BOOK REVIEW: THE TROUBLE WITH TWELFTH GRAVE by DARYNDA JONES - CHARLEY DAVIDSON # 12 - PIATKUS - URBAN FANTASY

By: Darynda Jones
Published By: Piatkus
Released: Available Now
Details: Paperback from the library, 289 Pages

RATING: 4.5 STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

Grim Reaper Charley Davidson is back in the twelfth installment of Darynda Jones' New York Times bestselling paranormal series, The Trouble with Twelfth Grave.

Ever since Reyes Farrow escaped from a hell dimension in which Charley Davidson accidentally trapped him, the son of Satan has been brimstone-bent on destroying the world his heavenly Brother created. His volatile tendencies have put Charley in a bit of a pickle. But that's not the only briny vegetable on her plate. While trying to domesticate the feral being that used to be her husband, she also has to deal with her everyday life of annoying all manner of beings—some corporeal, some not so much—as she struggles to right the wrongs of society. Only this time she's not uncovering a murder. This time she's covering one up.

Add to that her new occupation of keeping a startup PI venture—the indomitable mystery-solving team of Amber Kowalski and Quentin Rutherford—out of trouble and dealing with the Vatican's inquiries into her beloved daughter, and Charley is on the brink of throwing in the towel and becoming a professional shopper. Or possibly a live mannequin. But when someone starts attacking humans who are sensitive to the supernatural world, Charley knows it's time to let loose her razor-sharp claws. Then again, her number one suspect is the dark entity she's loved for centuries. So the question becomes: Can she tame the unruly beast before it destroys everything she's worked so hard to protect?



BOOK REVIEW:

I do love a good Charley Davidson tale that comes with all the crazy shenanigans and side stories to solve, that ultimately weave back around to cross over the finish line = ending of each book.

I-see-dead-people-Charley, Reyes, Cookie, Ubie… the list goes on of main and sub characters that will inevitably make you snort and giggle in your snuggly reading space.

One book after this one and I feel like there is space for things Darynda has to reveal with Charley and this mega thing she is and…and…and…

Like WOW!

My head is spinning.

Okay, so I did love this installment—how could I not?

I figure I’m a relatively smart person, but I gotta say, I am a little *blinks rapidly* about the Reyes side of this story. I totally get what Darynda was doing with Reyes and his God self, but erm…*whispers* I kinda got a bit *cocks head on the side like a puppy* when it came to the why.

OOO yes. The why. The reason. The big reveal.

It may be a case of it’s me and not you, but…*scratches head* I might need a Dummies 101 explanation from Reyes what he was up to this installment from his perspective. I got what he told Charley, I watched what he did throughout the pages…but the ultimate reason, I kinda get, but me being me, wants more detail for that reason. It felt a little unresolved the answer, considering what Charley’s hubby got up to. I might be thinking too hard about it.

*rubs chin with an eyebrow raised*

Putting that aside, I read this series because I LOVE Charley and crew and I want to laugh and I do. I love Reyes like every other reader and he just bakes my cake for me.

Darynda has to have a spin-off planned…surely. 

Beep and ...

I mean she can’t leave us with nothing after book 13.

I mean she simply can’t.

Well, she could, but I think there must be more coming.

Fingers crossed.

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BOOK REVIEW: WITCH'S DAWN by CRYSTAL ASH - UNHOLY TRINITY # 1 - PARANORMAL - REVERSE HAREM

By: Crystal Ash

Published By: Crystal Ash

Released: Available Now

Details: Kindle purchase, 130 Pages

RATING: 4.25 UNHOLY STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

One day, I’m nobody. The next, I’m a witch. And I’ve caught the attention of three smoking hot demons.

I left home to start over, to escape a world I never fit in. I soon learned that my past was a lie. My parents suppressed my magical abilities and tried to make me forget my true nature. They almost succeeded.

Now my real grandmother is back in my life and teaching me the craft of our people. After living my whole life without magic, I feel like a blind woman seeing for the first time.

But three devilishly handsome men are saying there’s more to my story. I see them everywhere, even in my dreams which are starting to feel like distant memories.

They say I’m not an ordinary witch. My grandmother says not to trust them. Who do I believe?

18+ reverse harem Some scenes may be triggering to some readers

BOOK REVIEW:

I’ve been scrolling about on Amazon in the paranormal romance genre and picked Witch’s Dawn up for .74c US. The cover caught my eye.

This is a short story at 130 pages and in saying that, I did feel I would have liked a touch more of the story moving me a little more into the series in this first installment to latch onto.

Now, I know some readers aren’t overly pleased with the erm… way Crystal has written the religious tones to this story, but that would be the triggers she adds at the bottom of her blurb. 

You just gotta look at the series title 'Unholy Trinity' which gives you the first hint, things are gonna go a little in reverse (no pun intended).

I’m a person that believes anything is possible and I don’t put a label on it. So that is where I stand with religion. I’m not batting for the devil team though. I am thinking along the lines that there is something out there waiting for me when it’s my time and I’m being very open to what is waiting for me on the other side. I am hoping it is all good though and we get to meet up with family members and everything is rosy.

Having said that, I do like how brave Crystal is and I will say unique in bringing a different spin to the reverse harem storytelling. Sure it might trigger some readers and I also understand why that would be so.

I am going with how I felt about reading this first installment and even though I did pull one of those oOOookkkaaaay types of faces in certain parts, it is a fictional story and I am basing my review on the quality of what I read.

Not if it made my eye twitch a few times.

Ash, Raum, and Sal would be the spunky demons and Deja would be the twenty-eight-year-old chickie-babe who does not know what she really is until…



Raum, the one with the shoulder-length dark hair and a raven tattoo on his forearm spoke first. His eyes, dark and deep as a midnight lake, gleamed mischievously. He was the troublemaker, the one I really had to watch out for.



Sal, the one with the stunning green eyes and auburn hair took the seat on the other side of me. His power was the most volatile, ready to strike at any moment. The aura surrounding him crackled with energy that felt like a mixture of simmering rage warning me to stay away, and fiery passion daring me to come closer.



Only Ash remained standing, the quiet, aloof leader of the bunch. He regarded me with icy-blue eyes that burned with curiosity and seemed to take in every detail of me. A hand stroked his short blond beard thoughtfully. The motion made him look like some wise Viking scholar who also happened to be tall and broad enough to go into battle.



Anywho in reverse harem style, the demon lads get a little sexy with Deja and she starts to kind of awaken in little bits along the way.



“Deja,” one mouth growled possessively against my throat.

“Who are you?” I moaned, barely able to breathe with my pulse hammering so hard, my insides so hot on the verge of exploding.


Once you've read this story, the cover art reveals a lot more. This I likey.

Overall I did enjoy this short read, but this is just the tip of the iceberg. I'm looking forward to knowing more.

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BOOK REVIEW: INSTITUTE OF MAGIC by LINSEY HALL - DRAGON'S GIFT: THE DRUID # 1 - URBAN FANTASY

By: Linsey Hall

Published By: Bonnie Doon Press

Released: Available Now

Details: Kindle purchase, 246 Pages

RATING: 4.25 LACHLAN STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

Where winning means survival.

According to legend, I’m supposed to be some kind of all-powerful DragonGod—gifted with the magic of gods. Instead, I’m a dud. In fact, I'm currently failing out of the Undercover Protectorate’s magical institute.

It's the supernatural version of Scotland Yard, and I’ve got one chance left to earn my place here. To do so, I have to compete in a deadly race across the world. In order to win, I need to survive. And I’ll need the help of a sexy and powerful shifter mage named Lachlan Munroe.

When we figure out that the race is rigged, Lachlan and I must rely on each other to make it through. But will I be able to learn enough magic to save my life?

BOOK REVIEW:

I was drawn in by the beautiful cover art for my first Linsey Hall read...One click!

I really enjoyed meeting Ana and Lachlan and the whole cast of interesting characters, including the Cats of Catastrophe. They are this fun trio of sidekicks.

The first chapter starts off fast-paced as we follow, Ana, a Dragon God, whose magic hasn’t developed fully yet as she battles demons and anything else thrown in her path during the trainee obstacle course, in Edinburgh.

The Undercover Protectorate Institute is dedicated to helping supernaturals with problems that were so dangerous the magical government didn’t want to handle them.

Ana Blackwood is training at the Academy to eventually graduate and join the Protectorate like her sister, Bree, who joined the Paranormal Investigative Team.

Enter Lachlan Munroe. He has a job that needs all hands on deck, including the trainee, Ana.



The man standing at the front was insanely beautiful—in a raw, powerful kind of way. He had to be well over six feet tall. Though he wore dark jeans and a black jacket, it wasn’t had to see that he was built like a boxer.

But his face…

Like a fallen angel, here to deliver justice. But a dark angel, with black hair and eyes. Handsome, yet a tiny bit scary in his perfection.

I really like Lachlan’s character. There is this insta-attraction and naturally, he picks Ana to work closely with on a retrieval mission.

Sparks fly, hearts flutter.

Ana is intelligent and has a good heart. She works well with Lachlan at her side and when she needs to, takes the initiative.



I sprinted around the pool, naked as a jaybird and way too close to getting hit in the face with my own boobs.



This book is a page-turner where visually I saw it all play out well in my mind. The action and battle scenes were choreographed well and painted an exciting picture in my mind as it all played out.

I have not read the other Dragon’s Gift series’ as yet, where some of the sub characters that pop up in The Druid # 1 have their own stories.

The Dragon’s Gift reading order is:

The Huntress (Cass Clereaux)

The Seeker (Del Bellator)

The Protector (Nix Knight)

The Valkyrie (Bree Blackwood)

The Druid (Ana Blackwood)



Linsey wrote this first book in The Druid series as though I didn’t have to know the characters from the previous spin-off series’ to read this one. Usually, I would read in the best reading order the author recommends, but this time I decided to go a little crazy and be a rebel to my own rules.

I do love what I read about Bree’s character in this book, so I am keen to read The Valkyrie series next.

Overall, I am excited to read more of Linsey’s work.

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****SALE .99C A LITTLE FAITH BY EMMA JAMES****

****SALE .99c A LITTLE FAITH****

3RD JULY 2018 - 15TH JULY 2018

Powerful 

Unique Cast of Characters 

True Friendship 

Laugh

 Cry 

Bite Your Lip 

A Surprise Read

US: http://amzn.to/2COYf0z

UK: http://amzn.to/1LntFZt

AUS: http://amzn.to/2ulskla 

CA: http://amzn.to/1KOdBoF

3 Books Released in the Men Of Ocean Beach Series

 "This is such an original story." 

"The characters are fun loving and complex, 

they draw you into their lives."

 "This book…ooohhhh this book."

"This is one of those books where you can’t say much about the plot because there are so many unforeseen twists and turns along the way…you just don’t want to ruin it. From the very beginning, I was completely blindsided! I honestly wasn’t expecting to have such a strong reaction within the first few chapters of this book."

"I had so many laughs and tears reading this book..."

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BOOK REVIEW: DOG WITH A BONE by HAILEY EDWARDS - BLACK DOG # 1- URBAN FANTASY

By: Hailey Edwards

Published By: Hailey Edwards

Released: Available Now

Details: Free Kindle Purchase

RATING: 4 STARS

Blurb: Goodreads

Half-bloods with Thierry’s skill set are given two options. They can join the conclave’s marshal program, or they can pack their bags. Turn down the job offer, and you’ve just shredded your residency pass for the mortal realm and booked yourself a one-way ticket to Faerie.

Texas is the only home Thierry has ever known, and she’s not going anywhere. Even if it means following in her notorious father’s footsteps as a peacekeeper. But pinning on the badge opens her eyes to the fact sometimes fae need protection too, and that sometimes humans are the real monsters.

BOOK REVIEW:

I’ve not read any Hailey Edwards before Dog with A Bone. I picked it up because A) It was a freebie and B) It is a short read. I’d just come off reading two books, one after the other, 400+ pages each, and I needed a short read in my system. Hailey’s book caught my eye, while scrolling about Amazon (not that I needed to look for any more books to purchase if you knew how many I have on the cloud).

This story starts off with a brief jaunt in the scrapyard where Thierry passes her cadetship and becomes a marshal. In the scrapyard opening scene, I meet Shaw and Mai and then after a few days off… (no spoilers here)

Bam! Marshal Thackery (Thierry) of the Southwestern Conclave was reporting for duty and receiving OJT (on the job training) with Marshall Shaw on Monday morning. Then we are rushing head first into a case, that wasn’t a whodunit. I was looking forward to having some suspects, throwing about other characters and getting into the thick of it, but it didn't actually go that way.

I did enjoy this introduction to Thierry and Shaw and a rather erm… confusing start to this series. When I say confusing, I am not easily confused, but I kept feeling a bit baffled as to the rushed world-building and the Richardson case. I felt like I was missing some pieces and I was floundering about, but I kept rolling with the story and then my eye was twitching because I felt a bit lost with the speed and lack of solid world-building to put me in that comfy place.

Finishing the ebook, the end book matter actually states: Dog With A Bone is a prequel to the series in the sense that the novella cuts a hole into the ceiling of Thierry’s past and gives us a glimpse of those first steps that set the events of the trilogy into motion one year later.

Cool. I appreciate those words from the author. I think I would have preferred to get to know Cadet Thackery a lot more in this prequel and the hints dropped by the author between Thierry and her instructor having some sort of crush or something that happened during that cadetship.

Thierry is eighteen and Shaw is…I may have missed his age, but he is a lot older or felt that way in this prequel. Not that that matters.

I feel I missed actually getting that introduction into Thierry and her cadetship at the marshal academy. It was totally a glimpse and then we were onto the Richardsons without really learning much about the world the author has created and those hints of something between Thierry and her instructor.

I have purchased several more books by this author from her other series' as well as this series for me to sink my reader teeth into. 

I did like the action and I do like Thierry and Shaw. 

I enjoyed this read and I will be onward bound for more Hailey Edwards’ books in the future.

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