So for the last week of the #HIFortnight I was on holiday. But, being as I was on holiday in England, naturally, it rained every day!
The completely brilliant thing about the rain though, was that it meant that I could actually get around to some reading. Yes, I know, authors are supposed to read a lot. And I do. But it tends to be all or nothing. I'm either so busy with writing and edits that I can only sneak a few pages here and there, or, I'm on a break between projects and get to indulge in a readathon!
As we're coming to the end of #HIFortnight, I thought I'd post some of my reviews for HI books I read a while ago and HI books I read this holiday.
The completely brilliant thing about the rain though, was that it meant that I could actually get around to some reading. Yes, I know, authors are supposed to read a lot. And I do. But it tends to be all or nothing. I'm either so busy with writing and edits that I can only sneak a few pages here and there, or, I'm on a break between projects and get to indulge in a readathon!
As we're coming to the end of #HIFortnight, I thought I'd post some of my reviews for HI books I read a while ago and HI books I read this holiday.
Made in Nashville is written with a sweet-southern style that drew me in left me feeling thoroughly charmed. It’s a relaxed, easy and warm read but with enough plot-twists to keep it from being too sugary. If you love the TV show Made in Nashville, or simply just love the Nashville music scene, you’re going to love this page-turner, but you don’t have to be an ardent fan of either to enjoy the book. Jed Marshal ticked all my bad-boy, tattooed-musician boxes and I absolutely loved that the sweetness in Honor cleverly highlighted all her strengths.
I love, love, love super-hero books and if you love your super-heroes portrayed in a very grown-up/gritty/sharply-observed/dark/scarred way, then you too will love this urban-fantasy superhero book.
It’s a high-octane, roller-coaster of a ride, with absolutely no let-up along the way. The descriptions are poetical, the humour wry, snarky and very dark, the characters deliciously flawed and the plot well developed. Incredibly impressive. Loved!
It’s a high-octane, roller-coaster of a ride, with absolutely no let-up along the way. The descriptions are poetical, the humour wry, snarky and very dark, the characters deliciously flawed and the plot well developed. Incredibly impressive. Loved!
Friends-to-lovers trope is my favourite, so I was always going to want to read this one. Also, having read the prequel “Santa Wore Leathers” and LOVED it, I was doubly excited.
There is a lot of wonderful plot in this book and it reads more of a hot romantic suspense, than a contemporary romance, but as I love the romantic suspense genre, I was doing the happy reading dance. Plus: Hello? What is not to like about ex-military AND firemen!
At times I felt Cassie and Quinn’s relationship yo-yo’d and I found the over-use of one particular word that a lot of women find offensive quite difficult because it did pull me out of the story. I also didn’t get why the heroine—who also found the word offensive—felt like she had to become okay with saying it, but this is my personal reaction. It doesn’t put me off reading the rest of the series because I really enjoy the author’s wonderfully hard-hitting yet humorous writing style. I appreciated the deliciously-yummy-angsty-dark issues Cassie and Quinn faced, and loved how the family bonds came through so strong. Prepare for wild-fire fast pacing that blazes through to the ending.
There is a lot of wonderful plot in this book and it reads more of a hot romantic suspense, than a contemporary romance, but as I love the romantic suspense genre, I was doing the happy reading dance. Plus: Hello? What is not to like about ex-military AND firemen!
At times I felt Cassie and Quinn’s relationship yo-yo’d and I found the over-use of one particular word that a lot of women find offensive quite difficult because it did pull me out of the story. I also didn’t get why the heroine—who also found the word offensive—felt like she had to become okay with saying it, but this is my personal reaction. It doesn’t put me off reading the rest of the series because I really enjoy the author’s wonderfully hard-hitting yet humorous writing style. I appreciated the deliciously-yummy-angsty-dark issues Cassie and Quinn faced, and loved how the family bonds came through so strong. Prepare for wild-fire fast pacing that blazes through to the ending.
I thoroughly enjoyed this contemporary romance where A-List Hollywood actress Nina, and stunt-coordinator Dominic, end up working together. The setting is everything you want in a romance read – pure escapism. But the really clever thing here is that not only do we get that Hollywood-glitz that you would expect from the setting, Ms Sommers also shows us a very believable way of living in Hollywood. Her writing really shines and makes you feel as if you are there. I loved how the whole cast of characters brought their own brand of light and shade to the plot. But in particular, the main characters—Nina and Dom both shine through as reacting to their environments honestly. When Nina goes to Dom and asks him to help train her for a role she’s coveting it feels really natural. And, even better…it’s the perfect cue for lots of hands-on training and fab sexual tension! Their chemistry sizzles but the emotions that come with that pull towards each other aren’t fairytale at all—they deliciously cut to the core of who they are. I absolutely loved this romance and after finishing it couldn’t resist immediately buying up all Ms Sommer’s other titles J
The brilliant bonus with this romance is that you don’t have to read it just at Christmas J. This read is a wonderful sharply-observed, atmospheric, and thoroughly witty commentary on Downton-esque living in the modern age. There is a whole-host of characters—which I found confusing at first, but was reassured when I connected with each one because they were so beautifully written. At the heart of the story is chef Juliet, who, after a disastrous start to Christmas, decides to accept the role of chef at Thornton Hall over the Christmas period. Juliet is presented with a banquet of yummy leading men to choose from while she navigates the hilarious and mysterious plot-twists—some of which I loved because I did not see them coming at all. A fab, fast-paced read and OMG…the descriptions of the food…double-yum!
OMG – the pace of this romantic suspense is electrifying. From the very first page I was IN the story. Fab original opening, and from that great setup the pace Does. Not. Let. Up! I loved that the danger and suspense was really well written and the snarky banter between Ally and Greg spiced up the adrenalin level nicely, so that their developing relationship followed naturally instead of being secondary to the plot. Ally’s and Greg’s back-stories fed into the main themes nicely and the villain had the right amount of “sicko-nastiness” that I like without tipping over into completely unbelievable bwahahaha! Oh, and can I just add, that I would really love it if a certain male secondary character got his own story too. Pretty please! J
Harper Impulse has a great catalogue that encompasses a wide variety of genres and writing styles. It's easy to find something to enjoy and I hope during this fortnight you find a new author or genre to fall in love with.
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