Stacking the Shelves is an awesome meme hosted by Tynga's Review.
Bloggers share the books they've received, bought, borrowed - and I collect more and more books for my 'must acquire' list.
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Stacking the Shelves - January 25th edition
Stacking the Shelves is an awesome meme hosted by Tynga's Review.
Bloggers share the books they've received, bought, borrowed - and I collect more and more books for my 'must acquire' list.
Friday, January 24, 2014
When The Rogue Returns by Sabrina Jeffries
The Basics:When The Rogue Returns by Sabrina Jeffries
Pocket Books
Book Two in the Duke's Men series
Romance
Published Jan 21, 2014
Amazon.ca Kobo.com
Why I picked up this book:
I recognized the author's name, and liked the idea of a meek wife lost only to be found much more confident later in life.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
The Basics:
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
Harper Collins
Mainstream, Romance
Amazon.ca Kobo.com
I bought this one on sale.
Blurb:
Why I picked up this book:
It seems to be everywhere, I read the inside cover and thought it sounded quirky and entertaining.
My thoughts:
Wow. Wow. Normally I don't go in for heavily hyped books. I get excited and then am let down and why bother with that?
I'm so glad that ignored my normal policy.
The Rosie Project is a story about a quirky academic, Don, who lives by his routines and schedules and logic. He's very aware of how different he is from most people when it comes to participating in social conventions and developing relationships with other people. When he decides he'd like to find a wife, Don embarks on a journey that has repercussions well beyond those that he's planned on.
Don is one of the most endearing characters in any book I've read in the last several years. He's so earnest, and so genuinely puzzled when his efforts aren't received as intended. I think if he only bumbled around, he might be less likeable. His desire for understanding, if not always improvement, makes him entirely loveable. His perspective and narration is so completely on point, so different from anything else I've read - thoroughly enjoyable!
The plot line in this book is light, though it doesn't avoid heavy subjects. With some digging, you could easily discuss issues like love, fidelity, friendship, old age, memory, first impressions and stereotypes, ethics, morality and more. It's an easy book club choice and topical for anyone looking for a contemporary book for an essay (high school students, I'm looking at you). It's a quick read that will stay with you.
I want to gush about this book!
Bottom line:
Definitely recommended. I didn't intend to review this one, but it was so good, I had to toss a review up to share it with anyone who hasn't caved and picked it up yet!
5 stars
For fans of contemporary romance, quirky characters, issues with a candy coating
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
Harper Collins
Mainstream, Romance
Amazon.ca Kobo.com
I bought this one on sale.
Blurb:
A first-date dud, socially awkward and overly fond of quick-dry clothes, genetics professor Don Tillman has given up on love, until a chance encounter gives him an idea.
He will design a questionnaire—a sixteen-page, scientifically researched questionnaire—to uncover the perfect partner. She will most definitely not be a barmaid, a smoker, a drinker or a late-arriver. Rosie is all these things. She is also fiery and intelligent, strangely beguiling, and looking for her biological father a search that a DNA expert might just be able to help her with.
The Rosie Project is a romantic comedy like no other. It is arrestingly endearing and entirely unconventional, and it will make you want to drink cocktails.
Why I picked up this book:
It seems to be everywhere, I read the inside cover and thought it sounded quirky and entertaining.
My thoughts:
Wow. Wow. Normally I don't go in for heavily hyped books. I get excited and then am let down and why bother with that?
I'm so glad that ignored my normal policy.
The Rosie Project is a story about a quirky academic, Don, who lives by his routines and schedules and logic. He's very aware of how different he is from most people when it comes to participating in social conventions and developing relationships with other people. When he decides he'd like to find a wife, Don embarks on a journey that has repercussions well beyond those that he's planned on.
Don is one of the most endearing characters in any book I've read in the last several years. He's so earnest, and so genuinely puzzled when his efforts aren't received as intended. I think if he only bumbled around, he might be less likeable. His desire for understanding, if not always improvement, makes him entirely loveable. His perspective and narration is so completely on point, so different from anything else I've read - thoroughly enjoyable!
The plot line in this book is light, though it doesn't avoid heavy subjects. With some digging, you could easily discuss issues like love, fidelity, friendship, old age, memory, first impressions and stereotypes, ethics, morality and more. It's an easy book club choice and topical for anyone looking for a contemporary book for an essay (high school students, I'm looking at you). It's a quick read that will stay with you.
I want to gush about this book!
Bottom line:
Definitely recommended. I didn't intend to review this one, but it was so good, I had to toss a review up to share it with anyone who hasn't caved and picked it up yet!
5 stars
For fans of contemporary romance, quirky characters, issues with a candy coating
The Spider by Jennifer Estep
The Basics:
The Spider by Jennifer Estep
Pocket Books
Book Ten in the Elemental Assassin series
Urban fantasy
Published December 24, 2013
Amazon.ca Kobo.com
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Blurb:
How did I end up in a career where I always have blood on my hands? Well, let me tell you a story about an assassin who thought she could do no wrong. . . .
Ten years ago. A blistering hot August night. I remember like it was yesterday. The night I, Gin Blanco, truly became the Spider. Killing people is what I do best, especially now that I’ve honed my Ice and Stone magic. But back then, I had yet to learn one very important rule: arrogance will get you, every single time.
This particular job seemed simple: murder a crooked building contractor with ties to ruthless Fire elemental Mab Monroe. My mentor, Fletcher Lane, had some misgivings, but I was certain that I had the situation under control . . . right up until I exposed my weaknesses to a merciless opponent who exploited every single one of them. There’s a reason assassins aren’t supposed to feel anything. Luckily, a knife to the heart can fix that problem, especially when I’m the one wielding it. . . .
Why I picked up this book:
Female assassin, urban fantasy, sounds good to me!
My thoughts:
I picked a great book for late entry into the series since this is basically a flashback!
The first chapter sets it all up - Gin's receiving roses in the present day that take her back ten years to a time when she made what she considers one of the biggest screw-ups of her life.
And because we *know* that she feels this way about it, there's a certain element of surprise lacking in the story. It's more like watching a train wreck slowly, slowly, slowly inch towards occurring. Unfortunately, there's also a ton of spoiler-filled reviews out there, so be careful of those! Once start to read the book, you'll undoubtedly connect a few dots that Gin missed in the past, but there's no sense in ruining what little suspense there is!
I don't know Gin as a fully formed and functioning assassin, because I'm new to the series, so it doesn't bother me at all that she's not at peak form in this story. I kind of liked that this was my introduction to her as it felt like a good place to begin.
The downside of being new is that the little cameos by other characters really don't make much of an impression. Owen, who she's dating in the present, appears at an opportune moment and while I knew it for a cameo, I doubt I got the full effect or moment of joy from it. I'm sure there are other characters we were supposed to know and love, but... yeah.
There's a few great action sequences - really any time Gin is doing her thing, I enjoyed the book. She made a large number of mistakes - whether through impatience or sloppiness as she called it, or simply failing to think things through. But, it makes me optimistic about other entries in the series, when she's more seasoned. I'm also curious now about how Owen managed to break through to her well-protected heart - fans, is it a good romance?
Bottom line:
Because The Spider is a flashback and we know in advance that things are going to go horribly wrong, I didn't enjoy this as much as I might have otherwise. Knowing roughly how things would end up took a lot of tension out of what might have been a great story. That said, it was a good entry into the series for someone new to the books - I didn't have to catch up to some overarching storyline nor did I have to negotiate all kinds of current character relationships.
I'd say it's worth a shot if you're looking for new urban fantasy series, though you might prefer to go the traditional route and pick up book number one - Spider's Bite.
3.5 stars
For fans of the Elemental Assassin series, urban fantasy, kickass heroines, magic
The Spider by Jennifer Estep
Pocket Books
Book Ten in the Elemental Assassin series
Urban fantasy
Published December 24, 2013
Amazon.ca Kobo.com
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Blurb:
Ten years ago. A blistering hot August night. I remember like it was yesterday. The night I, Gin Blanco, truly became the Spider. Killing people is what I do best, especially now that I’ve honed my Ice and Stone magic. But back then, I had yet to learn one very important rule: arrogance will get you, every single time.
This particular job seemed simple: murder a crooked building contractor with ties to ruthless Fire elemental Mab Monroe. My mentor, Fletcher Lane, had some misgivings, but I was certain that I had the situation under control . . . right up until I exposed my weaknesses to a merciless opponent who exploited every single one of them. There’s a reason assassins aren’t supposed to feel anything. Luckily, a knife to the heart can fix that problem, especially when I’m the one wielding it. . . .
Why I picked up this book:
Female assassin, urban fantasy, sounds good to me!
My thoughts:
I picked a great book for late entry into the series since this is basically a flashback!
The first chapter sets it all up - Gin's receiving roses in the present day that take her back ten years to a time when she made what she considers one of the biggest screw-ups of her life.
And because we *know* that she feels this way about it, there's a certain element of surprise lacking in the story. It's more like watching a train wreck slowly, slowly, slowly inch towards occurring. Unfortunately, there's also a ton of spoiler-filled reviews out there, so be careful of those! Once start to read the book, you'll undoubtedly connect a few dots that Gin missed in the past, but there's no sense in ruining what little suspense there is!
I don't know Gin as a fully formed and functioning assassin, because I'm new to the series, so it doesn't bother me at all that she's not at peak form in this story. I kind of liked that this was my introduction to her as it felt like a good place to begin.
The downside of being new is that the little cameos by other characters really don't make much of an impression. Owen, who she's dating in the present, appears at an opportune moment and while I knew it for a cameo, I doubt I got the full effect or moment of joy from it. I'm sure there are other characters we were supposed to know and love, but... yeah.
There's a few great action sequences - really any time Gin is doing her thing, I enjoyed the book. She made a large number of mistakes - whether through impatience or sloppiness as she called it, or simply failing to think things through. But, it makes me optimistic about other entries in the series, when she's more seasoned. I'm also curious now about how Owen managed to break through to her well-protected heart - fans, is it a good romance?
Bottom line:
Because The Spider is a flashback and we know in advance that things are going to go horribly wrong, I didn't enjoy this as much as I might have otherwise. Knowing roughly how things would end up took a lot of tension out of what might have been a great story. That said, it was a good entry into the series for someone new to the books - I didn't have to catch up to some overarching storyline nor did I have to negotiate all kinds of current character relationships.
I'd say it's worth a shot if you're looking for new urban fantasy series, though you might prefer to go the traditional route and pick up book number one - Spider's Bite.
3.5 stars
For fans of the Elemental Assassin series, urban fantasy, kickass heroines, magic
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Top Ten Tuesday - Reading Wishlist
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme from The Broke and the Bookish in which they post a book-related top ten every - you guessed it! - Tuesday.
This week the theme is Top Ten Things on My Reading Wishlist:
1. Clever heroines. I love smart women doing smart things, particularly when they're also smartasses.
2. A really strong romance in a really awesome fantasy story. I haven't read one in a while - I want something along the lines of a historical romance but in a fantasy setting. If that makes sense? That amount of focus on the romance/courtship/seduction/whatever but give me something meaty alongside it - a mystery, political upheaval, revolution, SOMETHING!
3. Alternative history books - anything grounded in the past but with a twist makes me happy. This is probably why steampunk appeals to me so much.
4. Stories involving books. Magic books, book clubs, libraries, book stores, publishing houses, book bloggers. I love books and people who love books.
5. Female main characters in epic fantasy. I haven't read this genre in a while so if anyone has some good recommendations, please send them my way!
6. More, smart New Adult. I'm loving this genre - I think the theme of identity which seems so integral to the genre really appeals to me. I'll read anything I can get my hands on in this genre!
7. HEAs in non-romance books. I love happily ever afters - and while I don't ever need the "married with kids on the way" type ending that often exists in romance, I do prefer books with happy endings, bonus points for happy endings with couples.
8. More books in which the romantic couple get together mid-way and stick it out together through the end of the book. Get their drama over in the first half and let us see how awesome they can work together!
9. Urban fantasy that doesn't involve detectives/cops/private investigators.
10. More time for reading. There's not enough hours in the day....
I've already taken a look at a handful of top ten lists and there are some great ideas out there. What's at the top of your list?
Heart of Stone by Christine Warren
The Basics:
Heart of Stone by Christine Warren
St Martin's Paperbacks
First in the Gargoyles series
Romance
Published December 31, 2013
Amazon.ca Kobo.com
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Blurb:
From bestselling author Christine Warren comes a thrilling new series about a young woman caught between a rock and a hard place—between gargoyles and demons…
Ella Harrow is trying to carve out a normal life for herself. Well, as normal as an art geek with psychic abilities can hope for. As museum docent and gift-shop manager, Ella is able to keep her distance from people—and her powers in check—while surrounding herself with the artifacts she loves. But how on earth is she supposed to act normal when a thousand-year-old statue on the museum’s terrace suddenly comes to life?
HEART OF STONE
Not your ordinary gargoyle, Kees has been asleep for eons, waiting for a portent of evil to wake him from his slumber. Kees isn’t a vision; he’s a bat-winged guardian created to protect the world from the seven demons of the Dark. Somehow, Ella triggered his reawakening. Maybe the demons have been unleashed? Maybe his heart is finally ready to be chiseled open? The fate of the world isn’t carved in stone… yet.
Why I picked up this book:
Gargoyle love? I was willing to give it a shot.
My thoughts:
This book starts with a bang - we're right in the action from the very start when Ella is attacked by one of the museum's patrons. And right away, I felt like this book was a little unpolished. There was something about it that felt a little bit rough, and unfocused.
I loved the concept of Guardians-as-grotesques, summoned to protect humankind from demons, locked as statues when their presence isn't needed. Competing secret societies - one pro-survival of humanity and one pro-demons - also appealed to me. There's also a seemingly non-complex magic system in place. Ella's got a natural talent for it, and describes it as mostly intent, though it seems there are also keywords necessary to trigger spells - or perhaps act as focal points for them. There did seem to be an energy pay-off for using magic, but having those consequences a bit more present in the story would have been a nice touch.
I didn't love-love either Ella or Kees - I think I preferred him slightly as he kind of bull-in-a-china-shopped around. His struggle with what he knew to be true and with what he was experiencing was reasonably entertaining. Ella had to work through some childhood issues, plus confronting the discovery that the weird power she kept trying to suppress was actually magic. (Sidenote: her incredulity when Kees explained this had me rolling my eyes. Yes, it was a weird power, but she's lived with it all her life and what else could it be, really?)
I liked the overarching story, and that we reach out to the woman who, I presume, will be the focus of the second book in the series. I'm looking forward to that one as I've actually been to Montreal and so infrequently read books set in places that I've been....
Otherwise, there's some unexpectedly graphic sex in this book - it was well written, I thought, and appropriate in context, but definitely more than I anticipated reading. I liked the explanation Kees gave for shifting into his human form - it was a nice touch and a happy way to avoid dancing around gargoyle-human sex which might not go over well with a mainstream audience.
Bottom line:
I can recommend this for fans of the sub-genre - paranormal romance, and particularly people burnt out on vampires and shifters. I'd probably align this with the angels and demons niche, because the gargoyle/guardian thing is fairly close (as long as we're not getting too Biblical!)
Felt like the beginning needed one more dose of polish, but overall, an entertaining story!
3.5 reaching ever so close to 4 stars
For fans of paranormal romance, gargoyles, something different from vampires and shifters, museums
Heart of Stone by Christine Warren
St Martin's Paperbacks
First in the Gargoyles series
Romance
Published December 31, 2013
Amazon.ca Kobo.com
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Blurb:
Ella Harrow is trying to carve out a normal life for herself. Well, as normal as an art geek with psychic abilities can hope for. As museum docent and gift-shop manager, Ella is able to keep her distance from people—and her powers in check—while surrounding herself with the artifacts she loves. But how on earth is she supposed to act normal when a thousand-year-old statue on the museum’s terrace suddenly comes to life?
HEART OF STONE
Not your ordinary gargoyle, Kees has been asleep for eons, waiting for a portent of evil to wake him from his slumber. Kees isn’t a vision; he’s a bat-winged guardian created to protect the world from the seven demons of the Dark. Somehow, Ella triggered his reawakening. Maybe the demons have been unleashed? Maybe his heart is finally ready to be chiseled open? The fate of the world isn’t carved in stone… yet.
Why I picked up this book:
Gargoyle love? I was willing to give it a shot.
My thoughts:
This book starts with a bang - we're right in the action from the very start when Ella is attacked by one of the museum's patrons. And right away, I felt like this book was a little unpolished. There was something about it that felt a little bit rough, and unfocused.
I loved the concept of Guardians-as-grotesques, summoned to protect humankind from demons, locked as statues when their presence isn't needed. Competing secret societies - one pro-survival of humanity and one pro-demons - also appealed to me. There's also a seemingly non-complex magic system in place. Ella's got a natural talent for it, and describes it as mostly intent, though it seems there are also keywords necessary to trigger spells - or perhaps act as focal points for them. There did seem to be an energy pay-off for using magic, but having those consequences a bit more present in the story would have been a nice touch.
I didn't love-love either Ella or Kees - I think I preferred him slightly as he kind of bull-in-a-china-shopped around. His struggle with what he knew to be true and with what he was experiencing was reasonably entertaining. Ella had to work through some childhood issues, plus confronting the discovery that the weird power she kept trying to suppress was actually magic. (Sidenote: her incredulity when Kees explained this had me rolling my eyes. Yes, it was a weird power, but she's lived with it all her life and what else could it be, really?)
I liked the overarching story, and that we reach out to the woman who, I presume, will be the focus of the second book in the series. I'm looking forward to that one as I've actually been to Montreal and so infrequently read books set in places that I've been....
Otherwise, there's some unexpectedly graphic sex in this book - it was well written, I thought, and appropriate in context, but definitely more than I anticipated reading. I liked the explanation Kees gave for shifting into his human form - it was a nice touch and a happy way to avoid dancing around gargoyle-human sex which might not go over well with a mainstream audience.
Bottom line:
I can recommend this for fans of the sub-genre - paranormal romance, and particularly people burnt out on vampires and shifters. I'd probably align this with the angels and demons niche, because the gargoyle/guardian thing is fairly close (as long as we're not getting too Biblical!)
Felt like the beginning needed one more dose of polish, but overall, an entertaining story!
3.5 reaching ever so close to 4 stars
For fans of paranormal romance, gargoyles, something different from vampires and shifters, museums
Monday, January 20, 2014
The Silver Chain by Primula Bond
The Basics:
The Silver Chain by Primula Bond
Mischief Books
Book One of the Unbreakable Trilogy
Erotica, Romance
Published July 4, 2013
Amazon.ca Kobo.com
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Blurb:
Bound by passion, she was powerless to resist.
One dark evening in London, photographer Serena Folkes is indulging her impulsive side with a night-time shoot. But someone is watching her – mysterious entrepreneur Gustav Levi. Serena doesn’t know it yet, but this handsome stranger will change her life forever…
Serena is fascinated by Gustav, the enigmatic owner of the Levi Gallery, and she soon feels an irresistible pull of attraction. The interest is mutual, and Gustav promises to launch Serena’s photographic career at his gallery, but only if Serena agrees to become his exclusive companion.
To mark their agreement, Gustav gives Serena a bracelet to wear at all times. Attached to it is a silver chain of which he is the keeper. With the chain Gustav controls Serena physically and symbolically – a sign that she is under his power.
As their passionate relationship intensifies, Gustav’s hold on the silver chain grows stronger. But will Gustav’s dark past tear them apart?
The Silver Chain is the first in the sexy, passionate and addictive Unbreakable Trilogy by Primula Bond. Perfect for fans of erotic romance.
Why I picked up this book:
I was intrigued by the silver chain. Such a simple thing...
My thoughts:
Surprisingly good.
Our heroine, Serena, is a photographer at the very beginning of her career. She's leaving behind a dark, dark childhood of neglect and casual abuse, to embrace the London experience.
A chance encounter with the darkly dashing and older Gustav appeals to Serena's desire to embrace new experiences. So what if he's older, wealthy, more mature and experienced...? It also turns out that he's a patron of art and he takes her under his wing, contracting her first show with an unusual, sexual stipulation.
Serena's an exceptionally well-written heroine - she's young and recognizes the limits of her experience, but as Gustav gets to know her, he peels back layers to reveal she's not quite as sheltered as the reader might expect. Her adventures in Venice, in particular, have helped shape (or reveal?) her own sexual longings and Gustav pushes her to explore these despite (or because of?) his own history. I loved that there was more to Serena than her innocence. She waffles back and forth between feeling powerful and confident to feeling unsure and defensive in a way that felt very authentic. Sure, she overreacts at times, and jumps to conclusions, but I think she does it in a way that's genuine rather than forced to create conflict. She's also direct, which is nice. There's not a lot of pussyfooting around, of bitten tongues and so forth - she knows exactly what she's done by agreeing to the contract, and she calls Gustav on whatever crap she thinks he might be slinging.
As for our hero, well.... I couldn't get a clear picture of Gustav in my mind. For one, the name Gustav felt too old-fashioned to me, like it belonged to a much older man - in his late fifties or sixties even. I couldn't reconcile it with a man nearing forty, and that made it a bit more difficult for me to connect to him and his place in the story. Because he's also cast as Serena's mentor (master, patron, whichever role he seems to fill at the time), the sense of age and maturity is already heightened through the contrast. His vulnerability did appeal to me, but I still couldn't quite embrace the guy.
The sex is sexy, as it should be. There's quite a bit of kink - Gustav's need for control, the silver chain, punishment via spanking and whips, and then the running theme of voyeurism/exhibitionism. The photography, the use of a telescope, windows and doors, there's lots of opportunities to watch and be watched in this book, and it's heady stuff for a heroine who has never truly been seen. I also liked that while Gustav wants to set the pace and control the scenarios, he can be thrown off course through Serena's often small but significant efforts to resist. The first time they're together in his home, I was glad to see that he wasn't a master of self-control, as it were. It made him seem much more relatable.
The settings are gorgeously wild - each one is more *something* than the last. From richly appointed homes to the sublime cliffs and mountain sides that Serena and Gustav seem to favour, there's majesty all around these two. Artistic inspiration is easy to come by, and I think the fairy tale quality of their romance - certainly Rapunzel's name is thrown around a lot - was emphasized by these lush environments.
I also really like how complete this story felt. Yes, there's an opening at the end to lead into a sequel, and the book is up front about being the start of a trilogy. I don't know that I really need to read more of Serena and Gustav's story. I think because I had that disconnect with Gustav, I probably wouldn't look for a sequel unless a good opportunity to pick it up arises.
Bottom Line:
I definitely recommend this one. Despite my issues with the hero, I still really enjoyed it. I think Serena is a very appealing heroine - someone who is figuring herself out, but already has a sense of self. She's not just yearning for more, she's going out and working for it, living the life she wants to lead and not feeling guilty for it. I appreciated the novelty of it - there's no guilt here, just pleasure. That's a heady thing.
4.5 stars
For fans of erotica, punishment, voyeurism, older men, fresh starts
The Silver Chain by Primula Bond
Mischief Books
Book One of the Unbreakable Trilogy
Erotica, Romance
Published July 4, 2013
Amazon.ca Kobo.com
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Blurb:
Bound by passion, she was powerless to resist.
One dark evening in London, photographer Serena Folkes is indulging her impulsive side with a night-time shoot. But someone is watching her – mysterious entrepreneur Gustav Levi. Serena doesn’t know it yet, but this handsome stranger will change her life forever…
Serena is fascinated by Gustav, the enigmatic owner of the Levi Gallery, and she soon feels an irresistible pull of attraction. The interest is mutual, and Gustav promises to launch Serena’s photographic career at his gallery, but only if Serena agrees to become his exclusive companion.
To mark their agreement, Gustav gives Serena a bracelet to wear at all times. Attached to it is a silver chain of which he is the keeper. With the chain Gustav controls Serena physically and symbolically – a sign that she is under his power.
As their passionate relationship intensifies, Gustav’s hold on the silver chain grows stronger. But will Gustav’s dark past tear them apart?
The Silver Chain is the first in the sexy, passionate and addictive Unbreakable Trilogy by Primula Bond. Perfect for fans of erotic romance.
Why I picked up this book:
I was intrigued by the silver chain. Such a simple thing...
My thoughts:
Surprisingly good.
Our heroine, Serena, is a photographer at the very beginning of her career. She's leaving behind a dark, dark childhood of neglect and casual abuse, to embrace the London experience.
A chance encounter with the darkly dashing and older Gustav appeals to Serena's desire to embrace new experiences. So what if he's older, wealthy, more mature and experienced...? It also turns out that he's a patron of art and he takes her under his wing, contracting her first show with an unusual, sexual stipulation.
Serena's an exceptionally well-written heroine - she's young and recognizes the limits of her experience, but as Gustav gets to know her, he peels back layers to reveal she's not quite as sheltered as the reader might expect. Her adventures in Venice, in particular, have helped shape (or reveal?) her own sexual longings and Gustav pushes her to explore these despite (or because of?) his own history. I loved that there was more to Serena than her innocence. She waffles back and forth between feeling powerful and confident to feeling unsure and defensive in a way that felt very authentic. Sure, she overreacts at times, and jumps to conclusions, but I think she does it in a way that's genuine rather than forced to create conflict. She's also direct, which is nice. There's not a lot of pussyfooting around, of bitten tongues and so forth - she knows exactly what she's done by agreeing to the contract, and she calls Gustav on whatever crap she thinks he might be slinging.
As for our hero, well.... I couldn't get a clear picture of Gustav in my mind. For one, the name Gustav felt too old-fashioned to me, like it belonged to a much older man - in his late fifties or sixties even. I couldn't reconcile it with a man nearing forty, and that made it a bit more difficult for me to connect to him and his place in the story. Because he's also cast as Serena's mentor (master, patron, whichever role he seems to fill at the time), the sense of age and maturity is already heightened through the contrast. His vulnerability did appeal to me, but I still couldn't quite embrace the guy.
The sex is sexy, as it should be. There's quite a bit of kink - Gustav's need for control, the silver chain, punishment via spanking and whips, and then the running theme of voyeurism/exhibitionism. The photography, the use of a telescope, windows and doors, there's lots of opportunities to watch and be watched in this book, and it's heady stuff for a heroine who has never truly been seen. I also liked that while Gustav wants to set the pace and control the scenarios, he can be thrown off course through Serena's often small but significant efforts to resist. The first time they're together in his home, I was glad to see that he wasn't a master of self-control, as it were. It made him seem much more relatable.
The settings are gorgeously wild - each one is more *something* than the last. From richly appointed homes to the sublime cliffs and mountain sides that Serena and Gustav seem to favour, there's majesty all around these two. Artistic inspiration is easy to come by, and I think the fairy tale quality of their romance - certainly Rapunzel's name is thrown around a lot - was emphasized by these lush environments.
I also really like how complete this story felt. Yes, there's an opening at the end to lead into a sequel, and the book is up front about being the start of a trilogy. I don't know that I really need to read more of Serena and Gustav's story. I think because I had that disconnect with Gustav, I probably wouldn't look for a sequel unless a good opportunity to pick it up arises.
Bottom Line:
I definitely recommend this one. Despite my issues with the hero, I still really enjoyed it. I think Serena is a very appealing heroine - someone who is figuring herself out, but already has a sense of self. She's not just yearning for more, she's going out and working for it, living the life she wants to lead and not feeling guilty for it. I appreciated the novelty of it - there's no guilt here, just pleasure. That's a heady thing.
4.5 stars
For fans of erotica, punishment, voyeurism, older men, fresh starts
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)