Winter Solstice Winter by E.J. Squires

I received this book via the Goodreads giveaways, and was very excited, as I had previously read the synopsis and was interested in the book. Boy, was I disappointed. This is a young adult novel, but the writing style lends itself to a much, much younger age. The characters are shallow and one-dimensional and nearly indistinguishable from each other. Dialogue is stiff and unnatural and many of the conversations are unrealistic for the era this is supposed to take place in (Medieval Scandinavia). The protagonist is uninteresting, the antagonist (usually the one I cheer for) is uninteresting and the story is just boring. Aside from all that, the grammatical errors and editorial errors are unforgivable.









Rated 1 star on Goodreads

Gabriel's Hope by Lizzy Ford

Finally, a romance novel that focuses on character development and conflict instead of constant, graphic sex and easy solutions to problems. The main female protagonist, Deidre, has a very literal fatal flaw-- an inoperable brain tumor-- that even immortal deities like Death can't heal, remove, or otherwise cure. It is refreshing to break from the pattern of "I have this horrible problem smut suddenly I find my mate and I'm cured and suddenly super-powered!" that a lot of romance novels espouse. Instead, Deidre turns down Gabriel's offers of a civil arrangement instead of whirling romance, she waffles between the hope of surviving cancer and ending it all. She and Gabriel have an actual adult conversation about making a relationship work and the steps to achieve it. Most romance novels don't have that, instead going from a night of steamy sex to immediate, deep love. I enjoyed the conflict between them, as well as the issues they were dealing with on their own time (hello, the Grim Reaper sucking at his job and not being able to usher souls to the underworld? That's a problem). The characters are dynamic, interesting, and multidimensional. And for once, a romance novel that does not end with a happy ending!-- but one hell of a cliffhanger all the same. I may just pony up the funds for the second book soon.



Rated 4 stars on Goodreads

Dark Chocolate by Love Barkhurst

Love Barkhurst is a friend of my sister's, and had this not been a free download, I would have borrowed her copy. For what it is, it's an okay book. The love story itself is a little trite: the typical "lust at first sight" but it is refreshing to see a biracial couple in a romance novel. I couldn't relate to the characters though; Lila is a privileged white woman who comes from money, living in an affluent area of Connecticut with her own catering business. Jay is a streetwise rap star. I just couldn't like them or really care much about them. Some scenes seemed rushed and under-researched, others seemed way over the top (Lila is the victim of a violent crime twice in a few months. Why are we commodifying violent crime against women again? Oh yes, so Jay can be the hero. Right.).

The thing that really detracted from my reading experience, however, were the glaring grammatical errors. Inappropriate apostrophes, lack or overuse of commas, even spelling errors. I know this is self-published and by the very nature of self publishing, you have to do the work yourself, but couldn't someone have given this a few go-overs before sent to the printer? Love, I don't know you, but send a manuscript to my sister and I will happily edit for you, free of charge. This was a first novel. With proper editing, character development (the characters were shallow and unrealistic), and revision, she could have the potential for a successful second book.

Overall, it was an easy read to get me through a slump. If you want something you don't have to think too hard about, this is a good book for that. If you're looking for depth and complex characters, this isn't it.

Rated 3 stars on Goodreads

Shadow's Claim by Kresley Cole

Separate from the Immortals after Dark series, the first book in The Dacians series, Shadow's Claim, still maintains continuity of the original IAD storyline, with slight overlap of Cole's last book, Lothaire. While tertiary characters are still working toward the Accession (or immortal end-of-days) the major plot line here focuses on Bettina, heir-apparent to a demonarchy, and the unfortunately timed wakening of vampire Trehan Daciano's heart.

What I appreciate about Cole's books, what has kept me reading, is that they aren't all-powerful Mary Sues. Bettina has flaws. She has past trauma that triggers panic attacks, even though she's an immortal. She's struggling under the hand of an outdated patriarchy, being patted on the head by everyone in her life and is thoroughly frustrated by her lot. Even the seemingly invincible Daciano has his flaws as he wars with an inner nature that he has worked hard to suppress. There's actual conflict between characters, and while yes, it's a romance novel and there's a happy ending, you can't help but feel enmeshed in the strife and wonder how things can be worked out between everyone. That's what keeps me turning pages. That, and tastefully written love scenes with anatomical terms.

This book leaves one loose end to tie up but I'm so glad this book exists, because now means exist to tie up loose ends from previous novels. And this, too,  is something I appreciate in Cole's writing. In approximately 12-13 books, the story has been consistent, and while loose threads have been left in places, they haven't been abandoned. It's one huge story arc, but each book can be read independently without the reader feeling completely lost.

Rated 5 stars on Goodreads

Courting Darkness by Yasmine Galenorn

I had enthusiastically picked up this book with fond reminiscence of the first three books of the series, at the time of purchase not knowing that this was book ten of a series. The good thing about Galenorn's writing and the way that she does set up her Otherworld series, however, is that the novels can be read as stand-alone books as she does spend time reintroducing characters and giving a rehash of what happened previously. She rotates the point of view of her books between her three main characters, each sisters with unique talents. Courting Darkness is told from the point of view of Camille, a witch and priestess of the Moon Mother.

When I had picked up the book I noticed the spine was stamped "paranormal romance" and thought "that's not right. These were always more urban fantasy. Girls kicking butt with magic and being awesome." But, as I started reading, I quickly remembered why I didn't enjoy Camille as much as a character, and why this really is paranormal romance and not urban fantasy. As I saw someone describe them, her books are "porny." But really, what can you expect from a character who has three husbands?

I had some problems with this book. Big problems. There is a scene of sexual assault in this novel that I really don't think Galenorn needed to go into such graphic detail on. I've read other books where the horror of rape were implied without having to go into implicit detail. In addition to the scene, I found it ludicrous that after, the main character, Camille, would be lacing herself into a corset to "support" her bruised ribs. Really? And sexual activity right after a sexual trauma? Has Galenorn ever researched sexual trauma or PTSD? Looked at a psychology text? I really lost interest at that point.

Along with the disturbing rape/sex combo in the book, there were some inconsistencies that it seemed she tried to pick up at the end unsuccessfully. She kept introducing bad guys with no rhyme or reason as to why they were being introduced, then no mention of them until the very end. It looks like she's going to leave them for another book. Honestly, all I could think of was that her characters are big fat self-important Mary Sues.

Rated 3 stars on Goodreads

Highland Champion by Hannah Howell

I wasn't going to write a review for this book. I read it as a palate cleanser after reading something deeper and much more thought-provoking. After all, a romance novel doesn't require much thought, and I enjoy historical romances, but this was absolute crap.

I understand an author's desire, when writing anything historical, to want to be as accurate as possible, but to have all the dialogue in Highland Scots was distracting and unnecessary. If these people were as highborn as the author claims they are, then should they all be speaking with such a low accent anyway? Now an occasional "cannae" or "och" is fine, but all of the dialogue was in dialect. All of it.

I also expect a bit of misogyny in romance novels; after all, they are aimed at women who are trying to hide from their lives in a fantasy where they are swept off their feet by a knight in shining armor, but come on, this book was ridiculous. Everyone tells Keira what a wonderful laird she will be of Ardgleann and how well respected and loved she is by the people there, and in the next breath insist she marry Liam because having a male laird will just be better. Oh, and Liam. Liam Liam Liam, who can only think about getting her pregnant before battle "just in case" when she is thinking more pragmatically about the battle itself and the future of her land. Does she want babies? We don't even find out until later, but what if she didn't?

The one ray of hope I had for this book was that Keira was a widow. "Oh!" I thought, "none of this penetrating the maidenhood crap!" Oh but no, her marriage was never consummated so of course she's a virgin. For once, I'd like to read a romance novel with an experienced woman, not a wilting, submissive stereotype of a virgin. And FYI to all romance writers out there: not all women have vaginal orgasms, an no woman ever has an orgasm every single time she has sex, especially the first time. Find me the woman who claims to and I show you a liar.

Originally reviewed on Goodreads and rated 1 star