Book Review: A Rose in the Storm by: Brenda Joyce

Title: A Rose in the Storm
Author: Brenda Joyce
ISBN: 0373777701
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Historical Romance
Length: 448 pgs
Binding: Paperback
Published: 25 June 2013; HQN Books
Buy: Amazon.com

Synopsis:

When Rivalry Becomes Passion

With warfare blazing through Scotland, the fate of the Comyn-MacDougall legacy depends on one woman. Recently orphaned, young Margaret Comyn must secure her clan's safety through an arranged marriage. But when an enemy invasion puts her at the mercy of the notorious Wolf of Lochaber, her every loyalty—and secret want—will be challenged.

And A Kingdom Is At Stake

Legendary warrior Alexander "The Wolf" MacDonald rides with Robert Bruce to seize the throne of Scotland. But when he takes the fiery Lady Margaret prisoner, she quickly becomes far more than a valuable hostage. For the passion between them threatens to betray their families, their country . . . and their hearts.

My Rating:

My Review: It's been ages since I've read a historical romance novel and I am almost ashamed to admit it since I owe my love of history, romance, and even reading to this genre. I was recently searching for the perfect book to jump back into my first love when I came across A Rose in the Storm. When I learned that Brenda Joyce, one of my favorite authors back in the 90's, was the one who wrote this historical romance (set in Scotland during the Wars of Scottish Independence against England led by Robert the Bruce) I just couldn't resist. What better way to get back into the genre then to start off with her new novel.

The historical accuracy and writing of the story was beautifully executed. You can tell that Brenda Joyce took the time to do her research and was quite dedicated to intricately weaving history and romance. She also nailed the accents which I am a huge stickler on. Who wants to read a historical romance with the characters sounding like they are from modern times? So I give her major credit for that, especially the Scottish brogue. It definitely gave the story that extra authenticity. All of these things combined made the novel almost feet like a sequel to the Academy Award winning movie BRAVEHEART. After all, the book does take place after the death of William Wallace...

Let me say this now that A Rose in the Storm is a little less conventional than some of your older historical romances. I figured this out when the hero's name was mentioned but he himself didn't actually enter the story until 45 pages in. Usually if the hero hasn't made an appearance within the first 10-15 pages, I get impatient. But somehow Joyce made it work. Actually, I think this was a genius idea because she used this time for character development. The first 45 pages was for her to paint us a very clear picture of our heroine, Lady Margaret. We learn all about her arranged marriage to Sir Guy, an Englishman, her loyalty to her beloved late parents, especially her mother and the Comyn name. Even though she is a Scottish lady, her uncle arranged her marriage to an Englishman to keep the peace and to take her rightful place at Castle Fyne, which meant so much to her mother.  She is barely within Castle Fyne's gates when she is alerted that Alexander MacDonald, also know as the Wolf of Lochaber, and hundreds of his men are outside the castle walls. The Wolf wants her to surrender. She refuses. The battle of wills and passion begins. This was all great build up to the scene where Margaret finally lays eyes on Alexander MacDonald and it is quite explosive. I kept thinking to myself, if Brenda Joyce is this good at building the suspense up to their first meeting, I could only imagine how amazing the sexual tension would be between the two.

While the story is written in third person, it is solely in Margaret's point-of-view which also doesn't quite fit the traditional historical romance formula. I'm not going to lie, I was a little bummed at first because I've always been the kind of reader that likes to see things through the eyes of both the heroine and hero. But again, Brenda Joyce made it work and here's why. The Wolf of Lochaber is dark, dangerous, and mysterious and not being able to see things in his perspective actually added to his allure. Seeing him only through Margaret's eyes added a sense of excitement and anxiety, emotions she herself probably felt, wondering when she would see him again, what he would say, and what his next move may be.

Since we are on the topic of our mysterious hero, I really love how the author realistically portrays him. On the one hand he is quite noble. Alexander accepted Margaret for who she was and  found her  to be courageous for standing her ground and not surrendering to him. Unlike most men of that time period, he liked that she spoke her mind. He also believed her intended husband, Sir Guy, was unworthy of her and feared if she went through with the marriage he would eventually crush her spirit. On the other hand, Alexander is just as fierce as his name suggests. He does kill people. And he does sleep with 2 of Margaret's handmaidens (not necessarily while they were together). The latter did bother me at first but I had to face the facts: Alexander is a warrior and it was quite common in those times.

Although it was sometimes hard for me to stomach, I commend Brenda Joyce for painting such vivid images of women's roles during that time period. It was truly a man's world, where a woman's worth depended solely on her dowry, and was expected to bear children and obey her husband. Margaret was a brave woman that risked many things in order to stay loyal to her family name. She tried to obey her uncle and not question her upcoming marriage to Sir Guy. I can only imagine how hard it must have been for her to be Scottish yet accept an English King and marry an Englishman when deep in her bones she couldn't help but admire Robert the Bruce. But for anyone that allied themselves with Robert the Bruce and got caught ended with devastating consequences. What truly gave me chills was when Margaret learns of King Edward's royal proclamation: all women who sided with Bruce were considered traitors, therefore any man may rob, rape, and murder them. Absolutely terrifying!

So here is what kept me from giving A Rose in the Storm a perfect 5 star rating. Let me start with the minor problem which is more of an uncharacteristic response then an issue. It's during the scene where Margaret is about to meet Sir Guy for the first time. Her intended husband and Alexander are speaking heatedly within earshot. When Sir Guy starts coming towards her, she suddenly, "...dropped her hood and released her braid, finger combing her hair into a mane..."  What?? Is she primping??? Right in front her intended and Alexander??? This was not only an uncharacteristic response (I could maybe see someone from modern times do this) but it just didn't work for the scene at all.

Now to my major issue. As I predicted, Brenda Joyce builds amazing sexual tension between Margaret and Alexander, just like she did in the beginning when they first meet. But when they finally decide to give into their desires, the scene is a PARAGRAPH! He picks her up, puts her against the wall, thrusts into her, and then...Margaret wakes up the next morning in his bed. WTF!!!! All the love scenes were like this! They were not the hot, steamy scenes I remember Brenda Joyce writing years ago. Maybe she didn't want to get completely explicit which I can respect, but there are ways she could have done that and still given us fulfilling love scenes. Maybe it would have helped if this novel had been written by an author I was unfamiliar with. But since I've read Joyce's novels in the past, I had certain expectations.

Despite being disgruntled over the diluted love scenes, A Rose in the Storm was well written and came together on so many other levels that I still give this book a 4 star rating.

Cover Art Friday: Secret Sins & Emerald City Giveaway Winner!

Happy Friday, my Muses!

As many of you may already know, my first love has always been romance novels. One of my favorite erotic romance authors is Lora Leigh! If you like your romances smoldering, and your male heroes alphas, then you need to get on the Lora Leigh bandwagon! She has several different series out and I guarantee that she has a little something for everybody. She is known for her Breed Series, which is about men that have been genetically altered with animal DNA (lion, cougar, wolf, etc.) and the women who fall in love with them. If you like military/soldier romances, then you need to check out her Elite Ops Series.

Recently, Lora has started a new series called The Callahan's, about 3 outcast brothers. You can click on the following titles to see their cover art. The first 2 books, Midnight Sins (#1) and Deadly Sins (#2) have already been released. Here is the cover for Secret Sins, book 3 in the Callahan's series.

I actually like this cover even though I think Midnight Sins is the best out of the three. I personally dislike the Deadly Sins cover...I have more of an issue with the model they chose than the actual design. I just don't find the male model attractive on that cover. Anyway, Secret Sins hits bookshelves this fall, November 27th.

One last bit of news...I have heard through the grape vine that Lora Leigh is working on a Nauti Girls series. If you are a Lora Leigh fan, then you will remember her very popular Nauti Boys series. The first in this new series is called Nauti Temptress with a tentative release date of November 6th. No cover art has been released yet, so once I get some more information, I will share it with everyone! But in the meantime, if you haven't read Lora's Nauti Boy series, start with the first one, called Nauti Boy. The male model on the front cover has always reminded me of Mark Wahlberg... For more information about Lora Leigh and for a complete list of her series, check out her website at loraleigh.com.

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EMERALD CITY E-BOOK (PDF FORMAT) GIVEAWAY WINNER!

And I bring good tidings. I first want to thank everyone who participated in the Emerald City Giveaway and for all of those who emailed me and left positive feedback about the Q&A with author Alicia K. Leppert. She really is a warm person and her novel Emerald City is a unique contribution to the YA paranormal romance genre. So even if you didn't win, I hope you still go out and buy a copy of Emerald City!

Now for the winner. And that person is....

BECKY @ Preppy Premed

Congratulations! I hope you enjoy your e-book (pdf format) copy of Emerald City! Feel free to leave a message in the comment section once you are finished reading it so you can share your thoughts :)

Have a great weekend!

Book Review: Katana by: Cole Gibsen

Title: Katana
Author: Cole Gibsen
ISBN: 0738730408
Reading Level: Teen/Young Adult
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Romance
Theme: Martial Arts, Romance, Reincarnation
Binding: (NetGalley ebook ARC)
Length: 384
Published: Flux; 8 March 2012
Buy: Amazon.com
My Rating:


Synopsis: Rileigh Martin would love to believe that adrenaline had given her the uncanny courage and strength to fend off three muggers. But it doesn't explain her dreams of 15th-century Japan, the incredible fighting skills she suddenly possesses, or the strange voice giving her battle tips and danger warnings.

While worrying that she's going crazy (always a reputation ruiner), Rileigh gets a visit from Kim, a handsome martial arts instructor, who tells Rileigh she's harboring the spirit of a five-hundred-year-old samurai warrior.

Relentlessly attacked by ninjas, Rileigh has no choice but to master the katana--a deadly Japanese sword that's also the key to her past. As the spirit grows stronger and her feelings for Kim intensify, Rileigh is torn between continuing as the girl she's always been and embracing the warrior inside her.

My Review: Katana was an absolute pleasure to read. It was one of those books that didn't require a lot of hard thinking, yet has all the elements of a great YA novel. That is NOT an insult. Let me explain. Before Katana, I had read 2 books back to back that were quite demanding. Both had stories centered around new mythology and world building. While I absolutely love books that are unique and don't fit a particular mold, those qualities do not neccessarily define what makes a good novel. Katana was a refreshing read, filled with action, romance, history, and perfectly placed comic relief.

The story opens with Rileigh and her out and proud best friend Quentin leaving the mall after buying a gift for a wedding. A thug tries robbing an old couple in the parking lot and without her even realizing it, Rileigh comes to their rescue. When the thug comes back for a second round, this time to teach her a lesson, Rileigh thinks she is going crazy when she hears a voice in her head and her body busts out martial arts moves that are completely foriegn to her. Thus starts Rileigh's "Awakening", where pieces of her past life starts to collide with her present. Talk about a great way to start a story! I absolutely love a book that grabs you from the very first couple of pages!

As Rileigh tries to figure out if she is losing her mind or not, the mysterious, sexy martial arts instructor Kim enters her life, which only confuses her more since he seems to know more about what's going on inside her mind and body them she cares to admit. She tries to convince herself that Whitley is the boy of her dreams, but has a hard time denying the instant attraction and pull she feels when around Kim. Sounds like one of those annoying love triangles that many YA writers can't seem to do without, right? Well, I think what makes Katana different is that Whitley is really no competition when he is up against the kind of love that lasts for centuries, literally!

While the setting is in present day America, Cole Gibsen does a great job bringing us back to 13th century Japan every few chapters so that we can see how Rileigh and Kim's previous lives intertwine with their lives now. I don't want to get into too much detail here for fear of leaking too many spoilers, but let's just say Cole knows how to pull on the heartstrings and once you read the book, you will understand what I mean about the kind of love that stands the test of time.

I like the fact that this is also sort of an interracial romance. I know that may sound weird, but I am bi-racial-- half Italian, half African American and I have noticed that there are not many young adult books out there where the heroine is white and the hero is of Asian descent. I know that's not what this book's agenda is about (or is it? love doesn't know color, gender and happens when you least expect it) but I like that angle of the book.

Cole Gibsen not only writes a great story but creates interesting characters. I enjoyed learning about Drew, Michelle, and Braden who were also samurai warriors in their previous lives. And in case you are wondering how it can be possible that the spirits of these young people were able to find each other in this life when they could have been anywhere in the world--apparently, the stronger the connection in their previous life, the easier it is for their spirits to find each other in this one.

If I had one thing to complain about-- and this is me just being straight up picky-- it's the whole Sumi situation. Sumi is Kim's receptionist/assistant at the dojo who fathoms herself in love with him. Throughout the novel Sumi makes it abundantly clear that Kim is hers and that they are "meant" to be together. There are quite a few scenes where her jealousy shines through, one in particular towards the end where she sort of threatens Rileigh. Then suddenly Sumi is never mentioned again. I'm not sure if Katana is the first in a planned series-- if so, then maybe we will see her in the next book. It's not that big of a deal, but the last scene with Sumi and Rileigh felt....unfinished.

But that minor complaint doesn't change my 5 star rating :). There is really nothing else negative I can say about Katana. It's a solid YA novel packed with action, laugh-out-loud moments, and a romance worth dying for! If you don't believe me, then let me end this review with a scene that shows how much Kim loves Rileigh.

"Kim? Why are you afraid to touch me?" I asked.

He rotated back...for a moment I thought he would leave without answering my question. Instead, he pushed his shoulders back and reeled around to face me, closing the distance between us in two strides, leaving only enough room to breathe.

"I'm afraid," he whispered.

"Of what?" I whispered back. I was afraid myself, but I couldn't think of why I should be.

"I'm afraid that if I touch you, even for a moment, I might not be able to let go."

Before I could react, he turned and strode out of the room.

Romantic, right? Well then what are you waiting for? Go pick up a copy of Katana today! Kill Bill meets Buffy? How about, Kill Bill meets Buffy who meets Samurai Girl? lol

Book Review: A Temptation of Angels

Title: A Temptation of Angels
Author: Michelle Zink
ISBN: 0803737262
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy, Historical Romance
Theme: Angels
Binding: ARC Paperback (advance reader copy)
Length: 435 pgs
Published: 20 March 2012
Buy: amazon.com, bn.com
My Rating:


Synopsis: Even angels make mistakes in this page-turning epic romance When her parents are murdered before her eyes, sixteen-year-old Helen Cartwright finds herself launched into an underground London where a mysterious organization called the Dictata controls the balance of good and evil. Helen learns that she is one of three remaining angelic descendants charged with protecting the world's past, present, and future. Unbeknownst to her, she has been trained her whole life to accept this responsibility. Now, as she finds herself torn between the angelic brothers protecting her and the devastatingly handsome childhood friend who wants to destroy her, she must prepare to be brave, to be hunted, and above all to be strong, because temptation will be hard to resist, even for an angel.

**The following review may contain SPOILERS**


My Review: I won an early reviewer's copy of this book from Library Things, so I was obligated to write a review once I was finished. The book is not due to be published until early next year, March 2012. There is another person who reviewed this book on Library Things under the name MargK that I completely agreed with. A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink was nothing like I expected and I don't mean that in a good way. The list of positive things about this book is very short.

Here are a few of the positives:

1) Like MargK mentioned in her earlier review, the author has a certain simple elegance to her writing, therefore it was easy to read.

2) I liked that the story took place in London (Despite this, I had major issues with the setting—or lack thereof which I will get to shortly).

3) Even though I agree that the author doesn’t really give us any new dimensions to her characters or the love triangle (we’ve read it all before), I will say that she did a good job at building the sexual tension and romantic moments between Helen and Griffin.

Sadly, this is where the positives end. I don’t want to make this a long, drawn out review nor do I want to repeat the negatives that other reviewers have pointed out, so I am going to stick to my 3 main issues with this book.

1) The setting. Like I said above, I was looking forward to reading this book partly because it was supposed to take place in London. The reason I enjoy reading books with settings around the globe should be obvious—it’s a way to learn about a country or time period without having to do extensive research (unless you want to). I think that is one of the important jobs an author has to do—transport you to that time and place, make you feel like you are there. Unfortunately, this does not happen in A Temptation of Angels. The author does not give us any specific dates (not always necessary) or landmarks, or historical references. Helen and the Channing brothers seem to walk everywhere—there is no mention of horses or cars—nothing that could help me get a better sense of what type of London the story takes place in. The only thing that finally gave me an idea where to place the story is when it is revealed that Helen wears corsets and that it is not proper etiquette for a young lady to be walking the streets alone, or to be living with young bachelors that are not her family. This of course is a big contradiction in the book. I’m not even going to go there since MargK’s review gets into detail the major contradictions of the mysterious and supposedly powerful organization called the Dictata.

2) My other major problem with this book is this: the book is supposed to be about angels. Other then Helen and the Channing brothers being able to “jump” through light (as in being able to dissolve their bodies into tiny molecules through light in order to transport to other places), nothing else is explored as far as their abilities. What else can they do? Hell, if they are angels, aren’t they supposed to have wings? Not once are wings mentioned.

3) Lastly, this book is riddled with parts that are unbelievable, unnecessary, or just plain didn’t make sense. The author spends too much time on parts that could be simplified in a page or two while she does not give enough attention to things such as the term “Enlightenment” for example. What does it mean when one reaches “Enlightenment”? This term was mentioned several times in the beginning of the book but was never explored. What happened to Darius’ face? How did he get the scar? I also think that her reaction AND the outcome of the whole dart/dog situation was completely ridiculous. I don’t want to give it away since it would be a major spoiler, but it was a very poor plot device.

To sum it up, the book had an interesting premise but the execution fell flat. For lack of a better way to say this, I was bored. Unless the finished product differs greatly from the ARC I just read, I don’t see Michelle Zink's A Temptation of Angels making any great waves in the YA literature world.

~Mia~