Reviews

Review: Clockwork Image L.G. Rollins

July 25, 2019July 25, 2019 sophrilreads2 Comments

Book Review

Clockwork Image L.G. Rollins
(Steam and Shadow #3)
Paranormal, Steampunk, Fantasy,
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Synopsis
Vandals and Vampires Beware:
Tressa won’t let anyone stand in her way.

After years maintaining engines and repairing machines, Seawoman Tressa Wimple has come into a shockingly large sum of money. It only takes Tressa a single breath to decide what to do—she will donate it all to Westwood Orphanage, a home for children who are otherwise bound for the streets. They saved her and her brother many decades ago; now, she wants nothing more than to reach out a hand to the small and helpless of London.

All her plans are derailed, however, when a faceless adversary decries Westwood and claims that the orphanage is a front for something far darker; as dark as an alleyway where Tressa first rescues a boy from a vampire. With the help of her brother, Jasper, and the tall, alluring Brox, Tressa determines to get to the bottom of the claims and protect the children, regardless of the risks.

When all that is dark is forced into the light, Tressa must face her most combustible problem yet: her own past.

What I thought
Seawoman Tressa Wimple now in her 40’s finds herself back on land and having to face the demons of her past. Westwood Orphanage was a dark time in her life; however, it is also the only place that is willing to take children off the streets. Even though some people were held accountable for the things that happened to the children there Tressa still has issues being near the place. Tressa discovers that the children may still be being abused and to get to the bottom of it all she needs help from her brother and Brox.

Clockwork Image is a novella topping out at 127 pages, but not once did the story feel rushed. The pacing was good from beginning to the end. One thing that they mention in the story and something that our main character recognizes is that everyone has different strengths. Oh, and did I mention the romance in this book is a slow burn. I won’t lie I wanted it to happen through the whole book.

This may be the 3rd Shadow and Seam book but they are all standalones at least as of now. There is another one coming out on the 20th of August!

My Rating: /5 5 Stars Follow me on other platforms:
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Reviews

Review: Prudence by Gail Carriger

July 25, 2019 sophrilreads1 Comment

Book Review

Prudence by Gail Carriger
(The Custard Protocol #1)
Steampunk, Fantasy, Paranormal, Adult
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Synopsis
On behalf of queen, country… and the perfect pot of tea

When Prudence Alessandra Maccon Akeldama (Rue to her friends) is given an unexpected dirigible, she does what any sensible female would under similar circumstances—names it the Spotted Crumpet and floats to India in pursuit of the perfect cup of tea. But India has more than just tea on offer. Rue stumbles upon a plot involving local dissidents, a kidnapped brigadier’s wife, and some awfully familiar Scottish werewolves.

Faced with a dire crisis and an embarrassing lack of bloomers, what else is a young lady of good breeding to do but turn metanatural and find out everyone’s secrets—even thousand-year-old fuzzy ones?

Read-along
Midway through 2018, I decided that I wanted to read the books from Gail Carriger’s Parasolverse in chronological order. This led me to start the journey of the Parasolverse Read-Along in August 2018. If you would like more information about the read-along please visit my post about it here. At the beginning of each month, I will have a brief read-along post go up letting you know what the book for that month is.

What I thought
This series picks up close to twenty years after the Parasol Protectorate series and focus on the children of our beloved characters. Prudence Alessandra Maccon Akeldama is all grown up. Just in case you have not read the Parasol Protectorate books I will give a little background. Prudence has always hated her name and is goes by Rue her dislike was made known when she figured out how to say no. Rue is a Metanatural she is able to steal the form of a paranormal creature, she is the child of a soulless. The werewolves call her Flayer, the vampires refer to her as Soul-stealer, Miss Sekhmet calls her a Skin-stalker and Darma calls her Puggle!

In book 1 Rue is sent on a mission for Darma regarding Tea. Off to India, they float. On this trip, Rue is accompanied by Primrose and Percy Tunstell (Ivy’s children), Quesnel (Genevieve’s son) and the whole crew for the Spotted Custard. On the way to India, they meet Miss Sekhmet.

So I think that is all of the overview I am going to do because I do not want to spoil anything if you decide to pick this up. You do not have to read the Parasol Protectorate series first before picking up this book.

I really enjoyed this first adventure for this crew. I was having a rough time with life in general and this book made me smile and laugh it was just what I needed. This is definitely something that I will encourage you all to pick up especially since I know what is coming up in the next books ;).

My Rating: /5

5 Stars

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New Releases

Blog Tour: Every Love by Jann Doe @JannDoe1 and @Shalini_G26

July 23, 2019 sophrilreads2 Comments

Every Love by Jann Doe
Poetry

Love can be wholesome,
Healthy and pure.
It can also be deadly,
Of this I am sure.
I’ve experienced many,
I’ve opened my door.
Of all the love that I’ve held
There’s one thing I know,
Ain’t no one has loved
Quite like me… Jann Doe.

EVERY LOVE is a collection of poetry covering my own experiences in love. From abuse, to affair, to healthy commitment, I’ve shared many love lifes… even suicide has played a part. The name ‘Jann Doe’ is to protect myself and my family from my own mistakes and history, given the parts of me that love has touched.

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Excerpt

*See You*

What is this burn,
This terrible stab,
My heart stuck,
It steps back,
Too shocked to beat,
I shrink when I see you,
My first heavy blow,
Of life, and of men,
But how could I know,
Should’ve listened,
Could’ve ran,
But for you I stood ground,
And for what,
To see you and her, hand in hand?

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Review

Every Love is a book of poems that read like a life journey. I was honestly surprised how meaningful and real they felt. You can tell that the author really put her personal experience in these poems and they were not just generalized comments. There were some of the poems that really resonated with me.

“A mind full of clutter,
Emotions a mess.
Unsure of reality,
Can’t slow down,
Too much stress.”

Every love has 9 sections for all kinds of love: Young Love, Forbidden Love, Deadly Love, Obsessive Memories and Deams, Wrongful Love, Simple Love, Healthy Love, Luscious Love, and Self Love.

If you enjoy poetry then I think you really need to check this out. This is the first poetry book I have found in years that feels real and not hey look this is popular.

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Author Bio

Jann Doe is a poet who recognizes and accepts her authenticity as a woman, and encourages other women to do the same. Everyone has their burdens to cary, their flaws to accept, and their strengths to pride themselves on. Jann’s goal as a poet is to speak out on behalf of other women across the globe to love themselves for who they truly are. No one is perfect, nor should we be. It’s imperative that we as women accept ourselves, and live for tomorrow… not by ignoring our past but by learning from it, and growing because of it.

Author Blog | Twitter

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Reviews

Review: Baron Weaver’s Game of Bezique by Elle Beaumont

July 16, 2019July 21, 2019 sophrilreads1 Comment

Book Review

Baron Weaver’s Game of Bezique by Elle Beaumont
Young Adult, Paranormal, Steampunk, Fantasy
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Synopsis
At eighteen, Etienne Mercier shouldn’t have to worry about being hunted in the streets of Paris. To survive, he cons people with games of chance, hoping no one will discover the truth his grown-out hair hides—he is Fae. Baron Weaver knows, though, and when Etienne tries to con the man, he’s the one who gets surprised.

Etienne flees to escape the Baron, but soon realizes he’s not being chased for the reason he thinks. The Baron offers him a once-in-a-lifetime chance—the opportunity to work in Cirque de la Tempete as an aerialist.

Jumping at the chance to earn an honest living, Etienne never expects to find what he lacked all along—a purpose and a family—especially when he meets Lili. But Lili has plans of her own, and together, Etienne finds himself taking his biggest–and deadliest—risk yet.

Care for a game of chance? Step right up!

What I thought
I was kindly given a copy of this book by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Baron Weaver’s Game of Bezique is a short story ser in Paris in what feels like the 1800s. the story focuses around Etienne who is part Fae. This story ticked so many of my boxes. Now I understand that this was a short story but I wanted so much more this had a really nice buildup but the ending felt very rushed. Don’t get me wrong I really liked it. My only issue was how fast the end happened.

At the end of the story, the author states that she has much more in store for Cirque de la Tempete and that we would be seeing him again. So to me what makes the most sense is that this may be a prequel to a series. I know I am just trying to justify my feelings and it all comes down to me wanting more because the author did a good job and got me attached to her characters.

So now the important thing would I suggest this book to anyone else? YES

My Rating: /5

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Reviews

Review: Peppermint and Pentacles by Melanie Karsak

July 11, 2019July 21, 2019 sophrilreads3 Comments

Book Review

Peppermint and Pentacles
by Melanie Karsak
Steampunk Red Riding Hood #3
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Synopsis
Up on the housetop werewolves howl Out jumps good old Agent Louvel Down through the chimney chasing monsters quick Feeling far less jolly than Old Saint Nick Red Cape Society Agent Clemeny Louvel is used to chasing werewolves across London. But when she’s reassigned to a special case just days before Christmas, she learns that she’ll need more than a silver bullet to keep everyone on the nice list. Peppermint and Pentacles is a retelling of the Little Red Riding Hood fairy tale set in Melanie Karsak’s bestselling steampunk universe.

What I thought
This is the third book in the Red Riding Hood Series. I love this steampunk retelling of Little Red Riding Hood! And I really love how you get them novella size pieces. I would not have thought I would but I like being able to pick one up and not have to put it down until I am done with it.

This story takes place on the 12 days leading up to Christmas. Clemeny who is used to taking down Werewolves is really out of her comfort zone in this one when she has to take down a creature she has never faced before. Who is Clemeny’s partner in this one… none other than Agent Hunter.

I mean even though these books are really short this has been such a slow burn romance and I am living for every minute of it.

We get some of Agent Hunters back story, which ends up adding a whole new level of complicated in Clemeny’s mind regarding any possible relationship. Clemeny is all too aware of where she stands in the ranks of society, but Agent Hunter doesn’t seem to care about any of it.

All in all, I love watching Clemeny grow as a character. Also, I think this world is amazing if you didn’t know all of the author’s steampunk books live in this world.

My Rating: /5 5 Stars Follow me on other platforms:
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Reviews

Review: The Hummingbird Dagger by Cindy Anstey

July 5, 2019July 21, 2019 sophrilreadsLeave a comment

Book Review

The Hummingbird Dagger by Cindy Anstey
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Synopsis
1833. After young Lord James Ellerby witnesses a near-fatal carriage accident on the outskirts of his estate, he doesn’t think twice about bringing the young woman injured in the wreck to his family’s manor to recuperate. But then she finally regains consciousness only to find that she has no memory of who she is or where she belongs.

Beth, as she takes to calling herself, is an enigma even to herself. She has the rough hands of a servant, but the bearing and apparent education of a lady. Her only clue to her identity is a gruesome recurring nightmare about a hummingbird dripping blood from its steel beak.

With the help of James and his sister, Caroline, Beth slowly begins to unravel the mystery behind her identity and the sinister circumstances that brought her to their door. But the dangerous secrets they discover in doing so could have deadly ramifications reaching the highest tiers of London society.

What I thought
This story is a YA Regency mystery/romance. It is a clean YA story. The writing style reflects that of Jane Austen. I could not wait for this book to come out. I pre-ordered it as a Birthday gift for myself. The cover gave me Sherlock vibes; however, I know that the author does not write mystery that way. So I went into this book understanding that it was not going to be action packed and the romance would be clean and slow burning. Knowing all that I was not disappointed by this book at all. It was exactly what I was looking for at the time and I loved it.

I can’t imagine waking up and not having any memory of who I am or my past. Then every night having horrifying nightmares of a hummingbird dagger dripping my blood, and not knowing what any of it means. I loved the character Caroline and how she seemed to hold everything together.

Oh My God as I am writing this I just realized that James reminds me of Bingly. I’m not sure what it is exactly about his character that makes me think that but I’m okay with it.

I loved Walter and watching how much he grew in this story and the fact that it was realistic. He went from being a little wild to being responsible and it all stemmed from the fact that he felt responsible for Beth’s condition. Which is true since he caused the accident.

So if you are looking for a slow-burn clean romance and some mystery written in Austen esque style then this is your book.

My Rating: /5 5 Stars Follow me on other platforms:
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Reviews

Review: Romancing the Inventor by Gail Carriger

June 27, 2019July 21, 2019 sophrilreads1 Comment

Book Review

Romancing the Inventor
by Gail Carriger
Supernatural Society #1
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Synopsis
Imogene Hale is a lowly parlourmaid with a soul-crushing secret. Seeking solace, she takes work at a local hive, only to fall desperately in love with the amazing lady inventor the vampires are keeping in the potting shed. Genevieve Lefoux is heartsick, lonely, and French. With culture, class, and the lady herself set against the match, can Imogene and her duster overcome all odds and win Genevieve’s heart, or will the vampires suck both of them dry?

This is a stand-alone LBGTQ sweet romance set in Gail Carriger’s Parasolverse, full of class prejudice, elusive equations, and paranormal creatures taking tea.

Delicate Sensibilities? This story contains women pleasing women and ladies who know what they want and pursue it, sometimes in exquisite detail.

Supernatural Society novellas can be read in any order.

What I thought
Delicate Sensibilities? This story contains women pleasing women and ladies who know what they want and pursue it, sometimes in exquisite detail.

Just in case you did not read the synopsis above I thought I would put that warning here too. If this is not your thing turn back now.

If you are wanting to read this in timeline order then this book comes after Timeless. However, this book stands on its own very well.

This Novella was amazing and I could not put it down.

My love for Genevieve goes back to the Finishing School series she was always witty and you never knew what she was going to come up with; however, I left the Parasol Protectorate series worried about her, she was just so sad and dare I say it lonely. For those that did not read the Parasol Protectorate series Genevive really got her heart broken in a very cold way by a little French girl. You can tell in this story she is in denial that anyone would love her and she has any love to give. This is a slow burn romance and I love to see Vive happy.

This review is very short due to me removing the part where I began ranting and defending this story. I looked through some reviews after I read the book good and bad and there were a few that really bothered me. Victorian London and present day is very different, and it always bothers me when people pick something apart due to the culture of the time. So instead of getting ready for work the morning, this was set to go live I am taking out the history lesson and the in-depth this is why the characters acted this way or said that section of this post.

Sorry for the rambling. Oh, and Werewolves are so much better than Vampires.

My Rating: /5 5 Stars Follow me on other platforms:
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