Review ~ Before She Wakes: Forbidden Fairy Tales ~ Sharon Lynn Fisher

Before She Wakes: Forbidden Fairy Tales by Sharon Lynn Fisher
Release Date: July 19, 2016
Genre: Adult, Fantasy Romance, Historical Romance, Steampunk
Source: I received a copy from the publisher (Loveswept) via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: Overall 4 Bookworms
Challenges: #2016NewRelease, #COYER
Goodreads

Synopsis
You've never read bedtime stories like these. RITA Award finalist Sharon Lynn Fisher blends dark erotic romance, fantasty, and science fiction in these bold tales of seduction and sensual awakening...

THE GARDEN RULES
After swallowing an acorn sweetmeat, Sylva is transported to a fantastical forest and begins training as a nymph at the behest of her faun master. But before she earns the right to please him, she must complete three tantalizing trials.

THE DRAGONMAID'S SECRET
On the king's orders, a mercenary has come to ransack the village of Roussillon. But when he confronts the town's defender, the dragonmaid Isabeau, he is overwhelmed by the most fiery passions--for this rogue is, in fact, a dragon-shifter.

RAVEN TAKES A PEARL
Pearl is a captive of Master Raven--part man, part crow, part machine. And as she submits to the curious probing of the dark-winged inventor, Pearl discovers that her body responds with an all-too-human demand: desire.

THE KELPIE'S PRIZE
Dragged beneath a fairy pool by a mechanical horse, Vivi finds herself held prisoner by an alchemist claiming to be Merlin himself. Now, to escape an ancient curse, she must play the wanton seductress--and use her body to secure the release she craves.

WILLA AND THE WISP
In the bayou that covers the long-ago flooded city of New Orleans, Willa uses light to keep her safe from the creepers. She never expected that light to take the form of a brightly glowing man--an enigmatic lover who ignites the flame within.

THE DRAGONFLY PRINCE
In post-apocalyptic Ireland, a virgin gives her hand in marriage to broker peace with a genetically modified race. But when a human rival challenges the dark prince's claim, so begins a duel that will push the fair maiden to the limits of pleasure.

This is a collection of short stories.

The Garden Rules - 3 Bookworms
Quite imaginative once the hallucination (?) sequence begins. But I didn't understand the sweetmeats portion. Drugs? I did like the nod to the historical though.

The Dragonmaid's Secret - 4 Bookworms
One word: dragons. I was sold there but truly enjoyed the premise as well as the storytelling. The historical element was an added bonus.

Raven Takes a Pearl - 4 Bookworms
I liked the premise and the steampunk element. The story drew me in and the characters were engaging.

The Kelpie's Prize - 4 Bookworms
A tie with Raven Takes a Pearl for my favorite so far. I liked the use of Merlin and his mythology to tell the story. The steampunk element was well done. And I liked the fey bent as well. Plus, I really liked the characters.

Willa and the Wisp - 3.5 Bookworms
I really enjoyed the fey element as well as the supernatural. It lent itself well to the NOLA setting. I liked the characters but my connection to Jack wasn't quite as strong as my connection to Willa.

The Dragonfly Prince - 4.5 Bookworms
This ended up being my favorite! I liked the premise of the story - the fey element as well as the scientific. I also really found the characters engaging. I was most captivated by this story.

Overall, I enjoyed this collection of stories. They flowed well together, incorporating similar themes. They were all engaging and they were STEAMY! I'll definitely check out more from Sharon Lynn Fisher.

#OctobeRecFest Review #4 ~ Immersed ~ Katie Hayoz

Immersed by Katie Hayoz
Immersed #1
Release Date: August 18, 2015
Genre: Steampunk
Source: Gift from Lexxie
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Goodreads
Recommended by: Lexxie, Braine, & Lola

Synopsis
What is love turned you into a monster?

Forget petticoats and demure female behavior. Melusine Dore prefers armored corsets and knives and slays evil creatures for a living. The grim and gruesome don't frighten her; she'll take on a cyclops or a dragon and not even break a sweat. But when her rival, the charismatic Levi Cannon, comes to town, all her buried fears begin to surface. Melusine realizes she is in danger of something much more frightening than facing blood-thirsty beasts - she's in danger of falling in love. Because love alone has the power to reveal a secret terrible enough to completely shatter her world.

Set in the muddy streets of 1850s steampunk Chicago, Immersed by Katie Hayoz is a dark yet romantic fantastical romp. It is a stand-alone novella, but the first in a series of adventures that follow Melusine on her quest to rid the world of monsters...and her struggle to come to terms with every monstrous facet of herself.

*Recommended by Lexxie @Unconventional Bookview, Braine @Talk Supe, and Lola @Lola's Reviews*

Immersed served as my introduction to the steampunk genre. I have nothing to compare it to, obviously, but if this is representative then I'm sorry I waited so long to dip my toe in!

Hayoz created a unique and vivid landscape for this series - a Chicago slowing sinking into the mud. I was fascinated by her descriptions of the streets with their popping gaslamps, wooden boardwalks built to prevent walking through med as well as to serve as a means of entering buildings with their first floors now serving as basements, and, of course, the steam-powered horse-drawn carriages.

Hayoz populated this Chicago with enthralling characters in Melusine and Levi, along with the creepy monsters. Melusine and Levi are monster-hunters and rivals. Unfortunately for them, they've just been hired for a job to work together. These two are like oil and water but it certainly made for entertaining conversation. The snarky banter belied the true feelings brewing between them, however, and watching as these two slowly revealed those feelings was exciting, to say the least. I adore Melusine. She's sassy and confident - a wonderful heroine. Levi stole my heart as well with his charm and wit.

Oh, but those pesky monsters. Hayoz brilliantly wove in cyclops, sirens, mermaids, and the like. Melusine and Levi even have a curse to deal with. Luckily they both know where to get proper bait, to lure their prey, and weaponry, for destroying them.

Immersed was also my introduction to Hayoz's writing and I'm impressed. She deftly combined mythology, steampunk, a mystery and a little romance to create a fascinating tale. The pacing was perfect. And the imagery she invoked with her words had me picturing the entire story in my head, like a movie.

I'm very much looking forward to the next installment in this series and I certainly intend to read more of Hayoz's work.

That's What HE Said #39 ~ Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts #18

That's What He Said is a weekly meme hosted by the lovely ladies @Chapter Break. Here's the deal: every Thursday, post a line from your book boyfriend to his heroine. Keep in mind, these are direct quotes from dialog in the books. The quote doesn't have to be romantic - just something our hunky hero said to his lucky lady. Be sure to link up over at Chapter Break as well.

My pick this week for That's What He Said is from:

Immersed by Katie Hayoz

This was a rather tender moment between Melusine and Levi where he was letting her know she was safe, her heart was safe, with him.

***

"You said earlier that you thought men were very much like monsters." She nodded and he continued. "I will never seek to hurt you, Melusine Dore."

*~*~*~*~*~*

This quote made me giggle. These two certainly have some fun with their snarky banter!

"That's what he gets for calling me 'bit of jam'!"
Levi chuckled. "Yes, I'd think you're more of a marmalade - tangy and sour. An acquired taste."