice Sunday afternoon. I really loved the uniqueness of the point of view of this book, it was interesting and refreshing. I cannot wait to read more of Wrappa-Hamen’s adventures. 

Elien

Review: Legacy (Andalucian Night #3) by Hannah Fielding

Title: Legacy
Author: Hannah Fielding
Series: Andalucian Nights
Genre: Romance, Adult
Publisher: London Wall Publishing
Publication date: August 25th 2016
Pages: 448 (paperback)
Source: own it (received from author)

A troubled young journalist finds her loyalties tested when love and desire unearth dark secrets from the past.

Spring, 2010. When Luna Ward, a science journalist from New York, travels halfway across the world to work undercover at an alternative health clinic in Cadiz, her ordered life is thrown into turmoil.

The doctor she is to investigate, the controversial Rodrigo Rueda de Calderon, is not what she expected. With his wild gypsy looks and devilish sense of humour, he is intent upon drawing her to him. But how can she surrender to a passion that threatens all reason; and how could he ever learn to trust her when he discovers her true identity? Then Luna finds that Ruy is carrying a corrosive secret of his own…

Luna’s native Spanish blood begins to fire in this land of exotic legends, flamboyant gypsies and seductive flamenco guitars, as dazzling Cadiz weaves its own magic on her heart. Can Luna and Ruy’s love survive their families’ legacy of feuding and tragedy, and rise like the phoenix from the ashes of the past?

Legacy is a story of truth, dreams and desire. But in a world of secrets you need to be careful what you wish for…

Goodreads

Legacy is the third and final instalment in the Andalucian Nights series.  I have read all the other books in this series as well so I was curious to see how the series would conclude. And I recently went on holiday to Andalucía so it made this book even more appealing to me.

Luna grew up in the States and is currently working for a scientific newspaper in New York. But then her boss wants her to investigate a clinic in Spain, since her family on her mother’s side is Spanish this is the perfect task for her. As soon as she sets food on Spanish soil she comes across the charismatic and brooding Ruy. He is a complete mystery to Luna and as fate wants it there paths seem to keep colliding.

In a lot of ways Legacy was quite similar to Fielding’s other books. The two main characters meet, they are instantly attracted towards each other and they want to get to know one another but obstacles are continuously thrown on their path which makes their love seem doomed. And that is probably one of the biggest issues I had with this book. I loved it in the first book, thought it was okay in the second one but by this one it had become pretty repetitive. Especially since you already know how things will end in the end, there are no surprises left.

Besides that I did still enjoy this book, especially since it explores alternative health care. I do not know much about the subject so it was interesting to learn a bit more about it while reading this book. Another thing that I liked about it was the rich description of everything. Fielding always has the habit of doing that. And this time I enjoyed it even more since I had recently been to that region of Spain so it felt like I was revisiting certain memories. The author always just gives so many details and wonderful description that it feels like you are transported to that very place in that moment. And it is one of the things that I enjoyed the most about this book.

Overall I still did enjoy this book even though that I had some issues with it. If it is the first book that you read by Hannah Fielding that you will definitely experience it as a fun romance read. And I definitely still want to continue reading her other books. 

Elien

Review: Mansfield Park Revisited by Joan Aiken

Title: Mansfield Park Revisited
Author: Joan Aiken
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance, Adult 
Publisher: RHCP
Publication date: November 7th 2013
Pages: 272 (hardcover)
Source: bought it







After the sad demise of Sir Thomas, Edmund Bertram and his new wife Fanny must sail to the West Indies in order to oversee the family's affairs. 

Back at Mansfield Park, Fanny's younger sister Susan is left at the helm. The household faces disarray, and she must guide the estate through gossip and grievances. Yet the news of Henry and Mary Crawford's return to Mansfield heralds the greatest storm yet. With the arrival of this dangerous pair, romance is once more in the air, and hearts are set to be broken. 

Featuring a cast of characters from Jane Austen's classic, including Susan Price, Thomas Bertram, Lady Bertram, Julia Yates and, of course, the infamous Crawford siblings.

Goodreads

I have always loved Jane Austen her books and Mansfield Park is one of her better ones in my opinion. I really loved it when I read it so when I found Mansfield Park Revisited in the book store I got curious and picked it up. I did not think that I would read it any time soon but the other day I found myself wanting to read some historical fiction and that was also light to read and this book was perfect for that.

Mansfield Park Revisited picked up four years after the ending of Mansfield Park. Fanny and Edmund are about to leave for the West Indies to see things over at Edmund’s late father. So with them out of the picture the focus shift to Fanny’s little sister Susan who came to live at Mansfield when Fanny married Edmund. It is logical that the author removed Fanny and Edmund out of the story and decided to focus on different characters off the book. After all why would she want to disturb the perfect image that Jane Austen had created for them?  So with them gone we get to see more off the other people at Mansfield, some of the old characters make appearances while they are also some new characters that get introduced.

I did like Susan as a character; she is a young lively lady that makes the best out of her current position. We did not get to see much of her in Mansfield Park so I was happy to learn more about her. And all in all I am happy about how she is portrayed, she knows that she does not truly fit into the Bertram family but at the same time she is also not afraid to form and voice her own opinion; which is admirable. Some of the new characters that got introduced were fun to read about, Mr. Wadham and his sister Mrs. Osborne were likeable characters. If anything I would have loved to get to know them better. Then of course there are still some old characters that reappear in this book like lady Bertram, Julia Yates, Tom Bertram and of course the Crawfords who turned everyone’s life at Mansfield upside down four years ago. Some of these characters have changed for the better while others only got worse and more snobbish over the years.

Some of the things were a bit unbelievable. Jane Austen had portrayed these characters in a specific way and to see them changed it is hard to belief. But then I guess when you write a sequel to someone else’s story you have to change some things otherwise there would hardly be a story at all. But what bothered me the most was probably the romance aspects, or better the lack there off.  It seemed that with every single character the love came out of thin air. To me it seemed like the characters had never had any romantic interest in each other until suddenly they opened their eyes and they realized that their soulmate had been standing right in front of them for all those years. And that is just something I cannot believe in.

Overall I did enjoy this book. I was looking for a light, fun and quick read and that is exactly what I got with Mansfield Park Revisited.  Although I think I will keep to the real work of Jane Austen for now. 

Elien

Review: Phantasma by Efthalia

Title: Phantasma
Author: Efthalia
Genre: Supernatural, Adult, Romance
Publisher: Mill City Press
Publication date: April 12th 2016
Pages: 396 (paperback)
Source: received from author






Carissa Alkippes is the daughter of a god but she doesn't know it. As a cop she's seen her fair share of bad but nothing prepared her for the horror of the world she has been plunged into. 

Xen lyson is the head of the Phi Athanatoi, a group of immortals who have been protecting man for over 2,000 years from the Kakodiamones - demons who want nothing more than to feast on humanity. 

Thrown face to face with Xen during a skirmish with the demons, Carissa becomes a pawn in the deadly game of a demi-god who seeks godly powers.

Goodreads

Phantasma was not really my cup of tea. It started of good and it had a lot of potential but it just could not hold my interest until the end.

I liked that the book had some Greek mythology woven into it together with some other supernatural aspects but I would have loved it if the author had exploited those things more. You can do so many great things with Greek mythology but know it sometimes felt like it was there just because she needed some action.

Basically what this book was just about a hot sexy guys that has been around for centuries and has never found love and this lovely, beautiful and independent girl who happens to be all alone as well. And of course when they meet it is love at first side and since it is a supernatural book they were fated to be with each other. And to be fair I am a bit done with that. But I could have looked past that if the rest of the book was okay. At first it was there was some mystery going on and some action. But then it seems like the author run out of inspiration since the story kept repeating itself. Carissa, the main character got kidnapped and rescued by Xen about five times. And those five times she got kidnapped by the same time. After the second kidnapping I already got a bit tired of it and that is where the book lost my interest.

Overall I was not really impressed by this book. It started off pretty good but after that it went downhill which is really a shame since it had so much potential. I probably will not continue this series since I have this feeling that it will just be more like this.

Elien

Review: The Echoes of Love by Hannah Fielding

Title: The Echoes of Love
Author: Hannah Fielding
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Adult
Publisher: London Wall Publishing
Publication Date: December 6th 2013
Pages: 416 (paperback)
Source: received from the author








Seduction, passion and the chance for new love. A terrible truth will change two lives forever. 

Venetia Aston-Mantagu has escaped to Italy's most captivating city to work in her godmother's architectural practice, putting a lost love behind her. For the past ten years she has built a fortress around her heart, only to find the walls tumbling down one night of the carnival when she is rescued from a masked assailant by an enigmatic stranger, Paolo Barone.

Drawn to the powerful seductive Paolo, despite warning of his Don Juan reputation and rumours that he keeps a mistress, Venetia can't help being caught up in the smoldering passion that ignites between them. 

When she finds herself assigned to a project at his magnificent home deep in the Tuscan countryside, Venetia must not only contend herself with a beautiful young rival, but also come face to face with the dark shadows of Paolo's past that threaten to come between them. 

Can Venetia trust that love will triumph, even over her own demons? Or will Paolo's carefully guarded devastating secret tear them apart forever?

Goodreads

The Echoes of Love is the third book that I have read by Hannah Fielding so far. And what surprises me every time is how detailed her books are. This book is set in Venice, and while I have never been in that part of Italy I can just imagine how everything is by the descriptions Fielding gives. She goes into detail when she describes culture, food, architecture and sites without it getting boring. And that is really an art because it is tricky to give just enough information to create a picture in the readers head but also leave somethings open to the reader’s imagination.

But this book is a romance novel so gets more into that. Venetia grew up in England but she never got along too well with her family. So as soon as she had the opportunity she moved to Venice to work as an architect for her godmother. Here she meets the charismatic Italian Paolo. From the moment they meet they can’t forget about one another. But both of them have a difficult past, so they have to decide if the other is worth the risk.

I really liked reading form Venetia’s point of view. I really liked her personality and from the very first pages I could understand her feelings and could emotionally connect with her. I really felt all her emotions, when she talked about her lost love with Judd and the baby. Or how her parents treated her when she was growing up. Venetia is a strong woman and sometimes a bit stubborn. This is great since she has her own will and will not succumb to the first handsome guy that crosses her path. She always tries to see the both sides of a situation and then tries to come to a conclusion. I really like how strong minded she was; it’s not every day you come across strong minded young women in romance novels.

Paolo was another great character to read about. His background was even more complicated than Venetia’s and most of it you do not find out until the end of the novel. But I loved him because he was the first person in years that was able to break down the walls Venetia had built up around herself years ago. And Paolo was also just a really swoon worthy guy, he recites poems and always has some beautiful quotes on hand. So I do get why Venetia gives in at the end, who wouldn’t?

But I also had some issues with this book. I really do not get how can you feel such a strong connection to a person that you have only shared a couple of words with? And how can you love someone when you do not know them at all? Another aspect is that there is a lot of going back and forth. One minute they want each other, the next they are not sure and back again. To me that is so weird, you either want someone or you don’t. There is simply no in between. But those were the two only things that bothered me. Other than that I really enjoyed reading the book.

Overall I really enjoyed reading The Echoes of Love, it was a nice romance novel set in a beautiful and mesmerizing city. The descriptions were on point again and Venetia was a very likeable character. I cannot wait to read the other books by Hannah Fielding that I have not read yet as well.

Elien

Review: Unlocking Her Boss's Heart by Christy McKellen

Title: Unlocking Her Boss's Heart
Author: Christy McKellen
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Adult
Publisher: Harlequin 
Publication date: January 5th 2015
Pages: 256 (paperback)
Source: received from author (Thank you so much!!)







More than just a job!

Cara Winstone is determined to bounce back from her last - disastrous - PA job, and working for Max Firebrace is exactly how she's going to do it. Little does Cara know that walking into her brooding boss's luxurious London town house also has her walking into his past. 

Since losing his wife, Max doesn't think he has any love left to give. But something in the warmth of Cara's smile jump-starts Max's heart again, making him wonder if he's ready for a new happy-ever-after; with Cara by his side.

Goodreads

Christy McKellen is a wonderful adult romance writer. This is the third book that I have read by her and her books never disappoint me.

Unlocking Her Boss’s Heart might sound a bit cliché, an ordinary girl falls in love with her brooding boss, but this one is delivered nicely. Besides it was well written. Christy has an writing style that sucks you into the story. It is simplistic and easy and that is exactly what I want on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

I really liked the characters that the author has created in this novel. Max initially did not come across as the most fuzzy person. He was rather cold and harsh at first but as the story went on he actually started to grow on me. Throughout the book he showed why he was so cold, he had lost a lot in the past year or so. So it was quiet understandable why he was so closed off towards others, especially towards people who he had never met before. Cara was a really nice girl, she was likeable and I liked the way she handled Max. A lot of people wouldn’t have put up with his temper but she did and she handled it with class. Like Max she had also gone through a lot in the past couple of months, which had changed her. So they both had some baggage with them when they first met each other. But I believe that people who have baggage themselves are the best to help you out. And Max and Cara proved that to me.

Another aspect that I liked about this book was that it is set in London. London has been my home now for the last couple of months and it is always great to read about places that you know. And I could relate to Cara when it came to find affordable/decent housing in the city. It can be a real nightmare!

Unlocking Her Boss’s Heart was a short and quick read. It made me feel the connection and chemistry between the characters, so Christy McKellen has accomplished her mission. I would recommend it to everyone who is looking for a sweet, clean, romance story. Personally I cannot wait till Christy McKellen publishes a new story!

Elien

Review: Masquerade (Andalucian Nights #2) by Hannah Fielding

Title: Masquerade
Author: Hannah Fielding
Series: Andalucian Nights
Genre: Romance, Historical Fiction, Adult
Publisher: London Wall
Publication date: August 6th 2015
Pages: 442 (Paperback)
Source: Received from author (Thank you!!)






From the award-winning author of The Echoes of Love. Love, mystery and desire under the scorching Spanish sun. 

A young writer becomes entangled in an illicit gypsy love affair, pulling her into a world of secrets, deception and dark desire. 

Summer, 1976. Luz de Rueda returns to her beloved Spain and takes a job as the biographer of a famous artist. On her first day back in Cádiz, she encounters a bewitching, passionate young gypsy, Leandro, who immediately captures her heart, even though relationships between his kind are taboo. Haunted by this forbidden love, she meets her new employer, the sophisticated Andrés de Calderón. Reserved yet darkly compelling, he is totally different to Leandro but almost the gypsy's double. Both men stir unfamiliar and exciting feelings in Luz, although mystery and danger surround them in ways she has still to discover. 

Luz must decide what she truly desires as glistening Cádiz, with its enigmatic moon and whispering turquoise shores, seeps back into her blood. Why is she so drawn to the wild and magical sea gypsies? What is behind the old fortune-teller's sinister warnings about 'Gemini'? Through this maze of secrets and lies, will Luz finally find her happiness... or her ruin? 

Masquerade is a story of forbidden love, truth and trust. Are appearances always deceptive? 

Goodreads

Masquerade is the second novel in the Andalucian Nights series. Earlier this year I read Indiscretion and I really liked that one. So I was excited to find out that it was part of a series. Masquerade follows the story of Alexandra’s and Salvador’s daughter, Luz de Rueda. The book is again set in Andalucía, Spain, but this time it is in the 70’s.

I really like the writing style of Hannah Fielding; it is excellent for historical fiction. She brings the world alive with her descriptions of the sceneries and cultures. Fielding did a great jog bringing the beauty and the culture of Spanish society. And that is exactly what I am looking for in a historical fiction book. I like to learn new things when I read a book and since it is set in the past it is important that it is as accurate as it can be. Besides I do not know much about the 70’s in Spain so it is nice when the author describes everything so well.  

Luz was a fun character to read about. She has a really strong personality, once she has set her eyes upon something she has a hard time to get her mind of it. And she cannot be persuaded to do so even when she knows that it would be the right thing to do. Luz also had a strong sense of pride and you better not hurt it because she was not someone who easily forgets about it. And that is exactly what I liked so much about her; she might not have been the easiest person to be around but at least she was real. So often characters are way too perfect; but Luz had her imperfections and that made her so much more special to me.

But there are also a couple of things I liked less about this book. The biggest problem for me where Luz her love interest(s). She did not know Leandro she had just laid eyes on him for a minute, yet she claims to love him. Clearly she did not know the difference between lust and love and it annoyed me. Then there was love triangle that was thrown in. I am not the biggest fan of them, never will be, so I would not have minded if it had played a lesser role in this book. And my last point is that at some moments during the book there was not enough action for me. There were a couple chapters where nothing really happened and I just feel like it would not have hurt the book if it had been a bit shorter.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. The descriptions are beautifully done and the overall storyline is good if you are looking for a nice romance story. You do not need to read the first book in the series in order to read this one. I would still recommend it if you want to avoid spoilers and to give you more of a background story. I cannot wait to read more books by this author and I hope that the next book in this series will come out soon. 

Elien

Review: ****: The Anatomy of Melancholy by Matthew Selwyn

Title: ****: The Anatomy of Melancholy
Author: Matthew Selwyn
Genre: Contemporary, New Adult, Adult
Publisher: Electric Reads
Publication date: May 22nd 2015
Pages: 172 (hardcover)
Source: received from publisher






Reality is overrated. Sex, love, power, life: it's gone digital. Why settle for a girlfriend with cellulite? Why spend every day working a dead-end job? These are the new days, the infinite days: plug in, get connected. Life is porn, porn is life, don't accept anything less than the electric light show that is our digital reality.

At the end of every computer screen, a mind is being formed on the material coughed up by the web that connects us all: this is the story of one of the internet's children, told from his own warped perspective. This is the millennial generation, the Y generation: we're horny, lonely, afraid, and self-confident. This is our story, our reality.

Thrillingly inventive and powerfully engaging, ****: The Anatomy of Melancholy is a timely examination of life and masculinity in the digital age, a study of loneliness of mental decay, and a satire on the consumption of literature of disaffection. Brutally honest and darkly comic, it is a very modern novel about a very modern life. 

Goodreads

****: The Anatomy of Melancholy is a book that stands out from anything else that I have ever read before. It is so unique in many different ways.

The book was an eye-opener for me where it concerns modern society. It portrays modern youth that grew up in a digital age in a captivating way.  The book tells us exactly what goes on in daily life through the eyes of the narrator. Sex, drugs, violence… sadly it is all part of modern society and a lot of it is fueled by the unrealistic expectations that are created by the internet and TV.  The narrator’s perspective on women and life is offensive. To be honest at the beginning of this book I was a bit shocked by the outlook he had on life. Be prepared to find a very unlikable character in this book.  He might not be you normal book hero but as the story continues you cannot help but get some sympathy for him. Like so many of us he is a victim of the modern world and in some ways I could completely understand him.

This book stands out in so many other ways as well. There are no chapters in this book, the narrator’s life is told in little fragments. In the beginning it threw me a bit off, but it makes sense to do it this way. Like in modern society there is no time to stand still and to dwell on things. We have to keep moving forward no matter what.  Even though the book jumped from one scene to the next it all still made sense. The author worked with certain repetitive scenes so that it was easy to keep track of what was going on. Something else that was completely different than in most books was the way in which the narrator told the story. I felt like he was telling his story personally to me in an informal conversation. And while he might be someone we do not like, we still listen to him since deep down we know that his words actually make sense.

Overall I really liked this book. It was something completely different than I normally read and I am happy that I took a chance with it because it is an amazing read. Matthew Selwyn definitely made an impression on me with his debut novel. I cannot wait to see what he will come up with next.

El

Review: Indiscretion by Hannah Fielding

Title: Indiscretion

Author: Hannah Fielding

Genre: Romance, Historical Fiction, Adult

Publisher: London Wall Publishing

Publication date: April 9th 2015

Pages: 489 (paperback)

Source: received from author (Thank you!!)

A young woman's journey of discovery takes her to a world of forbidden passion, savage beauty, and revenge.

Spring, 1950. Alexandra de Falla, a half-English, half-Spanish young writer abandons her privilged but suffocating life in London and travels to Spain to be reunited with her long-estranged family.

Instead of providing the sense of belonging she yearns for, the de Fallas are driven by seething emotions, and in the grip of the wild customs and traditions of Andalucia, all of which are alien to Alexandra.

Among the strange characters and sultry heat of this country, she meets the man who awakens emotions she hardly knew existed. But their path is strewn with obstacles: dangerous rivals, unpredictable events, and inevitable indiscretions. What does Alexandra's destiny hold for her in this flamboyant land of drama and all-consuming passions, where blood is ritually poured on the sands of sun-drenched bullfighting arena, mysterious gypsies are embroiled in magic and revenge, and beautiful dark-eyed dancers hide their secrets behind elegant lacy fans?

"Indiscretion" is a story of love and identity, and the clash of idealsin the pursuit of happiness. But can love survive in a world where scandal and danger are never far away.

Goodreads

Indiscretion was the first book I read by Hannah Fielding. It certainly is not going to be the last one because I really liked it.

Historical Fiction is one of my favorite genres but unfortunately I do not read it that often. At times it is hard to find good historical fiction so I am always happy when I come across new authors. Most of the time I read books that are set in the 19^th century or earlier but this one was set in the 20^th century what made it only more interesting for me since I do not know that much about the pre-war years in Europe, even though I live in Europe. The author took us back to 1950 London. Alexandra de Falla has lived her whole life in London after her mother died and her father left her behind with her English aunt. Now her father is back hoping to mend their relationship by taking her on a trip to Spain to meet her Spanish family. Once there she does not find the family she was hoping for but at the same time she finds something more than she could have hoped for. Love.

Indiscretion is mainly a romance book. Alexandra writes romance novels yet she has never experienced it herself. That is until she meets her mysterious admirer in Spain. Alexandra was at many points a bit naïve, even though she was in her mid-twenties. Especially when it came to real life problems. Her upbringing had been a bit sheltered so when she is set free for the first time in her life there are so many new things for her to learn. At times her naivety enjoyed me a bit. But it also gave her a lot of space to grow as a character. And she definitely did grow, by the end of the book I really adored her. Salvador his life has been rocky these past couple of years. He had an accident that left immobilized for a while, his engagement got broken off and he got involved with the gypsies. So when he meets the innocent Alexandra the timing is completely off. He is not exactly the man she believes him to be. I was really intrigued by him and by his mood swings. There were so many things to learn about him. Their relationship had a lot of drama and obstacles. Most of it thanks to Salvador and his many secrets. At times I was a bit annoyed with the back and forth going between Alexandra and Salvador but most of the time I really enjoyed seeing their relationship unfold.

The level of descriptions in this book is amazing. The author did an amazing job describing the customs at the masquerade ball, the bull fights and the different settings in Spain. Reading this book was a whole new experience because of all these descriptions. It was easy to imagine how life must have been in Spain around that time.

Overall I really enjoyed reading Indiscretion. It is a great historical fiction book filled with romance, tension and drama. The author her writing style is great and I could not help turning page after page. If you are a fan of historical fiction than I would definitely recommend this book. Personally I cannot wait to read the other books by this author.

El

Review: The Roche Hotel (Season One) by Mysti Parker

Title: The Roche Hotel
Author: Mysti Parker
Series: The Roche Hotel
Genre: Contemporary, Adult
Publication date: October 15th 2014
Pages: 62 (Kindle)
Source: received from author






After her husband ditches her for a blonde actress wannabe, Jane Seymour needs a job that pays the rent. The struggling Roche Hotel needs a miracle. With the former owner's wife butting her nose into the renovations and new owners who are in way over their heads, Jane may be the answer to their prayers. Sure, she can handle the Roche Hotel's quirky staff. But, can this skittish divorcee keep it all together when handsome Henry the Donut Guy makes his first delivery? This collection of serial fiction stories is a Tudorific romantic comedy that will leave you laughing out loud and hungry for more.

Goodreads

The Roche Hotel will be releases in different episodes. I am not the biggest fan of that because it means the stories are short and often you have to wait some time on the next episode.

The story was too short for my liking, especially if you consider at what pace the story moved. I believe that this story could have been much better if it was releases as a full length novel. The writing was good and the characters were interesting. They could make me laugh, most of them were just comical especially the old lady Rochester. But they were not developed well enough for me. Especially the main character, I still do not know a lot about her. Her love interest is even a bigger mystery to me. And it was kind of hard of me to understand why exactly they liked each other. Maybe that was the plan of the author all along but to me it did not appeal. Hopefully everything will get much clearer in the next episode.

I really liked the setting of this book. The hotel is a really great idea to set these novellas in. The hotel had something gloomy with the ghosts that “hunted” it and all the drama that happens there. I am pretty curious to see what will happen next in the hotel.

Overall I liked this novella. It might have been a bit too short but I still enjoyed reading it and since it was this short I could read it in one sitting. This episode was only the first and this series has a lot of potential so I hope to hope the rest of the series as well. 

El

Review: Me Tarzan - You Jane by Camelia Miron Skiba

Title: Me Tarzan - You Jane
Author: Camelia Miron Skiba
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Adult
Publication date: December 6th 2014
Pages: 270 (kindle)
Source: received from author (thank you!!)







Moving on doesn't always have to mean goodbye.

Widowed makeup artist Jane Sullivan is more comfortable keeping her husbands's memory alive than dating a poof full of sharks. Ella, her 4 year-old daughter, is her whole world.

When Jane meets Lucas Oliver, famous cover model, it's hate at first sight. His playboy persona rubs her in the wrong way.

Accustomed to every woman fawning over him, Lucas is drawn to the shy, uncompromising single mom and completely melts at the sight of Ella. He is determined to convince Jane that sometimes a second chance can mend a broken heart.

Goodreads

Me Tarzan- You Jane was a great story about loss, love, prejudice and second chances. The author did a great job weaving the story of a young widowed single mom and a young charismatic cover model together.

When Jane firsts meets Lucas she only sees a superficial model that every women in the room swoons over. So his attention is not welcome at all. For her there can be only one love in her live and that is her deceased husband. Besides she has to do what is best for her daughter, so no man will get a chance to worm himself into her personal life. Lucas least of all. Lucas is cocky, smug and a flirter. Settling down is not for him. But it is hard to deny the sparks that fly between Jane and Lucas when they are near each other.

Slowly Jane has to readjust her first opinion of Lucas. There is so much more to him than one can see at first. He is loyal, kind and has his heart in the right place. Slowly the walls Jane build around herself start to crumble. A friendship develops between the two of them and life keeps throwing them together. But can Jane let her past completely go and will she ever be able to oversee Lucas’s past completely?

Me Tarzan – You Jane is a romantic story that will easily capture your attention. I could not help get caught up in Lucas’s and Jane’s story. Their story was just fascinating. I loved how the two of them interacted with each other. Jane’s daughter really helped them to diffuse the tension between them. The four year old was so adorable and you could not do anything else than to love her. I loved that the author made Jane such a strong woman. She could have made her something week, who could not deal with her husband’s death but now Jane is so strong. She is still vulnerable but she moves forward in life.

Overall I really enjoyed this story. Following the developments in their relationship was really enjoyable. The characters were amazing to read about and I would not mind if the author ever decided to write some companion novels with one of the other models in the lead. The book made sad at some points but then at the next page I was laughing again. Me Tarzan – You Jane is a feel-good romance novel that will leave you with a smile on your face. 

El

Review: Fighting for Keeps (A Brookhollow Story #5) by Jennifer Snow

Title: Fighting for Keeps
Author: Jennifer Snow
Series: A Brookhollow Story
Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Adult
Publisher: Harlequin Heartwarming 
Publication date: May 1st 2015
Pages: 183 (kindle)
Source: received from author (thank you so much!!)






He's kryptonite. And she needs all her strength...

Noah Parks is the ridiculously gorgeous, motorcycle-riding, cage-match-fighting equivalent of kryptonite for Lindsay Harper. And she's going to need every last ounce of her strength now that she's the legal guardian of her brother's five orphaned children. For the sake of her new family, it's time to give up her carefree single ways. Stop being the cool aunt and become a parent. And fight this crazy attraction to Noah. Sure, there's a side of him she can't help falling for... the one who volunteers as a firefighter and helps at-risk youth. The irresistibly kind and caring side. But she is a nurse, after all. She can't love an MMA fighter, a man she regularly has to scan for physical trauma... Can she? 

Goodreads

Fighting for Keeps is already the fifth book in A Brookhollow Story series by Jennifer Snow. Ever since I started reading this series I’m in love with the characters in the books and with the town itself. Every time I start a new book I am happy to see all the residents of Brookhollow again.

Lindsay has always been the carefree girl of the town. In her mid-thirties she still hasn’t settled down and gossiping is one of her favorite hobbies. But after a tragedy she’s left in charge to take care of five little children. Suddenly she has to change her lifestyle completely, just when she couldn’t deny her attraction to Noah any longer.  But dating an MMA fighter isn’t exactly an option now she’s has to provide a stable life for five little children.

I really liked Lindsay. She’s such an amazing and strong character. Not a lot of people believed in her because she led her life differently than most people in Brookhollow. While a party girl she also truly cares about the people surrounding her. And she will do everything in her power to make sure that they are safe and sound. At the same time she also stayed true to her beliefs and values and I really admired her for that.
Noah is another amazing character. He’s very determined to get what he wants, a UFC career and Lindsay. But there is also another side to him, a softer side. It’s impossible not to like him when you read this book. I couldn’t have asked for a better hero.

Jennifer always has away to pull you into the story from the very beginning. And this book was an emotional ride. There was a certain part in this book that I was about to cry, I felt with the characters and it felt to me like I had a dear friend myself. In some way I might have since I knew these characters for so long. But there were also many times that I laughed and sighed because of the sweetness of this book.

Fighting for Keeps is my favorite book so far in this series. The romance between the characters was so believable and I loved how all the characters overcame their obstacles. While this book is a part of a series it can be perfectly be read a stand-alone. But if you really want to connect with all the residents of Brookhollow than I would recommend that you read the others books first. I can’t wait for another book in this series and I’m curious to see whose book it will be!

El

Review: The First Mrs Rochester and Her Husband by M.C. Smith

Title: The First Mrs Rochester and Her Husband
Author: M.C. Smith
Genre: Retelling, Historical fiction, Adult
Publication date: February 15th 2013
Pages: 306 (paperback)
Source: received from author








He is the unloved second son of an old and esteemed family. She is breathtaking and rich bun unknowingly carries the seeds of a devastating illness. Their fathers strike a convenient bargain which their children have little choice but to accept. Products of their time, Bertha Mason and Edward Rochester marry for financial security and respectability although they scarcely know one another.

At best, they will become comfortable companions who grow to love one another.
At worst...

Goodreads

Jane Eyre is my favorite classic, maybe even my favorite in general. When the author approached me with the question if I wanted to read The First Mrs Rochester and Her Husband I didn’t have to think twice. Their story has always fascinated me because we know little to nothing about them.

In this book we got to know their history a little better. We got to know the exact reason why he married her in the first place and why he decided to leave her behind at Thornfield Hall of all places. But one of the most interesting things was that the story was told in both Berthas’ as Mr Rochester’s perspective. At first I didn’t really like Edward. He was quiet selfish, he rather married a complete stranger then work for his money. And after he dumped her at his home, because let’s face it that is exactly what he did, he went off to Europe and lived and eccentric like a bachelor. But he really made up for his past at the end of the book. He became a humble man who appreciated the people who stood beside him no matter what had happened. And I already knew that I would end up liking him. Most of all we finally got to know what was going on inside her head all this time and how she was feeling about the whole situation. I have always felt a little bad for her, she might not be mentally right but being locked away in a room cannot improve her condition.

I wouldn’t have minded if the author explored more the first weeks/months/years of their marriage. Because know she told their whole story in one, short, book. And I believe that their first years of marriage could have been really fascinating for us readers. I also missed that there was no real conversation between the characters, the author just told us what was happening and the only two characters who seemed to talk were Edward and Bertha.

Overall I really liked this story. If you are, like me, a fan of Jane Eyre than I would recommend reading this book since it gives a nice extra touch to the original story. 

El