Loving a Prince Charming by Danielle Monsch

Honor and Integrity were more than words to Seth - they were the values he lived his life by. As Prince of a large kingdom, putting duty before desire was vital for the prosperity and wellness of his people. If sometimes he looked at Kira – best friend since childhood and his personal guard – and regretted his betrothal to the Princess of a neighboring kingdom, well, that was the price he had to pay for his people’s happiness.

Even if that Princess was cursed and given the nickname Sleeping Beauty.

Seth discovers the way to end the curse and, against his father’s wishes, sets off on a perilous journey to free her with Kira by his side. But Kira represents a different type of danger… Only love can break the curse, but how can Seth keep his promise to protect Sleeping Beauty when every moment with Kira makes his heart damn duty and demand its desire? 
~~

I don't know about you, but happily ever after/fairytale stories are my warm and fuzzies: don't think too hard , sit back, and enjoy the ride :) and Monsch makes this a pleasure as Seth tries to save both the damsel in distress and be true to his heart - because he can only do one. 

As his bodyguard and best friend, Kira is also written as a well rounded, interesting character. She loves Seth but her sense of duty, and his sense of honor, make giving in to their feelings forbidden and when Seth is called upon to venture out to save his fiance from an evil curse she knows the only thing she can do is accompany him.

Loving a Prince Charming doesn't have a lot of twist and turns, the 'big surprise' at the end was something I saw coming, but the role reversal between Seth and Kira (to not spoil too much) was my favorite part. It was only a few pages but throughout the story Seth is very respectful of Kira and her abilities (it's actually refreshing that neither of them feel the need to throw themselves into situations that will obviously endanger them) and that particular part felt true to both their natures.

Short and sweet - exactly what I needed. 

Overall Feeling - B+

Series - 1) Loving a Fairy Godmother 2) Loving an Ugly Beast 3) Loving a Prince Charming

*Title requested from NetGalley*

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Cinder returns in the second thrilling installment of the New York Times-bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive.
 
Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother and the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she has no choice but to trust him, though he clearly has a few dark secrets of his own.

As Scarlet and Wolf work to unravel one mystery, they find another when they cross paths with Cinder. Together, they must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen who will do anything to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner.
~~

I know we're only two books in but I think I'm about ready for this quartet to be over. The books are not bad by any means, but I kind of have that feeling where ok - enough stalling - time for big bad confrontation and fairtytale ending. Scarlet picks up right where Cinder left off, with Cinder in the dungeon trying to escape surrounded by people who hate and fear her. In addition to that though we've got Scarlet (a take on "Little Red Riding Hood") who's trying to find her grandmother and the allies she picks up along the way are suspect to say the least.

I don't love how the book reads, flip flopping between story lines as the characters converge on each other just makes me impatient for both individuals to find their conclusions, but I think this will be corrected in the next book as the whole troop moves to save the Empire. We'll see since Meyer has an affinity for the kinda sorta cliffhanger ending and there are two more books in this series - I've been spoiled by the way I read young adult series as an actual young adult, where all the books were out and I just had to convince my mom to buy them all for me :).

Overall Feeling - B

Series - 1) Cinder 2) Scarlet 3) Cress (2014)
 

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future. 
~~

This has been on my TBR list for a while and let me share with you my first reactions at finishing Cinder - 

1) ARRGH STUPID SEMI CLIFF HANGERY ENDINGS!!!

2) Not bad, not bad at all.

I knew going in it was a Cinderella re-do but everything turned out better than I expected (though I guess my expectations were low because every review I read praised it). The world building Meyer puts in is extensive but not boring, and definitely necessary. I want to understand the relationship between the Empire and the Lunars, why Kai would find Queen Levana so abhorrent. Through Cinder we're able to navigate this whole other echelon of society and it's very interesting.

My heart broke a few times for Cinder while reading, even when I was expecting bad things to happen. Heroines in young adult tales, especially those with world changing journey's to go on, suffer a lot and have significant emotional baggage (see Tamora Pierce or Robin McKinley). Near the end I couldn't help but compare Cinder to the movie Ever After, specifically the scene when Drew Barrymore is revealed as the peasant and the prince turns his back on her. I can't wait to pick up the next book (though I'm a little concerned that new characters are introduced while continuing Cinder's journey) and luckily I don't have to wait very long - Scarlett came out last month!

Overall Feeling - B+

Series - 1) Cinder 2) Scarlet 3) Cress (2014)

Winter's Tale by Emma Holly

Half-faerie, half-elf Hans Winter broke the heart of the wrong princess. Cursed to live as a statue at a school for human girls, only true love—and true bravery—can free him.

December Worth never met a rule she didn’t want to break, as the numerous institutions that have expelled her can attest. Bravery she can handle. Love she’s less sure about, especially if it involves believing in fairytales.

A kiss seems like the last thing these lonely souls would share, until one night in the cemetery where Hans stands trapped, Fate brings stone and flesh together . . . 
~~

If you go into this expecting a little bit of crazy then I think it definitely lives up to being a wonderful fairytale for adults. I'm sure someone out there is going to roll their eyes at kissing a statue (let alone, ahem, other things) but I really think Holly makes it work. 

Eighteen-year-old December is a woman of means who doesn't seem to fit in anywhere and when she ends up at Rackham’s School for Young Ladies she's not interested in doing anything else than what she's always done. This includes a little insubordination, some breaking and entering, and a surprising willingness to believe in the unbelievable.

There's not a ton of emotional build-up between December and Hans - they don't have a lot of time to talk in this short story - but I do think it works. The sexy times are frequent but not boring and Holly lends her usual flair to each encounter. When the final confrontation arrives between the couple and the evil being who cursed him we're treated to a small amount of action (I'm not complaining) and finally a HEA that brings back some of the characters from Move Me. I really enjoy Emma Holly's Hidden Series and I think this is a great addition - highly recommended!

Overall Feeling - B+

Series - 1) Hidden Talents 2) Hidden Crimes 3) Hidden Depths 4) "Date Night" 5) Move Me 6) The Faerie's Honeymoon 7) Winter's Tale

Petals and Thorns by Jeffe Kennedy

In exchange for her father’s life, Amarantha agrees to marry the dreadful Beast and be his wife for seven days. Though the Beast cannot take Amarantha’s virginity unless she begs him to, he can and does take her in every other way. From the moment they are alone together, the Beast relentlessly strips Amarantha of all her resistance.

If Amarantha can resist her cloaked and terrifying husband, she gains his entire fortune and will be allowed to return to her family and a normal life. But the Beast seduces her at every turn, exposing, binding, tormenting, and pleasuring Amarantha until she no longer knows her own deepest desires. Increasingly desperate to break the curse that chains his humanity, the Beast drives Amarantha past every boundary. But her desire for a normal life may jeopardize the love that will save them both.
~~

WHOA MOMMA. This is story is a hottie and I think everyone should be prepared for that going in. It rides that line of forced seduction pretty hard but personally, since I went into this acknowledging that it was going to be a take on Beauty and the Beast, for the most part things made sense with the author's direction. As the description says Amarantha agrees to marry the beast in name only; if in seven days they haven't consummated it then she gets to go home with lots of riches for her family. Unsurprising to no one I think, there are a LOT of things people can do with each other outside of 'Slot A into Slot B' sex. I found each of the scenes individually were both erotic and interesting; nothing seemed to overlap or feel repetitive, though do to a glitch with my story all of the dashes became annoying HTML speak. Every time the Beast interrupted Amarantha things got choppy which interrupted the flow of the story.

For those who like a lot of spice with their HEA (because this does have one) I'd say give this a try. It's a short thrill that will defintiely heat up your holiday nights.

Overall Feeling - B+

Series - None (at the moment?)

Sabine by Moira Rogers

…and the Beast, Book 1

After three years at war, the High Lord of the Forest returns to his lands, a victorious wolf leader intent on claiming his mate. Instead Ciar finds an empty bed and a court with no recollection of the woman he loved. Following her long-cold trail proves far easier than facing what awaits him at the end.

Sabine’s first instinct is to beg her beloved to leave. The High Lord’s mother hired a witch to curse Sabine, desperate to wipe the lowborn wolf from her son’s mind. But the spell worked too well, and Sabine has vanished from the thoughts of everyone who sees her. Including her own family.

The edges of his memory already blurring, Ciar and Sabine must race to find a way to reverse the spell. Yet every searing moment together is not enough to stop the curse’s inexorable progress. His only chance is to bind Sabine to him too tightly to be forgotten, before she disappears once and for all.

~~

Generally speaking, my biggest complaint about this short story is what good short stories usually leave you feeling - wanting more. Sabine and Ciar are a great couple overcoming a really sh*tty curse. Even with the page number I found myself tearing up in places because I felt so bad for everyone innocently involved. Rogers drops the reader in the midst of their relationship and it's believable right from the first moment - Ciar has come back from war to find his love gone and he's damned if he'll settle for everyone acting like they've never heard of her. There's not a lot of time for drawn out sexy times, but the ones we do get are heartfelt and I think advance the story well.

The final scenes felt a bit rushed and I wouldn't have minded an epilogue that included more of Farran and Illoria, but all in all I think Sabine was a fun read with a great HEA.

Overall Feeling - B+

Series - 1) Sabine 2) Kisri 

Wickedly Charming by Kristine Grayson

He's given up on happily-ever-after...

Cinderella's Prince Charming is divorced and at a dead end. The new owner of a bookstore, Charming has given up on women, royalty, and anything that smacks of a future.
That is, until he meets up with Mellie...

But she may be the key to happily-right-now...

Mellie is sick and tired of stepmothers being misunderstood. Vampires have redeemed their reputation, why shouldn't stepmothers do the same? Then she runs into the handsomest, most charming man she's ever met and discovers she's going about her mission all wrong...

It's only natural that sparks fly and magic ensues when these two fairy tale refugees put their heads-and vulnerable hearts-together...

~~

If I remember correctly I read Simply Irresistible by Grayson QUITE  a long time ago - there were some positive feelings but I didn't have enough to go on when it came time to read Wickedly Charming. Luckily it didn't matter because this book is a lot of fun and I highly recommend it. 

Charming and Mellie are both in very different places in their lives than they had original expected. Charming has divorced his Cinderella and lost custody of his two daughters, and Mellie is stuck still trying to convince the world that evil stepmothers aren't really all that evil. Neither of them are prepared to meet someone new, whether it's lust or love. 

This book is so much fun to read because even with all the fairy tale and magic it's a story about two people trying to live normal lives who just happen to fall in love while doing it. It's contemporary but not, with enough quirkiness to make me happy and has definitely left me interested in picking up the rest of the series. There aren't enough heartwarming, fun romances these days, books that have a little drama but not too much, with characters you can really root for. Wickedly Charming has all of that and it was great - especially as a 'right before bed' read.

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up.

Series - 1) Utterly Charming 2) Thoroughly Kissed 3) Wickedly Charming 4) Charming Blue (Fall 2012)

The Prince With No Heart by Emma Holly

A very grown up fairytale from USA Today bestselling author, Emma Holly. In the magical kingdom of Madrigar, handsome Prince Augustin has been robbed of his heart by a cruel fairy. Blessed by a kinder member of the fae with an “untiring” sword, he’s learned such gifts present challenges . . . and that missing hearts are no light burden to bear.

Plucky Princess Violet likewise suffers under a spell, fated to burn forever with desires no common lover can satisfy. She seeks a champion to save her people and herself from the clutches of a lovesick werewolf.

The sparks they create are as hot as a blacksmith’s forge. Alas, these wounded lovers must do more than fall in bed. The survival of both their kingdoms depends on them losing their enchanted hearts to each other.

~~

Emma Holly was my primary pick for the roadtrip down to Dragon*Con this year and I'm happy to report it was a good choice on my part! Her books were some of the first that introduced me to the erotica genre and she continues to be one of the authors that I go back to when I need reminding of just how good it can be. 

The Prince With No Heart is a quick little story (~100 pages) about a prince who was 'blessed' at birth with unending stamina and a princess suffering from....um....how to put this? She's horny guys - horny all the time with no way to get satisfaction. She calls on the prince to help protect her kingdom and they end up falling in love - which shouldn't surprise anyone because this is a fairytale!

The dialogue is fun, the characters are kind of ridiculous (as they should be), and the story is one that is enjoyable even when you reread it.  Since it's an erotic fairytale the sexual antics shouldn't surprise anyone; they're fast and furious and have the kind of the over the top-ness that leaves you fanning yourself.  Plus Holly does a great job of introducing us to the prince's 'problem' while still keeping him a sympathetic character, instead of making him out to be a promiscuous jerk.

Recommended! 

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up. 

Series - None.

Marvin and the Three Bears by Tielle St. Clare

When a novice Fairy Godmother accidentally drops some sexed-up Happily Ever After Fairy Dust on Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Marvin—second-in-command in Fairy Tale Land—jumps in to save the tale.

Taking over for Goldilocks should be simple, right? All he has to do is eat the porridge, sit on the chair and sleep in the bed. And when the Three Bears return home, run screaming from the house.

But the Fairy Dust has changed things…including the Three Bears. They’ve turned human. Baby Bear is no baby. Mama Bear wears black leather and wields a wicked paddle. And Papa Bear? Oh my…he’s going to make sure Marvin pays for the damage he’s done, inch by luscious inch.

Tielle St. Clare is one of my favorite erotica authors because she does a tremendous job at combining really hot sex with enough feeling to keep me involved. I'm a romance girl at heart and without little bits of feelings here or there I'm not as connected to what happens to the characters. I'm always going to want a HEA - I just love having hot sex happen along the way.

This title brings back characters from a previous title (Fairy Dust) and continues an interesting set up: A Fairy Godmother, who was charged with watching over and maintaining the integrity of certain fairy tales, spiced up her magic dust and added a bit of sexual pleasure to some treasured traditional stories. As Assistant Manager, Marvin's charged with trying to clean up the mess when some of that 'special' dust spills into Godilocks and the Three Bears. Well when the dust turns baby bear into a sweetly submissive young hottie, mama bear into a dominating switch, and papa bear into a RED ALERT CHILI man of means, then you know you're in for a good time! It's a rollicking good time for those open to eroticas that feature some partner switching, and both Alex (papa bear) and Marvin are great characters to take the lead in this X-rated rendition of a usually non-romantic fairy tale.

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up. Very spicy all the way through and there are enough different kinds of sex depicted here to please anyone. And enough romance at the end to wrap it all up with sweet feelings.

Series - 1) Fairy Dust 2) Marvin and the Three Bears

Divine Misdemeanors by Laurell K Hamilton

You may know me best as Meredith Nic Essus, princess of faerie. Or perhaps as Merry Gentry, Los Angeles private eye. In the fey and mortal realms alike, my life is the stuff of royal intrigue and celebrity drama. Among my own, I have confronted horrendous enemies, endured my noble kin’s treachery and malevolence, and honored my duty to conceive a royal heir—all for the right to claim the throne. But I turned my back on court and crown, choosing exile in the human world—and in the arms of my beloved Frost and Darkness.

While I may have rejected the monarchy, I cannot abandon my people. Someone is killing the fey, which has left the LAPD baffled and my guardsmen and me deeply disturbed. My kind are not easily captured or killed. At least not by mortals. I must get to the bottom of these horrendous murders, even if that means going up against Gilda, the Fairy Godmother, my rival for fey loyalties in Los Angeles.

But even stranger things are happening. Mortals I once healed with magic are suddenly performing miracles, a shocking phenomenon wreaking havoc on human/faerie relations. Though I am innocent, dark suspicions of banned magical activities swirl around me.

I thought I’d left the blood and politics behind in my own turbulent realm. I had dreamed of an idyllic life in sunny L.A. with my beloved ones beside me. But it becomes time to wake up and realize that evil knows no borders, and that nobody lives forever—even if they’re magical.


So anyone who talked to me after LKH's last Merry Gentry book was released knows that I thought that should have been her last. I felt like it ended really well, the story had seen a complete arc and completion, and the characters had pretty much received the happy ending that LKH says these books will have. Well alas, it was not to be, more books are coming and this one is just the latest. I finished this book in just a few hours, which tells you my first opinion - it is a fun, and engaging, read. The action is cut throat and the plot is slightly winding, both elements combining in a story you don't want to put down. Now on the negatives - first, this book didn't really do much. No particular character's story was furthered in a really meaningful way and while one bad guy/faerie/whatever got their comeuppance, I just didn't quite feel fulfilled by the whole thing. Also - I love LKH's characters, but I feel like I've hit character overload. I'm starting to forget who all the supporting people are, their stories: everything that makes them unique. I'm hoping that later on in the series more of the people who are supporting characters at this point will take on more front man roles. We'll just have to see. And......and wow do I hesitate to say this....I almost feel like the sex was completely extraneous in this book. There wasn't a total abundance of it everywhere, but I did feel like a good half of the partnerships that happen were unnecessary and maybe took away from pages that could have been used for something else. But who knows, this series has been intricately entwined with sexual and emotional relationships from the beginning, and I never had a problem up until this point. Maybe I was just in a mood. Eh - who knows.

Overall Feeling - Thumbs up, definitely. A fast paced, exciting, and just plain fun read. It doesn't detract from the rest of the series.

Series - 1) A Kiss of Shadows 2) A Caress of Twilight 3) Seduced by Moonlight 4) A Stroke of Midnight 5) Mistral's Kiss 6) A Lick of Frost 7) Swallowing Darkness 8) Divine Misdemeanors