How Beauty Met the Beast by Jax Garren

Description:

The Beast

Scarred. Damaged. Living with a terrible secret. Agent of the Underlight Wesley "Hauk" Haukon has nothing left but the fight for liberty against the oppressive Order of Ananke. He's starting to lose hope…and then he sees her.

The Beauty

Despite her night job as a burlesque dancer, grad student Jolie Benoit has always played the mostly good girl. That all changes following a scorching sexual encounter with a stranger whose face she doesn't see. After she's kidnapped by thugs and rescued by a man with a very familiar voice, Jolie becomes a pawn in a struggle she never knew existed.

Hauk knows he cannot have her, and resolves to protect his heart and his secrets. But as they work together and grow closer, he finds new reason to keep fighting. Dare he risk hope in a new life, one where Jolie can see past his ravaged face and where their friendship can grow into something more?

My Review:

How Beauty Met the Beast by Jax Garren

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So I love the story of Beauty and the Beast.  So any version or any spin is something that I’ll read.  And this one only disappointed me because it ended!  This is just one great story!

This story is set in Texas, which is something that I like.  And in the town of Austin, there is an underground society that has been around since the 1800’s, a secret society that is trying to run the world, and a burlesque that is run by a drag Queen.  Throw in some steampunk elements, an “unexpected” romance, a bit of mystery and a good hearted &  wounded vet, and you have the recipe for a great story. 

Characters:

Jolie is an unexpected character to be “Beauty”.  A burlesque dancer, an heiress, and a potential spy… She is not your grandmother’s beauty, that is for sure.  But I still like her.  She seems open and honest, looking to better people’s lives and looking beyond circumstances.  I like that she isn’t your typical heiress, she almost seems “normal”.

Hauk is our “beast”.  He is horribly scarred on the outside, a sweet and sexy man on the inside with gifted fingers and a wicked tongue.  He is a vet who has blackouts that seem to be created by something supernatural.  I couldn’t help but love this wounded man.  He is afraid of getting rejected, but still puts himself out there.  (I also liked how the author used something uncontrollable like a fire in a war zone to “create” the beast… definitely better than being a selfish ass!).

Other Characters of note:

Catrina is a hoot!  Nothing like a drag queen to spice things up.  PLUS, I loved Jolie’s dilemma on the “he” or “she”, especially when Catrina was dressed as Carl. 

Whitney was a great character.  Nothing like a teenager (and a smart and sarcastic one at that) to put everything into perspective. 

Other great things in this book:

I thought there was some great uses of mythology.  There was Greek & Norse, with some mentions of Celtic in passing.  Since I haven’t read a lot of books with Norse mythology, it was a refreshing change.

I enjoyed what little bits of Underlight that I got to see/read about.  Would love to see more than primarily Hauk’s bedroom ;)

Overall, this is a great little book, and I’m looking forward to the next one.  I highly recommend this book!

Happy Reading!

Cana

Ours Is Just a Little Sorrow by Gwen Hayes

Description:

The colony of New Geneva has risen from the ashes of her dying mother planet, Earth, by rebuilding a society based on a time before everything went horribly, horribly wrong...the Victorian Era...

Violet Merriweather first sets eyes on Colonel Winston when he purchases her at auction from Witherspoon Academy, the orphanage where she’d been raised after her rescue from Earth. Dutifully, as she was taught, Violet pushes away her fear of the monstrous, forbidding Thornfield Abbey, and throws herself into her work as governess to the Colonel’s youngest son.

But the Colonel's elder sons have other ideas.

John and Gideon Winston are as different as night and day, and each wants to claim Violet for his own. John immediately charms her with his intelligence and cordial demeanor, while Gideon, the dark rogue, delights in flustering her at every opportunity, awakening a yearning she doesn't understand and most assuredly does not want. She tries to deny her pull to both men, but an uneasy midnight bargain with one forges a new alliance as she’s dazzled by an underground New Geneva she hadn't known existed. And temptations she cannot resist.

But something is preying on the women of New Geneva, something that threatens to unleash the ghosts of Thornfield and drag them all into hell. And that something wants Violet most of all.

My Review:

Ours is Just a Little Sorrow by Gwen Hayes

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow!  Now, let me tell you, I fell in love with Ms. Hayes books with Falling Under and Dreaming Awake, but this novella makes me want to just cry that it ended.  I enjoyed it that much!

I will warn you that this book inspires a lot of questions.  Like what happened to Earth exactly?  Is New Geneva a planet, a moon, or a ship?  Better yet, is New Geneva in the same solar system or even the same galaxy as Earth?  Who is this serial killer?  But, in this novella, thankfully most of these questions are all answered relatively quickly. 

I love how perfectly improper Gideon is.  He is everything a rake should be, but he is more than just your average rake.  He is a strong and caring man, even though fate (and his mother’s actions) hasn't given him the most enjoyable lot in life. I think he keeps trying to find a way to redeem his mother’s sins, but he doesn't know how.  And while everyone thinks that Gideon is the epitome of a bad boy, I think he is actually a good guy smothered in bad boy charisma (that is like chocolate, only better).

Violet… Oh what can I say about Violet?  She is a girl who wants to save everyone, who quietly remains in the background and wants to be a burden to no one.  But as she grows as a character, she starts stepping out of the background, though she is still trying to save everyone.  I think she is a pretty strong woman, considering the fact what her society of submissive women seems to be.  And I think it is her strength that makes her such an appealing character.

Brava to Ms. Hayes on pointing out safety when going out to a bar (even in the future).  Too many girls in novels today are more than willing to accept drinks from strangers, and it is no wonder a lot of young ladies don’t know that you don’t do that.  Thank you for having your lead female character show at least some safety sense!

My personal favorite part of this novella is the history of how New Geneva came to be.  Theme parks, steampunk fascinations, and cosplay all had a role.  As a cosplayer, it gives me hope that one day we will rule a world!  But as an explanation, I think this is the most believable reason for a Post-

Earth Steampunk society to exist.  I mean, what other reason would we as a society want to revert back to old fashion ways blended with modern technology?

Now, this is an adult book.  There are a few scenes, though not graphic, do relate to adult activities (yes, which does mean sex… Trying to be delicate, but oh well).  I think Ms. Hayes, does a wonderful job of not making it the driving force of this novella.  This is not your penny bodice rippers; there is actually a story line other than the sex. 

I will say that though I already kind of knew who the serial killer was, I was still through for a loop.  And even though I was right on the who, I must say that I was not prepared or had even thought of the whys, wheres, and hows of it all.  Plus the added zombie insert was brilliant!

Overall, I think this is a great novella, and I can’t wait to read more from Ms. Hayes. Highly Recommend.

Happy Reading!

Cana

Dearly, Beloved by Lia Habel

Dearly, Beloved by Lia Habel

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Description:

Can the living coexist with the living dead? 

That’s the question that has New Victorian society fiercely divided ever since the mysterious plague known as “The Laz” hit the city of New London and turned thousands into walking corpses. But while some of these zombies are mindless monsters, hungry for human flesh, others can still think, speak, reason, and control their ravenous new appetites.

Just ask Nora Dearly, the young lady of means who was nearly kidnapped by a band of sinister zombies but valiantly rescued by a dashing young man . . . of the dead variety.

Nora and her savior, the young zombie soldier Bram Griswold, fell hopelessly in love. But others feel only fear and loathing for the reanimated dead. Now, as tensions grow between pro- and anti-zombie factions, battle lines are being drawn in the streets. And though Bram is no longer in the New Victorian army, he and his ex-commando zombie comrades are determined to help keep the peace. That means taking a dangerous stand between The Changed, a radical group of sentient zombies fighting for survival, and The Murder, a masked squad of urban guerrillas hellbent on destroying the living dead. But zombies aren’t the only ones in danger: Their living allies are also in The Murder’s crosshairs, and for one vengeful zealot, Nora Dearly is the number one target.

As paranoia, prejudice, and terrorist attacks threaten to plunge the city into full-scale war, Nora’s scientist father and his team continue their desperate race to unlock the secrets of “The Laz” and find a cure. But their efforts may be doomed when a mysterious zombie appears bearing an entirely new strain of the virus—and the nation of New Victoria braces for a new wave of the apocalypse.

My Review:

So I read the first book in this series, and loved it.  So I couldn’t wait to start reading this book.  Unfortunately, I cannot say that I love this book.  I just could not get into this book, to the point where I did not even finish it. 

Easiest synopsis of this book:  Trouble starts immediately with the Laz mutating.  The living are acting out against the Zombies (both good and bad), and the world seems like it falling apart (again).  So in steps Nora & Bram to save the day…. Yep, Does this sound almost like the first book? 

My reasons why I didn’t like this book?

·         Flow is slow to the point where it is almost non-existent.  The only time it picked up was during an attack, and it was such a jumbled mess that I had a hard time following it.

·         I miss the “we like each other, but don’t” relationship that Nora and Bram had in the first book compared to the “forbidden by society” romance in this book.  It is automatically doomed, which gives a darker color to the whole book.

·         The time frame difference from book 1 to book 2 is just months longer… but it feels like years almost.  This is disorienting, as things have changed to quickly to be understandable or believable. 

Overall, I don’t think I’ll be trying to read this book anytime soon.  

Happy Reading!

Cana

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross

Description:


In New York City, 1897, life has never been more thrilling - or dangerous. 

Sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne and her "straynge band of mysfits" have journeyed from London to America to rescue their friend Jasper, hauled off by bounty hunters. But Jasper is in the clutches of a devious former friend demanding a trade-the dangerous device Jasper stole from him...for the life of the girl Jasper loves. 

One false move from Jasper and the strange clockwork collar around Mei's neck tightens. And tightens.


My Review:

The Girl in the Clockwork Collar by Kady Cross

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

When I first read the series’ first book, The Girl in the Steel Corset, I loved the idea of it, loved that book, and was looking forward to the next one in the series.  Unfortunately, this book did not live up to my hopes, and to the point where I didn’t finish the book. 

Let explain a few of the reasons I put this book down.  I found the flow of this book to be uneven and stilted.  I made it to about half way through the book, and I just had to put it down.  I also felt that the characters had taken whole steps backwards from where they were at the end of the first book.  Example:  The relationships between Emily & Sam, and Finley & Griffon.  At the end of the first book, I thought it was all settled at least between Emily & Sam, but obviously that is not the case. 

To top off all the irritations of this book, I must say trying to pull out the whole backstory about Jack is like pulling teeth.  I don’t have the whole story, don’t understand what is going on, and I was trying to figure out too much without any help from the book.

I might actually pick it up again, but at this time, I swear it won’t be anytime soon. So at this time, I can’t recommend this book at all. 

Happy Reading!

Cana

Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

Description:

Love can never die.

Love conquers all, so they say. But can Cupid’s arrow pierce the hearts of the living and the dead—or rather, the undead? Can a proper young Victorian lady find true love in the arms of a dashing zombie? 

The year is 2195. The place is New Victoria—a high-tech nation modeled on the manners, mores, and fashions of an antique era. A teenager in high society, Nora Dearly is far more interested in military history and her country’s political unrest than in tea parties and debutante balls. But after her beloved parents die, Nora is left at the mercy of her domineering aunt, a social-climbing spendthrift who has squandered the family fortune and now plans to marry her niece off for money. For Nora, no fate could be more horrible—until she’s nearly kidnapped by an army of walking corpses. 

But fate is just getting started with Nora. Catapulted from her world of drawing-room civility, she’s suddenly gunning down ravenous zombies alongside mysterious black-clad commandos and confronting “The Laz,” a fatal virus that raises the dead—and hell along with them. Hardly ideal circumstances. Then Nora meets Bram Griswold, a young soldier who is brave, handsome, noble . . . and dead. But as is the case with the rest of his special undead unit, luck and modern science have enabled Bram to hold on to his mind, his manners, and his body parts. And when his bond of trust with Nora turns to tenderness, there’s no turning back. Eventually, they know, the disease will win, separating the star-crossed lovers forever. But until then, beating or not, their hearts will have what they desire.

In Dearly, Departed, romance meets walking-dead thriller, spawning a madly imaginative novel of rip-roaring adventure, spine-tingling suspense, and macabre comedy that forever redefines the concept of undying love.

My Review:

Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

After the world ended the first time, the people on Earth have started over. New Victoria, steampunk society, is flourishing and all seems right with the world. Nora believes that monsters only live in the fairy tales and myths of her childhood. Bram, a Punk zombie, has been charged to rescue Nora from the Grays (evil zombies), and hopefully find her zombie father.
When these two worlds collide, the true battle begins, but will Nora and Bram find peace in the midst of the chaos?


So where should I start on what I loved about this book? I loved the characters, the story line, and the style of zombies that Ms. Habel created. I loved this book. I honestly couldn’t put it down. Worst yet was how I tried to sneak a read at work, well at least at my first shift job, and would then get caught reading… Oh well, I loved it, and it was worth the potential wrath of my employers (and no they didn’t get angry… We had a wonderful conversation about what we were reading, though I’m still the only zombie book reader in the office)!


So Characters first! Nora is my absolute favorite. She is a strong willed, intelligent, unsuspecting character. As she was described, I couldn’t help imagining that she looked like a china doll, but those are the ones you need to look out for. They can kick butt. Bram=best character ever! He is every girls dream (especially if you dream about romantic zombies). He is strong, intelligent, protective, a perfect zombie knight-in-shining-armor if you will.


Next up, the storyline. I thought the premise for Dearly Departed was wonderful. It was the best of both worlds: Zombies, Steampunk, and forbidden love. I love Victorian history, and the idea of a steampunk society. How a steampunk Victorian society would react to zombies creates a marvelous drama. The forbidden love, almost even an incurable Beauty and the Beast (my favorite story ever!), creates even more uncertainty towards survival. How can a living breathing person survive loving a zombie?


And finally, my favorite: The ZOMBIES! Imagine a type of disease that could create multiple types of zombies. The ones that go into a mindless frenzy, ones that stay the same even though they are dead, and even ones that don’t do anything, and all of these will end up in the final stage as the disease eats away at their brain. The range of versatility for Ms. Habel’s zombies was great. It allowed for a great story, and provided hope, maybe some of it unfounded, towards a cure or at least a vaccine.


Overall, this book was wonderfully written, and was perfectly setup for a sequel (or trilogy) to be born. My only issue with the whole book was that I had a hard time with the switching between 5 POVs. It would get a bit confusing if I had to stop reading in the middle of a chapter, only to come back and try and figure out whose POV it was. I highly recommend this book, and am looking forward to reading more by Ms. Habel.




Happy Reading!


Cana

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

Description

In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one except the "thing" inside her. When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch... Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits. Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret. Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help-and finally be a part of something, finally fit in. But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on, even if it seems no one believes her.

My Review

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So I'll admit it first, because I don't need others to tell me I have a problem, but I'm a Cover Whore. If the cover doesn't catch my attention, I'm most likely not to EVER read a synopsis of the book. I know, that is judging a book by its cover, but I don't care.

Now, to the actual review. So if you are not familiar with steampunk, let me tell you, it is hot! Think Victorian England with a bit more yum factor with the technology and the clothing... Not as prim and proper and the good Queen V would like it.

For me, this book was delicious,just in the fact that it refered to several classic books, which might encourage readers to get a bit more familiar with them. Frankenstein and Dr Jekyll & Mr. Hyde are just two of the books referred to, and they do add something to the books.

So this group of specially gifted teenagers are trying to save the world from the evil Machinist, and in the process they learn more about their past and their possible futures. I love how even in Steampunk Victorian London, the teens are still texting. You can't escape it! Also, how the story mores quickly, with little down time to bore you.

I did love the romance that kept intertwining through the book, though I must say the gentlemen in the book seemed to be bits of dunderheads in not speaking up, and the women were a bit too "Oh, I don't know if he likes me, but I like him", plus the whole 2 love triangles between the 6 main characters kind of brought on a headache.

Great read, and highly recommend.  Looking forward to the 2nd in this series.

Cana

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