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Book Reviews

Gladiator: Scots Style

3/1/2021

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Highland Defender (Scots and Swords #2)
by Kathryn Le Veque

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

Bane Morgan has hit rock bottom when a chance encounter with Lucia, a lady's maid, turns his life around. But with no way to pay the debt that keeps her shackled to an increasingly dangerous situation, Bane must enter the Ludus Caledonia and survive not only battles but the jealousy of Lucia's lady.

A gladiatorial arena in medieval Scotland? With our heroes pitted against other fighters as well as the obstacles between them and true love? What a fascinating premise! I love reading the same Scottish romance story over and over again, don't get me wrong, but this was such a refreshing take on the genre. I blitzed through this because I was just so keen to see how things would end. The pacing was pretty good too, allowing the relationship to develop realistically (despite the short timeframe).

Change is definitely a good thing here.

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Some decades ago, in our own galaxy...

2/1/2021

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Second Stage Lensmen ​(Lensmen #5)
by E.E. 'Doc' Smith

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​Kim Kinnison (often referred to as THE Lensman) just wants to settle down with his lady love, but first he must defeat Boskone through a variety of physical and mental force. Infiltration is his weapon. Getting married is his goal (well, among many things!).

It's hard to rate something like this, especially since this is the only Lensmen book I've managed to read so far. The series' impact on 20th century science fiction is undeniable. Kinnison is, to me, a very recognisable blueprint for many characters that came after him - and his adventures are so familiar as well. I usually have trouble reading older sci-fi titles, but this one was a nice surprise. The writing drew me in immediately, even in that opening recap of the previous goings-on. The part I enjoyed the most was Kinnison masquerading as a criminal with his own racket, in order to take out another racket (a la Britt Reid).

The flaws of this book primarily arise from its episodic nature (it was originally serialised) and the sexism of the time. But I'm honestly still quite impressed with it.

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A Rose By Any Other Name

26/12/2020

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The Everlasting Rose (The Belles #2)
​by Dhonielle Clayton

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​Camille is a Belle, which means she has a form of magic that allows her to manipulate the beauty of others. She has been on the run since the ascension of a new queen who intends to subjugate all the Belles, so that Orlean's punishing system of beauty remains as intact as ever.

I hadn't read the first book and I think my enjoyment suffered because of that (the same box of bargain books is to blame!), mainly because I hadn't built up any connection to the characters. The world itself is fascinating. I would love some teacup dragons! But I wasn't particularly invested in the story, since the stakes seemed low and Camille never really encountered what I would consider true danger on her path to revolution. Maybe I've read too many YA fantasy novels like this lately. I don't know. I don't think I'll seek out the first book.

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Water, Water, Not Everywhere

12/12/2020

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​Martian Time-Slip by Philip K. Dick

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In a future that was conceived in the 1960s, Mars is colonised and inhabited by flawed individuals who all seem balanced on the edge of insanity. A Union leader's desire to use an autistic boy to access time in unusual ways (primarily to make money) may not end in the way that he hopes.

Hmm. This was my first Philip K. Dick novel. I was impressed with the writing and how Austen-esque Dick's observations were. His characters are very much people of the time this book was written in, explored, expanded and explained. The way everything came together at the end was just masterful. But, not surprisingly, the outdated views on certain issues (sexism, racism, ableism, etc) hampered my enjoyment of the book. And Dick clearly didn't understand enough about autism or schizophrenia to be writing about them (although that might be because that's what was understood at the time).

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24th Century Classic

7/12/2020

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The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester

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​Ben Reich wants a merger, but it seems he'll have to murder his rival instead. But murder is not so simple when the police are "peepers", telepaths capable of plucking motive and truth from your mind. Reich thinks he has a way around this. He isn't ready for Lincoln Powell, however.

This was a fascinating read, mostly because the world that Bester created is established quickly and sucks you in just as fast. I enjoyed the cat-and-mouse antics between Reich and Powell - it was fun and well-paced. But things got a bit too weird for me in the end and I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the treatment of female characters (yes, I realise this was written in a different time, but it is hard to ignore something like that). Still, it's easy to see why this was the first winner of the Hugo Award.

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Be Still My Beating Heart

6/12/2020

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Forbidden Heart (Hearts of the Highlands #6)
by Paula Quinn

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

Silene Sparrow is a novice who intends to take her vows and become a nun in the spring, in order to help her uncle, but the arrival of Galeren McPherson throws her mind and heart into disarray. Galeren has taken a vow of chastity and intends to see his duty done. If only Silene wasn't betrothed to God. If only she didn't tempt him so much...

What's better than a Highlander romance? A forbidden Highlander romance! Delicious pining and pining-related angst make this one worth a read. Things slowed down a little towards the end when Galeren touched base with the growing family, but it's hard not to enjoy seeing everyone. Another great romance by one of my favourite romance authors.

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Lesflix Christmas

25/10/2020

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The Holiday Treatment by Elle Spencer

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

Holly writes romantic Christmas movies for the Wifetime Network and dreams of finally getting them to produce and air a lesbian romance. An unexpected fling with Meredith, her colleague-turned-boss, over Christmas one year might finally get her to change her mind about her dislike of the holiday season. Or it might complicate her life even further.

I loved every single second I spent reading this book - and I demand that someone actually turn this into the Christmas movie we all need and deserve. Spencer is quickly becoming my favourite F/F author. Not only are her romances utterly squeeful, she also introduces a cast of friends and family that you can't help but love. The Holiday Treatment had me in tears of joy by the last page and that's the best endorsement I can give it.

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Let It Snow

18/10/2020

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A Very Highland Christmas by Various

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

There is a tavern on the way to Culloden with colourful characters and, if you're lucky, a warm place to sleep during the chilly festive season. The Highlands are still reeling from the defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie, but there are still celebrations to be had. These six romantic novellas include guardian angels, ghosts, mystical swords, family feuds and enough steamy scenes to thaw any reader out.

This collection is exactly what I needed. It combines two of my greatest weaknesses: Highlander romances and stories with a slightly supernatural bent. I'll admit that I enjoyed the latter quite a bit more than the other novellas on offer, but the entire anthology is a great read. Perfect for cosying up with. My only quibble is that I would have liked to see Carrie find true love - the collection felt somewhat incomplete without her story.

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Appetiser > Mains

10/10/2020

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The Voice (Ephemera #2.5)
by Anne Bishop

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There is a village near Vision that deals with its sorrows by making cakes and feeding them to someone who is not in a position to refuse them.

This novella doesn't contain the main characters or the overarching plot... and yet I think it might be the best story in the entire series. Ephemera is a fascinating setting and after reading this I feel that it works best when you aren't trying to grasp what's going on. I really enjoyed this.

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Paranormal Lite

9/10/2020

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Wolf Untamed (SWAT: Special Wolf Alpha Team #11)
by Paige Tyler

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

After a near death experience transforms Diego Martinez into a werewolf, he finds his pack and starts working with them in SWAT. When he responds to a hostage situation in a diner, he doesn't expect to find a teenage werewolf in need of an alpha - or Bree, a mother who desperately needs help with her son. Bree might just be The One for Diego. But first they must survive a crimewave that seems to be catching.

This was a lot of fun to read, though I found it to be a bit Paranormal Lite - I prefer a bit more world-building and more developed pack dynamics in my werewolf romances. Diego was actually quite a sweet werewolf (though I'm sure he'd scoff if I told him this lol) and I grew to be quite fond of him. A nice, easy way to pass the time - and there are enough interesting twists in this book to keep you reading until the end.

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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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