Nonstop action for fans of paranormal romance: another lusty fantasy from Moning (The Dark Highlander, not reviewed, etc.).
Brawny fairies strut their stuff.
But aren’t they supposed to be ethereal, wispy, tiny creatures? Not in Gabrielle O’Callaghan’s world: the supersized sprite she’s eying is clad in snug-fitting, faded jeans, a black T-shirt, and black leather boots. Buff and built, he also sports gold armbands around his powerful, rock-hard biceps, and boasts a strong jaw and aquiline nose—plus that luscious gold-velvet fairy skin. And, o-o-h, don’t forget some yummy stubble and decadently full lips. But what is this ultra-kissable hunk of . . . um, fairy . . . doing in the here and now? At least only Gabby can see him, but, gee whiz, her unwanted ability to perceive the fey folk is just driving her crazy. Her grandmother Moira advised her just to ignore them but it’s hard to ignore one like this. As it turns out, Adam Black is under a curse and not immortal anymore, so he can, you know, fool around with real girls. Is he being pursued by otherworldly beings known as the Hunters? Maybe he can find refuge in her arms, and, well, she wouldn’t say no to a kiss. Nothing doing . . . this fairy is horny. “Name your fancy, woman,” Adam purrs. “Is it bondage? A bit of spanking? Or just a good, hard . . . .” You get the idea. And so does Gabby, even if she is a virgin. Together they flee the awesome wrath of Morganna, the spurned and furious fairy queen, while Adam is stalked through several dimensions and suites in deluxe hotels by her minions, bent on bloody vengeance. Bouncing from the mist-shrouded realm of the Fae to the more prosaic locale of Cincinnati is no sweat for Adam, but it’s tough on Gabby. Talk about your long-distance relationships! And she’ll never remember all that pseudo Gaelic if Adam keeps whispering naughty things into her innocent ears.
Nonstop action for fans of paranormal romance: another lusty fantasy from Moning (The Dark Highlander, not reviewed, etc.).Pub Date: Aug. 3, 2004
ISBN: 0-385-33825-2
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Delacorte
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2004
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Packed with riveting drama and painful truths, this book powerfully illustrates the devastation of abuse—and the strength of...
Hoover’s (November 9, 2015, etc.) latest tackles the difficult subject of domestic violence with romantic tenderness and emotional heft.
At first glance, the couple is edgy but cute: Lily Bloom runs a flower shop for people who hate flowers; Ryle Kincaid is a surgeon who says he never wants to get married or have kids. They meet on a rooftop in Boston on the night Ryle loses a patient and Lily attends her abusive father’s funeral. The provocative opening takes a dark turn when Lily receives a warning about Ryle’s intentions from his sister, who becomes Lily’s employee and close friend. Lily swears she’ll never end up in another abusive home, but when Ryle starts to show all the same warning signs that her mother ignored, Lily learns just how hard it is to say goodbye. When Ryle is not in the throes of a jealous rage, his redeeming qualities return, and Lily can justify his behavior: “I think we needed what happened on the stairwell to happen so that I would know his past and we’d be able to work on it together,” she tells herself. Lily marries Ryle hoping the good will outweigh the bad, and the mother-daughter dynamics evolve beautifully as Lily reflects on her childhood with fresh eyes. Diary entries fancifully addressed to TV host Ellen DeGeneres serve as flashbacks to Lily’s teenage years, when she met her first love, Atlas Corrigan, a homeless boy she found squatting in a neighbor’s house. When Atlas turns up in Boston, now a successful chef, he begs Lily to leave Ryle. Despite the better option right in front of her, an unexpected complication forces Lily to cut ties with Atlas, confront Ryle, and try to end the cycle of abuse before it’s too late. The relationships are portrayed with compassion and honesty, and the author’s note at the end that explains Hoover’s personal connection to the subject matter is a must-read.
Packed with riveting drama and painful truths, this book powerfully illustrates the devastation of abuse—and the strength of the survivors.Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-5011-1036-8
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Atria
Review Posted Online: May 30, 2016
Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2016
SEEN & HEARD
SEEN & HEARD
Anyone who believes in true love or is simply willing to accept it as the premise of a winding tale will find this debut an...
True love flares between two people, but they find that circumstances always impede it.
On a winter day in London, Laurie spots Jack from her bus home and he sparks a feeling in her so deep that she spends the next year searching for him. Her roommate and best friend, Sarah, is the perfect wing-woman but ultimately—and unknowingly—ends the search by finding Jack and falling for him herself. Laurie’s hasty decision not to tell Sarah is the second painful missed opportunity (after not getting off the bus), but Sarah’s happiness is so important to Laurie that she dedicates ample energy into retraining her heart not to love Jack. Laurie is misguided, but her effort and loyalty spring from a true heart, and she considers her project mostly successful. Perhaps she would have total success, but the fact of the matter is that Jack feels the same deep connection to Laurie. His reasons for not acting on them are less admirable: He likes Sarah and she’s the total package; why would he give that up just because every time he and Laurie have enough time together (and just enough alcohol) they nearly fall into each other’s arms? Laurie finally begins to move on, creating a mostly satisfying life for herself, whereas Jack’s inability to be genuine tortures him and turns him into an ever bigger jerk. Patriarchy—it hurts men, too! There’s no question where the book is going, but the pacing is just right, the tone warm, and the characters sympathetic, even when making dumb decisions.
Anyone who believes in true love or is simply willing to accept it as the premise of a winding tale will find this debut an emotional, satisfying read.Pub Date: Oct. 16, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-525-57468-2
Page Count: 400
Publisher: Crown
Review Posted Online: July 30, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2018
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK TO SCREEN
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
