Review: An Enchanted Season by Maggie Shayne, Erin McCarthy, Nalini Singh, and, Jean Johnson

Title: An Enchanted Season
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Length: 341 Pages
Publication Date: October 2, 2007
Available Format: Kindle Edition, eBook, Paperback, Mass Paperback
Source: Bought
Overall Rating: ★★★★☆
Get it @: Amazon | Book Depository | Goodreads

Book Description: (taken from Goodreads)

It's the time of year when dreams come true, miracles happen every day, and love is the greatest gift of all. The holidays always seem to bring out the best in everyone, with heartfelt hugs for long-missed friends, sincere smiles in the spirit of the season, and a feeling of magic in the air...

This scintillating collection of paranormal romances celebrates the holidays as never before. From a shape-shifting leopardess who wants a pack-mate to be her soulmate, to a sudden snowstorm that brings a surprise gift, these four tales will stir readers' spirits in all the right places.

An anthology of Christmas stories, perfect for the holiday season. It includes four shorts: Melting Frosty by Maggie Shayne, Charlotte’s Web by Erin McCarthy, Beat the Temptation by Nalini Singh, and Gift of the Magi by Jean Johnson. Because these are short stories I can’t really tell you what they are about without risking revealing the whole thing up, but I’ll do my best to review them without spoilers.

So I read this book due to the Vet VS Newbies challenge at Goodreads’ Gotta Have Paranormal Romance with a Kick Group. The book showcases spirits, witches, werewolves, and the magi and I totally love it. I usually stray away from Christmas books unless I want to read a story from a particular author. It’s nothing against the books, just not what I normally read. Which is why I’m so glad that I was given this book as one of my alternatives, otherwise I would have missed it completely. All four stories are worth the time and can be read in one sitting.

Here is the breakdown:

ARC Review: Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Title: Grave Mercy
Series: His Fair Assassin, Book 1
Author(s): Robin LaFevers (R.L. LaFevers)
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication Date: April 3, 2012
Source: NetGalley
Reviewed Format: ARC (eGalley)
My Rating: ★★★★★
Get it @: Amazon | Book Depository

I think I found myself a new genre!

Grave Mercy has become a double first timer for me. It is the first historical fiction that I read as well as my very first ARC galley (thank you NetGalley). To be honest, this being my first ARC I had no idea how things would unravel; I am pleased to say the book did not disappointed me at all.

It is a breathtaking story, and although action is not the main feature (even though it has its moments) it is an amazing tale of self-discovery and independence. It takes place in Brittany, circa-late Middle Ages.

Ismae was 14 years old when her abusive farmer father sold her into marriage to an even more abusive man from her home village. But soon after she is whisk away to be taken to a convent that prays to Saint Mortain; pagan god of Death. There she discovers the reality behind her birth and hope springs anew.

Fast forward three years, and in her new life as handmaiden of Death, Ismae has been inducted and instructed in all things assassin. Have any of you ever played either of the Assassin’s Creed games? I’ve tried the first one, and although I never got to finish it I have watch my boyfriend play through the ones that came out for PS3. Why I bring this up? Because there is a similar feeling to both stories. You can feel Ismae’s emotions as she wrestles with what she has been taught at the convent vs. what she witnesses developing right in front of her.

The truth is I that like Ismae. Having a story being told only from the main character’s POV can be daunting. But Ismae is a smart, careful, observant young woman whose inexperience gives her a nice touch of realism. She is a strong character, a survivor.