tien's reviews
3860 reviews

Fun! That is what this book definitely is. It's short and sweet and full of delight. With an engaging opening, the pace of the story was relentless and the dynamics between this pairing was amusing. This book reminds me very much of [book:A Marvellous Light (The Last Binding #1)|53217284] which I very much enjoyed. There were similarities but the magic system is quite different and both very entertaining. So if you like one, you'd enjoy the other. I'll be keen for more adventure with Crane & Day.

Please note spice content 😉

Medieval is usually a period I avoided in reading. I find the conditions of women too distressing so I prefer not to read realistic medieval historical fiction. However, I do love fantasy with a medieval setting as usually, the female protagonist isn't as helpless. And so it is with Ismae as Death's Handmaiden. She is trained to kill in many ways and therefore, can defend herself if need be.

It did not begin that way though as the novel actually opens at her helplessness from being sold by her father to a brute of a husband. As some kind people smuggled her away, she was saved from this miserable life and later as an assassin, she became embroiled in court intrigues. Her faith in her god led her to mercy and the saving of many souls.

Fascinating unputdownable read with just enough romance to tease me! 

In this volume, the made-up-family The Forgers continue to save the world. Each member of the family played to their strength and by saving each other, they saved the world. This time, they have also gained another member to the family, Bond Forger -a big white floofy doggy woggy. I must say that he stole the show. I didn't find this particular instalment laugh-out-loud sort of funny but more on the cute side -again, it's all to do with the dog! I can't help myself as I love dogs. I can see how he would add the humour in the next one though so I'm looking forward to that.

This is the third instalment of the Martin Scarden series. Whilst each mystery could stand on its own, it's probably best to read from book 1 as protagonists' private lives are quite involved from the very beginning and previous incidents are often referred to in this book. If it doesn't bother you that you're not familiar with some names or previous incidents then you'll be fine.

The difference with this book is that it is set 99% in Sydney so this one in the series wouldn't count as rural noir but rather as a crime novel. Even as it is missing that Aussie outback vibes, it does give a full Sydney metropolitan atmosphere and I'm rather stoked to 'see' familiar places. 

The mystery itself is very engaging though at around mid-point as particular event had me guessing (correctly!) who the killer is and the rest of the novel, I was a little impatient with the miscommunication trope employed here.

In this novel, the partnership between Martin Scarsden & Mandy 'Mandalay' Blonde is firmly cemented. They still had their issues throughout the novel but it was even further grounded at the end and I loved this! While I don't wish anything bad to happen to them anymore, I would kind of like to see them work on a full partnership in future.

I'm not sure what I expected from this book but whatever it was, this book surprised me.

What happens if you take a city high-school graduating boy with no ambition and transplant him in a remote mountain village peopled by the ageing to work in forestry? You'd expect a lot of whinging and whatnot but while Yuki Hirano did his share of whinging and escape attempts; he found himself immersed in village life and made himself a home.

It follows that there were so many things the protagonist found about working in forestry and how sustainable forestry works. While it could be an information dump, it was done in the way that the protagonist was learning himself and at times, made mistakes, which were humourous. I even found myself laughing out loud at one point (this rarely happens with reading!) so that's a full star on its own.

The villagers themselves were such dynamic characters and their traditions/festivals (which they continue despite not remembering/knowing why they do) were at times just comical. And interesting and quite enjoyable read overall even if it defied my expectations.

I always think that I should read more of romantic suspense because it's a really good mix of things I like in my reads. And they very quickly too! I also think that I should read more of Nora Roberts / J.D. Robb but I don't... Too many books vying for my attention!

This book has languished for many years and I had to literally dust it off but it did not disappoint. I couldn't put it down. The romance. The mystery. The suspense. I love it. I could actually see in this pairing something similar to Eve & Roarke though so that kinda tickled me (in all the right places).

The FMC, Abigail Lowery, is very intelligent and had lived a very sheltered life so her speech as well as other social awkwardness were pretty funny and endearing. The MMC, Brooks Gleason, is on who always gets what he wants and he wants Abigail. While he had his alpha moment, it was good to see that he pulled back on that too because as Abigail said, she can look after herself fine. I love how things worked out the way Abigail planned with Brooks playing support role!

Would love to hear which Nora Roberts' I should read next ;)