OUTLANDER SERIES - Review of 'that episode'.

* CONTAINS SPOILERS

I've been asked to write a review on the Outlander series.... so many of you want to know what I thought of the final episode last week. This guy pretty much sums up how I watched it.

A week later my heart still trembles at the memory of how anxious I was before watching that final episode of Outlander. To be honest, I was like it for the last two. The previous one had left me doubting if I wanted to 'put myself' though watching it, as I knew what was coming. I was also massively pissed off that we had to wait longer to watch it. I didn't want to wait to watch it but I also didn't want to watch it... weird huh.

For those who haven't read the books or heard of OUTLANDER here is a brief overview.

1. After serving as a British Army nurse in World War II, Claire Randall is enjoying a second honeymoon in Scotland with husband Frank, an MI6 officer looking forward to a new career as an Oxford historian. Suddenly, Claire is transported to 1743 and into a mysterious world where her freedom and life are threatened. To survive, she marries Jamie Fraser, a strapping Scots warrior with a complicated past and a disarming sense of humor. A passionate relationship ensues, and Claire is caught between two vastly different men in two inharmonious lives. "Outlander" is adapted from the best-selling books by Diana Gabaldon.

I highly recommend you watch the series (Amazonprime if you are in the UK) as the acting, setting and costumes are brilliant. This will be award winning. There were no half measures in any part of this series and the actors involved in the final episode must have gone to a very dark place to get the scenes right.

So what happened in that final episode....Rape and Torture. Both mental and physical.

If your mind is envisaging Claire being raped, that would be the obvious conclusion to jump to. However, Jamie is the victim. Yes, her husband.

Let me set the scene for you so you can understand the history which leads to this dramatic episode.

In the rape scene Jamie is held captive by Captain Jack Randall (Black Jack) but why? I will attempt to explain in a quick round up.

We know from previous episodes that Randall has a thing for Jamie. He wants to break him. He had already whipped him for attempting to stop him raping his sister and protecting his property. Jamie was held at knife point by guards as Randall tore his sisters clothes off and groped her in front of him and his men. He dragged her off with a pistol at her throat, claiming she was going to pay the penalty for Jamie's actions. Rumour had it that the rape of his sister resulted in the birth of a child. (We later discover this is untrue, as his sister tells him that Randall couldn't get hard. No doubt because he was too intent on getting back to the hot scot outside who had dared to challenge him and was willing to sacrifice his own life for his sister.) 

After lying to Jamie, by claiming to have raped his sister, Randall tied him to the gates of their home and whipped him until he fell unconscious.

Then took him prisoner at Fort William, but Jamie escaped. He was recaptured and given 100 lashes. Randall insisted he was given 100 more. This was the start of his obsession and he turned poor Jamie into his play thing. Tortured him with great delight.

We know Black Jack is a sick bastard who can only get hard when he is inflicting harm. Some readers/viewers have jumped to the conclusion that he is gay. I think he is 'any which way', so long as they are fighting him off.

With Jamie captive, Randall realised that no matter how much pain he inflicts on Jamie he isn't breaking him. He gives him an ultimatum, which was basically 'give me your body or I'll strip the flesh from your bones'. When Jamie again doesn't concede to that offer he is publicly whipped.

Black Jack is true to his word and the flesh is left hanging off Jamie's back. Despite that he still refuses to give himself to Randall and this only goes to cement his obsession with him.

Jamie was rescued by his relatives but a guard was killed in the process which meant there was now a price on Jamie's head and he couldn't return home. He later discovered that his father had witnessed his flogging at the hands of Randall and when Jamie fell unconscious, his father thought he had died and suffered a stroke. He never recovered. This now made Jamie 'laird' of Lallybrock, but given there was now a price on his head Jamie could not return.

What about Claire and Randall... what is their story?

When Claire first meets Randall she thinks it is her husband Frank, as they look identical (Randall is Franks ancestor). (Toby Menzies plays them both and is phenomenal).

He is also the first actor whose willy appearing on screen made me cover my eyes and squeal... seeing his flaccid member being man handled n a desperate attempt to rape Jamie's sister was not something I was prepared for.

Cut a long story short, Claire drops through the stones (time travel) she runs through the woods only to bump into Randall. He gives chase and tried to rape her. She is rescued by a member of the McKenzie clan. This is how she meets Jamie. He is injured and as she is a nurse she treats his wounds.

A couple of episodes on and the stupid cow gets herself recaptured by the English. She is quizzed. An English woman hanging around with Scots? They think she may be a traitor? One of the McKenzies lies and claims she is married to a Scot, which makes her one. The English have no claim on her. This leads to Claire being forced to marry. Even though she is already married in the future to Frank.

She must marry Jamie. An outlaw, with a scarred back, no home and a price on his head. Thank god there is some sexual tension between them. He was the best of a bad bunch and had Dougal not already been married he would have surely took her himself.

The wedding night was a bit too 'Dirty Dancing' for me  in some parts but hey there was more kinky fuckery in it than the entire Fifty Shades of Grey movie. How perfect is Jamie's arse?! I've never been so jealous of a hand in my life.

So what happens next?

Captain Randall is furious that she has managed to slip through his fingers again. He will be even more vexed when he realises she is now married to his obsession. For now he can't touch her but he can add her name to his list of people he wants to break. He just has to wait for her to fall into his clutches again.

He didn't have to wait long, she gets herself captured again... yes again! She didn't stay where Jamie told her to stay. This time he gets her to talk, being polite, plying her with wine and other pleasantries until she believes she will be able to walk free, only to attack her. Punching her in the stomach after already getting one of his guards to attack her. Randall excuses the guard. He tears her clothes off  and is just about to rape her when Jamie appears in the window... yep he scaled the wall.

Pointing a pistol at him he says 'I'll thank ye to take yer hands off my wife'.

Randall is delighted to see that his two obsessions are married. As a viewer you want Jamie to kill him, shot the bastard in the willy and one up the bum hole for good measure... but no, they let him live and make a run for it. I mean for crying out loud... give me the gun I'll shot him for ya.

Next Claire and Jamie have a massive argument about her 'disobeying her husband' resulting in her capture and near rape. Jamie has a reputation to uphold with the men and will not let her go unpunished. When they find lodgings he announces that he needs to spank her so she will never do it again. She quite rightly tells him to fuck off and makes a run for it. He catches her, wrestles her onto his knee and gives her bum cheeks a good walloping.

Her screams are heard in the bar below where all the men laugh. Lesson learnt and Jamie's reputation is no longer in tatters, but his marriage is. Showing again how different the times were. A woman was to obey and if not she would go over her husbands knee.

Role on a week or so. They just about make up as Jamie promises to never raise a hand to her again. Followed by some kinky sex with her holding a knife to his throat when Jamie is sent away with Dougal on business. This is an ideal time for an ememy of Claire (Jamie's ex snog) to set Claire up and accuse her of Witch Craft. She is not alone, as the other healer Geillis is accused too. She discovers Geillis is pregnant with Dougal's love child and as both Dougal's wife and Geillis's husband die suddenly, Claire wonders if the woman really is a witch. While awaiting trail in a dank hole in the ground, they get to talking and Claire discovers Geillis is a time traveller like her. She is from 1968. They sit trial.

Found guilty they are about to be burnt at the stake when Jamie comes to the rescue. Geillis tells them she is the witch not Claire and despite her protests Jamie whisks her away, leaving Geillis and her unborn child to be burnt at the stake.

Jamie demands to know her secrets. She tells him everything about her past, the stones, time travel, her husband and he believes her. He has heard such tales before. He takes her to the stones to let her return home but she decides she can't leave him. They make their way to Lallybrock, where Jamie is the rightful Laird. Why the hell would they do that?You start shouting at the Telly, 'Big mistake, don't do it you twat!'

As predicted it doesn't take long before Jamie is captured by the English for helping the Jacobites. He didn't want to but he was sort of blackmailed into it and would risk exposure if he didn't. Now he was standing in a queue waiting to be hung.

He watches as his friend is hung before him. Jamie is called next, the noose tied around his throat, he is about to be pushed to his death like all the others... in gallops Black Jack who calls for him to be released.

Jamie's expression has you half expecting him to jump. At least that way he could escape the demented bastard, but before he has a chance he is dragged to the dungeons. The sick game of cat and mouse begins again.

This brings us to the penultimate episode which as I've already said I wasn't keen to watch, as I knew what it was leading up to. By the end I was convinced that I would skip watching the final one and just wait for next season, as it contained something I didn't want to see. At the same time I was intrigued as to how they would portray it. I knew it would be very dark, powerful and sick.... much like Randall.

I was nervous because I knew it was going to end badly for Jamie. I started to feel like Claire. Knowing the future but helpless to say anything.

On the plus side, if a series can make you physically uneasy about watching it, but at the same time you 'have to'... then it is award winning.

So what happens in the final episodes?

Jamie is tortured by the demented bastard who is played so well by Menzies I found myself wishing I had the privileged of being there to watch the genius film a scene. (One minute I don't want to watch it, the next I wish I was there for a closer look so I could applaud when they say 'Cut'.)

Right back to the drama... Claire discovers Jamie is held prisoner and manages to sneak in to see him. Finding him collapsed in a tortured heap, close to death she falls to her knees. Noticing his hand is shattered as Randall had used a hammer on it as part of his torture. Every time he hit it, he promised the torture would stop once he gave his body to him willingly. That was when he knew he had broke him. In the panic to free him, Claire struggles to find a way to release his shackles.

She is caught by Black Jack, while you shout at the screen to stop chatting and get dragging him to safety... dozy cow!

The usual confrontation ensues, Claire is beaten. A knife held to her throat and we are shown a gross scene where she is checked for weapons by a hench man on Randalls order. This filthy guard is sticking his hand up her dress and sniffing his fingers with delight when he is done with his cavity search. All that serves to do, is to remind me how unclean people were back then. I didn't want to think about the violation, the state of his fingernails, the infection they could cause her or the smell of her mimsy, which hadn't seen a bar of soap since she fell through the stones. Urgh!  

Black Jack loves the reaction of both Claire and Jamie to this act and decides it will be fun to make Jamie watch as the filthy guard rapes Claire in front of him. That doesn't go to plan as half dead Jamie manages to fight off the guard and defend his wife. The guard lays dead but Randall has Claire in his clutches and will slit her throat if Jamie moves a muscle. He decides to rape her himself. (Yep there is a lot of attempted rapes in this series) Jamie panics and offers himself instead. Claire knows that Randall had tried to get Jamie to give him his body before. Wanting it to be 'his choice, to give himself to him'. She knows the marks on his back are there because he refused, and has no doubt his shattered had was caused by torture for again refusing. Yet here he was offering to take her place.

Randall was over joyed with the offer. He promised that Claire would be freed so long as he didn't fight him. Jamie agrees, but in order to test that Jamie is a man of his word, Randall asks him to lay his damaged hand on the table. Jamie does as he is asked, with Claire clinging onto him pleading for him not to do it. Randall hammers a nail into Jamie's hand, securing it to a heavy wooden table. There would be no escape, he was at his mercy.

He drags Claire away and throws her down a hatch onto a pile of dead bodies outside the prison, including the body of Jamie's Jacobite friend. She scrambles up and heads for the trees where the others are waiting. She sets about begging people to help rescue him, all the time knowing he was probably being raped and tortured.

There is no rescue for Jamie. In one of the darkest episodes ever witnessed. I covered my eyes and pressed play.

Waiting for it to start felt like walking into the dungeons at Warwick Castle, terrified at what you might see but your eyes still want to see it.

A few swear words escaped my mouth as the start was told in flash back. Jamie has been rescued but I knew what he had just been through. Everyone was fussing around him as they tended to his wounds. Jaime just stared into space. He was lost in there, trapped inside and reliving the horrors.

The first flash back to Jamie lying face down on a cot bed, seeing the dead look in his eyes meant Black Jack had got what he wanted. I felt sick to my stomach.

Then the camera started to pan out and my heart screamed.... oh god, here we go. Nothing could have prepared me for the brilliantly simple shot, that froze my heart and soul, filling them both with dread. There he was, Black Jack lying naked beside him. Poor Jamie, someone help him... someone kill the bastard.

I never thought there would be a time when I didn't want to see Jamie naked... I mean this is what we are used to....

but right now I wanted him in a suit of armour. I didn't want to see this!

The episode flash back and forth. Torturing the viewer with scenes like this. The nail being yanked from his hand, he falls back only to be cuddled and offered comfort by Randall before he insists on him kissing him like Claire.

The man lay in bits and he was trying to snog him.... my stomach was in knots.

It went on to share other scenes like his being forced to grope Randalls willy. Randall attempting to give Jamie a hand job and even noshing him off in the hope of eliciting a response. Chilling, sick and terrifying.

When that doesn't work he decides enough is enough, and forces Jamie over the table. Raping him, insisting he screams. You are not spared the sort of approach others take, the camera panning away. You see everything and the whole thing feels very real. This is no longer a book adaptation, you can see the abuse right in front of you and can never 'unsee' it.

Not satisfied with that Randall starts playing mind tricks with Jamie. Leading up to the scene I was left stunned by. He drugs Jamie, making him think he is Claire. Helping Jamie to get himself hard, he pretends to be Claire. Once ready, he asks Jamie to wait for him before he slips behind him on the bed and rapes him again... only this time Jamie is that out of it on drugs he thinks he is making love to Claire and takes pleasure in it. Only when he comes back to reality does Jamie realise what he has done. He has let Randall make love to him. That is when Randall knew he had broken Jamie, and Jamie knew it too. The first image of him with the dead look in his eyes is after that.

Jamie is rescued as the others send a herd of cattle running through the prison, through the door Claire left open... Randall is stomped on and you are left hoping he is dead. No such luck.

Claire and the others speed Jamie away to a monastery. His wounds are tended to but his soul is left tortured. Another flash back shows you that Jamie has been branded by Randall. He now has the initials JR on his ribs. After trying to take his own life and begging to be allowed to die, Claire gets angry and finally he breaks down and tells her everything including 'making love' to Randall. She convinces him that it was not his fault and he needed to put it behind them.

The final scenes were of Jamie asking Murdoch to cut the initials from his body, which he did. They then set said to France, where Claire tells him they are expecting a baby. Something tells me Jamie is not as happy about it as he makes out. All will be revealed in the new series.

All in all, I am glad I watched it but I never want to see Menzie naked again. I am stunned at the actors, photography, costumes, effects that made it all come together. It was a haunting episode. One which deserves far more acclaim, much like the entire series.

I look forward to the second series but will gladly leave that episode behind and never watch it again. If the actors don't win Emmy's I will be gutted.

I am still fucking raging that it isn't on the main channels in the UK. I've had to watch it online. Please someone get that sorted as Amazon Prime sucks and you are missing out on a huge audience. No one I know outside of my writing world friends has read the books or heard of the series. I had to watch them on my own. I want everyone in the UK to get a real chance to see it without having to sign up to a stupid monthly cost with Amazon.

Let me know what you thought in the comments section.

FIFTY SHADES OF GREY - FILM REVIEW (BOOK 1)

Bum smackingly good but still left wanting. 

The opening scenes seem quite Indie. Focusing on Christian getting dressed and choosing a grey suit and tie. Ana is rushing around to get to work, surrounded by grey cars, buildings etc it drops you nicely into their world... 50 shades of grey. 

We sat next to French Canadian teacher who currently teaches in Egypt. She was seeing it on her own as she was in town due to work commitments at our University. She said it would never be shown in Egypt so she was taking the opportunity to see it before she flies out in the morning.  She didn't like the book but enjoyed the film.

First thing you all want to know is, how rude is it? 

I've seen far more graphic sex scenes and violence in Game of Thrones, Sons of Anarchy, True Blood and most recently Outlander.  

The sex scenes are very short and more artistic that pornographic. If you watch this GIF you have basically seen it all. 

There are no butt plugs, dildos or kinky fuckery. There is a tie on the wrists, some rope tied to the bed, shackled wrists, blind fold, peacock feather tickles, quick flick of a flogger, ice cube on a nipple, light smacks with a riding crop, a bum smack or two, and a belt across the bum. Hardly BDSM... more vanilla sex with a bit of spice. 

Don't expect this... you won't get it. 

Dakota Johnson... is she well cast as Ana?

Absolutely. She was fantastic, believable and far more beautiful on screen than any pictures I've seen circulating of her. She is alluring, sensual and projects an aura of innocence and gentility, that I could easily see someone like Christian Grey being attracted to when choosing a Sub.

She is not scared to writhe around and moan... she never has an orgasm on screen as it is more 'alluded to' sex then watching it. She has a cracking figure and is at ease with the naked scenes, as is Jamie.

She plays the character stronger than the book version of Ana. There is a lot of back story which isn't portrayed on screen so some of her choices seems misplaced. I think the Director is assuming the viewers know the books and can fill it in for themselves. 

Jamie Dornan... is he Christian Grey? 

Not only is he ridiculously good looking in a grey suit and has an amazing physic, but he seems quite at home with the Dom role, which sets the viewer at ease. There is no awkwardness when seeing or touching Ana (Dakota). He makes it believable, as he ties a knot, rips open condoms with his teeth and smacks a bum... all without harming Ana. 

He doesn't spend the entire film glaring, like the character in the book, and there are several scenes where you get to see the Christian that Ana falls in love with. He has a sense of humour and while he is the little boy lost, you know that Ana will find him, if only he can let his guard down.

The ripped jeans they chose for him were a bit shit. They seem more Tesco value than designer. The scene where he walks in wearing them is so quick, if you blink you will miss it... here is it. There is nothing to explain their significance. 

I have to say the best scene in the film was the one I was most apprehensive about as I hated it in the book... the virginity scene. Dornan saves it. Not only does he manage to sort of 'prowl' when climbing on the bed, moving up between her legs, but his arse is to die for! I mean seriously look at it! 

Chemistry... do they have it?

Yes. Ana is sweet, coy and innocent. Christian is predatory, guarded and possessive. Both actors portray that well.

I don't think they kiss that well in the beginning, it is a bit 'hit and miss' but I liked that. Like all other relationships you get used to each other and kissing becomes more natural so by the end they are comfortable and it is sexier. 

I was thankful for the lack of 'Oh My' but noticed there were a few lip bites, eye rolls and I hate the 'Laters baby'... I fucking hate it. 

Verdict: 

All in all it was a good film. Not as good as the hype but I didn't expect it to live up to that... I mean what could? I don't think you need to rush to the cinema to see it. It's not like it's 3D and Christian big willy or whip is coming at you across the cinema. It can easily be a Netflix film. Wait for the DVD.

I look forward to seeing the next instalment. I won't rush to see it. 

I was amused that there were several men commenting afterwards that is wasn't as bad as they thought. Some women were relieved it wasn't as hardcore as they thought. These were the people who would slip down in their chairs when the sex scenes came on, only to pop back up and relax because it wasn't as RRated as they were led to believe by the rating and hype. The wedding scene in Outlander is far more graphic. 

I am just happy to see two good actors committing to the roles and bringing it to life. I am sure the author is delighted. My friends have asked when the next film is out as they want to see it. What more could an author hope for when their book is depicted on screen. 

Well done Dakota and Jamie. 

A Highlanders Obsession - Vonnie Davis 5* Book Review

(could contain spoilers)

Kilts, Willies, Gnats chewing balls... are some of the things to look forward to in this book. Featuring Creighton a hot Scottish Laird, with long flowing hair, blowing in the highland winds like a shampoo advert. He is also built like a brick shit house! (I wouldn't mind tossing his caber!)

Being a Scot he loves a tipple of Whiskey and is horny as hell. Unfortunately, he is stuck running the family business (B&B castle), he inherited following his fathers death. Along with that he has to keep in line the crazy world of shifters and oversee the reading of a will, following the death of an old friend. He just wants it over and done with as soon as possible so things can get back to normal, but the moment he sets his eyes on the new American accompanying her grandmother to the reading, his inner bear lays claim 'mine' and winning her heart becomes his number one priority. Grrrr! 

The author, American, Vonnie Davis, has taken on the unenviable task of writing this Scottish Bear Shifter, as he appeared one night at the foot of her bed and told her to write this story. Yep, she is bat shit crazy! As such this story is a delight to read, because she dare not balls it up in case he reappears and sticks a claw in her hoohar! (Not that she would mind)

Paisely, is the lucky bitch who gets to win his heart. She has a gift/secret of her own. No she doesn't turn into a bear and let him share her honey pot, she can talk to the animals. (Photographs by Katerina Plotnikova... I sent these to Vonnie when she was writing the story as inspiration, so I am sharing them here too) 

The perk/curse of Paisley being a Dr Dolittle is she can hear animals talk, that includes shifters in human form using telepathy. Mr Lusty Pants is teased by his brothers over his bears obsession with the new lassie in town. Creighton is just shy of going all Cave Man on her ass, walloping her over the head and dragging her back to his room by the hair, but there is one big problem.... Super Gran! 

Paisley's grandmother is there to hear the reading of a will. She bears a striking resemblance to the pink panther, given her obsession with wearing everything pink including her hair. I hate to think what is going on in her knickers... bows, tinsel or a Vajazzle. The way she is described I picture something like this... with less wrinkles and pink hair.

She takes no nonsense and often leave people confused it her wake. She may come across as all sweet and innocent with her pink slippers and crazy hair, but if you cross her she will bitch slap you into next week with one lashing of her tongue. The reading of the will announces that her Grandmother has inherited some estate and obviously she wants to stay to get it all sorted out. Plus she can see the attraction between Creighton and Paisley, as the old saying goes 'Don't make love at the garden gate, love is blind but the neighbours ain't.'

Throw in some masterful growling of 'Ye will be mine, Lassie' and whispers of 'My beloved' and a readers legs are knocked as bandy as Paisleys. You want her to jump him and use him for sex just so you know if he is all talk and no action. The reader becomes invested in finding out what is under that kilt... it's big... so big I nicknamed it Nessie after the Loch Ness Monster. I envy Paisley for experiencing the power of that brute between her legs. He did waffle on a bit too much for my liking during the nookie scenes so I would have to shove something in his mouth him to shut him, but hey that's what tits are for! No one wants a running commentary Creighton, just enjoy yourself while it lasts because as with every romance novel, love is tested.

Paisley's dickhead of a fiancé.... yes, she is engaged...  is a vet from America who wants to exploit her talents for his own financial gain. He is forcing her to showcase her talents to the world and turns up for a showdown with Mr Big Willy himself. A cock fight commences to win the heart of the bear whisperer... you will have to read it to see what happens.

His hot brothers, have stories of their own in this series to look forward to (wit woo). Add to that magic, witches, warlocks, haunted castles, shifters, some bad men who need to be mauled and you have the gist of this first book in the series. It reminded me of the film 'High Spirits' in certain parts and I love that film... these clips makes me laugh as Liam Neeson drools as much as Creighton in it and is just as naughty. 'Ooo what a woman.' (click the links above each pic to watch the clip)

High Spirits Film Ghostly Shower

High Spirits Seducing Sharon

As expected there is a climatic end to the book that makes your eyes speed read to know what happens, while your brain doesn't want it to end yet so tries to slow your eyes down to no avail. Reader problems #10.

How many stars - 5*'s

The author took on the challenge of writing a story in a language she didn't have a firm grasp of. In order to ensure it was as authentic and accurate as possible she sort out authors and friends who did. Her publisher enjoyed the first so much they signed her up for the series.

It is a story that can easily be picked up and transport you to the Highlands for a wee visit. It is nothing to serious, or emotionally draining to read. It is fun, sexy and escapism. I look forward to the rest of the series.

Who would I recommend it to?

It is not historical romance but has aspects of heritage and folklore so you will enjoy it even if you usually read Historical Romances.

If you loved Outlander and want something to fill the Highlander gap while waiting on the next in the series this will sate that hunger.

If you love to read books where male chauvinism is displayed like a peacock strutting its feathers, only to have it's feathers ruffled by a hen who will not be pecked, you will love this book.He basically gets a kick in the ghoulies so hard they shoot up inside him like a pinball and he risks heart break... that is what you get for being possessive and demanding.  Affection is to be earnt, along with trust, and yes being hung like a donkey helps but no one likes an Ass. Unless it's this fine one! Let me see you shake that tail-feather.

Check out the series here. Read, till your eyes bleed. Don't forget to support authors by leaving a review.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/A-Highlanders-Obsession-Beloved-ebook/dp/B00ILX9WC0

Capturing the Earl's Love: 5* Book Review (A FREE Novella)

This is a lovely novella from Jane Lark. (Previously published as 'Captured Love' but renamed and re-released as a FREE Novella by HarperImpulse as part of Jane's Historical series)

I read this story on a train to London. When I arrive in London I walked through Russell Square Park towards the British Museum, wondering how many romantic scenes the trees had witness. Did the huge tree on the corner have a favourite couple and is so what era were they from? How many chose the big tree on the corner in the shade to rendezvous or kissed beneath it's branches. Were initials carved into the bark that went back over a century? The reason for those thoughts were brought on by reading this short story and sent my mind back to the first in the series, where Ellen and Edward secretly met in a park. How dashing must a gentleman have looked stood underneath that tree waiting to walk beside you in a park as part of a courtship. (Swooooon)

I continued to reading the novella later that day on a bench in the London's National History Museum (it had been a long day and I was resting my feet while others went to see a Wooly Mammoth), plus it was an ideal place to read a historical romance. I finished it off on the train ride home. (Picture of it in my bag)

While it was a quick read, I would have liked it to be longer and more developed. It did seem compressed at times but I accepted it for what it was, a short look at another characters love life, Rupert, who we met in the first story of this wonderful series. (The Illicit Love of a Courtesan. Reviewed on this blog)

It tells a story of how women were used as bargaining chips by their fathers to gain higher status in society, and the pressures put on them to attain the best marriage they could to help elevate their fathers position. Conveying the snobbery where climbing the social ladder was frowned upon by those born into titles and no amount of finishing school could rub off the stigma attached to that. You would always be a polished turd. Unless you marry someone of great power, then no one would dare think it again for fear of your husband shunning them in business affairs.

Meredith's character reminded me of Brittany Murphy in Clueless. A red head who had been made over to look the part but would often giggle too loudly and seemed out of place. She foolishly set her sights on one man and falling head over heels in love for him even though she knew he would never marry anyone as low born as she.

Unfortunately for Meredith, Rupert couldn't stand to be around her. She was his sisters pet project and a thorn in his side. Her gooey eyed looks, her over tight claim on his arm when escorting them across a room, drove him crazy... but he wasn't blind to the assets she possessed and how well she used them. It irritated him that she stirred his loins and that his cousin, Edward, encouraged her advances.

The pivotal scene depicts Meredith being thrown into a desperate situation, thanks to her fathers greed in business, which results in her making a rash decision that affects not only her life, but Rupert's too. Being a noble man Rupert takes responsibility for his part, as the actions cannot be undone. His happiness will be forfeit in order to protect the family name and his honour.

For those who don't understand history and the ramifications of those actions, it can seem a little far fetched, but in reality this is what happened in society and a man's word was his honour. A man would be held accountable for his actions by his peers and mistakes were not easily brushed under the carpet.

The story is wrapped up pretty swiftly as it is novella but I don't think it matters very much as we will see more of them in the other books in this series. It had the right amount of sexual tension and historical drama, plus there was a happy ever after for not just one character in this book, but several. Along with piquing our interest in other characters who we know will be the main protagonists of other books in the series.

Rumour has it that HarperImpulse will be leaving this story as free. The only downside to that is 'Free stories' often receive low reviews by people who would never have purchased the book, are not interested in the story or era, and only want to write a review so it appears as 'verified review' and bumps up their 'reviewer rating'.

This was a lovely read, ideal for a quick train journey or Sunday lying around with your feet up. Several of my friends have read the story and enjoyed it too. Now it's your turn.

By My Side - Wendy Lou Jones - 4*'s Book Review

Ok this is a weird one for me as I loved this story... loved it... but I hated the ending and didn't see the need for the beginning either so I am awarding it 4*’s. (Contains spoilers so I can explain what did and didn't work for me)

Here are the reason why I initially gave it 5*'s.

• I sat up too late reading this story and couldn’t wait to restart it the next day, that is a 5* in my eyes. 

• I was invested in the characters, felt twinges in my heart, got offended and frustrated when they did... so 5*’s.

• The author was a doctor so her medical terminology is spot on for the times and she has insider knowledge of how fast gossip spreads around the hospital.

Why did it lose a star? 

Mainly the fact I hated the ending and that was a big sulking moment for me. I could have taken away more stars for the bits I will mention below, but seeing as I loved Katy and Adam's story it was worth 4*... if it had just been about them and not Lena or the dodgy ending, I would have given full marks. Hell I would have give it 6* out of 5* ;) Remember 4*'s is a nothing to be sniffed at!

The Author is Wendy Lou Jones, she came up with this story after seeing a redhead in a Chemist. She recently hunted her down and freaked her out by confessing she used her as a character in her book. Oh and made her pose for a photo (I am sure an injunction has been issued haha) Wendy is also obsessed with Richard Armitage so I think he is her 'Adam' in this novel, as the descriptions match.

I like to picture Katy and Adam like this in my mind. ;)

THE BLURB

The blurb was a bit confusing, I was expecting to read a story about a woman who had been cheated on and how she overcame it with help from a stranger. Then there was a bit underneath where two people are mentioned 'Katy' and 'Adam' and I realise they are the love birds... so who is Lena and why do we need her in the story... let me clear it up for you. Lena is a character who had been cheated on, failed her exams and attempted to kill herself to escape it all. Despite that her mother takes her to a funeral of a stranger. There someone begins to tell her the love story of Katy and Adam, who met shortly after Katy's Grandfather funeral, and how they were destined to fall in love as they were perfect for each other... not exactly what you want to hear at a funeral, let alone when you have had your heart broken and recently tried to put yourself in a coffin because of it. It just seemed really inappropriate and insensitive, plus her mother taking her to a funeral and leaving her alone to get her ears chewed off was weird. 

My main gripe with the book blurb is that I don't think it sells this book, it is misleading as Lena is not the main character she is more like a witness or a walk on character with maybe six lines throughout the entire book. To have the blurb based on her and not 'Katy' and Adam' was a misleading in my eyes.

SHELF APPEAL

The book cover doesn’t do the story justice and I am not sure the title is right either. I would have preferred Bed Side Manner as that was mainly what was in question from the start. Katy is not happy with Adam's bedside manner and he is well known for being a grump.

By my side, doesn't sound like it is a romance novel set in a medical profession and neither does the cover. I know a number of people who look for medical romances, especially my friends who work in hospitals or the medical profession, so it is missing a marketing opportunity there. ‘Bed Side Manner’ would have been more suitable. 

The cover is a hand holding a butterfly, I have no idea what that refers to other than a soul visiting at a funeral, and whilst we start this story at a funeral, there is far more scope for a cover set in medical romance. Even something basic like a stethoscope in a heart shape on a pair of scrubs, or hanging around a doctors neck would draw in those medical romance lovers. 

Yes it is a beautiful cover but I didn't feel it was relevant to the story and to me books with covers and titles like that usually hold a depressing story about abuse or trauma. I avoid them. This had a depressing ending but the main story was a delight to read.

ENDING - WHAT WAS THE ISSUE?

I mentioned I didn’t like the ending but I won't say exactly why, as it is a huge spoiler. It is safe to say the entire Lena part of the story was a put off for me. I would have preferred the story to just be about the protagonist Katy and her love interest Adam. Set in a hospital... simple. 

I didn’t like the jumping back and forth in time like the Princess Bride meets the Note Book, to someone being told a story at a funeral and I most certainly did not like the end. In fact the words ‘are you F***ing kidding me’ were yelled at my kindle. Good on the author for making me do that but the depressing ending wasn't explained either, I was left wondering what the hell happened. Like I nodded off and missed the end of the movie.

If I had my way, I would chop the end off and get rid of the third person, Lena, as she wasn’t needed. It turned a beautiful romance into something morbid. It felt a bit like the story was being turned it into a Greek tragedy for the sake of shock tactics. In romance the whole point is to see a happy ending without the macabre side. That detachment and melancholy of having a story end with uncertainty or tragedy is not for me. I would start it where Katy is at her grandfathers funeral, cut out Lena, embellish the two of them finally admitting they love each other and give me a 'they live happily ever after but argue frequently' ending.

In the debut novel from this author I struggled with the damage inflicted on the characters health and felt it was unnecessarily grim but hey life is cruel sometimes. I was hoping for a healthier outcome in this case so to see that type of ending again, and to the extreme, made me realise I am never going to get a happy ending from this author. There will be a tragic or fragile ending. No rainbows and unicorns here.... more like life’s a bitch and it’s gunning for you so get shagging everyone before you die.

FRUSTRATION

I spent hours reading this and wishing they would hurry up and sort themselves out. Admit their feelings and have hot make up sex which ends with a marriage proposal and kids... Yep I am that soppy.  Look I even picked out a baby grow.

When I got to the sex, it faded to black... I wasn't happy. To top it off when the characters are to all intents and purposes going to have 'the talk’... it was skipped and replaced with ‘but we had tonight’. Effectively booting me, the reader, who has invested hours in this book over the space of two days, out of the story and closing the door behind me. Only to be replaced with a time jump back to Lena and an ending I could throw rocks at.

I didn’t get to see what they had to say to one another, after ten chapters of ‘will they’ or ‘won’t they’. I felt robbed. I would have preferred to leave that door open and witness what was being said. Jeeze we read romance for confessions of the heart, not narrative from a third party sometime in the future. I want to be there, in the room like a fly on the wall when they confess their love for one another and get naked.

Plus I then had to read the ending that makes your blood run cold and your mood turn from happy to ‘what was the point in reading the story’. You can’t fan the flames of passion, snuff out the light and thrown dirt on it without readers feeling like your story has been hijacked by George R Martin and turned into an episode of Game of Thrones. It was an unnecessary twist of fate for the characters, which was cruel and disappointing. I felt like it was for shock tactics, even though I had an idea it was going all Bruce Willis a few chapters in. I just hoped the author didn't take that road... boy was I disappointed.

I had envisaged the characters singing songs like this at their wedding... No such luck.

I would recommended it, but with a warning to skip the ending as I wish I had. I even forced a friend who works in A&E to read it immediately to see if she felt the same about certain parts and 'yes,' she did. I didn't even tell her what niggled me and she sent near verbatim feedback in her email... like me she loved it, just not the Lena bits or ending. Oh and the skipping the 'talk' made her mad.

So I am going to pretend this is the ending... (the dancing bit before the shoulder tap)