Of Women and Wolves : Lydia Dare Book Review

When you get tired of the straight laced romance, checking out supposed romances  featuring non humans in the form of vampires, werewolves, witches and other supernatural presences seem to be a good way of  adding variety to the usual book reads.
Of all these other worldly creatures, there is something so very wild and exotic about romances between humans and werewolves.Maybe that's why there is a lot of  stuff written featuring maidens and werewolves.I have just read two books by the author Lydia Dare and must honestly admit that I have been hooked.I  have been searching high and low to get my hands on other books by the author.
Here, I add my book review of  Lydia Dare's Regency series The Wolf Next Door and Tall, Dark and Wolfish.I hope that you would enjoy Lydia Dare as I have.

Tall, Dark and Wolfish : This is the second of the Regency Westfield Trilogy.However, its the first book that I read.This book can be read by itself, though the previous book could have given a short insight into the Westfield Family.The characters introduced in this book, however can be related in Dare's other werewolf series as well.
Now to the exciting part, what I found rather surprising about the series is the novel way in which Ben's plight is presented.While I've seen some films and even some other books where accepting the werewolf side is part of the struggle.This is one series where Ben, the third of the Lycan Westfield brothers suffers because of his inability to turn into a werewolf  on full moon.Its a part of him, which he has fully embraced and the pain of losing it, even though its the wild side he needs to constantly rein in, is so beautifully portrayed by the author.
 Ben actually goes to a healer - Elspeth Campbell, who is actually part of a coven of witches to help him find his lost werewolf side.Now the various characters portrayed in the coven have different powers and some of them actually even feature in the future series as a main character themselves.There is a seer, who has visions of the future and the coven members operate to make sure that the coven is intact.

There is love of course - because a paranormal romance would hardly be complete without it.But its love set in times where love itself is not the first priority.Its something which slowly develops among  various other things, and in the midst of the characters finding themselves.One of the other brother Will is portrayed in this book and there is also mention of the neighbor Prisca - both of whom feature in the third of the series.
Overall, it was a good book, with equal footing given to events as well as emotions.It made me want to know what happened to the other characters and thats how I got to reading the other book.


The Wolf Next Door   : When its a story featuring the friendly neighborhood wolf Will and Prisca Hawthorne pointing daggers at each others' throat, its sure to be loads of fun following all the bickering and yelling.There is so much love between these two that they can hardly be in a room without baiting each other and putting everyone else through hell.However, bring in scheming brothers who have supposedly hatched up a plan bent on sending their sister straight to the one man, she's always had a soft spot on, you have all the ingredients for a hilarious romance right under your nose.That it features a certain charming werewolf  who has tried everything within his reach  from women, wine and  game to forget the love of his life, certainly does not hurt in the least.

Now to the workings of the plot, though you get the urge to tell Prisca and Will  to " Get On With It, Guys", the way the workings of Prisca's family is portrayed, is sure to make you laugh out loud.Amidst all this, it is vital, that I also mention Dashiel Thorpe, who features for a short time as a house guest and plays an important role nevertheless.Its all because of this dangerous gentleman that the ball finally gets moving in the right direction.
The other two brothers Simon and Ben are featured here as well, with their lovely wives even.if you've not read any of the other books in the series, this book will surely turn out as a standalone, even on its on.

Since reading these two books, I've been searching high and low for other books of this author.I would surely love to know Dashiel's story as well.It's interesting because by the end of this story, Dashiel seems to be smitten by a certain witch who featured predominantly in Ben's story, as part of the coven.

Veronica Roth - Divergent - A Book review

This is my first time reading an official dystopian novel and I must say that it was a thrilling ride from start to end.Somewhere on another blog, I had read that dystopian novels were selling like hotcakes.I had read the Twilight Saga by Stephanie Myers, and while it was about vampires and werewolves - both other worldly creatures, it was set in the present world.The first fascinating thing which I notice about Divergent by Veronica Roth is that it is a story all about people - but set in a world with different rules.I consider this fascinating in so many different levels.

The Story: Beatrice Prior, part of Abnegation makes her choice.However her tests are inconclusive and that can only mean one thing - she is part of the endangered divergents. She chooses Dauntless and works her way through initiation, forming friendships and managing enemies.No one can be trusted and each answer brings in more questions than before.There is only a fine line between right and wrong and little clue to aid her in her decisions.Its a beautifully tale of hope and despair, right and wrong, very much in touch with the characters.This haunting portrayal only whets our appetite for more.

The Rules Are New And So Is Belonging : The world in which the story is set is bleak and is made up of various factions.Everyone has to choose a faction to belong to and must follow the rules which make up each faction.There is the Candor for honesty,Amity for peace ,Dauntless for bravery,Abnegation for selflessness and Erudite for knowledge.Divergent mainly focuses on Abnegation and Dauntless, though a bit of Erudite is included.If you're wondering what the people who do not choose or not chosen by any of these factions fall into, they form part of the factionless which is equivalent to being homeless.

Coming Of Age Means Embracing The Unknown:The novel itself starts with the self narration of  the main character Beatrice Prior, who is just turning 16 and would have to go through an evaluation and choose a faction.Its stunningly stark in portraying the city and through the eyes of Beatrice, the readers get a feel of what it would be to belong to Abnegation.Though subtle, there is a hint at the kind of anxiety one would face while having to take a major decision, without having full information on the consequences.In this world of factions, the process of choosing a faction and completing the initiation ritual implies coming into contact with your deepest fears and accepting your dark side as part of yourself.No one is perfect and the trials and tribulations of Beatrice Prior, who later evolves as Tris touch a part of the uncertainity and questions that each of us have in our lives.This, I think is the USP, which has caused many a reader to root for Tris and become a part of her world.

Its Definitely A Saga: The first book is complete as far as the main plot is concerned.But there are still a lot of unanswered questions and we are sure that there is another book waiting to tell you the continuing story of the world of factions.I just could not resist and hence checked out the author site as well.Other than being super cool, Veronica Roth also shares her excitement on the first book being made into a film right now.There is her second book of the series which is called Insurgent already published.Her third book called Allegiant has been okayed for publishing and is expected to be out in October 2013.

What Could Be Better: I honestly don't think there is much to add here, as Divergent is already fantastic as it is.Still, I feel a brief introduction to how this faction was formed and the operations in detail,the reason which brought this about could have been added in the beginning to make the reader feel more in tune with the book and happenings.

I have just reserved my copy of Insurgent and eagerly waiting for the third book to hit the shelves.For those of you who would like to follow up on the film and Veronica Roth, see here.Not only does it have the latest updates about her writings, but she also reviews a lot of other authors and their new writings which is very interesting and helpful for those of us who are searching for similar reads.

Sherry Thomas - Private Arrangements - A Book Review

I actually went to collect something else which I had reserved and waited for a long time.Took this book mainly because I was curious about the title with the front cover showing a beautiful maiden in white.The plot summarized at the back seemed very interesting - the sort with a lot of unanswered questions hanging, a clear bait for a curious reader on the look out for just such a drama in pages.

The storyline, if you look at it from a reader's point of view is astonishingly simple.I wager you may have read a similar plot sometime or the other because it is the sort on which many tales are written.But to her credit, the way in which Sheryl Thomas narrates her story sets it apart from various other books I've had the chance to read.Set against wealth and opulence, there is a certain strength of character, which lends itself to the stars of the story - Gigi Rowland and Camden Saybrook, who are introduced at the start as Lord and Lady Tremaine between whom these unusual "Private Arrangements" exist.Known for their perfect marriage, Lord and Lady Tremaine have lived on separate continents for ten years after their marriage.Gigi wants to be free of this arrangement to carry on with her life and that brings us back to the present - that of Camden Alias Lord Tremaine agreeing to it under certain conditions.The author seamlessly weaves her tale between past and present taking us on a wild ride, with particular attention to detail by a thorough account of certain incidents of the past and how they affect the present.

Gigi is presented as a strong woman who is industrious, has a fortune to her name and does not see any harm in using the influence of her wealth to get what she wants, be it a title or love.The result of her actions follow her throughout and the punishment in the form of private arrangements, is Camden's way of rewarding her betrayal.Only, the punishment seems to bring him more pain than her.When there seems to be a way to finally set things right, he has not bargained for Gigi to pledge herself to someone else.

Somehow, Shelby Thomas manages to portray that spark, desire and betrayal with an emotional depth and urbane charm, which makes this a must read for those searching for a different romance.For me, I am enraptured by her way of story telling that I have just ended up searching for her other books, to read at my leisure.

Eloise James - The Ugly Duchess - A Book Review

Its been a long time of inactivity.And most of the time it is either all or none.I love romances.Its always cozy to read a beautiful story with passion filled pages and this activity is one of my best mood lifters on a dull weekend.
Oh what would I not give, to land myself a good old book of unpredictable romance.When you have been through umpteen Mills and Boons romance and have certainly reached a phase where you want romance with a bit of a twist, taking up "The Ugly Duchess" by Eloisa James is such a good idea.I have read two other books by the same author and this is one of the best, especially because this is the romantic version of the age old fairytale "The Ugly Duckling". Substitute Theodora Saxby as the ugly duchess,throw in temptation in the form of the handsome James Ryburn, whose exact reason for marrying Theo seems divided between wealth and love.You have all the elements to make up an interesting, no arresting read.
This is one romance with a difference.The story starts after the happily ever after of a seeming love match and marriage.Turning pages bring in endless twists, not to mention the elated feeling that one experiences, with the transformation of Theo from "The Ugly Duchess" to "The Beautiful Swan".

The title was one of the main reasons, I was tempted to sample this book.If you are also in search of some variety in romance, featuring titled lords and plain Jane ladies, this is a must read.
I have it on the best authority that the twists and turns in this book will have you turning pages, until you reach the end.And then of course, you will be sorry that such a good story ended.....tsk tsk....