Beauty and the Beast by KM Shea

From Amazon (couldn't find on Goodreads):

Once upon a time Elle made a mistake. A small miscalculation sends her through the roof of an enchanted chateau. Stranded until her broken leg mends, Elle is unwillingly forced to rely on the good will of the sour chateau owner —the cursed Prince Severin.

Prince Severin—the commanding general and staunch supporter of his brother the crown prince—is cursed to look like a beast until a maiden falls in love with him. He has given up all hope of shattering the curse, and has only disdain for Elle.

Unfortunately, the pair can’t seem to avoid each other thanks to the meddling of the chateau’s cursed servants. Eventually Elle’s playful manners and Severin’s hidden gentleness draw the pair together.

But not all love stories can end that easily. After all, Elle is not what she seems, and Severin’s life is placed in danger when hostilities flare between his brother and the monarchs of a neighboring country. When Elle risks everything to save Severin, will he be able to forgive her for her lies?

My Take (Slight spoilers):
First things first, although this is a gorgeous cover, it doesn't fit the book AT ALL. It is set in historical times, similar to the original fairy tale. And Elle never felt like what this woman portrays. She was always confident, even when frustrated with her new found situation. As time goes on, she starts to think she may have been wrong in her assumptions about Prince Severin, but she's never really this wilting demure girl.

My favorite part is Elle's secret. The thing she's lying about. I can't tell you, but it's what makes her such an awesome strong female lead. I also liked that most of the book I wasn't sure what kingdom's side she was on until the big secret is revealed. This is when we get to see why she thought Severin was a certain way in the beginning--because he was.

I also thought it was great that after the curse is broken, they don't get together right away. Remember that secret? Severin thinks it means she lied about her love! Men can be so dense!

All in all, I enjoyed the beautiful setting, the originality on the cursed nature of the servants, and the refreshing look at what true love is. The fact it isn't a fairy tale, but a choice and lots of hard work.

I give Beauty and the Beast by KM Shea a 4.5 and Clean rating.

1-5 scale and what it means:

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing

3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:

Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no sex on or off "screen"

PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, sex is all closed door

PG-13--some language (swear words not related to sex), more talk about sex, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but sex is closed door.

 R--swearing (F bomb, on “screen” sex, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the sex and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always

Bellamy and the Brute by Alicia Michaels

From Goodreads:
A fresh twist on a classic story, Bellamy and the Brute proves true love really is blind.

When Bellamy McGuire is offered a summer job babysitting for the wealthy Baldwin family, she's reluctant to accept. After all, everyone in town knows about the mysterious happenings at the mansion on the hill—including the sudden disappearance of the Baldwin's eldest son, Tate. The former football star and golden boy of Wellhollow Springs became a hermit at the age of sixteen, and no one has seen or heard from him since. Rumors abound as to why, with whisperings about a strange illness—one that causes deformity and turned him into a real-life monster. Bellamy wants to dismiss these rumors as gossip, but when she's told that if she takes the job, she must promise to never, ever visit the third floor of the mansion, she begins to wonder if there really is some dark truth hidden there. Tate's condition may not be the only secret being kept at Baldwin House. There are gaps in the family's financial history that don't add up, and surprising connections with unscrupulous characters. At night there are strange noises, unexplained cold drafts, and the electricity cuts out. And then there are the rose petals on the staircase. The rose petals that no one but Bellamy seems to be able to see. The rose petals that form a trail leading right up to the 3 rd floor, past the portrait of a handsome young man, and down a dark hallway where she promised she would never, ever go…

As Bellamy works to unravel the mysteries of Baldwin House and uncover the truth about Tate, she realizes that she is in way over her head… in more ways than one. Can her bravery and determination help to right the wrongs of the past and free the young man whose story has captured her heart?

My Take:
This was a nice mix of suspense and romance. All the elements of the classic Beauty and the Beast are present without the author feeling the need to stick to a play by play, exact reinterpretation at the fairy tale.

First off, the opening scene is straight out of a crime suspense novel. At first I wondered how it was going to tie in, but Michaels does it wonderfully in her own time. Bellamy is a breath of fresh air as well. She's kind and caring, but she's also no push over. Her father is the laughing stock of the town because he claims to see ghosts. Bell wants to believe, but it's hard until she starts seeing ghosts herself. As the mystery unravels to who these ghosts are and why they haunt Wellhollow Springs, Bell will start to fear the living more than the dead.

Tate's cursing is also a new and unique twist for the story. He's partially being cursed for his father's sins, but he had his own transgressions to atone for. I like how Michaels uses Bell's kindness to slowly draw him out and bring him to the point where he is ready to make amends.

I loved that this was a multiracial story. It's done well, without drawing big arrows to point stuff out. Bell is Bell and Tate is Tate. It makes for a lovely story from curiosity, to friendship, to attraction.

And Lincoln? While the fact he's the football star felt a little cliche, he really pulls off the perfect villain for Tate's hero.

I found the story well written, easy to get lost in, and at times, very much an edge of your seat kind of deal.

I give Bellamy and the Brute a Clean and 4.5 rating.

1-5 scale and what it means:

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing

3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:

Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no sex on or off "screen"

PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, sex is all closed door

PG-13--some language (swear words not related to sex), more talk about sex, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but sex is closed door.

 R--swearing (F bomb, on “screen” sex, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the sex and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always

The Touchstone Series by Andrea K Host

From Goodreads:

On her last day of high school, Cassandra Devlin walked out of exams and into a forest. Surrounded by the wrong sort of trees, and animals never featured in any nature documentary, Cass is only sure of one thing: alone, she will be lucky to survive. The sprawl of abandoned blockish buildings Cass discovers offers her only more puzzles. Where are the people? 

Cass is overjoyed at the arrival of the formidable Setari. Whisked to a world as technologically advanced as the first was primitive, Cass finds herself processed as a 'stray', a refugee displaced by the gates torn between worlds. Struggling with an unfamiliar language and culture, she must adapt to virtual classrooms, friends who can teleport, and the ingrained attitude that strays are backward and slow.

Lab Rat One:
Test subject was not the career path Cass had been planning.

With no privacy, too-frequent injuries, and the painful knowledge that she must always be an assignment to her Setari companions, Cass can only wish for some semblance of normality and control. And as her abilities become more and more dangerous, tests and training may be the only thing capable of protecting Cass from herself.

Caszandra:
Cassandra Devlin doesn’t know what she's for, but she knows she's running out of time. Space is tearing itself apart. Ionoth attack in ever-greater numbers. And "the useful stray" has been injured so many times that the Tarens hesitate to use her for fear of losing her.

With one particular Taren now her most important person, Cass is determined to contribute everything she can - and hopes to find some answers of her own.


My Take for the series as a whole:
I just finished rereading the series for the second time. The first time there were several typos and style choices that bugged me about the series, but not enough that I quit. In fact, after the first free book, I paid for the other two because I had to find out how it ended. I enjoyed the second read through even more because I could skip the annoying parts (which I didn't find as annoying this time and didn't even skip).

This series follows a girl straight out of high school, though a wormhole of sorts, and into a completely new world where she has to learn to survive. She goes from being a Stray (someone who wonders through the Ena, to a Lab Rat (her form of coping), to finally finding herself, a cause, and a new home and family.

My main complaint about the series is that Cassandra knew an awful lot about things that most 17-18-year-olds wouldn't (heck I don't know them and watching documentaries is a favorite pastime of mine). The character names also piled up to confuse me at times. Everyone has two like we do, but you rarely see them together to connect first names to last names, not even when new characters are introduced. And there are a lot of characters. However, the second read through was easier to put formal names together with the given names used when off-duty.

The world building is complex and imaginative if a bit disjointed at times. It is young adult, so there's plenty of angst, but I become giddy with Cassandra's need to find connections to her new world by relating them to several fandoms. They aren't more than a sentence and highly entertaining without trying to pull from those franchises. I just love her general geekiness. Here's one of my favorite quotes following the moment she decides to stop actively searching for a way home and help fix the tears in the universe.

"I blame Doctor Who. Mr. Spock. The Scooby Gang: both the ones in the Mystery Machine and the ones with the stakes. I've spent my life with stories of people who don't walk away, who go back for their friends, who make that last stand. I've been brainwashed by Samwise Gamgee."

And finally, in spite of some technical writing issues (which I think were intentional style choices because it's written as a journal), there are moments that I just connected with on a deep emotional level. There's a lot of telling, but then you'll get a scene that just grabs your heart. For instance, at the end of book two, Ruuel and Cassandra finally give in to the romance side of the book. You have to read the first two books to get all the ways this is such a big scene (all the complications and paranormal and political reasons they shouldn't, and so on), but it's one of those moments I just "get".

Ruuel tells her she needs to be certain she wants "this" meaning a relationship with him. Her answer is a beautiful example of love and trust, not just lust.

"What is certain? Haven't even ever really talked. Only know that every day, first I know on waking, is that you're not there. I hate it when you're not there."

*Le sigh* There is awesome sci-fi stuff, superpowers, scary creatures traveling through near space and tears in the walls to reach real space, secret agendas, and people doing the best they can to be "super space ninjas" as Cass calls them, and romance!

So, it's easy to say that this has gone into my multiple read piles. I know I'll visit Tare and Muina again many more times.

I give the series as a whole a 4.5 because it was good enough that I had to read it again, and I know I'll read it in the future as well. This is a world I can live in and enjoy the journey over and over.

I have to give it an R rating because it uses the F-bomb, but sex is mostly innuendo/PG 13.

1-5 scale and what it means:

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing

3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Movie Ratings in relation to my review:

Clean--Hallmark movies, some kissing, no nudity, no sex on or off "screen"

PG--Some innuendo but nothing kids don't hear every day, sex is all closed door

PG-13--some language (swear words not related to sex), more talk about sex, heavy petting, removal of clothing on screen, but sex is closed door.

 R--swearing (F-bomb, on “screen” sex, sometimes feels like the whole story is about the sex and not the relationship or some other plot, but not always

Predator Girl by S.B. Roozenboom

I've been striking out on a lot of books lately. If I can't give it at least a 3.5 I won't review it, and most of the books that have been falling into my hands have not been ones I could finish. Hopefully soon I'll have more clean romances that are fresh enough in my mind to give you a decent review. Until then, here is another one from a few years back.

This review is originally from September 2012. 

From Goodreads:  
Strange and unusual beasts that few people are aware of roam our world. Jared Ferlyn is one of these few—a Finder, born with the gift for detecting and tracking paranormal beings. Tagging these Otherworlders for the government, he’s had his share of keeping fey, nightlings and other creatures from human sight. But when a strange new girl comes to town, Jared is unable to classify her despite his training and experience. Tracking her, he is pulled into a dangerous environment that not even a Finder is prepared for.

My take:
I wish I had written this review closer to when I read it, but summer was crazy. So, here is a quick thought from memory. The story bounces between the two main characters Jared and Ilume. Both are likable and believable. There are lots of unexpected twists to keep the reader happy, and yet the style is somewhere between Twilight and Shiver which lends a comfortable feel.  

I give Predator Girl by S. B. Roozenboom a solid 4.



1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read
5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Between by Cyndi Teffi

Originally read and reviewed August 2011. Since it's been a while, I can't remember if I had to skip any scenes.

From Goodreads:

It just figures that the love of Lindsey Water's life isn't alive at all, but the grim reaper, complete with a dimpled smile and Scottish accent.

After transporting souls to heaven for the last 300 years, Aiden MacRae has all but given up on finding the one whose love will redeem him and allow him entry through the pearly gates.

Torn between her growing attraction to Aiden and heaven's siren song, Lindsey must learn the hard way whether love really can transcend all boundaries.

My Take: 

This was a fun light read. I read it on my Kindle in a few hours. I think my brain was ready for a romance, and this is just what the doctor ordered. One of the things I enjoyed about this read was the good Christian values without being beat up by them. They were there, but not the point of the book. 

My one beef is that we were thrown into the story so quickly. Bam! Lindsey is dead and instead of freaking out "OMG! I'm dead!" she is "Wow, he's really hot in that kilt. I wonder if he's wearing anything under it?" I would have liked a little more reflection on the life and people she was leaving behind before starting the romance. 

Having said that, the romance was super sweet with just the right amount of heat. I loved that Lindsey was the aggressive one and Aiden had to keep trying to protect her "innocence". Oh, and just when I was getting bored of the dating "between" earth and heaven, Tefft throws in a twist that I never saw coming. 

And it broke my heart! I cried for both of them and couldn't stop reading until the twist was unraveled. 

I give Between a 4--solid and steamy mind candy. I think there might have been one scene I had to skip.

1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3:  I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read
5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Of Love and Magic

Originally Read and Reviewed February 2015

Amazon * B&N * Kobo* iTunes

I'll put my notes in italics below the Goodreads blurb.

From Goodreads:
Five intriguing romances wrapped in love and magic

Angel in a Black Fedora, by Sherry Gammon

Ciel Björk died a tragic death...but she got over it. Now she works as an undercover angel, answering people's prayers. She's sent to the sleepy little town of Port Fare, New York to help turn Chloe's dreams into a reality. As secrets are revealed, Ciel soon learns that things are not as simple as they seem.

This was an okay story, but it was hard to get into. Probably me? There was nothing wrong, I just didn't get the perfect girl in the fedora. Yes, she's an angel, but ?? Chloe is so tunnel visioned on this perfect guy that she never sees the love that's in front of her. I did like the twist at the end. You assume you know who's prayer Ciel is there to answer, but like the blurb says, nothing is as simple as it seems. I give this story a 3.5

A Wish in Her Hand, by Amberlee Day

Professor Miri Keeler's life is perfect, and she knows just the sort of man she wants to share it with. When she meets a genie who's willing to grant her a favor, she uses her wish to get the attention of her crush, poet Jamison Arbor. But has the genie's magic missed its target? Miri suddenly has the attention of not only Jamison, but also of Alex, an attractive maintenance man. How will she know which is the right match for her, or what's real and what's magic?

I liked this story better than the first, but here is another woman with a set idea of who Mr. Perfect is. Luckily, she at least gives another guy a chance while she's waiting for Mr. Right. I give this story a 3.5

Reality Ever After, by Cami Checketts

Pregnant at eighteen, Sydney Richland's happily ever after is in serious peril. Her grandmother's ghost can work miracles, but she also might ruin Sydney's chances with the man of her dreams.

This might have been my favorite because it was different. It wasn't all hearts and roses. There is real heartache and real choices to be made. I love when stories hurt because life hurts. I give this one a 4 

Prom Diaries, by Taylor Hart

Sixteen-year-old Lacy O'Donnell discovers her best friend has cast a spell, putting everyone in a time loop, forcing them to relive the same four days before prom over and over. The good thing--Lacy doesn't remember the loop. The bad thing--Drake Davis, the guy she's been stalking, does. Only true love's kiss can break the spell, but true love's kiss has to happen at a precise moment. It's not exact science...it's exact magic.

This one felt like Twilight emotionally. Two people that have to be kept apart for the greater good until the exact right moment. It did have a nice twist at the end though. I give this one a 3.5.

What If Wish, by Lucy McConnell

Morana is doomed to a life cataloging spells deep below the palace unless she can make her magic bloom. If her deepest wish comes true, it would open up all sorts of possibilities. The whispers that she was a fluke of nature would hush. The King would stop stalking her. Her parents would no longer live under a cloud of shame. And, Adam could look at her as more than a friend. Despite the promises magic holds, Morana will quickly learn that the thing she wishes for most, could quickly be her undoing.

This is the beginning of a larger story. It's more of a traditional fairy story, meaning it has fairies. :) I did enjoy the way McConnell built the world--when and how magic blooms. I also loved the romance part. It's bittersweet and although it's a typical romance trope it didn't feel stale. I give this one a 4. 


All in all this was a nice read. It didn't suck me in though, so I'm going to give it a 3.5 for Like, not Love.

1-5 scale and what it means:

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing

3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

The Girl Who Heard Demons by Janette Rallison

From Goodreads:
Shy Adelle Hansen hears demons, but she’s determined to make friends at her new high school by keeping her ability secret.

When she overhears supernatural voices celebrating the impending death of the school quarterback, Levi Anderson, she knows she has to do something to prevent it. However, the demons aren’t the ones plotting; they’re just celebrating the chaos, and Adelle must contend with earthly forces as well if she wants to preserve Levi’s life.

Handsome, popular Levi doesn't appreciate Adelle’s self-appointed role of guardian angel. As Adelle battles to keep him safe, she’ll have to protect her heart, too. Can she do both?

My Take:
I have to admit I've had this one o my kind for a while. I think I picked it up for free by voting for it on Kindle Scout. Anyway, the only downside I can think of for this story is the fact the cover didn't seem to match the story. When I scrolled past it on my carousel, the cover didn't suck me in. I couldn't remember what the story was about so I kept scrolling.

However, when I finally opened it, the first sentence caught my attention.

"The demons came again during the night."

Ralston introduces us to Adelle quickly. The fact she is more afraid of the possibility of robbers than the whisperings of demons is interesting to say the least. I immediately had a good feel for her personality, and soon learned to feel for the direction her life had been moving.

Contrary to what you may be thinking, Adelle is quite spiritual. Even though she doesn't understand why she can hear demons, and why her efforts to help others overcome the constant destructive voices only makes her life miserable, she keeps her faith in good. Her hope that she can make a difference is what keeps her speaking up even though she knows its safer to keep quiet.

Here's another great line--"Maybe I wasn't the weird girl because of demons. Maybe I was just hopelessly awkward."

Levi might be a little on the arrogant side, but deep down he's a good guy. He's working through his own issues--a growing concern about this father and the secrets he keeps. He tries to shrug it off, but the more time he spends with Adelle the harder that becomes.

The romance is cute and different enough to feel fresh. They are drawn to each other but still try to keep things on the friend level. At least that's what they keep telling themselves they should do. Adele doesn't want a relationship with someone who thinks she's crazy. Levi just can't decide. Is she crazy or a savant? He's much more comfortable thinking she's a brilliant modern-day Sherlock Holmes than the fact she might actually hear demons taunting people.

I loved the paranormal aspect, the suspense, and the romance elements. I give this a 4.5

1-5 scale and what it means:
1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad
2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing
3: I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive
3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love
4: Solid mind candy / worth reading
4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read
5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure

Lay Me Down by Tamara Hart Heiner

From Goodreads:
Life is more than just breathing.

Kylee Mansfield knows what it is to be alone. Her dad left when she was seven, and her mother remarried an abusive alcoholic. Kylee finds ways to escape reality, usually by substituting one pain for another. Things take a deadly turn when a jagged cut shows up on her arm, and she doesn't know where it came from. She enlists the help of her neighbor, Price Hudson, to help her uncover the truth. But Price shows her much more than just her past—he shows her what it is to be alive.

My Take:
I don't even know where to start! Wow, this book really sucked me in. Seriously, I had to keep reading to figure out Kylee's full story. By the end I found myself talking like Kylee--"I know, right?" And I was in love with Price. I love that he was a good guy. Kind, patient, wanting to help Kylee because she was hurting, in trouble.

The writing was clean, nothing pulled me out of the story. It was an easy fast read. Like I mentioned, I didn't want to put it down until I KNEW what had happened. :) Now I just want to know what happens after the story ends. I'm trying not to give any spoilers, but even though this is resolved nicely, there is still more story to tell. I hope Heiner plans on writing it.

I give Lay Me Down a 4.5 simply because I still want to know what happens next. 

1-5 scale and what it means:

1: I couldn’t even finish it / just plain bad

2: I hope I didn’t pay for this / disappointing

3:  I didn’t hate it, but it was still missing something / forgettable but inoffensive

3.5: On the line between good and ok / like, not love

4: Solid mind candy / worth reading

4.5: So very close to perfection! / must read

5: I could not put it down and I’m still thinking about it! / a true treasure