Ballantine Books

Review: Ascension Trilogy by Gaelen Foley

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01 asc Lately I’ve been feeling kind of blah with my reading. I’ve read so much this summer and most of it is blurring all together, not making an impact on me whatsoever. I was ready to turn in the towel and just swim all day, even though I HATE swimming, I was that fed up. I wanted something new. I wanted something real. Basically I wanted something with emotion, and not all the angst and unrealistic emotions that my recent books have been giving me. I thought I was in the mood for something different, perhaps historical romance, or even pirates. Surely this will help. 01 asc3I could escape in a world of adventure and romance, without the crass language and over the top craziness. So I went to one of my book clubs and asked for some recommendations and someone mentioned Gaelen Foley’s Ascension trilogy. I grabbed my computer and checked my overdrive system and low and behold, they had a million of her books. Well, not a million, but a good chunk. The book gods were smiling on me, because they had most of them ready and waiting for me to check them out. No holds needed. So I grabbed the Ascension trilogy, downloaded them to my kindle and sat down, hoping to be wowed. Well…..I was.

01 asc2This trilogy was just what the doctor ordered. I was in heaven. It had all the action I wanted. Pirates, princesses, kidnappings and sword wielding warriors. And of course, romance. I gotta have my romance. I wanted the epicness of Outlander, but with a quarter of the pages. I love the fact that each book is about the same family. The first, The Pirate Prince, is about the parents. It’s the start of this entire family. It introduces us to one of the main characters in the next book, but we have no idea. The second book, Princess, is about the daughter(obviously) and about her fierce protector. I adored this one!! I love the friends to lovers books. They tend to have so much love already, this would be the next step in their relationship. Book 3, Prince Charming was just right. It takes place almost 10 years after Princess and we get to see how the son gets healed by someone he least expects. That book was perfect.

While I never cried in these books, my heart was still very happy. So if you’re looking for an epic romance, with swoon worthy men and women who know how to fight for what they want, you must try this series!! Now, I’m about to grab another series by Gaelen, and I have high hopes that this will keep the book blahs away from me.

~Melpomene

Buy The Pirate Prince (Ascension Trilogy Book 1)
Princess: (Ascension Trilogy Book 2)
Prince Charming (Ascension Trilogy Book 3)

Review: The Story of Us by Dani Atkins

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22831214This was my first experience with Dani Atkins and I wasn’t disappointed. I really enjoyed this read it and found it a pleasure from start to finish.

Contrary to popular belief (I suppose even my own) I do enjoy a HEA story from time to time. However, they don’t always have to be predictable. I was a wee bit disappointed that this one was predictable in many ways. I knew from the moment on the roadside what the secret was. I don’t think it necessarily needed to be hinted about and toted though half the book. It could have been exposed far earlier than it was and worked though…

I have to say (and this is my one major complaint, and it still rubs me) **Spoiler**

I was very irritated by this bit:

Maybe I was just being naive, but it hadn’t occurred to me that after the night we’d just shared, Jack would still willing walk out of my life.

Uhhhh….hello!!!!! He had avoided getting serious with you though 85% of the book. He had told you that he had to leave. He had told you that he couldn’t get serious. That he didn’t believe in marriage. Yada Yada Yada….

And yet, you think because he slept with you ONLY after he asked you numerous times if you were sure and sent you away numerous times due to all those statements….well that he would magically turn into someone else? You thought you could change him? Is your vagina really that powerful? Seriously?

Okay….I DID tell you it irritated me….sorry for my little tantrum there…..but seriously women….you whine that men aren’t open and honest enough and talk about their expectations, when in reality you just want what you want and ignore what they do say…..psssfffttttt….

Okay…sorry….there I go again….

Never mind…..just go and read the book! Even though it’s a love triangle, it is handled well. I can’t object (much) with how the heroine handled the awkwardness that I often see in love triangles…

Until next time…

Urania xx

ARC copy provided by Edelweiss and Netgalley for an honest review

Buy it now The Story of Us by Dani Atkins

Review: Killer (Alex Delaware #29) by Jonathan Kellerman

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killerI have long been a fan of Jonathan Kellerman. There was a time where thrillers/mysteries such as Kellerman’s were all that I bothered to read. Kellerman was always a “must-read” author for me during this dozen or more years of my life. The Delaware series has always been enjoyable for me, but after reading so many of them my passion somewhat slacked off a bit and I wasn’t in a huge rush to give up other reads to continue on with the series….as many can relate to, reading time is often a very precious thing. One can never seem to find enough time to read all of the books we so desire….

So, basically it’s been a few years since I’ve picked up a Alex Delaware novel. I must admit, I enjoyed this one much more than I have the last few I read. There was less focus on Delaware’s lady-love.

There were some faults here, I thought….the rapport between Delaware and his mate Milo didn’t seem to be as close as it has been in the past….It almost felt like Delaware was resentful of Milo….too many comments about his overeating and being out of shape….In the past maybe this didn’t bother me…but something about it this time just made me feel like Delaware was looking down upon Milo for these things….that he was a bit resentful and perhaps a bit disapproving of him. The warmth between the two friends just didn’t seem to be there…

Much like real life, I suppose, once the mystery was figured out, it all wrapped up rather quickly….

I am much more likely to hurry and pick up the next installment of this series because I really enjoyed this novel, despite the few flaws I felt it held….

I’m not sure what has happened…perhaps Kellerman is just a bit tired of Delaware…but the character really seemed to lack the warmth and openness of the past….Delaware seemed to want to explore some of his feelings and perhaps some actions, but at the end just didn’t seem like he could be bothered with it all and just let it go….

ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review….

Until next time….

Urania xx

Buy it now Killer (Alex Delaware #29)