REVIEW - ENTHRALLED - riveting!

Enthralled by AH Lee

Date read: 23rd December 2021

My rating: 4.5*
Genre I reckon: Yule Magickal Medievalish Romance Short m/m

Buy link: Amazon 

Oh, this book is a delight. I've not read the rest of the series, but I will now!

A knacker, merek, is friends with a necromancer (who's a very nice chap). 

Merek is tower-sitting for said necromancer on the eve of Winter Solstice. And plenty of things go bump in the night!!

Mysterious, magickal, angsty goodness - with all the feels!

And I love his dog, Pumpernickel. A fab sidekick for the poor, lonely Merek.

There's a distinct medieval vibe to this charming tale, which is totally my thing.

Something different for a quick, Christmassy read. Just lovely!

4.5* from me.

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - LUMBER SNACK - delicious!

Lumber Snack by Mae Harden

Date read: 20th December 2021

My rating: 4.5*
Genre I reckon: Christmas Romance Short m/f

Buy link: Amazon 

Part of The 12 Days of Kissmas - an assortment of single short stories by varying authors. 

This is not an anthology - each story stands as it's own book, which is fab - you can pick & choose which ones to buy. 

I loved this book from the start - Millie is maid of honour to a bridezilla. 

And she ends up as a partridge in a pear tree; I kid you not! It's hilarious.

This may be a short story, but it's packed with angst and slow-burn. Oh, and a gorgeous dog. And the obligatory snow for a Christmas romance. 

Fun, witty, sexy and sweet - like a candy cane ;) 

If you want a romantic Christmas short, look no further!

4.5* from me. 

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - THE NAUGHTY LIST - Naughty but oh so nice!

The Naughty List by Ellie Mae MacGregor

Date read: 5th December 2021

My rating: 4.5*
Genre I reckon: Saucy Christmas Short

Buy link: Amazon 

Ho ho hoooh so naughty! 

This is a super quick read, and is effectively one long saucy scene.

Nikolai is the new Santa. He appears in Ellie's room and soon realises she's very very naughty! And this yummy Santa is so ready to dish out some punishment!! 

That's pretty much all you need to know. 

Want a short story with magical shenanigans? This is the book you're looking for!

4.5* 

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - Death at the Frost Fair - brrrilliant

Date read: 16th January 2021

My rating: 5*
Genre I reckon: Historical Detective Short

Buy link: Amazon 

Follow the author: Karen Charlton

As someone with cockney heritage, I LOVE that this book is set around Blackfriars. It gets into the bowels of London, not the polished front of Regency romance. 

The Frost Fair was a real event and yes, an elephant really did cross the Thames on the ice in 1814! 😲

It's fabulous that this real event offers a colourful backdrop for this tale. 

And it's a great story. The characters are well-developed within the space of this short story. At no point did I feel any details were missing or skipped over. There's a realism here that I found refreshing.

Detective Lavender is a stern chap: Holmes-esque in his methodical manner.

Thoroughly intriguing and enjoyable! 

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - Crime Scenes, Cats And Killer Heels - me-ow!

Date read: 7th January 2021

My rating: 3.8*
Genre I reckon: Short Story - Crime with Kitties

Buy link: Amazon 

Follow the author: Violet Schofield aka willokiwrites 

This is a fun, very short story - I managed to devour it in a day. 

A crime scene cleaner (the kind that works for the law), Alice, manages to obtain the ability to speak to cats. Although, she may regret that - they're rather uppity creatures, and even more demanding once you hear what they wish to say. 

The characters are well-written and the plot whizzed along. I just wish there had been more of a build-up of tension around the murderer. But I'm still recommending as it was a fun read and I'd like to read more. 

Now Pusskin has questions!

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - Christmas At Snowdrop Cottage - snow galore

 

Date read: 6th January 2021

My rating: 4.5*
Genre I reckon: Christmas Romance

Buy link: Amazon 

Follow the author: Helen J Rolfe

Happy new year! My first book review of 2021. And I'm delighted to say it's a fab one. I started reading before Christmas, but festivities slowed me down even more than usual.

I'm blaming Beaufort Scales and Toot Hansell - that dragon totally led me by the snout to another quaint English village. And lo and behold, there's even baked goods. I'm very glad he did though. 

This is everything you want in a Christmas romance. Beautiful decorations, spices, the possibility of snow, stunning scenery and, of course, love is in the air. 

Belle heads to the village she spent so much time in as a little girl but hasn't visited for 20 years. Her purpose is to make her gran's cottage fit for sale. 

Families have drama, and hers has been torn apart. 

Everywhere she goes, memories start to return.

A lovely Christmassy read 💖

I'm sure more books by this author will appear on my TBR.

Love and light,

TL

REVIEW - A Toot Hansell Christmas Cracker - a cracking good read

Date read: 22nd December 2020

My rating: 5*
Genre I reckon: Christmas Dragony Adventures

Buy link: Amazon 

Follow the author: Kim Watt 

Back in August, I read Baking Bad - one of my few 5* reads of this year. 

I was overjoyed to see a Christmas book also set in Toot Hansell. 

This book is a collection of 12 short stories, each filled with pesky magickal beings, the WI and calamity. They all tie up together nicely. AND you get handy Christmassy recipes included - bonus! 

Well, what can I say? 

Utter chaos unfolds on the run-up to Christmas in Toot Hansell. 

The WI seek assistance from their dragon friends who are, as usual, a bit clueless themselves. 

Not only do you get Beaufort and Mortimer; the charming dragons with a baked goods obsession, but many other beings (not all good!). 

There is such a wonderful quaint English village charm in these books - just adorable. 

And the stories are all fun and sure to get you in the festive mood. 

I'm definitely never getting an elf-on-the-shelf; never did trust that smug little git ;-) 

There's danger, excitement, humour and plenty of cake!

I love this Toot Hansell world! There, I said it. 

Give it a read. 

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - The Spine of Winter - a chilling tale

Date read: 18th December 2020

My rating: 4.5*
Genre I reckon: Christmas Dystopian

Buy link: Amazon 

Follow the author: Angeline Trevena

Well, this is a harrowing story! We don't know what's happened, but devastation and snow are all around. All that Hannah has left is a slightly dodgy brother - turns out that his criminal knowledge can now be put to good use in this fractured world. 

If you think your Christmas is bad, read this - it's a fab reminder that things can always be worse! It makes you feel grateful for what we do have.

*SPOILER ALERT* 

It has a happy ending - Just thought you should know in these dark times that there's hope in this tale. Christmas is a time for miracles, after all.

Well-written with developed characters. 

Hannah is lost, dependant on her brother as they struggle to survive. And she discovers a strength she didn't realise was within her.

Loss and heartache leap off the pages. I was brought to tears by this short story. All the feels!

Definitely worth a read.

Always in love and light,

TL

REVIEW - The Jarl's Challenge - grr, baby!

Date read: 16th December 2020

My rating: 4*
Genre I reckon: Winter Viking Romance

Buy link: Amazon 

Follow the author: Thyra Dane 

This a fab short story! 

Borghild is a shield maiden who carries resentment for her broken nose and the trouble it's caused her.

Eivind is the lad who caused the damaged and is now jarl. When he demands her hand in marriage, a holmgang is set. 

It was wonderful to read a historical romance about Vikings - one which was very well researched. 

The plot is fun and full of snow which sets the scene well. 

There are plenty of little details which make you feel like you're there (brr!). 

And the characters are well formed. 

Always in love and light,

TL