*Reread Review* I was super excited to get into book 2 in this series. Tried out the audio via Audible Escape.. while I couldn't exactly find a set rea*Reread Review* I was super excited to get into book 2 in this series. Tried out the audio via Audible Escape.. while I couldn't exactly find a set reason for not liking the audio, I like to never made it through to the end. Could not stay involved in the audio and eventually just switched back to the physical. In the past this has been my favorite of the series but due to the audio, I found myself constantly irritated with the irrational behavior of the FMC, who in actuality does throw herself into every bad plot every brought in front of her. Its never bothered me before but this audio really brought it to the forefront.
Degan our gun slinging mercenary from book one gets the MC spot here as he travels off to track down some outlaws as a U.S. Marshal for a friend of his. Upon spotting his first outlaw however, Degan is thrown for a loop as the wanted, Max Dawson, is actually a female with a story that noone could believe, himself included. Maxine is bound and determined to stay away from her home town after the town owner tried to force her into a marriage by bedding her. Not only is her old enough to be her grandpa, but her confounded brother tried to save her and the man ended up shot. Not staying around to get in any more trouble Maxine runs off to survive on her own, only to be tracked down by this fancy man and dragged back for a hanging. Things are not as they seem though, and as the couple journey together and get into more and more scrapes and escapades, usually Maxine's fault, Degan begins to realize something is off about Maxine's story and he believes her. Now if only they could find a way to bring the truth out around them..
Once I picked up the physical the pages flew by and I Had absolutely no trouble staying involved in the story. Still is my favorite of this series!...more
*Reread Review* I have really loved this series in the past and was super excited to continue my reread through this author's works into the west after*Reread Review* I have really loved this series in the past and was super excited to continue my reread through this author's works into the west after spending so much time on regency romances this month.
I can't say that Hunter is my most favorite of Johanna Lindsey's MC's but I do feel like Tiffany and Hunter had some good chemistry.. I tried out the Audio for this book via Audible Escape. Narration was good didn't have any trouble staying invested in the story. Hunter did come across a little too, devil may care in the audio.. not sure if its because he has always been that way and its just been so long since I've read it but for a large part of the story, him and I just weren't connecting. I feel like it may have to do a little with how the author rarely gets into his viewpoint throughout the book. Usually Johanna flowed seem lessly between characters but for the most part in this book we spend our time in Tiffany's viewpoint.
Tiffany travels west for here arranged marriage only to, at the very last second, come up with a plan to pose as a housekeeper for her inlaws to really get to know them, and hopefully settle this feud that has been going on forever and a day between her family and the neighboring ranch family. Tiffany plans to just be in and out settle the feud without having to marry one of them and head straight back to her big city life. Unfortunately there is real bad blood between the families and every little thing sets them off against each other. Especially when more and more, accidents start happening threatening the lives of both her now employers and herself...
Still thoroughly enjoyed this reread, but can't deny the whole reason I wanted to read this was for book 2 in the series. Deacon... /sigh....more
Really good start to the series. I was actually quite surprise by the both simplicity and depth that the world building and backstory gave us here. AlReally good start to the series. I was actually quite surprise by the both simplicity and depth that the world building and backstory gave us here. Also, the author makes it a part of the storyline for the main character to reveal depth of the other characters which made the story all the more rich for me. This book is very YA for the moment, not sure if that will change or not but its been pretty clean so far.
I'm really loving the backstory of the Evians, and even better there is a prophecy.. takes a little of a back seat here in book one as things get jump started with death and betrayals to the max, but its there for the future. While for the most part Chauncey spends a lot of time wishy washy and back and forth.. I feel like she experiences tremendous growth for a character and its in such a way that doesn't leave the reader in disbelief. Like there is no "training montage" growth.. while there is a lot of training eventually Chauncey realizes what she really needs is to trust what she already knows and not bend to society's whims. This ends up making her stronger in the end.
I will say we have stepped off into some dreaded love triangle danger zone. I am more of a clear pick, or a why choose kind of gal. The teen angst is really starting to build, and of course there isn't a clear answer. I feel like there is still a lot that has to come to light before the romance aspect of this book takes a turn. I'm ok with a slower build but I'm hoping that we aren't made to suffer through the triangle long.
All in all this was a really enjoyable read. I'm excited about the series because it has a lot going for it. Not a cliffhanger really but definitely an abrupt ending leading the reader to want to dive right into book 2. If I wasn't already drowning in backed up reviews and such then I would probably head there now....more
4.5 stars. Sad to see that this is over.. I wasn't sure if this was going to wrap up in 3 small books but the author really pulled it off. Yes the cli4.5 stars. Sad to see that this is over.. I wasn't sure if this was going to wrap up in 3 small books but the author really pulled it off. Yes the climactic finish did come off abrupt but the Epic factor was definitely triggered. Rip roaring good time to say the least. This whole series was super fun and brought so much focus on "love who you want."
A couple things that really surprised me in this was that Paige wasn't done collecting mates in books one and 2.. greedy wench. Yea she goes and does the unthinkable and keeps adding to her collection like a dang hoarder. Also the fact that this 3rd book moved so fast from start to finish and yet I don't honestly feel unsatisfied by its movement. I was just down for the ride.
I think its save to say that this author's journey onto the paranormal side was a huge hit for me and I really hope to see more work from her over on the dark side. That being said I definitely need to go back and check out some of her contemporary stuff and see how much I like it. I hope to see more from this author or maybe even from this world in the future!...more
My Advice to Other Readers: Do not pick this up unless you have read the previous series.
2.5-3 Stars for me. This blurb clearly states that you do n My Advice to Other Readers: Do not pick this up unless you have read the previous series.
2.5-3 Stars for me. This blurb clearly states that you do not need to have read the previous series in order to enjoy this one. That is NOT THE CASE. I am so bummed that I listened to the blurb instead of just finding the root series. The author immediately starts this series off with random bits from the last series that aren't explained in any way shape or fashion. The random bits include events from the previous series as well as characters that are never really "met" but are constantly mentioned throughout the first 53%(Chapters 1-12) During that time period I highlighted over 20 places when random tidbits/characters are mentioned but never expounded upon. This constantly throws a reader, new to this series, off. I would totally understand a couple of spots that would vaguely clue the reader in that a series before this occurred but it was constant in the first 1/2 of the book. Absolutely no world building or character building occurred in this book due to the fact that it obviously (and is made mention of) happened in the last series.
You cannot say a reader new to this world will be able to get in here without reading the first series, if that is not the case. There is too much backstory that happened in the last series to even begin to understand whats going on here. That all being said the 2nd half of the book barely mentions the previous series and we finally start to build on the characters, however little, and we also start delving into what this series is going to be about. I did in fact enjoy the 2nd half of the book for the most part. I still have way too many unanswered questions but there is definitely hope for this series.
I am really disappointed in this, only because I could have just as easily started with the beginning of the last series instead of listening to the advice the blurb gives. Now I'm salty, and though I may eventually find my way to the beginning seeing all these wonderful reviews, I'm going to abstain for a while....more
Great continuation to the story. While in the book the FMC has lost a lot of her awkwardness it seems, she is still straight word vomit and ADD which Great continuation to the story. While in the book the FMC has lost a lot of her awkwardness it seems, she is still straight word vomit and ADD which is still endearing to me. I feel like we spent a lot of time in the bedroom in this one... and I do mean alot lol. Surprisingly enough, though the story is still moving straight along with or without our characters. Don't worry though we come out of the bedroom for all the action as now our FMC has to set her people to rights.. and there is also Lucifer who comes a calling delivering the most awesome presents lol.
I'm really fired up about this series and can't wait to see what all is in store for our characters as we face our biggest foe yet the council. But first, we have to go recruit some allies. This series does move incredibly fast but I'm in it to win it now!...more
What a great start to the series! I have to admit that the whole time I was really getting "Queen Takes Knights (Their Vampire Queen #1) by Joely Sue What a great start to the series! I have to admit that the whole time I was really getting "Queen Takes Knights (Their Vampire Queen #1) by Joely Sue Burkhart" vibes. While this for sure lacks the blood stuff lol. The concept of finding the lost "Queen" was very similar. However the similarities stop there. Our FMC, Paige, was great. Funny, kind of a bad A, and always putting herself in awkward situations. Love, Loved her.
Paige wakes up one day after apparently dying and crawls herself out of a shallow grave to find herself completely changed. Now she must live off human flesh. She doesn't know what she is.. her only true friend is a beast named Ezra who has helped her since she emerged. Unfortunately the story kind of zooms ahead and we don't get to see the bond between Ezra and Paige grow as they tackle this new world together. Apparently he teaches her to feed and fight. Paige is further thrust into the unknown when a family dinner goes awry as a demon holds everyone hostage. She finds other super natural species and is soon to find the answers to all her questions. If only she could get control of her vagina which seems to have gone off the deep end. As Paige is revealed as Queen of the ghouls, she realizes right quick that she and her family are in super danger from the demons who have started being called to her through her power they must escape to her new kingdom. Paige learns really quick that while her kingdom looks great from the outside.. it seems to need a cleanup crew for the selfish and self serving. Putting things to rights is going to take a lot of work.. Luckily for her she is surrounded by all these hot dudes that her ghoul seems to have claimed for her own...
I loved where this seems to be heading but I'm super upset by that cliffhanger.. This can't be the end.. I'm diving right into book 2 asap because I can't stop here.. ...more
3.5-4 stars. So I'm really loving the bad girl, genius feel of this FMC. While this book has the Academy thing going for it, it was mostly focused on 3.5-4 stars. So I'm really loving the bad girl, genius feel of this FMC. While this book has the Academy thing going for it, it was mostly focused on magical pranks as well as the heist. I also really loved the heist element. The world building was great flowing really well and setting up the scenes pretty effortlessly. Also the magical concepts were explained well enough to grab the concept without any noticeable "dumping." I of course love love the raunchy humor of the pranks even though it seems like maybe the FMC doesn't come out on top during all that lol.
FMC, Haley, is portrayed less of a physical bad A, instead as a genius mastermind. Totally had me hooked. Haley makes her goals, covers every basis and then starts her plans to make them happen. I do feel like there was so much time, effort, and organization all up until the heist gets planned. At that point when Haley starts taking the guys opinions and plans into consideration I felt like everything started unraveling because of the rushed nature. While the author does explain the reason's for the "rush," it really started giving me anxiety as I felt we were biting off way more than we could chew and not really going into this fully prepped.
I realized pretty quickly that we weren't going to get our goals accomplished in book one for sure and there is a lot set up for after the heist. I would definitely like to see where this is headed....more
Yes.. I love a word vomit FMC... Yes I do! I'm thinking 3-3.5 stars for this start to A.K. Koonce's new series. While I absolutely loved the FMC, yes Yes.. I love a word vomit FMC... Yes I do! I'm thinking 3-3.5 stars for this start to A.K. Koonce's new series. While I absolutely loved the FMC, yes she was ridiculous and yes she was a pain in the A, and yes she was a little bad A too.. the story itself had me twisting and turning with its fast pace that for the longest while I had no clue where this plot was headed. I was just road dogging it up with my new girl crush letting the laughter roll. Humor just does it for me peeps. Its amazing how sometimes I can totally get hung up and obsessive over a plot moving too fast for me to really grip it but if you insert some completely raunchy, inappropriate and often times embarrassing moments I get hooked, lined, and sunk right in!
Our FMC Catherine the Cunt.. no wait that was the demon inside her.. yea Aries is our FMC.. my bad lol. Anyways.. Aries has been outcast from her Fae kingdom due to the fact she accidentally on purpose snorted some hell queen's remains.. you know just another day for our party girl Aries. She totally had legit intentions of course.. but now she finds herself in the Bin.. or human realm drowning her sorrows with Jack.. her BFF whisky, and with noone to talk to but Alexa.. And that is just the start of this book ya'll! Then of course she is kidnapped by a bunch of grabby angel/demons and now she finds herself back in the fae kingdom on a mission to finish what she started before she was banished.
While this was super entertaining... I will say that a little more world building and explanations would have done freaking wonders at putting the reader in a better spot to understand what all is going down here. I'm hoping that as the series continues we can get our mind.. at least half way out of the gutter so we can really focus on our goals.. whatever those may be lol....more
3-3.5 stars. I'm going to go ahead and say this book has some seriously unique potential. I almost upped my stars but I'm settling here just because t3-3.5 stars. I'm going to go ahead and say this book has some seriously unique potential. I almost upped my stars but I'm settling here just because the world build is a little on the slow side, so I'm didn't feel like I understood exactly what all was happening. That being said, I had absolutely no problem picturing the scenes and understanding the gist.. more so the reader as well as the FMC, is left with a lot of unanswered questions that I'm going to assume answers will come later. I feel like the author has done this on purpose with the slow reveals to not only spend the focus developing the relationships but also to avoid the whole fact dump scenario. So I'm chalking it up to author strategery at this point lol. I found that a lot of the time the FMC (and the reader) had questions but they were pushed to the side and not answered because the FMC was constantly getting distracted by other major plot points which frustrated me because I'm all OCD bout the splainin. That's on me though.
I'd really like to see some answers in the upcoming books, maybe some more explanations about the gods origins, why they hate each other and for realz why the fairies have said that a person sacrifice would save Sage's (our FMC) people when in fact it doesn't seem to have made any difference. Why has Zelus forsaken his people? Why are the gods at war? I also had some wayward thoughts about why Sage hasn't teamed up with this new god and his people to help her people. Maybe even telling her people to worship him instead because he seems to be taking care of his? Like I said I'm still a little lost but the unique story has me hooked for the time being.
Sage herself starts off really bad A. She starts off seeming to have a really strong sense of right and wrong and also a strong desire to save her people. While those don't necessarily change throughout the story.. her personality seems to fall off a bit when she enters the new god's realm. I'm hoping she gets more assertive and dominant as she learns more information because I feel like right now shes just in learning and surviving mode. So far I like the guys all right but the secrecy really hasn't rounded them out much.
It boils down to this story hasn't fleshed out enough yet for me. I'm hoping as the story continues this happens and really sucks me into the world and triggers my feels. Looking forward to book 2 at this point with crossed fingers....more
3.5-4 Stars. This is the one Malory Novel that I have never read. I'll be honest my expectations were through the roof because not only is this the la3.5-4 Stars. This is the one Malory Novel that I have never read. I'll be honest my expectations were through the roof because not only is this the last Malory novel but also because its Jack ya'll. I just knew she was going to have the greatest adventure and story of them all. Unfortunately, it kind of seemed just a little more of the same ole same ole which kind of broke my heart. It was still really good don't get me wrong.. I just expected something spectacular and for this series to go out on a bang and really it just faded off into the distance instead.
Jack gets herself in all kinds of trouble when she finds "The Bastard" in town. Ends up being kidnapped... again. This time the bastard comes prepared and shares his actual story leading to the events of her original kinapping. He needs her father's help to take down the evil frenchman. He has taken her so that he may have that assurance. It turns out "the bastard" has known and disliked her father for years as he thinks James had run away with his mother. As they set off on their adventure answers to well kept secrets all come to light. Turns out Jack has now set her cap for him and she always gets what she wants.
Still a good read but after building it up in my mind I feel like my expectations were a little too high. Jack's story is still good though and I'm so glad that after decades of reading this author's work and this series in general I've finally completed it....more
3.5-4 stars. Though I know I have read this before since I own it lol, I guess I never made it around to rating it. These newer Malory/Anderson books 3.5-4 stars. Though I know I have read this before since I own it lol, I guess I never made it around to rating it. These newer Malory/Anderson books I'm a whole lot less familiar with than the others, because I haven't read these a million times like the other ones. I know that I spent literally years waiting for Judith and Jack's stories to finally come out. I have to say that in the grand scheme, Judith's story isn't near as action packed as I would have expected. Watching these two trouble makers grow up I would have thought they would have gotten in way more shenanigans than what is portrayed in this story. Judith was the super mild one of the two which was kind of sad to me.
I listened to this on audio to give it a shot. Narrator did a decent job but still the physical is where its at. There are just so many characters.. If you were new to this story it would have been hard to keep them all straight. Nathan turns out to be a really good MMC. Hes of course, got the whole Alpha, infuriating thing down pat but hes also not as dominating as the other MC's. I'm a little disappointed we really didn't get into his family history much. I was thinking we would be having some sort of show down with his sister's snobbish family but that never came to pass.
Honestly as a whole I feel like we didn't really get to spend much time doing anything but sailing and even that seemed a little on the brief side. We were constantly flitting from one thing to the next, as our beloved Malorys face first a stowaway, then jewel theives, then Nathan has a mission in America to take down some ship thieves (which sadly enough we didn't get to actually "see" happen), then kidnapping, escaping, and heading home. All in all, I almost felt like Judith kind of got pushed into a side character role as Jack's personality is so strong and her story line starts here in this book.
It was still a great read though, will all the happy endings. I am more than excited for Jack's story since that is the one book in this series I don't recall ever reading since it has come out the most recently. Can't believe it ends after that story...A whole saga decades in the making ends in one book. /cry...more
Message to all readers after me: Stick with it, its totally worth it!
4-4.5 stars.. I had to take a day or two to really put myself back together afterMessage to all readers after me: Stick with it, its totally worth it!
4-4.5 stars.. I had to take a day or two to really put myself back together after this book.. just thinking about it makes me tear up smh! First things first I decided against my better judgement to listen to the Audio of this book. I immediately recognized my mistake when I saw that 30 hour counter on the audio glaring up at me from the Audible app. After some deep breathing I decided to go for it anyways. I think the narrator was actually good. I'm a little disappointed by the lack of production value that was put into this especially after listening to so many books recently with sound effects and multiple voice actors, and music playing during climactic parts.. This was just the plain jane narrator doing her thing.
We start the story off with a swift kick in the lady nuts.. I'm not lying you'll see if you pick this book up. From there we have about 50 torturous chapters trying to find our nut kicker.. and hitting dead end after dead end and having scenes and emotions repeated over and over and never seeming to make any headway and basically banging our heads on wall trying to get somewhere. Then this author.. freaking I don't even know how the freak she turned this around. The ending of this book was breathtaking and awe inspiring and probably had some of the most heart wrenching chapters I've read in MY LIFE.. which by the way is getting longer and longer as the days go by. ;)
I can't give any spoilers away. I'm so glad I had the foresight to buddy read this because that ending ya'll.. its gonna break some peeps, and I'm so glad I had a ready made support group to get me through this! I know better now than to doubt a master.. lets just say that. I do however, recommend reading this physical because there is only so fast you can speed up the audio and still be able to understand the reading lol.
Beautiful.. just freaking Beautiful tale of all things being possible with love! ...more
*Reread Review* Went with the Audio off Audible for the reread on this one. This is my very first full voice actor cast Audio.. It was very jarring at *Reread Review* Went with the Audio off Audible for the reread on this one. This is my very first full voice actor cast Audio.. It was very jarring at first but after a while I was totally into it. You never, ever got confused on which character was talking that's for sure. Honestly though the switching back and forth between the characters and then straight back into the narration shook me for quite some time. I did notice however that I didn't have the feeling that Katsa was "bored" this go round. Maybe the narration and the voice actors changed my perspective? I have to say that I had forgotten everything about this book other than the one scene when she makes an exit from being her uncle's assassin. That was the only scene I remembered while starting this again.. and that was definitely not the most memorable scene.. at all lol.
While I didn't sense Katsa's "boredom" this go round, I will say that Katsa's character is very flat.. but she is so freaking bad A that its hard not to like her anyway. She just really doesn't have much depth of emotion.. I feel like she was written this way on purpose due to her upbringing as an assassin but I would have liked to see her broaden herself throughout the story. I found that I, as the reader, began projecting the feelings I "thought" she should have onto the girl making me closer to her as a whole, but the author really didn't give her much range.
I still like the book but I'm thinking more along 3-3.5 stars this go round for me. I think the story spends a lot of time guessing, and world building, and also explaining our MC's grace's and then just explodes into climax the last several chapters. Those chapters for sure keep a reader on the edge of their seat. While justice may end up being served.. I feel like it was served up so swiftly that I had to double take and may have been left a tiny bit unsatisfied. I'm definitely interested to continue the series this go round since the last time I read it neither of the other books were out yet.. I say if your going to do the reread you should at least try the audio it was pretty interesting and unique!
*Original Review* This ended up being quite a good book. It was a little difficult to get into at first due to Kastas character being melancholy with her life and lot. I can understand her feelings as the book progresses I mean how bored would you be if you never faced any challenges and were great at pretty much everything you needed to be good at and too good at some things as well. I feel like maybe this isn't taken into account as much in the reviews the book didn't lack action however how the character handles action and death defiance as well as impossible situations is with this boredom because that's her Grace. All in all this was an enjoyable read....more
*Reread/Re rate/Review* I originally gave this book 3 stars.. and in all fairness I think in comparison to some of Johanna Lindsey's other books as far*Reread/Re rate/Review* I originally gave this book 3 stars.. and in all fairness I think in comparison to some of Johanna Lindsey's other books as far as the story itself goes it may be around a 3 star read. In comparison to every book I've ever read on the other hand I feel like this definitely deserves at least 4 stars. I love the whole mail order bride thing this has going on. Women setting out on super great adventures and learning a whole new lifestyle.. gets me pumped. I will say that yes as this story progresses it seems there are so many holes in the plot.. never fear however Johanna Lindsey never knew the meaning of "loose ends" so just have faith in the master. Since I've read this book so many times I can't count.. I assume that the 2nd read and so forth was actually better for me. I can't honestly remember, but knowing the ends to all the holes makes a difference for sure.
While I do love the story line, Lucas Holt was a little too much as a hero starting out. This does eventually get explained and while he's almost nothing in comparison to Slade Holt, it still seemed so overwhelming for the FMC, Sharrisse. He just came on way to strong right out of the gate for someone of Sharrisse's personality and instead of me, as the reader, finding him super romantic, I found him just as irritating as the FMC lol. Sharrisse, in an effort to thwart her father's plans to marry her to the man her sister loves, heads out West to Arizona territory to become a mail order bride. Of course she has no intention of actually getting married, she just needs a place to lay low so her annoying/scheming/liar of a sister can make her move. Yea you can tell that I don't like her sister very much. I wish I could say her sister really learns her lesson but I don't think that actually happens. Sharrisse of course is surprised to find Lucas Holt waiting for her on the other end of her journey. Lucas, despite having put out an add for a wife, also has no intention of getting married. He just needs a fiancee for a few in order to keep his life time plans of revenge on the rails. Sharrisse of course makes up her mind, as soon as she sees her new "home" that she needs Lucas to send her right back. Lucas while of course wanting her to want to go back home, doesn't expect her to want to leave immediately and must make her wish to stay, at least for a little while....
Still love this book after all the years though I don't feel like this story is as "fleshed" out as some of Johanna's other stories. It is still a super entertaining read. ...more
*Reread Review* I'm going to say 4.5-5 stars just because I still like the first book in this series the best.. but this one is a very close 2nd lol. T*Reread Review* I'm going to say 4.5-5 stars just because I still like the first book in this series the best.. but this one is a very close 2nd lol. The story of this one is amazing with all the events adding up to now. I love the MMC, Lincoln, in this book. I feel like he is the perfect MMC for this story. Honestly we spend most of the story in Lincoln's POV so I feel a lot closer to him than I did the FMC, Melissa. This is actually pretty rare in a Johanna Lindsey book. I actually can't think of one other.. not to say that there isn't another but off the top of my head I can't think of one. This effected me as a reader because I honestly don't feel near as close to Melissa.
I totally went with the audio for this off Audible Escape.. only for the reason that it stars a bunch of Scots lol. I made the mistake in book 2 of not going audio when I could have which had it in the forefront of my mind when I went to read this one lol. The audio was ok, the narrator did good on the Scottish brogue.. I do wish the brogue was a little heavier maybe? Anyway it didn't disappoint really.
Melissa, our FMC, is off to London for her first season only to meet Lincoln our MMC practically on the way. The attraction is instant and looks to be one of the easiest courtships of the season, since Lincoln immediately seeks out our beloved Lachlan to stake a claim and ask permission. The only problem are the 17 uncles standing in the way. The children of the legendary McFearson just so happen to be Melissa's uncles, and they have a past with Lincoln that instantly puts him as unacceptable. Melissa won't change her mind however and Lincoln is determined to put his past behind him and run through any obstacles that are in the way to Melissa..
This story has a lot of depth with all the past catching up to all the characters. I still enjoy it after all these years!...more
*Reread Review* Love, Love the paranormal feel here in this Novel of Johanna Lindsey's. Enchanted sword, time travel, and a hot almost Viking god... ye*Reread Review* Love, Love the paranormal feel here in this Novel of Johanna Lindsey's. Enchanted sword, time travel, and a hot almost Viking god... yep sign me up lol! This has been one of my feel good go tos over the years. Its almost like I was destined for the more paranormal/fantasy vibe because all my first favorite author's were strictly romance but I couldn't help but live off the times they strayed from the beaten path. It eventually pushed me more towards the fantasy/paranormal genre.
Roselind, our FMC, is a collector of ancient swords. Her most recent acquisition Bloodrinker's Curse just happens to be her most prized possession. When her brother got it for her it came with the warning to never ever ever sell or bequeath the sword to a woman. Well.. there was nothing said about just giving it to one. Oddly enough however when Roselind first holds the sword, a man who she assumes is a part of a practical joke, tells her not to summon him again. The next time she holds her prize she is sure she is dreaming. The next time.. she ends up stuck with a viking Thorn Bloodrinker who is curse to follow the bidding of women who hold his sword. Not only that he can take her to any time period in which he has been summoned. Being a history professor at first she is delighted to be able to witness events.. until she realizes that her presence in the past alters all kinds of things in the future and now they must find what events they have changed. Thorn's curse has put him at the mercy of women for centuries... but now it seems he has found the woman at which he doesn't mind being with forever..
Still love this after all these years. The ending... /sigh. Still on my go to list!...more
*Reread Review* Looks like I originally gave this 3 stars but unfortunately since I never reviewed anything back in the day when I marked all these rea*Reread Review* Looks like I originally gave this 3 stars but unfortunately since I never reviewed anything back in the day when I marked all these read.. I have no idea why. I would have love to see my thoughts back then. I do feel after reading this again that 3 stars is pretty accurate though so I'm leaving my rating. While I loved the first book in this series book 2 here.. Well lets just say that while once again the accurate historical figures and even some events made me super excited, it was incredibly hard to fall in love with these 2 characters. Both the FMC, Millicent, and Wulfric our MMC were incredibly hostile, both in general and to each other. Its amazing we wound up with the ending we did instead of some sort of double murder lol. The overly hostile nature of both characters made it difficult to really fall into the story and just get lost.
Wulfric and Millicent have been afianced since childhood.. and have hated each other just as long. This is one of those stories that follows that "Great Misunderstanding" line where if these two weren't so incredibly stubborn and holding on to their hate with all their strength then this story may never have happened. The day comes when Wulfric's father insists he go to get his bride to be. Wulfric arrives to find his wife is a veritable harridan.. Wulfric, none to pleased, sets out to make her life as miserable as his is. Little do they both know that people in high places don't want them to marry either, but instead of encouraging the dislike they set out to kill or kidnap Millicent which ends up having the opposite effect than they intended.
I still liked it.. but this may be one of my least favorite books of Johanna Lindsey's. It is probably also one of the books I have read the least over the years. That being said I do love that we got cameo's from Reina and Ranulf and I'm pretty sure the next in this series is about their son. I can't remember the circumstance or plot but I remember liking it. I'm excited to read the next one for the memory refresher....more
*Reread Review* This was actually the first book I ever read in this series which means I started at the end. Fear not however, if you run across this *Reread Review* This was actually the first book I ever read in this series which means I started at the end. Fear not however, if you run across this book and you haven't read books 1 and 2 there is enough backstory to make you aware that other books came before this as well as give you what you need for this to stand alone without any sense of confusion. This book may be my favorite in the series because it deals with an Earth FMC and we get our SF/Fantasy brought home in a way that makes sense. Its like oh this is all made up in the head of the author until it shows up on earth's doorstep lol.
Brittany is our FMC in this book and our MC is Dalden who is on a mission to retrieve some of the Sunder mind control rods stolen by Joren from the last book. Brittany gets caught in the middle as Dalden's guy and of course he goes Warrior on her and makes her his lifemate without any questions asked. Now Brittany is on her way to some new world as the first earthling being made aware of this vast collection of universes.. but she doesn't quite believe anything except for her feelings for Dalden. Our MC Warrior is perhaps the most sensitive as well as understanding of the warriors we have met so far and that puts Dalden as #1 for me in this series. Another thing that really tickles me pink about this series is the form of punishment offered to warrior females doesn't have hardly any effect on our earthling female. Makes me happy since I don't really understand how its effective at all but I digress.
So glad I've done a reread of this series. I am still a little heart broken that nothing like this has ever run across my reader eyes since first discovering it. For being such an old read I still feel like this is a relevant series in the paranormal world!...more
*Reread Review* I have read this book and this series so many times over the years. I can't change the star power because who would read a book a mill*Reread Review* I have read this book and this series so many times over the years. I can't change the star power because who would read a book a million times if at one point they didn't think it was amazing? I will say however that just in comparison to the series itself this book in the series is my least favorite for several reasons. Number one is that there is too much Martha Vs Shani arguing. It goes on for pages and pages and as we learned in the last book you cannot beat super computer Martha who bases all her predictions on probables and data. This arguing is useless really. Its basically like having huge inner monologues while a character tries to make a decision.. after a while you just want to scream for the FMC to grow a freaking pair or put some big girl panties on and get to it.. Lol. The second thing that makes this my least favorite in the series is Shani herself.. while she has all the equipment and knowledge to be a Bad A just like her mother Tedra.. she most definitely isn't. In fact we spend 80-85% of the book running scared even though she has training and knowledge way past what a normal human being would have. That cuts and tears it for me, everyone knows I'm a sucker for a Bad A FMC. Its such a shame when all the aspects are there for one and then the FMC just doesn't live up or even grow into the role.
That all being said the story is in depth and explains every aspect so its not like we, as the reader, just doesn't know why things are how they are. The reasons seem a little on the flimsy side for me in particular though. Either way its still an enjoyable read and follows along with book one with all the Warrior like tendencies of the first book and of course lots of Martha getting her way like Martha do. Still one of my favorite series!...more