Category: Books

apples?

Posted on by Greig

Indexing

Seanan McGuire

indexingIndexing is kind of a mash up between The X-Files and Fables.
The story follows one team of government agents as they battle to prevent fairy tales from causing chaos in death when those narrative archetypes begin to impact on everyday life.
It’s quite a lot of fun and I particularly liked the characters of Henry and Sloane. Henry’s the lead agent and a perpetually ticked off almost-Snow-White and Sloane is a violent, misanthropic, permanently teenage Wicked Sister.
It feels a bit less polished and less fully realised than a lot of McGuire’s stuff I’ve read but it’s very enjoyable and worth a read if you like her brand of urban fantasy.

Rating: B

rosa?

Posted on by Greig

The Cinderella Deal

Jennifer Crusie

the cinderella dealThis is the second time I’ve read this book and it is still my favourite from the pile of ‘fake marrieds’ stories I read last year.
It’s lacking in the feminism department – which is a problem I noticed much more this time round – but the chemistry and banter between the two protagonists is so much fun.

Rating: B

ariadne?

Posted on by Greig

Double Trouble

Deborah Cooke

double troubleThe premise of this romance is utterly unbelievable. I honestly can’t see a twin marrying her sister’s ex-husband and becoming their stepmother under any circumstances in real life.
I finished it because the lead character Maralys is the kind of tough exterior/inner sweetheart cliché that I enjoy. Otherwise it really doesn’t have much in the way of redeeming features.

Rating: C-

heli?

Posted on by Greig

Instant Attraction

Jill Shalvis

Instant AttractionAn enjoyable, if boilerplate, romance set in the Sierra Mountains.
Katie has survived a terrible accident and is looking to escape her humdrum live for an adventure. Cam is a former snowboarding champion who has never recovered emotionally from the accident that nearly took his leg.

Rating: C

yowie?

Posted on by Greig

Pocket Apocalypse

Seanan McGuire

Pocket ApocalypseThe fourth Incryptid book and the second to have Alex Price as the lead character finds him in Australia fighting a lycanthropy outbreak.
These books are generally the frothiest of McGuire’s output but I found this particular volume to be slight by even those standards. That’s not to say that it’s anything less than entertaining it’s just all a bit too straightforward to feel inspired.
Maybe I just miss Verity. I’m definitely looking forward to her return as the lead character in the next book.

Rating: B

crack?

Posted on by Greig

The Madness Underneath

Maureen Johnson

the madness underneathThe second book in the Shades of London series is just as charming and as much fun as The Name of the Star.
Following on shortly after the events of the first book we find Rory coming to terms with the trauma of those events and the consequences of her new abilities.
It’s all really hard to talk about without spoiling, but I’ll tell you one thing – this book has a doozy of an ending.

Rating: B+

vikes?

Posted on by Greig

Search For Senna

K.A. Applegate

search for sennaThe first of 12 Everworld books this an extremely slight YA alternate world fantasy.
It’s doing a lot of expositional heavy lifting as the first book in a series but it’s still a speedy read. It consists of a bunch of teenagers scraping through one adventure after another but there’s no emotional heft to explain why these kids are putting themselves in the way of all this danger beyond misguided heroic notions.
I’m probably going to read at least one more of this series to give it a chance but it will have to be a serious improvement to keep me reading beyond that.

Rating: B-

hip?

Posted on by Greig

Barefoot Season

Susan Mallery

Barefoot SeasonThe first of a trilogy set on Blackberry Island in Washington State.
This tells the story of a returning injured army veteran trying to take over the reins of the hotel she inherited.
This brings her to loggerheads with her ex-best friend.
Decent romance novel with an enjoyable emphasis on female relationships over the actual romance stories.

Rating: C+

2014

Posted on by Greig

Books Read in 2014

2014 was not a great year for me. There was a lot of loss, I had my fair share of physical issues, and I was unhappy a great deal of the time.
One of my escapes was into the world of straightforward uncomplicated romance. As a result I read a LOT of books this year.
I freely recognize that most of them were complete trash, but they were quick, easy to read, and usually at the least diverting.
Hopefully this will be the only year where I’m unhappy enough to plough through 171 books. It’s certainly not a year I’d be keen to repeat.

  1. Rule 34 by Charles Stross, rated A-
  2. Faking It by Jennifer Crusie, rated B
  3. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, rated A
  4. The Summer I Became A Nerd by Leah Rae Miller, rated B
  5. The Cinderella Pact by Sarah Strohmeyer, rated B
  6. Blossom by Lesley Riddoch, rated A-
  7. Attachments by Rainbow Rowell, rated B+
  8. Double Star by Robert A Heinlein, rated B+
  9. The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau, rated B
  10. The Sirens of Titan by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., rated A-
  11. Bedlam by Christopher Brookmyre, rated A-
  12. All My Friends Are Superheroes by Andrew Kaufman, rated B+
  13. Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett, rated A-
  14. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, rated A-
  15. The Disreputable History Of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart, rated A-
  16. The Cormorant by Chuck Wendig, rated A-
  17. Pacific Rim by Alex Irvine, rated B
  18. Half-Off Ragnarok by Seanan McGuire, rated B
  19. Veronica Mars: The Thousand-Dollar Tan Line by Rob Thomas and Jennifer Graham, rated B+
  20. The Name Of The Star by Maureen Johnson, rated B+
  21. The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion, rated B
  22. Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan, rated B+
  23. The Language of Spells by Sarah Painter, rated B
  24. The Portable Door by Tom Holt, rated B
  25. Flat-Out Celeste by Jessica Park, rated B-
  26. The Secrets Of Ghosts by Sarah Painter, rated B-
  27. Strange Bedpersons by Jennifer Crusie, rated B-
  28. Married By Mistake by Abby Gaines, rated C
  29. I Married A Billionaire by Melanie Marchande, rated C-
  30. Waking Up Married by Mira Lyn Kelly, rated D
  31. Twisted Sisters by Jen Lancaster, rated C
  32. Just Listen by Sarah Dessen, rated B
  33. The Secret Diary Of Lizzie Bennet by Kate Rorick and Bernie Su, rated B+
  34. Keeping The Moon by Sarah Dessen, rated B
  35. Charlie All Night by Jennifer Crusie, rated B
  36. Will Work For Prom Dress by Aimee Ferris, rated C
  37. Along For the Ride by Sarah Dessen, rated B
  38. It Must Be Love by Rachel Gibson, rated C
  39. The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin, rated A-
  40. Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie, rated B
  41. Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews, rated C+
  42. Angelfall by Susan Ee, rated C+
  43. Nearlyweds by Beth Kendrick, rated B-
  44. Getting Rid Of Bradley by Jennifer Crusie, rated B-
  45. Trust Me On This by Jennifer Crusie, rated B-
  46. Manhunting by Jennifer Crusie, rated B
  47. The Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Crusie, rated B+
  48. Crazy For You by Jennifer Crusie, rated B-
  49. Fast Women by Jennifer Crusie, rated B-
  50. Welcome To Temptation by Jennifer Crusie, rated B
  51. Anyone But You by Jennifer Crusie, rated B-
  52. Nothing But Trouble by Rachel Gibson, rated C+
  53. I’m In No Mood For Love by Rachel Gibson, rated B-
  54. Sex, Lies and Online Dating by Rachel Gibson, rated C+
  55. Tangled Up In You by Rachel Gibson, rated C+
  56. Not Another Bad Date by Rachel Gibson, rated B-
  57. Any Man Of Mine by Rachel Gibson, rated B-
  58. What I Did For Love by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, rated C
  59. What The Lady Wants by Jennifer Crusie, rated B
  60. True Love and Other Disasters by Rachel Gibson, rated C
  61. Truly Madly Yours by Rachel Gibson, rated B-
  62. Daisy’s Back In Town by Rachel Gibson, rated C+
  63. Rescue Me by Rachel Gibson, rated B-
  64. See Jane Score by Rachel Gibson, rated B-
  65. The Trouble With Valentine’s Day by Rachel Gibson, rated B-
  66. The Writer’s Tale: The Final Chapter by Russell T Davies and Benjamin Cook, rated A-
  67. Unexpectedly Expecting by Susan Mallery, rated C
  68. Chasing Perfect by Susan Mallery, rated C+
  69. Finding Perfect by Susan Mallery, rated C+
  70. Almost Perfect by Susan Mallery, rated C+
  71. Only Mine by Susan Mallery, rated C+
  72. Only Yours by Susan Mallery, rated C+
  73. Only His by Susan Mallery, rated C+
  74. The Kept Woman by Susan Donovan, rated C+
  75. Summer Days by Susan Mallery, rated C+
  76. Summer Nights by Susan Mallery, rated C+
  77. All Summer Long by Susan Mallery, rated B-
  78. A Fool’s Gold Christmas by Susan Mallery, rated C+
  79. Just One Kiss by Susan Mallery, rated C+
  80. Two Of A Kind by Susan Mallery, rated C+
  81. Three Little Words by Susan Mallery, rated C+
  82. When We Met by Susan Mallery, rated C+
  83. Before We Kiss by Susan Mallery, rated C+
  84. Until We Touch by Susan Mallery, rated C+
  85. Sister Of The Bride by Susan Mallery, rated C+
  86. His Virgin Acquisition by Maisey Yates, rated D
  87. Coming Home by Mariah Stewart, rated C
  88. Alec by L.A. Casey, rated C-
  89. Christmas on 4th Street by Susan Mallery, rated C+
  90. Perfect For You by Kate Perry, rated C-
  91. Return To You by Kate Perry, rated C-
  92. Looking For You by Kate Perry, rated C-
  93. Dream Of You by Kate Perry, rated C-
  94. Sweet On You by Kate Perry, rated C-
  95. Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis, rated C+
  96. The Sweetest Thing by Jill Shalvis, rated C+
  97. Head Over Heels by Jill Shalvis, rated C+
  98. Lucky In Love by Jill Shalvis, rated C+
  99. At Last by Jill Shalvis, rated B-
  100. Forever And A Day by Jill Shalvis, rated C+
  101. The Winter Long by Seanan McGuire, rated B+
  102. It Had To Be You by Jill Shalvis, rated C+
  103. Always On My Mind by Jill Shalvis, rated C+
  104. Once In A Lifetime by Jill Shalvis, rated C+
  105. It’s In His Kiss by Jill Shalvis, rated C+
  106. One Reckless Summer by Toni Blake, rated C
  107. Sugar Creek by Toni Blake, rated C
  108. Whisper Falls by Toni Blake, rated C-
  109. A Husband Of Her Own by Brenda Novak, rated C
  110. Jilted In January by Clarice Wynter, rated C
  111. Fixed Up In February by Clarice Wynter, rated C
  112. Heat Of The Moment by Locklyn Marx, rated C-
  113. Faking It by Cora Cormack, rated C
  114. Some Like It Perfect by Megan Bryce, rated C
  115. Engaging The Boss by Noelle Adams, rated C
  116. Just My Luck by Kelley Vitollo, rated C-
  117. He’s So Fine by Jill Shalvis, rated B-
  118. Double Play by Jill Shalvis, rated C
  119. Slow Heat by Jill Shalvis, rated C
  120. Anything But Sweet by Candis Terry, rated C
  121. Sweetest Mistake by Candis Terry, rated C
  122. Something Sweeter by Candis Terry, rated C
  123. One In A Million by Jill Shalvis, rated C+
  124. Best Of Friends by Susan Mallery, rated C-
  125. Be My Love by Lucy Kevin, rated C-
  126. Breakaway by Catherine Gayle, rated C
  127. On The Fly by Catherine Gayle, rated C+
  128. Taking A Shot by Catherine Gayle, rated C
  129. The Rook by Daniel O’Malley, rated B+
  130. Light The Lamp by Catherine Gayle, rated C-
  131. Delay of Game by Catherine Gayle, rated C
  132. Let Me Love You by Kristin Miller, rated C-
  133. Love, Lies and High Heels by Debby Conrad, rated C
  134. Talk of the Town by Karen Hawkins, rated C+
  135. Lois Lane Tells All by Karen Hawkins, rated C+
  136. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs, rated B-
  137. The Wedding Trap by Adrienne Bell, rated C
  138. Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs, rated B-
  139. Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs, rated B-
  140. Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs, rated B-
  141. Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs, rated B-
  142. Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh, rated A
  143. River Marked by Patricia Briggs, rated B-
  144. Awakened By A Kiss by Laurie LeClair, rated C-
  145. Cry Wolf by Patricia Briggs, rated C
  146. Marriage By Mistake by Alyssa Kress, rated B-
  147. Seducing Zeb by Elizabeth Rose, rated D
  148. The Practice Proposal by Tracy March, rated C
  149. Kiss Me, Katie! / Hug Me, Holly! by Jill Shalvis, rated C
  150. Advertising For Love by Darcee Tana, rated D
  151. Unexpected Gifts by Elena Aitken, rated C
  152. A SEAL’s Kiss by Tawny Weber, rated C-
  153. Summer of Change by Elena Aitken, rated C-
  154. Breathing Room by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, rated B-
  155. Ain’t She Sweet by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, rated B-
  156. In The Zone by Catherine Gayle, rated C
  157. Kiss An Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, rated C+
  158. Tempting Her Fake Fiancé by Julie Particka, rated C-
  159. Getting Out Of Hand by Erin Nicholas, rated C
  160. First Lady by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, rated B-
  161. Resisting Her Rival by Sonya Weiss, rated C
  162. Stealing The Groom by Sonya Weiss, rated C
  163. What I Love About You by Rachel Gibson, rated C
  164. Shrinking Violet by Danielle Joseph, rated B-
  165. Crush On You by Christie Ridgway, rated C
  166. Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, rated A
  167. Married For Christmas by Noelle Adams, rated C+
  168. The Bet by Rachel Van Dyken, rated C
  169. The Wager by Rachel Van Dyken, rated C
  170. Accidentally Married On Purpose by Rachel Harris, rated C
  171. The Opposite Of Wild by Kylie Gilmore, rated C