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lynseyisreading's reviews
1361 reviews
Trouble on Reserve by Kim Harrison
4.0
A juicy morsel that raises yet more questions. Can't wait for more! :)
The Highlander's Dangerous Temptation by Terri Brisbin
4.0
Highlander's Redemption
Like the total muppet that I am, I didn't bother to check after receiving THE HIGHLANDER'S DANGEROUS TEMPTATION for review, if it was part of a series or not. Not that it's all that unusual for me to read my hunky highlander books out of order - what spoilers you find are usually very small and probably forgotten by the time you backtrack to that couple's book - but with this one, it seems to me that I might have been wise to at least read the book in which Athdar featured as a child, since it seems to have had quite an impact on his character.
Regardless, I didn't have any problems getting with the programme and understanding that Athdar was an outspoken, impetuous child, whose runaway mouth often got himself, and other people, in trouble. But that was then and this is now. Twenty-some years, two dead wives, and one dead betrothed later, and Athdar is anything but impetuous. He's... just sad, really. He's given up on his dreams of family, happiness and love, believing himself to be cursed since everyone he loves dies.
This forlorn, broken version of a once animated and full-of-life man, speaks to our heroine Isobel. To a part of her that wants to soothe and mend his battered spirit, to show him that the contentedness he seeks as an older man, is still within his reach.
And, yeppers, that does mean he is a touch older than your usual 25-year-old Highland hero. I don't know exactly since it didn't say, but I was guessing him to be around 38 to Isobel's 18. So an age gap relationship to be sure, which was actually surprisingly sweet. And of course, in this era, older men often had younger brides so it's not something any of the other characters in the book would even bat an eye at.
Aside from the romance, the plot had a mystery to its center, which was interesting to watch unfold even though I worked it out early. Athdar suffers from PTSD which, in the period setting, wasn't recognised as a condition. It was therefore a tricky situation for Athdar to be in; trying to keep the respect of his people, while his mind kept letting him down in front of them. Good thing he had someone as supportive and loving as Isobel by his side. But, with his "curse," for how long would that remain true?
There were some nice romantic moments and love scenes in THE HIGHLANDER'S DANGEROUS TEMPTATION, as you'd expect from this type of novel. Though I confess I was expecting Isobel to be more... forward, from the blurb's description of her as "sin personified". I also thought the ending was terribly rushed. Still, all in all this was another enjoyable trip through the Highlands for this reader. I give it a happy and contented 4 Stars ★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Like the total muppet that I am, I didn't bother to check after receiving THE HIGHLANDER'S DANGEROUS TEMPTATION for review, if it was part of a series or not. Not that it's all that unusual for me to read my hunky highlander books out of order - what spoilers you find are usually very small and probably forgotten by the time you backtrack to that couple's book - but with this one, it seems to me that I might have been wise to at least read the book in which Athdar featured as a child, since it seems to have had quite an impact on his character.
Regardless, I didn't have any problems getting with the programme and understanding that Athdar was an outspoken, impetuous child, whose runaway mouth often got himself, and other people, in trouble. But that was then and this is now. Twenty-some years, two dead wives, and one dead betrothed later, and Athdar is anything but impetuous. He's... just sad, really. He's given up on his dreams of family, happiness and love, believing himself to be cursed since everyone he loves dies.
This forlorn, broken version of a once animated and full-of-life man, speaks to our heroine Isobel. To a part of her that wants to soothe and mend his battered spirit, to show him that the contentedness he seeks as an older man, is still within his reach.
And, yeppers, that does mean he is a touch older than your usual 25-year-old Highland hero. I don't know exactly since it didn't say, but I was guessing him to be around 38 to Isobel's 18. So an age gap relationship to be sure, which was actually surprisingly sweet. And of course, in this era, older men often had younger brides so it's not something any of the other characters in the book would even bat an eye at.
Aside from the romance, the plot had a mystery to its center, which was interesting to watch unfold even though I worked it out early. Athdar suffers from PTSD which, in the period setting, wasn't recognised as a condition. It was therefore a tricky situation for Athdar to be in; trying to keep the respect of his people, while his mind kept letting him down in front of them. Good thing he had someone as supportive and loving as Isobel by his side. But, with his "curse," for how long would that remain true?
There were some nice romantic moments and love scenes in THE HIGHLANDER'S DANGEROUS TEMPTATION, as you'd expect from this type of novel. Though I confess I was expecting Isobel to be more... forward, from the blurb's description of her as "sin personified". I also thought the ending was terribly rushed. Still, all in all this was another enjoyable trip through the Highlands for this reader. I give it a happy and contented 4 Stars ★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Isn't She Lovely by Lauren Layne
5.0
Isn't it Wonderful
Isn't She Lovely reads like your favourite Romantic Comedy movie set down in pen and ink. Based on an adaptation of the Pygmalion tale, with, cleverly, a plot centred around two film students trying to create the exact same thing, art becomes life and life becomes a lot more complicated in this tale of opposites attract. What made Isn't She Lovely so enjoyable for me is the very thing that makes my favourite movies my favourite movies - chemistry. I mean really, truly GREAT chemistry between the two romantic leads. That indefinable spark that brings a film/book to life. It had all that and so much more. I freakin' loved it!
I can see why there's been movie after movie after movie based on Pygmalion, because there's just something inherently appealing about watching two unlikely comrades-in-arms working together to create this amazing "fool-proof" charade, only to have the plan blow up in their faces as the line between reality and make-believe gets blurred beyond recognition. A lot of these movies are quite clichéd now, however, and I was glad to see Layne tried her best to avoid as much of the cheesiness as possible, while still providing me with a Hollywood-worthy ending sweet enough to make me grin from ear to ear.
Brimming with great banter right from the first page, Isn't She Lovely hooked me instantly and I read it in a single day, which is unusual for me. The witty dialogue doesn't end once things heat up in the romance department, either; it carries on throughout the whole book, really making you feel like the characters were good friends as well as lovers. And yet it never gives the impression that the book is not to be taken seriously. Because there is a lot of emotional stuff in here too. If you've ever watched any of the other adaptations like Pretty Woman, My Fair Lady, She's All That and, one that wasn't mentioned here but that I'm throwing in anyway, Mannequin, then you'll know that trying to create, or recreate, the perfect woman, always seems fun in the beginning (gotta love those makeover montages!), but ultimately leads to a lot of soul searching by both parties. And here it was no different. Can a Goth girl and a spoiled frat boy ever really come together in compromise? Add into that the characters' own troubles, and it was definitely a book with some real, raw emotions going on, despite the ever-present humour.
Stephanie and Ethan were great characters. So endearing and likeable. I was most impressed by Ethan's character, actually. Aside from being a total hottie, which never hurts, he was also a lot more than either Stephanie or I expected. Stephanie even accuses him of being without substance early on in the book during their judgemental, stereotyping phase, but that's far from the truth and I was glad that, although the whole situation of the fake relationship was messy, he never played games. Now Stephanie on the other hand... She was the more troubled of the two, and there were a couple of instances where I felt she was being a little unfair to Ethan. Testing him in circumstances where he was destined to fail. I suppose calling it game-playing would be slightly unfair, but I just felt like the poor bloke was in a lose-lose situation at times. Bless him.
To sum up, I recommend this book to all readers of Contemporary Romance and New Adult. It was one of the most enjoyable NA's I've read so far, leaving me feeling supremely satisfied and yet sad that it was over at the same time. Great fun! ~ 5 Stars ★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Isn't She Lovely reads like your favourite Romantic Comedy movie set down in pen and ink. Based on an adaptation of the Pygmalion tale, with, cleverly, a plot centred around two film students trying to create the exact same thing, art becomes life and life becomes a lot more complicated in this tale of opposites attract. What made Isn't She Lovely so enjoyable for me is the very thing that makes my favourite movies my favourite movies - chemistry. I mean really, truly GREAT chemistry between the two romantic leads. That indefinable spark that brings a film/book to life. It had all that and so much more. I freakin' loved it!
I can see why there's been movie after movie after movie based on Pygmalion, because there's just something inherently appealing about watching two unlikely comrades-in-arms working together to create this amazing "fool-proof" charade, only to have the plan blow up in their faces as the line between reality and make-believe gets blurred beyond recognition. A lot of these movies are quite clichéd now, however, and I was glad to see Layne tried her best to avoid as much of the cheesiness as possible, while still providing me with a Hollywood-worthy ending sweet enough to make me grin from ear to ear.
Brimming with great banter right from the first page, Isn't She Lovely hooked me instantly and I read it in a single day, which is unusual for me. The witty dialogue doesn't end once things heat up in the romance department, either; it carries on throughout the whole book, really making you feel like the characters were good friends as well as lovers. And yet it never gives the impression that the book is not to be taken seriously. Because there is a lot of emotional stuff in here too. If you've ever watched any of the other adaptations like Pretty Woman, My Fair Lady, She's All That and, one that wasn't mentioned here but that I'm throwing in anyway, Mannequin, then you'll know that trying to create, or recreate, the perfect woman, always seems fun in the beginning (gotta love those makeover montages!), but ultimately leads to a lot of soul searching by both parties. And here it was no different. Can a Goth girl and a spoiled frat boy ever really come together in compromise? Add into that the characters' own troubles, and it was definitely a book with some real, raw emotions going on, despite the ever-present humour.
Stephanie and Ethan were great characters. So endearing and likeable. I was most impressed by Ethan's character, actually. Aside from being a total hottie, which never hurts, he was also a lot more than either Stephanie or I expected. Stephanie even accuses him of being without substance early on in the book during their judgemental, stereotyping phase, but that's far from the truth and I was glad that, although the whole situation of the fake relationship was messy, he never played games. Now Stephanie on the other hand... She was the more troubled of the two, and there were a couple of instances where I felt she was being a little unfair to Ethan. Testing him in circumstances where he was destined to fail. I suppose calling it game-playing would be slightly unfair, but I just felt like the poor bloke was in a lose-lose situation at times. Bless him.
To sum up, I recommend this book to all readers of Contemporary Romance and New Adult. It was one of the most enjoyable NA's I've read so far, leaving me feeling supremely satisfied and yet sad that it was over at the same time. Great fun! ~ 5 Stars ★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The Hunter by Monica McCarty
4.0
Find more reviews at The Demon Librarian.
Nun on the run.
Seven books in and McCarty manages to produce yet another delicious Scottish hero for readers to devour. One of my favourite species, in fact—the strong, silent type—Ewen was an absolute delight. You know, when he wasn't being a giant pain in my ass.
Famed throughout Scotland for his incomparable tracking skills which earned him the moniker "The Hunter" within Bruce's elite guard, his prowess as a warrior is without question. His social skills on the other hand, particularly where the fairer sex is concerned, are somewhat lacking, to put it mildly. He's brusque, abrupt, has no discernible soft edges, nor charm... and I absolutely loved him!
Big, gruff bear characters who find all that "mushy love stuff" uncomfortable and awkward are a bit of a weakness for me, it has to be said. There's often a soft, squishy side under all their bluster that I find irresistible, and usually only one special li'l lady capable of bringing it to the surface. Ewen is no exception to that sweeping generalisation. You know what they say, the bigger they are, the harder they fall, and it's very satisfying as a reader to watch that transformation. Of course, the fact that Ewen was hummuna hummuna hummuna drop dead gorgeous, certainly didn't hurt matters.
Speaking of ladies, ever wonder what happened to Janet, Mary (heroine from The Recruit) of Mar's sister after the big bridge explosion? Well, I can tell you she's still alive and kicking here in THE HUNTER, and is still as fearless—some people, *cough*Ewen*cough*, might say needlessly reckless, but that's beside the point—and is currently living life perilously close to the edge by being one of Bruce's "Couriers of the Cloth" (Members of the Church, or in Janet's case, big, fat fake members of the Church, who carry messages between informants back to Bruce to help with the war effort). Disguised as an Italian nun, she first meets Ewen when her life is in imminent danger, causing his protective— and worryingly for him, his possessive—side to rear its head, along with a big can of wuppass for those who are threatening her. It's not long before the two are thrust together on a journey that tests Ewen's sense of honour to the limits. I mean, she's a nun, but she sure doesn't act, speak, or look like any nun he's ever met. I actually felt really sorry for Ewen during this deception. Bless him, he thought he was going to burn in hell for sure. But it was also kinda fun being in on the secret.
THE HUNTER was a satisfying read all in all. There was plenty of action, conflict, sexual tension, and even some pretty heavy emotional scenes. While it's probably not my favourite McCarty book (I tend to like the really gut-kicking ones that have me sobbing all over my Kindle), it's certainly a great addition to the series and maintains the high standard of those preceding it. The next book is set to be called The Raider and is Robert Boyd's story. I'm hoping we'll soon be getting a "The Striker" book because after this one, I'm entirely fascinated by the sham marriage of Eoin MacLean and want to know how McCarty plans to handle that one.
I hope I've convinced you to give THE HUNTER a try, and if you haven't started this series yet and want to get the full experience, you can start with The Chief and meet each gorgeous hunk of man in chronological order, as well as enjoy learning about the historical events surrounding Robert the Bruce's reign during this time period.
My rating: 4 Stars ★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Nun on the run.
Seven books in and McCarty manages to produce yet another delicious Scottish hero for readers to devour. One of my favourite species, in fact—the strong, silent type—Ewen was an absolute delight. You know, when he wasn't being a giant pain in my ass.
Famed throughout Scotland for his incomparable tracking skills which earned him the moniker "The Hunter" within Bruce's elite guard, his prowess as a warrior is without question. His social skills on the other hand, particularly where the fairer sex is concerned, are somewhat lacking, to put it mildly. He's brusque, abrupt, has no discernible soft edges, nor charm... and I absolutely loved him!
Big, gruff bear characters who find all that "mushy love stuff" uncomfortable and awkward are a bit of a weakness for me, it has to be said. There's often a soft, squishy side under all their bluster that I find irresistible, and usually only one special li'l lady capable of bringing it to the surface. Ewen is no exception to that sweeping generalisation. You know what they say, the bigger they are, the harder they fall, and it's very satisfying as a reader to watch that transformation. Of course, the fact that Ewen was hummuna hummuna hummuna drop dead gorgeous, certainly didn't hurt matters.
Speaking of ladies, ever wonder what happened to Janet, Mary (heroine from The Recruit) of Mar's sister after the big bridge explosion? Well, I can tell you she's still alive and kicking here in THE HUNTER, and is still as fearless—some people, *cough*Ewen*cough*, might say needlessly reckless, but that's beside the point—and is currently living life perilously close to the edge by being one of Bruce's "Couriers of the Cloth" (Members of the Church, or in Janet's case, big, fat fake members of the Church, who carry messages between informants back to Bruce to help with the war effort). Disguised as an Italian nun, she first meets Ewen when her life is in imminent danger, causing his protective— and worryingly for him, his possessive—side to rear its head, along with a big can of wuppass for those who are threatening her. It's not long before the two are thrust together on a journey that tests Ewen's sense of honour to the limits. I mean, she's a nun, but she sure doesn't act, speak, or look like any nun he's ever met. I actually felt really sorry for Ewen during this deception. Bless him, he thought he was going to burn in hell for sure. But it was also kinda fun being in on the secret.
THE HUNTER was a satisfying read all in all. There was plenty of action, conflict, sexual tension, and even some pretty heavy emotional scenes. While it's probably not my favourite McCarty book (I tend to like the really gut-kicking ones that have me sobbing all over my Kindle), it's certainly a great addition to the series and maintains the high standard of those preceding it. The next book is set to be called The Raider and is Robert Boyd's story. I'm hoping we'll soon be getting a "The Striker" book because after this one, I'm entirely fascinated by the sham marriage of Eoin MacLean and want to know how McCarty plans to handle that one.
I hope I've convinced you to give THE HUNTER a try, and if you haven't started this series yet and want to get the full experience, you can start with The Chief and meet each gorgeous hunk of man in chronological order, as well as enjoy learning about the historical events surrounding Robert the Bruce's reign during this time period.
My rating: 4 Stars ★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch
4.0
Little girl lost.
Not normally a fan of general fiction and with an unwritten rule that I don't read books with protagonists under 16, I find myself wondering—other than the captivating cover art—what made me pick up IF YOU FIND ME in the first place. I suppose I was intrigued by the question it seemed to pose, which was if you remove a child from all civilization during their formative years, and then subsequently throw them back in, what kind of personality would that create and how would they cope? The answer I got surprised me, and made me glad I ignored my usual book choosing rules that day.
Carey, our narrator, who's been living in primitive squalor in a trailer deep inside a national forest since she was six years old, could have easily (and predictably) been written as totally feral and crazed, or bitter and angry. Or both. Instead, I found her to be a brave, caring and surprisingly well-balanced girl with impeccable manners and an absolutely refreshing view of the world. Her character "voice" was deeply compelling and her narrative so stark yet somehow inspirational. Carey made the book for me, and I'm so glad the author chose the less obvious route where she was concerned. It was far more interesting than a book full of temper tantrums could have ever been.
Although I ultimately found a lot of positives in this story and Carey's character, the tone of the book is, at times, very dark. In fact, some of it truly made my heart hurt. The meth-addicted, abusive or absent mother. The hardships survived. The near starvation and lack of everything except the bare minimum essentials . The years lost. Years that should be the happiest and easiest of a person's life. And something even more harrowing that's revealed along the way. All this only served to make me more proud of the young woman Carey has become, and how well she cared for her younger sister, Jenessa, because her mother couldn't or wouldn't.
Speaking of Jenessa, she was an amazingly strong presence throughout, especially for a little lady that doesn't speak. Also worthy of note was Carey's father and his new wife. Their patience and understanding was touching and admirable. Especially since the whole thing must have been equally as painful for them.
Sadly, although it started incredibly strongly and is still, overall, a great book, I found the last section wasn't quite as compelling as the first. The end seemed to lose its purpose and felt hurried and a bit wishy-washy. I'm not sure what I wanted to happen instead - a big showdown, perhaps? A bit more closure for Carey? I don't know, but I felt like it fizzled and was slightly unsatisfying because of that.
Still, I definitely recommend it. If you're looking for a book with a main character who will really speak to you, and have something worth saying, try this one for size.
3.5 Stars ★★★1/2
Not normally a fan of general fiction and with an unwritten rule that I don't read books with protagonists under 16, I find myself wondering—other than the captivating cover art—what made me pick up IF YOU FIND ME in the first place. I suppose I was intrigued by the question it seemed to pose, which was if you remove a child from all civilization during their formative years, and then subsequently throw them back in, what kind of personality would that create and how would they cope? The answer I got surprised me, and made me glad I ignored my usual book choosing rules that day.
Carey, our narrator, who's been living in primitive squalor in a trailer deep inside a national forest since she was six years old, could have easily (and predictably) been written as totally feral and crazed, or bitter and angry. Or both. Instead, I found her to be a brave, caring and surprisingly well-balanced girl with impeccable manners and an absolutely refreshing view of the world. Her character "voice" was deeply compelling and her narrative so stark yet somehow inspirational. Carey made the book for me, and I'm so glad the author chose the less obvious route where she was concerned. It was far more interesting than a book full of temper tantrums could have ever been.
Although I ultimately found a lot of positives in this story and Carey's character, the tone of the book is, at times, very dark. In fact, some of it truly made my heart hurt. The meth-addicted, abusive or absent mother. The hardships survived. The near starvation and lack of everything except the bare minimum essentials . The years lost. Years that should be the happiest and easiest of a person's life. And something even more harrowing that's revealed along the way. All this only served to make me more proud of the young woman Carey has become, and how well she cared for her younger sister, Jenessa, because her mother couldn't or wouldn't.
Speaking of Jenessa, she was an amazingly strong presence throughout, especially for a little lady that doesn't speak. Also worthy of note was Carey's father and his new wife. Their patience and understanding was touching and admirable. Especially since the whole thing must have been equally as painful for them.
Sadly, although it started incredibly strongly and is still, overall, a great book, I found the last section wasn't quite as compelling as the first. The end seemed to lose its purpose and felt hurried and a bit wishy-washy. I'm not sure what I wanted to happen instead - a big showdown, perhaps? A bit more closure for Carey? I don't know, but I felt like it fizzled and was slightly unsatisfying because of that.
Still, I definitely recommend it. If you're looking for a book with a main character who will really speak to you, and have something worth saying, try this one for size.
3.5 Stars ★★★1/2
The Interview by Gill Perdue
3.0
An intriguing character-driven mystery that reminded me of a one-act play. The story will come out eventually, but can you guess how it will end?
The Interview by Gill Perdue flips sides between an extremely disturbed and unreliable narrator, Jenny, a 14-year-old girl who's been picked up by police covered in blood and refusing to talk, and seasoned victim interviewer Laura, who has her own demons to fight.
Jenny's narration is all over the place, she has an awful lot going on internally and berates herself frequently as a "dumb bitch." Particularly when she finds herself almost answering detective Laura even though she can see through her sneaky interview techniques. Jenny is not dumb at all. She's just coping.
The Interview explores some quite dark themes and does it well and effectively. As the pieces come together, your understanding of Jenny's internal monologue will start to crystalise, but fair warning, it's not a pretty picture.
Although I was absorbed when actively reading The Interview, it's not the type of book that makes you desperate to get back to it after putting it down, its pace was a little slower than that. It's more of a patience game. A slow jigsaw, if you will, but enjoyable nonetheless.
If you like the Netflix show Criminal, you will likely enjoy this book.
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review ★★★
The Interview by Gill Perdue flips sides between an extremely disturbed and unreliable narrator, Jenny, a 14-year-old girl who's been picked up by police covered in blood and refusing to talk, and seasoned victim interviewer Laura, who has her own demons to fight.
Jenny's narration is all over the place, she has an awful lot going on internally and berates herself frequently as a "dumb bitch." Particularly when she finds herself almost answering detective Laura even though she can see through her sneaky interview techniques. Jenny is not dumb at all. She's just coping.
The Interview explores some quite dark themes and does it well and effectively. As the pieces come together, your understanding of Jenny's internal monologue will start to crystalise, but fair warning, it's not a pretty picture.
Although I was absorbed when actively reading The Interview, it's not the type of book that makes you desperate to get back to it after putting it down, its pace was a little slower than that. It's more of a patience game. A slow jigsaw, if you will, but enjoyable nonetheless.
If you like the Netflix show Criminal, you will likely enjoy this book.
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review ★★★