HEART OF BRIAR by Laura Anne Gilman

Book One of The Portals Series

Harlequin Luna

July 31^st, 2013

978-0-373-80355-2

Fantasy

Electronic Advance Reading Copy

Reviewed by Dawn (love2read28@gmail.com)

Obtained by Publisher via Netgalley

3 Hearts



Jan never expected to hear that her boyfriend was kidnapped and taken to Elfland. Yeah, it boggles the mind that there is such a place. But when she is rescued by shifters, well let’s just say Jan’s world just went to weird-ville. Now with time racing against her, Jan needs to find her courage and get her boyfriend back because she doesn’t have to save just Tyler but also humanity as well.

Laura Anne Gilman is a talented writer but with her first book in the Portals series, it was a hit or miss for me. I understand she is setting up the story and whatnot but there was a lot of information dumping at times as well as a predictable storyline that had me bored at times. The story moves along at an okay pace though at times I was hoping it would speed up somewhat. The characters are diverse yet I never felt a connection with any of them. Jan and Tyler’s romance was done mainly through some flashbacks which I enjoyed immensely but the reader never gets to the meat of the story…that one aspect that lets you root for them. The villain is a character that could have been so much better if they were fleshed out a bit more. As it was, I could take them or leave them after finishing HEART OF BRIAR.

Meet Jan. She wakes up to find her world is changed forever. When her boyfriend, Tyler is kidnapped and she is told she is the only person to save him, well let’s just say the world as Jan knows it just got complicated. Now she has to navigate between supernaturals and preternaturals. I liked how Jan struggled with the knowledge that her world also has creatures from story tales and myths. The scenes with the Supers and the Preters are well written but the characters could have been a bit more fleshed out to make the story a bit more complete in my opinion. The dynamics between Jan and the rest of the cast of characters are at times a bit rushed and one dimensional but overall, an okay read.

HEART OF BRIAR delivers a story that could be better with just a little more tightening of characters and storyline but overall, is a satisfying read in the end if a bit predictable. The author is a fairly good storyteller who takes the story, ‘Tam Lin’ and turns it upside down and inside out. I normally enjoy this author’s work immensely but after finishing HEART OF BRIAR, I am on the fence in reading the second book. If you enjoy a little intrigue with your paranormal, then you might enjoy HEART OF BRIAR.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement

TO SIN WITH A VIKING by Michelle Willingham

Publisher:   Harlequin

Date published:   July 23, 2013

ISBN:  0373297505

Genre:  Historical Romance

Book format: E-ARC

Obtained via:  Netgalley

Reviewed by name and email address:  Gina Ginalrmreviews@gmail.com

In the year 875 Caragh O’Brannon’s tribe was slowly but surely starving to death. The land produced no grain, the sea no fish. She gladly gave up her portion to her brothers in the hopes that they would retain the strength to continue to try to fish and provide food.

From across the sea Viking invaders came, led by Viking warrior Styr Hardrata. With him travels his wife, Elena not out of love, but out of a need to make peace with her. Theirs is a marriage that has been torn apart by the lack of children and complacency. He at least hopes to rekindle some of what drew them together. The come to Ireland not to vanquish but to find something they have lost. Upon their arrival though fighting breaks out and Caragh takes Styr prisoner. Styr takes in the condition of the village and becomes determined to save it’s people—he will find food for them and, indeed, does.

Bit by bit, day by day, working and living side by side Caragh and Styr begin to care for each other. But he wonders what has become of Elena and is determined to find his wife. Torn between duty to his wife and the growing love for Caragh Styr is on the horns of a dilemma – does he follow his head or his heart?

Michelle Willingham’s TO SIN WITH A VIKING is probably the most depressing book I have read all year. I read for enjoyment, to go away to a different place and time and while a hero and heroine having a dark moment adds to a good story. I love it when an author comes up with a fresh way of devising the couple overcoming that dark time. This book started out with a village suffering famine, the heroine struggling for survival and a couple on the brink of divorce. I didn’t have a chance to get to know and like the characters before being plunged into their depressing situation. I hear enough of that in the nightly news and read more than that in the local paper. I don’t relish reading pages upon pages of it in a book that I’ve picked up to enjoy.

Despite the overwhelming sadness of the story I didn’t relate to the characters. They came across as two dimensional. At times I felt like the author had a check list of elements needed for a romance and added them to the story item by item.

It was a quick read—starting it on my morning commute and finishing it during the evening one. If you can get past the sadness that permeates much of the book you may find Styr and Caragh a likeable couple and enjoy how they find their way to each other.

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.