Rebecca Warren

Evan and Diana both have good reflexes, which is needed when they constantly react to others' whims and demands. It doesn't mean that they are pushovers. It's tough to stand up to your abusive father or say no to a capricious ruler who considers you a new favorite. But watching them muddle through and prevail is well worth it.

This duo of holiday Urban Fantasy novellas is a mixed bag. I didn't like The Gift, but I loved Home for the Holidays. I'm not impressed with the Argeneau vampires, but I want to read more about Bones' and Cat's makeshift family.

Overall, this anthology was much darker than I expected for a Christmas-themed collection. I rate 6 of the 15 stories one or two stars. Some of them are just disturbing while some are maudlin or angsty.

The only standouts in the book were from Carrie Vaughn, Patricia Briggs, and Karen Chance. The rest I could have done without reading.

Ellie Blix seems to see herself as the next coming of Mrs. Marple when she starts to investigate a former friend's suspicious death. That is all well and good. Unfortunately, she appears to be on the verge of a mental breakdown throughout most of the book. Nevertheless, a fun small-town cast keeps things interesting, with Sylvia as a standout that makes up for Ellie's shortcomings.

How the Dukes Stole Christmas is another anthology that didn't match my expectations. I have enjoyed stories from Tessa Dare and Sarah MacLean in the past, so I was hopeful that I would at least enjoy their novellas. Unfortunately, Tessa Dare's Meet Me in Mayfair was the only one I liked.

The great thing about anthologies entirely by an author I enjoy is that I know I will like all of the novellas, which is the case with this one. Mary Jo Putney's collection of Christmas stories shines. The stories were written between 1990 and 2002, but they all hold up well. I laughed, smiled, and ended the book wanting to read more.

I genuinely adore Mary Jo Putney's more mature leading characters. Randolph and Elizabeth know what they are doing as they travel through Naples and the surrounding countryside. Of course, that doesn't mean there are no misunderstandings, but they are not blindsided by their developing feelings.

They make a sweet couple as they move away from their past heartaches and towards a new future.

This is a delightful story about finding a family. Cases of mistaken identity don't always end well. Still, in this case, Mary Jo Putney has a beautiful way of making it all work. Jack's easygoing manner meshes well with the goings-on in Meg's home. Watching him enjoy the comforts of a family that he never had is one of the joys of this novella. Meg is a magnificent head of the household and ensures that everyone has a place, even after many disappointments, including losing her old house.

Everything clicked for me in this novella.

Watching Jenny and Greg work together to save her hometown Tithe Barn is a joy. They are both older and settled into their careers, so there is less angst at the beginning because they both know what they want.

It fell apart somewhat in the last two chapters when they both assumed they knew what the other wanted. It didn't take long for Jenny to get the prod to talk through what they wanted, thankfully.

This one is worth reading if you're looking for a sweet holiday romance.

The third Landover novel has a bumpy start but ends up as an entertaining read. I loved the character growth in Ben and Questor, and spending more time with Miles made me really like him as a character.

The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes is a fun, captivating look at the next generation of Holmes and Watson. While some of the repeated names were a little offputting, the story and characters more than made up for it.

I was expecting much better from Christine Feehan than what this book provided. Unfortunately, this book was excruciating to get into and didn't hold my attention until well into the second half.

Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey is appropriately titled as there are layers to every character needing to be uncovered to find the villain in this novel. I loved the balance of danger and softness as the family found its feet.

Like many anthologies, I found Naked City to be a mixed bag. Of the twenty short stories, I only liked/loved six. As a result, I would have rated this lower, except those six were well worth slogging through the others to read.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in return for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

If you are looking for a Gothic, Regency novel like Wuthering Heights or Jane Eyre, Beneath His Silence is worth checking out. The haunting atmosphere is captured perfectly. Unfortunately, the continuing melodrama got to me and moved it down the list of books I would revisit.

Charles and Anna are definitely hitting their stride in Hunting Ground. Of course, there are some bumps along the way, but they are a formidable team. Even when faced with some of the grumpiest Alphas in Europe.

An interesting take on a lot of Urban Fantasy tropes. The most annoying that crops up is the ability of the "human" to keep beating everything up while half-dead. It was interesting enough to read through, but I don't know that I'll pick up any of the rest of the series.

The Black Unicorn is a fun, action-packed jaunt through the Magic Kingdom of Landover. The motley crew is back together, and Ben has his hands full fending off the newest and oldest threat to his crown. I loved the addition of Dirk to the crew, and the humor melded well with the more poignant moments.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in return for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Suzanne Enoch has a beautiful talent for crafting fun, entertaining tales with more than a touch of chaos. Something in the Heir is an excellent addition to that collection. Will and Emmie have their hands full, and it's a blast to watch.

It has been years since I read a Sherrilyn Kenyon novel, and Deadmen Walking reminded me of why I enjoyed them so much. The good news is that you don't need to have read her other books to enjoy this book. However, characters are mentioned that you will have met if you have read the Dark Hunter novels.

This series has definitely been a saga. But unfortunately, it ended on a low note. The drive to make everything bigger and bolder diminished the climax and disappointed me.

The intro was the best part of the book. A horrible male lead with a bad attitude destroys the story.

Julia Quinn has a fun writing style, but her characters are wretched human beings. Anthony treats Katharine abominably, and I nearly threw my Kobo across the room in one scene.

I barely made it through this book, and I have no desire to read any other books by Julia Quinn.

After the high of Dark Song, Dark Tarot felt like a let-down. This felt like a reunion book without it truly being a reunion. Too many locations and faces detracted from the leading pair, and I never came to like Adalasia.

Nadine has a beautiful talent for bringing her characters to life. Each is unique and brings a distinct voice and view to the Eubeltic realm.