Once Upon a Forbidden Desire: Fairy Tales and Other Stories (Anthology) – Review

30 Tuesday Aug 2022

Tags

5 stars, AJ Lancaster, Book Review, CM Nascosta, Colleen Cowley, Dani Morrison, Elise Winters, Erin Vere, fairy tales, fantasy, HR Moore, Jacee Jarvis, Jennie Lynn Roberts, Kathryn Ann Kingsley, Kristin Gleeson, L. Penelope, Lisette Marshall, Maria Vale, Mimi B. Rose, November Dawn, romance, romance anthology, series, SL Prater, Trish Heinrich, Vela Roth, Zoey Ellis

Review of Once Upon a Forbidden Desire

Fantasy romance readers, just cough up 99 cents and check out Once Upon a Forbidden Desire. This is a lovely collection! Each author’s story begins with a title, the name of the fairy tale that serves as the inspiration and heat rating of 1 to 4 candles. 1 candle is low heat and 4 candles is scorching. Also, some authors included trigger warnings if their story warranted it.

It’s nice to have two great authors (Grace Daven and Jeffe Kennedy) contribute the forward. But the shine of this collection comes from the tale telling! There are so many great stories in this fantasy romance collection! There were authors I had read previously, some I have always wanted to read and some were new to me. Readers of the genre are sure to find several tales that appeal to them. I liked most of them. A couple of the stories did not give the villains their just desserts, which made me like them less. There was one story I could not get into and did not finish. But what did not appeal to me, will be a favorite of some other reader.

For me, there were a handful I gave 5 stars to. These stories all included engaging storytelling, mature characters, a happy ending for the heroine and hero, and where necessary, a chastised villain. For the sake of your time and my space, I will limit my review to my top 5.

Idyllwild (Cernunnos, Lord of the Wild Things) by Maria Vale. My favorite story in the collection. This one is not so much based on a fairy tale as it is on celtic lore. The unusual world is a cool combination of a modern city with old world ideals, along with unique flora and an obsession with the local cuisine. The Demonkeeper concept, that a person can get rid of their inner demons, is an interesting concent. Are we better with or without them? Or are we all just our own demonkeepers?

About Idyllwild – Idara is a Demonkeeper. Inside her are bound Lust, Obsession, Fear, and other uncontrollable demons that might distract the staid and hardworking citizens of Summerhouses. Then one demon is bound to her that is not like the others. One that is very wild and very, very angry.

How to Marry a Winged King (Cinderella) by AJ Lancaster. The first story in the anthology sets a very high bar for the rest of the book. Cinderalla is a story we’ve all know since we were very young and we have experienced in many versions over the years. I adored this fresh take on the story of the downtrodden servant who becomes all that she should be. The spin in this story is the king’s role in recognizing that woman.

About How to Marry a Winged King – When the fae king announces he’ll choose a bride at the Thrice-Held Ball, Cinders is forbidden to attend. As a lowly human, she’s never been good enough for her noble fae family. Certainly not good enough to appear with them in public. But that was before she received an enchanted mask that alters her appearance.

Into the Bargain (Rumplestiltskin) by Colleen Cowley. As I was reading this story, I recognized the world of the Clandestine Magic series. It serves as a charming supplemental story about that world. This is the tale of a strong heroine who goes after what she wants. Even if what she wants changes. After all, it’s all about going with the flow.

About Into the Bargain – Pen never thought she’d need to convince her town’s wizard to marry her, but he’s her least awful option. When his droll assistant offers a questionable bargain to help her secure the man, she knows she should turn it down. But what choice does she have?

Blood Dance (The Twelve Dancing Princess) by Vela Roth. The fairy tale basis for this story is less well known than many other tales. I remember reading it, but not all the details. Which actually enhanced the story. I wasn’t second guessing what would happen. In it, the heroine, finally gets the happy ending she has ensured for everyone around her. While her father plots to keep her from that happiness, others are determined to make it happen. It’s great to have people who care for you!

About Blood Dance– Phoebe, a widow in her thirties, feels like a princess every time fanged, immortal Alethas spirits her out of her father’s castle for dances under the full moon. After years of making sacrifices for her eleven sisters, she’s tempted to let him fulfill all her secret desires. But loving a Hesperine like him could get a proper lady like her killed.

The Big Bad Wolf (Little Red Riding Hood) by Kathryn Ann Kingsley. This one appealed to me because of the heroine, a business owner who is in complete control. Well, until the hot hero comes to town.

About The Big Bad Wolf – Annie likes her quiet life running Grandma’s House, the only bar in town. Not much exciting happens this deep in Minnesota, and she kind of prefers it that way. But all that changes when the dark, brooding stranger shows up with a smile that looks like it could kill. Wolf is after one thing and one thing only— the hunt. And Annie is looking good enough to eat right up.

The Graveside Bar and Grill (Charley Davidson, #13.7) by Darynda Jones – Review

26 Friday Aug 2022

Posted by WWMB in Book Review

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

5 stars, Book Review, Darynda Jones, humor, mystery, romance, series

Review of The Graveside Bar and Grill

The Graveside Bar and Grill is a quick read with all the danger, romance and humor we expect from a Charley Davidson story. It can be enjoyed as a standalone, but if you have read the series, you will appreciate it even more. It revolves around Donovan and Sia, with support roles going to Charley, Reyes and their daughter Elwyn, formally known as Beep, but now also known as Teacup. Teacup is sweet. Donovan is sweeter. Sia is not quite human, trying to survive in the human dimension. Prior to events of this story, Donovan and Sia have an un-discussed thing for each other.

Donovan St. James is one of my favorite characters from the original Charley Davidson series. As I recall, Donovan had a thing for Charley, and maybe she did for him. While it didn’t work out, Donovan continued to play a strong supportive character. It is so great to see him find love! Plus, this story includes Artemis who was originally Donovan’s dog. Until she died and became Charley’s favorite spirit dog. So happy to see Artemis again!

This story is part of the many stories includes in the 1,001 Dark Nights collection of tales by a multitude of authors telling sexy, romantic stories.

The Graveside Bar and Grill is the first Charley Davidson story I have read since the original #13 series ender. This is actually the third novella in the series, so I have some catching up to do. Soon!

I received a copy of this book from Social Butterfly PR, 1,001 Dark Nights and Darynda Jones. My review is my honest opinion.

**********************

About The Graveside Bar and Grill by Darynda Jones

When Donovan St. James’ precocious charge asks him—no questions asked—to tail the doctor who keeps their ragtag team patched up, he wants to refuse. Not because the saucy teen is getting too big for her britches, ordering him around like a mob boss, but because the woman stirs feelings in him he would rather not explore. However, when evil threatens the doc’s life, he realizes he has no choice. Sia saved his life once. He will try to return the favor. He just prays he can do it without losing his heart.

Running from the supernatural entity that has destroyed entire worlds to have her, Sia thought she’d found a haven on Earth with a motley team of warriors protecting the girl destined to save humanity. But when Sia’s found, she realizes something on this plane is more scrumptious than her: that very teen. So, she runs—and Donovan St. James follows. Nothing is more alluring than a scruffy biker with a lacerating gaze. And she vows to tell him that… if they survive.

**********************

Links

Add The Graveside Bar and Grill to your Goodreads shelf:

Purchase The Graveside Bar and Grill:

**********************

Murder in Westminster (Lady Worthing Mysteries, #1) by Vanessa Riley – Review

19 Friday Aug 2022

Posted by WWMB in Book Review

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

4 stars, abolition, Book Review, historical mystery, London, second sight, series, Vanessa Riley

Review of Murder in Westminster

I read this book expecting 2 things 1) great characters – this is based on my past experience of reading a previous work by this author and 2) a fascinating mystery.

Don’t we all want our mysteries to be fascinating? In Murder in Westminster, Lady Abigail Worthing is investigating not one but two murders. I was disappointed in the mystery solving aspect. Hard clues were outweighed by intuition. Having said that, you should know that Abigail has the dubious gift of second sight, so it may be that intuition is her best tool. Still, I kept wanting solid detective work.

On the other hand, I loved the characters! Abigail is a strong, intelligent black woman who has had the fortune and drive to marry a man with a title. Then her husband leaves her home alone to go travelling. And so she does pretty much what she wants even though her friends tell her not to. She wants to help with the abolitionist movement. She wants to solve mysteries. Both activities are likely to get her into trouble/dangers. Abigail’s cousin and godfather are also great characters that bring their own quirks to the mystery solving table.

The neighbor, Stapleton Henderson, is prickly, opinionated, and about to divorce his wife. But Mrs. Henderson is the first victim, so he is also a suspect. He is good with dogs (that scores him points). But he is not above resorting to blackmail (points deducted). Henderson and Abigail start off arguing over a fence and end up working together to find a murderer. Ultimately, I think Henderson is good, but truly that is left a bit murky.

The author has provided some great historical detail at the end of the book. It may even be a good idea to read that part first.

So, in Murder in Westminster, we have two lonely neighbors who will likely be getting into more trouble in the future. I see them honing their mystery solving abilities, while they become close friends.

Through NetGalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book. My review is my honest opinion.

*****************************

About Murder in Westminster by Vanessa Riley

Discovering a body on her property presents Lady Abigail Worthing with more than one pressing problem. The victim is Juliet, the wife of her neighbor, Stapleton Henderson. Although Abigail has little connection with the lady in question, she expects to be under suspicion. Abigail’s skin color and her mother’s notorious past have earned her a certain reputation among the ton, and no amount of wealth or status will eclipse it.

Abigail can’t divulge that she was attending a secret pro-abolition meeting at the time of the murder. To her surprise, Henderson offers her an alibi. Though he and Juliet were long estranged, and she had a string of lovers, he feels a certain loyalty to his late wife. Perhaps together, he and Abigail can learn the truth.

Abigail, whose marriage to Lord Worthing was not a love match, knows well how appearances can deceive. For all its surface elegance, London’s high society can be treacherous. Yet who in their circle would have killed Juliet, and why? Taking the reins of her life in a way she never has before, Abby intends to find out—but in the process she will uncover more danger than she ever imagined…

*****************************

Links

Add Murder in Westminster to your Goodreads shelf:

Purchase Murder in Westminster (Releases August 30):

Whiskey With My Book

~ And a cozy spot to enjoy them both.

Monthly Archives: August 2022

Once Upon a Forbidden Desire: Fairy Tales and Other Stories (Anthology) – Review

The Graveside Bar and Grill (Charley Davidson, #13.7) by Darynda Jones – Review

Murder in Westminster (Lady Worthing Mysteries, #1) by Vanessa Riley – Review