BOOK REVIEW - SLOUCH WITCH by HELEN HARPER - THE LAZY GIRL'S GUIDE TO MAGIC # 1 - URBAN FANTASY

By: Helen Harper
Published By: Helen Harper
Released: Available Now
Details: Kindle, 342 Pages

RATING: 4.5 STARS

Blurb: Goodreads

Let's get one thing straight - Ivy Wilde is not a heroine. In fact, she's probably the last witch in the world who you'd call if you needed a magical helping hand, regardless of her actual abilities. If it were down to Ivy, she'd spend all day every day on her sofa where she could watch TV, munch junk food and talk to her feline familiar to her heart's content.

However, when a bureaucratic disaster ends up with Ivy as the victim of a case of mistaken identity, she's yanked very unwillingly into Arcane Branch, the investigative department of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Her problems are quadrupled when a valuable object is stolen right from under the Order's noses. It doesn't exactly help that she's been magically bound to Adeptus Exemptus Raphael Winter. He might have piercing sapphire eyes and a body which a cover model would be proud of but, as far as Ivy's concerned, he's a walking advertisement for the joyless perils of too much witch-work.

And if he makes her go to the gym again, she's definitely going to turn him into a frog.


BOOK REVIEW:

Slouch Witch is a light urban fantasy read which I thoroughly enjoyed. I have to admit the series title having the word ‘lazy’ in it, didn’t overly draw me in at first, but I am so glad I gave this new author to me a whirl.

Ivy tries to convince us she’s lazy, but she’s more bored easily. Adeptus Exemptus Winter aka Raphael aka Rafe catches onto this too because he finds she rather enjoys working side by side with him even if one doth protest too much.

I do love these two together. The romance is just a tingle down south in the air at the moment, with a small itch that gets scratched. Or I could just say ‘slow burn.’

This is a cute read with an annoying sub character who is the thorn in Ivy’s…erm… existence.

Brutus and Princess Parma Periwinkle are a hoot too.

There are three levels of magic that one can study and achieve with sub levels within those three main levels at the Hallowed Order of Magical Enlightenment aka the Order.

Ipsissimus is the highest level, and you only have one of those, kinda like Dumbledore. I dare you to say ‘Ipsissimus’ clearly rapidly ten times in a row… well, try for six in a row.

Winter works for the Arcane Branch of the Hermetic Order, he investigates like a detective to solve magic issues.

Essentially Ivy and Adeptus Exemptus Winter are forced to team up due to a little-mistaken identity, and together they are quite a funny team.

Ivy hates the Order due to a rather unsavory expulsion many years prior, but she is no slouch (did you see what I did there?). She is entirely on top of her game when it comes to whipping up a rune for this, and that and combating the bad guys and Winter’s undoubtedly not fooled by her unsavory expulsion.

Overall a fun read I highly recommend. This series is set in the UK, so as ya do when writing a story, you use the slang of the nation, and I did not get tired of hearing ‘plonker.’ Such a funny word when Ivy uses it.

Helen had a brilliant way of ending this first installment.

Bahahhaaa.

Read More

BOOK REVIEW - TILL DEATH by JENNIFER L ARMENTROUT - WILLIAM MORROW - SUSPENSE ROMANCE

By: Jennifer L Armentrout
Published By: William Morrow
Released: Available Now
Details: Paperback from the library, 384 Pages

RATING: 4 COLE STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

In New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout’s gripping new novel, a young woman comes home to reclaim her life—even as a murderer plots to end it. . . 

It’s been ten years since Sasha Keaton left her West Virginia hometown . . . since she escaped the twisted serial killer known as the Groom. Returning to help run her family inn means being whole again, except for one missing piece. The piece that falls into place when Sasha’s threatened—and FBI agent Cole Landis vows to protect her the way he couldn’t a decade ago.

First one woman disappears; then another, and all the while, disturbing calling cards are left for the sole survivor of the Groom’s reign of terror. Cole’s never forgiven himself for not being there when Sasha was taken, but he intends to make up for it now . . . because under the quirky sexiness Cole first fell for is a steely strength that only makes him love Sasha more.

But someone is watching. Waiting. And Sasha’s first mistake could be her last.



BOOK REVIEW:

Till Death is a suspense read combined with a second chance romance.

Jennifer knows how to give us the delicious ex-boyfriend from ten years prior and weave the second chance romance from the rubble of the horrible, near death experience Sasha had when she was I think nineteen. The Groom abducted her and did all sorts of awful things to her.

The Groom, a serial killer, was collecting brides (girls) and eventually killing them. Without spoiling, Sasha, the only survivor of The Groom, comes back to West Virginia to help her mother run the Inn ten years later and bodies start piling up again.

There’s a new killer in town. Da…da…da…daaaaaa!

It has taken me a while to write this review because I did admittedly guess very quickly who the killer was, which is a pet peeve for me. Being quite obvious I thought the editors or beta readers may have hollered at Jennifer at the time. I am not the first to find the killer to be too obvious, but eh, there will be others who won’t. A suspense read for me has to be suspenseful.

This book definitely has creepy parts.

I did enjoy the story, but I think the essential element of whodunnit was spoiled for me, but that is okay.

I will always pick up a JLA book and read it.

Read More

BOOK REVIEW: DANCE WITH THE DEVIL by SHERRILYN KENYON - DARK HUNTER # 3 - PIATKUS - PARANORMAL ROMANCE

By: Sherrilyn Kenyon

Published By: Piatkus

Released: Available Now

Details: Paperback, 343 Pages

RATING: 4.75 ZAREK STARS!!!

Blurb: Goodreads

Zarek's Point of View:

Dark-Hunter: A soulless guardian who stands between mankind and those who would see mankind destroyed. Yeah, right. The only part of that Code of Honor I got was eternity and solitude.

Insanity: A condition many say I suffer from after being alone for so long. But I don't suffer from my insanity-I enjoy every minute of it.

Trust: I can't trust anyone...not even myself. The only thing I trust in is my ability to do the wrong thing in any situation and to hurt anyone who gets in my way.

Truth: I endured a lifetime as a Roman slave, and 900 years as an exiled Dark-Hunter. Now I'm tired of enduring. I want the truth about what happened the night I was exiled-I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Astrid (Greek, meaning star): An exceptional woman who can see straight to the truth. Brave and strong, she is a point of light in the darkness. She touches me, and I tremble. She smiles, and my cold heart shatters.

Zarek: They say even the most damned man can be forgiven. I never believed that until the night Astrid opened her door to me and made this feral beast want to be human again. Made me want to love and be loved. But how can an ex-slave whose soul is owned by a Greek goddess ever dream of touching, let alone holding, a fiery star?

BOOK REVIEW:

This book is my fave in the series to-date because of Astrid and Zarek.

Yup, I’ve had a little trouble personally with the female leads in Fantasy Lover, Night Pleasures, and Night Embrace, but Astrid did me proud. I love how she is blinded so she can judge fairly.



He turned to face her. “Don’t push me, princess.”

“Ooooo,” she said in a less than impressed voice. “Next thing you’ll be talking like the Incredible Hulk. ‘Don’t make me angry, you wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.’” She cast a haughty look in his general direction. “You’re not scary to me, Mr. Zarek. So you can just check that attitude at the door and play nice while you’re here.”



You tell him, sister! Break down those walls with your power of kindness and understanding and patience.

Whether you’re Zarek or Zsadist from Black Dagger Brotherhood (J.R. Ward) the ‘Zs’ have had it freaking tough, tortured and downright been given a horrendous past. I still think Zsadist possibly had it tougher, but Zarek is a close second for me.

Doesn’t stop me loving Zarek any less.

Artemis… I really want to stick it to this biatch. She has a lot to answer for when it comes to Zarek (this equals good writing by Sherrilyn).

I am too nervous to look ahead to see if it is Acheron and Artemis getting it together because I can’t stand her. In the next ten plus books, if he winds up with her, she better be worth it. At this early stage in the series I am all about, ‘Biatch, keep walking.’

I enjoyed Simi’s character and Sasha’s. Seeing Acheron in a different light when it comes to an almost father-like persona with Simi was unexpected.

An excellent addition to this series and I’m looking forward to starting Kiss Of The Night, but also fitting all the little novella stories in the reading order in the book Dark Bites.

Totally digging this series.

Read More

BOOK REVIEW: NIGHT EMBRACE by SHERRILYN KENYON - DARK HUNTER # 2 - PARANORMAL ROMANCE - PIATKUS

By: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Published By: Piatkus
Released: Available Now
Details: Paperback 424 Pages

RATING: 4.25 TALON STARS

Blurb: Goodreads

Setting: Modern New Orleans

"Night Embrace" spins the story of Talon, an ancient Celtic warrior who killed the son of the god Camulus.

Camulus cursed Talon, decreeing death for everyone he loved. Now a Dark-Hunter in modern-day New Orleans, Talon meets Sunshine, who is key to ending his curse once and for all. Not to mention helping him to save New Orleans from an ancient god bent on total destruction.

See original cover listed below. The cover shown here is the reissued cover that was done seven years ago.



BOOK REVIEW:


It was kinda hard reading this story and staying focused on Talon and Sunny when there were Zarek and Acheron.

What book number do I have to plow through to read Acheron’s HEA?

14! You say?

So glad I only had the book after this one to read Zarek’s HEA. Another book closer to Acheron's. #win

Anywho, I tangent, back to Talon and Sunny. I liked this couple…but Zarek…I mean Talon… what was I saying?

You gotta love a guy who has pet alligators who guard his swamp home. You wouldn’t think a swamp home sounds cool—but the alligators!!!

I could go on about Talon’s past and the curse and such, but eh, I’m like the gazillionth reader and it’s all been said before.

Talon and Sunny do like to get crazy and make like bunnies, and that is okay.

Let’s talk Vane Kattalakis, the werewolf of werewolves. We get introduced to him and my lady boner radar went off.



He entered the cabin wearing a pair of faded jeans and a white T-shirt with a weathered motorcycle jacket, black cowboy boots, and a body that would cause a traffic jam.



He rocks the hair highlights too. ;)

And then we get a science lesson about warp space because the dude is full of surprises.



He shrugged his jacket back on. “Baby, in this world, I’m the all-powerful OZ and there’s not much I can’t do.”


And then there was Bride McTierney… I think I may have lost Vane already. *sigh*

This was a great installment in the series. I really am digging this whole dark hunter world and the Gods that pop in and out causing trouble and telling porky-pies.

Gotta say I did open up Dance With The Devil straight away.

*whispers* Zarek.

*squeee*

Stay tuned I shall tell you my thoughts on his book next.

Read More

BOOK REVIEW: THIS MAN by JODI ELLEN MALPAS - THIS MAN # 1 - ORION BOOKS - ADULT - EROTIC ROMANCE

By: Jodi Ellen Malpas

Published By: Orion Books

Released: Available Now

Details: Paperback from the library, 456 pages

RATING: 4.5 STARS

Blurb: Goodreads

Young interior designer Ava O’Shea has an appointment for a first consultation at The Manor with the owner, Mr. Jesse Ward. She is expecting nothing more than an overweight, cravat-wearing, well-to-do countryman, and on arrival, nothing would suggest otherwise. How wrong could she be? This Man is devastatingly handsome, charming and confident. He is also a conceited, hedonistic playboy, who knows no boundaries. Ava desperately does not want to be attracted to him, but she can’t control the overwhelming effect he has on her. Every instinct is telling her to run, so she does, but Jesse Ward is not so willing to let her go. He wants her and is determined to have her. She knows she is heading for heartbreak, but how can she run when he won’t let her?



BOOK REVIEW:

This is my fourth JEM read and I don’t really know why I waited so long to embark on reading about Jesse Ward.

I’ve met Miller and have one book left to read in the One Night trilogy.

I’ve really stayed away from knowing anything about this series for fear of spoilers and wanted to go in cold turkey.

Jesse… I gotta admit I had no clue he was going to be the type of character he turned out to be. I like him, but he seemed a little desperate…erm… to say the least. I know there is much more to come for me to learn. Two books to be exact and then With This Man.

Jesse is very much a Fifty Shades/Crossfire type male lead, even though I didn’t feel like Christian or Gideon were desperate or a little bit of a jerk (I say this nicely). These gazillionaires seem to have similar trust issues and bad pasts and get the girl with three letters to her name.

I did chortle a little at the lead female’s name being Ava.

Ana, Eva, and Ava—I’m seeing a little something there. (cocks an eyebrow)

I did enjoy This Man. I love the sexual content in books and there is a very high dose in this one. LOL *cough*

I did think Ava was a little too naïve for her age and sometimes I felt the angst was a little too forced when a conversation would have been so less dramatic, but I can see why this series has legions of fans.

I can see how it took off like a bullet from the start. We all seem to like that Fifty Shades/Crossfire-style of a story with the three letter female lead name and the secret these lads all hold close to their hearts.

They instantly want the three-letter-girl, but for all the money and business sense they possess, they don’t seem to know how to go about courting their three-letter-girl without going about it the controlling way and arsing things up. But they know how to get it on in the bedroom, against a wall, shower... (switches fan on)

Something seems to go off in their very sensible-business-minded minds and they do jerky things… all for love.

*sigh*

We simply love this style of a recipe in a book.

The End.

Read More

BOOK REVIEW: MURDER OF CROWS by ANNE BISHOP - THE OTHERS # 2 - PARANORMAL ROMANCE - HARPER VOYAGER

By: Anne Bishop
Published By: Harper Voyager
Released: Available Now
Details: Paperback from the library, 369 Pages

RATING: 4.5 STARS

Blurb: Goodreads

Return to New York Times best-selling author Anne Bishop’s world of the Others - where supernatural entities and humans struggle to co-exist, and one woman has begun to change all the rules.

After winning the trust of the terra indigene residing in the Lakeside Courtyard, Meg Corbyn has had trouble figuring out what it means to live among them. As a human, Meg should be barely tolerated prey, but her abilities as a cassandra sangue make her something more.

The appearance of two addictive drugs has sparked violence between the humans and the Others, resulting in the murder of both species in nearby cities. So when Meg has a dream about blood and black feathers in the snow, Simon Wolfgard - Lakeside’s shape-shifting leader - wonders if their blood prophet dreamed of a past attack or a future threat.

As the urge to speak prophecies strikes Meg more frequently, trouble finds its way inside the Courtyard. Now, the Others and the handful of humans residing there must work together to stop the man bent on reclaiming their blood prophet - and stop the danger that threatens to destroy them all.


BOOK REVIEW:

This series has such a different paranormal world, and I really do enjoy it. The pacing at times can be quite slow, but when things start to happen, they really start to happen.

I have all the books ready to read and will move onto Vision In Silver # 3.

This would easily be a 5 star read for me if the pacing was tightened up because I can’t fault how amazing the world is that Anne has brought to life.

The different groups of ‘others’ are fantastic.

Meg is still not a very big character, considering she is on the front of the covers, she seems almost secondary sometimes to Simon’s character. The ‘others’ seem to do more in the book, action wise.

Meg is a blood prophet. She’s still trying to understand her limits, and who she is. I understand the ‘others’ more now. They are written so well.

I’m watching the ‘others’ as they become more tolerant of the humans. They make allowance for those in the courtyard but still will kill those who set out to harm, kill or simply stand by and watch ‘others’ being hurt. Towns will be wiped out.

I’m glad I know more about Meg now. She’s twenty-four. In Written In Red, she read to me personally like she was sixteen or thereabouts.

This is a very good series to-date, it just can be painfully slow in areas for me to rate higher than 4 stars. I think I want Meg to be more than she is at the moment, even though I did get a little more from her character in this book.

I see Simon and the ‘others’ growing more.

Meg is sweet and unique and sweet and caring, confused with Simon as a man, confused with friendship and what it means. She still does her mail delivery.

I liked reading about humans and how they really do play with their own fate when it comes to the ‘others.’

The Elementals are still in my mind the most dangerous, next to Tess. They really are the ones controlling life because not even the ‘others’ like Simon can survive what they could unleash on the world.

I always take a break before reading the next book, in fear of the pace making it difficult for me to stay committed to this series, but I can already feel I am addicted. Anne has quite the creative mind, and I need to know what she has in store for these characters.

What I liked was we got to know more about the Controller. In book 1 he was just words in the background of the story, but he is more in this installment. He became that villain we want to hate.

Introducing some new sub characters like Skippy, was fun. Monty, Burke, and Kowalski always make great additions to the storyline. Dominic Lorenzo and Steve Ferryman I enjoyed knowing more about. And as always, I do love it when the Elementals pop up.

I have developed a healthy curiosity about this series.

I need to know more.

Read More