Blog Posts - Alyce Caswell - Author

Alyce Caswell - Author

Shadow Games

18/3/2021

The Heart of a Shadow (Merged Worlds #1)
by Samantha Marshall

I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.

Liria Atlannon is a shadow and is bound to the will of Princess Ione, who has travelled to Egypt to marry its pharaoh. Liria will always remain Ione's shadow...or she's supposed to. But the pharaoh's brother, Prince Raiden, sees her for what she is and what she can be. Unfortunately, anything that grows between them will have to survive the gods turning Egypt in a battleground.

This was a delightful dark fantasy novel with an Ancient Egyptian bent - I have always had a soft spot for those gods and any book that makes use of them. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and felt like I had to fan myself even when Liria and Raiden were sharing innocuous scenes! And Ione is one of the most complex characters I've ever encountered. I kind of wished I could dive right into this book and live there, though obviously I'd prefer not to encounter someone like Set...!

Three on a Match

13/3/2021

All We Have is Now by Kaneana May

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

Olive, Elsie and Bree move their growing wellness centre into a larger place and must navigate the ensuing changes and challenges in their lives. For Olive, it's her secret past surfacing in the form of the wellness centre's new masseuse. For Elsie, it's her role as stepmother and soon-to-be mother. For Bree, it's the sister who blows in and out of her life and causes trouble wherever she goes. Achieving wellness will be harder than any of them ever realised.

I'm always hungry for a novel that explores the varied and fascinating relationships between women and this certainly delivered. Olive, Elsie and Bree felt like real people to me. I could easily picture running into them on the street. May has a history of making me ugly cry (see her previous novel, The One!) and All We Have is Now was no exception. Definitely park yourself beside a box of tissues when you pick up this book. A thoroughly satisfying read.

Still Smitten

11/3/2021

Smoke Bitten (Mercy Thompson #12)
by Patricia Briggs

Mercy has problems - well, how could this be a Mercy Thompson novel without problems! - in the form of a nefarious jackrabbit, an invading pack, a gate to Underhill appearing in her yard, and something weird going on with her alpha husband. Any one of these problems could be dealt with on their own. But together, they have the potential to bring Mercy and the pack to their knees.

There's something comforting about reading these books. Mercy and co feel like old friends and Briggs somehow keeps the rhythm going so well. I was pleased with Smoke Bitten. It was exactly what I wanted and needed. And this time I could enjoy it without interruption - there are no more photos of me passed out with a baby passed out on top of me, a Mercy Thompson novel hanging from my hands (2020 was A Year, for sure). Briggs is still in fine form here.

Shedding New Light

15/2/2021

Moonlighting: An Oral History by Scott Ryan

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.

Appearances Can Be Deceiving

14/2/2021

At First Sight by Hannah Sunderland

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.

All's Well That Ends Well

6/2/2021

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

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.

A Not-So-Hidden Gem

3/2/2021

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

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.

Austen-esque

31/1/2021

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

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.

Tasty Slow Burn

29/1/2021

Snowy Mountains Daughter by Alissa Callen

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.

Alice + Aaron = <3

21/1/2021

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

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.