Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: romance

  • Waking Romeo

    Waking Romeo

    Waking Romeo is a very, very clever take on several of the Classics beloved of generations, woven into a fast paced time travel novel destined to appeal to Fantasy readers regardless of age.

    Set in the time between Worlds, when the world has ended or almost ended in a cataclysmic event, Juliet is a member of one of the families that chose to remain in the ‘here’, deciding that what they knew was better than a future of what they did not! Survival is that of the fittest and most resourceful, and life is not great, in fact it is anything but great, is it terrible, traumatic and tragic.

    And as if things could get any worse, the love of Juliet’s life, Romeo is in a coma and as she is pregnant to him, her family have been rather terse, refusing to have anything further to do with her. Life is far from good.

    Enter a handsome stranger Heathcliff Ellis, a man from another time on an important mission; to wake Romeo from his coma but as it turns out, as in all seriously good romances, things do not go as planned.

    Waking Romeo is a wonderfully rich and varied tale of love, true love and hope, and so many things couched beautifully in the richness of language, which Kathryn Barker has created with the unlimited help of Emily Bronte’s classic Wuthering Heights, a dark, brooding tale of passion and despair, the fractured tale of Romeo and Juliet from William Shakespeare and the magic of time travel.

    Told in the first person, Waking Romeo is set to become a classic modern day read, wrapped in the literature of a time long gone, before time travel was truly considered, women knew their place and men did their own thing. Nothing at all like the world of Jules, where she is a very definite woman, Ellis is intriguing and Romeo is just, well Romeo!

    Get set to enjoy a fantastically enjoyable modern day romance in the fast lane of forward time travel and all that is there to be discovered.

  • All the Stars and Teeth

    All the Stars and Teeth

    Magic and its wondrous powers are the drivers in this Fantasy fiction All the Stars and Teeth from Adalyn Grace, a storyline beloved of fantasy fans that leaves the imagination to the luxury of dressing the themes and surrounds as the reader chooses.

    While the storyline, like much fantasy, is not new, the way in which Adalyn Grace weaves the tale is captivating and enchanting.  Effectively, Princess Amora Montara is facing the biggest challenge of her life, as she has had to master some of the most dangerous magic in the Kingdom in order to secure her place to the throne.

    Facing her final test things go terribly, horribly and dangerously wrong, forcing her to accept the help of Bastian, the captain of what appears to be a Pirate Ship; a strange but gloriously beautiful ship but a ship without a crew.

    Bastian and Amora join forces and a rollicking, but treacherous and dangerous journey begins to save not just Amora Montara and the future of her country Visidia, but also Bastion’s land, that of Zudoh.

    Kavan is the man causing most of the problems, with a new and powerfully destructive magic. When Amora realises her father the King has not told her everything she needed to know to understand her magic, the magic she needs to master, she and Bastian decide the only way forward for them both, is to take up the challenge to face pure evil.

    As the days pass on board the Pirate ship, Amora also begins to realise that life outside the Kingdom of Vasidia holds a strong fascination for her, as does the life of a Pirate. All the Star and Teeth has a little bit of everything; danger, evil, romance, power and monsters woven into the story, which ultimately makes for a fascinating time out in Fantasy land.

  • The Austen Girls

    The Austen Girls

    As many of you know Jane Austen was a writer of wonderful fiction stories about life in the Georgian era, but more specifically the Regency period, writing about ordinary people and the society in which they lived. Her more well-known novels are Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility amongst others.

    But what of Jane Austen and her wider family of nieces and brothers, and the life she and they lived, when the main purpose from birth for all girls, was to marry well. Lucy Worsley in her latest historic novel The Austen Girls brings the world of the Regency marriage ‘mart’ alive through the eyes and emotions of Aunt Jane’s nieces Anna and Fanny.

    Anna has always been told she must marry well. She has the looks and the breeding but her father is a farmer, whereas her cousin Fanny has both the breeding and the money but also has to marry well, but there is not as much pressure to succeed and succeed well.

    As the girls look forward to their first local Ball with great excitement, they begin to wonder what the night and their future holds in store for them.  Sadly, the Ball does not go well for them which sets off a chain of unprecedented events which will see Anna returning to the farm in anger and despair, leaving Fanny deeply hurt and upset.

    Fanny begins to question why Aunt Jane, who lives with them, but often goes to London, has never married and where she gets her wealth from, as it obviously does not come from her father, Jane’s brother. It is not until tragedy strikes, with the local parson being arrested for thieving that the other life of Aunt Jane becomes very real, as she and Fanny set out to try and get Dominic Drummer released from prison.

    The Austen Girls holds every element of romantic fiction, Regency style, between the pages and under Lucy Worsley’s skilled hands comes vibrantly to life, creating a work of fiction Jane Austen would consider as really rather excellent.

     

  • Fool Me Once

    Fool Me Once

    Fool Me Once from much loved Australian author Karley Lane is guaranteed to be the perfect light read for the somewhat unusual times, we all find ourselves learning to manage.

    Spare a thought for Georgie Henderson, a young woman who, ever since she was a very small girl, dreamed of nothing else other than to become a farmer, Family circumstances were such that even though her dream of working family acreage was no longer an option, she had carved out a niche for herself as the manager of a cattle property at Stoney Creek, for crusty old bachelor Harry, who had reluctantly gone to Melbourne due to age and health reasons.

    Reluctantly agreeing to go with long time friend Shannon, to the local  B&S Ball (Bachelors and Spinsters), she is standing watching the dance floor, wishing to be anywhere but there, when she looks up and makes eye contact with a rather good looking, slightly older man, appearing to be the same as her, wondering why he was there!

    Michael Delacourt has a back history, as does Georgie Henderson, which at the beginning of what proves to be undeniable attraction, would not seem to be a problem, as surely this burning, almost addictive desire for each other, would fade into wonderful memories. Surely!

    As the days and then weeks pass, their attraction simply gets stronger and stronger. Michael, once he realises his family business interests are behind Georgie’s passionate commitment to buy back her family farm, faces serious conflict as to how much to let Georgie know about his stepfather’s business, and why he, Michael, is no longer is a part of the family business concerns. He also has to face up to the fact he should have told her right at the beginning of their relationship.

    Once things come to a devastating head, both Georgie and Michael find themselves estranged, damaged and deeply distressed about their lives, relationship and trying to rebuild if at all possible, a future together.

    Karley Lane began this story-line some years ago, leaving it to one side to embark upon another project. Rediscovered and now complete, she has woven a delicious tale of lust, love, betrayal, consequences and chasing dreams, which as time passes often need to be reconsidered.

    Georgie and Michael finally decide is what is important in their lives, but it is how they come to this conclusion, that will keep the pages turning until the final word.

  • Havenfall

    Havenfall

    Havenfall, the latest release from Teen fantasy fiction author Sara Holland, is a somewhat interesting crossover between fantasy and romantic fiction, set between two worlds, that of the everyday world and the ‘otherworld’, a world sealed off and only accessible once a year.

    Maddie grows up realising that there is something a little different about Havenfall, a beautiful Inn owned and run by her Uncle. It is not until she comes of age, she is allowed to access the secret world that lies beneath the Inn; a safe haven for those traveling between both worlds.

    There is a yearly meeting held between two of the three ancient worlds, Byrn and Fiordenkill, that make up the ‘otherworld’: the third is Solaria, long since banned from attending the meetings. A fragile peace is kept between the three worlds, until a brutal murder occurs, with the body left in the grounds of Havenfall. The body just happens to be that of a Solarian.

    Events conspire so that Maddie has to take up her responsibilities early; well before she is really ready, ensuring that she must accept her destiny as the ‘Innkeeper’ and must now undertake to care for those she loves the most. When it is discovered her friend Brekken, someone she has known most of her life, is considered as the murderer, Maddie realises she also has work out who she can trust, as both worlds have become dangerous places with which to be associated.

    So begins a what could almost be considered as a prequal for the books to follow, in that the characters are introduced with a strong focus on Maddie, the heroine, a love ‘triangle’ is established and the ancient realms well portrayed. Teen readers will enjoy the messages hidden within the storyline which relate to the very fundamental realities of everyday life.

    Woven between two separate realities, Sara Holland has created a very readable and enjoyable novel which is both entertaining and enjoyable without the massive depth of involvement that sometimes seems to plague similar books of this genre.

  • Love Story

    Love Story

    Love Story from Robin Spielberg is akin to entering a room full of old, much loved friends and remembering the precious moments in life spent with them, the times they cheered, soothed and totally meshed with the emotion of the moment.

    In selecting this romantic and popular collection of music in celebration of her 25 years spent with beloved husband  Larry Kossen, she has chosen pieces that have meant much to so many over the years; pieces which are considered as evergreens, many written in the changing times of the late 1960’s and ‘70’s when the world was once again changing.

    From the first note in Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, made famous by Elton John in 1973 with lyrics by Bernie Taupin, through to the reflective and soulful And So It Goes from Billy Joel, this is an album that while romantic to very last note, is also a walk down memory lane.

    All of the piece without exception on their original releases came with rich backing or backing in some way. To have the beautiful melodies extracted and presented using only voice of the piano played with a deep passion and emotion, is a rich and wonderful experience.

    Sergei Rachmaninoff provided the inspiration for the delicate Alone By Myself (All By Myself), a piece full of heartache and reflection. A particular favourite has always been Alone Again, Naturally from Gilbert O’Sullivan; the somewhat wry lyrics to this piece fit the emotion beautifully.

    David Gates wrote IF in 1971: the words come immediately to mind, how could they not; ‘If a picture paints a thousand words……………..’, Spielberg has captured perfectly the emotion entwined with these deeply emotional words of love written by Gates so many years ago.

    When ‘Love Is Blue’ arrived on the music ether in 1967 it was almost a revelation in the world that was full of the new beat: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Elvis Presley and everything as far from a rich orchestral piece as you could imagine. To say this gloriously romantic song captured the airwaves would be an understatement. To hear it refreshed, stripped bare and beautiful is a wonderful treat.

    Bob Dylan, noted folk singer and political activist wrote the intriguing Make You Feel My Love in 1997, a folk song and one of his many romantic pieces, as he pleads his case of true love to his lover, before And So It Is Over from Billy Joel draws  Loves Songs to a close, signing off on a work that is all of many things; beautiful, rich, emotional, passionate, wry and accepting.

    Spielberg at her very best.

  • Charlotte Pass

    Charlotte Pass

    When a skeleton is discovered on Mount Stillwell, in the remote village of Charlotte Pass, high in the Snowy Mountains, a chain of events was set in motion leading back to the still unresolved missing person’s report for Celia Delaney, who disappeared from the ski resort at the height of an unrepresented blizzard in 1964.

    Lee Christine in her first rural suspense novel Charlotte Pass, has created a storyline filled with suspense and mystery as she carefully establishes the reality that the past does not always remain in the past, and murder will often be committed twice to cover long buried tracks.

    It is the beginning of Winterfest in the remote ski village of Charlotte Pass, high in the Kosciuszko National Park. The village is snowed in, presenting perfect conditions for this Annual event. A famous ‘local’ Aiden Smythe is returning to Charlotte Pass to launch the Festival. All is on target for a massively successful event until ski instructor Vanessa Bell makes the gruesome discovery of human bones buried in a snow drift.

    Sydney Detective Pierce Ryder, along with his new young partner Detective Constable Mitchell Flowers, a millennial whose main ambition is to become a police prosecutor, are sent to the area to try and discover whether there is a connection between the more than thirty-year-old unsolved disappearance of Celia Delaney, and the possibility that the discovery could be her.

    Reluctantly he begins the investigation into what is beginning to look like anything other than a straight forward missing person case and when another murder is carried out, for no obvious reason, Ryder begins to feel the pressure to make an arrest before things become far worse.

    A man with some serious grief in his life, he and Vanessa Bell begin to discover something warm and wonderful developing in their lives, which is placed in serious jeopardy as the days roll relentlessly onward, the murderer still undiscovered, the snow growing deeper, and another blizzard is descending on Charlotte Pass; a blizzard which looks set to equal the blizzard of 1964.

    Will the mountains give over their long-held secrets or will the murders remain unsolved? As the tension builds and so many come under suspicion, it looks like the killer may have managed to escape until Vanessa’s life this time, is under serious threat?

    Lee Christine has certainly crafted a novel that is guaranteed to keep the light burning, the wine glass full and the pages turning, as the gripping suspense ensures the final page must be reached before the lights are turned out.

    As a debut into rural suspense Charlotte Pass is a real beauty!

  • Mr Right Now

    Mr Right Now

    There is a very old saying ‘that if you love someone let them go’ which graces the front cover of Mr Right Now, the second book in the delightful The Callahan’s of Stringy Bark trilogy, from Australian author Karley Lane, and one saying that can and often is, bitter sweet.

    In this second book we once again meet Griffin, or ‘Griff’ to his family, the brother who has stayed home on the family farm to follow what he considered life calling. His life is at a crossroads, going nowhere, stalled and in many ways, he is wondering where is future really does lie, on the farm or elsewhere.

    When his neighbour Bill Dawson almost losses his life in a farm accident Olivia, long-time friend and love of his young life, returns to Rankin Springs to help her twin brother Ollie with the harvest; she too is also finding her career in the Corporate world needing revision, assessing what she really wants to do with her life.

    As the days unfold, she and Griff are thrown into each other company, reigniting the spark that was always there, somehow still smouldering away over all the years of their vastly different lifestyles.

    Will they find the love they are seeking or will the lessons of the past remain just that, lessons of the past? Once again choices need to be made when Olivia is offered what she considers the job of a lifetime, a job that will be a change of direction but push her up the Corporate ladder. The only issue is that it is in London!

    Warm, lovely and most enjoyable, returning to life in the Callahan family is as comfortable as returning to family, as they struggle to face what could easily still be a tragedy effecting their long term neighbour and friend, a family struggling to cope with massive changes within their own family structure along with the hope that Griff will at last settle down, find peace, with the woman he has never stopped loving.

    Karley lane has very carefully within the storyline of Mr Right Now created the threads of what has all the hallmarks of a terrific finale to the series, if the teaser chapters at the end of the story are any indication.

    A great read for a lazy afternoon reuniting with new friends in the members of the Callahan family.

  • Losing the Plot

    Losing the Plot

    By definition a Romantic Comedy novel should include two people who are perfect for each other, with one or both of them being quite vulnerable. There should be an obstacle that keeps them apart until a solution is found. The comedy can be situational or slapstick, but by the end of the story we are sure the couple will be together happily. Elizabeth Coleman has followed this formula quite successfully, has characters who are credible, interesting and who vary in age.

    The main character in this story is Vanessa, recently divorced from her husband who married their marriage councillor. Nessie as her mother calls her, has two children and a large mortgage, so Mum (Joy) is living with her and pays rent. Vanessa has always had a desire to write a novel and has taken advantage of long nights to type up and send off a manuscript to a publisher.

    Meanwhile a famous author, who’s work she slavishly reads, has come to town with a new novel. Unfortunately, it is identical to Vanessa’s story and it is here the problems begin. A local single Dad who is a lawyer, advises her to sue the well-known author. A love triangle develops leading to all sort of mistakes and issues.

    The story is written in a lovely light hearted style. It is set in Melbourne and surrounding suburbs. The characters form a complementary group and it is here that the humour is introduced. Vanessa is a Dental Nurse, and works for Anthony, the dentist and his lovely and supportive wife Kirri. A New Zealander, Kirri is always on the look out for Vanessa. Indeed, she tells the nurse frequently to “Look out for him, he’s a ‘Dickhid’.” Joy, Nessie’s mum is also quite a character and lives life to the full.

    As the story unfolds many issues arise such as those problems for single parents and people on a single income. These are the issues many of us face in real life so the ability to read about other peoples struggles and mistakes helps us to feel real. The odd chuckle along the way is a great help as well.

  • Someone Like You

    Someone Like You

    When life turns into one long, mess, writers block has got a serious hold and every day is just ordinary, what do you do? Hayley Steven’s life was like this for real: she had found her husband and best friend in bed and after a year in the dumps she realised a change was needed. Sure she had written a couple of best sellers but there had to be more to life than existing!

    Looking on the internet she found a lovely little cottage for sale, in a small rural village of Lockway, located on the edge of the Macdonald River; a place she and Paul had once spent a lovely weekend, and decided on the spur of the movement to purchase it and move there. Surely there she could find herself once again.

    Packing the last of her bags in the boot of her much loved red Audi coupe she left the madness, hustle and bustle of Sydney behind her as she set out to begin once again. And that is when life really did begin to get interesting.

    Realising rather quickly that 50 acres really was a large amount of property to care for, Hayley sets out for the local farm supply to see what can be done or what she needs, as well as a few grocery items, and somehow finds herself the owner of a rather noisy donkey by the name of Errol, who, by wandering off an getting stuck in the dam next door introduces her to the rather hunky farmer, Luke Mason, who just happens to come to her, and Errol’s rescue.

    As the days unfold, Hayley struggles to write anything her publisher or agent would consider worth the effort. On a walk across the property she steps into a time and place that was fraught with danger, deep emotion and horror. Coming back into the everyday world she realises something very strange has occurred, which troubles her immensely.

     Over time and in discussion with Luke and his family she begins to realise what she saw and experienced that day was very real, and could have ramifications for the Mason family and the history of the area.

    In her latest work, Karly Lane has seamlessly tied together the world of past lives, romance, a little history and a beguiling yarn, to once again create a hugely enjoyable cast of characters, who will find their way into your heart, as they come to life tackling so many of the everyday issues that fill our lives.

    Perhaps her best work to date!