Finally, Lee Sutherland is back with book three in his Undead Love series, Long Road Home. To refresh, I’ve read and reviewed book one HERE and book two HERE! Y’all know that I’m a fan of any series where there are zombies, outbreaks, and general mayhem, so let’s jump right in…
Heat Level: ♥♥♥♥
Overall Rating: 6/6 Glass Slippers
Genre: Apocalyptic Romantic Thriller
When Ares moved to Los Angeles, he thought his biggest problem would be the famous California Earthquakes. Now, he’s one of the few survivors in an undead world, holed up in his, now empty, apartment complex. He’s thought about leaving, but the undead are everywhere, he has a stockpile to last him months, and he only has one gun and a handful of tools as weapons. But one thing could make him leave his hideout…coffee.
Emilia wanted nothing more than to get the hell out of Los Angeles and get home to Arizona. But the undead flooding the streets put a damper on her plan…until she meets Ares by chance while he’s out scavenging. He’s crass, a bit sexist, and pretty skeptical of her plans to escape the city. But Ares has a family of his own, and he doesn’t want to abandon hope just yet. So they gather their goods and hatch a plot to find their families. But it’s not just the undead they need to fear.
I’m a huge fan of series, when they’re done well, and Sutherland has given a third book to be proud of. The story is separate from the others, but they all find ways to interconnect, eventually giving you one giant story of love, sex, loss, violence, and survival. Another thing I found particularly comforting between the motorcycle chases, beat downs, and sexual tension were the lack of typos. I do love a flawless, perfectly edited book. Overall, I didn’t find anything to complain about in this book, and you won’t either! 6/6 Glass slippers!
The band Rogue is made up of four different sexy Irish men. Why is it so important I keep stressing they’re Irish…because that means they sing and talk with an accent. Let that just sink in for a moment.
Okay, moving on. The lead singer, Gavin, is the star of book one, Tangled Up in You. Everyone who meets Gavin knows he is special. It could be his disheveled good lucks, the melodic tone of his voice, or the charisma that oozes out of every pore. Unfortunately, he only has eyes for one girl, Sophie. They met when Sophie, an American, studied abroad in Ireland and fell in love. But then again, they were in high school. Can you fall in love that early? Well, it doesn’t matter because Sophie had to go back to the states. However, Gavin’s band, Rogue, is beginning to make it big and will be playing in a city near her. When they meet, if they meet, will the sparks fly? And if they do, what happens next? He’s a rock star and she’s only 19.
I loved this book. It hit me in the feels, was sexy, but not too predictable. After reading this, I immediately reached out to the author about book 2. Yes, immediately. I had to have it. Why did I have to have it?
Conner…Playing at Love
Conner is the guitar player for the band. He writes the music, takes it very seriously, and has the sexy brooding look down. There’s just one problem, he’s in love with the one girl he can’t have and dating someone else. Conner has always been considered the best looking guy in the band so naturally, he’s going to be dating a sexy young model. She wants that ring and he wants…well, he doesn’t know what he wants and that’s the problem. But when the girl of his dreams becomes available, what does that mean and how will it affect the band?
This book was also fabulous. I liked it because you get to find out more about Gavin’s life, well a lot more. I love books that continue the series because I’m never done with the characters after I finish the last chapter. There is plenty of recap so you’re never confused or flustered but I’d recommend binge reading…especially now that book 3 is out!
Hitting that Sweet Spot is Shay, the drummer’s, book.
Shay has always been the quiet observer and spends as much time busting out some beats on his drum as he does shrinking into the shadows. That was until he meets a beautiful waitress who shows him there’s more to life than just getting by. She wants him to explore, live life, and really enjoy every moment. But there’s only so much she can take as Shay’s addict brother shows up and expects him to take care of the mess. He makes the biggest mistake of his life and Jessica leaves. Now, Shay is barely holding it together and dealing with all the drama that comes with Gavin and Conner. Finding other physical comforts don’t work, driving his new sports car doesn’t fill the hole in him, and he isn’t sure what to do about it. He wants Jessica back. He wants his life back. But how can he make up for his mistakes? And if he does, how does he keep from doing them all over again. Blood is thicker than water, but love conquers all.
Well, Cosio has done it again. I enjoyed this book almost as much as the first two. There are a LOT of characters in this book. The stories from book 1 and 2 are continuing in this book and I actually love that. Cosio doesn’t just wrap up the world when she reaches the last page. That’s kinda like life. People’s problems don’t just go away and they never have just one problem. But the other thing to remember, a lot of the problems the characters go through aren’t ridiculous things. In fact, they’re a lot of the same things regular people who aren’t in an amazing band have to deal with. I like how Cosio has brought the celebrities down to a real level. Just keep in mind that there are a lot of points of view in this book that can be a little confusing and it does take a minute to get used to. However, I got sucked into the book and I hardly noticed after a while.
I hope you give this series a chance because you’re going to thank me if you do!
To learn more about me and my new book, First Semester, click here
As we wait for season three of Outlander‘s TV show with bated breath, there’s never a better time to talk about book three in the series, Voyager. So, in this post, I’ll be discussing what real life events, people, places, and laws were brought into book three that we hope are mirrored in season three! And since I use any chance to use my history degree, this will contain some historically accurate spoilers. So if you hate spoilers, or want to read Voyager before the show airs, read no further! This is a spoiler filled post that takes no prisoners.
Dun Bonnet Cave
I’ve talked a bit about the use of this real life story before here, but let’s revisit it, as it will probably get some major screen time in season three.
So, there was a real life Scot named James Fraser, the 9th of Foyers, who joined Simon, Lord Lovat, on the battlefield of Culloden in support of Bonnie Prince Charles. Well, as we all know, those who fought for Charles were basically killed, imprisoned, shipped off to the colonies, or lost their lands. Well, James Fraser was having none of that, so he found a cave near the waterfall of Foyers, where he hid for seven years.
Luckily, his people were rather fond of him, and kept his whereabouts secret from the redcoats, calling him “Bonaid Odhair”, which means, “Dun Coloured Bonnet”. And the similarities to the Diana Gabaldon tale don’t end there! A young boy, who often brought supplies to James Fraser in the cave has his hand cut off when he was caught by the redcoats. Sorry, Fergus!
Scotland and Slavery
This is something that many people don’t know much about, but it means that many Americans who have some Scot in their family history could have ended up in the States after their ancestors were sent there in chains. Although many families did flee willingly once strict laws were enacted and famine and poverty hit Scotland. By the way, the use of the word “slavery” is still under historical debate. This is because the Scottish people deported by the British often had an end date to their sentence, unlike the African slaves who often lived their entire lives in cruel captivity.
Anyway, the British government wasn’t too pleased with the Scottish after the Jacobite Rebellions of 1715 and 1745. But what to do with all the able bodied men who might rise up again if given the chance? Easy, ship them to the colonies to work the farms! They can make money for the crown and be far away from their comrades in arms.
It’s said that 1,500 to 2,000 highland “convicts” were sent to the North American colonies or the Caribbean colonies every year after the 1715 rebellion. Mostly, they were given terms of three to seven years of hard labor on plantations, or other labor heavy jobs, to “work off their debt”, if they weren’t forced into servitude indefinitely. Some didn’t even gain their freedom until they fought for England in the American Revolution!
However, there were Scots who actively participated in the Slave trade who weren’t servants, but plantation overseers and paid workers. This is seen in Voyager as Kenneth MacIver, who was Jared’s overseer at his Jamaican plantation. While this is a dark part of Scottish history, it is part of history nonetheless. Some wealthy Scots, such as Colonel John Campbell from Inveraray, who owned one of the larger sugar plantations in Jamaica. Today, the Campbell name is widespread in Jamaica, although those Campbells may never know if they descended from owners, servants, or anything in between. There are also dozens of places within Jamaica that share the same names as places in Scotland, such as Culloden, Argyle, and St. Andrews.
Dress Act of 1746
On August 1, 1746 the wearing of “Highland Dress” was made illegal by the British crown. This included tartans, kilts, and shoulder belts. It was a way for the British to try and cut the ties that connected the members of the clans and seemed effective in breaking down some of the allegiances. What made it so effective was the harsh punishments that would be enacted if someone broke this law. For the first offense, the person would be imprisoned for six months and if they were caught again, they would be sent to the colonies and engage in hard labor for seven years.
The only Scots who could still wear the tartans were members of the British military, more notably in the Black Watch. The Black Watch was an infantry battalion that was originally made up of members from Clan Grant, Clan Campbell, Clan Fraser of Lovat, and Clan Munro. They were first tasked with keeping the highlands at bay by collecting weapons and policing for any signs of uprisings.
Use of the Dress Act can be seen in Voyager, when Jamie claimed a piece of green checked Mackenzie tartan that was found in the prison in order to save the skin of young Angus Mackenzie. For the offense of having this strip of plaid, he was sentenced to thirty lashes. This also means that we won’t be seeing many kilts or plaid this season.
Selkies
So this is something that’s talked about a bit in book three and stuck out to me, as I’m a huge fan of this particular mythical creature. The Scottish refer to them as “maighdeann-mhara”, or “maidens of the sea”.
There are many legends that surround the selkies. They are said to live in the sea as seals, but sometimes come upon shore, shedding their seal skins and becoming beautiful women, or even men. If someone hides a selkie’s seal skin, they can take the selkie as a husband of wife, and they apparently make wonderful spouses. But, as in many Scottish tales, there is often an unhappy ending. A selkie never feels completely at ease on land, and if they ever find their hidden seal skin, they will return to the sea, never seeing their human husband or wife again.
We hear a lot about seals and a bit about selkies, called “silkies” in Voyager when it comes to the hidden gold on the seal’s island…and even Jamie’s own mother. Jamie tells Claire that people used to say that his mother Ellen had run away from Castle Leoch to join the silkies, because his father, Brian, resembled one who had shed his seal skin to walk on land.
Real Jacobite Gold
As we all know, the Jacobite treasure in Voyager was given by the French and hidden away. But there is some real Jacobite gold that some say is still hidden in Loch Arkaig in Scotland.
Two ships called Mars and Bellona came to Scotland with 1,200,000 livres of French and Spanish money. But the ships heard about the Jacobite defeat at Culloden and ditched the seven cases of money at a port in Loch nan Uamh. One case was stolen by the MacDonalds and the seven others were secretly taken to Loch Arkaig by Murray of Boughton, who started giving money to the Scottish clan chiefs. But when Murray was captured by the British, the money was taken over by the chief of Clan Cameron and then by the head of Clan Macphearson. Macphearson spent much of his time hiding in a cave at Ben Adler…eight years of time, in fact.
Anyway, Charlie hightailed it out of Scotland and into France, leaving his money behind. But a failed king is no good to anyone and old Charlie was beginning to pine for his gold. But it, apparently, was never seen again. It’s assumed that Macphearson kept it all, but no one knows. It could still be hidden somewhere in Loch Arkaig.
Pirates
When I started reading the series, I never thought that I would see a pirate ship in the distance. But as we’ve read, Young Ian is kidnapped off the coast of Scotland by a bunch of pirates aboard the Bruja, which is Spanish for “witch”. Long story short, the Bruja makes it to port in Barbados, and hands Ian, along with the Jacobite gold he was in the process of taking when he was captured, to Mrs. Abernathy. The ship is later destroyed, but the damage is done and they’ve brought the Frasers, inadvertently, to the Americas.
Piracy was slowing down in the 1760s, but was still an active thing in the Caribbean region. One notable Bermudian pirate was Samuel Hall Lord, who straight up plundered any and all ships that he crossed paths with, even swiping riches from stranded sailors. Hall was also a really smart guy. Outside his mansion, on the beach, he would hang lanterns so that unsuspecting ships would think it was the port and sail right into his clutches, wrecking themselves on the reefs. BTW, this pirate built himself a castle. Talk about flair.
Printing in Scotland
One of the most anticipated scenes in season three is the print shop scene. You know, where Claire finally finds Jamie again after 20…well, 200? 220? years have gone by and they’re finally reunited…it’s probably the part I’m looking forward to the most, but let’s take a peek at printing history in Scotland and get a feel for what Jamie was up to in Edinburgh.
In1507, Walter Chepman and Andrew Myllar were given the first royal license for printing in Scotland by James IV in Edinburgh. The first book ever printed via press was The first printed book from this press was The Complaint of the Black Knight by John Lydgate. While this seemed to be a success for them, printing wasn’t an instant hit in Scotland, with new presses being stationed in St. Andrews in 1552, another for a hot minute in Stirling in 1571, and another still in Aberdeen in 1622. After that, they became more widely spread.
The fist Scottish printers would have been trained in France, but as the practice grew, the Scots would have been left to their own devices. And by the 1760s, it didn’t get much easier, as the letters still needed to be set and inked by hand. To get an idea, here’s what Jamie’s printing press might look like…
Prostitution in Scotland
The brothel where Jamie does business, and often keeps a bed, is probably going to be a prime filming location in season three. But what would life have really been like behind the doors of Madame Jeanne’s establishment, you ask? Well, dear reader, let’s chat about the ladies of the night…
The the early and mid 1700’s was basically Scotland’s sexual revolution where prostitution was widespread and some of the best business and deals were made in the lounges and libraries of brothels. They weren’t as flashy as the French brothel we saw in season two, but the girls were kept clean, in good dresses, and as disease free as one can be in the 1700s. These establishments could be hidden down in alleyways or set right in the open in grand houses, while the local police turned a blind eye. I mean, it was such a favorite pastime of the wealthy Scottish that in 1775 James Tyler, a surgeon and editor at Encyclopaedia Britannica published Ranger’s Impartial List of the Ladies of Pleasure, which was basically a directory of all the brothels and their workers in Edinburgh.
Unfortunately, Scotland began to crack down on prostitution in the 1790s, with the girls being arrested on a regular basis and imprisoned. So, I hope Madame Jeane would have had a lot of money saved up for when the government started knocking on her door.
Rose Hall and the White Witch
This is a particular bit that I was eager to get to. I hope, very dearly, that they shoot on location for this one because the Rose Hall mansion is gorgeous! Anyway, we all know Rose Hall as being the home of Mrs. Abernathy AKA Geillis Duncan. Well, this manor home is a very real place, as is the ghost that haunts it.
Rose Hall is a Georgian Mansion in Jamaica, was built in the 1770s, and was owned by a John Palmer. It was a large estate that usually held about 250 slaves and dealt mostly in sugar. It stayed in the Palmer family for a bit, then went vacant and into disrepair, finally being revived in the 1960s.
As for the legend of the White Witch (which has unfortunately been revealed as nothing more than a story) it centered around Annie Palmer, John Palmer’s wife. Annie was basically raised by nannies who taught her voodoo and carried on her love of the dark arts into her marriages. Three husbands are said to have died at her hands, along with many innocent slaves. Remind you of anyone?
And Bonnie Prince Charlie
We can’t forget to talk about old charlie and what he did after Culloden…
Soooo during the Battle of Culloden, near the end, things weren’t going great. Basically, Charlie was ignoring the advice of commander Lord George Murray and just ordering whatever he wanted, which wasn’t going well. So Murray was basically like, “screw this, he doesn’t listen to a thing I say,” and drew his men back to attack from a different position. And Charlie, who again didn’t listen, finally noticed Murray was gone, he was like, “oh, Murray left? Well…I guess I’ll head out now,” and left the rest of the Jacobites on the field.
Even though the war was lost, the men never betrayed him to the British and helped him hide in the moors until he could escape the country. He finally did so when Flora MacDonald dressed him up as her maid, Betty Burke, and took him to the Isle of Skye, where a French Ship took him to the France. This is where the Sky Boat Song comes into play, although they leave out the dress and wig.
Charlie as Betty
Losing Scotland drove him to drink and conduct affairs. He was known for being an abusive drunk to the women closest to him, causing all of them to leave, even his own wife.
That’s all for this Saturday! Remember to check back every week for some new Outlander goodness and click HERE to read all out past Droughtlander posts. And read the second part of History Behind VoyagerHERE!
♥♥♥
And if you’ve been following out journeys into publishing, you know that we’re really excited about our first ever published books! They’re currently available on Amazon, so take a look and see if you think our romance novels belong on your Kindle!
You can see more about my Scottish historical romance novel, Queen of Emeralds, and get it on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and in paperback HERE! And when you’re done Queen of Emeralds, The Amethyst Bride is next on the line, a steamy romantic drama with kilts, Gaelic, and tears that you can preorder HERE! Or if you’re into contemporaries, I have The Non-Disclosure Agreement, which you can get HERE!
You can also see Sarah’s first college contemporary romance novel, First Semester, and get it on Kindle, Kindle Unlimited, and paperback now HERE!
Our books are available for preorder! They will be out on April 4th. So to celebrate, we’re doing a beauty giveaway. You have the chance to win one of the two beauty kits above.
First Semester: Eyeshadow pallet, big lash mascara, dark violet body mist, seduction lip gloss, a make-up bag and a real techniques foundation brush. This pack is valued at over $40.
Queen of Emeralds: Eyeshadow pallet, eye liner, ring pop, lip balm, sun glasses, chocolate, hot chocolate, tea, lipstick, and glitter nail polish.This pack is valued at over $40.
In order to win, comment below with your favorite meme. Click HERE for other ways to enter! The more ways you enter, the more of a chance you have to win.
If you’re interested in a signed copy, email
Authorsarahfischer@gmail.com or Kmmcknight90@gmail.com
Sarah and Kelsey have donated a basket to the No You Cant’cer Foundation event in Atlantic City tonight. But they didn’t do it alone, not by a long shot. There are four lovely authors who have graciously given their books to be added to this wonderful prize, which will be raffled off tonight with all proceeds going to colorectal cancer and ostomy awareness and education.
So let’s take a look at these four authors, and their wonderful books!
Jeniffer Loring: Firebird
Jennifer Loring’s short fiction has appeared in numerous magazines, webzines, and anthologies, including Crystal Lake Publishing’s Tales from the Lake vol. 1. She has also published a novella, Conduits (DarkFuse, 2014), and a novel, Those of My Kind (Omnium Gatherum, 2015). Jennifer lives in Philadelphia, PA with her husband, their turtle, and two basset hounds.
Best selling author J. L. Drake was born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada, later moving to Southern California where she lives with her husband and two children.
When she’s not writing she loves to spend time with her family, travelling or just enjoying a night at home. One thing you might notice in her books is her love for the four seasons. Growing up on the east coast of Canada the change in the seasons is in her blood and is often mentioned in her writing.
An avid reader of James Patterson, J.L. Drake has often found herself inspired by his many stories of mystery and intrigue.
She hopes you will enjoy her stories as much as she has enjoyed writing them.
Jennifer Allis Provost writes books about faeries, orcs and elves. Zombies too. She grew up in the wilds of Western Massachusetts and had read every book in the local library by age twelve. (It was a small library). An early love of mythology and folklore led to her epic fantasy series, The Chronicles of Parthalan, and her day job as a cubicle monkey helped shape her urban fantasy, Copper Girl. When she’s not writing about things that go bump in the night (and sometimes during the day) she’s working on her MFA in Creative Nonfiction.
Most importantly, get a copy of Heir to the SunHERE!
Christine Hartmann: Wild Within
Christine Hartmann grew up in Ohio and Delaware and loves traveling to exotic, romantic settings. After a college semester in Kathmandu, her first three “real” jobs were all in northern Japan, where she lived for almost 10 years. She currently splits her career between her daytime occupation (improving the quality of veterans’ nursing home care) and her nights/weekend avocation (writing both fiction and non-fiction books). Her husband Ron Strickland is a well-known long-distance hiker and trail guide writer and the founder of the 1,200-mile Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail. Christine loves reading, pilates, bicycling, snorkeling, and health foods that taste like they’re bad for you. You will often find her at a keyboard, a German shepherd at her side, and Ron whispering sweet edits over her shoulder.
AAAHHHHH! I love this series and I’m so happy/sad that the final book is almost here. But Jennifer Loring has finally revealed the long anticipated cover!!
♥♥♥
THE PIECES OF US by Jennifer Loring
The Firebird Trilogy #3
New Adult Sports Romance
Limitless Publishing, LLC
COVER DESIGNER: Wicked by Design
Aleksandr Volynsky thinks he’s experienced the worst life can throw at him, until the most devastating loss leaves him questioning everything…
One year later, Alex and his daughter, Anya, are still picking up the pieces. In the process, he realizes how far apart their mutual grief has driven them and how lonely he has become—especially when the Buffalo Gladiators’ beautiful anthemist, Hannah Kent, finally introduces herself.
Anya Volynsky is a high-school senior with plans—her father’s plans—to become the first woman on a professional hockey team’s starting roster…
But Anya is toying with the idea of staying in Buffalo and caring for her father rather than accept a scholarship to play hockey at Boston College. Her decision becomes even more difficult when she meets her school’s new athletic trainer, Lucas Donovan. Their experience with similar losses draws them together, and soon their friendship blossoms into a forbidden love that neither of them expected.
With lives torn apart by sorrow, Alex and Anya try to restore their bond, but it’s not that easy…
Alex’s attraction to Hannah keeps growing stronger, and he needs to decide if he’s ready to overcome his pain—but also if he’s willing to do it without Anya’s approval. Anya, on the other hand, is headed for trouble, and while Alex tries to do the right thing in order to protect her, all he manages to do is push her further away.
Can Alex and Anya find the courage to pick up the broken pieces of their lives, or will the heartache of the past ruin their chances at finding happiness again?
AUTHOR INFORMATION:
Jennifer Loring’s short fiction has appeared in numerous magazines, webzines, and anthologies. DarkFuse published her novella Conduits in 2014, and her debut novel, Those of My Kind, was published by Omnium Gatherum in May 2015. Jenn is a member of the International Thriller Writers and the Horror Writers Association and holds an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. She lives in Philadelphia, PA, with her husband, a turtle, and two basset hounds.
Omg, after that blurb, I need an adult. I’m emotionally invested in this series and if I read it right, Loring has just promised me some ugly cries. Seriously, I can’t recommend this series enough. Hurry and catch up before book three is printed. Happy Reading!
As some of you I undoubtedly assumed, I spent St Patrick’s Day really partying it up! What did I do, you ask? I went and saw Beauty and the Beast in IMAX. Now, SPOILERS! Okay, everyone has been warned. If you read on, do it at your own peril.
I am a HUGE Harry Potter fan, so naturally I was ecstatic to see Emma Watson cast as Belle. Frankly, Hermione was so close to Belle, it wasn’t a huge leap for me. But it’s more than that, because Emma is a beautiful role model for little girls. She fights for women’s rights, she encourages literacy, she rocked the pixie cut, and she went to college. Basically, she’s the girl every momma wants their son to marry and the woman every girl wants to be.
Now, as Belle. So I say this in all honesty, she did the best she could considering she isn’t a natural singer. There! I said it! Let the flogging begin. I am a musical theater buff, so I value a good singer. However, I didn’t care. She fit seamlessly into the role, she did sound nice, and I would never have cast another actress. I was, and am, happy with this choice, but I’ll also continue to listen to the original soundtrack.
Now, the rest of the cast. Josh Gad as LeFou was fantastic. As he does in everything, he steals the scenes. However, Luke Evans is so theatrical and amazingly handsome (it’s the biceps to spare) that he quickly took the scene right back. The two played off each other perfectly and there was a new tension…dare I call it…sexual? I think this was an interesting choice. LeFou worships this man, is it really such a far stretch to think that maybe he has a guy crush? I know a lot of people are upset, but the references and the slight nod to it at the end were so subtle, I doubt any children will be forever damaged by it. In other words, move on. I did love how LeFou changed sides at the end. It was a good change and definitely hysterical to watch him run around with Mrs. Potts.
Luke Evans, back to him, was the most amazing Gaston. I was a little worried because if you’ve been to Disney, you know that the actors who play Gaston in the parks are some of the best. They really get into character. Well, Luke did. He was sexy, arrogant, and a bad boy. Everyone swooned a little when he came on the screen…wait, maybe that was just me. Anyway, his song in the tavern had some new parts to it and that was fun. However, I had a seriously hard time making out all the words. I’m gonna have to find one of those YouTube videos with the lyrics at the bottom. But he was such a good singer that it’s okay.
The castle characters were interesting. I know a lot of people were disappointed because they didn’t looked like clones from the cartoon, but I honestly liked it. They were size appropriate, they moved realistically, and the characters are some of my favorites. Literally, everyone in the castle was fabulous and I wouldn’t change a thing about them. I did like (SPOILER IN CASE YOU DIDN’T LISTEN) that they brought Mr. Potts out. I actually have always wondered why he wasn’t around, so it was nice to have that answered.
Now onto the sexy beast himself. Hats off to the writers. He had some really clever lines and instead of making him illiterate (though her teaching him to read was precious) they shared a love of books. As a book worm, there are very few things that make my heart beat a little faster or my knees weaken than a man who can quote Shakespeare appropriately. (Go on YouTube and look up the song, Brush Up Your Shakespeare) The CGI was good, the beast looked fearsome but gentle and when he turned into a prince…dang! I certainly wouldn’t mind dancing on his arm forever. Dan Stevens is the man!
There were some new scenes and some new original songs. To be honest, I wasn’t the biggest fan of the original songs, but I understand the purpose. You can’t have an exact reproduction. I’m sure I’ll like them more the second time around when I’m expecting them.
Now, to the best part…Be Our Guest and Tale As Old As Time. Yes, they were as magical as I always imagined them. Yes, they exceeded my expectations, and yes, you may tear up during Tale As Old As Time. Again with the amazing CGI, it was perfect and I had a huge smile on my face the whole time. However, there was one minor problem with Be Our Guest…she didn’t try the grey stuff. Come on!
Belle’s yellow dress…speaking of Tale As Old As Time. The yellow dress was obviously different than the cartoon, but I liked it. There was beautiful detailing and it moved with her as she danced. I’d wear it. Hell, I want to wear it. As for the rest of Belle’s clothes, I loved the Something There outfit. It was beautiful. I just didn’t get why her skirt was tucked into her waitband all the time. The best I could come up with is she was trying to take care of chores and it was easier…I don’t know. I thought that was weird.
Overall, I loved the movie. It was well done and my five year old self as well as my twenty something year old self is pleased. Go see it and comment with your favorite parts.
Sarah and I both have books out now, so if you like our posts, you’ll probably love our books! First Semester is a thrilling college romance that you can get HERE. Queen of Emeralds is a historic romance set in the highlands that you can get HERE.
It’s almost time! On March 25th, Queen of Emeralds, book one in The Scottish Stone Series, and First Semester, book one in the Elton Hall Chronicles Series will both be available for preorder!
So to help interest you, here’s everything available for you to peruse. Who knows? This could be your spring time read!
Let’s start with the official book trailers…
Alright, you know what the books are about, it’s time to meet the characters.
Charlotte Holloway is the lovely star of Kelsey’s book. She is a bit on the wild side with a heart of gold, and an innocence that makes men want to corrupt her.
Violet is a spunky 19 year old freshman looking to make her mark on Elton Hall University. She’s had experiences with boys before…but she’s ready for a real man.
This little novel is book two in the Lords of Lyre series, titled Fame and Secrets. Since Sarah got to review book one, Fame and Obsession, I called dibs on book two, since I wanted to see if it was just as steamy as the first.
Heat level:♥♥♥♥♥
Overall Rating: 5/6 Glass Slippers
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Our girl Phoebe is seven months pregnant when we see her next. Yes, she’s in the family way with rocker hottie Julian’s baby. They’re moving into their new home in LA, and all seems to be coming up roses for the pair. But, obviously, this book isn’t about Phoebe getting fancy prenatal massages while her baby daddy serenades her. The dangers that threatened Phoebe in her home town have followed her to her new life.
Meanwhile, Julian is struggling. He’s supposed to be a dutiful fiance, an involved father, and an international rockstar. But he’s missing out on Phoebe’s pregnancy and finding it hard to concentrate on his music. The more he tries to keep it all together, the harder it is for him to get it all done…especially when Phoebe begins keeping things from him.
The lies, shadowed figures, and constant pressure of the media, complicate their lives. There are always people trying to rip them apart and when an innocent child is thrown into the mix, Phoebe and Julian soon find out that someone wants to ruin their lives, by any means necessary.
Wow. This was a roller coaster, a really fun roller coaster. The one thing I didn’t love was the slow beginning where fighting about pizza wasn’t doing it for me. But once the real action started, I was all about Phoebe and Julian and their baby, but not in the family friendly way. You really never know where the story’s going, something Cora Kenborn did really well. So check out this series when you’re looking to fill up your kindle! It’s one wild ride.
So, you’ve gotten in a massive car accident, your engagement to your long time boyfriend is over, and you’ve had a huge fight with your best friend…what do you do? Naturally, you go on holiday. Heartbreak Holiday, by C J Laurence, follows Sophie as she heads to the United States for some much needed relaxation at a horse farm.
Heat: ♥♥♥♥
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Overall Rating: 4/6 Glass Sippers
Sophie’s world has fallen apart and she isn’t sure how to move on. All she knows is that it’s time to connect with the love of her life from long ago, horses. Her ex-fiance wasn’t a big fan of how much time and energy she put into her old horses and she started to repress that part of her. Now that he’s history, it’s time she make up for lost time. There’s just one problem, one of the cowboys at the ranch she’s visiting is a jerk.
But not just any kind of jerk, a big jerk. He has muscles you can only get by working on a farm, a thick southern accent, and an attitude problem. He underestimates Sophie’s riding abilities and actually, he’s riding her in about every way possible except the one she really wants. She convinces herself that she is imagining the sexual tension and he isn’t interested in her. After all, she’s broken. But worse than that, he ex is still on her mind, and on her phone.
Brady cannot stand the sight of Sophie. She’s beautiful, sexy, and watching her ride a horse makes him harder than a tree down in the holler. But she’s only here for four weeks. Her holiday will soon be over and he’ll be left to pick up the pieces of his own broken life.
Horses are supposed to have the power to heal but so does true love? Will they heal each other, or cause a bigger hole when she leaves Brady and returns home?
I have only been on a horse once and it was at a family friend’s farm for about five minutes in a small circle. You’re super high off the ground and I’m not the biggest fan of feeling out of control. However, I envy people who know what they’re doing and I’ve seen the connection some people have with their horses. As a result, I loved the idea of a woman seeking refuge at a horse farm. However, it also means I don’t know if the horse stuff is accurate…but it sounded good to me!
I liked Sophie a lot. She wasn’t a weak heroine who needed saving from a big strong man. She was a tough cookie all on her own. I won’t go into too much detail about why she turned out to be such a lovely character because it will involve spoilers but you can take my word for it. She didn’t spend her time whining or complaining and actually tried to take the time to heal herself.
Brady, Brady, Brady. Who doesn’t love a strong and sexy cowboy? There’s just something about flannel, thick thighs, and an accent that make a girl weak at the knees. I know it’s not just me, right? There were a few times when Brady said some British phrases , like when he used the word bloody instead of crap or something more American, though. That did take me out of the moment and I was temporarily thrown off. However, It was such a good story that I was able to be pulled back in.
My horse lovers, animal lovers, or romance lovers out there, I think you’ll enjoy this little holiday from whatever troubles you’re currently dealing with. Head over to the horse ranch and remember to save a horse, ride a cowboy!
So let’s take a look at these four authors, and their wonderful books!
A Kiss At Midnight Reviews 