Look, it's 96 pages, and it's mostly sex. Go into it with that expectation. The sex is SCORCHING HOT. Damn. I've read this book a dozen or so times, bLook, it's 96 pages, and it's mostly sex. Go into it with that expectation. The sex is SCORCHING HOT. Damn. I've read this book a dozen or so times, because it's a damn good erotic romance. And there is a romance amid all the sex. And I can very easily see it with a HFN finish.
It's also an interracial romance, which was a very pleasant plus.
Quick, sexy read. Characters that I was rooting for, and a romance amid all the sex ;)
One of my favorite erotic romances.
Merged review:
Look, it's 96 pages, and it's mostly sex. Go into it with that expectation. The sex is SCORCHING HOT. Damn. I've read this book a dozen or so times, because it's a damn good erotic romance. And there is a romance amid all the sex. And I can very easily see it with a HFN finish.
It's also an interracial romance, which was a very pleasant plus.
I had one moment's hope for David when he turned down sleeping with Amber at the club behind Grace's back....but then 32% Done.
I just can't continue.
I had one moment's hope for David when he turned down sleeping with Amber at the club behind Grace's back....but then he soon pulled out the emotional manipulation: "Darling, I hope you're not going to disappoint me." the moment that Grace shows some reservations, and hesitation to bare her body and soul to two other people that are !SURPRISE! going to be in the room with her during her next 'trial'.
Ugh. Done.
Merged review:
32% Done.
I just can't continue.
I had one moment's hope for David when he turned down sleeping with Amber at the club behind Grace's back....but then he soon pulled out the emotional manipulation: "Darling, I hope you're not going to disappoint me." the moment that Grace shows some reservations, and hesitation to bare her body and soul to two other people that are !SURPRISE! going to be in the room with her during her next 'trial'.
Desire, being the first part in a serialized novel, is a little hard to discuss on it’s own. It’s an introduction, to the characters and to the set-upDesire, being the first part in a serialized novel, is a little hard to discuss on it’s own. It’s an introduction, to the characters and to the set-up of the weekend at The Dining Club. I’ll talk a little about my thoughts in these short thirty-odd pages.
Grace and David have been together for six months and Grace believes she’s starting to fall in love. David’s courteous, attentive, loving, and the sex is fabulous; however she realizes that David isn’t quite in the same place as her. He’s holding something back and she’s not quite sure what.
David cares about Grace a lot, and wants to take their relationship to the next level so he suggests a weekend at The Dining Club, an exclusive club at which he’s a member. Here he’ll finally be able to tell her, show her, the things he’s been holding back. Honestly, I find the chemistry between Grace and David a little…forced. I feel like they’re both saying the right things, thinking the right things, but it just doesn’t feel right to me. At first I wondered if this wasn’t going to be a story where she showed up with one person and ended up with another but now I doubt that.
As you might have guessed, The Dining Club is a place where sexual fantasies can be carried out. A place for members to bring their significant others and be safe in finding out if they can fulfill each other’s sexual needs. They meet once a month and there’s only ever one ‘newbie’. This month is Grace. If they work out on this first visit, they’ll come back to go through several more ‘tables’.
Have I mentioned how much I dislike deception? Six months they’ve been together and the implication is that David has still been going to his club every month. I kind of have a problem with this. There isn’t anything in the text about them promising exclusivity, but it’s kind of been implied, and then there’s the scene with the woman at the club just before he goes to pick up Grace.
Look, I like some of the ‘more unusual sexual needs,’ as David puts it, but I also like openness and honesty in a relationship. I like that a lot. In fact it’s kind of one of my must-haves. I’m reserving a bit of judgment on this, but it did bother me here.
My other problem is the treading-the-line of manipulation that David pulls out near the end to convince Grace to stay. Maybe I’m a bit more sensitive to it because I’ve been in that sort of relationship. The ‘if you love me…’ and ‘I thought you’d want to do this for me…’ sort of comments roll off me badly.
Because of the format, serialized, these sorts of things can make or break a story. Because I have the next three installments I’m reserving my thoughts until I’ve read a bit further – and as they’re so short, it could be I do a complete 180 on my feelings for David, and Grace. But this is one of the downfalls of this format. The first one has to set the tone, and right now I’m not too happy with one of the main characters.
Grade: Due to my personal issues, I’m going to grade this in two different ways:
Desire, being the first part in a serialized novel, is a little hard to discuss on it’s own. It’s an introduction, to the characters and to the set-up of the weekend at The Dining Club. I’ll talk a little about my thoughts in these short thirty-odd pages.
Grace and David have been together for six months and Grace believes she’s starting to fall in love. David’s courteous, attentive, loving, and the sex is fabulous; however she realizes that David isn’t quite in the same place as her. He’s holding something back and she’s not quite sure what.
David cares about Grace a lot, and wants to take their relationship to the next level so he suggests a weekend at The Dining Club, an exclusive club at which he’s a member. Here he’ll finally be able to tell her, show her, the things he’s been holding back. Honestly, I find the chemistry between Grace and David a little…forced. I feel like they’re both saying the right things, thinking the right things, but it just doesn’t feel right to me. At first I wondered if this wasn’t going to be a story where she showed up with one person and ended up with another but now I doubt that.
As you might have guessed, The Dining Club is a place where sexual fantasies can be carried out. A place for members to bring their significant others and be safe in finding out if they can fulfill each other’s sexual needs. They meet once a month and there’s only ever one ‘newbie’. This month is Grace. If they work out on this first visit, they’ll come back to go through several more ‘tables’.
Have I mentioned how much I dislike deception? Six months they’ve been together and the implication is that David has still been going to his club every month. I kind of have a problem with this. There isn’t anything in the text about them promising exclusivity, but it’s kind of been implied, and then there’s the scene with the woman at the club just before he goes to pick up Grace.
Look, I like some of the ‘more unusual sexual needs,’ as David puts it, but I also like openness and honesty in a relationship. I like that a lot. In fact it’s kind of one of my must-haves. I’m reserving a bit of judgment on this, but it did bother me here.
My other problem is the treading-the-line of manipulation that David pulls out near the end to convince Grace to stay. Maybe I’m a bit more sensitive to it because I’ve been in that sort of relationship. The ‘if you love me…’ and ‘I thought you’d want to do this for me…’ sort of comments roll off me badly.
Because of the format, serialized, these sorts of things can make or break a story. Because I have the next three installments I’m reserving my thoughts until I’ve read a bit further – and as they’re so short, it could be I do a complete 180 on my feelings for David, and Grace. But this is one of the downfalls of this format. The first one has to set the tone, and right now I’m not too happy with one of the main characters.
Grade: Due to my personal issues, I’m going to grade this in two different ways:
At just a 121 pages, you'd be forgiven for thinking that this story couldn't really get off the starting line. I know I wasn't expecting too much, andAt just a 121 pages, you'd be forgiven for thinking that this story couldn't really get off the starting line. I know I wasn't expecting too much, and yet Ms. Knox deftly shows two characters that are easy to relate to, and fun to read about. Amber was unsure how to show Tony that she was attracted to him, interested in him; thinking he wasn't into her. Tony was doing his best to punish himself for the rest of his life, believing Amber is worth so much better than him.
When the tornado siren goes off forcing them into the basement, in the dark, Amber and Tony are pushed into a kind of intimacy that destroys boundaries. Tony needs Amber and her sexy distraction is just the thing to show her he's not as uninterested in her as he seems. Their chemistry burned hot in that basement, and I was rooting for them. I really enjoyed this quick look at how Amber and Tony met, how they both gave something the other needed.
In such a short book I didn't expect such a range of emotions, but Ms. Knox had me near tears at one point, and smiling and laughing the next.
Really good introduction to this series. The only, and I do mean only, drawback is that the story ends just days into their relationship. While I had no doubts they were going to make it, I would have liked to see more. Imagine how ecstatic it made me to hear that there was going to be a follow-up novella at the end of the series, Making It Last.
Previous thoughts: Probably closer to 3.5 stars. Fun, sexy, and surprisingly deep novella - would have liked a bit more (but I understand there's another novella with these two coming soon?)
Review to come.
Merged review:
At just a 121 pages, you'd be forgiven for thinking that this story couldn't really get off the starting line. I know I wasn't expecting too much, and yet Ms. Knox deftly shows two characters that are easy to relate to, and fun to read about. Amber was unsure how to show Tony that she was attracted to him, interested in him; thinking he wasn't into her. Tony was doing his best to punish himself for the rest of his life, believing Amber is worth so much better than him.
When the tornado siren goes off forcing them into the basement, in the dark, Amber and Tony are pushed into a kind of intimacy that destroys boundaries. Tony needs Amber and her sexy distraction is just the thing to show her he's not as uninterested in her as he seems. Their chemistry burned hot in that basement, and I was rooting for them. I really enjoyed this quick look at how Amber and Tony met, how they both gave something the other needed.
In such a short book I didn't expect such a range of emotions, but Ms. Knox had me near tears at one point, and smiling and laughing the next.
Really good introduction to this series. The only, and I do mean only, drawback is that the story ends just days into their relationship. While I had no doubts they were going to make it, I would have liked to see more. Imagine how ecstatic it made me to hear that there was going to be a follow-up novella at the end of the series, Making It Last.
Previous thoughts: Probably closer to 3.5 stars. Fun, sexy, and surprisingly deep novella - would have liked a bit more (but I understand there's another novella with these two coming soon?)
31 July 2015: $2.00 on Kindle 3 July 2015: $3.99 on Kindle
What can I say about this book that hasn't been said a hundred7 January 2016: $1.99 on Kindle
31 July 2015: $2.00 on Kindle 3 July 2015: $3.99 on Kindle
What can I say about this book that hasn't been said a hundred times over? I came late to this party, just a little over a week before the release of the second book in the series when most others have been anxiously awaiting the book for two years. I can't say that I'm unhappy I've missed the last couple of years of waiting and not knowing what's going to happen; but I do wish that I'd read this so much sooner than I have.
Seriously. Between this one and Archangel's Shadows, that I haven't reviewed yet, I'm not sure what's going on with me. But it does give me a handy exSeriously. Between this one and Archangel's Shadows, that I haven't reviewed yet, I'm not sure what's going on with me. But it does give me a handy excuse to re-read the series...because I could never just re-read the two books that need reviews. Nooo. That would be impossible. Nicely, I've also been re-reading with a bunch of friends over at Goodreads - some who've read the series/books before and some newbies. It's always so much fun to talk about books with other people, I'm enjoying this series more than ever.
Having just finished this book I can see why it didn't get a review from me the first half-dozen times I'd read it. It's beyond emotional, beyond heart-wrenching, it breaks me every single time, over and over again.
Trigger warnings: Captivity, rape, abuse, violence against children (and innocents)
Not only does Honor have to overcome a vicious history, that struck me on many different visceral levels, but Dmitri's past is just as horrific. These two characters are damaged. But what works for me is that they're handled with care. Dmitri and Honor are who they are, they've been hurt - beyond belief - and came out the other side. Not always for the better, but they came through. And sometimes that's enough to give you time to get better. Better might not be what one would think before such atrocities have touched their lives, it might not be sunshine and roses, but it can be happiness, security, love, and contentment.
And because this book does give them love and happiness again, without making it perfect and, worse, as if the trauma in their lives never happened, I absolutely adore this book. Even while I rage against and my heart cracks from the pain that each is suffering, I'm completely invested in seeing them both find a way through. It's not easy, and Dmitri makes one horrible move, but I even liked how that was handled between the characters. It could have been unforgivable, and in the hands of a lot of people would have been. Some readers might find it unforgivable still. It worked for me though, because the contrition was immediate and forgiveness asked for without pride.
Though the world is still the same, amazing world that we've been living in for the past three novels, and the plot is tragic and suspenseful, the real draw here is the characters. I've loved and been excited for Dmitri's book for a long time. He was the broken one, with more than a touch of cruelty, that I wanted to see have some happiness again. So I was a little surprised when it turned out to be Honor that I adored and fell in love with.
This woman has a core of strength that, quite frankly, astonishes me. I related to her, though my experiences have never been anywhere near this level, and I loved watching the way she fought to come back from it. It wasn't easy, wasn't gentle, and she needed some of the tough, no-nonsense treatment that she got from others, but she fought to be herself again, to show them that they didn't get to own the rest of her life, no matter what they'd done. From the first moment we meet her, where she's not sure she wants to step out into the world again and some small piece of pride pushes her to take that first, hesitant move, I adored her. I understand her. I love her. She deserves everything she fought so hard to achieve in this book.
And Dmitri is lucky to have her. Luckily, he knows it.
This book battered me at points, thankfully it gave just as many happy, sigh-worthy moments as well. I loved it, beginning to end.
I picked this book up because I have the second in the series (The Christmas He Loved Her) for review and wanted to read them in order - I can't help I picked this book up because I have the second in the series (The Christmas He Loved Her) for review and wanted to read them in order - I can't help it. I must read in order! So, even though I've been on a holiday romance reading kick lately I switched gears entirely and hit summer in Michigan.
The book starts as Cain comes back to his hometown for the funeral of one of his best friends. I don't mind saying I was nearly in tears reading this. Though...well, the grief didn't seem to last very long for the rest of the characters (except the twin brother). Anyway, Cain's just starting to make it big with his band - he's the lead singer and front guitarist - but finds that he can use the break when he gets back home.
I mostly liked Cain and Maggie, though I'm hard-pressed to come up with some characteristics of them that aren't related to their chemistry and smexy times with each other. Cain is nothing like one would expect a rock-star to be - he's down to earth, kind, and caring to the extreme. Maggie, and here's where the majority of my problems come from, is stand-offish (though that's understandable considering her history) and, well, passive. Things happen to her. I never got the feeling that she had any hand in what was going on and she just kind of went with the flow.
I did have a hard time understanding why they fell in love. Cain mentions a few reasons of why he's falling for Maggie, but I honestly saw none of that in her. I felt like they never talked - though I was told about them talking, I didn't get to see it. And I really have no idea how the hell they're going to make it work when Cain needs to go back to LA in the fall.
I'm not a fan of the 'grand gesture' proposal at the end - and I didn't think Maggie would be either, but she was apparently into it; which just seemed like a complete reversal of her personality.
The secondary characters definitely had me intrigued, especially Jake and Raine! I'm so glad that Jake's story is next, because I'm dying to see how Juliana Stone resolves this.
I feel like I'm complaining a lot, and I did have issues with this - in fact I could nit-pick a few other things that continue to bother me. However, I was enjoying the book, for the most part, while I was reading it. The closer I examine things, and feelings about it, the more issues I come up with. The Summer He Came Home was a fun, quick, light read. If you're looking for something easy and straightforward, this could definitely be a good one.
17 November 2015: $4.99 on Kindle 25 September 2014: $2.99 on Kindle - What a fantastic deal!! Highly, highly recommende6 January 2016: $4.99 on Kindle
17 November 2015: $4.99 on Kindle 25 September 2014: $2.99 on Kindle - What a fantastic deal!! Highly, highly recommended.
1/6/2014 Edit: This book comes out next week (I'm ridiculously excited to get my hardcover of it) and I read this interesting blog by Brian Staveley about the inspiration for the Kettral training scenes here
There’s a scene near the middle of The Emperor’s Blades in which a class of Kettral cadets, ultra-elite warriors who fly massive hawks into battle, are undergoing their final test: Hull’s Trial. People who have read the book ask about this scene a lot, and about Kettral training more generally. They want to know if I’ve served in the military – I haven’t – and then they want to know where in the hell all the training material comes from. The answer (aside from lots and lots of reading about military training) is adventure racing.
12/24/2013 Edit:
I've just found the map of Annur on Brian Staveley's website! I was hoping to have one of these. Click on the map for a bigger picture
Review: Best fantasy book I've read in a long time, quite possibly ever.
I requested this book without even reading the book-blurb because a friend (Thank You Cory!!) told me, while still in the middle of reading it, that it was the best fantasy book she'd read in a long time. Fantasy is my home in genre novels, I come back to it time and time again because it's comfortable, exciting, interesting, detailed and emotional. So I started The Emperor's Blades with incredibly high expectations and excitement.
I was absolutely and thoroughly Blown.Away. This book is amazing. I highlighted dozens of moments throughout this book, was on the edge of my seat for most of it, and was absolutely enthralled the entire journey.
The intricate, sweeping story that follows the Malkeenian royal line - two brothers and a sister maneuvering between, around and through plots to take the Unhewn Throne from them - is full of intrigue and twists, danger and valor, despair and determination. I can't even do this justice, but I will say it's only the second book to surprise me so completely and throw twists at me I didn't even see coming. After I spent a good portion of the book detailing theories in my head, only to be wrong most of the time, the final twist absolutely blew my mind.
Kaden, Valyn, and Adare are some of my favorite characters - I was utterly and completely on their side from the very first moments we met each of them. Though I admit Valyn, the warrior, is my favorite, I love all three of them. As I was reading I was eager to see them succeed, to beat the insurmountable odds stacked against them, and terrified that they wouldn't. They aren't infalliable. They aren't perfect. They are, however, absolutely loyal, strong, intelligent, and full of determination. Thank goodness, because this war is going to test the depths of their resolve. Additionally, there are more than a few other characters that I'm dying to know more about. Those for, and against, the emperor both.
I can't end this review without speaking of the writing itself in The Emperor's Blades. I primarily read for characters, then world, then plot. Prose is important, the way the words are strung together can make or break a story, but it's often the last thing I consider when I decide how much I like a story or not. And if the story here hadn't been so utterly fantastic, if the characters hadn't been so completely intriguing, the world so fascinating - then the words that formed it wouldn't have delighted me so much. But Brian Staveley did something amazing here. He weaved words together in beautiful sentences, gorgeous paragraphs, and painted me a picture that I couldn't look away from. As engrossed as I was in the story, as much as I had to know what was going to happen next, I still stopped and had to re-read a section that was so arresting, so gorgeous, that I couldn't go on without appreciating it for a second, or third, time.
Part of the journey is complete in The Emperor's Blades, but it's clear there's a lot left to be told. And I, for one, couldn't be happier.
I was really enjoying this re-telling of A Christmas Carol...until we met the heroine. It's not even that she was awful or irritated the hell out of mI was really enjoying this re-telling of A Christmas Carol...until we met the heroine. It's not even that she was awful or irritated the hell out of me, but she was just so bland.
This is basically a reunited lovers story, and while I normally love those I do generally want to see why the characters love each other. The most I got out of this was that he felt like a better person with her and she saw his potential.
I don't know about you, but I've seen many relationships (and people) crash and burn for a love like that.
Because this is a novella I didn't expect loads of information and story here, but I was surprised by how much world Cynthia Eden managed to pack into the story. There were demons and shifters, angels and vampires. I felt like I had a pretty good sense of most of it - though I'd definitely want to know more about the demons!!
Overall a quick, good paranormal retelling. The writing was good and I'll definitely be checking out more of Ms. Eden's books in the future. I just wish that there had been more time spent developing the relationship and less time on the sex scenes (which were apparently quite forgettable as I can barely remember them except that there were 2 of them).
Previous thoughts: I'm trying to decide between 2.5 and 3 stars.
I do have to admit that I didn't love this little bit in the swamps of Georgia, mostly because I didn't like the people there and how they always seemI do have to admit that I didn't love this little bit in the swamps of Georgia, mostly because I didn't like the people there and how they always seemed to be laughing at Roman, at his expense. I enjoy him being uncomfortable and out of his element, but this just went a little too far for me.
I still can't wait to see what the rest of Ashley's friends and their new journey has in store for them both.
After the fantastic start in Part 1, I expected Ruthie Knox to continue on in greatness. Part 2, Hitched picks up nearly immediately after the ending After the fantastic start in Part 1, I expected Ruthie Knox to continue on in greatness. Part 2, Hitched picks up nearly immediately after the ending of Chained. Roman's agreed to take Ashley to safety, though he doesn't yet have an inkling where exactly. Ashley plans to use the time on their journey to Georgia to convince him to not destroy everything she holds dear.
I'm greatly enjoying this series and am immediately diving into the next one.
Starting with the underage (I got the impression high-schoolers) kids, one girl being screwed by her friend's father (who I got about halfway through.
Starting with the underage (I got the impression high-schoolers) kids, one girl being screwed by her friend's father (who is married also) in the woods.
Then three of the girls being taken and straight up raped by Big Foot - I couldn't handle it anymore.
I have a very bit hot-button about rape, I couldn't get past that.
I read this with: 1. Jenny 2. Cory 3. Catherine 4. Anzu 5. Aly 6. Aure 7. Shelby 8. Wart 9. Sarah (she hasn't agreed, but I doubt she'll be able to resist, because she loves Sasquatch peen - she agreed) 10. Grimlock (who found this gem)...more
She had tasted the power of being with the T-Rex, and she knew that nothing else would ever compare. She would relive that taste; she had to. It WTF??
She had tasted the power of being with the T-Rex, and she knew that nothing else would ever compare. She would relive that taste; she had to. It was only a matter of time…
Nice intro to the world and main character. There's a lot of potential in the world - that's for sure.Nice intro to the world and main character. There's a lot of potential in the world - that's for sure....more
A few months ago I read my first Ruthie Knox book, and I haven't looked back since. She writes some of the best contemporary romances I've come acrossA few months ago I read my first Ruthie Knox book, and I haven't looked back since. She writes some of the best contemporary romances I've come across and instantly propelled herself to a favorite of mine with her Camelot series. I admit, I'm not a fan of serialized novels in general; too frequently they feel cut off, incomplete, and altogether less than they should be. So, it was with mixed expectations that I started this, Part 1 of Roman Holiday - Chained.
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