Tag: romance books (Page 3 of 3)

A summer of sweet romance (book reviews)

November 3, 2016 / Aimee Easterling / 0 Comments

Ready for one last book-recommendation post? This selection is intended for the romance lovers who don’t necessarily need any magic in their books beyond the sparkle of a perfect love story. Without further ado, here are my top picks from a summer of romance.

All of Linnea Sinclair’s books are top-notch science-fiction romance, in my opinion, but my favorite so far has been the series-starter Gabriel’s Ghost. If you enjoy space opera but wish the mainstream offerings had a bit more of a love story, then these books will be a great fit for you.

Continuing along the geeky route, Kelly Hunter’s The Courage of Eli Jackson is a tight love story between a heroine who adores cosplay and a boatbuilder hero. The novella is well written and left me wanting more…in a very good way.

You can’t go wrong with any book in Courtney Milan’s Brothers Sinister series, but The Suffragette Scandal is the best of a good lot. The characters were perfect. The history was fascinating. The feelings were spot on. How soon will I forget it so I can read it again?

Finally, Amanda Quick’s Ravished reminded me of many of the delightful parts of the Amelia Peabody series, with a historical setting and a heroine interested in paleontology (instead of Egyptology — close enough!). Definitely a suck-you-in, feel-good read.

I hope that’s enough to keep you busy for a week or two. And I hope I don’t forget to report on my favorite reads for five months next time! Happy reading.

Four books that hit the spot

April 20, 2016 / Aimee Easterling / 1 Comment

I’ve thrown a few book recommendations at you recently in the form of alerts about freebies or sales, but I’m overdue for a post about the true cream that has risen to the top over the last few months. The books in this post really hit the spot and I feel the need to shout their praises from the rooftop. Hopefully a blog post will sate that urge.

Looking Through Lace by Ruth Nestvold is the most surprisingly perfect book I’ve read this spring. It’s short — only 79 pages — so better to borrow with Kindle Unlimited than to buy. But the tight, intricate plot feels much larger than the page count attests. I don’t want to spoil it for you, but will say it’s a character-driven, soon-after-first-contact, science-fiction tale with several enticing twists and that you’ll still be thinking about it days after you turn the last page. (The sequel is more forgettable — I might skip that one.)

Fire Touched by Patricia Briggs was the most anticipated book of the spring…and it delivered. Yes, it’s expensive. Yes, I checked it out of my local library. Yes, I recommend you start with book one instead of Fire Touched. No, I’m not going to say anything else for fear I’ll spoil some of the earlier books in what has become my favorite series.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer is the book I’m most torn about recommending to you. On the one hand, this steampunk fairy tale retelling was really fun. On the downside, the cliffhanger was brutal and you have to pay tradpubbed prices for the sequels. I caught Cinder on sale for $1.99 and definitely got my money’s worth, but I didn’t pony up the cash to keep on reading.

A Dangerous Madness by Michelle Diener is the most urban-fantasy-like Regency romance I’ve ever read. There’s quite an intricate mystery and the heroine definitely has a backbone. And, as I discovered when I hit the author’s note at the end, the story is based upon a real event that was the JFK assassination of the day. So the book will definitely get you thinking!

How about you? Any truly amazing books you’ve read recently that you want to share with the world?

February Kindle Unlimited recommendations

February 28, 2016 / Aimee Easterling / 0 Comments

Are you ready for another round of Kindle Unlimited recommendations? These are a followup to my 2015 favorites in fantasy, speculative romance, and contemporary/historical fiction. I’ll start off once again with urban fantasy and paranormal romance that you’re bound to enjoy if you like my books.

Husband Fur Hire by T.S. Joyce made me set aside my ban on were-bears. The author appears to have finally found a proofreader without losing any of the great characters and interesting Alaskan settings that made her previous books shine. And this offering even introduces an overall plot arc that threads through multiple books and makes the series more than just half a dozen standalone romances. No wonder Joyce turned into my go-to weekend comfort reading of choice.

Alaskan Fire by Sara King starts out as formulaic shifter romance, but quickly morphs into urban fantasy wrapped up in an Alaskan homesteading package. The book is very long but the characters kept me interested for all 578 pages. (Yes, I did seem to be on an Alaskan kick this winter. What can I say? The setting makes our cold look more manageable.)

Dead Rising by Debra Dunbar clocks in much lower on the romance scale and higher on the world-building, and I have to admit the result felt draggy in spots. But the series starter has interesting bones and I consider Dunbar an author worth watching.

Moving a little further afield, we come to Shari L. Tapscott’s Pippa of Lauramore. If you loved Ella Enchanted (the book, not the movie) or other fairy tale retellings, then Pippa will be right up your alley. There’s a solid romance, but told in a young-adult manner that includes more falling in love and less overt sparks. Plus the spunky heroine and fun adventures are bound to be a hit.

Finally, Michelle Diener’s Dark Deeds is a sequel that can be read as a standalone. Just like Dark Horse, this new novel is a tantalizing science fiction romance that hits all of the high points of both genres. I can hardly wait for book three.

How about you? Have you read anything in kindle unlimited lately that’s worth shouting about from a mountaintop? I consume a few books a week and am always looking for recommendations, so I hope you’ll share your favorites in the comments section below.

Tag: romance books (Page 3 of 3)

A summer of sweet romance (book reviews)

Four books that hit the spot

February Kindle Unlimited recommendations

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