Blog Posts - Alyce Caswell - Author

Alyce Caswell - Author

Seaside Excellence

1/4/2022

A Spinster by the Sea (Siren's Retreat Quartet #3)
by Grace Burrowes

Anne Baxter has just been jilted at the altar - the third time a match has eluded her - and has chosen to recover by the sea. Augustus did his best to get the groom to the church, but isn't particularly sorry that he failed. Anne's would-be husband was useless. When Augustus happens across Anne on the beach, he sees not a woman to be pitied - but perhaps, an opportunity.

I absolutely adore this novella series and I'm quite sad that it's only a "quartet"! How will I cope after novella #4 is published? Unsurprisingly, I loved A Spinster by the Sea and I would trot out the usual "I wish it had been longer line", but the truth is the two authors in this series are pros at making the stories fit the lengths they've chosen. Anne and Augustus had such a beautiful romance and I'm still smiling when I think about them, a whole day after finishing their novella.

A Scottish Firecracker in London

31/3/2022

Lady Scot (Always a Scot #2)
by Jade Lee

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

Mairi MacAdaidh had her future all mapped out, but now the man she intended to marry is wed to someone else - and she is cast adrift, without a household to run. Connall Aberbeag would have her, if she let him. But Mairi would rather run to London and have a Season to find someone who doesn't ignite such fear and passion inside her. Connall, however, isn't going to let her out of his sight.

Mairi and Connall were fun characters to meet, as were their companions - although, I could have done with less of the side plot and more scenes focusing on the actual couple. They didn't really seem to get much time together! That aside, this was a very pleasant read that won't eat up too much of your time. And who doesn't like to see a firecracker meet her match?

More Theme Park Advertising

31/3/2022

Star Wars: A Crash of Fate (Galaxy's Edge)
by Zoraida Córdova

Izzy left Batuu - and her best friend, Jules - behind years ago and had no intention of ever returning. But when her crew and and her boyfriend ditch her, she takes on a job that sends her back to Batuu. Jules has been waiting for Izzy to return for most of his life, even if he won't admit it. He never thought he'd see her again...much less be punched in the face by her!

Very cute. The plot wasn't particularly engaging, but the teen romance between Izzy and Jules kept me hanging on. And then the epilogue killed the small amount of enjoyment I'd got from reading this, because here we go - yet another Galaxy's Edge book that ends just as something interesting finally happens. It's probably my fault for picking up a title that ties into a freaking theme park.

More Miss Than Kiss

27/3/2022

With This Kiss by Carrie Hope Fletcher

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

Lorelai has locked up her heart, but not for the usual reasons - whenever she kisses someone, she can see how they will die. Understandably, she has spent years avoiding men. But then Grayson, a regular at the cinema where she works, catches her eye. It's strangely difficult to avoid him - but how can she start anything with him if she'll see some horrible fate when she kisses him?

I really liked the concept and I do enjoy magical realism, but this book fell flat for me. Mostly, I think, because Lorelai was so annoying and didn't really gain the maturity she lacked from the start. I was also hoping to see more of her and Grayson together...alas. I liked the scenes with Lorelai and her family - the only time I was truly charmed by With This Kiss. But I also had to suffer through a scene with some guy assaulting Lorelai and people subsequently feeling sorry for him.

If You Like Piña Coladas

16/3/2022

A Tryst by the Sea (The Siren's Retreat #1)
by Grace Burrowes

Vergilius is surprised when his wife of ten years takes a holiday and decides this might be what he needs as well - and so he returns the the Siren's Retreat, where he spent his honeymoon. He is startled to find that Penelope is also there. Even more shocking - this is the first step in her plan to leave him. Will he be able to close the distance that has grown between them and win her back?

I must not be looking in the right places, since I don't often find Romances about estranged spouses who have slowly fallen out of love. I now know that I need to seek them out, because this was a welcome change. I absolutely adored A Tryst by the Sea, if it wasn't obvious! So heartbreaking and beautiful - and the perfect length too. I am really enjoying this series and look forward to completing it.

Short, Sweet and Scrumptious

13/3/2022

An Affair by the Sea (The Siren's Retreat #2)
by Erica Ridley

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

Allegra has spent years looking after her cousins, but once she turns thirty she will inherit enough to become independent. She has no interest in marriage, even if she did invent a rakish suitor. Obviously, she had no idea that she'd nearly run over his real-life twin! John's attempt to change his career met disaster in London, but at the Siren's Retreat he can be anyone - including Allegra's imaginary suitor.

A delightful and scrumptious (pun definitely intended!) novella that was exactly the palate cleanser I needed. The story also fit the length perfectly, which doesn't always happen with shorter tales. Allegra and John had instant chemistry and I was desperate for them to get together. I also think the Siren's Retreat setting is an excellent staging ground, so I'll definitely be reading the other novellas in the series.

Nothing Lesser About This One

12/3/2022

Star Wars: Lesser Evil (Thrawn Ascendancy #3)
by Timothy Zahn

Forces continue to move against the Chiss Ascendancy - and they are not always the same forces that are moving against Thrawn. He will defend the Ascendancy at any cost, make any sacrifice, but he is not the only one who will face consequences. In the end, the Chiss Ascendancy will either be broken or saved by its many secrets.

Whoa. I'm still sitting here, still somewhat shocked. The trilogy is over - and it was so artistically done (no, I will never stop using that quote in these reviews, fight me). Lesser Evil is a superb conclusion that feel more targeted and less aimless than the previous two books, possibly because everything comes to a head - possibly because it just is that much better. This is everything I wanted in a conclusion to the prequels about Thrawn's origins. In the past, I would have said that sci-fi novels that are heavy on politics and military aspects are not my thing...but maybe it's because they didn't have Thrawn (and now I also have a soft spot for that Geary guy - I digress).

Well worth the read. One of the best books in the current canon.

Fun in the Time of Disaster

5/3/2022

Star Wars: Midnight Horizon (The High Republic)
by Daniel José Older

A group of Jedi head to Coronet City to investigate a Nihil sighting and find themselves following very different paths on their mission. Meanwhile, Corellian local Crash (who runs a protection company) needs to find the real murderer of one of her employees or she'll face the consequences. It's incredibly lucky that she stumbles across two Padawans, isn't it?

I am not a fan of Older's books in this universe. That said, I appreciated the - dare I say it - balance he used here, adding much-needed levity around the main devastating event in the adult novel. But my usual gripes remain. This read too young to be a YA novel at most times (just like Race to Crashpoint Tower felt more Junior Reader than MG) and the scenes were too disjointed for my liking. Reath was also unrecognisable from his previous appearances. However, a little bit of fun is required at this point in the series, so my overall impression is more favourable than it ought to be.

If You Go Down in the Woods Today...

4/3/2022

Wild Sign (Alpha & Omega #8)
by Patricia Briggs

A group of recluses disappear from their small camp on land belonging to Leah, the Marrok's mate. Secrets and lost memories are only a small part of the problem that Charles and Anna must confront as they hike towards - and find - Wild Sign. There are some evils that are old enough to wait for those that come to them.

Books in the Mercy Thompson universe are (with a few exceptions) reliably good, warm and comforting for me as a reader (even if horrible things happen inside those pages!). Wild Sign is another excellent entry to the universe. Delightfully creepy, its story slowly unravelling, the added bonus of Anna and Charles still being as cute as ever - I'm definitely going to be rereading this one at some point.

The BEST Kind of MG Adventure

2/3/2022

Star Wars: Mission to Disaster (The High Republic)
by Justina Ireland

Jedi Knight Vernestra and her Padawan Imri are back with another adventure. After Avon is abducted by Nihil and put to work by them, Vernestra and Imri must investigate other disappearances before they can make any progress towards rescuing their friend. It would be nice if people seemed more willing to help them!

Jedi and seismic activity in the same book? Kid!me would have loved the heck out of this. Who am I kidding? Adult!me also loved it. Ireland is one of two authors who makes reading the High Republic worthwhile. The excitement that her previous MG novel lacked is here in spades - along with great pacing and superb handling of characters I care about a lot.