Awaken the Dragon - A.C. Arthur

Awaken the Dragon by A.C. Arthur
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I have to admit that I'm quite partial to a dragon shifter novel. Awaken the Dragon is the first in a series, I assume that the other books in the series will involve the other dragons shifters that we met in this one. Theo is the leader of a group of dragons who have left their realm and are living on earth. He has been here for two hundred years and in that time he has repressed the dragon side of his nature, choosing instead to live as a man and run his security business. When he meets Shola he finally finds someone who might be worth risking everything for and allow him to finally become himself once again.
There is a lot going on here and being the first in the series there's a lot to explain. A lot of time isn't spent on world-building, but we still manage to get most of the gist of the world in which they live as the story unfolds. I think that future books in the series might be able to build on this and so will be in a stronger position, as we become more accustomed to the setting.
The romance between Theo and Shola moves quite quickly once they fully acknowledge their blossoming feelings. For me, it didn't quite work as well as it might. The chemistry between them just wasn't quite sparking properly and so things felt a little rushed. I also felt that Shola's character was kept in shadow a little too much, particularly at the beginning of the book, which didn't really help with the growing romance. I still enjoyed the book, but if I'd just brought into the chemistry a little more or there had been a little bit more of a build-up between them it would have been even better. I'd be certainly keen to read more in the series, especially as I suspect that this might be one of those that improve with each book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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The Measure of Malice - Martin Edwards

The Measure of Malice: Scientific Detection Stories by Martin Edwards
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The great thing about these short story collections from the British Library Crime classics ist that they all introduce you to a range of new writers and if there is one that you don't enjoy as much, it isn't long before you are onto the next one. Fortunately, I don't think that there was one story that I didn't enjoy in this little collection. Even better, as well as the authors that were new to me, there were one or two old favourites. Particularly as there was a Lord Peter short story from Dorothy L. Sayers which I hadn't come across before.
I do find short stories a little harder to read, they tend to be a little longer than most chapters, so you can't squeeze one if you don't have long to sit and read and I don't tend to like going from story to story if I'm sitting reading for longer. With this collection, I've been reading one in between each longer length novel or novella. It's taken me a little while to get through because of that, but my enjoyment hasn't diminished as a result.
This is a great collection to dip into with a range of great stories from authors that you may not have come across before.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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The Body in the Dumb River - George Bellairs

The Body in the Dumb River: A Yorkshire Mystery by George Bellairs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have to admit that what first drew me towards these British Library Crime Classic books was the covers, what keeps me coming back are the great stories and new authors that I have discovered. I have to admit that I had no idea that there were so many crime authors in what is often called the golden age of crime writing. I foolishly thought that it was just Agatha Christie, Dorothy L. Sayers and other well-loved authors that I have read over time. With each one of these books that I read, I discover someone new and they all seem to have something different to offer.
The Body in the Dumb River opens more or less with the discovery of the body. In many similar books, we are introduced to a cast of characters and it soon becomes clear that many people might have cause to be the killer once the murder occurs. Not so here, instead, with the exception of one or two people, everyone seems to love the dead man Jim and no one can quite seem to understand who could have done away with him. Of course, as the story unfolds it becomes clear who it was who might have wanted to kill him, even if it's not so obvious how it was done.
Chief inspector Littlejohn is a likeable character and works well as the primary detective in the case. I enjoyed reading his story and as this is number 35 in the series, it's clear that he has plenty of experience. I don't know how easy it would be to find more of the Littlejohn books, but I'd certainly be keen to read more if I came across them.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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Accidental Secrets - Dana Mason

Accidental Secrets: A totally gripping, steamy, sexy contemporary romance by Dana Mason
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was exactly what I was in the mood for. A great second chance romance, lots of chemistry between the hero and heroine and a real reason for them being kept apart for so long.
I'm always a little wary of books where there's a child involved, but in this case, it was handled really well. Although I struggle with the idea of keeping a father away from their child and not telling them that there was even a baby on the scene. In this case, Rachel and Mike's daughter is 13 by the time that he finds out about her. There are lots of reason why he was kept in the dark and of course, there are lots of questions to answer once they do finally meet.
I really enjoyed this read, there was a lot for the characters to deal with and I have to admit that I was gripped from the start. I read this in more or less one sitting, but it wasn't a quick read, I just couldn't put it down.
This being a romance, there is, of course, a happily ever after. It took them a while to get there, but the journey (for the reader) was totally worth it. This is book three in the series but worked fine as a stand-alone (I'm not even sure if the books are linked as such). I'd been keen to go back and read the others.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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The Lion, The Leopard, and the Wolf - Eliza March

The Lion, the Leopard, and the Wolf by Eliza March
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This is really quite a short novella that goes quickly through the action. Our heroine, Mac, is looking to get over her ex-boyfriend and the weekend break that her aunt books her on seems to be the ideal way to do it. There's wall to wall sexy men and they seem to be very attentive. It soon becomes clear that best friends and owners of the lodge are both interested in her.
Overall I liked the idea of the story and for the most part, it worked. Where it fell down for me was that being so short it seemed very rushed. I was actually left with far more questions at the end of the book than I had to begin with. There was very little world-building too, which left me a bit confused. Especially as they were not only shifters, but apparent were shifters. Really the book needed some background worked into the story to explain all of that. The ending felt rushed to me with the sudden and rather random appearance of another shifter character leaving me wondering what I'd just read.
It wasn't that this was a bad story, just that it could have been much better with a little bit more adding to it. It's a bit of a shame really.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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The Magic of Christmas - Alyssa J.Montgomery

The Magic of Christmas by Alyssa J. Montgomery
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm giving this one 3 1/2 stars rounded up to 4.
I have to admit that I've read another book by this author that I couldn't really get on with if I'd realised that before I started, it may have stopped me reading The Magic of Christmas. Fortunately, I didn't know, as I would have missed out on a good read if I had passed this one by.
The book tells the story of Jack and Grace. Both have experienced terrible things in their childhood, but both have been able to move beyond that, at least to an extent. For Jack, this has taken the form of being very successful, while not perhaps being as successful at moving with things emotionally. Grace is much more grounded from an emotional point of view but hasn't been as successful.
Although this is one of your Billionaire thinks he can't love but falls in love with someone less well off than he is (in this case, his cleaner). There is more going on here. Grace has battled with learning difficulties and struggled to read at school. She is an amazing musician and it is this that Jack encourages her to develop. There is action, excitement and of course, a healthy dose of romance in this Christmas story. There's even a little appearance from a character that may or may not be one of Santa's little helpers. It's a good festive read that will start to get you in the mood for the coming Christmas season.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.


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No Rest for the Wicked - Lauren Smith

No Rest for the Wicked: Pirates of Britannia Connected World

A wicked pirate, a lady-turned cabin boy and a love reaching the distant horizon.

Your next Pirate Adventure awaits You!

A lady’s guide to surviving aboard a pirate ship:
1) Dress as a cabin boy.
2) Avoid drinking too much rum when the handsome captain is around.
3) Do not let the captain kiss you…again.

The last thing Roberta Harcourt needs is to be trapped on a ship with pirates. After she is separated from her father when their ship is attacked, Roberta finds herself the unwilling guest of sinfully handsome Captain Dominic Grey. He gives her two choices: to share his bed and maintain her life as a lady, or she can sleep on the floor of his cabin and live the life of a cabin boy until he decides to set her free. Refusing to be seduced by a pirate, she dresses in breeches and assumes duties on board his ship among the men, but each night, sharing a cabin with the brooding, seductively intense captain, she begins to wonder if letting him kiss her again might be a rule worth breaking…

Dominic lost his innocence long ago when he was kidnapped and sold into indentured servitude in the West Indies. Determined to leave the painful memories of his past behind, he looks only to the future and the next prize he and his crew can capture on the high seas…until he discovers and captures the feisty daughter of a naval admiral. Protecting her from other pirates and preventing her marriage to an English officer is all in a day’s work for a pirate. But Dominic is determined to play the gentleman he once was born to be. He tries to resist the siren’s call of her sweet lips, especially when she’s arguing with him.

But damned if the woman wasn’t meant to be a pirate because she’s stealing his heart…

My Review

I haven't read many pirate books, it's not something that I usually go for, but I'm always up for a new Lauren Smith book, so I had to give this one a go. We learn from the prologue that although Dominic dreamed of going to sea, it was actually being kidnapped and then abused that set him on the path to being a pirate captain. He has many scars both inside and out which have led to him leading a band of pirates and chasing treasure.

Of course, he isn't all bad and once his men sink a royal navy vessel and take it's most precious cargo, the daughter of an admiral, he soon finds that the man he once was, someone he thought long dead, is really there below the surface.

Roberta is far from being a weak and feeble young woman. She has spent much of her life at sea and she is the perfect match for this damaged pirate captain. I loved reading about this woman who could hold her own in this dangerous world. The romance between Dominic and Roberta is both sweet and passionate. 

This was a great read, exciting, entertaining and with a great dose of romance. Exactly what I felt like on a lazy Saturday afternoon.