Swimming the Distance by Annabeth Albert

This is a really cute short story, which Goodreads says is originally part of an anthology. I got the story by itself as a freebie, so I can't say anything of the anthology itself. So, here's a summary by me!

Bodhan is a swimmer, gay and in the closet. After two years in a relationship with his boyfriend Kyle, it gets harder to keep it a secret, more so counting the amount of press caused by his success. Things between the couple get tense at the eve of the 2012 Olympics, when Bodhan tells in an interview that he's straight. Will they manage to patch things up and win the medal?

Ok, I suck at summaries, but it could've been worse. All in all, I like this story better than most short romance stories, as it doesn't try to make two characters fall in love in a ridiculously short amount of time. Instead, here's the problems of an already established couple, who've been together for years but still have problems (like real couples!).

Also I like how they portray an established relationship, like knowing what makes the other nervous and what makes the other happy. I really like that. They know each other, care about each other, and are a general good couple. That makes it even more angst-y when things start to fail and they're not happy with each other, as you (as the reader) really want to make things work out because they obviously care about each other!

This story is really cute, and quite a relaxing and satisfying read. I recommend it.

Discord (Echoes of Earth #1)by Katy Haye

Here's the summary from Goodreads:

Beth forgot her past. What if there’s nothing to remember?

Beth has spent six months at remote Steptoe House in the English countryside and still can’t remember a single thing from before her car accident. The doctors say that’s normal. They say traumatic brain injuries heal at their own pace and insist the music therapy they prescribe to their patients is the key to recovery. 

But something is off at Steptoe House and Beth can feel it. There’s a wrongness there — a discord between what is and what should be. Strange voices echo down the halls at night and shifting shadows beckon. And Beth doesn’t dare tell anyone she’s been talking to ghosts.

So, when new patient Toby arrives, she’s relieved to find a friend she can trust, a confidant to share her ghosts with. Plus, he’s really cute. Together, they will tackle the mystery of Steptoe House and uncover more than either of them ever bargained for.

I want to start by saying I really like this book. The characters are well rounded, varied and likeable. You get a bit of everything as far as physical appearance and personality go, and you might find someone you can relate to easily enough. I can't say there's anyone among the patients at Steptoe House I don't like, but among the couples the ones I like most are Beth and Toby and Ivo and Oshi (the pain... but they're just too much!). I'm quite sure that if  I ever had to spend time around a real life pair like Jack and Maggie I'd end up getting cavities, but I quite like them in a book. 

Also, brownie points to Katy, for managing to make two characters fall head-over-heels in love with each other in just a pair of chapters without making it seem unreasonable, an afterthought or too hurried. First time I've seen this done, and my HUGE "Read" shelf on Goodreads is my witness (767 books to this day).

 The storyline is exciting, giving enough clues to have you waiting for the answers without giving anything away, and when things go down there's no excitement lost. And things do go down big time. The mystery is greater than you guys imagine. 

And that ending! I REALLY want to read the next book, as there is still too much that needs to happen and the need of knowing is definitely not gone. 

I really recommend this book, and hope I can get my hands on the sequel soon!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book in exchange of an honest review

A Lady for the Brazen Earl by Bridget Barton

Here's the summary from Goodreads: 

When Lady Imogen falls upon the idea of using the London Season as a means of raising funds for a charitable scheme, she thinks it will be the simplest of things. With her friend, Lady Redmond at her side, the two embark upon a mission to attend as many social events as possible with the intention of opening every wealthy purse in sight. But it is all for a good cause; and a heartbreaking one as Imogen discovers when she and Lady Redmond find themselves wandering the dismal corridors of a workhouse for the poor of Lambeth.

Heath Montgomery, the young and arrogant Earl of Reddington had always enjoyed a life of privilege, free from cares and conscience. Looking forward to the London Season as always, he allows his determined mother a little latitude in searching for a wife for him; one with wealth of her own to swell the coffers of the Reddington Estate. Miss Jemima Ravenswood, daughter of a rich and ambitious Baron, seems to fit the bill. She is beautiful and as keen to secure herself a title as her father is.


But when the Earl finds himself crossing conversational swords with the caring and tenacious Lady Imogen, he wonders if beauty and fortune are enough for him anymore. When he finally falls for the curious Lady Imogen, will the Earl find he has gone too far and been too arrogant to ever win her heart?

As the second book of Bridget Barton I've read, (the first being The Honorable Rosalind's Heart) I at least expected a bit of a difference between this book and the other. Up to halfway through the book things started to vary. The characters, the members in their families, how the main characters meet, the unwanted love rival... Eerily similar between both books. Even the drawing room of the heroine's house in London is the same mint green, the difference is Rosalind hates it and Imogen likes it.

As for Imogen herself, I found her character very lacking. She is very involved with charity and helping people, but there's little else to her without the charity work, outside of a loose comment that says she likes to dance, something that was mentioned but never really demonstrated. Take the charity work away from her and there's nothing to her character. It gives very little to endear yourself to, and thus there's little emotion when she's faced with troubles. Her characters also develops very little through the book, which I find to be a little annoying. 

Heath is a little flat as well, having nothing to do but fret about Imogen, his mother and his relationship with his sister Prudence (whom I consider the most well rounded character in this book). Lords are supposed to manage their estate and the lands that belong to them (that's where part of their money comes from), and to do politics in the House of Lords, but based on this book alone one would think money came to them from providence and the gentry did nothing but stare at the ceiling and amuse themselves in parties and luncheons all day and night. As his character is also a bit lacking, there's not much to fall in love with, other than the (very frequently mentioned) broad shoulders and dark hair that Imogen so likes. In Rosalind's case, at least there's several layers to her character, in the form of wishes, likes, dislikes, virtues, faults, aspirations... That is something this particular book lacks, as the only character with some depth is Prudence, whom is not as explored, being a secondary character to the tale.

As a seasoned romance reader, this book didn't do the cut for me, and I'm sure I would be kinder to it if I hadn't read The Honorable Rosalind's Heart before A Lady for the Brazen Earl. If you've never read from Bridget Barton before, I'd recommend Rosalind's story, as this book isn't necessarily the best introduction to this author you can get.
I was supposed to receive the book for free as part of the Advanced Reader Copy team in exchange of an honest review, but Amazon charged the book in the end so there's no need for the disclaimer, as I ended up paying for it. 

The Honorable Rosalind's Heart by Bridget Barton

Here's the summary from Goodreads

Rosalind Danvers is young, beautiful and witty. Daughter of Lord and Lady Danvers, minor aristocrats with great pretensions, Rosalind is promised to The Earl of Frinton. The Earl is young and impressively handsome but has the most wandering eye for many counties. Unable to find any attraction for him, Rosalind seeks to appeal to her parents to release her from any obligation, but they remain firm in their determination for elevated status.

Heath Rutherford, Duke of Langdale and veteran of the Napoleonic wars is ten years Rosalind’s senior. He is jaded, cynical and determined not to marry. With pressure being brought to bear from his family, demanding that he marry and produce an heir to the Duchy, the Duke finds himself ever more wary of title seeking young ladies and their desperate parents. Finding Heath more and more taciturn and disagreeable in public, his cousin Hector makes it his mission to take away the rough edges of the years of soldiering.

When Rosalind and Heath are introduced at the first ball of the London Season, sparks fly, and Duke’s insults look set to make them enemies forever. However, with every meeting, their feelings grow and, try as they might, Rosalind and Heath both struggle to hide their emotions. Can Rosalind finally find the courage to rebel against her parents? And can Heath overcome his cynicism and finally open his heart to true love?

I've read plenty of romance books, and regency romances are high on my list of likes, but I admit that this, although not that bad, could've been better. The characters are kind of simple and not necessarily memorable, but pleasant enough.

I found it a bit annoying the way the author developed the "hate to love" idea, as there was no in-between between both feelings. They literally hated each other until one day they noticed that they loved each other. And although that's annoying for me, it might not turn off other people.
I did like the friendship between Rosalind and Eleanor, as it feels kind of sincere. My issue... They speak a bit too formally with each other. This puts the friendship from "sincere" to "kind of sincere". It feels real based on the interactions between the characters, but kinda fake based on how they speak to each other versus how they speak to strangers or common acquaintances.

It's not my favorite, but not as bad as it could have been, so I'll give it three stars. I'm currently part of the Advanced Reader Copy team for Barton, so you'll likely see more of her in the future

The Captive Prince (volumes 1&2) by C.S.Pacat

I found these books by chance, and thought “Why not?” Well, let me tell you that this series  (which is still missing it’s third and final book) is amazing.

 It starts with Prince Damianos (Damen for most of the book) who is betrayed by his half-brother and sold as a personal salve to prince Laurent of Vere. The thing is, in a recent war with Vere, Damen killed Laurent’s beloved brother Auguste, and Laurent wouln’t want anything better than seeing Prince Damianos dead (other than killing him himself).

Damen is a noble, honorable person that used to believe everyone was like that, until he was betrayed by his brother and sent to Vere, where he finds the cruelty that goes on both in Vere and in his own country. Being in the verge of war, Damen finds Laurent, the crown prince, is his only chance to maintain peace and save many lives. But if Damen is found as the prince of Akielos he is likely to face not only death in the court of Vere but also the hate from Laurent, for whom Damen slowly develops feelings for.

Laurent was a hard character for me to like. He is an absolute sadist (with a couple of apparent glimpses of humanity) in the first book, yet the second shows a bit more of the person he actually is underneath the heaven-knows-how-many walls that he uses to protect himself. Both the death of his brother as his uncle’s attitude towards him make a TON of reasons for Laurent to be an a**hole, but his heart is noticeable every now and then, reason for which I could never actually hate him.

Romance isn’t a hurried affair in this two books as it can be in many others, but that makes every development between both Laurent and Damen all the more sweeter when they happen (and all the more painful when they are interrupted somehow).

This series isn’t all romance, because both characters are set in a imminent war between kingdoms and their separate fight for each of their thrones. Laurent needs to gain the support of his people and win against his uncle’s strategic battle for the throne (which his uncle currently holds as a regent). Damen, on the other hand, needs to get out of Vere alive, return to Akielos and fight his brother for the stolen throne. Filled with court intrigues, battles, fights, and plenty of other stuff, this books are a certain recommendation for all people who don’t mind a sex scene every now and then.

total rating: 4.5 stars

The expected publication of Kings Rising, the final book of this trilogy, is February 2^nd, 2016 (as told by Goodreads). I’ll be more than happy waiting for it to come out.

Reading on smartphones

I know there are plenty of people that hate reading on smartphones. Yet everyone has their own opinion, so I want to share mine. 

I have found reading on my smartphone as highly practical, for then I can carry my books in my pocket everywhere I go, and read whenever I want to. The down side is that if you have a really good book that you simply cannot put down you will probably look like a phone addict. Like those people that are never seen without their nose by the screen? Yes, like those.

Yet I don’t really find it hard. I’ve had many friends who are against reading on smartphones because they say it’s uncomfortable to read on a tiny screen. I don’t find it that hard, even less considering lots of reading apps allow you to change the size of the letters in a book. Also, I’ve found that a reading app takes less amount of battery than games and other kind of apps.

I, personally, am in favor of reading in smartphones, for I find it to be both convenient and useful. Many might not agree, yet everyone is entitled to having their own opinions. 

What do you think about reading on smartphones?