Tempted by the Storm by Maxine Mansfield

Tempted by the Storm

Author: Maxine Mansfield
Pages: 384

Synopsis:
Larksong Hammerstrike has always been just the younger sister of Princess Aryanna. Never quite as pretty or as smart, always lacking, a mere empath whose power gets her into trouble more often than not. But at Carnalval, the festival of all things sexual, she unleashes her sensual side for a night in the arms of a masked stranger. When morning dawns, Lark can't resist a peek beneath the mask of her lover and is once again crushed by fate. The man of her lusty adventure is none other than the future Lord of the High Elves and destined to marry her sister. As heir to the kingdom of Landis and current instructor of wizardry at the Academy of Magical Arts, Sarco Sunwalker is honor bound to rise above the temptation of the beautiful empathic student who invades his mind, body, and soul. But when sparks fly, lightning strikes, and thunder rolls, Sarco finds himself more than tempted by the storm of Lark's passion and vows to find a solution that will prevent a war between races, fulfill an infamous quest, and win Lark's hand.

What I liked:
The concept of it seemed quite interesting at first. When Lark spends a night with a stranger, about who you will later find out that he is destined to marry her sister, I was quite understanding about it. I mean, loosing yourself in passion for one night with a masked stranger that makes you insides squirm with lust seems like an interesting idea. A hot stranger, and night full of fantasies.
Also, the author works with different types of characters. Especially of different races. I like the she chose the human and elf race as the most prominent in the story. I feel like elves are a bit underestimated. There should be written more about them.
There were times when I laughed out loud at nonsense sentences said by some characters.

What I didn't like:
Sometimes it seemed to me, that nearly every conversation end with something physical. Though I am in no way prude, it was a little bit too much for my taste. I don't mind a bit smut here and there but everything to a certain extent.
Also the cover of the book doesn't do it justice. It seem like those historical novels with damsel in distress and a hero on a horse.

I think this book is good for someone who has a liking in these types of books. Maybe I am just not old enough to appreciate this book.

Read the Flower by Alexandra Lanc

Read the Flower

~ Lisez la Fleur…“Read the Flower” ~
Première partie…“Part One” of the Fleur Passages
Le beau début…“The Beautiful Beginning”

Author: Alexandra Lanc
Pages:66
 


 Synopsis:
Twenty-year-old Lorine Stringfield’s life is about to change forever, and she doesn’t even know it.

Weighted down by the death of her father, her overbearing mother, and the sadness of her little brother, Lorine has less than high hopes for her family’s trip to France. But all of that changes when she is invited to visit the illustrious Château du Jumeaux – a premiere nightclub that only the most privileged attend. Lorine jumps at the chance to do something for herself, but gets more than she bargained for when she discovers the terrible truth: the chateau isn’t a nightclub at all, but a feeding ground for perhaps the most ruthless of beings, the creatures known as vampires.


What I liked:
It captured me right away. It was very catching and made you want to know what happened in the end. What made it better were the characters.
Lorine is easy to relate to. Her relationship with her younger brother, Josh is beautiful. With her mother, on the other hand, it is quite the opposite. She restrains herself from snapping at her or openly disagreing with or arguing with her. She is just like any other girl and that's why I like her even more. I know that people have the tendency to maybe expect rebelling side of character but the truth is that she is behaving in the exact way she is supposed to. I myself would never argue with my parents and rebel. Fact that her looks were not described exactly in the book made her even more likable. Sometimes you find yourself disliking the way someone looks and then you try to overlook the fact whenever it is mentioned in the book. And if you want, you can picture yourself in her place.
I liked as well, that she didn't jump to the chance of going to the party right away. It would seem a bit sill. agreeing to go somewhere with a stranger without any other information.

And Honoré. Hot, sexy, mysterious with French charm and French pet names. Tall, sunset eyes, black white and grey hair. The perfect catch. As you will find out later, the first impressions were quite deceiving. He is exotic and something new. It may come off that he has just one face but you later find out that there is more to him than he just lets on. And you want to know what.
Book is quite mysterious. we do not know how her father died and why Honoré chose her. Neither we know the history and the meaning behind this all.

What I didn't like:
It could have been just a little bit longer, but knowing that there will be more of it makes this fact bearable.

Perks:
This is  a special category. And this story deserves it. The fact that we, readers, can participate is just min-blowing. There is a poll; on the author's website where you can to a certain extent decide the fate of characters.
It is very exciting and new for me.

All in all, the book definitely has a  potential and is very likeble. 26th July is the day of the second part. Let's just say that I can't wait to read more.