Friday Reads | Just Like Heaven

October 21, 2016February 12, 2019 ~ Ofelia Gränd ~ Leave a comment

I’ve been in a reading slump lately, nothing has felt inspiring, and I’ve been bored with the same old, same old. A day mostly without internet (electricity issues) left me with some reading time, though, and it was so nice to let myself get sucked into a story. I read both an old horror favourite, The Sandman by E. T. A. Hoffmann, and Suki Fleet’s Just Like Heaven.

When I read YA/NA it’s most often by mistake. I’m not one to read blurbs very closely…or at all. I look at covers and reviews when I hunt for new books so it happens that a college boy ends up on my TBR-list, but most often I avoid anyone under the age of twenty-five and am very happy when I find MCs who are in their forties. But, there are a few authors who make me pick up NA books voluntarily—Suki Fleet is one, Claire Davis and Al Stewart another.

I love Suki’s writing, the way she builds characters but maybe even more how she is able to put me there on the snowy streets. It shouldn’t be missed!

Just Like Heaven is a sweet wintery tale, not as angsty as the other Suki Fleet books I’ve read, but really nice. It was first published as part of the Wish Come True Anthology in December 2015. Proceeds from both the anthology and from Just Like Heaven as a standalone go to charities working to support homeless youth in the UK and the US. So if you’re ready to jump into the Christmas reads, this is a great place to start!

books2read.com/JustLikeHeaven *

First Published as part of the Wish Come True Anthology (December 2015)

One rainy night in December, David helps a busker with pretty eyes get his stolen money back. He doesn’t imagine the strong attraction he feels is mutual. But after overcoming his shyness, David discovers Jess is definitely interested.
Jess just isn’t interested in anything but a one night stand. Or maybe two. Falling for David is definitely not part of his plan. But when David gets trapped in a snowstorm the night before Christmas Eve, Jess realises a night or two is never going to be enough.

Proceeds of this sale will be divided between two UK charities working to support homeless youth: Shelter and Centerpoint.

* By clicking the Books2Read link you’ll be taken to an external page. Links to Smashwords, Kobo U.S and Amazon contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Friday Reads | Dance With a Vampire

October 14, 2016February 12, 2019 ~ Ofelia Gränd ~ Leave a comment

I’m continuing the week with more vampires. Dance With a Vampire by Fabian Black is a seven pages long story. I love short fiction. Many make the mistake of thinking it’s easy to write—it’s not. It takes a lot of skill. Authors who master the form can rip my heart out in just a few words where others leave me quite unaffected. In a novel, you have time to grow to like a character, but in short fiction, that connection has to be established in just a few lines.

This is the second story I’ve read by Fabian Black, and my heart might not have been ripped out but I wasn’t unaffected either. At first, I found the narration a bit strange, or maybe not the narration, but the story is written almost like a letter where the MC is talking to a ‘you’. I was thinking the MC was another of those in your face, bratty, young characters, and he kind of is, but there’s also some subtlety to this short story.

There is one thing that always annoys me, though. Why oh why do bisexual characters always have to be described as unreliable? In this short, short story it’s even pointed out twice.

I made a mental note never to date a bisexual again. It doubled the chances of being dumped. – p.2

Bisexual faux vampire types were notoriously unreliable, emotionally draining and generally unsatisfactory. – p.4

But if you’re in the mood for a bratty twenty-one-year-old waiting in line outside a nightclub on Halloween and some vampires with a hint of BDSM, then Dance With a Vampire is for you.

You’ll find it here:

books2read.com/DanceWithAVampire *

A different kind of vampire tale, short and romantic, it uses a song title as a door into the story.

* By clicking the Books2Read link you’ll be taken to an external page. Links to Smashwords, Kobo U.S and Amazon contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Friday Reads | Thirsting for More

October 7, 2016February 12, 2019 ~ Ofelia Gränd ~ Leave a comment

stockings-1816094_640 — CC0 Creative Commons

Autumn is here. In my head, I’m painting pictures of us all snuggled up on the sofa with something hot to drink and a good book to help us escape the whining wind outside. The reality is not getting any sleep because the kids are coughing through the night and being covered in snot because they use me as a living tissue.

In an attempt to place myself in that romantic picture of a book, a steaming cup, and a cosy sofa I went looking for a vampire story. Yes, vamps are very autumny. But, since reality once again made itself known, I realised I’d better pick something short if I’m ever going to finish it. I was browsing Amazon when I spotted Thirsting for More by Claire Cray in the ‘Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought’ section.

I recognised Claire Cray’s name, I’ve read her before, and before I knew what I was doing I pressed the buy button. The book is free so don’t worry, I didn’t impulse buy books for my food money.

Thirsting for More is about Cal, who has been a vampire for seven years, and Ira who has been one since the 1940s. It’s a short, sexy tale about love and misunderstandings. I wouldn’t have minded a little less sex and a little more vampy stuff but hey, still a great little story worth every minute invested in it.

books2read.com/ThirstingForMore *

Cal’s seven years as a vampire haven’t been so bad. After being turned by a horny immortal he never saw again, he got used to things pretty quick. The aphrodisiac venom has been an unexpected perk, keeping him supplied with beautiful boys who double as meals.

There’s just one thorn in his side: for this entire seven years, Cal has suffered a painful unrequited crush on the vampire Ira. Cool, narcissistic, and loudly straight, Ira drifts in and out of his life as he pleases, soaking up Cal’s attention when he’s around and then leaving him alone with his hopeless desires.

After Ira’s latest departure, Cal has decided to get over him for good. But now Ira’s back with a shocking proposition that threatens to change their dynamic forever…

* By clicking the Books2Read link you’ll be taken to an external page. Links to Smashwords, Kobo U.S and Amazon contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.