Category: Reviews

Books, fantasy, paranormal romance, Reviews, Romance, Urban Fantasy

The Vampire’s Mail Order Bride by Kristen Painter

debra

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Hey everyone,

This is the first book I have read by this author and I plan to continue in the series because it is fun. I have had this series recommended to me for quite a while on the website I buy books at, but was always put off by the covers (and I never judge a book by its cover!!).

The Blurb:  Welcome to Nocturne Falls, the town where Halloween is celebrated 365 days a year. The tourists t hink it’s all a show: the vampires, the werewolves, the witches, the occasional gargoyle flying through the sky. But the supernaturals populating the town know better.

Living in Nocturne Falls means being yourself. Fangs, fur, and all.

After seeing her maybe-mobster boss murder a guy, Delaney James assumes a new identity and pretends to be a mail order bride. She finds her groom-to-be living in a town that celebrates Halloween every day. Weird. But not as weird as what she doesn’t know. Her groom-to-be is a 400-year-old vampire.

Hugh Ellingham has only agreed to the arranged set up to make his overbearing grandmother happy. In thirty days, whatever bridezilla shows up at his door will be escorted right back out. His past means love is no longer an option. Not if the woman’s going to have a future. Except he never counted on Delaney and falling in love for real.

Too bad both of them are keeping some mighty big secrets..

I give this a solid 3.75 stars. Don’t let the covers fool you–the characters are well-written and not cartoonish at all. I would classify this series as a romantic comedy for me. It is set in the town of Nocture Falls–a town that celebrates Halloween 365 days a year. Delaney has witnessed a murder by her boss of the restaurant she works in another state up north. In fear, she takes the identity of a woman who has agreed to an arranged marriage to a man in Nocturne Falls. She heads to Nocturne Falls not knowing that her intended is a vampire. As a matter of fact, the entire town is a town of supernatural characters (vampires, werewolves, witches, etc.). It is an enjoyable fun, quick read about an unusual little town of quirky, unusual characters.

Happy Reading,

Debra

Books, fantasy, paranormal romance, Reviews, Romance, Urban Fantasy

A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J Maas

Karen

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I’m a little late on this review but honestly I had a hard time with this book so I waited a long time to post this. Here is my review A Court of Mist and Fury by SJM but first of course is the blurb:

Feyre survived Amarantha’s clutches to return to the Spring Court—but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can’t forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin’s people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms—and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future—and the future of a world cleaved in two.

With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas’s masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.

The review:

I know I have an unpopular opinion but I feel it’s important to be honest in all my reviews so here it is, my official review of the book. Let me start out by saying that I was actually looking forward to this book, I had heard that it would be a retelling of the Hades/Persephone tale and I found that idea to be interesting. I liked Rhys in the first book, he was bad, totally amoral and seemed to have his own agenda so I was eager to see how she would work the story, and I originally liked Tamlin and Feyre so I was also curious to see how she was going to break their relationship apart. Needless to say I was unhappy with much of this book, but let’s break it down:

1. The length. Holy moly. This book clocks in at 640 pages officially but it felt like 700 and should have been at the very most 400 (though I would have been very happy with it stopping at 350). In fact when I hit 355 pages I remember putting a marker in my kindle and saying “where is this booking going?” in the notes. It needed editing, major editing, I mean like 200 pages worth. Many times the book would go on for pages about side stories or pointless topics that just needed to go.

2. The sex. Listen I read a lot of PNR so it’s not that the sex itself offended me, it’s that it wasn’t very good and it didn’t belong in this type of book. You can’t write a first book for YA and then write a second book that is so obviously NOT YA and expect all the YA fans out there not to read it. And it wasn’t well written! If your going to make the jump into the big girls club do it well dammit! Ugh so bad I actually skimmed the sex scenes, they were just…ridiculous.

3. Feyre. I disliked her sooo much in this book. I am realizing this is a trend with me and SJM, I don’t like her spoiled, selfish, over the top lead female characters. You know the ones that can make mistakes and do what ever they want and EVERYONE kisses their feet but if someone does something, even minor, they don’t like it’s full on temper tantrum time. And everyone in the book is totally fine with that. I hate that, making me really dislike the book.

4. Rhysand. Like I said earlier I loved the contrast of this character in the first book. He was a very good villain, but in this book he lost all the qualities that I loved about him. He went from being this strong, crazy, slightly evil man willing to stand up to Feyre and do whatever it took for his survival (and that of his people) to a marshmallow willing to do anything Feyre wants even if it means everyone else suffers. I hated to see him destroyed.

5. The plot. Which was? Getting the cauldron? That can’t be it, that’s the last 50 pages that would be crazy. Falling in love? Is that a plot? I’m so confused what is the point of this book….

So another SJM series is done for me, honestly for me I think I just don’t like her books. It was really my fault for starting another series after being so disappointed in the direction the ToG series is going and ultimately stopping that one as well.

Books, fantasy, paranormal romance, Reviews, Romance

A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet

Karen

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I received an ARC of this book which will be released on August 2,2016. I was attracted to the cover, which looks amazing, and the story. Let me give you the blurb, then my opinion:

Catalia “Cat” Fisa is a powerful clairvoyant known as the Kingmaker. This smart-mouthed soothsayer has no interest in her powers and would much rather fly under the radar, far from the clutches of her homicidal mother. But when an ambitious warlord captures her, she may not have a choice…

Griffin is intent on bringing peace to his newly conquered realm in the magic-deprived south. When he discovers Cat is the Kingmaker, he abducts her. But Cat will do everything in her power to avoid her dangerous destiny and battle her captor at every turn. Although up for the battle, Griffin would prefer for Cat to help his people willingly, and he’s ready to do whatever it takes to coax her…even if that means falling in love with her. 

I’m disappointed in this book, but I feel it’s very important for me to explain why. This book was fantastic, it had a great world that was different enough that I was intrigued but familiar enough that I wasn’t confused. It had great characters, Cat was saucy and powerful but not awful, Griffen was attractive and strong, but not like so many main characters I read today, you know willing to do anything the girl wants even though he’s suppose to be all powerful and constantly telling her how beautiful and amazing her existence is (aka he wasn’t an ass kisser). The other characters were great too, they made me smile and hope to learn more about them. And then came the story, you had a circus, magic ropes, magical creatures, crazy Alpha queens, Giants, dragons, oh and Greek gods! And just to make it interesting a whole bunch of fighting with some sexual tension. It was amazing!! So why 3 stars? Why the disappointment? Cause that was the first 50% of the book. Literally (I have a counter on my kindle), the last 50%…nothing. I mean no story, no plot, no more character development (except for the eventual HEA which wasn’t even exciting because I was already bored) even the new characters felt shallow and boring. And the story, you know with the dragons, sword fights, Greek gods, etc…it just came to a screeching halt.

I’m sad because this book could have been one of those that dances the line and you don’t know if it’s fantasy or PNR you just know it’s good. Instead it just turned into another plotless romance.

I’m hoping to read something else from this author someday because I feel like she’s got a blockbuster in her I just didn’t feel this was it.

Books, funny, great reads, Reviews, Romance

“Dear Heart, I Hate You” by: J. Sterling

Les

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Hi guys!!
First, let me thank you all for 10,000 views!!!! I am so excited. Never in a million years, when Karen and I started this, did I believe anyone would actually read our thoughts and opinions, let alone 10,000 views.
Ok, now down to business!!!
I decided to be nice today and let you read the actual book description.
When a self-professed workaholic Jules meets Cal Donovan in a bar one night, her world shifts. The heart she thought was dead inside her chest is instantly brought to life by just one look… one touch… and a pair of deliciously sexy lips.

She thought she was fine being single. She thought she was fine being alone. She thought work was all she needed.

And then she met him.

And he f*****g ruined everything.
My opinion? Well, my opinion is that this book made me laugh, made me frustrated, and also a little angry. So yeah, it’s a well rounded book.
Ok, so, Jules is at a realtor convention and meets Cal, an investment banker. They are both attracted to each other and then after talking for a while they move upstairs. Whoa!! Put on the brakes, this girl has some class. ( She also may be crazy, stupid, because he sounds so hot.) Nope, not getting lucky tonight, Cal. They then spend the next few days together after her convention day meetings. She meets his brother and they have a great time. Now, it’s time for her to fly home. Oh, did I mention that he lives in Boston and she lives in Malibu? Yep.
So, now we have a long distance thing going on, which they both think is better for them, since they are both workaholics.
Ok, so this is where I get frustrated. I work all the time, I don’t want a relationship right now, maybe I should stop texting her. Does she understand that this isn’t going anywhere? Am I sending mixed signals? Blah, blah, blah. YES!!! Yes, Cal you are, since you text Jules every morning and call her every night. You are basically in a relationship. These two are sharing their entire lives every day with each other. I know married people who talk less than these two.
Anyway, Cal visits, Jules hooks him up with some great connections in his business, then lets her colleague finalize a deal for her because he is town. So what does Cal do? Flips his shit, because she gave up work for him.
He can’t take it. He doesn’t want her doing that. He wouldn’t do that for her.

Now the angry part:

Cal just drops off the face of the Earth. He totally stops calling, texting, or returning calls. He is now a douchebag. Now, we all know I like jerks, but I do not like scared little sissy jerks. Obviously, I am still angry at him.
Then of course he realizes he made a huge mistake and has to fix it. So, he flies to Malibu.
Jules has some choice words for him when he shows up at her work. Ha! She is awesome!

Well, you know the drill you will have to read it to see what happens. Don’t you just love me?
So all in all I really enjoyed this story. It was my little break from anything paranormal. I have to say though that this makes me miss my paranormal men, my jerks, my strong men.
Go read it. I am sure you will like it.
Peace ✌,

Les