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Book Reviews

Shedding New Light

15/2/2021

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Moonlighting: An Oral History by Scott Ryan

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I fell in love with Moonlighting during my first year at university and shamelessly used the episodes in every single essay about postmodernism I had to write. It's funny how quickly I became attached to a show that ended before I was old enough to watch television. Anyway, I was stoked to discover this book's existence. And it did not disappoint.

What I really liked about this "oral history" is the fact that Scott Ryan didn't just pick one version of events or come to an indulgent conclusion about why Moonlighting met its end. The style Ryan used really works here - the cast and crew are allowed, in their own words, to describe what production was like (with a focus on specific episodes). I enjoyed the conflicting narratives. I enjoyed being able to pick which one suited me most! A fantastic book for fans and anyone wanting to understand why some of their favourite shows from more recent times are the way they are.

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Appearances Can Be Deceiving

14/2/2021

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At First Sight by Hannah Sunderland

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I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

TW: suicide ideation

Nell works at a mental health crisis line and has to take some tough calls. What she doesn't expect is to receive a call from a stranger she had a chance encounter with at a cafe. Drawn to Charlie, she wants more than he seems capable of giving - can they overcome his past? And does time really heal all wounds?

Such an unexpectedly raw and powerful book. Characters you can't help but love (and you also love to laugh at some of their interactions) and a journey of healing that feels genuine. This really isn't what the cover suggests it to be. Sure, it's romance, but it's so realistic and heartfelt. I would advise, however, that you don't read this during a depressive episode - not my smartest idea, admittedly.

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All's Well That Ends Well

6/2/2021

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Scoundrel's Redemption (Highlander's Pact #3)
by Sky Purington

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Greer suffers at the mercy of men who would use her to fulfil their goals. When Teagan MacLauchlin offers her the chance to save her friends in return for marrying him, there is no other choice - but at last, she can make a choice of her own. Greer does not expect to find companionship and respect in her second marriage. Teagan is eager to prove her wrong.

This was definitely my favourite book of the series. It provided a very satisfying conclusion to the brothers' pact and tied up the plot threads laid down in the previous story. Teagan and Greer were just so perfect for each other - both haunted by their pasts and united by understanding and patience. There were also some story developments that I didn't see coming and that was a pleasant surprise. I really loved reading this.

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A Not-So-Hidden Gem

3/2/2021

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Scoundrel's Fortune (Highlander's Pact #2)
by Sky Purington

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The last time Malcolm MacLauchlin saw Isabella De la Croix, the woman who was such a thorn in his side in France, she removed her veil and kissed him. Now she has come to Scotland, apparently seeking him so they can be married - but what she is really seeking is hidden treasure.

Sky Purington always impresses me with just how much story, emotion, and character development she can fit into a story that is shorter than standard for the genre. Flashbacks are always a risky thing to use as well. But they work so well here. I will admit to wishing that the treasure hunt itself had received more focus - it would have been nice if it had been a little more complicated.

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Austen-esque

31/1/2021

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The Earl's Lady Geologist (The Lindfield Ladies Series #1)
by Alissa Baxter

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I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Cassy Linfield is content with her chosen path in life - a spinsterhood spent discovering fossils at Lyme Regis. The arrival of Lord Rothbury is not only the catalyst for her being sent to London for her Season, but the catalyst for her heart to begin overruling her fears. Their mutual love of geology will soon not be the only thing they share.

This was a very pleasant read - the romance was sweet and comfortable and I was very interested in the geology side of things. I suppose it's unsurprising that a novel set predominantly in Lyme Regis would lean heavily on Austen references and even Austen's style, though at times I found it to be a bit too much. Fans of Persuasion will love it, however.

Side note - I deliberately read Persuasion for the first time while I was in Lyme Regis. This book brought back many fond memories.

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Tasty Slow Burn

29/1/2021

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Snowy Mountains Daughter by Alissa Callen

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I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Clancy is a small town girl who has always loved Heath, the man who preferred to travel the world for years instead of coming home. Heath has his reasons for staying away - and not just for his career as an artist. He can feel the promise of something more when he's near Clancy. But he knows he's not good enough for her. And besides, he's only in town to paint a mural and then he'll be gone once more. He's definitely not staying...

I adored this novel and the characters populating its pages. This is a sweet rural romance underpinned by delicious longing (mmm tasty slow burn) and words left unspoken - and to top it all off, there's a fascinating family mystery threading its way throughout the story. Rural romance can be quite crowded, but Alissa Callen has written a true gem here and any fan of the genre should check this one out.

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Alice + Aaron = <3

21/1/2021

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The Alice Equation (Laws of Love #1)
by Davina Stone

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Aaron and Alice have been magnetised together ever since they met at university while Alice was having a panic attack. For Alice it was love at first sight. But for Aaron, Alice has been a solid friend for five years while he's gone through a string of casual flings. When he needs a stable girlfriend to land a job at an old-fashioned law firm, Alice is the perfect choice... for a bout of fake dating.

I loved this! The Alice Equation is delightfully steamy at times and hits all the right notes at all the right times. I really liked the side characters, including Alice's mother, who provided an interesting but relevant side plot for Alice. There's also some delicious drama floating about. I am honestly surprised this is a debut - it's really too good to be a first book. I'll be keeping an eye out for the next few.

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Vampires and Superheroes oh my

16/1/2021

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The Labyrinth Index (The Laundry Files #9)
by Charles Stross

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The United Kingdom is currently being run by an elder god, but it seems things are worse across the pond because most people there have forgotten the President exists. Enter Mhari, a vampire(?) who is being sent with a bunch of her colleagues to see if they can't help out the stricken US of A. Very weird things happen. Cthulu is involved.

I never, in my life, expected to stumble across a book that was a chaotic merging of Doctor Who, James Bond and Lovecraft. But it's definitely the most entertaining book to have emerged from that bargain box I bought last year. I did find it a little too choppy though, since the scenes were all arranged out of order (which can be a fun literary device, but I am so very tired and that state of being isn't likely to change soon). Jim and Mhari were a delight. This whole thing felt like a fever dream. I do think I liked it, however.

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Up to Scratch

8/1/2021

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Starting from Scratch by Penelope Janu

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I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sapphie Brown found sanctuary in Horseshoe Hill as a troubled teen and is now the local school teacher, with dreams of buying a farmhouse. Her quiet life becomes abruptly complicated with the arrival of Matts Laaksonen, the man from a past Sapphie would have preferred to keep buried. Can she keep avoiding him - and her heart?

I'm warming up to these small town romances and the idyllic life inside them. I did enjoy Starting from Scratch, but I chose to read it before bed so I could relax and therefore found it difficult to muddle my way through unexpectedly science-heavy scenes. That aside, I found Sapphie's father to be a perfectly vile villain and I liked Matts (probably because I love Finland and could easily "hear" his accent). This was a nice, pleasant read. But maybe don't try to read it when you're tired!

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Solid but Same-y

6/1/2021

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​The God Tattoo (Twilight Reign)
by Tom Lloyd

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This is a collection of stories set in the Twilight Reign universe, dodging through genres including fantasy, crime drama and gothic horror.

Admittedly, I'm not familiar with the series or the author, this being yet another book from the fabled bargain box that I bought. I think this is a pretty solid collection, but I'm not tempted to try out the rest of the series - mostly because I am so very tried of fantasy novels set in a male-dominated society. Given the lack of decent female characters in his collection (and the way they were written), I don't think I would enjoy Lloyd's other books.

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    About

    Alyce Caswell, when she isn't buried in a book or drinking her way through a giant pot of tea, is a keen writer of science fiction and romance. She has published two novels and four novellas in her space opera family saga, The Galactic Pantheon Series.

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