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Transplanted Tales #2
The Better to See You
Once upon a time, a spell went awry and Make Believe characters were cast into the ordinary world. And the results aren’t always happily ever after…
Everyone thinks fairy godmothers can do no wrong. But if not for a certain spell mis-cast by Lavender Seelie, Cinderella’s former fairy godmother, the Tales would not be stuck in the Here and Now. Fortunately for Lavender, she’s about to get a second chance at a happy ending…
The Refuge, a sanctuary for wayward Tales, seems like the perfect place for Lavender to start a new life—especially when she discovers an unexpected ally in Seth, the brooding werewolf who’s been typecast as a villain ever since his run in with Little Red Riding Hood. But when humans from nearby towns start turning up dead, their bodies mutilated with archaic Tale symbols, Lavender wonders if Seth’s deep sensuality has blinded her to the truth. And that distraction could put innocent lives in danger. Including her own…
“It’s not often that something totally new and entertaining comes along, but Kate SeRine doesn’t disappoint with Red . I definitely recommend this to readers who want humor, drama, suspense, and a truly entertaining, “feel good” romance.” —Kate Douglas
Everyone thinks fairy godmothers can do no wrong. But if not for a certain spell mis-cast by Lavender Seelie, Cinderella’s former fairy godmother, the Tales would not be stuck in the Here and Now. Fortunately for Lavender, she’s about to get a second chance at a happy ending…
The Refuge, a sanctuary for wayward Tales, seems like the perfect place for Lavender to start a new life—especially when she discovers an unexpected ally in Seth, the brooding werewolf who’s been typecast as a villain ever since his run in with Little Red Riding Hood. But when humans from nearby towns start turning up dead, their bodies mutilated with archaic Tale symbols, Lavender wonders if Seth’s deep sensuality has blinded her to the truth. And that distraction could put innocent lives in danger. Including her own…
“It’s not often that something totally new and entertaining comes along, but Kate SeRine doesn’t disappoint with Red . I definitely recommend this to readers who want humor, drama, suspense, and a truly entertaining, “feel good” romance.” —Kate Douglas
290 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
36 people are currently reading
892 people want to read
About the author
Kate SeRine
13 books457 followersKate SeRine (pronounced “serene”) is a hopeless romantic who firmly believes in true love that lasts forever. So it's no surprise that when she began writing her own stories, Kate vowed her characters would always have a happily ever after. She's the author of the award-winning TRANSPLANTED TALES series, the PROTECT AND SERVE series, and the DARK ALLIANCE series.
Kate has been a finalist in the Fire and Ice Contest (2010), the Finally a Bride Contest (2010), the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence (2013), and the Booksellers Best Award (2017); and is the recipient of The Emily (2012), the National Readers Choice Award (2012), and the National Excellence in Story Telling Award (2022). She is represented by Nicole Resciniti with the Seymour Agency.
Kate lives in a smallish, quintessentially Midwestern town with her husband and two sons, who share her love of storytelling. She never tires of creating new worlds to share and is even now working on her next project--probably while consuming way too much coffee.
Series reading order:
Transplanted Tales:
Red
Grimm Consequences
The Better to See You
Along Came a Spider
Ever After
Better Watch Out
Protect & Serve:
"Torn" (prequel novella in WAY OF THE WARRIOR)
Stop at Nothing
Safe from Harm
Dark Alliance:
Deceived
Concealed
Kate has been a finalist in the Fire and Ice Contest (2010), the Finally a Bride Contest (2010), the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence (2013), and the Booksellers Best Award (2017); and is the recipient of The Emily (2012), the National Readers Choice Award (2012), and the National Excellence in Story Telling Award (2022). She is represented by Nicole Resciniti with the Seymour Agency.
Kate lives in a smallish, quintessentially Midwestern town with her husband and two sons, who share her love of storytelling. She never tires of creating new worlds to share and is even now working on her next project--probably while consuming way too much coffee.
Series reading order:
Transplanted Tales:
Red
Grimm Consequences
The Better to See You
Along Came a Spider
Ever After
Better Watch Out
Protect & Serve:
"Torn" (prequel novella in WAY OF THE WARRIOR)
Stop at Nothing
Safe from Harm
Dark Alliance:
Deceived
Concealed
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
April 4, 2022
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from . This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Big Bad Wolf and Cinderella's godmother responsible for accidentally sending some Tales into the real world might not seem like a likely couple. The Better To See You, the second book in the Transplanted Tales series, is about two people/tales, who mostly hated by others need to find a way to forgive themselves and trust someone else.
Transplanted Tales puts a bunch of storybook characters into real world. Much like the show Once Upon a Time, they are slightly different stories from the ones we know and we get unusual pairings when they are all thrown together. Told from Lavender's (Cinderella's Fairy Godmother) PoV we get to see a recovering fairy alcoholic just trying to figure out her life. She is done with the not so charming Charmings and needs a place to lay low until the fallout of what she did to expose their not so perfect life dies down. Off to the Refuge where tales go to rebuild their lives and Seth the Wolf from Red Riding Hood is holding up.
Lavender and Seth might seem like an odd pairing but honestly both have been through some pretty big challenges and made mistakes they need to forgive themselves for. No one is harder on you than you. When they finally start talking to one another, it is clear how much they have in common and why they can start to learn to trust the other person. I mean who is going to understand being hated better than someone who also went through that.
Besides the growing romance, there is someone in the town killing off ordinary people and a few tales have gone missing. Lavender and Seth have seemed to have fallen into the middle of this mystery and someone or something is trying to scare them off. As they work together to figure out what is happening in this little town of misfit tales, they will grow to care both for the place they are in and each other.
I really liked Seth's origin story. It made a lot more sense why he struggled so much to let Red in and why he made certain choices in his life. Lavender getting her confidence back a little at a time and with it her fairy magic was also nice. Sometimes it is easier to believe in yourself when someone else believes in you first. I enjoyed The Better to See You even more than Red as I felt like the author was finding a good blend with the characters, the plot and the pacing.
Red
Grimm Consequences
The Better to See You
Along Came A Spider
Ever After
Better Watch Out (Fall 2022)
Excerpt:
Review copy was received from . This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
The Big Bad Wolf and Cinderella's godmother responsible for accidentally sending some Tales into the real world might not seem like a likely couple. The Better To See You, the second book in the Transplanted Tales series, is about two people/tales, who mostly hated by others need to find a way to forgive themselves and trust someone else.
Transplanted Tales puts a bunch of storybook characters into real world. Much like the show Once Upon a Time, they are slightly different stories from the ones we know and we get unusual pairings when they are all thrown together. Told from Lavender's (Cinderella's Fairy Godmother) PoV we get to see a recovering fairy alcoholic just trying to figure out her life. She is done with the not so charming Charmings and needs a place to lay low until the fallout of what she did to expose their not so perfect life dies down. Off to the Refuge where tales go to rebuild their lives and Seth the Wolf from Red Riding Hood is holding up.
Lavender and Seth might seem like an odd pairing but honestly both have been through some pretty big challenges and made mistakes they need to forgive themselves for. No one is harder on you than you. When they finally start talking to one another, it is clear how much they have in common and why they can start to learn to trust the other person. I mean who is going to understand being hated better than someone who also went through that.
Besides the growing romance, there is someone in the town killing off ordinary people and a few tales have gone missing. Lavender and Seth have seemed to have fallen into the middle of this mystery and someone or something is trying to scare them off. As they work together to figure out what is happening in this little town of misfit tales, they will grow to care both for the place they are in and each other.
I really liked Seth's origin story. It made a lot more sense why he struggled so much to let Red in and why he made certain choices in his life. Lavender getting her confidence back a little at a time and with it her fairy magic was also nice. Sometimes it is easier to believe in yourself when someone else believes in you first. I enjoyed The Better to See You even more than Red as I felt like the author was finding a good blend with the characters, the plot and the pacing.
Red
Grimm Consequences
The Better to See You
Along Came A Spider
Ever After
Better Watch Out (Fall 2022)
Excerpt:
It was over.
I was going to be torn apart here in the middle of nowhere by some winged demon dog. I’d never get the chance to start over. I’d never get the chance to prove I was more than just a colossal failure in every regard—as a daughter, as a woman, as a fairy.
I couldn’t believe my unbelievably shitty luck.
Shaking violently from the pain wracking my body, I lay there, the raindrops mixing with my tears as I sobbed and watched helplessly as pine needles gathered together, creating a thick rope that wound itself around my arms and torso, pinning me to the ground.
Briefly, I wondered how people would remember me after I was gone. Would they speak the name Lavender Seelie and think of the fairy godmother who’d once wielded almost unparalleled power and skill? Or would they remember only the screwed-up fairy who’d ruined their lives when that same power had betrayed her?
After several agonizing moments, I finally heard the creature leap across the ravine and snapped out of my last-minute pity party, fear and panic once more flooding my veins.
There was no point in trying to summon my magic now—it had deserted me, that was pretty freaking clear. I just hoped like hell my death would be quick.
The creature prowled toward me, its massive bulk a mercifully indistinct silhouette, and I swear I thought I heard it chuckle, the sound sending chills down my spine. Then from behind me came the whisper-soft padding of paws on the underbrush. In the next instant, a great white wolf leaped over me and slammed into the shadow-creature. The two rolled end-over-end in a tangle of claws and teeth, coming to rest with the wolf on top, its lips peeled back in a vicious snarl.
I turned my head to get a better look just in time to see the wolf grab the creature’s throat in its teeth. The beast’s howl ended abruptly as the wolf gave a powerful shake of its head, tearing out a large section of demon dog’s throat.
The wolf flung the chunk of flesh into the underbrush then cautiously padded toward me, its head down between its shoulders, sizing me up. As it came closer, I realized it wasn’t an ordinary timber wolf. This animal was easily twice the size of any wolf I’d ever seen and had a distinctly human intelligence shining in its eyes.
I didn’t stand a chance.
It bit through the pine needle rope and shook its head, scattering the needles all over the ground. The rest of the needles instantly fell away, and the trees halted their brutal assault.
I raised a bloody, trembling hand, not sure if I’d just exchanged one predator for another. “Please,” I managed to gasp between the quick, shallow breathes that were all my punctured lung would now allow. “Please…”
In response, a soft shimmering light encased the wolf, and where the beautiful creature had stood, now crouched a man, his ice-green eyes still glowing. As he gently lifted me into his arms, I cried out, pain engulfing me.
“It’s all right,” he said softly, cradling me against him. “You’re safe now.”
I looked up into the grim face of my rescuer, now recognizing him. How could I not when I’d seen his face on Wanted posters and in the Tale news so often over the centuries?
As pain and nausea sent me careening toward a dark abyss, his name drifted to me:
Seth Wolf.
January 23, 2020
“Why, Mr. Wolf,” I murmured as he nipped again, “what big teeth you have.”
He chuckled. “Come back to the kitchen with me,” he drawled, his voice going dark with promise, “and I’ll show you what else is big. . . .”
Characters
Seth ("The Big Bad Wolf"):
“Once upon a time”, Seth was ”an honorable and gallant knight who traveled through Make Believe, performing heroic deeds and protecting those who couldn’t protect themselves”. What he thought was just another heroic deed resulted in him killing the love of his life. That turn of events caused a bitter and grief-stricken mother to place a curse on him that turned him into a werewolf. Once that happened he became The Big Bad Wolf and wandered around “lost, heartbroken, hunted and hated.”
Seth is gorgeous, sexy and an incredible chef. This man definitely knows his way around the kitchen. He’s secluded himself near The Refuge because he's afraid to get close to anyone for fear he will be a threat to them. So, he lives a pretty lonely existence.
Some quotes about Seth:
“From my very first glimpse of Seth, I’d seen he was oh-my-God handsome in a rugged, formidable sort of way. But there was a vulnerability there just below the surface that was immensely intriguing.”
“The man hates what he is, what he’s become. He’s lost everyone and everything that was ever important to him. That kind of loss can push a person right over the edge and make him do things he’d never normally consider doing.”
“Hey, I get it,” I told him. “You were cursed by someone magical and now your life is one big woe-is-me parade. You don’t trust any Tales with magic? Fine.
“You sure have the whole emotionally dead loner vibe going for you. At least my emotional range consists of more than just pissed off and apathetic!”
Lavender ("former" fairy godmother to Cinderella):
“Once upon a time” Lavender was the toast of Make Believe and was Cinderella’s fairy godmother. Lavender was ”arguably the most powerful and talented fairy ever born” but life as a fairy wasn’t all it was cracked up to be with James and Cinderella Charming. ”Having served as fairy godmother to Cinderella and her crooked, philandering, asshole of a husband hadn’t exactly been the carefree life of ease and contentment I’d signed up for.”
Lavender was introduced in book 1 and had pretty much hit rock bottom. The toll of sending the Tales to a new world, enduring the hatred of everyone and having to deal with the “fakeness” of Cinderella and Prince Charming was too much and she became a drunk.
“For decades I’d tried to blame the genie for everything that had happened, claiming to be just as much of a victim as the rest. But in my heart, I knew the truth. And trying to escape my conscience had driven me to the bottom of a bottle.
After a harsh reality check from Red, she picks herself up off the ground and then......makes another mistake with her uncontrollable magic. “James attacked me and I panicked,” I told her simply. I cast an embarrassed glance her way before adding, “My magic’s been a little hard to control since I’ve been sober.”
She loves her family, but has brought a huge black mark against the family name and her mother is not so forgiving. “Trust me,” I drawled, “I couldn’t possibly forget how ungrateful and irresponsible I’ve been when you remind me every single time we talk.”
Since the spell fiasco, she has lost everything. “Stripped of her titles, her name, her wings, her very essence, she was forced to scrape and bow and kiss ass just to get by.
Some quotes about Lavender:
“I’m the fairy whose sucktacular judgment and giant ego got all us Tales into this freaking mess. And I’ve been paying for it ever since. ’Cause if there’s one thing Tales are good at, it’s holding a grudge.”
“I spent longer than I should have in the hotel’s shower, my emotions vacillating between being proud of myself for finally having the courage to break away from the Charmings and being flat-out panicked over what the hell I was going to do now.”
“You know I’m the daughter of the King and Queen of the Seelies. That Puck is my brother. You know I’m on the run from a vindictive little prick of a prince. You know I have trouble controlling my magic.”
"although there were elements that were wrong, missing. Whoever it was hadn’t been able to fully penetrate the spell. The murders that had taken place so far were just practice, I realized, a warm-up for what was coming”
The Story:
During a "magic duel" with Aladdin's genie, the once idolized Lavender (Cinderella's fairy godmother) conjures up a spell that ends up transplanting the characters from the land of Make Believe into the world of Here and Now. Oops. 😐The "Tales" now hate Lavender and after she accidentally burns down Cindy & James Charming’s home, divulges a lot of secrets that could bury James and ultimately shrinks his penis with a spell, Red (Little Red Riding Hood) decides Lavender needs protecting and sends her to Seth (The Big Bad Wolf).
“Suddenly, the It Girl of legend was the most despised Tale this side of Make Believe, a pariah cast off by her own kind.”
Meanwhile, Seth has his own problems. In book 1 he was wanted for questioning in some murders and he always seems to be blamed when people get hurt. Never quite feeling like he fits in and having a bit of a bad reputation, he decides to move to The Refuge for a fresh start.
Both Lavender and Seth are looking for peace, but with Hellhound attacks, dead Ordinaries, some spooky spell stuff and dead people coming to life, the road to peace certainly isn't easy. Add in some smoking-hot sexual tension 🔥🔥 and it’s anything but calm and peaceful. 😝
”symbols used in a ceremony to raise the dead, to reclaim a Tale’s soul from the mists of the Great After.” “There was now no doubt that whoever was committing these murders was attempting to wield the same ancient necromancy spell that was in the book.”
“The necklace is my family’s crest,” I explained, deliberately refusing to answer the question. “It’s woven with a binding spell that contains my true name. When a fairy gives her name to another, it binds him to her. Forever. It’s not something we ever do lightly.”
“I suddenly didn’t want to let him push me away. I wanted to know more, see more of the man Seth Wolf truly was. And I wanted him to see me—down to the deepest, darkest recesses of my heart, for good or ill.”
My Thoughts:
The following are my thoughts about this book:
- I loved that perfect Cinderella and Prince Charming were painted in a different light in this book.
- 😂 Lavender cracked me up.... "He claims you used your magic to, uh, significantly reduce the size of his manhood.” Red’s head snapped toward me, her eyes wide. “Did you really shrink his dink?” I didn’t flinch. “He had it coming.”
- I loved the way Seth and Lavender faced off against each other when they first met. You could tell they would have a passionate relationship once they actually liked each other. 😊 “If I’m such a bother, why didn’t you just take me to a hospital instead of bringing me here so you could whine and bitch about taking care of me?” "Maybe I wouldn’t be an asshole about it if you’d show a little gratitude instead of acting like a spoiled brat."
- "Besides,” he added, “how was I supposed to know who you were? You don’t look like a fairy.” I crossed my arms in a huff. “Well you don’t look like a dickhead." "Guess looks can be deceiving.”
- Lavender's brother was a total asshole. Drugging people just to get them to come to his casino was a sleeze thing to do. What a dick!! I thought it would be good for Lavendar to have her brother around at first, but then I saw what kind of Tale he was and I wanted to scream "good riddance"! “And here I thought your days of using me for your own amusement were gone. I guess next time you decide to pimp me out to save some money, you should let me know first so I’ll know how far to go.”
- Who knew washing dishes could be so steamy!! ☺️ 🔥🔥
- Old Mother Hubbard....what's not to love about her? The perfect grandma-type “Mama Hubbard came toward me, not waiting for me to go to her, and gave me a hug that was so warm and comforting, I felt like snuggling up against her and asking her to read me a bedtime story.” . 🤗 🤗
- I loved how the townspeople showed up to help. It’s heartwarming when a community pulls together when one of their own is in trouble. Hansel & Gretel, The Farmer In The Dell, the Old Lady Who Lived In a Shoe and many others showed up to help... “another group of townspeople showed up to see where they could help, bringing more covered dishes and a peach cobbler.”
- I loved the creativity and the originality.
Overall:
Overall, this series is a big win for me. I loved the first book and was a little unsure whether or not the second one could live up to the fun and entertainment of the previous one. No worries, it delivered exactly what I was hoping for. The “Tales” continued to show up in unexpected and unique ways and the mystery element kept me flipping pages. There wasn’t any point where I was bored or disappointed in the story.
I would suggest reading book 1 first, but I do highly recommend this series. It’s unique, fun, creative, and quite steamy. A win all the way around. 👍
Quotes
“I had no idea you lived here. Trust me, if I had known I would’ve turned right back around. I’m not keen on being your next hot lunch, pal.”
“thanks for saving my life and for not—you know— eating me and everything. I appreciate it.”
“You lost your wings?” he repeated. “How’d you manage that? Aren’t they attached or something?”
"I didn’t misplace them,” I snapped. “They were removed as a punishment after the genie incident.”
“the greater your reputation becomes, the more often you’re tested by those who would love to see you fail.”
“so . . . Harlan . . .” I began, trying to be delicate, but there was really no way of skirting around the obvious. “So, he’s a talking dog.” "Not only that,” Seth replied, “he’s a financial genius! He’s totally turned my stock portfolio around.”
“You’ve given us hope that we all can be something more than just Tales who’ve lost their way”
He chuckled. “Come back to the kitchen with me,” he drawled, his voice going dark with promise, “and I’ll show you what else is big. . . .”
Characters
Seth ("The Big Bad Wolf"):
“Once upon a time”, Seth was ”an honorable and gallant knight who traveled through Make Believe, performing heroic deeds and protecting those who couldn’t protect themselves”. What he thought was just another heroic deed resulted in him killing the love of his life. That turn of events caused a bitter and grief-stricken mother to place a curse on him that turned him into a werewolf. Once that happened he became The Big Bad Wolf and wandered around “lost, heartbroken, hunted and hated.”
Seth is gorgeous, sexy and an incredible chef. This man definitely knows his way around the kitchen. He’s secluded himself near The Refuge because he's afraid to get close to anyone for fear he will be a threat to them. So, he lives a pretty lonely existence.
Some quotes about Seth:
“From my very first glimpse of Seth, I’d seen he was oh-my-God handsome in a rugged, formidable sort of way. But there was a vulnerability there just below the surface that was immensely intriguing.”
“The man hates what he is, what he’s become. He’s lost everyone and everything that was ever important to him. That kind of loss can push a person right over the edge and make him do things he’d never normally consider doing.”
“Hey, I get it,” I told him. “You were cursed by someone magical and now your life is one big woe-is-me parade. You don’t trust any Tales with magic? Fine.
“You sure have the whole emotionally dead loner vibe going for you. At least my emotional range consists of more than just pissed off and apathetic!”
Lavender ("former" fairy godmother to Cinderella):
“Once upon a time” Lavender was the toast of Make Believe and was Cinderella’s fairy godmother. Lavender was ”arguably the most powerful and talented fairy ever born” but life as a fairy wasn’t all it was cracked up to be with James and Cinderella Charming. ”Having served as fairy godmother to Cinderella and her crooked, philandering, asshole of a husband hadn’t exactly been the carefree life of ease and contentment I’d signed up for.”
Lavender was introduced in book 1 and had pretty much hit rock bottom. The toll of sending the Tales to a new world, enduring the hatred of everyone and having to deal with the “fakeness” of Cinderella and Prince Charming was too much and she became a drunk.
“For decades I’d tried to blame the genie for everything that had happened, claiming to be just as much of a victim as the rest. But in my heart, I knew the truth. And trying to escape my conscience had driven me to the bottom of a bottle.
After a harsh reality check from Red, she picks herself up off the ground and then......makes another mistake with her uncontrollable magic. “James attacked me and I panicked,” I told her simply. I cast an embarrassed glance her way before adding, “My magic’s been a little hard to control since I’ve been sober.”
She loves her family, but has brought a huge black mark against the family name and her mother is not so forgiving. “Trust me,” I drawled, “I couldn’t possibly forget how ungrateful and irresponsible I’ve been when you remind me every single time we talk.”
Since the spell fiasco, she has lost everything. “Stripped of her titles, her name, her wings, her very essence, she was forced to scrape and bow and kiss ass just to get by.
Some quotes about Lavender:
“I’m the fairy whose sucktacular judgment and giant ego got all us Tales into this freaking mess. And I’ve been paying for it ever since. ’Cause if there’s one thing Tales are good at, it’s holding a grudge.”
“I spent longer than I should have in the hotel’s shower, my emotions vacillating between being proud of myself for finally having the courage to break away from the Charmings and being flat-out panicked over what the hell I was going to do now.”
“You know I’m the daughter of the King and Queen of the Seelies. That Puck is my brother. You know I’m on the run from a vindictive little prick of a prince. You know I have trouble controlling my magic.”
"although there were elements that were wrong, missing. Whoever it was hadn’t been able to fully penetrate the spell. The murders that had taken place so far were just practice, I realized, a warm-up for what was coming”
The Story:
During a "magic duel" with Aladdin's genie, the once idolized Lavender (Cinderella's fairy godmother) conjures up a spell that ends up transplanting the characters from the land of Make Believe into the world of Here and Now. Oops. 😐The "Tales" now hate Lavender and after she accidentally burns down Cindy & James Charming’s home, divulges a lot of secrets that could bury James and ultimately shrinks his penis with a spell, Red (Little Red Riding Hood) decides Lavender needs protecting and sends her to Seth (The Big Bad Wolf).
“Suddenly, the It Girl of legend was the most despised Tale this side of Make Believe, a pariah cast off by her own kind.”
Meanwhile, Seth has his own problems. In book 1 he was wanted for questioning in some murders and he always seems to be blamed when people get hurt. Never quite feeling like he fits in and having a bit of a bad reputation, he decides to move to The Refuge for a fresh start.
Both Lavender and Seth are looking for peace, but with Hellhound attacks, dead Ordinaries, some spooky spell stuff and dead people coming to life, the road to peace certainly isn't easy. Add in some smoking-hot sexual tension 🔥🔥 and it’s anything but calm and peaceful. 😝
”symbols used in a ceremony to raise the dead, to reclaim a Tale’s soul from the mists of the Great After.” “There was now no doubt that whoever was committing these murders was attempting to wield the same ancient necromancy spell that was in the book.”
“The necklace is my family’s crest,” I explained, deliberately refusing to answer the question. “It’s woven with a binding spell that contains my true name. When a fairy gives her name to another, it binds him to her. Forever. It’s not something we ever do lightly.”
“I suddenly didn’t want to let him push me away. I wanted to know more, see more of the man Seth Wolf truly was. And I wanted him to see me—down to the deepest, darkest recesses of my heart, for good or ill.”
My Thoughts:
The following are my thoughts about this book:
- I loved that perfect Cinderella and Prince Charming were painted in a different light in this book.
- 😂 Lavender cracked me up.... "He claims you used your magic to, uh, significantly reduce the size of his manhood.” Red’s head snapped toward me, her eyes wide. “Did you really shrink his dink?” I didn’t flinch. “He had it coming.”
- I loved the way Seth and Lavender faced off against each other when they first met. You could tell they would have a passionate relationship once they actually liked each other. 😊 “If I’m such a bother, why didn’t you just take me to a hospital instead of bringing me here so you could whine and bitch about taking care of me?” "Maybe I wouldn’t be an asshole about it if you’d show a little gratitude instead of acting like a spoiled brat."
- "Besides,” he added, “how was I supposed to know who you were? You don’t look like a fairy.” I crossed my arms in a huff. “Well you don’t look like a dickhead." "Guess looks can be deceiving.”
- Lavender's brother was a total asshole. Drugging people just to get them to come to his casino was a sleeze thing to do. What a dick!! I thought it would be good for Lavendar to have her brother around at first, but then I saw what kind of Tale he was and I wanted to scream "good riddance"! “And here I thought your days of using me for your own amusement were gone. I guess next time you decide to pimp me out to save some money, you should let me know first so I’ll know how far to go.”
- Who knew washing dishes could be so steamy!! ☺️ 🔥🔥
- Old Mother Hubbard....what's not to love about her? The perfect grandma-type “Mama Hubbard came toward me, not waiting for me to go to her, and gave me a hug that was so warm and comforting, I felt like snuggling up against her and asking her to read me a bedtime story.” . 🤗 🤗
- I loved how the townspeople showed up to help. It’s heartwarming when a community pulls together when one of their own is in trouble. Hansel & Gretel, The Farmer In The Dell, the Old Lady Who Lived In a Shoe and many others showed up to help... “another group of townspeople showed up to see where they could help, bringing more covered dishes and a peach cobbler.”
- I loved the creativity and the originality.
Overall:
Overall, this series is a big win for me. I loved the first book and was a little unsure whether or not the second one could live up to the fun and entertainment of the previous one. No worries, it delivered exactly what I was hoping for. The “Tales” continued to show up in unexpected and unique ways and the mystery element kept me flipping pages. There wasn’t any point where I was bored or disappointed in the story.
I would suggest reading book 1 first, but I do highly recommend this series. It’s unique, fun, creative, and quite steamy. A win all the way around. 👍
Quotes
“I had no idea you lived here. Trust me, if I had known I would’ve turned right back around. I’m not keen on being your next hot lunch, pal.”
“thanks for saving my life and for not—you know— eating me and everything. I appreciate it.”
“You lost your wings?” he repeated. “How’d you manage that? Aren’t they attached or something?”
"I didn’t misplace them,” I snapped. “They were removed as a punishment after the genie incident.”
“the greater your reputation becomes, the more often you’re tested by those who would love to see you fail.”
“so . . . Harlan . . .” I began, trying to be delicate, but there was really no way of skirting around the obvious. “So, he’s a talking dog.” "Not only that,” Seth replied, “he’s a financial genius! He’s totally turned my stock portfolio around.”
“You’ve given us hope that we all can be something more than just Tales who’ve lost their way”
February 6, 2013
Posted at Yummy Men & Kick Ass Chicks
The Better to See You is the second book in Kate SeRine’s Transplanted Tales series and boy, was I ever impressed with this book. Actually, I’m super impressed with this entire series. Yes, it is a series whose characters are fairy tale / literary creatures but they are written unlike anything you have ever read. Kate takes typical fairy tale folk and gives them a whole new persona. A good example is Red. We meet her in the first book, (she’s Little Red Riding Hood) and she is an Enforcer now (law enforcement).
You see, Tales have been transplanted from Make Believe to our world thanks to a spell gone awry. And who cast the spell? Lavender Seelie. Also known as Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother. Well, she used to be a fairy godmother until that day. Let’s just say that Tales were a little p*ssed over what happened so Lavender lost many of her titles and powers. She also lost much of the control over her magic.
Lavender is the main heroine in The Better to See You. She was introduced in the first book and honestly, I didn’t know what to think of her then. She was a drunk, depressed and not overly likable, understandably so. But there is a huge transformation in this book. Her character’s growth is beautifully written. She really is just a lost soul. She feels terribly for what she caused to happen. She knows how much it has affected her fellow Tales and she’s lost most of her confidence. Her magic is really wonky too. She needs a fresh start and, thanks to Red’s suggestion, Lavender decides to go to The Refuge, a place where Tales who may not be the most accepted in the community can go and find home. There she hopes to find peace and happiness. What she actually finds is Seth Wolf.
Seth. *dreamy sigh* We meet Seth in book one where he is wanted for questioning in a series of murders. He is THE Big Bad Wolf and Red’s former lover. He’s always being blamed when people go missing or when people get hurt or when people get…well, die. Tired of this and wanting a fresh start, Seth heads to The Refuge. He’s been there a little over a year at the beginning of this book and is surprised when Lavender shows up in the woods near his house. He is immediately taken with her and feels the need to help and protect her. All together now… *awww*. Seth is a man who is full of emotion. He comes across as a bit stand-offish and who can blame him. But really, he’s a big ol’ teddy bear. Or fluffy wolf if you prefer *grin*. He has done some pretty horrific stuff in his life and he truly feels terrible for it all. He’s torn between feeling he deserves it and wanting it to all go away. Kate wrote him so well, every emotion Seth felt you felt. And he is so damned sexy!
Seth and Lavender are cute together. I wasn’t sure how they would work out but turns out they work out very well. Both are misunderstood people who need a place to belong. And they find that together and in each other. Also, they are so hot together. I mean…who’d have thunk that washing dishes could be go HOT? Seriously!
We see more of Red and Nate (H/h from book one) than I expected. And their scenes…wow. Seeing them this time reminded me how much I loved reading their book. Red is such a firecracker! She is pure awesome. Trish (Little Miss Muffett) is head of forensics and she’s in this book too. I liked her as soon as I met her in Red and still like her. That’s a good thing seeing her book, Along Came a Spider is next and due out August 2013.
The prologue is perfect. It even includes the phrase “once upon a time”. It did a perfect job setting things up and introducing us to the heroine as she is now. I don’t usually get excited about a prologue but this one deserves a mention.
The story itself revolves around some pretty gruesome killings that are occurring around The Refuge and the townspeople trying to figure out the why and the who behind them. I was at a total loss the entire time. I had no idea who was responsible. And when the ultimate villain is revealed along with his cohorts…whoa. I never saw that coming. Never. The final fight scene was really well done. It kept me on the edge of my seat. There are even a few twists thrown in during the final fight scene. Because the twists before it weren’t enough apparently, Kate needed to blow our minds just a few times more.
As you can tell, I absolutely loved this book. The Better To See You rivals if not surpasses the first book in the series. The pace is perfect and the story riveting. The main couple has wonderful chemistry and are tons of fun to read. Kate’s voice is wonderful and her ideas are exceptional. Fans or romance or urban fantasy books who are looking for something different and awesome NEED to read this series. It’s simply amazing.
The Better to See You is the second book in Kate SeRine’s Transplanted Tales series and boy, was I ever impressed with this book. Actually, I’m super impressed with this entire series. Yes, it is a series whose characters are fairy tale / literary creatures but they are written unlike anything you have ever read. Kate takes typical fairy tale folk and gives them a whole new persona. A good example is Red. We meet her in the first book, (she’s Little Red Riding Hood) and she is an Enforcer now (law enforcement).
You see, Tales have been transplanted from Make Believe to our world thanks to a spell gone awry. And who cast the spell? Lavender Seelie. Also known as Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother. Well, she used to be a fairy godmother until that day. Let’s just say that Tales were a little p*ssed over what happened so Lavender lost many of her titles and powers. She also lost much of the control over her magic.
Lavender is the main heroine in The Better to See You. She was introduced in the first book and honestly, I didn’t know what to think of her then. She was a drunk, depressed and not overly likable, understandably so. But there is a huge transformation in this book. Her character’s growth is beautifully written. She really is just a lost soul. She feels terribly for what she caused to happen. She knows how much it has affected her fellow Tales and she’s lost most of her confidence. Her magic is really wonky too. She needs a fresh start and, thanks to Red’s suggestion, Lavender decides to go to The Refuge, a place where Tales who may not be the most accepted in the community can go and find home. There she hopes to find peace and happiness. What she actually finds is Seth Wolf.
Seth. *dreamy sigh* We meet Seth in book one where he is wanted for questioning in a series of murders. He is THE Big Bad Wolf and Red’s former lover. He’s always being blamed when people go missing or when people get hurt or when people get…well, die. Tired of this and wanting a fresh start, Seth heads to The Refuge. He’s been there a little over a year at the beginning of this book and is surprised when Lavender shows up in the woods near his house. He is immediately taken with her and feels the need to help and protect her. All together now… *awww*. Seth is a man who is full of emotion. He comes across as a bit stand-offish and who can blame him. But really, he’s a big ol’ teddy bear. Or fluffy wolf if you prefer *grin*. He has done some pretty horrific stuff in his life and he truly feels terrible for it all. He’s torn between feeling he deserves it and wanting it to all go away. Kate wrote him so well, every emotion Seth felt you felt. And he is so damned sexy!
Seth and Lavender are cute together. I wasn’t sure how they would work out but turns out they work out very well. Both are misunderstood people who need a place to belong. And they find that together and in each other. Also, they are so hot together. I mean…who’d have thunk that washing dishes could be go HOT? Seriously!
We see more of Red and Nate (H/h from book one) than I expected. And their scenes…wow. Seeing them this time reminded me how much I loved reading their book. Red is such a firecracker! She is pure awesome. Trish (Little Miss Muffett) is head of forensics and she’s in this book too. I liked her as soon as I met her in Red and still like her. That’s a good thing seeing her book, Along Came a Spider is next and due out August 2013.
The prologue is perfect. It even includes the phrase “once upon a time”. It did a perfect job setting things up and introducing us to the heroine as she is now. I don’t usually get excited about a prologue but this one deserves a mention.
The story itself revolves around some pretty gruesome killings that are occurring around The Refuge and the townspeople trying to figure out the why and the who behind them. I was at a total loss the entire time. I had no idea who was responsible. And when the ultimate villain is revealed along with his cohorts…whoa. I never saw that coming. Never. The final fight scene was really well done. It kept me on the edge of my seat. There are even a few twists thrown in during the final fight scene. Because the twists before it weren’t enough apparently, Kate needed to blow our minds just a few times more.
As you can tell, I absolutely loved this book. The Better To See You rivals if not surpasses the first book in the series. The pace is perfect and the story riveting. The main couple has wonderful chemistry and are tons of fun to read. Kate’s voice is wonderful and her ideas are exceptional. Fans or romance or urban fantasy books who are looking for something different and awesome NEED to read this series. It’s simply amazing.
January 1, 2013
I was so freakin' excited when I saw this up on NetGalley. I really enjoyed Red and was hoping this one would be just as good. In the end, it was no better or worse than Red. The things that bothered me about Red bothered me about The Better To See You as well. It was very much a 'just the facts, ma'am' book and I wanted a little more emotional resonance to go with the non-stop action. It's also not as gritty as Red, falling into paranormal territory rather than urban.
HOWEVER, I still had a rollicking good time reading this. I've been lobbying for more fairy tale books for a while and this perfectly fit that craving. The characterizations are damn good and I love how SeRine took a throwaway ditz of a character and made her into a heroine strong enough to carry her own book.
This book is very dependent on the reader having previously read Red, as there's little world-building and it picks up almost directly after events in that book. I strongly recommend this series, though, especially if you're a fan of the Fables graphic novels or the Once Upon a Time television show. I'm crossing my fingers that book three is about Trish Muffet and that it'll be more well-rounded than book 1 & 2.
HOWEVER, I still had a rollicking good time reading this. I've been lobbying for more fairy tale books for a while and this perfectly fit that craving. The characterizations are damn good and I love how SeRine took a throwaway ditz of a character and made her into a heroine strong enough to carry her own book.
This book is very dependent on the reader having previously read Red, as there's little world-building and it picks up almost directly after events in that book. I strongly recommend this series, though, especially if you're a fan of the Fables graphic novels or the Once Upon a Time television show. I'm crossing my fingers that book three is about Trish Muffet and that it'll be more well-rounded than book 1 & 2.
January 24, 2013
From the brilliant mind of author Kate SeRine comes The Better To See You , the second book in her enthralling series featuring some of our most beloved characters from classic fairy tales. You'll see a lot of familiar faces in this story that will have even the most cynical reader howling with laughter. This is a sweetly romantic story featuring a most unlikely couple that is sure to raise eyebrows. But trust me.... the writer knew what she was doing when she paired these two together.
Lavender Seelie was the most powerful fairy ever born and the fairy godmother ( guardian ) of Cinderella. Then one of her spells goes awry , and many fairy tale characters find themselves trapped in the "Here and Now". Her guilt has her seeking solace in the bottom of a bottle until she gets a timely intervention from her friend Red Little. The infamous fairy godmother finally has her life back on track. Then she gets into a dust-up with Prince Charming that had this reader howling in laughter. For her own protection , Lavender flees to The Refuge - the Tales version of the witness protection program- and right into the arms of the Big Bad Wolf.
Seth Wolf- yes that wolf- appoints himself as Lavender's protector. Cursed to live out his immortal life being hunted and persecuted, Seth came to the Refuge hoping to outrun his bad reputation. Sparks fly between Seth and Lavender from the moment he saves her life. The sexy alpha wolf finds himself enchanted with his fairy. Even his mistrust of all things magical can't dampen the flames of desire between them.
Unfortunately , Lavender finds herself in an even bigger mess when Tales start disappearing and mutilated bodies begin piling up. An evil plot is revealed that pits Lavender against an evil enchantress that culminates in a climactic ending with surprising twists and turns.
I highly recommend this book. It's a great read if you want something captivating from start to finish. If you appreciate an entertaining story that puts a unique twist on an old plot with vibrant characters that will enthrall the readers and keep them flipping those pages....then this is the book for you. If fairytale retellings and urban fantasy are your thing....then this is the book for you. So the bottom line is : This is the book for you !!!
Along Came a Spider is the next book in the Transplanted Tales series. The sneak peek at the end of this one already has me jonesin' for my next hit of this addictive series.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.
Lavender Seelie was the most powerful fairy ever born and the fairy godmother ( guardian ) of Cinderella. Then one of her spells goes awry , and many fairy tale characters find themselves trapped in the "Here and Now". Her guilt has her seeking solace in the bottom of a bottle until she gets a timely intervention from her friend Red Little. The infamous fairy godmother finally has her life back on track. Then she gets into a dust-up with Prince Charming that had this reader howling in laughter. For her own protection , Lavender flees to The Refuge - the Tales version of the witness protection program- and right into the arms of the Big Bad Wolf.
Seth Wolf- yes that wolf- appoints himself as Lavender's protector. Cursed to live out his immortal life being hunted and persecuted, Seth came to the Refuge hoping to outrun his bad reputation. Sparks fly between Seth and Lavender from the moment he saves her life. The sexy alpha wolf finds himself enchanted with his fairy. Even his mistrust of all things magical can't dampen the flames of desire between them.
Unfortunately , Lavender finds herself in an even bigger mess when Tales start disappearing and mutilated bodies begin piling up. An evil plot is revealed that pits Lavender against an evil enchantress that culminates in a climactic ending with surprising twists and turns.
I highly recommend this book. It's a great read if you want something captivating from start to finish. If you appreciate an entertaining story that puts a unique twist on an old plot with vibrant characters that will enthrall the readers and keep them flipping those pages....then this is the book for you. If fairytale retellings and urban fantasy are your thing....then this is the book for you. So the bottom line is : This is the book for you !!!
Along Came a Spider is the next book in the Transplanted Tales series. The sneak peek at the end of this one already has me jonesin' for my next hit of this addictive series.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in return for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2013
A magical spell has gone awry bringing some of the inhabitants from the land of fairy crashing into the ordinary world. Poor Lavender Seelie, she has been blamed for it all and many of the transplanted make believe residents are not happy about their circumstances.
A suggestion to move to the refuge, a town inhabited by misplaced Tales, gives Lavender a second chance at finding happiness. She never expected to be sent to the “big bad wolf”. She also didn’t expect the chemistry the sizzles between them.
Quickly, things start going wrong in the refuge. Humans are being brutally murdered and ancient symbols only Lavender should know are appearing on the bodies. Lavender must discover who is killing the mortals before more lives are lost, maybe even her own...
The Better To See You was a fast paced, adventurous story with a mind meandering mystery to boot. Although this is fairy tale characters based, the story is very adult. I didn’t read the first book in this series and was able to follow the story completely however it did make me want to revisit Red for the back story. Kate SeRine entwined the perfect mix of magic, mystery, funny and romance to make a truly enchanting adventure, 4 stars.
This ARC copy of The Better To See You was given to me by Netgalley and Kensington Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Publish Date February 7, 2013.
A suggestion to move to the refuge, a town inhabited by misplaced Tales, gives Lavender a second chance at finding happiness. She never expected to be sent to the “big bad wolf”. She also didn’t expect the chemistry the sizzles between them.
Quickly, things start going wrong in the refuge. Humans are being brutally murdered and ancient symbols only Lavender should know are appearing on the bodies. Lavender must discover who is killing the mortals before more lives are lost, maybe even her own...
The Better To See You was a fast paced, adventurous story with a mind meandering mystery to boot. Although this is fairy tale characters based, the story is very adult. I didn’t read the first book in this series and was able to follow the story completely however it did make me want to revisit Red for the back story. Kate SeRine entwined the perfect mix of magic, mystery, funny and romance to make a truly enchanting adventure, 4 stars.
This ARC copy of The Better To See You was given to me by Netgalley and Kensington Publishing in exchange for an honest review. Publish Date February 7, 2013.
February 20, 2013
The Transplanted Tale series by Kate SeRine is such a fun series with zany characters straight from our beloved fairy-tales. The story goes that a spell gone awry in Make Believe ripped some of the characters from their pages into our world. Now they are forced to live among the ordinaries in the Here and Now. They have rules for blending in and they are strictly enforced by the Fairytale Management Authority. In the first book we met Red aka “Little Red Riding Hood”. In The Better to See You we get Seth aka the “Big Bad Wolf” and Lavender Seelie's aka “Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother" tale. I consumed this smexy, hilarious, action packed tale in a single evening.
The tale begins in Chicago near the Chicago branch of the Fairytale Management Authority. Red and Nate (the Grim Reaper) are called to the Charmings’ residence after a fire destroys their home. Lavender their fairy godmother is having problems controlling her magic and accidentally burnt it down. Red sends Lavender to "The Refuge"; a sanctuary for tales. Lavender discovers that Red has sent her to stay with Seth aka “The Big Bad Wolf” and when dead bodies start showing up in Refuge with ancient Tale symbols the tale that unfolds is suspenseful, action packed and utterly romantic.
We met Seth in the first tale, and I love his back story. He is the brooding loner type and oozes smexy. I adored, poor misunderstood Lavender. She has made some major mistakes as a fairy godmother and sadly the whole tale world knows about them. She means well but somehow things always go wrong. At her core she is a good fairy and I laughed at her antics, cheered her when she was kick-ass and totally wanted her to get her HEA. The banter and dance Seth and Lavender shared was delightful and I loved watching this romance unfold. SeRine did an awesome job of showing the wolf side of Seth and I love when authors are able to do that. The cast of characters living in the Refuge were all fascinating and developed. I loved figuring out what tale they came from and seeing what they were doing in the Here and Now. The villains were downright creepy and I enjoyed watching the case unfold. We of course saw Red and Nate and you do not want to miss updates about them.
SeRine has created such an interesting plot with endless possibilities. The Tales in the Here and Now are each unique and she does an excellent job with fleshing them out. While each of the tales can be read as a standalone and feature a different couple and a suspenseful mystery I would recommend reading them from the beginning. Seth and Lavender’s romance felt genuine and I quickly came to care for them. We got some ooh, la, la moments as well as some bittersweet ones. They each have their own baggage and quirks which made them unique. The murder mystery was suspenseful, and a little gruesome. I loved the supernatural elements involved with this one. Twists, turns and a few surprised kept me enthralled. The ending was well done, and I was sad to see it end.
If you love fairy-tales and want a grown-up retelling then The Better to See You and the Transplanted Tales are a must read. Along Came a Spider due out in August of 2013 will feature Beatrice aka “Little Miss Muffet”.
I want to thank the author for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer
The tale begins in Chicago near the Chicago branch of the Fairytale Management Authority. Red and Nate (the Grim Reaper) are called to the Charmings’ residence after a fire destroys their home. Lavender their fairy godmother is having problems controlling her magic and accidentally burnt it down. Red sends Lavender to "The Refuge"; a sanctuary for tales. Lavender discovers that Red has sent her to stay with Seth aka “The Big Bad Wolf” and when dead bodies start showing up in Refuge with ancient Tale symbols the tale that unfolds is suspenseful, action packed and utterly romantic.
We met Seth in the first tale, and I love his back story. He is the brooding loner type and oozes smexy. I adored, poor misunderstood Lavender. She has made some major mistakes as a fairy godmother and sadly the whole tale world knows about them. She means well but somehow things always go wrong. At her core she is a good fairy and I laughed at her antics, cheered her when she was kick-ass and totally wanted her to get her HEA. The banter and dance Seth and Lavender shared was delightful and I loved watching this romance unfold. SeRine did an awesome job of showing the wolf side of Seth and I love when authors are able to do that. The cast of characters living in the Refuge were all fascinating and developed. I loved figuring out what tale they came from and seeing what they were doing in the Here and Now. The villains were downright creepy and I enjoyed watching the case unfold. We of course saw Red and Nate and you do not want to miss updates about them.
SeRine has created such an interesting plot with endless possibilities. The Tales in the Here and Now are each unique and she does an excellent job with fleshing them out. While each of the tales can be read as a standalone and feature a different couple and a suspenseful mystery I would recommend reading them from the beginning. Seth and Lavender’s romance felt genuine and I quickly came to care for them. We got some ooh, la, la moments as well as some bittersweet ones. They each have their own baggage and quirks which made them unique. The murder mystery was suspenseful, and a little gruesome. I loved the supernatural elements involved with this one. Twists, turns and a few surprised kept me enthralled. The ending was well done, and I was sad to see it end.
If you love fairy-tales and want a grown-up retelling then The Better to See You and the Transplanted Tales are a must read. Along Came a Spider due out in August of 2013 will feature Beatrice aka “Little Miss Muffet”.
I want to thank the author for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer
January 30, 2013
I really liked SeRine's Red. Where that one felt more UF with a heavy dose of romance, this second installment had the romance aspect front and center. It is still first person, as we see everything from Lavender's POV. We just get into the romance faster than in book 1. It surprised me at first, until we find out why everything happened so fast. I liked Lavender's dilemma, and it showed how far her character has progressed.
When I first heard about book 2, I wasn't surprised that Seth was going to be the male lead. However, the choice of Lavender as the heroine did surprise me at first. Lavender is one half of the reason that the Tales are stuck in the Ordinary World. She made a lot of mistakes in the past, and in book 1 we see her as an alcoholic mess. At the start of book 2, a year has passed, Lavender is now friends with Tess, and she is trying to turn her life around. She also pisses off some powerful people and so Tess sends her to the Refuge to get away from the heat.
Being the reason the Tales are stuck in the real world doesn't endear her to many, but I like how she sticks it out and owns her part.
Lavender is not a grandmotherly "bippity boppity boo" type. She's a little hottie and in the end I was very happy with how the romance came together. Both she and Seth have a lot of skeletons in their respective closets. They need someone who will accept them for who they are.
Having a hell of a lot of chemistry doesn't hurt, either.
And Seth? Seth was really endearing once we got to meet him in book 1. His life has been so tragic. I just wanted him to be happy. He can cook too. If you really dig romantic heroes, I think you will be quite satisfied with Mr. Wolf.
The overall conspiracy first unearthed in book 1 is still a big part of the problem in book 2. I was glad to see some parts solved, although there is still plenty left to explore. We also get to see a bit more of Trish Muffet, the heroine of book 3. That one involves Nicky Blue and I cannot wait to read it.
For those who really loved the world of the Transplanted Tales, this book fleshes it out more and gives us a peek into how the Tales who don't get along so well with the Ordinary World live. We also get to see one of my favorite literary characters: Puck.
[received a review copy]
When I first heard about book 2, I wasn't surprised that Seth was going to be the male lead. However, the choice of Lavender as the heroine did surprise me at first. Lavender is one half of the reason that the Tales are stuck in the Ordinary World. She made a lot of mistakes in the past, and in book 1 we see her as an alcoholic mess. At the start of book 2, a year has passed, Lavender is now friends with Tess, and she is trying to turn her life around. She also pisses off some powerful people and so Tess sends her to the Refuge to get away from the heat.
Being the reason the Tales are stuck in the real world doesn't endear her to many, but I like how she sticks it out and owns her part.
Lavender is not a grandmotherly "bippity boppity boo" type. She's a little hottie and in the end I was very happy with how the romance came together. Both she and Seth have a lot of skeletons in their respective closets. They need someone who will accept them for who they are.
Having a hell of a lot of chemistry doesn't hurt, either.
And Seth? Seth was really endearing once we got to meet him in book 1. His life has been so tragic. I just wanted him to be happy. He can cook too. If you really dig romantic heroes, I think you will be quite satisfied with Mr. Wolf.
The overall conspiracy first unearthed in book 1 is still a big part of the problem in book 2. I was glad to see some parts solved, although there is still plenty left to explore. We also get to see a bit more of Trish Muffet, the heroine of book 3. That one involves Nicky Blue and I cannot wait to read it.
For those who really loved the world of the Transplanted Tales, this book fleshes it out more and gives us a peek into how the Tales who don't get along so well with the Ordinary World live. We also get to see one of my favorite literary characters: Puck.
[received a review copy]
February 16, 2013
**Find this and other reviews @ The Demon Librarian**
Sequel success!
Kate SeRine's debut novel, Red, was one of the last books I read in 2012. Less than 50 pages into it and I knew I'd struck reading gold. I mean, c'mon, a series about fairy tales and literary characters living among us? Sign me up, please!
Each Transplanted Tales book focuses on a different couple. In Red, we had Tess and Nate, and in The Better To See You, we get Lavendar and Seth (aka The Big Bad Wolf). While they didn't rock my socks off as much as Tess and Nate did, they sure did give me a fun story to read!
Lavendar has her share of crazy, quirky moments, but she's a smart, sarcastically funny gal, and I found it very easy to like and root for her. Her leading man, Seth, is very much a "good guy" hero, and not nearly as tortured and brooding as I perceived him to be in Red. Romantically, they are a good match, balancing out each other's strengths and weaknesses, and boy oh boy, do they ever burn hot in the bedroom!
Whereas Red had more of an urban fantasy feel to it, The Better To See You leans more toward paranormal romance, especially in the first half. I'll be honest and say I thought the romance happened too quickly, but only because I prefer a slower buildup. Others will like it just fine. In the second half of the book is where the real action is, when the mystery really kicks in and the story shifts into high gear. I thought SeRine did a wonderful job laying a trail of false clues for her characters and readers to follow. When the Big Bad was revealed, I was totally surprised.
By combining the real and the fantastic, and casting make-believe characters as her leading men and ladies, Kate SeRine has created a delightfully unique world for herself and her readers to play in. The story possibilities are practically endless, and I look forward to reading many more Transplanted Tales in the future.
4 Stars ★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Sequel success!
Kate SeRine's debut novel, Red, was one of the last books I read in 2012. Less than 50 pages into it and I knew I'd struck reading gold. I mean, c'mon, a series about fairy tales and literary characters living among us? Sign me up, please!
Each Transplanted Tales book focuses on a different couple. In Red, we had Tess and Nate, and in The Better To See You, we get Lavendar and Seth (aka The Big Bad Wolf). While they didn't rock my socks off as much as Tess and Nate did, they sure did give me a fun story to read!
Lavendar has her share of crazy, quirky moments, but she's a smart, sarcastically funny gal, and I found it very easy to like and root for her. Her leading man, Seth, is very much a "good guy" hero, and not nearly as tortured and brooding as I perceived him to be in Red. Romantically, they are a good match, balancing out each other's strengths and weaknesses, and boy oh boy, do they ever burn hot in the bedroom!
Whereas Red had more of an urban fantasy feel to it, The Better To See You leans more toward paranormal romance, especially in the first half. I'll be honest and say I thought the romance happened too quickly, but only because I prefer a slower buildup. Others will like it just fine. In the second half of the book is where the real action is, when the mystery really kicks in and the story shifts into high gear. I thought SeRine did a wonderful job laying a trail of false clues for her characters and readers to follow. When the Big Bad was revealed, I was totally surprised.
By combining the real and the fantastic, and casting make-believe characters as her leading men and ladies, Kate SeRine has created a delightfully unique world for herself and her readers to play in. The story possibilities are practically endless, and I look forward to reading many more Transplanted Tales in the future.
4 Stars ★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
January 10, 2013
review to come
April 7, 2022
Book source ~ Purchased and Tour
Lavender Seelie is the reason that Tales have been transplanted into the Ordinary world and there are many who are, let’s say, pretty peeved about it. Even though it’s been a very long time there are those who still haven’t adjusted and it makes them a tad cranky. Blaming herself (rightly so) she becomes an alcoholic, drowning herself in booze and self-loathing. Until one day, Tess “Red” Little tells her to pull up her big girl panties and get on with life. Maybe not exactly like that, but same difference. Lavender stops drinking and comes back to life. Only to piss off Prince Charming and have to relocate where he can’t easily exact his revenge. That’s how she ends up at The Refuge and falls straight into Self Wolf’s arms. A fairy and the Big Bad Wolf. Let’s hope this has a happy ending.
I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy a book about the person who caused so much pain to so many people, but Lavender is a compelling character, full of flaws, but ready to do something with herself. What, she has no idea. When she gets to The Refuge though, murders start happening and she decides she (and Seth) need to figure out what in the hell is going on. But it’s dangerous. There is something going on in the shadows that remains hidden, her magic is all wonky, and Seth is a hot sexy man/wolf with plenty of his own baggage. But the heart wants what it wants and they muddle through while trying to avoid being killed.
The plot moves along at a good clip and I was not expecting where it went. The romance between Seth and Lavender is believable and swoon-worthy. I love the characters and the world. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.
Lavender Seelie is the reason that Tales have been transplanted into the Ordinary world and there are many who are, let’s say, pretty peeved about it. Even though it’s been a very long time there are those who still haven’t adjusted and it makes them a tad cranky. Blaming herself (rightly so) she becomes an alcoholic, drowning herself in booze and self-loathing. Until one day, Tess “Red” Little tells her to pull up her big girl panties and get on with life. Maybe not exactly like that, but same difference. Lavender stops drinking and comes back to life. Only to piss off Prince Charming and have to relocate where he can’t easily exact his revenge. That’s how she ends up at The Refuge and falls straight into Self Wolf’s arms. A fairy and the Big Bad Wolf. Let’s hope this has a happy ending.
I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy a book about the person who caused so much pain to so many people, but Lavender is a compelling character, full of flaws, but ready to do something with herself. What, she has no idea. When she gets to The Refuge though, murders start happening and she decides she (and Seth) need to figure out what in the hell is going on. But it’s dangerous. There is something going on in the shadows that remains hidden, her magic is all wonky, and Seth is a hot sexy man/wolf with plenty of his own baggage. But the heart wants what it wants and they muddle through while trying to avoid being killed.
The plot moves along at a good clip and I was not expecting where it went. The romance between Seth and Lavender is believable and swoon-worthy. I love the characters and the world. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series.
June 22, 2023
3.75 stars rounded up
This is one of the series, whose first book I read several years ago, told myself I would probably check the next books, and then totally forgot about it. Yep, I read Red back in 2018 (the series itself is 10 years old now). But then I received email from Amazon, which include these series IN NEW COVERS, and very discounted price.
So I jumped in and bought the rest.
This one is about Lavender - the ex fairy godmother (yes, of that Cinderella) - who is responsible to bring the Tales to the Ordinary world. After pretty much destroying the Charming's resident, and James Charming (yes, Cinderella's husband) made threats on her life, Lavender is sent by Red to the Refuge, where she meets Seth Wolf (yes, THAT Wolf from the Red Riding Hood tale).
I definitely loved the paranormal/fairytale creatures part of it. There are some unexplainable murders and missing people in the Refuge, and both Lavender and Seth are in the middle of it all (meaning, they are also attacked, considered as suspects, and must investigate everything). Those part I enjoyed.
The romance... well, I admit that Lavender and Seth had chemistry... but things seemed to go too fast from Lavender mistrusting Seth to being "I cannot live without you part". And they both seemed to be horny often in questionable timing 😅.
The mystery/murder wins slightly for me (I can always skip the sex part). So this time, I'm rounding it up.
This is one of the series, whose first book I read several years ago, told myself I would probably check the next books, and then totally forgot about it. Yep, I read Red back in 2018 (the series itself is 10 years old now). But then I received email from Amazon, which include these series IN NEW COVERS, and very discounted price.
So I jumped in and bought the rest.
This one is about Lavender - the ex fairy godmother (yes, of that Cinderella) - who is responsible to bring the Tales to the Ordinary world. After pretty much destroying the Charming's resident, and James Charming (yes, Cinderella's husband) made threats on her life, Lavender is sent by Red to the Refuge, where she meets Seth Wolf (yes, THAT Wolf from the Red Riding Hood tale).
I definitely loved the paranormal/fairytale creatures part of it. There are some unexplainable murders and missing people in the Refuge, and both Lavender and Seth are in the middle of it all (meaning, they are also attacked, considered as suspects, and must investigate everything). Those part I enjoyed.
The romance... well, I admit that Lavender and Seth had chemistry... but things seemed to go too fast from Lavender mistrusting Seth to being "I cannot live without you part". And they both seemed to be horny often in questionable timing 😅.
The mystery/murder wins slightly for me (I can always skip the sex part). So this time, I'm rounding it up.
July 30, 2019
Read on THE "CHAPTERS" APP
I liked it.
The story was original and handled well, the characters interesting, intricate and alive.
I didn't like the twist of using the thing from the book before to have it revealed now, but it was written pretty well for a plot thread I don't like.
It was enjoyable, I wanted to read it without stopping, and it brought new thoughts to my head. In my opinion it says good about the story.
I would recommend.
And usually stories that aren't good as books on their on just fall flat on the app. So the fact that it was good says about its original material, too.
I liked it.
The story was original and handled well, the characters interesting, intricate and alive.
I didn't like the twist of using the thing from the book before to have it revealed now, but it was written pretty well for a plot thread I don't like.
It was enjoyable, I wanted to read it without stopping, and it brought new thoughts to my head. In my opinion it says good about the story.
I would recommend.
And usually stories that aren't good as books on their on just fall flat on the app. So the fact that it was good says about its original material, too.
January 28, 2013
Within seconds of sitting down to read this book, I knew I had found a new favorite. The Better to See You is a merry romp through fiction and fables, and it's a fresh contribution to the world of paranormal romance.
Kate SeRine's wry and witty voice is an instant grab, catching your attention from the start and never letting up until it's over. Also, quite amusing. Imagine Stephanie Plum coating herself in pixie dust and sitting down to tea with Jane Eyre and the Grimm Brothers. You'll get magic, you'll certainly get humor, and you'll get a wonderful love story that makes you believe in fairytales again.
The Better to See You is the second book in the Transplanted Tales series, which starts off with the novel Red. I received TBtSY from the publisher via NetGalley for review and was not familiar with the series or the author. But after reading just the prologue of The Better to See You I was so in love with the writing that I immediately backtracked and purchased Red. I knew this was going to be a good one, and I wanted to experience the series from the beginning. Gotta love the instant gratification of ebooks, huh?
I'll take a moment now to mention how much I enjoyed Red. It was lively, imaginative, and very, very good. I was quite gleeful, knowing the second book was waiting for me. I finished Red within a day and instantly hopped over to The Better to See You.
If you've read the first book (and you should if you haven't), then you've already met our character leads. Lavender Seelie is the fairy godmother -- yes, that fairy godmother -- responsible for bringing literature's greatest characters into the Here and Now by a display of magic gone terribly wrong. And Seth Wolf is none other than the Big Bad Wolf, himself. If anyone can appreciate Lavender's struggle as a social outcast, it's everyone's favorite, occasionally furry villain. But can Lavender trust him with her heart? Or will their pasts continue to haunt them?
Seth and Lavender must learn to believe in each other and themselves if they hope to share a life together. But a string of deaths and disappearances threaten their happily-ever-after. It will take every bit of faith and magic they possess -- plus a little help from some old friends -- to see things through.
All things said, I enjoyed this one even more than the first book. There seems to be more depth and emotion to it. It's a touching, sweet story -- heart warming and wrenching both. It had me in a teary state more than once, I don't mind saying. I dare you to read this and not fall in love with Seth and Lavender.
Also, the premise of the series is quite a hoot 'n' holler. Characters from all walks of literature are present, and one never knows who will pop up next. My nerdish joy was fueled by all the name-dropping going on. It was almost like a game of trivia or a personal challenge -- how many of the stories have you read? And even better was SeRine's treatment of the many tales. Ever wonder what kind of husband Prince Charming would really make?
Yes, from the first page of Red to the last word of The Better to See You, Kate SeRine has proven that she's an author to watch.
Alas, I must now wait. Book three, Along Came a Spider, won't be out until this August. That one will be Trish and Nicky's story, and I greatly look forward to it.
This book was received courtesy of NetGalley and eKensington Books in exchange for an honest review.
Kate SeRine's wry and witty voice is an instant grab, catching your attention from the start and never letting up until it's over. Also, quite amusing. Imagine Stephanie Plum coating herself in pixie dust and sitting down to tea with Jane Eyre and the Grimm Brothers. You'll get magic, you'll certainly get humor, and you'll get a wonderful love story that makes you believe in fairytales again.
The Better to See You is the second book in the Transplanted Tales series, which starts off with the novel Red. I received TBtSY from the publisher via NetGalley for review and was not familiar with the series or the author. But after reading just the prologue of The Better to See You I was so in love with the writing that I immediately backtracked and purchased Red. I knew this was going to be a good one, and I wanted to experience the series from the beginning. Gotta love the instant gratification of ebooks, huh?
I'll take a moment now to mention how much I enjoyed Red. It was lively, imaginative, and very, very good. I was quite gleeful, knowing the second book was waiting for me. I finished Red within a day and instantly hopped over to The Better to See You.
If you've read the first book (and you should if you haven't), then you've already met our character leads. Lavender Seelie is the fairy godmother -- yes, that fairy godmother -- responsible for bringing literature's greatest characters into the Here and Now by a display of magic gone terribly wrong. And Seth Wolf is none other than the Big Bad Wolf, himself. If anyone can appreciate Lavender's struggle as a social outcast, it's everyone's favorite, occasionally furry villain. But can Lavender trust him with her heart? Or will their pasts continue to haunt them?
Seth and Lavender must learn to believe in each other and themselves if they hope to share a life together. But a string of deaths and disappearances threaten their happily-ever-after. It will take every bit of faith and magic they possess -- plus a little help from some old friends -- to see things through.
All things said, I enjoyed this one even more than the first book. There seems to be more depth and emotion to it. It's a touching, sweet story -- heart warming and wrenching both. It had me in a teary state more than once, I don't mind saying. I dare you to read this and not fall in love with Seth and Lavender.
Also, the premise of the series is quite a hoot 'n' holler. Characters from all walks of literature are present, and one never knows who will pop up next. My nerdish joy was fueled by all the name-dropping going on. It was almost like a game of trivia or a personal challenge -- how many of the stories have you read? And even better was SeRine's treatment of the many tales. Ever wonder what kind of husband Prince Charming would really make?
Yes, from the first page of Red to the last word of The Better to See You, Kate SeRine has proven that she's an author to watch.
Alas, I must now wait. Book three, Along Came a Spider, won't be out until this August. That one will be Trish and Nicky's story, and I greatly look forward to it.
This book was received courtesy of NetGalley and eKensington Books in exchange for an honest review.
March 14, 2013
Blurb:
Once upon a time, a spell went awry and Make Believe characters were cast into the ordinary world. And the results aren’t always happily ever after…
Everyone thinks fairy godmothers can do no wrong. But if not for a certain spell mis-cast by Lavender Seelie, Cinderella’s former fairy godmother, the Tales would not be stuck in the Here and Now. Fortunately for Lavender, she’s about to get a second chance at a happy ending…
The Refuge, a sanctuary for wayward Tales, seems like the perfect place for Lavender to start a new life—especially when she discovers an unexpected ally in Seth, the brooding werewolf who’s been typecast as a villain ever since his run in with Little Red Riding Hood. But when humans from nearby towns start turning up dead, their bodies mutilated with archaic Tale symbols, Lavender wonders if Seth’s deep sensuality has blinded her to the truth. And that distraction could put innocent lives in danger. Including her own…
Review:
Can I just say I have a girl crush going on with Kate SeReine...I loved Red the first book in the Transplanted Tales series and now I love The Better to See You.
Her whole building a world around fairy tale characters who have been transplanted into our world is pure genius and so believable. I love her snarky and feisty voice. I mean just listen to these great lines:
"I mean, come-on she looks like she could suck a duck through a garden hose."
"Can't do shit about this baby face, though, no matter what I try. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get laid when women think you're just this side of puberty? Took me months to convince Brie to sit on my face."
Basically, the story revolves around Lavender who we met briefly in the first book. She was a drunk former fairy godmother, who through her bad spell casting is why the tales have been transplanted. This book takes up a little while after Red in which Lavender has sobered up but is still having problems controlling her magic and in one night burns down the Charming's house and shrinks Prince Charmings dink...lol Well, obviously he is not happy about that and makes threats against Lavender. Tess thinks Lavender needs to get out of town, so she sends her to the Refuge (a sanctuary for tales) and to someone she knows can take care of Lavender, Seth, the Big Bad Wolf. The action takes off from there and with a Mystery that keeps leading you in different directions and keeps you guessing until the Very Exciting end.
I was not so sure of the pairing of Lavender and Seth at first, but you really come to see these two as perfect for each other. Both of these are so similar, they have both loved and lost their loves, they distrust others and both are trying to prove they are worthy of peoples trust and love. Seth and Lavender are drawn to each other and their chemistry is exciting to read (and the love scenes are hot). This line from the book sums up Seth to perfection:
"And I knew he'd be coming for me. My Knight in shining armor. My slayer of monsters. My Big Bad Wolf."
I know I am not giving this book justice, there is so much fun, thrills, romance, drama and mystery to convey it all I would have to recite the whole book. I cannot wait for the next book in the series which is going to feature Nicky Blue (Little Boy Blue) and Trish Muffett (Little Miss Muffett).
5 Licks
Once upon a time, a spell went awry and Make Believe characters were cast into the ordinary world. And the results aren’t always happily ever after…
Everyone thinks fairy godmothers can do no wrong. But if not for a certain spell mis-cast by Lavender Seelie, Cinderella’s former fairy godmother, the Tales would not be stuck in the Here and Now. Fortunately for Lavender, she’s about to get a second chance at a happy ending…
The Refuge, a sanctuary for wayward Tales, seems like the perfect place for Lavender to start a new life—especially when she discovers an unexpected ally in Seth, the brooding werewolf who’s been typecast as a villain ever since his run in with Little Red Riding Hood. But when humans from nearby towns start turning up dead, their bodies mutilated with archaic Tale symbols, Lavender wonders if Seth’s deep sensuality has blinded her to the truth. And that distraction could put innocent lives in danger. Including her own…
Review:
Can I just say I have a girl crush going on with Kate SeReine...I loved Red the first book in the Transplanted Tales series and now I love The Better to See You.
Her whole building a world around fairy tale characters who have been transplanted into our world is pure genius and so believable. I love her snarky and feisty voice. I mean just listen to these great lines:
"I mean, come-on she looks like she could suck a duck through a garden hose."
"Can't do shit about this baby face, though, no matter what I try. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get laid when women think you're just this side of puberty? Took me months to convince Brie to sit on my face."
Basically, the story revolves around Lavender who we met briefly in the first book. She was a drunk former fairy godmother, who through her bad spell casting is why the tales have been transplanted. This book takes up a little while after Red in which Lavender has sobered up but is still having problems controlling her magic and in one night burns down the Charming's house and shrinks Prince Charmings dink...lol Well, obviously he is not happy about that and makes threats against Lavender. Tess thinks Lavender needs to get out of town, so she sends her to the Refuge (a sanctuary for tales) and to someone she knows can take care of Lavender, Seth, the Big Bad Wolf. The action takes off from there and with a Mystery that keeps leading you in different directions and keeps you guessing until the Very Exciting end.
I was not so sure of the pairing of Lavender and Seth at first, but you really come to see these two as perfect for each other. Both of these are so similar, they have both loved and lost their loves, they distrust others and both are trying to prove they are worthy of peoples trust and love. Seth and Lavender are drawn to each other and their chemistry is exciting to read (and the love scenes are hot). This line from the book sums up Seth to perfection:
"And I knew he'd be coming for me. My Knight in shining armor. My slayer of monsters. My Big Bad Wolf."
I know I am not giving this book justice, there is so much fun, thrills, romance, drama and mystery to convey it all I would have to recite the whole book. I cannot wait for the next book in the series which is going to feature Nicky Blue (Little Boy Blue) and Trish Muffett (Little Miss Muffett).
5 Licks
February 8, 2013
The Better to See You is already the second book of this amazing new series, Transplanted Tales series written by the fabulous Kate SeRine. It is almost like she has excess to this strange secret world we can't visit and just write down everything, about everything she sees or meets there. Because is hard to believe she is making this up as she writes.
We did a review earlier of her first book of this series, RED. I was impressed then and I thought it was hard to beat the first book but some how Kate did it and the second book is even better than the first. I love it that it is a twisted version of a fairy tale with all the characters that we grew up with. Kate all mixed it up and has written a fantastic original story that you really have to read.
Lavender a.k.a. Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother has made a terrible mistake with a spell, that caused the situation all the tales characters are in now. I believe Red (from book #1) thinks she is also cupido when she tricks or arranged Seth (the big bad wolf) to protect lavender against all the evil she is facing. And guess what… It worked. There just made for each other.
Lavender lost many and with that also her powers. But not all of it, and the little part she still has,she has no control over. Lavender is just like Seth a great character. She is strong and funny to read about and together with the sexy scene with seth, the fast paced action scenes and stunning world building this a story to get suck in like there is a spell on it.
The book went so fast I almost wished the play thing or teasing part between Seth and Lavender could have lasted a bit longer. I thought they ended a little to fast in each others arms at the beginning of the book. This was the only thing that I thought could have been stretched a little bit more. Maybe I am a tension sucker… I don't know!
The Better to See You is of course not only about Seth and Lavender but we also came across the characters from the previous books, My favorite Red and her new mate Nate. I would have loved to read more about them, but I understand that this book is about Lavender and not Red… Reading to the final chapters when like a rocket that wouldn't slow down and with the final plot and twist mixed with heavy fitting scenes. It was over way to fast! And me waiting for book 3. Along came the spider. I can't wait what Kate will bring us next from the Transplanted Tales world.
I would say, step in to the new world Kate has made for you, and let her bespell you with her amazing Transplanted Tales stories.
The End …
Posted at Paranormal Cravings
We did a review earlier of her first book of this series, RED. I was impressed then and I thought it was hard to beat the first book but some how Kate did it and the second book is even better than the first. I love it that it is a twisted version of a fairy tale with all the characters that we grew up with. Kate all mixed it up and has written a fantastic original story that you really have to read.
Lavender a.k.a. Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother has made a terrible mistake with a spell, that caused the situation all the tales characters are in now. I believe Red (from book #1) thinks she is also cupido when she tricks or arranged Seth (the big bad wolf) to protect lavender against all the evil she is facing. And guess what… It worked. There just made for each other.
Lavender lost many and with that also her powers. But not all of it, and the little part she still has,she has no control over. Lavender is just like Seth a great character. She is strong and funny to read about and together with the sexy scene with seth, the fast paced action scenes and stunning world building this a story to get suck in like there is a spell on it.
The book went so fast I almost wished the play thing or teasing part between Seth and Lavender could have lasted a bit longer. I thought they ended a little to fast in each others arms at the beginning of the book. This was the only thing that I thought could have been stretched a little bit more. Maybe I am a tension sucker… I don't know!
The Better to See You is of course not only about Seth and Lavender but we also came across the characters from the previous books, My favorite Red and her new mate Nate. I would have loved to read more about them, but I understand that this book is about Lavender and not Red… Reading to the final chapters when like a rocket that wouldn't slow down and with the final plot and twist mixed with heavy fitting scenes. It was over way to fast! And me waiting for book 3. Along came the spider. I can't wait what Kate will bring us next from the Transplanted Tales world.
I would say, step in to the new world Kate has made for you, and let her bespell you with her amazing Transplanted Tales stories.
The End …
Posted at Paranormal Cravings
February 14, 2013
It should be no surprise to you all that I loved The Better to See You, as much as I gushed about Kate SeRine and he wonderful imagination. If you didn't see my review of her debut novel, Red be sure to check it out here.
Lavender and Seth's stories are very similar. They both have just about EVERY tale hating them. Seth because their scared of him, since he's a werewolf he's accused of everything bad that happens and Lavender because she's the nut who make them all the way that they are now. Stuck in the Here and Now. Both of them are fighting their way back, wanting to be accepted just for who they are, faults and all.
I will admit I loved the badassness of Red more than Lavender. Lavender was badass too, but it seemed like it was forced for her. She has a lot of insecurities and those insecurities rear their head up at the wrong times, making her magic seem a little on the fritz. I did enjoy that she was able to overcome those insecurities, put them behind her and do what she had to do. She wanted to be a damsel in distress a time or two but refused to allow herself to be that way. I commend her for that.
Seth, ohhh that sexy Seth! I mean come on look at that cover. And the man has stamina...whew! LOL! Anyways...Seth is the Big Bad Wolf and surprise surprise he's a chef! Yum! Seth is dealing with a lot of problems in his past. His previous relationships have not ended well and he's almost to the point of giving up when Lavender comes along. They are instantly attracted to each other and I will say almost instantly in love. Ekk! I know, it's kind of borderline. But Seth has such a knight in shining armor instinct that it's hard for him not to fall in love so easily. And Lavender's a fairy godmother, I mean...come on! :-P
This story was a nice easy read and I'm so glad I was able to read it. All in all I really enjoyed this book! I love SeRine's imagination and I can't wait to read more.
Lavender and Seth's stories are very similar. They both have just about EVERY tale hating them. Seth because their scared of him, since he's a werewolf he's accused of everything bad that happens and Lavender because she's the nut who make them all the way that they are now. Stuck in the Here and Now. Both of them are fighting their way back, wanting to be accepted just for who they are, faults and all.
I will admit I loved the badassness of Red more than Lavender. Lavender was badass too, but it seemed like it was forced for her. She has a lot of insecurities and those insecurities rear their head up at the wrong times, making her magic seem a little on the fritz. I did enjoy that she was able to overcome those insecurities, put them behind her and do what she had to do. She wanted to be a damsel in distress a time or two but refused to allow herself to be that way. I commend her for that.
Seth, ohhh that sexy Seth! I mean come on look at that cover. And the man has stamina...whew! LOL! Anyways...Seth is the Big Bad Wolf and surprise surprise he's a chef! Yum! Seth is dealing with a lot of problems in his past. His previous relationships have not ended well and he's almost to the point of giving up when Lavender comes along. They are instantly attracted to each other and I will say almost instantly in love. Ekk! I know, it's kind of borderline. But Seth has such a knight in shining armor instinct that it's hard for him not to fall in love so easily. And Lavender's a fairy godmother, I mean...come on! :-P
This story was a nice easy read and I'm so glad I was able to read it. All in all I really enjoyed this book! I love SeRine's imagination and I can't wait to read more.
February 8, 2013
Braine's Talk Supe review
Talk Supe interview with Lavender Seelie. I promise you'd want to read this.
If you loved Red, I'm sure you'll fall even harder for this one. I'm biased because I adored Lav from the start but it has little to do with the story. THE BETTER TO SEE YOU is inspired! No detail was spared and that ending was EPIC! It's stuff fairy tales are made out of.
Now I wasn't sold on her pairing with Seth when I found out: a fairy who's a recovering alcoholic and a notorious werewolf? Curious but I'm not sure if the pieces fit. Well KSerine banished whatever doubts I have about their romantic liaison because I won't have it any other way. Like Lav, when I met Seth in Red he looked so broken and distraught and as we dig deeper into Seth's past it seems Tess Little wasn't his first heartbreak. Their commonality lies on their resilience and their desire to make something good out of their personal tragedies. Their story is very romantic I had butterflies in my stomach the whole time. Seth is so dreamy and gorgeous plus the man can cook! I love guys who knows their way around the kitchen so that made Seth one very edible hero for me.
As Transplanted Tales is based on several folk tales and myths, expect to meet a lot of familiar faces. I like how KSerine put a twist on every one of them, making them the complete anti-thesis of their fairytale counterparts. A couple of them broke my heart a little bit because they can't adjust to the land of Here and Now and several of them were certainly amusing.
Talk Supe interview with Lavender Seelie. I promise you'd want to read this.
If you loved Red, I'm sure you'll fall even harder for this one. I'm biased because I adored Lav from the start but it has little to do with the story. THE BETTER TO SEE YOU is inspired! No detail was spared and that ending was EPIC! It's stuff fairy tales are made out of.
Now I wasn't sold on her pairing with Seth when I found out: a fairy who's a recovering alcoholic and a notorious werewolf? Curious but I'm not sure if the pieces fit. Well KSerine banished whatever doubts I have about their romantic liaison because I won't have it any other way. Like Lav, when I met Seth in Red he looked so broken and distraught and as we dig deeper into Seth's past it seems Tess Little wasn't his first heartbreak. Their commonality lies on their resilience and their desire to make something good out of their personal tragedies. Their story is very romantic I had butterflies in my stomach the whole time. Seth is so dreamy and gorgeous plus the man can cook! I love guys who knows their way around the kitchen so that made Seth one very edible hero for me.
As Transplanted Tales is based on several folk tales and myths, expect to meet a lot of familiar faces. I like how KSerine put a twist on every one of them, making them the complete anti-thesis of their fairytale counterparts. A couple of them broke my heart a little bit because they can't adjust to the land of Here and Now and several of them were certainly amusing.
July 21, 2013
In trying to explain the first book in the series along with this one to my hubby, he gave me a blank stare & cracked up laughing. So I'm forcing him to read it. This is not my typical genre, but damn if this isn't one of the best series I've read in a long time! I adored Red and couldn't wait for Seth Wolf's story, but it took me awhile to get to it. Once I did, I have been entranced from page 1.
The way Ms Serine has created this dark world filled with angry "Tales" was brilliant. Finding out that Cinderella & Prince Charming are manipulative, abusive society jerks & that Little Bo Peep is a fairy dust addict stirred my imagination & made me appreciate a ton of fairy tales from my childhood in a whole different way. Of course, this is a whole other side of Seth "big bad" Wolf and Cinderella's fairy godmother Lavender. The two of them have immediate chemistry & their connection is instantaneous & very hot. Both are very damaged and misunderstood Tales who are used to being persecuted by the other Tales. They had some steamy sex scenes, sprinkled throughout, and Lavender's brother Puck (a man dedicated to continuing the exploits from A Midsummer's Night Dream) also wove exoticness in every scene he was in.
In short, this series may SOUND a bit weird, but it's worth delving into to see what happens after "happily ever after" has come and gone and what the Tales are forced to do when they now live upon the ordinaries. Its really nothing short of brilliant.
The way Ms Serine has created this dark world filled with angry "Tales" was brilliant. Finding out that Cinderella & Prince Charming are manipulative, abusive society jerks & that Little Bo Peep is a fairy dust addict stirred my imagination & made me appreciate a ton of fairy tales from my childhood in a whole different way. Of course, this is a whole other side of Seth "big bad" Wolf and Cinderella's fairy godmother Lavender. The two of them have immediate chemistry & their connection is instantaneous & very hot. Both are very damaged and misunderstood Tales who are used to being persecuted by the other Tales. They had some steamy sex scenes, sprinkled throughout, and Lavender's brother Puck (a man dedicated to continuing the exploits from A Midsummer's Night Dream) also wove exoticness in every scene he was in.
In short, this series may SOUND a bit weird, but it's worth delving into to see what happens after "happily ever after" has come and gone and what the Tales are forced to do when they now live upon the ordinaries. Its really nothing short of brilliant.
February 16, 2013
Quickie Review:
Oh, I do love this world and this writer! I have enjoyed both books tremendously so far in this fun, fun UF/PNR series (I suppose technically it's PNR, but it feels too plot heavy to call it that at times).
I'd say the mystery was possibly slightly more engaging in the first book, but on the flip side, we were treated to a lot more hot sexy times in this one, which was absolutely fine by me since it involved the delicious (especially when he's blushing!) Seth Wolf. His was an adorable character. In fact, I'm really liking Ms. SeRine's 'men' in general. She writes them as drool-worthy and tough, but also very sensitive and vulnerable. Definitely no alpha douchecanoes in sight.
As for our heroine, I loved getting to know Lavender Seelie (aka The Fairy Godmother) more once I got my incorrect mental picture of her out of my head. You see, in book one she makes an appearance in a less than sober state, so I kept seeing her as this purple-haired drunken lush, and it wasn't a pretty picture, let me tell you. However, our Lav hasn't touched a drop in 12 months thanks to a quiet word from Red, and she's trying to make a fresh start down at "The Refuge." Cue dead bodies, magical runes, missing Tales, hungry hellhounds and a smoking hot werewolf, and you've got a good idea of the kind of treat you're in for with this book.
Enjoy!
4 stars! ★★★★
Oh, I do love this world and this writer! I have enjoyed both books tremendously so far in this fun, fun UF/PNR series (I suppose technically it's PNR, but it feels too plot heavy to call it that at times).
I'd say the mystery was possibly slightly more engaging in the first book, but on the flip side, we were treated to a lot more hot sexy times in this one, which was absolutely fine by me since it involved the delicious (especially when he's blushing!) Seth Wolf. His was an adorable character. In fact, I'm really liking Ms. SeRine's 'men' in general. She writes them as drool-worthy and tough, but also very sensitive and vulnerable. Definitely no alpha douchecanoes in sight.
As for our heroine, I loved getting to know Lavender Seelie (aka The Fairy Godmother) more once I got my incorrect mental picture of her out of my head. You see, in book one she makes an appearance in a less than sober state, so I kept seeing her as this purple-haired drunken lush, and it wasn't a pretty picture, let me tell you. However, our Lav hasn't touched a drop in 12 months thanks to a quiet word from Red, and she's trying to make a fresh start down at "The Refuge." Cue dead bodies, magical runes, missing Tales, hungry hellhounds and a smoking hot werewolf, and you've got a good idea of the kind of treat you're in for with this book.
Enjoy!
4 stars! ★★★★
March 11, 2013
Loved reading this! :) It has the most perfect combination of adventure and romance aka "sexiness" in it!
The only way this could have been better, would have been, if there had been a bigger development of the relationship between the characters. There's this instant connection between them, that i wouldn't have minded if it had taken a little more time to develop. But even so, i was happy with the way it was done. Maybe because, Seth may be a werewolf, but he's not the macho type "werewolf".
I think i see a pattern in the author male characters: they're sweet, honest to God good guys. I like that, since i've had enough of....the other type: "You're mine, hear me growl!!"
Lavender surprised me, in a good way. Loved "seeing" her and Seth together and the way she picked herself "of the ground".
In the end i was not only conquered by the cute and steamy romance between those two, but also by the quirky universe that the author created. I'm really interested in keep reading about these "Transplanted Tales" :) so i'm really looking forward to the next one, thats going to be releasead in August.
Hope there will be much more to come!
The only way this could have been better, would have been, if there had been a bigger development of the relationship between the characters. There's this instant connection between them, that i wouldn't have minded if it had taken a little more time to develop. But even so, i was happy with the way it was done. Maybe because, Seth may be a werewolf, but he's not the macho type "werewolf".
I think i see a pattern in the author male characters: they're sweet, honest to God good guys. I like that, since i've had enough of....the other type: "You're mine, hear me growl!!"
Lavender surprised me, in a good way. Loved "seeing" her and Seth together and the way she picked herself "of the ground".
In the end i was not only conquered by the cute and steamy romance between those two, but also by the quirky universe that the author created. I'm really interested in keep reading about these "Transplanted Tales" :) so i'm really looking forward to the next one, thats going to be releasead in August.
Hope there will be much more to come!
July 10, 2014
Another brilliant book in the series, where again we meet even more characters from Tales and stories that have been brought over from the land of make-believe.
This book however focuses on Lavender Seelie (the fairy godmother of cinderella) and Seth Wolf (The big bad wolf).
This book definitely has more of a paranormal feeling to it as well as the previous who-dun-it mystery as to is performing killings.
Both have their own issues to deal with, of being a bad person, of being hounded for who and what they are, however Lavender having made the breech into the modern world is seemingly more hated than the hunted wolf.
Enjoyed seeing Puck (Robin Goodfellow) being introduced as Lavender's brother and seeing the naughtiness that is his character and being introduced to a few others that I had not really heard about, or even forgotten about.
It was also good to see a little more from Nate and Tess, even if it was only in two small bits.
Really looking forward to reading the story of Trisha and Nicky Blue next in Along Came a Spider.
This book however focuses on Lavender Seelie (the fairy godmother of cinderella) and Seth Wolf (The big bad wolf).
This book definitely has more of a paranormal feeling to it as well as the previous who-dun-it mystery as to is performing killings.
Both have their own issues to deal with, of being a bad person, of being hounded for who and what they are, however Lavender having made the breech into the modern world is seemingly more hated than the hunted wolf.
Enjoyed seeing Puck (Robin Goodfellow) being introduced as Lavender's brother and seeing the naughtiness that is his character and being introduced to a few others that I had not really heard about, or even forgotten about.
It was also good to see a little more from Nate and Tess, even if it was only in two small bits.
Really looking forward to reading the story of Trisha and Nicky Blue next in Along Came a Spider.
December 21, 2018
Full Review posted on Book Lovin' Mamas
Kate SeRine takes our favorite fairy tales and gives them a new twist to their tales, which some may be considered good, while others wicked evil. Just be prepared to be shocked at who is deemed to be evil.
If you are a fan of the fairy godmother, the wolf from Red Riding Hood and other tales, you’ll enjoy this twisted make and believe tales that Kate writes. I know I am addicted to finding out what is happening to these versions of my favorite fairy tales.
I highly recommend this book and the series and look forward to reading the next tale in the “Transplanted Tales” series by Kate SeRine. =)
Kate SeRine takes our favorite fairy tales and gives them a new twist to their tales, which some may be considered good, while others wicked evil. Just be prepared to be shocked at who is deemed to be evil.
If you are a fan of the fairy godmother, the wolf from Red Riding Hood and other tales, you’ll enjoy this twisted make and believe tales that Kate writes. I know I am addicted to finding out what is happening to these versions of my favorite fairy tales.
I highly recommend this book and the series and look forward to reading the next tale in the “Transplanted Tales” series by Kate SeRine. =)
February 15, 2013
I love this series! It's so clever. I love what the author has chosen to do with some of these characters by putting a twist on their backstories. I really enjoyed this book, although I liked the first book a little bit better (but not enough to affect the star rating). Lavender and Seth are two tormented but strong characters and it was great watching them get their happily ever after. The plot was exciting although a little predictable and the romance felt a little rushed given that this was the first time that Lavender and Seth had met (unlike with Tess and Nathan who had worked together). However, none of these things detracted from my enjoyment of the book. I Am very much looking forward to book 3. Great series!
February 19, 2013
Really, really enjoying this series! The imaginative world, style, characters, mystery, suspense, romance, just all of it. Lavender and Seth's story held all that and more, a little more steam than Red and Nate's story, which was perfect for them. Exactly the connection and feeling I was hoping for with them. A fun sexy romp, highly recommended, and I can't wait for the next adventure in the Transplanted Tales!
February 7, 2013
This series is an irresistible treat for readers who enjoy supernatural suspense romances. - to view the full review, please visit http://romanticreadsandsuch.wordpress...
December 13, 2017
Ever wonder what happens to Fairytales after the story was over well take a look at Kate SeRine 's Transplanted Tales. Was so happy Lavender aka Fairy Godmother and Seth aka Big Bad Wolfe find their happily ever after.
December 8, 2014
this was disappointing, I am really close to giving 2,5 stars ... I had high hopes after Red and Nates Novella. I really like the idea of this series but how it was done in this book was not what I expected.
both Lavender and Seth had so much potential .. .
review to come ... maybe
both Lavender and Seth had so much potential .. .
review to come ... maybe
January 18, 2013
Loooooved it! Review to come.
February 13, 2013
Loved it just as much as the first one! It will be a long wait until August when the next one comes out!
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