Stormy Nights, by Jules Jones and Stormy Duffy

There really is no rhyme or reason why books languish in my physical and digital TBR Cordilleras of Doom.

Case in point: it had been a long while since I read anything by Jules Jones, though what I have read, I have liked, and there are a number of her works in my digital TBR pile.

So why I haven’t read more of her stuff? (I got nothing¹)

At any rate, back in August 2017, Ms Jones very kindly sent me a copy of this anthology for review. And while my reading has been iffy at best for a long time now, I read all nine stories in the book in one sitting just a few days after that.

Sadly, then the “can’t write to save my life” curse struck, fueled by current events, and here we are now, nine months later. ::guilty wince::

Warning: there is explicit sex and some light kink in all of these. If that’s not your thing, stop here. None of these are genre romance stories, with HEA/HFN, though all are full of hope and joy. Also, Jules Jones and Storm Duffy are two writing facets of the same author.

Stormy Nights, by Jules Jones and Stormy Duffy

This is a collection of nine short stories of varying lengths and genres; some are very romantic, some are more short erotic vignettes than stories, and one is an incredibly poignant fantasy with very strong romantic elements. There are merpeople, and fae, and just plain contemporaries.

In competition for the shortest blurb EVER:

Sex and love, lies and truth, shades in between. Happy endings and might-have-beens. Nine tales of these things between men.

Bride by Mistake, by Anne Gracie

(Previously published at Book Thingo on September 18th, 2013. This all started when Kat put out a call for readers to review this years R*BY finalists for the blog. I eagerly accepted and she provided a copy for review. Below is a slightly different version of the review, edited to fit my own style.)

Bride by Mistake, by Anne Gracie.

This was a difficult review to write for a number of reasons, so please bear with me.

Ms Gracie’s writing is always beautiful and engaging, and I had liked both The Perfect Rake and The Perfect Waltz so very much, that I was eager to read and review this book. Sadly, this novel is both a road romance and a trip down memory lane—and not always in a good way—and it didn’t work for me very much.

Our protagonists are the feisty Isabella and the gallant Luke (and I’m using these two words advisedly), who meet in Spain during the Peninsular Wars. He was not yet twenty at the time, she barely thirteen, and he rescues her from “a fate worse than death,” delivering her safely to the convent where her aunt lives, and where Isabella will presumably be safe, both from the war and from her evil cousin, Ramón.

Here be ye olde back cover blurb:

My Way to Hell, by Dakota Cassidy

(Originally published at RR@H Novel Thoughts)

My Way to Hell, by Dakota Cassidy

The second title in Ms Cassidy’s hilarious Demonic romances, My Way to Hell follows former demon-turned quasi ghost Marcella Acosta as she butts heads with Kellen Markham, bane of her previous existence and brother of her best friend ever.

Readers should be aware that there’s quite a bit of cussing in the novel, and that the Lord’s name is used in vain—rather frequently and in pretty creative ways—throughout. There is also a bit of graphic sex (well into the novel, I may add—like, two thirds or more of the way in), so anyone with objections to either of these, should avoid reading this book.

Also, while there is a tiny bit of info dumping in the first couple of chapters, quite likely to bring new readers up to speed on the events of Kiss and Hell (review here), and to introduce both the cast of characters and the dynamics of Ms Cassidy’s unique take on the supernatural, I definitely recommend reading the series in order. Honestly, these are characters that no amount of info-dumping would prepare you for: you need to get to know them little by little.

Here is the back cover blurb:

Parker’s Price, by Ann Bruce

Parker’s Price, by Ann Bruce.

First things first. Reader beware: I received a review copy of this book directly from the author. Further, I’ve reviewed only one other story by Ms Bruce, “Rules of Engagement,” and I liked it—a lot.

A contemporary romance with a hint of suspense and just shy of 200 pages, Parker’s Price is longer than a novella yet still shorter than most novels. One of Carina Press‘ launch titles, this is an ebook only story. Here is the blurb: