Blog Archives - Alyce Caswell - Author

Alyce Caswell - Author

Another Reliable Sands' Romance

18/10/2022

Highland Wolf (Highland Brides #10)
by Lynsay Sands

Claray is saved from a dreadful marriage at the last minute by the Wolf, the infamous mercenary of the Highlands. But his name is Conall - or rather, that's one of his names. His survival has been kept secret so that he may one day return his lands to their former glory. The one thing that hasn't changed since he lost most of his clan? He's still Claray's betrothed! From one wedding to another...

What I really enjoyed about this book was the logistics of getting an abandoned castle back up to scratch. That was pretty interesting and I don't think I've seen it covered in another romance novel before. I didn't feel that Conall's "reveal" about his identity had much impact on the plot and the finale veered into melodrama territory, but gosh it was fun to read. I wish I hadn't been quite so sleep deprived while reading this book, because I might have enjoyed it more. Or perhaps the opposite is true!

Two Become One

8/10/2022

Every Rogue Has His Charm (Love and Let Spy #4)
by Susanna Craig

Maxim "ruined" and married Caro to help her escape her father - and then he almost instantly fled to France for six years, to escape his demons. But now his grandfather is dead and he's a duke. Which means he must return to England...and the bride he abandoned. Caro has decamped to Brighton where she be can alone with her thoughts. But she won't be alone for much longer!

There were two excellent books here...what a pity they were forced to jockey for space in the cramped pages of this one. I had waited eagerly for Mrs Drummond's story and was so disappointed to see it intruding upon - and being intruded upon by - the main story. As a result, I didn't buy the hero and heroine falling in love at all and Maxim was not given the time to earn Caro's forgiveness. Arghhh. This is so average when it could have been awesome as separate books, dang it.

You've Got Fail

6/10/2022

Mr Wrong Number by Lynn Painter

Olivia is a complete dumpster fire, so naturally Colin, her brother's best friend/roommate, has reservations when she moves in for a month while she gets herself sorted. But when it turns out that the wrong number Colin's been sending flirty texts to is also the aforementioned dumpster fire? He now sees Olivia in a completely different light. But how can he convince her he's actually into her?

Oh man, I am such trash for anything that has a whiff of You've Got Mail about it. And I always appreciate a dash of Pride and Prejudice. So the question wasn't "will I enjoy this?" but "how MUCH will I enjoy this?". An average amount is the answer, apparently. This was a pleasant enough read, but I know it will quickly fade from my memory.

The End.

4/10/2022

The Highwayman's Bite (Scandals with Bite #6)
by Brooklyn Ann

After challenging a handsy member of society to a duel, Vivian Stratford is sent to cool her heels at her great-uncle's estate. Her journey is interrupted by a handsome highwayman - Rhys Berwyn, who is in fact a vampire and trying desperately to help his family keep their farm. When he discovers that Vivian is his enemy's kin, he hatches a ransom plot - but he never expected to fall for his captive.

I need to stop saying things like "this might be my favourite of the series" too early, because inevitably I'll get to the last book in the series (ahem, case in point - this book) and realise that my favourite was waiting for me to reach it all along. I loved The Highwayman's Bite so much I had dreams about it and I felt utterly bereft when I flicked away from the last page on my Kobo. Alas, the series is also over. What do I do with myself now?

Regency/Vampire/Road Trip/Awesome

3/10/2022

Wynter's Byte (Scandals with Bite #5)
by Brooklyn Ann

Justus de Wynter became a rogue vampire after he lost his love, but now he knows where she is - an asylum, where she has been locked up for 8 years, for claiming that her suitor was a vampire. Bethany Mead is happy to escape with Justus, but it's a case of frying pan to fire - rogue vampires are killed on sight and Justus needs permission to Change her. Can they possibly make a life together?

This might actually be my favourite book of the series, though it was entirely different from the usual blueprint and shouldn't have worked. But it did! Justus is such a great character - not only is he a reformed rake, but he's a reformed villain as well. I admittedly found him more interesting than the hero in the previous entry. I adored this Regency/vampire/road trip (lol) romance.

Once Bitten Twice Shy

3/10/2022

His Ruthless Bite (Scandals with Bite #4)
by Brooklyn Ann

Lenore Graves owes the Lord Vampire of Rochester a favour and now he's decided it's time to collect. Gavin Drake, Baron of Darkwood, needs a wife to fend off overzealous mortal mothers and he desires a vampire who is loyal and won't cause him too much trouble for the fifty years of their marital arrangement. Lenore wants a marriage in name only. But Gavin may just change her mind...

I was pleased to see that the author decided to change things up a bit with this book (i.e. not another vampire/mortal romance) and I had actually hoped to see more of Lenore, since I became quite attached to her in the previous entry. Still an excellent romance, but a tad wobbly in some areas (including editing). Presumably a side effect of the shift into indie publishing.

The Doctor and the Vampire

1/10/2022

Bite at First Sight (Scandals with Bite #3)
by Brooklyn Ann

Cassandra Burton, widowed countess and would-be doctor, has been excluded from obtaining a medical education due to her sex and must resort to grave robbing. But this lands her in the the path of Don Rafe Villar, who reveals himself as a vampire. She soon finds herself his prisoner - which gives her a fantastic opportunity to study his kind and hone her skills. And perhaps...indulge a little.

An immensely satisfying Regency/vampire romance, as with the others in the series. But this one contained a significant amount of action and excitement, which made me enjoy it all the more. Who'd have thought that I would ever find myself enjoying vampire politics? Ann has created a wonderful world of paranormal alt-history and I'm probably going to devour all the titles in the series.

A Regency Romance with Bite

1/10/2022

Bite Me, Your Grace (Scandals with Bite #1)
by Brooklyn Ann

Ian Ashton, Duke of Burnrath, is not enjoying the sudden obsession with vampires that an author has sparked. Because the close scrutiny may reveal the truth of his "skin condition". The perfect solution may very well have presented itself: Angelica Winthrop, who broke into his house because she needed writing inspiration. She wants to be ruined...but he has other plans for her.

I am loving this series so far. A Regency/vampire romance mashup? Yes, please! What I really enjoyed about this book was the use of historical figures and how seamlessly they fit into the narrative. And of course, the romance itself was delicious (ha!). Angelica is a great heroine and is given the opportunity to truly shine. Looking forward to sinking my teeth into the next one (#3, because I've read #2 already).