I loved reading the continuing adventures of Maud and Henry, along with the concentration on a new circle of friends and family, and villains. But whaI loved reading the continuing adventures of Maud and Henry, along with the concentration on a new circle of friends and family, and villains. But what I really enjoyed about this book was that it brought me back to all the novels I’d read in a Gothic Literature course in college. It has all the classic points of a gothic tale with some very steamy scenes intertwined. Another great tale from Ms. de Maupassant....more
I received an ARC of this after reading Emmanuelle de Maupassant's short story of the same name in the Because Beards anthology, but I would have readI received an ARC of this after reading Emmanuelle de Maupassant's short story of the same name in the Because Beards anthology, but I would have read this novel anyway because I am a fan of hers. This story did not disappoint.
Ms. de Maupassant creates such a rich world in the Scottish highlands. In real life I've only spent one day in the region but I feel like I spent my entire summer vacation there after living in her world through these pages. I've always loved the humor that Ms. de Maupassant brings to her worlds, as well. Life is funny sometimes, and love and sex are part of life. Ms. de Maupassant brings us to a rich, sensuous place that I look forward to visiting again and again....more
I received an ARC of Emmanuelle de Maupassant's story in this anthology. Ms. de Maupassant story, "Highland Pursuits," is delightful. She injects so mI received an ARC of Emmanuelle de Maupassant's story in this anthology. Ms. de Maupassant story, "Highland Pursuits," is delightful. She injects so much personality into her characters and settings and I love her combination of erotica with playful humor. I love reading how much her characters enjoy each others' company. And the story, of course, has some very steamy, satisfying moments.
I fully plan to buy the book and read the entire anthology when it comes out because it features some of my favorite erotica authors....more
I think the reason I haven’t enjoyed BDSM writing much is because most of what I’ve read of it has been bad.
Then in walked Harry Lomax, the “Prince oI think the reason I haven’t enjoyed BDSM writing much is because most of what I’ve read of it has been bad.
Then in walked Harry Lomax, the “Prince of Kink.” I was intrigued by the book description and I was hooked from the very first pages. If you are into kink, then he is perfect book boyfriend material.
He’s not perfect, of course. He’s flawed like everyone else. But he’s oh-so-charming, too, and it’s easy to fall under his spell.
One of the joys of this book, and the touch of realism in relationships, is his romantic foil, Olivia Roux. They are drawn to each other. Harry wants to teach Olivia everything he knows about BDSM. Olivia says she wants to learn, but is her heart really in it? No matter how many times Harry says that falling in love is out of the question, and no matter how many times Olivia proves that she just can’t be a sub, you ache for them to figure out a happily-ever-after ending.
Alchemy iix is fantasy and romance. It’s boy-meets-girl-meets-kink. It’s so easy to get swept up into Harry’s and Olivia’s world.
I didn’t hear of the series until about halfway through the year and I decided to wait and read the whole thing at once rather than start up and have to wait each month. I was sick one weekend and stayed on the couch the entire time, glued to the adventures of Harry and Olivia. This is an extremely satisfying modern, kinky, romantic fairytale....more
This story is a great examination of that difficult time many of us face when we’re finished with school but not quite working in the careers we just This story is a great examination of that difficult time many of us face when we’re finished with school but not quite working in the careers we just spent so many years studying to work in. Are you an adult yet? Or are you a big kid still?
I wanted to give this one five stars but I couldn’t quite get there. Technically the writing is excellent but I found the characters very frustrating. I couldn’t figure out exactly why Molly kept putting off marrying Gavin when 1) she kept saying she loved him so much and 2) it would have solved a number of practical issues such as roommates and living expenses. But I also didn’t get exactly why she loved him so much. You don’t have to love everything about your partner but she seemed downright mean about his choices of hobbies.
All that aside, I still found The Marshall Plan a compelling read. I wanted to see what would happen with Molly, if she would solve her problems or create new ones....more
For anyone interested in living overseas at all, this book is valuable even if some of the agency specifics don’t apply. There are questions you have For anyone interested in living overseas at all, this book is valuable even if some of the agency specifics don’t apply. There are questions you have to ask yourself and discuss with your partner and family before making the decision to live and work overseas. Although I don’t agree with every single piece of advice, Ms. Gorman is honest and it’s important to hear what worked and what didn’t work for others if nothing else than to know you’re not alone.
We are ten-year veterans with the Foreign Service, so this book was less how-to for me and more nodding my head with recognition. Mix up with my birth control prescription causing me to go without for several months? Resulted in a wonderful daughter a few years before we’d planned to have kids, plus the fun of being pregnant in Burundi.
My wedding ring accidentally packed into the shipment for the slow boat? When my husband went to training and I decided to spend the summer at the beach with our daughter instead of hot and humid D.C., single dads practically fell out of the sky every time I appeared in public.
Losing a pet overseas? That happened to us, too.
Watching my husband pack a bag before leaving for work in case he had to sleep at the consulate because local authorities wanted to arrest him for doing his job? Living in fear that we’d be PNG’d any day because he continued to do his job, even after they decided not to arrest him?
Worrying about terrorist attacks, malaria, ebola, food riots, etc., have all become so much a part of my daily life that I’m almost completely desensitized to them. When they happen (when, not if, in the countries we live in) we’ll deal with it. Oh, and have you heard of acid bugs?
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro? Seeing the Taj Mahal? Taking a three-year-old hiking through Bhutan? Having a five-year-old whose French is better than mine? Eating great new foods? Making friends all over the world? Yup, all that great stuff happens, too. (We’ve also wrangled three assignments in a row on or near the equator, so the endless summer is pretty nice, too.)
These are the experiences that happen to all of us and you can either learn to roll with them or not. You’ll be happier if you relax and roll. I eventually learned that I’m going to make a fool of myself somehow every time I go out so I may as well be resigned to it....more
KD Rose does something I could never do, and that’s write a mystery that leaves you wondering who did it and what’s going to happen next. They were fuKD Rose does something I could never do, and that’s write a mystery that leaves you wondering who did it and what’s going to happen next. They were fun stories and a perfect read for a cold, rainy afternoon....more
I really wanted to love this book and give it four or five stars, but I ended up liking it instead. It felt like a series of well-written scenes but tI really wanted to love this book and give it four or five stars, but I ended up liking it instead. It felt like a series of well-written scenes but there wasn’t an easy seamlessness throughout the book. There were some gaps in the action. Thanksgiving weekend was summed up in a few sentences after the fact when it seems like the events that happened could have been important enough to cover with action rather than summary. I also struggled with the character of Jonathan not giving Roy more credit for all the hard work Roy and his grandmother had to do just to get by. I didn’t understand how Jonathan could consider himself an expert on souls. I just wasn't completely sold on him.
The story is mostly very-well written however and I think it’s a unique telling on the familiar plot of two guys trying to win the favor of one girl. The details of college life are pretty spot-on, regardless of where you went to school. The issues raised with women’s independence and liberation are also very important. It’s certainly worth a read if you like the contemporary romance genre. Despite the issues I had with it, I still couldn’t put it down, wanting to find out how the love triangle would resolve. I’m also curious enough to read the author’s first novel, Falling for Your Madness....more
I enjoyed this book and I think it was the descriptions that really did it for me. I could clearly see everything that was happening and I stayed engaI enjoyed this book and I think it was the descriptions that really did it for me. I could clearly see everything that was happening and I stayed engaged for the entire book.
However, I had some problems with the relationships between the men and women on Honeysuckle Lane. They were cliche and they were all left somewhat unresolved. I know there are reasons for cliches (and I struggle with it in my own writing) but I would have liked to see a little more depth to the relationships and some closure.
Despite that, I think it’s a terrific debut from Mr. McFinnigan and I look forward to reading more from him....more
I enjoyed this book very much. I was riveted to the story, although as it went on I became confused by how all the characters were going to tie togethI enjoyed this book very much. I was riveted to the story, although as it went on I became confused by how all the characters were going to tie together. I kept reading though, anxious to find out.
The attention to detail with the antiques and their historical settings was wonderful. I could smell the mustiness of the antique shop and incense of India. I lost track of the family tree, however, and there was a lot of time spent in the past with characters that ended up not having much to do with the final story. I also felt there were some loose ends, so I hope that means there’s a sequel in the works. I’m curious to see where Sarah’s adventures continue!...more
The first thing that drew me to this book was the contrast between the cover and the description. The cover for the Kindle edition I read is differentThe first thing that drew me to this book was the contrast between the cover and the description. The cover for the Kindle edition I read is different from the one featured here on Goodreads -- it’s a nineteenth-century illustration of birds, yet I felt like I had an inkling of what I was getting into. The setting was perfectly set for a Victorian-era gentlemen’s club before I’d even read the first page.
This is the best piece of erotica I’ve read in a long time. The Victorian setting and language mask any vulgarity, yet it is still fairly explicit. There is a tenderness and depth to the main characters that make them feel real and believable, even when some of the acts they perform seem downright unbelievable. The characters’ interests in birds and insects have them running into each other in museums and other sites around London, which lend to their being real people outside of the club. I especially like the strength of Madamoiselle Noire and the playfulness of Maude. They are women making their way in a man’s world, on their own terms.
I loved the ending and I look forward to the next installment. ...more
I'm not really a fan of MC romance but I picked up Relinquish based on the guy on the cover. (We all do it sometimes!) I'm kind of in love with 2 PiecI'm not really a fan of MC romance but I picked up Relinquish based on the guy on the cover. (We all do it sometimes!) I'm kind of in love with 2 Piece now. Maybe I'll be a convert to the genre, or at least to Sapphire and this series. I knew I was picking it up mid-series so was prepared to be a little confused but it wasn't an issue; I figured out how everyone fit into the story seamlessly and I look forward to reading the previous two books as prequels.
I would have preferred a little more romance and a little less violence. I'm not squeamish or anti-violence in books and films but I was just so enthralled with Avery and 2 Piece I wanted to see them spending more time together.
The friendly and family relationships between characters are particularly well-written. Overall it's a solid read for a summer afternoon....more
I was drawn in to this book immediately. It's a touching coming-of-age story. I cringed several times at Hattie's decisions, but they are decisions maI was drawn in to this book immediately. It's a touching coming-of-age story. I cringed several times at Hattie's decisions, but they are decisions many of us have had to make, and live with the consequences. Hattie may not always handle every situation with grace, but Ard certainly handles her characters with it. They are well-rounded, relatable human beings.
What impressed me most about this book, however, is how well-written it is and how well it is presented for a self-published author. Ard's hard work is apparent in everything from editing to formatting. It's refreshing in the sea of rush-to-publish books out there. Ard appears to be a true professional and dedicated to her craft....more
"Lizzie Borden took an ax..." I grew up fascinated by the Lizzie Borden story (growing up in a New England mill town myself, about an hour from Fall Ri"Lizzie Borden took an ax..." I grew up fascinated by the Lizzie Borden story (growing up in a New England mill town myself, about an hour from Fall River). This is a wonderful telling of the story from the housekeeper's perspective. Even knowing the ultimate outcome, I was on tenterhooks the whole time, anxious to see how Ms. Leaver was going to reach the finale. I was not disappointed....more
I enjoyed this book very much. Often books like this can be confusing with so many characters but I found this one to be well thought out. It had suspI enjoyed this book very much. Often books like this can be confusing with so many characters but I found this one to be well thought out. It had suspense, and romance and my eyes even watered a few times with some of the more traumatic moments in the story. Hodge captured the friendships and other relationships very well, also. I wanted to be friends with half the people in the book, despite their flaws! I look forward to the next book....more
I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It is sweet, funny, and full of romance. I love Jensen, the male main character. Lucy was socially awkward buI was pleasantly surprised by this book. It is sweet, funny, and full of romance. I love Jensen, the male main character. Lucy was socially awkward but not ridiculously stereotypically shy, which I loved. The supporting cast was as developed as it needs to be. I will definitely be reading more in this series....more
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