A nice interlude between two favorite characters
349566
A lovely merger of Blackwell's two mystery series done in a way that is neither forced nor unrealistic.  If anything it was way time that the two protagonists met for their worlds overlap. It was a pleasant, enjoyable read
2205530
This novella in the Hard Ink series was a good tie-in with the rest. It provided more details on the story and gave us some more insight into both Charlie and Jeremy. However, this love story is not my favorite in the series. The story is good, and Laura Kaye provides enough romance and suspense to keep your reading, but I prefer some of the other books more.
1591486
A good addition to the series and worth the read.
1089306
Like the second in the series better, but this one is also lovely.
3323628
This was a sweet novella length story with a fun bonus short story following it.  I truly enjoy reading variations on Jane Austen's books particularly when they tackle a slightly altered storyline that reveals more about the secondary characters in the original and maybe another side of the principle characters.

In this one, Charles Bingley and Jane Bennet never have their parting.  Darcy does actually say his fatal words at the assembly, but arrogance is not the reason which allows a whole different scenario to take place at Rosings.

I enjoyed this sweet low-angst plot that began at Rosings and ended with a brief return to Hertfordshire.  It focused on Darcy and Lizzy who were delightfully playful with each other and tugged on by a strong attraction that left them both breathless at times.  The other thing I liked was the added time with the secondary characters like Anne de Bourgh who is vastly improved and present in this story.  Seeing Charlotte having a comfortable home with a husband while still Mr. Collins, but a Mr. Collins who cares about his wife and 'oh too funny' his vegetable garden.

This was just a quick read that was perfect for when I just wanted a warm-hearted sweet romance with two of my favorite characters.  I recommend it for any Austenesque or Sweet Romance fans.
2156419
I have all the books of the Bound series and this is a nice addition to a story about two people in love, if only for a chance to see Oliver in charge!

Normally, I'd have given  this short a 3.5 or even 4-star rating, but perhaps this might help balance the obviously harmful and biased review elsewhere.
1445582
Another great novella that gives us a look at early Rylee and a look at what she has in store for her in the future. It also introduces us to Larkspur who is the heroine of the Elemental series, which Im also looking forward to reading. I enjoyed this novella and am really glad that I had a chance to read it. We get to see Rylees first introduction to one of her many helpful friends in this one too, which I really liked.
3892162
It was fun to return to the Rogue's World. I didn't pay that much attention to David in the Beverly book about his sister Susan, but here he makes a good hero, a really sensitive guy who cares about his beloved's happiness. Lucy Potter is intelligent, ambitious and pretty, but she comes across as a bit more self-centered than David. Of course that probably is due to their different positions in life. He's responsible for the survival of a lot of people, and she's trying to find a new purpose in life when her father remarries.
I can understand that people who have not read the previous Rogue books would feel a little lost by all the name-dropping. For those who have read and loved them, it's like revisiting with old friends, we get to see Nicholas and Eleanor, Maria and Van, Beth and Arden, and there are mentions of others. So to get the full benefit out of this book, I suggest you go back to the start and read "An Arranged Marriage" and "An Unwilling Bride" and go forward from there. Beverly always provides genuine and difficult real life conflicts for her H&h. In this book. the main conflict was perhaps a bit too easily resolved, and there was not a lot of adventure and action, except for one incident towards the end. Nevertheless, I am a faithful Jo Beverly reader, the quality of her writing is excellent.
1175035
This volume isn't quite as light-hearted as the first, but the character development and fast-moving plot certainly kept my interest.

The lovely lady Lou seems to be the center character in this volume, which goes into a good bit of detail about  her past, and her ghostly brother Bad.  Not only that but we get to understand why Kei turns into a Panther.  Oddly enough there is also a priest who has a connection to Lou, and a connection to Bad too!  The character development just keeps geting more interesting as the story progresses.

Note: This storyline is the basis for one of the anime episodes.  If you dug the anime, you'll like this volume.
4353939
I received a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Rebecca Hamilton wrote this novella as a companion journal to the Forever Girl series. It offers a glimpse into the life of a minor character who saves the day in the Forever Girl (Book One). Hamilton's smooth writing voice submerges you into the story after just the first couple pages, and you don't ever feel the need to come up for air. Fans of the series should definitely take the detour and read this novella.

I think this story needed to be told, because a criticism of mine for the first book was that this character, Ophelia, really comes out of nowhere in The Forever Girl. It's neat to get a peek into her life, but also, you uncover secrets about the villain that I'm sure will come into play later. Even cooler, you see glimpses of other characters who appear in The Forever Girl. It gives you a broader view of the world Hamilton created with her series, and it was a fun, short read.

The plot flowed believably, and the forbidden love that develops between Ophelia and her certain sexy someone intrigued me. The ending wrapped everything up nicely, and I feel better established and ready to read the second book now that I've read this novella. Sometimes novellas can come off as a money grab, but Her Sweetest Downfall works wonders for Hamilton's world.

Fans of the Forever Girl series should definitely take the detour to Her Sweetest Downfall while they wait for book two in the full series...which I'm itching to read now that Hamilton has been feeding me bits of the story. She's such a tease.
4666714
When Laurence and Temeraire are separated, Temeraire assumes a commission of his own. The introduction of Temerarie's PoV is only briefly disorientating; it is, on the whole, a great addition, because this book is all about consequences--of the recent cliffhanger, but also of Laurence's actions throughout the series, and to see them from without, via a character unaware of that complicated social and moral position, is especially effective. It also keeps this book from becoming too dour--so too does the breadth of the action and progression of the war. This is almost too neat a book, in the way that reoccurring characters and ongoing arcs tie into the plot, but that would be my only complaint; I loved it, I found it necessary and well-realized and, if less pointedly feel-good than other series favorites, then perhaps more substantial.
1877908
This is an installment in the Return To The Double C series, and though it stands alone, I think I was at a disadvantage not having read the previous books. it wasn't anything neglected or missing, I just didn't have the connection to the series mentioned by other reviewers, and I felt a little like I was late to a movie. The story was good, the characters well drawn, and the setting strong. The lead couple was likeable and their gradual journey to love and happily ever after was satisfying. The secondary characters are strong, and includes a really well written (not precocious) child that readers will find easy to connect to emotionally. A Weaver Beginning was a light, gentle, satisfying romance.
*I received my copy from NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review
3323116
I have devoured this series and this novella set in the middle was a nice way to give us the background on two of our favorite characters. Brandi and Erik.
Brandi: met the Stix after knowing Lexi for many years, but she met her true love through a very gorgeously gay Erik. Micah and Brandi got through a breakup and have to work out the differences in their backgrounds before they can be certain they will be a happily ever after couple.
Erik: Was certain he had met the man of his dreams and had become comfortable with being openly gay, his other half was only gay while at school. Erik has to deal with what his future holds.
This was a great book, I really wished that Brandi and Erik could have had their very own because they are so awesome themselves. I loved that we did get to see where they had been and who they became as their stories continue with the rest of the Stix crew.
778887
The Wheel of Time prequel, New Spring, is a very good addition to the series written by Robert Jordan.  I read New Spring after Booke 5, The Fires of Heaven, based off the recommendation of several WoT fans instead of after Crossroads of Twilight (Book 10) when the prequel was published.  Considering that Moiraine and Lan are the main POV characters throught the book and that after the events of The Fires of Heaven, reading the prequel when I did made New Spring both enjoyable and bittersweet.

Obviously New Spring helps explain the motivations of both Moiraine and Lan when we first meet them in The Eye of the World, but it also gives us a view of the "normal" workings of Aes Sedai and the White Tower before the unusual happenings already seen in the series.  Politics of the world are fully in view with Lan finding himself in the midst of the "biggest" political storm.  If I were to find a bad thing about New Spring is that some of the material that Jordan wrote to expand New Spring from a short story to a full novel(la) seems to be just filler making the story bog down a tad.

Overall, New Spring is a good quality introduction to some of the "older" characters of the early Wheel of Time books and I fully recommend reading it, especially after Book 5, The Fires of Heaven.
3618197
I'm not as big of a fan of the Bound and Bonded series as some of the author's other shifter series (e.g. the Cloverleah Pack).  I found this entry to be a little weaker than the previous "Bound and Bonded," but still certainly enjoyable enough.

I do very much enjoy the occasional wolf shifter/vampire cross-over, so even though I don't find the characters, dialog and general writing as compelling or strong as some of the author's other works, it still was a worthwhile diversion for fans of wolf shifters, instant mates, shifter-vampire couplings, and a BDSM setting.
4846527
I enjoyed the interplay between the characters in this book.  There was a lot to put together but it was done quite nicely
3382307
This was a fun Iron Seas novella.  I enjoyed visiting this wonderful world again.  This could be read as a stand alone to introduce readers to the Iron Seas world.

I enjoyed Elizabeth and Caius as characters, they had good chemistry and were fun to read about.

This book dealt more with the zombie aspects of the Iron Sea world, although there was also a lot of airship travel as well.  The second half has some action and all of it is well written with lots of witty banter.

Although this book doesnt deal with the core set of Iron Seas characters (at least I don't think it does, I don't remember Elizabeth from the main series).  It does mention characters from the main series, for example the airship that Lady Corsair runs.

Things are tied up pretty quickly and I felt like the ending was a bit rushed.  However, I do understand that this is a novella and so it has to be short.

Overall this was a fun little addition to the Iron Seas series.  I enjoyed the characters and absolutely adore this world.  I would recommend to those who want to take a quick look at the Iron Seas world or to long time fans of the series.  This is a wonderful steampunk romance that has very solid world-building.