Under a winter sky Anthology

Kindle Edition, 335

Published November 19th 2020 by Brightlynx Publishing

Series: Thorne Manor #1.5 (Ballgowns & Butterflies), Heirs of Magic #.5 (Long Night Crystalline Moon), Earthsinger Chronicles #3.5 (Echoes of Ash & Tears) 

Fantasy, UF, PNR

To review

Ballgowns & Butterflies by Kelley Armstrong

I always enjoy a time travel story. And even though this one takes place after what I assume is book one it works, they are together and happy now. I guess book 1 was about them finding love, but it does not matter. I'd still read book 1 and see the read these. Now instead we have a novella about a couple who lives in different times and they travel back and forth. She is worried about the timeline, but hey lady you are preggers, you already changed it.

Just a sweet novella at xmas time

The Long Night of the Crystalline Moon, a prequel novella to Heirs of Magic, by Jeffe Kennedy

Not sure about what I assume is everyone kids hooking up with each other. Find some new blood guys! Lol.

Set 2 decades after the events in her previous series. The kids are grown up, and two are circling each other. Will they find they way back. Oh they totally will, but then it ends with a maybe cliffie. Something is brewing and that will be the new series. And see now all I wonder what is brewing? And I do not think book one will be about Rhy and Lena. Sadness

Blood Martinis and Mistletoe by Melissa Marr

I am intrigued by this series. A woman who can see ghosts, and is part ghost? Well something, and witch. And is engaged to a faery prince, but wants and does not want it. Oh and people are trying to get to her.

I am intrigued by book 1 and what must have happened there. This was a really good novella teaser that made me want more.

Echoes of Ash & Tears, an Earthsinger Chronicles Novella, by L. Penelope

Alas, with this one I felt lost. I did not understand the world, the people or the magic. Here I really felt that one should have read the previous books.'

Some woman treated as crap in caves, has bad magic, her dad left her there. Meets a guy. I just felt lost. So meh

Final thoughts

Like with all anthologies, there was the one I did not take too. But novellas mid series can be tricky. And that last one felt like I had missed out. But the rest worked really well as jumping in points in different series, as I only have read the Kennedy one. Good insights into worlds.

Ballgowns & Butterflies by Kelley Armstrong

The North Yorkshire moors are always a magical place, but they’re particularly enchanting at the holidays…especially if one gets to travel back in time to a Victorian Christmas. For Bronwyn Dale, it is the stuff of dreams. Fancy-dress balls, quirky small-town traditions, even that classic one-horse open sleigh, complete with jingle bells. There’s just the tiny problem of the Butterfly Effect. How does a time-traveler make a difference without disrupting the future forever?

The Long Night of the Crystalline Moon, a prequel novella to Heirs of Magic, by Jeffe Kennedy

Shapeshifter Prince Rhyian doesn’t especially want to spend the Feast of Moranu at Castle Ordnung. First of all, it’s literally freezing there, an uncomfortable change from the tropical paradise of his home. Secondly, it’s a mossback castle which means thick walls and too many rules. Thirdly, his childhood playmate and current nemesis, Lena, will be there. Not exactly a cause for celebration.

Princess Salena Nakoa KauPo nearly wriggled out of traveling to Ordnung with her parents, but her mother put her foot down declaring that, since everyone who ever mattered to her was going to be there to celebrate the 25th year of High Queen Ursula’s reign, Lena can suffer through a feast and a ball for one night. Of course, “everyone” includes the sons and daughters of her parents’ friends, and it also means that Rhyian, insufferable Prince of the Tala, will attend.

But on this special anniversary year, Moranu’s sacred feast falls on the long night of the crystalline moon—and Rhy and Lena discover there’s more than a bit of magic in the air.

Blood Martinis and Mistletoe by Melissa Marr

Half-dead witch Geneviève Crowe makes her living beheading the dead--and spends her free time trying not to get too attached to her business partner, Eli Stonecroft, a faery in self-imposed exile in New Orleans. With a killer at her throat and a blood martini in her hand, Gen accepts what seems like a straight-forward faery bargain, but soon realizes that if she can't figure out a way out of this faery bargain, she'll be planning a wedding after the holidays.

Echoes of Ash & Tears, an Earthsinger Chronicles Novella, by L. Penelope

Brought to live among the Cavefolk as an infant, Mooriah has long sought to secure her place in the clan and lose her outsider status. She’s a powerful blood mage, and when the chieftain’s son asks for help securing the safety of the clan, she agrees. But though she’s long been drawn to the warrior, any relationship between the two is forbidden. The arrival of a mysterious stranger with a tempting offer tests her loyalties, and when betrayal looms, will Mooriah’s secrets and hidden power put the future she’s dreamed of—and her adopted home—in jeopardy.

TMST

 

Tell Me Something Tuesday is a weekly discussion post where bloggers discuss a wide range of topics from books and blogging to life in general. Weigh in and join the conversation by adding your thoughts in the comments. If you want to do your own post, grab the question and answer it on your blog. Feel free to leave your links in the comments if you are participating.

What books/authors/narrators/bloggers are you most thankful for this year?

To all my wonderful blogging buddies:

I can't pick one blogger (though obvi special thank you to Carole for helping out every week!) But I honestly want to thank everyone that stops by, I would not be blogging without you. I am not really interested in writing for no one. I mean how boring wouldn't that be? To write, and then no one reads it. I want to talk about books with other people :D I want to visit blogs and get recommendations and more.

Thank you ALL for making this blogging world wonderful :D

Narrators rock!

Well I did re-listen to Heartstrikers so thank you for Vikas Adam, and omg yes fine you all, I have like a narrator crush on the guy lol.

Also thank you narrators for all the work you put in, I love audiobooks!

Books I have loved:

I have to be thankful for the Ruth Galloway series, because if someone has missed it, I have been a TAD bit obsessed this Fall. Just a tad bit ;) I loved them, and they made me want to read more mystery, but so far I have found nothing, I want something similar and it is hard.

Special shout out for Heartstrikers by Rachel Aaron, proving that a re-listen is an awesome thing to do

Carole's Monday: Hello, World

Author: L.M. Barrett

Title: Hello, World

Genre: Comedy, Romance

Format: ebook

Published:  October 25th 2020 

Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

Summary: 

When trekking in the Amazon rainforest, most normal people must overcome their fears of the unknown such as dangerous animals and not returning home in one piece. For city girl Grace Brooks, she must overcome her fears of no makeup and going to the loo. And can she survive two weeks without her hairdryer?

When Grace is offered the chance of a lifetime, to test out brand new camping equipment in the rainforest - she finds it easy to turn down. After all, who in their right mind would want to trek around the muddy rainforest for two weeks in a tent? But when the offer becomes too good to be true and even her friends and family doubt her ability she finds herself determined to prove them wrong.

And who knows - there’s always the chance of love when it’s just her and a hunky Brazilian guide. Except, he’s not quite what she expects and when she becomes hopelessly lost, life becomes a little hairy.

When Patrick Kirk’s holiday is interrupted to complete the most absurd mission of his life - to rescue some bimbo lost in the rainforest, he’s less than impressed and determined to despise the silly woman for ruining his holiday. But as he closes in on her and thanks to his new tech, he catches transmissions of her daily ramblings. Ramblings she has no idea are being aired. As she talks about life, death, feelings and lack of sex, he finds himself drawn to the woman - especially when she announces she’s going to sleep with the first man she sees.

When he finally catches up with her, Grace is less than impressed with her neanderthal rescuer. Patrick too, is less than impressed with the high-maintenance whiner. Stuck together for at least a week, can they learn to get on or are they destined to kill each other?

Review:

I couldn't resist this when I read the summary! I want this to be a movie!

The story follows Grace Brooks who is offered a deal of a lifetime that could change her financial situation for life. All she has to do is spend 2 weeks in the Amazon with guide to test out new camping equipment. How could one say no? However, things go wrong and now she is lost, her guide gone, and she has no idea how to survive. Here enters in Patrick Kirk. He was on holiday but he is dragged in to save Grace.

Oh Grace. I don't blame you for doing this journey...especially because you thought you would be nice and safe with your guide. But I would have to turn it down. I love camping...but for like a couple of days. No thank you. I guess you can call me a shallow modern woman. 

It took a minute for me to like Patrick but after a certain scene I loved him! He was an asshat at first, but can you blame him? I would be mad too if I had to go save some dumb girl. 

This was funny but I was worried for our girl. The wilderness can be scary! But yes - this was funny and I just wanted Patrick and Grace to fall in love. There was lust and the love took a while. Which worked for them. They are complete opposites!

The ending had me on edge. I had no idea how everything was going to work out! Eeeee. I would be so tempted to sue that dang computer. Grr.

My only issue with our story is that it was too short. I wanted more time with Grace and Patrick. I felt like we didn't get to see them together as much.

Overall, I really liked this book. I do wish that it was longer so we could have more time with Grace and Patrick, BUT I enjoyed the entire story overall. They were fun together! I could totally see this being a movie. I would watch that! I'll give this 4 stars. 

Crownbreaker by Sebastien de Castell

Paperback, 528 pages

Published October 15th 2019 by Hot Key Books

Series: Spellslinger #6

Fantasy YA

Own

I have to start with the end of the series, I did feel the end was so bittersweet. It kind of made me sad, I guess I wanted more something I can't say cos spoilers. But then when I write and think about it, the end was fitting. The way of the Argosi.

Kellen is in the middle of things. He serves his queen, but a neighboring kingdom are shouting their God is here and they are unifying. Which will mean war for the entire world. Oh and there is still the business with his family, the shadowblack and all things that can go wrong.

Kellen is good, and lucky. He has the best sidekick ever in Reichis, aww, just give the little fellow some eyeballs to snack on.

But I did feel the series could have ended some books ago. It was running on fumes. I still enjoyed it and wanted to read more, but after book 4 it was not the same

Kellen and Reichis are settling into their new lives as protectors of the young queen and dealing with the constantly shifting threats to her reign and to her life. For the first time in his life, Kellen feels as if he's becoming the kind of man that his mentor Ferius had wanted him to be. Even Reichis has come to appreciate having a noble purpose - so long as no one minds him committing the occasional act of theft from the royal treasury.

But what seems to be a simple card game between Kellen and an old man is soon revealed to be a deadly game of wits in which a powerful mage has trapped the queen's spellslinger in order to kill him.