Category: Anthology

Expanded Universe Round-Up #26

8/5/2024

Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina

Some of these stories I didn't connect with and others were alright, but the only really brilliant one was the tale about the moisture farmer. The sticker on the back suggests that I bought my copy a few years after my obession with the Galaxy of Fear series and I vaguely remember being pleased to discover more about Momaw Nadon and Dannik Jerriko. The story I recall most from two decades ago, when I last read this anthology, is the Barbara Hambly one, which is interesting because I'm really getting into her non-Star Wars work at the moment.

The Life and Legend of Obi-Wan Kenobi
by Ryder Windham

Ryder Windham is a very average author and I rarely love his Star Wars books, but I think he did an excellent job here - and he definitely did Obi-Wan justice. The A'Sharad Hett scenes were also very welcome, since they bridged together two very different eras of the Legends canon. I'm unsure if my fondness for Obi-Wan is skewing my opinion... whatever the case, I really enjoyed reading this point of view. ;)

Star Wars Journal: Captive to Evil
by Jude Watson

As a kid, I probably would have adored this book and its sassy voice. As an adult, I didn't find the recording device plausible (especially in the Death Star scenes). This feels like a prototype. And that's how I'll view it from now on - as a trial run for Jude Watson's much better Episode I journals.

Star Wars Journal: The Fight for Justice
by John Peel

This was a stronger "journal" than the previous one and Peel did a good job of recreating Luke's voice (I'd say it was done passably instead of perfectly, but that's only because this book was aimed at younger readers - and I think it would be received well by is target audience).

Star Wars Journal: Hero for Hire
by Donna Tauscher

This is the most creative entry in the journal series and easily the best of the ones based on A New Hope. Han Solo is not a record-keeping kind of guy. Tauscher got around this by opting for an interview style and it really paid off. She also masterfully wove in details about Bria Tharen, connecting that part of Han's Legends history to his reluctance to join the Rebel cause.

0 Comments

Reality TV Bites

28/2/2023

0 Comments

Here for the Right Reasons (Marry Me, Juliet #1)
by Jodi McAlister

Cece is in desperate need of money, which is definitely NOT the right reason to be on the reality dating show Marry Me, Juliet. But she only lasts one episode before being eliminated. Game over - right? Nope! The pandemic has stranded her on location. The show's Romeo, Dylan, offers to help Cece out with some extra screen time. Cece accepts: a decision that definitely won't come back to bite her. Ha!

AHHHHHHhhhh ommmgggg squeeeeee. Right, that's dealt with. I think I remember how to do words now. I discovered this series via an ARC of the sequel, which I loved (bi rep wooo!) and I thought I might like this one too. Didn't expect to love it just as much! Cece bulldozed her way into my heart and I was desperate for her to have her HEA. She and Dylan were such an amazing couple too. This book was amazing and I need more.

I just have one question. Lily Fireball book - when?

0 Comments

From Timber to Cedar

26/1/2022

0 Comments

Reclaim (Small Town Packs #2)
by Cassie Laelyn

Brax left Cedar Valley when he failed as an Alpha and he has no intention of going back. But a mysterious text message about the death of a pack member sends Kali after him and he can't refuse to help her - he can't refuse her. Kali has had her heart broken by Brax before. He might be able to save her life, but can he do it without breaking her heart all over again?

I really enjoyed this novella and quickly became attached to Kali and Brax. Sometimes novellas can lack important details, but this one didn't - it had all the action, sparks and sizzling angst that you can expect to find in a shifter romance. I'll admit that I like how the length meant that there wasn't time for too much drama. A great short read.

0 Comments

Your 2021 Advent Calendar

14/11/2021

0 Comments

Sealed with a Yuletide Kiss by Sophie Barnes

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

Twenty-four romantic short stories are to be found in this Christmas-themed collection, designed to be read from the 1st to the 24th of December.

This is undoubtedly the best advent calendar I've ever had the pleasure to open. Okay, so it's an ARC which means I had to read and review it beforehand, but I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have been able to restrict myself to one story a day - they are heart-warming, sweet, and so easy to consume. The advent calendar idea is pretty awesome. It also works really well. And I'm not just saying this as a Sophie Barnes fan! Any reader who dabbles in historical romance will enjoy this..

0 Comments

Winter Warmer

26/6/2021

0 Comments

Kissing Under the Mistletoe
by Suzanne Enoch, Amelia Grey & Anna Bennett

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

Three Christmas romances are included this collection. In "Great Scot", Jane feels that she is invisible and too old for love. But Brennan offers her a lot more than a drawing of her dream library. In "Christmas at Dewberry Hollow", Isabelle refuses to believe that this time a man will stay in Dewberry Hollow for her. But she will enjoy her time with Gate while she can. In "My Mistletoe Beau", Eva must begin a fake courtship with Jack in order to rescue her father's watch.

I read this book during winter in Sydney. It certainly helped to warm me up! I adored every story and every couple - though their romances were short, it all felt very believable to me. And all three authors knew perfectly well how to use the shorter length to their advantage - not once did I feel like the stories were missing anything. I've actually just gone and bought the other MacTaggert stories, because I really quite enjoyed "Great Scot".

0 Comments

What I Told You Was True

25/6/2021

0 Comments

From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back
by Various

A collection of short stories that follow the plot around The Empire Strikes Back, featuring minor characters as well as invented ones, those who aren't the major heroes or villains and don't impact the galaxy in a big way.

I really enjoyed these stories. A few authors got very creative with formatting and I'm still thinking about some of the characters the next day after finishing the book. The authors either delivered or didn't, but that applies to all the stories in any given anthology, really. The best stories didn't use a major supporting character extensively. My favourite is definitely "A Good Kiss" by C. B. Lee. And while I wasn't enthused by "There Is Always Another" by Mackenzie Lee, I did cheer madly when Siri Tachi went back into canon.

0 Comments

Book Reviews

Expanded Universe Round-Up #26

Reality TV Bites

Here for the Right Reasons (Marry Me, Juliet #1)
by Jodi McAlister

From Timber to Cedar

Reclaim (Small Town Packs #2)
by Cassie Laelyn

Your 2021 Advent Calendar

Sealed with a Yuletide Kiss by Sophie Barnes

Winter Warmer

Kissing Under the Mistletoe
by Suzanne Enoch, Amelia Grey & Anna Bennett

What I Told You Was True

From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back
by Various

About

Archives

Categories

Book Reviews

Expanded Universe Round-Up #26

Reality TV Bites

Here for the Right Reasons (Marry Me, Juliet #1)by Jodi McAlister

From Timber to Cedar

Reclaim (Small Town Packs #2)by Cassie Laelyn

Your 2021 Advent Calendar

Sealed with a Yuletide Kiss by Sophie Barnes

Winter Warmer

Kissing Under the Mistletoeby Suzanne Enoch, Amelia Grey & Anna Bennett

What I Told You Was True

From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Backby Various

About

Archives

Categories

Here for the Right Reasons (Marry Me, Juliet #1)
by Jodi McAlister

Reclaim (Small Town Packs #2)
by Cassie Laelyn

Kissing Under the Mistletoe
by Suzanne Enoch, Amelia Grey & Anna Bennett

From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back
by Various