Audiobook Review: Longbourn -Dragon Entail by Maria Grace

Author: Maria Grace

Narrator: Benjamin Fife

Title: Longbourn -Dragon Entail

Series: Jane Austen's Dragons #2

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Romance, Retellings

Format: Audiobook

Published: April 21, 2017

Where I got It: Audible

Summary: 

Darcy thought his problems were over when Pemberley hatched and successfully imprinted on humans. But baby dragons prove far more difficult than any dragon lore prepared him for. Only Elizabeth Bennet's notes offer him any help. When his imperious Aunt Catherine takes matters into her own hands, things take a turn for the worse and Pemberley’s life hangs in the balance. He desperately needs more of Elizabeth’s help, but she ignores all of his requests.

Elizabeth, though, has problems of her own. After the Bennet family dragon sent Pemberley away, life at Longbourn was supposed to return to normal and Elizabeth get on with the all-important business of marrying the heir to her father’s estate. Except that he is the last man in the world whom she could ever be prevailed on to marry—a bumbling, addle-pated dragon-hater who demands she gives up the dragons she lives for.

Can she, with the help of her dragon friends, find her way back to Pemberley before they both suffer their fate from the Dragon Entail?

Review:

Okieee I had to read book 2 right away. The last book left me needing more. I needed to see what was going to happen to our lovely cast. 

Darcy and Elizabeth thought everything was done and over with. Back to normal life. Darcy has his baby dragon and Elizabeth is going to (eventually) marry Mr Collins. However, life is never simple especially with dragons. 

I really enjoyed this one. I liked it more than book 1. I felt like I understood more about this world. Yes, we are still learning, but I felt like I had a grasp and there wasn't info-dumping here. Yayy!

Things between Darcy and Elizabeth FINALLY move forward. We get to see them go from enemies, to friends, and maybe JUST maybe more? Feelings, especially when the truth is all laid out, are blossoming. Yayy!

Mr Collins needs to be shipped away to some remote island where he can live alone. UGH. Unbearable man. Honestly...this version is top 5 of the worst Collins. 

Lady Catherine and Anne are unbearable too. Normally I pity Anne, but this version she is a little snot. Send these two with Collins so they can live together. 

I'm so glad to see Mary getting some love in this version. She is normally ignored and a super background character, but we get to see her more. Love that for her!!! I feel bad at a certain point at the end......but if she's happy......let it be. 

Now, I did switch up to the audiobook because I had an extra credit and I had no idea what to get and this popped up as a recommended so why not. The narrator was fine. The dragon voices grated on my nerves at first, BUT I did get used to them. Yes, I get why they had to use voice effects essentially but still.....it took a minute to warm up to them. Especially the higher up voices like April. *eye twitch*

THAT ENDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG OMG. Now I need to read book 3. Hahahaha. Damn these cliffhangers. 

All-in-all I did enjoy this one much more than book 1. However, I was 50/50 on the narration. I liked the people voices, but it took some time to get used to the dragon voices. I might switch back to the ebook/physical book. We'll see. 

I'll stamp this with 4 stars. 

ONE WORD SUMMARY: Better

Challenge(s):
- Audiobook #20

Book Review: It's In His Kiss by Julia Quinn

Author: Julia Quinn

Title: It's In His Kiss

Series: Bridgertons #7

Genre: Historical Romance

Format: paperback

Pages: 431

Published: June 28, 2005

Where I Got It: My shelf (Used book store)

Summary: 

IF IT'S IN HIS HEART... IT'S IN HIS KISS

MEET OUR HERO...

Gareth St. Clair is in a bind. His father, who detests him, is determined to beggar the St. Clair estates and ruin his inheritance. Gareth's sole bequest is an old family diary, which may or may not contain the secrets of his past... and the key to his future. The problem is—it's written in Italian, of which Gareth speaks not a word.

MEET OUR HEROINE...

All the ton agreed: there was no one quite like Hyacinth Bridgerton. She's fiendishly smart, devilishly outspoken, and according to Gareth, probably best in small doses. But there's something about her—something charming and vexing—that grabs him and won't quite let go...

MEET POOR MR. MOZART...

Or don't. But rest assured, he's spinning in his grave when Gareth and Hyacinth cross paths at the annual—and annually discordant—Smythe-Smith musicale. To Hyacinth, Gareth's every word seems a dare, and she offers to translate his diary, even though her Italian is slightly less than perfect. But as they delve into the mysterious text, they discover that the answers they seek lie not in the diary, but in each other... and that there is nothing as simple—or as complicated—as a single, perfect kiss.

Review:

*sips tea* S3 of Bridgerton is around the corner so I am for sure in a Bridgerton mood. I wanted to save this one and the last one for a rainy day when I have a bad itch for the show. But alas....I couldn't stop myself. 

Here we follow Hyacinth who is the youngest of the Bridgertons and Gareth. Hyacinth is in her 2nd season and she is already over it. She is a younger version of Lady Danbury....outspoken and extremely smart. Enter in Gareth. Gareth has a diary from his grandmother and he wants to read it to try to find the truth about a family secret, but sadly....it's in Italian and he doesn't speak a lick of Italian. Low and behold, Hyacinth knows enough Italian to give it a go. What they will uncover could change everything. Oh and they might uncover what is in the diary as well that could change Gareth's life. 

Awwwww I liked Gareth and I loved how Hyacinth grew up to be a mini version of Lady Danbury. It's adorable. She was a kid for the majority of the other books (as she is the baby of the family) so it was fun to watch her muddling her way through her second season. It's adorable. 

Gareth was a sweetie and I felt so bad for him. His father is an ass who needs to be kicked in the teeth. 

I am a little bummed we really didn't get to see much of the Bridgertons here. I would've liked a wedding scene or something. We get to see Violet and a splash of Anthony. I think Daphne swung by? I honestly don't recall. If she was there it was so miniscule that I didn't really keep it retained in my head. Gregory also made a quick appearance to be an annoying brother. But the interactions were VERY slim. Hyacinth spent most of the book at Lady Danbury's or with Gareth. Or alone with the diary in her room. I honestly would've appreciated a wedding scene or SOMETHING where we get to see the other siblings interact with her all grown up. Maybe harassing, lovingly, Gareth. IDK I felt like we didn't get the full Bridgerton Family feels like we have in the others. 

Besides for that, I did enjoy that. The drama was not too over-the-top. The main drama was between Gareth and his father. And yes, the love birds do have a couple fights and a slight misunderstanding, but that was resolved easily enough after everyone calmed down to talk and listen. 

But yes, this was very sweet and I ADORED the epilogues. Both were so good. I loved seeing them as parents. 

All-in-all, this was good. It was very sweet and I loved watching these two fall in love while trying to uncover a mystery. I'll give this 4 stars. I missed seeing the big Bridgerton family together for at least ONE scene. 

ONE WORD SUMMARY: Adorable

Blodeuedd Reviews: The Backup Bride Proposal by Jaci Burton

Narrated by: Holly Chandler

Series: Boots and Bouquets Series, Book 4

Length: 8 hrs and 4 mins

Release date: 04-23-24

Publisher: Tantor Audio

Contemporary romance/to review

Mae works at a vineyard with weddings. Kane is a big movie star. She does not recognize him at first and his interest is peeked. The faith throws them together as he is a filming a movie there and she has to help out.

She is not interested in longterm...but he is darn handsome. While he likes the fact that she likes who he is and not the movie star.

Sparks fly at once, but it still takes time. I have not read the previous book, but they are there in the background and it seems like their books could be good too.

Sweet, some spice and some drama before they find their HEA

Good narration. A voice that could play with all emotions and voices. It felt right at home

Bellini Weddings has agreed to allow a production company to film a movie at Red Moss Vineyards. It will be great PR for both the vineyard and the wine and wedding businesses. Mae Wallace, who works for the Bellini family, is thrilled with the possibility of new business. What she isn’t thrilled with is actor Kane August, who she finds crashing one of the weddings. He tells her it’s research for the movie, but she finds him overconfident and annoying.

Kane August is rarely surprised by anything—until he meets Mae Wallace. She’s sharp, just a bit on the snarky side, and the most refreshing woman he’s had the pleasure of meeting. She constantly challenges him, and he can’t remember having this much fun on a movie set. He takes every opportunity to spend time with her, peeling back layers until he gets to the heart of who this amazing person really is. And, unexpectedly, he realizes that he’s letting her in, too, something he hasn’t done with anyone before. However, they live very different lives and he’ll need to be careful around Mae, because she’s someone he could see a future with. But can she see the same thing?

When Kane takes her to his family’s ranch in Texas, Mae discovers a whole new side to him, learning about the heart and soul of a kind and gentle man. And as they grow closer, her guard goes up. Once burned, she has no intention of falling in love ever again, despite this very hot and sexy guy who’s trying his best to turn her world upside down and work his way through the steely wall she’s built. Kane is determined to show her he’s the one man she can trust with her heart. If only Mae will allow herself to fall.

Book Review: A Storm to Remember by Cyan Skye

Author: Cyan Skye

Title: A Storm to Remember

Genre: Short Story, Romance

Format: ebook

Pages: 35

Published: February 11, 2022

Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon)

Summary: 

Big, scary-looking tough guys don't name their cat Mr. Kitty. And they definitely don't spend hours in the freezing cold searching for their lost cat in the middle of the worst blizzard in memory.

When the pretty girl across the neighborhood finds an orange tabby named Mr. Kitty, the man who claims him is the last person she'd expect: James is huge and intimidating. But when he's gone, she can't stop thinking about him.

As the blizzard worsens, Ashley finds herself trapped at home with no power or heat. There's only one person who knows she’s in trouble.

Will James come to her rescue, and can the two of them warm each other's hearts in the midst of a storm?

Review:

Yayy for freebie shorts!

James and Ashley will find themselves falling in love after Ashley saves James' cat during a blizzard. They think that is that, until Ashley finds herself trapped at home with no power and no heat as the storm worsens. James comes to the rescue, only to pay her back, but they will discover maybe it is fate.

Very short and sweet and to the point. They bound during this terrible storm and it is love at pretty much right away. 

Kitty! I'm a sucker for cats and Mr. Kitty was adorable. 

This did feel a little too short. Mainly for the fact I would've liked to see more conversations between the two. So maybe a page or two longer to really feel that attraction and love. Yes, this is clean, but some more convos would've sealed the deal for me. 

All-in-all, a nice short romance for a rainy day like today. I'll give this 3 stars. 

ONE WORD SUMMARY: Fluffy