Therese Woodson

Extra Mayo by Henrietta Clarke - 2 stars
I only liked the last third, everything else was preposterous IMO.

Ice Cream Dreams by Shae Connor - 2 stars
So-so and with an unsatisfactory ending.

My OTP by Bru Baker - 3.5 stars
A good mix of sexiness, romanticism and fun.

Not Quite 1776 by Therese Woodson - 3 stars
I read this yesterday and I already don't remember the name of a MC although I bear I mind the plot. So, nice but forgettable

Unmasked by Kay Walker - 4 stars
Well, what a surprise. A HFN futuristic dystopia with a lot of potential for a series.

The Bet by Holly O. Hale - 2,5 stars

Dance Hall Days by Amy Jo Cousins - 4 stars
Historical (London, 1930s). Not super original yet so well written that is a thing of beauty.

Short Timer by Jenni Michaels - 2 stars
Predictable. … (mehr)

Sometimes it is tough to be a royal. Specifically when arranged marriages are the norm, as they are in the world of ‘Betrothed’. Neither of the two selected grooms is happy about the fact they have to get married, even though they have seen it coming. They are even less enthusiastic about the partner who has been chosen for them. And while Prince Sky pulls himself together and is ready to do his duty, Prince Puck is far less mature – and runs. What follows is a suspenseful adventure that had me turning the pages, wanting to find out if Puck is going to grow up before Sky loses his temper. There is a lot at stake – the fate of the faery realm and peace depends on their tying their kingdoms to maintain the peace.

Puck, whose real name is Prince Chrysanths, does his name honor. He is irreverent, couldn’t care less about court protocol, and has no intention whatsoever to get married to some snobbish Sky fairy. He is very unusual as princes go, what with a human father, but he is the only heir and there is no way out of the arrangement without throwing the entire faery realm into chaos. Even knowing the possible consequences, Puck decides to run for it and crosses into the human world to see his father. He never expected Sky to follow – and is shocked when he does. But it also means they have time away from prying eyes, time to get to know each other. And even though Puck does not expect his opinion to change, he accepts the opportunity, if somewhat grudgingly.

Sky is not ready either, if for different reasons. He does not want to leave his home, and he does not want to marry someone he doesn’t know. The fact that Puck is half human does not enter the equation for him, the bigger issue for Sky is that he hates the unknown. He is in for a shock when he finds out that Puck has run, but he is too stubborn to give up and follows him to the human realm. Talk about stepping from the frying pan into the fire! Sky has never been to the human world, so he has a lot to learn. All while trying not to strangle Puck who is less than ready to keep an open mind.

As expected, with all the animosity, the relationship between Puck and Sky is not comfortable. But much is preconceptions that quickly dissolve as they get to know each other. Both have grown up without the presence of a father, and both know about the pressures of being royal. They share being stubborn, and their banter quickly changes from being serious fighting to more of a fun exchange of barbs. And when feelings develop between them, neither knows what to do with them. Very cute!

If you like stories about faeries and their interaction with the human world, if potent threats by mysterious enemies and the fate of whole kingdoms hanging in the balance are your thing, and if you’re looking for a read that is funny, emotional, suspenseful and full of adventure, then you will probably like this novel.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.… (mehr)

Paramedics and other first responders see some weird stuff, and probably get used to meeting some odd people in strange situations. But what Ryan discovers in this story when he meets Phillip stretches the limits of what is normal so far that it enters the realm of the paranormal, or maybe fantasy. I liked that the explanation was only vague, more like a hint, and that the focus was on the effect Phillip’s abilities had on him and on Ryan. ‘Ordinary Hero’ is the perfect title for an extraordinary story about a man who wants to work in the background and the lover he eventually confides in. No man is meant to be alone, and definitely not a hero like Phillip – ordinary or not.

Ryan is observant – partly due to his training as a paramedic, and partly because that is who he is. When he first encounters Phillip, he notices a few strange things, but they scare him more than anything. A few encounters later Ryan begins to suspect a lot more is going on than meets the eye, but Phillip is very elusive and doesn’t seem to want to get closer. But Ryan is persistent, and Fate seems to be on his side, so eventually he manages to get Phillip to talk. The tale that follows is fantastical – but none of what Ryan hears changes his attraction to Phillip. In my mind, that makes him just as extraordinary as Phillip.

If you like stories about the inexplicable, if you think that two men who love helping but don’t like being called heroes could belong together, and if you’re looking for a read that is sweet, mysterious. on the fantastical side, and quietly cute, then you will probably like this novella.


NOTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.… (mehr)

What a perfect story! Funny, romantic, and completely delightful, this tale of Ty wanting to make the proposal to his boyfriend Micah absolutely, positively “perfect” had me in stitches one moment, and desperate that Ty would never make it the next. I shared his abject horror at all his mishaps, was right there when he came up with another “perfect” idea, and couldn’t wait to see what would go wrong next time. Because by the second attempt I was sure the author would keep regaling me with more disasters, and yet she did it in a way that assured me that Ty was going to succeed – somehow. How could he not? His persistence in the face of adversity was admirable!

Ty is a bit of a perfectionist. What am I saying? He is the definition of perfectionist and determined not to become a cliché and propose on Christmas Eve. I could relate to him not wanting to do the expected, but the lengths he goes to just to avoid it are impressive. And all along the one thing that becomes clearer in his mind is how much he loves Micah, and Micah’s reactions showed me how much Micah loves him back. Ty, of course, missed this point entirely because he was too busy despairing at yet another misadventure. And then the catastrophe of the final proposal happens and I stopped breathing. Very rarely has a happy ending been squeezed from such a tight and seemingly impossible situation. Wow!

If you like Christmas romances with a lot of humor, if you can relate to a perfectionist trying to make everything, well, perfect for the love of his life, and if you’re looking for a read that is as funny as it is romantic, then you will probably like this short story as much as I did. It’s going straight to my favorites folder!


OTE: This book was provided by Dreamspinner Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews.… (mehr)