Better Homes and Hauntings by Molly Harper

Better Homes and Hauntings by Molly Harper

 

This is an New Adult paranormal romance (Rated NC-17)

 

 ♥♥♥♥

 (Four Deacon Hearts)

 

 

Book Summary

 

Author of the beloved Half Moon Hollow series of vampire romances (Nice Girls Don’t Have Fangs), Molly Harper has created a standalone paranormal romance in which a dilapidated haunted house could bring star-crossed lovers together—if it doesn’t kill them first!

When Nina Linden is hired to landscape a private island off the New England coast, she sees it as her chance to rebuild her failing business after being cheated by her unscrupulous ex. She never expects that her new client, software mogul Deacon Whitney, would see more in her than just a talented gardener. Deacon has paid top dollar to the crews he’s hired to renovate the desolate Whitney estate—he had to, because the bumps, thumps, and unexplained sightings of ghostly figures in nineteenth-century dress are driving workers away faster than he can say “Boo.”

But Nina shows no signs of being scared away, even as she experiences some unnerving apparitions herself. And as the two of them work closely together to restore the mansion’s faded glory, Deacon realizes that he’s found someone who doesn’t seem to like his fortune more than himself—while Nina may have finally found the one man she can trust with her bruised and battered heart.

But something on the island doesn’t believe in true love…and if Nina and Deacon can’t figure out how to put these angry spirits to rest, their own love doesn’t stand a ghost of a chance.

 

 

My Review 

So, I usually pick up Molly Harpers stories without really reading the blurb. She’s good for a read and I’m always entertained. While this is classic Molly, it didn’t have a lot of laughs but there are definitively witty moments.

There were times in this story where the plot could have gone down predictable paths to create conflict. I’m happy to say that Deacon was the kind of guy I liked from first meet and didn’t react the way many writers would have had him do. For that I’m grateful.

The down side was this was written in third person and I noticed. By that I mean I usually don’t have a preference in whether I read first or third as long as it’s written well. However in this story there were times when Nina didn’t feel like the main character like the blurb suggested. And I was unsure about the focus of the story at times. Anyway, I still liked it.

Audio Review

What can you say about Amanda Ronconi? She’s stellar and does an excellent job at narration.

My book boyfriend Deacon. (I don’t remember exactly what he looked like.)

 

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Insurmountable by T.E. White

Blurb....

This isn’t some happy love story. If you want that, try something else. No, I own this nightmare and would have never guessed it could have happened to me.

My life is painstakingly puzzled out. And if I have to admit it, I fall for Red the first time I see her. In fact, she is the first of many things for me and maybe my last. She is the reflection of my happiness and the beginning to my end. She is the stain that covers my heart in the color of her blood-red hair.

Thoughts of her consume me and continue to bombard my mind like ricochet gunfire. So what can possibly go wrong, you wonder? A humorous chuckle escapes me, in case you didn’t hear it. Yeah, I can tell you, but you will judge me unfairly. This you need to hear from the beginning, so you know all the facts and feel what I felt. Maybe even sympathize and not give me your scorn. Then maybe you can possibly… possibly comprehend the enormity of my crossroads.

You have to know I never planned or meant for any of this. It isn’t my fault. It’s someone else’s sins that have efficiently destroyed my life in one fell swoop. My name?

My name is Tade Astor and happiness for me is insurmountable.

*Warning – this book contains explicit sexual situations and may not be suited for everyone.

ADD TO GOODREADS

Insurmountable

EXCERPT

Gavin asked, “Who’s the redhead you’ve been staring at all night?


My eyes shifted from the captivating creature back to my best mate who sported a smirk having caught me watching her. She was stunning with hair almost the same color as her strawberry colored lips, which contrasting sharply with her porcelain skin. Stupefied with lust, I was mesmerized by her barely revealed yet Venus Flytrap cleavage, intoxicating to look at but deadly to the heart.


“I don’t know her,” I said simply.


In the nearly four years I’d spent at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, a small private honors college on a stretch of remote eastern shore, I’d never seen her before. And I didn’t get the vibe she was local. According to Gavin, some high schools were larger in student population than our school. So it was odd our paths hadn’t crossed and I knew I would remember a face like hers.


“Why don’t you go talk to her before she thinks you’re some creepy stalker or you can take on Cruella for the night?” He laughed to himself at his joke about the girl who just passed us.


I tipped the beer I’d been nursing all night to my lips and took a long swallow. “Mind your business Gav.”


He chuckled. “No way some chick has you caught all up and you haven’t even said one word to her. This is priceless. In three and a half years, no one had you this wound up.”


I might have been coiled tight because my pants were uncomfortably tight. Any more pressure and I might just jizz. It had been too long since I’d gotten laid and I didn’t have difficulty getting any. That wasn’t the problem at all. I was just particular and choosy. It was important to maintain a low profile, as a Senator’s son. Tonight, the redhead in question was the reason I was all worked up. The trouble was she didn’t appear the type for a one night shag. And that was all I had to offer. Yet, I found myself walking in her direction.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

T.E. White resides in New Jersey and is avid reader who spends stolen moments in time writing stories that will possible shock you, but hopefully in a good way. Writing isn’t a new dream and something T.E. White has been compelled to do. The ultimate goal is to entertain you and create provocative thoughts in your head. The fantasy is to create stories you love. Hopefully all will be achieved. When not writing, T.E. White can be found daydreaming about new stories, watching fantastic TV shows/movies, or spending time with family. If you would like to connect, please use these links below.

Website http://www.tewhite.net

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100006783978655

Twitter: @TEWhiteAuthor

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8302057.T_E_White

Broken Souls (Broken Hearts) by Beth Ashworth

Broken Souls (Broken Hearts) by Beth Ashworth

 

This is an adult contemporary romance novel (Rated NC-17)

 

 ♥♥♥♥
(Four Broken Hearts)

 

 

Book Summary

 

Pain, desperation and grief.

For Ashley Akerman, they are things that she has grown accustomed to feeling over the twenty-five years of her life.

She always found it difficult to integrate into society, realising that her imperfections were always going to be the cause of her own insecurities.

Stumbling upon the sassy Gabriela one day changed Ashley’s life for the better. She was introduced into a new circle of people that accepted her for her personality and didn’t judge her on her looks. But the good luck had been running for far too long... and time was up.

When that devastating moment arises and Ashley loses the support system she has grown to rely on, how will she be able to continue?

Will she revert to her previous life of merely existing as an empty shell in the world, or will the unplanned arrival of a certain Italian playboy throw everything into absolute and utter turmoil?

Finding the strength to fight on through the destruction will be key for Ashley. Will she be able to overcome the overwhelming fear of her past catching up with her once again? Can her broken soul be repaired, or has she finally reached the point of irrevocable damage?

(18+) Although it isn't essential to have read the first book in this series before reading Broken Souls, you may encounter some spoilers along the way if you decide to read this book first.

 

 

My Review

A lot of times in contemporary romance novels there is an element of fantasy because the “perfect” looking guy meets a “perfect” looking girl. And even though they may be messed up emotionally, they are still beautiful.

I love that this author took the time to write a story were the female lead is truly flawed. And I don’t mean overweight, I mean she has a significant birthmark that in her mind mars her beauty. And everything else that happens in the story, it’s a wonder that she remains sane.

When two broken souls meet, it will take each other to mend the wounds and accept love. Not your typical romance story, this one heartbreaking events that being two people together in the worst possible circumstances.

Although this is the second book by this author and there are some cross over with characters, each book can be read as standalone.

My book boyfriend Marco.

 

 

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*Disclaimer - I am not the owner of this picture. I found it on the web for causal fun use on my blog for which I receive no compensation. If this picture belongs to you (you are the copyright owner) please let me know and I will remove it.

Secrets Unveiled by Jill Patten ~ Blog Tour ~ GIVEAWAY

Secrets Unveiled (Secrets #2) by Jill Patten

 

This is a New Adult contemporary romance novel (Rated NC-17)

 

 

Book Summary

In this second and final installment, Jaxon and Courtney are forced into a world of more secrets. Some have been harbored from within, some are unknown, and some or just forming. When the truth finally does come out, will their fragile love for one another be strong enough to hold, or will the weight of deceit break the string that tethers them together?

 

Excerpt

 

Tears pierced the back of my eyes like tiny needles and I quickly turned away. The gravity that had been holding me prisoner finally released its grasp, and I quickly made my way to the exit. The door latched behind me with a loud clicking sound, but I didn’t care. I had to get out of there.

With full-force, I ran down the beach, and didn’t stop until my legs could no longer move. There was no more energy left in me, and it caused me to fall onto the cool, gritty sand. There was no point in stopping the tears; I let them flow freely, I needed to get it all out. I needed to get him out, remove him from my system like he had apparently done me. To know how quickly he had moved on was gut-wrenching.

Curled up into a ball, I laid there in the sand and sobbed until my cries turned into hiccups. He had told me I helped him to remember what it felt like to fall in love again, but how did you feel that way then screw some other girl so soon after?

A little over a month. That was all it took for him to go back to his man-whore days. Was it really fair of me to judge him? Who was I to be mad? I was after all the one who pushed him away.

“I don’t know what you’re doing here, but you need to turn your ass back around and go back to where you came from. Nobody wants you around here. You’ve caused enough trouble.”

WANT TO READ MY FIVE STAR REVIEW?

Check it out here... http://mybookboyfriend.blogspot.com/2014/03/secrets-unveiled-secrets-2-by-jill.html

Here are the buy links for both Secret Unveiled (Secrets #2) and Toxic Secrets (Secrets #1)

US LINKS

http://amzn.com/B00FR6SGOY

http://amzn.com/B00J9ZNR02

UK LINKS http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00FR6SGOY

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00J9ZNR02

 

B&N

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/toxic-secrets-jill-patten/1117169902?ean=2940148412540

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/secrets-unveiled-jill-patten/1119022840?ean=2940149426119

sponsored by author/publisher

 

Rafflecopter Giveaway

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/NTUzOWNiNjNjZjU0MmYyYjE4NGFmOTU4NWQwNjkwOjE=/

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

 

Jill Patten was born a Yankee, but raised a southerner. She lives in the small town of Mayberry, North Carolina which was made famous by a popular TV show back in the sixties. (Maybe there will one day be a statue of her at the end of Main Street. Ha! A girl can dream, right?)

Jill has always loved to read, even during reading labs in middle school for reading comprehension. Judy Blume was her first author she hero-worshipped, maturing to revere the works of Stephen King. With all the fantastic authors today, she simply cannot choose a favorite. Her taste is very eclectic and she loves almost all genres. When she's not captivated by her fictional characters, she spends time with her sweet husband and two beautiful children.

Music is her muse. Jill also loves elephants, sarcasm, and anything made with sugar, especially sweet tea. She enjoys all things rude and crude and laughs at stuff she probably shouldn't. She has been accused of being bossy a time or two, but doesn't really see it herself.

All in all, Jill is just a small town girl in this great big world trying to enable your book addiction.

You can find out more about her here...



My webpage link: http://www.jillpatten.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jill_patten

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7225528.Jill_Patten

Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Jill-Patten/352289424899981?ref_type=bookmark

Skin Game (The Dresden Files #15) by Jim Butcher

Skin Game (The Dresden Files #15) by Jim Butcher

 

This is an adult urban fantasy novel (Rated R)

 

 ♥♥♥♥

 (Four Harry Hearts)

 

 

Book Summary

 

Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only professional wizard, is about to have a very bad day….

Because as Winter Knight to the Queen of Air and Darkness, Harry never knows what the scheming Mab might want him to do. Usually, it’s something awful.

He doesn’t know the half of it….

Mab has just traded Harry’s skills to pay off one of her debts. And now he must help a group of supernatural villains—led by one of Harry’s most dreaded and despised enemies, Nicodemus Archleone—to break into the highest-security vault in town so that they can then access the highest-security vault in the Nevernever.

It’s a smash-and-grab job to recover the literal Holy Grail from the vaults of the greatest treasure hoard in the supernatural world—which belongs to the one and only Hades, Lord of the freaking Underworld and generally unpleasant character. Worse, Dresden suspects that there is another game afoot that no one is talking about. And he’s dead certain that Nicodemus has no intention of allowing any of his crew to survive the experience. Especially Harry.

Dresden’s always been tricky, but he’s going to have to up his backstabbing game to survive this mess—assuming his own allies don’t end up killing him before his enemies get the chance….

 

 

 

My Review

 

So in this book, Harry is the Harry of old. And I like that. I liked that the cast of characters were brought together again except I really missed Thomas. He is one of my favs. And the story had action and mystery in balance. It was a solid read.

SPOILERS

I loved that there was resolution with Harry and Maggie. I’m so happy that he’s finally become a dad in more ways than one. Two little girls, lol.

I hated that Butters got what Karen deserved. I think Karen could have made a good knight.

I’m tired of Harry not sleeping with women, lol. But at least he made his side of things clear. And this thing with Karen at the end only feels like something to pacify the readers. I remember all too well before he “died” he and Karen were about to get together. I have a bad feeling the next book will start out… Although Karen and I were going to talk, we hadn’t had a chance. Months have passed and I’m not sure if she still feels the same. Blah, blah, blah. And they won’t get together, ugh. He should have gotten it on with Asher or Ana, lol. Or maybe he and Michael’s daughter, Molly…

I really liked Goodman Grey. I predicted what would happen in the vault with him. I wasn’t surprised.

I wonder how Harry will get out of being the Winter Knight and survive.

END OF SPOILERS

Overall, there was a solid story in this book. We learned a lot especially a different side to Mab. There are new questions about Molly and Harry’s future love interest. And we have a new player, new skull, *wink/nod*

If you love urban fantasy, this is one of the great series. Pick it up.

My book boyfriend Michael.

 

 

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*Disclaimer - I am not the owner of this picture. I found it on the web for causal fun use on my blog for which I receive no compensation. If this picture belongs to you (you are the copyright owner) please let me know and I will remove it.

Undeniable by Serena Grey

Undeniable by Serena Grey

 

This is a new adult contemporary romance novel (Rated NC-17)

 

 ♥♥♥♥1/2
(Four and a half Undeniable Hearts)

 

 

Book Summary

 

“Protest all you want,” he says, “It won’t change the fact that this thing we have between us, it’s undeniable.”

Olivia Wilder fell in love with Jackson Lockewood the first time she laid her eyes on him. She gave him her heart and her love, and ended up alone, heartbroken and with scars that were almost too much for her to bear.

Seven years later, they cross paths again. Jackson is everything she remembers, only more irresistible. Underneath his disdain, his desire to possess her lights a response within her, but she has no desire to rekindle their past, or face the pain of all those years ago.

However, Jackson has no intention of making it easy for her, this time he’s determined to make her pay for the past, and for the future they should have had, even if it means destroying her in the process.

 

 

My Review 

Sometimes there is an attraction that is undeniable. This is one of those times. As much as I wanted to dislike Jackson, much like Olivia, I was compelled to read further and chant for a man I wanted to hate.

This story has drama which I love and some misunderstanding which I hate. However, it wasn’t so bad that I didn’t enjoy the story.

Almost every conceivable romance story has been told. But sometimes an author crafts a tale that sucks you in no matter. This was one of the times and I find myself repeating myself. Okay, that sounded weird. Anyway, I really enjoyed this one. It was a clever read and I recommend it.

So don’t wait, pick this one up. It’s a good read that will keep you turning the pages late into the night.

My book boyfriend is Jackson.

City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments #6) by Cassandra Clare

City of Heavenly Fire (The Mortal Instruments #6) by Cassandra Clare

 

This is a young adult paranormal fantasy novel (Rated R)

 

 ♥♥♥♥
(Four Hell Fire Hearts)

 

 

Book Summary

 

In this dazzling and long-awaited conclusion to the acclaimed Mortal Instruments series, Clary and her friends fight the greatest evil they have ever faced: Clary's own brother.

Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Bearing the Infernal Cup, he transforms Shadowhunters into creatures out of nightmare, tearing apart families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell.

The embattled Shadowhunters withdraw to Idris - but not even the famed demon towers of Alicante can keep Sebastian at bay. And with the Nephilim trapped in Idris, who will guard the world against demons?

When one of the greatest betrayals the Nephilim have ever known is revealed, Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon, and Alec must flee - even if their journey takes them deep into the demon realms, where no Shadowhunter has set foot before, and from which no human being has ever returned...

Love will be sacrificed and lives lost in the terrible battle for the fate of the word in the thrilling final installment of the classic urban fantasy series The Mortal Instruments!

 

 

My Review

 

This story begins sluggishly. I think the first 30% of the book was rather boring. Also, it felt like CC was setting us up for a spinoff series and spent a lot of time in the book building a prequel about Emma and Jules instead of focusing on Jace and Clary.

So I’m thinking Emma and Jules become paraboti (<- not sure of spelling since I listened). I’m thinking she loves him and she talks about how good looking he’ll be in the future with girls chasing him. So she’ll love him much like Simon loved Clary in the beginning. But Jules will take the role of Clary and loving her like a friend. In the end they’ll try to get together but the paraboti thing will be the thing that holds them apart. Then of course, Emma’s side story will be finding her parents’ killers. Where Jules side story will be keeping his siblings together, finding Mark and getting Helena back. The overall arc of the series will be the war with the fairies. Oh and Helena and her girlfriend will replace Magnes and Alec as the token couple.

Now back to the original cast of the series, CC doesn’t have a problem killing off people in this book. One of which I was really sad about. The other problem with this book as without a love triangle people hate so much, there really wasn’t anything hanging in the balance. We knew that CC wouldn’t have the epic fail like Veronica Roth. So the main couple was safe in having a HEA. Thus, there was nothing to really keep you on the edge.

I saw the thing with Simon, I mean she couldn’t leave things as they stood. The thing with Sebastian also didn’t feel epic. And lastly, how is Emma a Carstairs? When did Jem (James) have a kid? Am I missing something?

Audio Review

Sophie Turner co-narrated this book with Jason Dohring.  Sophie did an outstanding job for the most part. Jason not so much. When not reading the dialogue, he sounded kind of bored. However the dialogue was really good, accents and all. I think he nailed it.

Overall, it was okay. But the book was too easily put down. It wasn’t until like the last 20% or so did I become invested in the story. The saving grace was that Jace was the Jace of old, not whiny and broody.

My Book Boyfriend is Jace.

 

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*Disclaimer - I am not the owner of this picture. I found it on the web for causal fun use on my blog for which I receive no compensation. If this picture belongs to you (you are the copyright owner) please let me know and I will remove it.