Blog Posts - Alyce Caswell - Author

Alyce Caswell - Author

Oh No Never Again

13/8/2022

Vows of Empire (The Bloodright Trilogy #3)
by Emily Skrutskie

Separated, the heirs of opposing blood lines, Gal and Ettian would rather this whole galactic war thing went away so they could be together without A) weakening someone or B) killing several someones. But what they want won't be possible...without a heck of a lot of manoeuvring and a buttload of shenanigans.

...oh dear. Vows of Empire never stood a chance with me. I really hate these kinds of "hehehe we're unfolding a big damn plot that we've kept hidden from the reader/viewer" storylines. I find them sloppy and boring. This was no exception to the rule. Where was the momentum of the previous two books? Where was the delicious pining? We didn't get a real ending...just a cop out. I wish I'd never bothered with this trilogy in the first place.

Short but Sweet & Sexy

8/8/2022

His Lord's Soldier (Great War #4)
by Renée Dahlia

James has pined away for his best friend, Rafe, for years and knows there is a very low chance of Rafe having the same inclinations as he does. But when Rafe returns from the Great War broken in more ways than one, James wants to take care of him...even if he can't have more.

Well, it's easy to see why this is a Ruby finalist! A lovely novella full of heat and heart - and an excellent addition to the series. I admittedly have a weakness for the grumpy one/sunshine one dynamic, but even discounting that this is really well done.

Anticlimax

7/8/2022

Her Lady's Fortune (Great War #3)
by Renée Dahlia

Women of means, Priya and Rosalie, had a passionate fling before the Great War and then certain misunderstandings stopped them pursuing anything further. But now, six years later, they must work together for a charitable purpose and their past might complicate matters - or they may realise that there are significantly fewer barriers between them than there were.

Well, that started with a bang. Heh. The prologue was exquisite and gave me great expectations - which weren't quite met. I didn't really feel that there was much of a barrier between Priya and Rosalie...and an antagonist was introduced but hardly used. Not as good as the other two F/F romances in the series, but still a pleasant read.

A Sapphic Delight

6/8/2022

Her Lady's Melody (Great War #1)
by Renée Dahlia

Luciana is doctor with unsteady hands, recovering from the Great War and losing the woman she would have called wife. When the neighbour's child falls from a tree, she knows she must use her skills - but she doesn't know that she is about to become intimately connected with Therese, who is trying to protect her son from the Bolsheviks. But other threats are lurking.

I used to think I had no interest in books set around WWI, even romances - but then I discovered Renée Dahlia. Luciana and Therese were delightful together and I really felt for them as they grieved what they had lost. Mostly, though, I was impressed with the historical detail and how Dahlia managed to ratchet up the tension at certain moments. Well worth reading.

The Average Game

30/7/2022

Second First Impressions by Sally Thorne

Ruthie lives a very quiet, tidy life in Providence, a place where rich old people come die - er, retire. Two of the eccentric residents, the Parlonis, require another young man to torment/run their errands and so one must be found. But the latest offering is Teddy, son of the owner of Providence and the guy who just made one heck of a bad first impression of Ruthie...

I have to say, Thorne really knows how to pace a romcom! And she has populated her pages with some very interesting characters. However, I didn't really see Ruthie and Teddy being together at all (perhaps it's because I never lost my dislike of Teddy) and many things weren't addressed or were too quickly dealt with (eg. Teddy's sister). An okay, if not particularly memorable, book.

Tea Cosy

30/7/2022

A Coup of Tea (The Tea Princess Chronicles #1)
by Casey Blair

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

The day has arrived for Miyara, the fourth princess of Istalam, to choose how she may serve her people. But she has no idea what her path should be. So she renounces her title, flees to a city on the edge of the Cataclysm, and begins to find her place as a Tea Aspirant. But even though she is no longer a princess, Miyara might still yet discover how she can serve her people.

Turns out I have kryptonite and it's fantasy novels featuring tea. I wouldn't say this is the most amazing book I've ever beheld, but it was cosy and adorable and exactly what I needed during a period when I wasn't able to read for more than a few minutes at a time. A Coup of Tea is a like a trusted, always-welcome friend. And it's perfect for a reader obsessed with books and tea. Looking forward to my paperback copy arriving next week. ;)

And so the series ends

17/7/2022

Some Like It Scot (Scandalous Highlanders #4)
by Suzanne Enoch

Catriona MacColl rescued her sister from an unwanted marriage and went on the run with her, all the way to Scotland. Munro MacLawry finds a lass dressed like man hiding out on his brother's land and is immediately drawn to her. But it soon becomes difficult to sneak away and visit her without raising the suspicions of his family - and Catriona may be hiding from something else.

What is with the heroes in this series launching kisses of dubious consent on the heroines? And Munro's brothers...I can't recall them being this irritating and dense in their own books. I'm SURE I enjoyed Some Like It Scot. I'm sure I did. Perhaps I enjoyed it despite its many glaring flaws. Let's just say it was average and leave it at that.

And it was going so well...

15/7/2022

Mad, Bad, and Dangerous in Plaid (Scandalous Highlanders #3)
by Suzanne Enoch

Rowena MacLawry ran away to have her London season and now she's returned to the Highlands at the age of eighteen, ready to put aside her childhood obsession with the man who ignored her. Lachlan MacTier should be relieved that the lass who loved him for years has moved on. But it's strangely difficult to watch her pretending she fancies Englishmen who can talk about theatre...

I loathed Lachlan so much I nearly DNFed this many times. I wish I wasn't so stubborn about finishing what I start. Lachlan is a petulant and forceful arsehole - and oh yeah, he only suddenly develops a tendre for the heroine WHEN SHE GETS OVER HIM. I didn't buy that Rowena was still into him and I didn't want them to end up together. But as usual, I liked the clan drama. Pity about the "romance".

Drama, romance - action!

14/7/2022

Rogue with a Brogue (Scandalous Highlanders #2)
by Suzanne Enoch

Arran MacLawry dances with an enchanting lass at a masquerade, but instead of being his intended - she's from a rival clan! Mary Campbell knows she should avoid Arran and marry the man her parents have chosen, but the Highlander in her is drawn to the Highlander in him. Will they manage to resist each other - or will they imperil an important, fragile truce?

Gosh, I loved this one. Maybe because I'm such a sucker for enemies to lovers - and a sucker for dramatic races to Gretna Green. I'm amazed that Enoch managed to see the romance, given that they spent a lot of the book on the run. The minor characters assisting Arran and Mary were brilliant and I find myself missing them. I really enjoyed the clan drama too. Definitely my favourite of the series so far, but it is only book 2... ;)

Final Act to the Rescue Again

11/7/2022

The Devil Wears Kilts (Scandalous Highlanders #1)
by Suzanne Enoch

Ranulf MacLawry, the Marquis of Glengask, has come to London to bring his wayward sister home, but instead finds himself agreeing to allow her a two-week stay. He's no fan of the English and Lady Charlotte Hanover has a way of getting under his skin better than most of them. Charlotte has no patience for men who use violence to get their way. Can she convince him to change...or accept him as he is?

This was a typical historical romance novel and didn't really stand apart from the others until the climax, which was unexpected but not unwelcome. Truthfully, I found the clan dynamics a lot more interesting than the actual romance. Mind you, the intimacy scenes were excellent - but even those won't help me remember the particulars of this book when I come across it again.