by Jasmyn | Oct 22, 2019 | Book Reviews, Readers, Science Fiction, Fantasy
My daughter bought me this book for my birthday – and she knows what I like to read. Fairy tale adaptions are sooo much fun, and this take on Beauty & the Beast did a fantastic job.
The atmosphere of the book was exceedingly gothic, and the people and scenery seemed very French (to my uneducated eye). So the stage was set – and in comes Lucie, a girl looking to escape her step-father and find a way to earn her way in the most respectable of ways. She manages to find a job as a cleaning maid at Chateau Beaumont only to find that Chevalier de Beaumont is a monster of a person. He enjoys the misery and pain of others and looks only to further himself.
Enter the curse – the one we’ve seen many times. And suddenly the Chevalier is no more, and in his place is Beast. Lucie watches over Beast in a transformed state herself, but this is where the story takes a new and exciting turn of events.
I love how Lisa Jensen incorporated the roses and Beast’s love for them. I love the little twists and turns she put on the curse to make it unique and surprising. And I loved it when she introduced Rose. So we have two potential Beauties, which is not a way to make this some kinky ménage. It’s just a way to show Beast’s desire for companionship.
The ending was nothing like I expected at all. And I will also add a trigger warning for rape, suicide, and abortion topics.
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Title: Beast: A Tale of Love and Revenge
Author: Lisa Jensen
Genre: Fairy Tale Re-Telling
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They say Château Beaumont is cursed. But servant-girl Lucie can’t believe such foolishness about handsome Jean-Loup Christian Henri LeNoir, Chevalier de Beaumont, master of the estate. But when the chevalier’s cruelty is revealed, Lucie vows to see him suffer. A wisewoman grants her wish, with a spell that transforms Jean-Loup into monstrous-looking Beast, reflecting the monster he is inside. But Beast is nothing like the chevalier. Jean-Loup would never patiently tend his roses; Jean-Loup would never attempt poetry; Jean-Loup would never express remorse for the wrong done to Lucie. Gradually, Lucie realizes that Beast is an entirely different creature from the handsome chevalier, with a heart more human than Jean-Loup’s ever was. Lucie dares to hope that noble Beast has permanently replaced the cruel Jean-Loup — until an innocent beauty arrives at Beast’s château with the power to break the spell.
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by Jasmyn | Oct 21, 2019 | Book Reviews, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Readers
A lot is going in The Woman in the Window. Anna fox has experienced a trauma, and now she has very severe agoraphobia. She wanders her house alone (living with just her cat) drinking and not quite taking her medication correctly. The circumstances leading up to her situation are vague, and we slowly learn everything as the story continues.
She passes her time watching her neighbors – like hardcore spying on them with a zoom lens – playing chess and learning French online, and talking to other agoraphobics in an online community. She’s happy – mostly – and chats with her family quite often.
A.J. Finn does a fantastic job of drawing you into Anna’s strange world and making you doubt everything you think you know. As we spiral through life and the strange things Anna has witnessed right along with her. I enjoyed being able to follow her train of thought. It brought me into her mind and emotional turmoil when she started doubting everything about herself.
While most of the book is a meandering journey through potential craziness, the end was a heart-pounding rush leading up to a gentle settling of sorts. Don’t expect too much action and thrills from this one. But don’t discount its ability to test what you believe right along with all the characters.
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Title: The Woman in the Window
Author: A.J. Finn
Genre: Thriller
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Anna Fox lives alone—a recluse in her New York City home, unable to venture outside. She spends her day drinking wine (maybe too much), watching old movies, recalling happier times . . . and spying on her neighbors.
Then the Russells move into the house across the way: a father, a mother, their teenage son. The perfect family. But when Anna, gazing out her window one night, sees something she shouldn’t, her world begins to crumble—and its shocking secrets are laid bare.
What is real? What is imagined? Who is in danger? Who is in control? In this diabolically gripping thriller, no one—and nothing—is what it seems.
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by Jasmyn | Oct 2, 2019 | Book Reviews, Readers, Romance
Puppy Christmas really brought all the good feels out. We have cuteness overload with a service dog in training and his new little girl, her dad (oddly named Ford Ford), and the puppy trainer they all fall in love with from the moment they set eyes on her in the super fluffly princess dress.
The characters in this book jumped right out of the pages into my heart. Ford and his flirty ways that have most of the single moms in the neighborhood at his beck and call – but not in a creepy way. They love the guy and have taken him under their wings to help him care for his beyond adorable daughter, Emily, who just happens to be hearing impaired. The bond these two share made me jealous.
I also loved that there wasn’t really a villian – just life and history and fear that was standing between Ford and Lila. Lila has a lot to learn about the more carefree side of herself, and Ford needs to learn to stop hiding behind jokes and flirting. Emily has her own very important role to play in all this as well, and I think giving her more of a primary role in the book was the perfect touch. This was the perfect way to start my Christmas Romance reading.
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
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Title: Puppy Christmas (Forever Home #2)
Author: Lucy Gilmore
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Christmas
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Lila Vasquez might not be the “fun one” at Puppy Promise―the service puppy training school she runs with her sisters―but she can always be counted on to gets things done. So when her latest client shows an interest in princess gowns over power suits, Lila puts aside her scruples, straps on the glittery heels, and gets to work.
If only the adorable six-year-old’s father wasn’t such an appealing Prince Charming.
Ford’s whole life revolves around his daughter…until he meets Lila. Smart, capable, and amazing at helping Emily gain confidence with her new service puppy at her side, Lila is everything he ever wanted―but she’s way out of his league. Good thing Emily and her new pup are up to the matchmaking task. This Christmas, it’s all hands (and paws) on deck!
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