I’ve been having a harder time connecting with romance novels lately and I was thrilled to have Modern English buck that trend! It’s sweet, without evI’ve been having a harder time connecting with romance novels lately and I was thrilled to have Modern English buck that trend! It’s sweet, without ever being treacly. Steamy and with plentiful sex scenes, yet still within the bounds of contemporary romance. And who doesn’t want to read about royalty plus a Hollywood star at a freaking castle? Oh yeah, and a couple of characters from In Development make an appearance! If any of these things are interesting to you, I highly recommend you check it out.
Reading it was like watching a 90s action movie: lots of style, little substance. As soon as I figured that out, I was able to forgive some of its proReading it was like watching a 90s action movie: lots of style, little substance. As soon as I figured that out, I was able to forgive some of its problems and just roll with it. Like, why does Marisol see such heinous shit happening to women when she’s growing up? Because it’s the backstory for her big hero moment. That’s not okay, but it bothered me less once I noticed the 90’s-action-film vibe, because the pattern recognition part of my brain kicked in.
The princess is probably my favourite character, even though we don’t get insight into her thoughts in the same way we do for Elsenna. She’s blind, haThe princess is probably my favourite character, even though we don’t get insight into her thoughts in the same way we do for Elsenna. She’s blind, has strong friendships with artists, and is wildly underestimated. I loved seeing her go toe-to-toe with Elsenna and I would have happily read another several hundred pages about her.
I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think Meredith and Stevie are my new favourite couple that Taite’s written (I’m so sorry Parker and Morgan!). TI can’t believe I’m saying this, but I think Meredith and Stevie are my new favourite couple that Taite’s written (I’m so sorry Parker and Morgan!). They’re brilliant, funny, and the chemistry between them is out of control. I was totally invested in their relationship, even while I was side-eying Meredith during their crisis moment.
Duke and Viola are both well done and I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop, even as they danced around the truth. I’m not a huge fan of deceptiDuke and Viola are both well done and I enjoyed seeing their relationship develop, even as they danced around the truth. I’m not a huge fan of deception in romances, but in this case it worked really well, since the whole story hinges on it. Also, I suspect that I liked it because Viola’s deception was intended to help her brother so he could recover in peace, and because I appreciated how Duke handled things when she realized why Viola was keeping up the pretense.
I’m a sucker for books where princesses fall in love with commoners, so I was thrilled to find another one! The tourism board in Cornwall should also I’m a sucker for books where princesses fall in love with commoners, so I was thrilled to find another one! The tourism board in Cornwall should also send a gift basket to the authors because this book made me want to book a flight.
This book damn near made me swoon! I've enjoyed all the installments so far, but season 4 is by far my favourite and for a few reasons:
1. Not only areThis book damn near made me swoon! I've enjoyed all the installments so far, but season 4 is by far my favourite and for a few reasons:
1. Not only are Steph and Dominique—my favourite couple in the series—major players in this season, but we finally get Dominique's perspective too! I'm thrilled to say that Harper Bliss did NOT disappoint when she let us in on Dominique's thought processes. These ladies are still my favourite and I could happily read book after book with them. I absolutely adored how their storyline ended!
2. Camille and Zoya's book was my favourite out of the Pink Bean series, so I was curious to see how they'd end up connecting with the rest of the ladies in French Kissing. I appreciated getting to see how Zoya was settling into life in France, and the side story with Camille's bigoted coworker was interesting.
3. Solange was such a pain in Steph's ass in the last season that I was also curious to see what would happen with her. Such a delicious thawing ice queen storyline though, and I loved the opposites-attract aspect of her relationship with Aurore. I hope we see more of them in the future as well, since Aurore felt like such a natural addition to the group of friends, even as she brought something new and fresh to the series.
I listened to the audio version, and like the others, Abby Craden was the perfect choice. I have no idea if she got Zoya's Australian accent correct (I suspect she didn't), but even that didn't bother me a lot. I highly recommend listening to it.
For anyone wondering, Juliette, Nadia, Margot and Claire don't have their own main storylines in this season, but they're around enough that it's satisfying to see where they're at now.
If you haven't read anything in the French Kissing series, start at the beginning and just make your way through it. Season 4 is wonderful, but you really do need to experience the first three seasons first....more
Royal Rebel by Jenny Frame is the second book in her A Royal Romance Story series. You don’t have to read A Royal Romance to enjoy Royal Rebel, but faRoyal Rebel by Jenny Frame is the second book in her A Royal Romance Story series. You don’t have to read A Royal Romance to enjoy Royal Rebel, but fans of the first will be happy to hear that George and Bea are back and stronger than ever.
Like some others have said, it feels a bit odd reviewing this one on its own. The book doesn't stand alone at all because it directly picks up where WLike some others have said, it feels a bit odd reviewing this one on its own. The book doesn't stand alone at all because it directly picks up where Without A Front – The Producer’s Challenge leaves off. If you haven't read that book, this review will have a bunch of spoilers.
Tal managed to save Salomen from the assassination attempt at the end of The Producer's Challenge and now she's in the hospital with burns over much of her body. Their tyree bond has been forged for survival reasons rather than love, but Tal and Salomen are drawing strength from each other as they grapple with the fact that someone tried to kill Tal.
As they hide the true nature of their relationship from the world and the degree to which Tal has been injured, they have some hard truths to deal with--not only does someone want Tal dead, but Salomen's brother helped the assassin know where she would be. It also becomes clear that there's corruption deep within the Council and a faction that wants Tal overthrown.
Unsurprisingly, I loved The Warrior's Challenge. The romance that began in The Producer's Challenge continues strongly and is satisfying, there's tons of action, and the intrigue around the Council corruption was handled well. Also, let's just say that the author made up for the lack of sex in the first two books, and how.
Salomen and Tal continue to be great. The tension that ran between them in The Producer's Challenge isn't there in quite the same way, but I particularly enjoyed seeing them negotiate their new life together. I also loved Vellmar the Blade. She's the perfect sidekick for Tal and I can't wait to read her novella. Micah had his own journey that is excellent and the big reveal about his backstory totally surprised me, but worked well.
If you've liked the other books in this series, you'll like this one. I'm looking forward to seeing what else Fletcher DeLancey has for us in the Chronicles of Alsea....more
Loved it, but I'm really glad that I knew about the cliffhanger.
Part of me had hoped that Tal might end up in a triad relationship with Lhyn and EkatLoved it, but I'm really glad that I knew about the cliffhanger.
Part of me had hoped that Tal might end up in a triad relationship with Lhyn and Ekatya in The Caphenon, but her relationship with Salomen is so satisfying that I was happy she didn't. I love the enemies to lovers angle of this book. It also has the same excellent worldbuilding that I loved in The Caphenon.
Sometimes you hear about a book and just know it has to be in your life, and Courting the Countess by Jenny Frame was exactly that for me. A rich girlSometimes you hear about a book and just know it has to be in your life, and Courting the Countess by Jenny Frame was exactly that for me. A rich girl/poor girl romance with a modern day countess and her housekeeper? Check. Thawing the ice queen (or taming the beast, if you prefer, since this countess is the most delicious butch)? Double check. The countess is also a professor and archaeologist? There aren’t enough checks in the world.
This is by far my favourite series by the author and this instalment didn't disappoint. I especially loved seeing Jameson step up with the family and This is by far my favourite series by the author and this instalment didn't disappoint. I especially loved seeing Jameson step up with the family and her relationship with Spencer.
I had read the blurb, so I knew someone was going to due, but I totally guessed the wrong person. It was so well handled though, and I'm looking forward to seeing how the loss is handled in further stories.
I'm really looking forward to seeing what comes next in the series, and I'm excited that the author is giving Michelle and Melanie their own series....more
This was good, and a lot happens, but I'm interested to see how things pay off in the next installment. This was good, and a lot happens, but I'm interested to see how things pay off in the next installment. ...more
Continues to be great. I love the introduction of their family members. I also think it's great that this series can have them laughing about sex, wheContinues to be great. I love the introduction of their family members. I also think it's great that this series can have them laughing about sex, whether it's the kids poking fun at Candace, or Emerson's parents poking fun at her. It's such a healthy approach that is rarely shown....more
Okay, so I like Addy and Emma well enough and I was really taken by Tess and Brooke, but I didn't expect to love Candace and Jameson as much as I did.Okay, so I like Addy and Emma well enough and I was really taken by Tess and Brooke, but I didn't expect to love Candace and Jameson as much as I did. I tore through all four installments in a couple of days and can't wait for the next one. ...more
I was ready to give this book 5 stars because I loved it so much, and then I hit the part where they both accepted that they love each other. For me, I was ready to give this book 5 stars because I loved it so much, and then I hit the part where they both accepted that they love each other. For me, that's where the pacing got weird, even though I had really appreciated the pacing and how the tension we managed up to that point. I will say that there's zero ambiguity at the end about their HEA, and I hope there's a follow up short story about a royal baby.
One thing I particularly liked was how technology was advanced enough for it to believably be a few decades in the future, vs far fetched technological advances. That made the world more believable to me....more
Oh man. Big, messy feelings abound in this one. I'm so glad I read it all on one go, because the suspense of waiting for each installment would have bOh man. Big, messy feelings abound in this one. I'm so glad I read it all on one go, because the suspense of waiting for each installment would have been intense!
2017 reread: I still loved this one!
With six main characters, you’d think things would get a little confusing, but it actually doesn’t. It’s written in the third person with the perspective shifting between Juliette, Nadia, Claire, Margot and Steph. This lets us see what they’re like together as a group, individually, and when they’re paired off. I do wish we got scenes from Dominique’s perspective, but luckily she’s open enough with Steph that we still get a full sense of who she is as a person.
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