Flora Reviews.... The Bronze Blade: An Elemental World Novella #2.5 by Elizabeth Hunter

(https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20655727-the-bronze-blade?ac=1)

...So what’s this book about? 

This is a novella (approx 100 pages) about Tenzin, one of the main characters from the Elemental World quartet (A Hidden Fire #1, This Same Earth #2, The Force of Wind #3 and A Fall of Water #4). Elizabeth Hunter published this story two years after she had completed and published the Elemental World series and so I actually think this should be read after you’ve read them all too, in fact, I think this story could also work as a stand alone tale.

This book is broken down into seven chapters: Prologue: Tell Me a Story, Chapter 1: The Girl, Chapter 2: The Monster, Chapter 3: The Madness, Chapter 4: The Fire, Chapter 5: The Warrior, Epilogue: The Heir

 ...So, what did I like about it?

I am already a fan of Ms Hunter; her writing style, the characters she creates, and the way she unfolds her stories to us. This book didn’t let me down. Reading this story, I felt transported to the pre-historic steppes, the way people lived; their priorities, hopes, fears.

I feel that The Bronze Blade is a story more about Tenzin’s emotional and mental change from human to vampire rather than just her physical metamorphosis. I loved that! I liked getting into her head in such an all encompassing way. This story gripped me from start to finish and yes, a few tears did fall on a number of occasions.

...So, ummm, was there anything I disliked about it?

No. This particular story was about her beginnings, however, Tenzin has such a long life, I would love Ms Hunter to write more novellas about her other experiences throughout her extended history. *hint*hint*

...So, basically what I’m saying is...

I loved this book! I was already completely enthralled by Tenzin so this brief insight into her beginnings only added to my love for this amazing female character. But be warned, this story does contain many scenes of graphic violence and horrific abuse, so it’s definitely an “adults only” story!

Flora Reviews... Spellbound (Vampire Realm Book 3.1) by Felicity Heaton

(https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3661406-spellbound?ac=1)

...So what’s this book about?

This is a novella within the Vampire Realm series. It is book 3.1 and as such, I do feel that you need to have read the previous books in the series to enjoy this one.

The setting is Prophecy’s two night Death Day celebration. She casts a spell from her mother’s spell book to help relax her lover and mate, Valentine and make him her “love slave”. Venturi accidentally walks in on the spell and becomes Prophecy’s love slave too! Oh my!! So, Prophecy has both Valentine and Venturi in her room they are both her willing love slaves.

 ...So, what did I like about it?

I love Felicity Heaton’s writing style, the way she makes the most brutal, harsh and explicit sexual scenes actually romantic – I think she’s a very talented writer.  For me, a story is only really erotic if I’m emotionally connected to the characters involved, Ms Heaton gives her characters such depth that they become real. As always, this story was a page turner and I devoured it in a few hours. Of course, I got caught up with the shenanigans (who wouldn’t *blush*) but the tender insights into Venturi’s emotions and the growth of Valentine and Prophecy’s love were beautiful to read.

...So, ummm, was there anything I disliked about it?

Well, if I’m honest I’m not 100% convinced that Valentine and Venturi should have been as complying because of the history and aggressive rivalry Ms Heaton had previously written about. I’m hoping this threesome, although fun to read, doesn’t actually happen again in the remaining series.

...So, basically what I’m saying is...

I really enjoyed this fun loving novella. It was a nice contrast to the war and battle themes in the previous Vampire Realm books. Spellbound is kind of like Felicity Heaton’s Vampire Erotic Theatre Series, well written erotic thrills.

Flora Reviews... Touched by the Light by Linn B Halton

(https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18631740-touched-by-the-light)

...So what’s this book about?

We are introduced to Mya, a smart, vital young twenty something who is finding it hard to believe that she has just died. What is she supposed to do now? She doesn’t feel like she is in Heaven or Hell, so where is she? What is expected of her? She finds herself chatting to Laurel, herself a young, woman who has what she sees as the dubious gift of being able to communicate with spirits. We meet Dan, Laurel’s boyfriend and Lennie, Laurel’s best friend and we’re introduced to Mya’s sister, Sadie and Mya’s boyfriend Sam.
 

...So, what did I like about it?

This story was not what I was expecting; it isn’t your usual “angel” love story.

The whole book is written in the first person but not all from Mya’s point of view! Laurel, Dan, Lennie all get to “speak” to us, even Sadie, Mya’s sister and Grace, who is a medium that Dan goes to for help and advice, have their chance to tell us their view of the story. Linn’s clever way of dealing with the potentially confusing aspect of multiply characters “speaking to us” is to give each character a separate section/chapter and to give it a title that makes it clear whose perspective we’re immersing ourselves in. This brought all the characters alive for me, making them seem real and adding a tangible feel to the overall story. The characters made me laugh and cry, the story made me stop and think and I really enjoyed the way Ms Halton completely surprised me with her plot twists.

...So, ummm, was there anything I disliked about it?

At first, I felt as though I was meandering through the story without any real purpose, I couldn’t see a specific plot path, or where Ms Halton was going to lead me next, although perhaps this says more about my hidden impatient nature than the talented storytelling skills of Ms Halton. ;-) I’ve reminded myself that the journey is just as important, if not more so, than the end destination.

...So, basically what I’m saying is...

I love it when a story exceeds my expectations and surprises me by taking me on a journey that I wasn’t expecting; Touched by the Light did exactly that!

I haven’t really read anything like it before, so if you like romance, subject matter that make you think and are intrigued by the paranormal, I recommend that you read this book.