Wicked By Any Other Name by Linda Wisdom

Anastasia 'Stasi' Romanov, is the good, well-behaved, well-mannered witch of the group who runs a little side business within her lingerie shop. Love charms. You see, Stasi is all about love. She gives Cupid a run for his money. When a disgruntled customer accuses Stasi of ruining her marriage with her magic, she serves her papers. Stasi is being sued in Wizard's Court. If she loses the case, she may lose her magic.

That's where Trevor Barnes comes into play. He's the attorney- and wizard -in charge of bringing justice to the mortal women. When Trevor and Stasi meet, sparks fly. All sorts! A lot of them good. But everyone knows wizards and witches just don't mix.

It's up to Stasi to clear her name, protect her heart, and save her town and the townspeople from unseen evil forces. Because she knows there's something else going on besides the lunar eclipse and Mercury retrograde.

And it's up to Trevor to find out the truth behind the lawsuit, because he suspects his client isn't as innocent as she first appeared. Trevor hates bullies. He'll also help Stasi figure out the mysteries that are in town, as well as convince her that the attraction they feel for eachother is not just a result of Cupid's practical joke.

Now I must admit that I love Jazz Tremaine, so far she's my favorite witch from this series. But Stasi stole my heart. She's sweet, kind, and caring. And she has much more inner strangth than anyone- including herself -thought she had. I like that she's the complete opposite of Jazz; quiet and subdued.

I really enjoyed this part of Linda's Hex series. I like how each girl is unique and has their own special talents and quirks. Stasi's hiccups are adorable! I also enjoyed Horace, the perverted gargoyle. He's funny. And I was very happy when Jazz dropped by with Fluff and Puff and Irma. I was missing them. Trevor Barnes is hot! And I approve! LOL I feel like the other witches, being overprotective of Stasi. She really stole my heart. :)

Can't wait for the next book! (Which I believe comes out next month)

A Match Made In Hell by Terri Garey

This is the sequel to Dead Girls Are Easy. It continues shortly after Nicki Styx puts Caprice's spirit to rest. Nicki can still see dead people and is trying to cope with her new ability. Sexy doctor Joe Bascombe is still sticking it out with her.

Things become more complicated for Nicki when a ghost enters her store asking for help. Spoiler Alert: Nicki finds her long lost twin sister. She isn't long lost to Nicki, since up until recently she didn't even know about her existence. But she is Joe's long lost wife.

Nicki is stuck between emotions. On one hand, she's kind of intrigued, even a little happy, to meet and get to know her sister. On the other hand, she's Joe's wife and it looks like she might still have feelings for him.

If that wasn't enough of a complication; because of her kind heart (don't let her catch you saying that) she lets her sister move in with her. Fun, eh? Especially when Nicki and Joe are in the next room bumping uglies.

You want more conflict? Well, here you go! Long lost relatives begin to appear and a family house with many skeletons, not only in the closet, but in the pantry as well. And Nicki has a feeling that the man her sister has been speaking with may be a ghost. Talk about family resemblance!

Did I mention the devil is trying to seduce her as well?

Do you need any more reasons to read this book? I don't think so!!!

A Match Made In Hell by Terri Garey. Buy it!

Dead Girls Are Easy by Terri Garey

I found a new series to read! What an awesome concept. The Sixth Sense with a sexy female spin.

Nicki Styx, a sexy, edgy, independent woman has a heart attack and dies. She goes up to what she believes is heaven and is told it's not her time and gets sent back to earth. But this death experience has not left her with more of a wise cosmic grasp, instead she's stuck seeing dead people. It sounds cool, but the dead can be very demanding. They ask Nicki to do all sorts of things for them before they cross to the other side, and one ghost in particular, that of a friend of hers, makes Nicki her bitch.

(How was she supposed to know her friend did Voodoo in the back of her store?)

On top of that, she starts seeing the doctor that saved her life. Kind of hard to develop a relationship when you keep telling the guy you're seeing that dead people are talking to you and telling you to do things. Not to mention that her new preppy looking boy toy isn't what he appears to be. He has a few secrets of his own, and they affect Nicki's life more than she could ever imagine.

I'm so glad I picked this up and bought it. It has everything I like in a book: Comedy, sex, dead people, magic (in voodoo form), and a gay best friend! If that doesn't scream BUY ME, I don't know what does!

Betraying the Prince by Debra Kayn

Celina, the eldest daughter of the Prince of Antakia has been sent away to the United States (California). The order comes from her father, who wants Celina to become the American woman she was meant to be, just like her mother. She is sent to live with Charles Randall in his home. Due to a series of misunderstandings, Celina believes she is to marry the much older man, but soon discovers her mistake. She is especially relieved when she sets eyes on Charles Randall’s son, Drake.

Drake Randall knows the secret of Celina’s past, one even she doesn’t know. He tries to keep his distance from this smart yet innocent coquette, but when Celina begins to entice him with her vast knowledge of the Kama Sutra, Drake’s resolve begins to waver. Can Drake hold off long enough for Celina to find the truth about her mother, or will he give in to his desires?

Wow, what can I say about this book? It was a wonderful story. Debra Kayn creates an interesting island with interesting customs. It’s great to see Celina slowly adapt to American culture while wrestling with her Antakian beliefs. I love the fact that the Antakian women were taught - since they hit puberty - Kama Sutra. I think that’s something they should consider here as well!

I really liked Drake’s character, too. Boyish, young, but strong and manly enough to fight for the woman he loves. Understated manliness, I like it! Rather refreshing from all the kind-hearted brutes I’m used to reading.

A funny, enticing and exciting story!

Guys and Dogs by Elaine Fox

Small-town veterinarian Megan Rose doesn't usually wake up next to strangers. But this morning she finds one sleeping in her bed. Unfortunately, "Baywatch," a stray puppy, doesn't belong at the address on her tags, either: the mansion of Sutter Foley, millionaire software mogul and six fabulous feet of gorgeous, eligible male.

Megan talks Sutter into keeping the pup, even though he doesn't like dogs. Between the dog's playful ways and Megan's honest and down to earth nature, "The Vault" finds a little piece of humanity left from his humble upbringing and discovers that not all people are out to do him harm.

I'd forgotten how much I enjoyed Elaine Fox. I read one of her books about 2 years ago and it stuck to me in such a way that when I went to the bookstore and found this book, I bought it! Along with all of the titles they carried by her. She writes everyday stories, that's what I like. That they're things that could actually happen to two people. And she writes them in such a captivating way. I loved every minute of this book, and you guys should go out and get this book--or any other title for that matter.

Sucker for Love by Kimberly Raye

Sucker for Love by Kimberly Raye is the 5th installment in the Dead-End Dating series. It stars Countess Lilliana Arrabella Guinevere de Marchette--Lil for short--a 500 year old born vampire. She runs a dating service in Manhattan for born and made vampires, weres, humans, and others.

A mountain of unpaid bills lead her into throwing a meet-and-greet of sorts for her clients. It's invitation only, unless you have lots of money. Unfortunately for Lil, an 800 year old warlock gets into the party and kidnaps her client--and friend--Esther Crutch. Now it's up to Lil to save Esther from a deadly ritual before it's too late; something that will be hard for her to do when she also has to keep her mother from slipping birth control pills into her mortal daughter-in-law's food, continue to run her business, keep her mortal assistant from finding out about their world, and keep her boyfriend from finding out she's even left NYC.

Wow, what an adventure that was! I'm a huge fan of both this series and its author. Kimberly Raye delivers a hilarious story, full of action, love and laughs. I love Lil, she's the opposite of what we're used to seeing in vampires. She loves clothes, loves to shop, and pink is her favorite color. She even turns into a pink bat! She's a born vampire but doesn't ask like it; she's not stuck up, she cares about all creatures (that includes mortals) and she wants love, something she's trying to get with her made vamp boyfriend, Ty.

A great series, a great book. I can't wait to see what happens next!

Heroes Die Young by T.M. Hunter

While on a standard cargo run, space pirate Aston West comes upon a derelict freighter, fresh out of a recent battle. He can't fight the urge to pilfer a valuable cache of highly illegal weapons. While on board, however, one last stowaway attempts to kill Aston, thinking him part of an earlier boarding crew. Attack craft return to finish the ship off and Aston has no choice but to save her from certain destruction.

That's when all the trouble begins for Aston. Soon, he finds himself in the middle of a Torian War, a place where he does not want to be. He never gets involved, that's his motto, but with every blind turn, he gets himself more tangled up in this mess. And when he finds out that the cargo he was hired to deliver was used against Torian freedom fighters in the war, all bets are off.

I usually don't read sci-fi/space age type books, but I must admit that this book piqued my interest. Even then, I thought that once I began to read it I would get bored or not understand what T.M. Hunter was talking about. I was completely wrong! This book is awesome. I love Aston West, he's a very realistic hero, I think, because at first he didn't want to get involved. He has this "sucks to be you but it's not my problem and I value my life" attitude but he's still a good guy with a conscience and the more he gets involved, the more personal things become until he feels he needs to help. And isn't that how real heroes are? Nobody walks around looking for people in need of rescuing.

On top of that, the book is pretty damn funny. It's one of those books where you don't see it coming and next thing you know you find yourself laughing your ass off.

Heroes Die Young is a great book. A great story with great characters in a great setting (then again, I'm a sucker for talks of planets, galaxies, and binary stars). I really enjoyed myself and wish I would have read it slower. I'll definitely re-read it at some point when my TBR pile isn't so large.

I gladly give you my stars! 5 for T.M. Hunter and 5 for Aston West.

The Girls-Only Dirty Joke Book by Karen S Smith

The Girls-Only Dirty Joke Book is a funny little read. It's full sexual jokes (my favorite kind of humor) and they can get pretty crude at times. I had a blast reading them, I laughed my ass off. So if you like jokes about blondes, penis sizes, comparisons, pick-up lines, funny stories, and one-liners, then you should pick this book up.

Four nuns die and go to Heaven. At the Pearly Gates, Saint Peter stops them. "Before you enter Heaven, you must be completely pure," he says. "Sister Mary, have you ever had the slightest contact with a man's penis?" "I must confess that I have," says Sister Mary, "I once saw a man's penis." "Wash your eyes out with holy water and pass into Heaven," says Saint Peter. "Now, Sister Martha, have you ever had the slightest contact with a man's penis?" "I must confess that I have," says Sister Martha, "I once stroked a man's penis with my hand." "Wash your hand in this holy water and pass into Heaven," says Saint Peter. But before he can get any further, the other two nuns have started pushing and shoving. "Sisters!" says Saint Peter sternly, "There is room for all in the Kingdom of God-what is the meaning of this unseemly scuffling?" "If I'm going to have to gargle with that holy water," says the fourth nun, "I want to get to it before Sister Catherine sticks her fat ass in it."

The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers by Angie Fox

Demon slayer Lizzie Brown is back in the sequel to The Accidental Demon Slayer. No time to rest or train, Lizzie, Dimitri, Pirate and the Red Skulls head to Vegas to rescue her fairy godfather from the clutches of a succubus named Serena. But before she can even enter Las Vegas she must take her demon slayer license test, something she didn’t even know existed. And if that weren’t enough, she’s about to walk right in the middle of a succubus invasion. With 25 succubi in the area and Dimitri slowly being eaten alive (Dimitri may have forgotten to mention that griffin happens to be a favorite among succubi), Lizzie must rely on her new demon slayer powers and whatever help she can find to rescue the people she has begun to see as family.

The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers is just as great as the first part. I love the characters Angie Fox created, they are so unique! I absolutely love the relationship between Lizzie and Dimitri, it’s so beautiful, especially towards the end of the book. I cried! I’m still a big fan of the coven, those are some crazy ladies! I’m glad I got to see more of her grandma since she was stuck in hell for a big portion of the first book, but I missed Ant Eater, I think she’s my favorite biker witch. I also loved Phil and I cried my eyes out in the end. Such a great character, I think everytime I pass a Cinnabon I’ll think of him. LOL.

Angie Fox has great ideas and I can’t wait to see what else she comes up with. So go out and buy The Dangerous Book for Demon Slayers and if you haven’t yet, buy The Accidental Demon Slayer (click here for my thoughts on the first book).

The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Nightfall by L.J. Smith

Eighteen years after Dark Reunion, L.J. Smith returns to Fells Church and her characters to bring us the first in a new trilogy within the original Vampire Diaries saga. The Return: Nightfall continues the story a week after Elena comes back from the dead. She is no longer a spirit, nor a vampire, but not quite human either; with powers unlike anyone or anything has ever seen.

The only thing I can say to describe this book is that it's intense. So many things are happening at once, obviously since it's the first in a new trilogy not everything gets resolved in this book. Which makes Smith a tease. The best kind of tease there is! This book revolves more around Damon and we get to see parts of him that are new to us.

I've been having an ongoing discussion with my roommate about Damon v.s Stefan. The roommate prefers Damon, and she wants Elena to choose him (after I told her she couldn't choose herself). I want Elena to end up with Stefan. That being said, I LOVE Damon. (Something I realized this week: L.J. Smith has this tendency of creating villains that I love and root for, something I usually never do). And I want badly for Damon and Bonnie to get together. Which of course is difficult because this series is supposed to be about two brothers fighting for the same woman...but...I think Smith could slowly move away from that and have Damon fall for Bonnie. Just saying. :D

Sorry Mutt, but you get nobody!

I can't wait to see what happens next. Seeing as (SPOILER ALERT!!!) Elena takes off with Matt and Damon to rescue Stefan from the Shi no Shi. And I really want to know if things between Bonnie and Damon progress because the kiss, and that whole bathtub scene was great! And that free read over on her site, Bonnie and Damon After Hours, didn't help my obsession.

I know this wasn't much of a review, as it was me squealing rather girlishly, but it's hard to talk about this book when I don't want to spoil the first four parts for people that haven't read it yet. I will say that this book has a new villain and many minions. And a lot of twists that will have you second guessing yourself. Oh! and Caroline is a BITCH! Just thought I'd reinforce that statement. You'll know why as soon as you finish reading this book.

The Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith

Elena Gilbert, Queen of Robert E. Lee High is back from her summer in France. The last year of high school begins and Elena feels a weird energy in the air. Something is going to happen, something bad...but exciting. Maybe it's that elusive thing she's been searching for. Because though Elena has everything, she is not satisfied. She does not feel like the other girls her age, she feels she's meant to do or be something else...

A cryptic premonition from her best friend comes true, and when Elena sees the dark and mysterious Stefan Salvatore, something inside her screams. She needs to have him, he's what she's been looking for and she'll stop at nothing to get what she wants. She always gets what she wants.

But when the quiet town of Fells Church becomes a dangerous place full of random attacks, mysterious shadows, and weird animals, the people of Fells Church point their fingers at Stefan. Now it's up to Elena and her friends to convince the town of Stefan’s innocence…the problem is, he’s not as innocent as they want him to be…he’s a creature of the night. A vampire. (Dum Dum DUM)

Sorry I had to throw the Dums in there. Moving on…

The Vampire Diaries trilogy is an old read for me. I read the original four books (don't ask me why it's still called a trilogy if it has four books, I'm not smart.) about ten years ago, and even back then they were already a bit old. Lisa Jane Smith is the person responsible for my book obsession and I read this series towards the beginning of said obsession. I think she’s one of the best writers, the best storytellers I have ever read. I have always loved the worlds and the characters she creates. Mainly because she writes real people in paranormal circumstances. Elena Gilbert is not this perfect little high school student. She’s a selfish bitch, using her friends to get what she wants and never appreciating them for anything. At least that’s how she starts. As the series progress, she begins to grow, to see the kind of person she is, and to tweak it. That’s what I like most about her characters, their realness and the different types of personalities she throws together to make and unstoppable team.

I’ve been recommending L.J. Smith’s books to just about everyone I’ve ever met since I read The Forbidden Game trilogy ten years ago, and I’ve never stopped.

I was always disappointed because she seemed to just fall off the face of the earth. She didn’t write anything new, and the book in her Dark World series that was supposed to come out never did. I don’t know how many times I tried searching for her on the internet, and all I found was fan sites with the same information I had, nothing.

But she’s back! She has her own website and even has a myspace page. I couldn’t be happier. And she has returned to this wonderful series. The first book in a new trilogy within the original trilogy (which I will review after this and is the reason why I’m reviewing all four books in this one review) came out this February.

And if that weren’t enough, due to the Twilight phenomena, the CW has picked up The Vampire Diaries and will be a series this coming fall. Thursdays at 8 p.m. from what I hear.

So if you love vampires, romance, sibling rivalry, the paranormal, or if you just like to read good stories, The Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith is the series for you!

Book order: The Awakening, The Struggle, The Fury, The Dark Reunion.

Five Stars for each book.

Last Look by Mariah Stewart

When a body of a prostitute is found murdered, she is identified as Shannon Randall. This particular news stuns the FBI, mainly Special Agent Dorsey Collins. Why? Because twenty-four years ago, Eric Beale was convicted and later executed for Shannon’s murder. The agent in charge of that investigation was Dorsey’s father.

Now, there are two cases that need to be solved: what happened on the night of 1983 and who killed her and why.

FBI Special Agent Andrew Shields is questioning everyone, filling in missing pieces, and connecting the dots. But it won’t be easy; especially after all these years. Dorsey shadows Andrew’s every move and together they unravel a mystery that will shock everyone.

Okay, so that’s the short version of this story. I loved it. There was so many twists and it just got better and better. It’s actually really frightening because this particular situation where an innocent person is executed happens in everyday life.

I liked the characters – there were a lot of them! But, they all had a purpose. I was almost tempted to write down every character to keep track. All my questions were answered; I enjoyed it!

Guilty by Karen Robards

Can you honestly ever escape your past?

Kat Kominski was fifteen years old and in foster care when she decided to sneak out of the house and join her friends for a late night drive.

While in the bathroom, she heard gunshots and rushed out. Her friends were running back to the car, a friend, holding the gun. A guy lay on the ground in a pool of blood. Everyone fled the scene and no one was caught.

Thirteen years later, Kate White, once Kat, has come a long way: single mom with a nine-year-old son and works as a prosecutor.

When shots are fired in the courtroom of where Kate is, she is taken hostage and she comes into contact with one of her old friends from that terrible night. He is demanding something from her… or else he will confront authorities about that particular night long ago.

She is now in a predicament. If the truth gets out, she can lose everything’s she’s ever worked for, including her son. But how can she possibly do what he has asked?

Threats, blackmailing, and terrorizing her, Kate knows not only is her life in danger, but also her son’s. She must turn to Detective Tom Braga, the one taking the lead of the courtroom investigation, for protection. But, he suspects her of something. And when he beings to search through her background… “Kat” has a lot of explaining to do.

I really liked the whole idea of this story: Teenage girl witnesses and keeps her mouth shut about a murder, she ends up being a prosecutor, and a long time friend comes along and screws up her life.

But I have to say, it wasn’t what I expected. It took me forever to read, and I guess it was because of the way the author wrote. I’m not totally sure though. There were too many characters that come into play and I forgot who was who – so that might be the reason why the “bad guys” confused me. I couldn't keep up with names. I was just lost.

I'm still trying to figure out if I liked the main character. She lies too much, lol... and I mean, she had to, but at some point it was getting a little ridiculous; it was like, enough with the lying!! You're caught out, admit it.

I have another book by this author that I read a few years back so I can’t remember it – I might want to read it again to see if this author is worth reading again.

City of the Sun by David Levien

Twelve-year-old Jamie Gabriel gets on his bike and delivers newspapers in his neighborhood. One morning, somewhere en route, he disappears without a trace.

It is fourteen months later, and for his parents, Paul and Carol, the tragic situation has become unbearable. With the frustration of dead ends and the police force that cannot (or will not) find Jamie, they are on the verge of giving up all hope they’ve ever had. And on top of it all, their marriage has fallen apart.

The Gabriels are finally given a name of a private detective who may be their last chance to find answers.

When Frank Behr is asked for their help, he refuses. But Paul and Carol need closure and Paul pleads. He gives in, but there aren’t any promises to a good result. He works on the case and later has Paul’s partnership – but between it all, Behr is haunted by memories in his past and he can’t possibly ignore them.

They are on a mission to find out the truth about that very morning Jamie vanished. Finding out the truth just might kill them…

I happened to see this book in the library just sitting on a desk and it was screaming, “pick me, pick me.” (Okay, maybe not literally.) This is a new author for me, and I was impressed. It held my attention from page 1 to page 452. (LOL…it was large print). It was emotional, suspenseful, and just plain great.

It’s fast-paced, and I read it in a day. I liked the plot, the way the author wrote, the characters, etc. No complaints! Read it.

Guardian by John Saul

MaryAnne Carpenter is dealing with a separation from her husband, Ted. Because of her two children, Logan and Alison, she is finding it difficult to stay away from him. When she gets a phone call informing her that her friends the Wilkensons are dead, she must pack up to care for their child, MaryAnne’s godchild. Questions begin to rise: were her friend’s deaths tragic accidents or murder?

When taking her children to relocate in Idaho with her godchild, she finds her troubles multiplied when they all become prey to an evil force stalking the wilderness. Someone or something is murdering people in the community one by one.

If no one is familiar with John Saul’s books, his books are stories of supernatural, technological, or psychological terror. I’ve read a few books by him already in the past couple of years, and “Guardian” was yet another book I enjoyed. It takes some time to read because of his writing style, his details, but it makes you want to get to the end to see how everything turns out.

There are a lot of gory killings–yay. I liked the characters a lot.

Ted is a sweet-talker who has a temper and is just plain rude! He surely doesn’t change at the end of the book.

MaryAnne is a curious, kind-hearted individual. All she wants to do it protect her children as best as she can.

Logan is a curious ten-year-old who loves to have fun.

Alison is a teenager who gets scared a lot, but goes a long with things so she doesn’t get called a “chicken.” Throughout the book, she tries to act her age by being the ‘grownup’ in certain situations.

Joey Wilkenson is a shy and silent teenager. He’s trying to deal with his new environment and trying to figure out who he is…or what he is.

The Beach House by James Patterson & Peter de Jonge

Jack Mullen is a student of the law. His brother, Peter, younger by seven years, parks cars for rich people in Hampton.

When Peter’s body is found on the beach, Jack is certain that the so-called drowning was no accident, but it was murder.

This story shows you how someone’s power and money can buy cops, people, and even the system.

Jack is not satisfied with how this crime is being taken care of, so he begins an investigation on his own and someone is pretty pissed off about it. This murder mystery will have you entertained until the very last page!

It’s a story filled with sex, money, deception, and revenge. How much better can it get?

This is my 3^rd book from Patterson and I was definitely pleased with the entire book. It’s a very fast-paced book. Don’t get intimidated by the number of chapters because they are very short, about 1-2 pages long.

Many characters are brought in, so it may be hard to keep track of who’s who. But, every character has a purpose and I liked that a lot.

I don’t know what else to say, other than it kept my full attention because it was interesting and not predictable.

Blind Curve by Annie Solomon

Danny Sinofsky is a detective and an independent person who never needed anyone’s help-but, there’s a first time for everything, right?

In the middle of a weapon’s bust, Danny goes blind. Doctor’s say it’s serious, but he refuses to listen to them.

Unable to take care of himself, Danny needs to learn life skills all over again. This is where his mobility instructor, Martha Crowe steps in. When she comes face to face with Danny, she is positive he does not remember her-the plain, no-so-good-looking girl from his high school.

Things get more interesting when Danny is attacked inside his home and Martha is a witness. They are both thrown into a safe house. Together, they need to figure out who is behind it all. They sort out all clues and by using his razor-sharp instincts and Martha’s eyes. And through it all, they fall in love, but they both are being stalked and it will not stop until someone dies!

I have to say, I was a little disappointed with this book. I was expecting a bit more.

Let’s start with the things that just weren’t my cup of tea.

I felt it was difficult to keep focused on what was happening-either it was the way the author wrote-or maybe it was me.

I thought the “sex scenes” were in the wrong places. It didn’t feel real enough. The characters are supposed to be scared out of their minds, trying to figure out the attacker and instead, they are getting hot and heavy everywhere. There was a couple times where the scenes were one after another… I didn’t like the fact that it was written that way.

Okay, now for the good things.

I loved how the characters are written: Danny is shown as this tough guy and throughout the book you can see how stubborn he is, but finally at the end, he broke out of it and stopped being so “macho.” He began living with the fact that his blindness was something that he was going to have to get used to and had to make the best out of it.

Martha has issues of her own-doesn’t have self-confidence and puts herself down a bit, even though Danny is blind and can’t see her appearance! She ends up breaking out of that habit also and realizes that meeting Danny was the best thing for her.

Also, a character is talked about a few times throughout the story and at the end of the book; there is new information about this character. I did enjoy that, but that particular situation was never resolved. So, maybe there’s a sequel that I’m unaware of.

Remembering Ashby by Heather Long

Melanie is chosen as one of five maidens that will represent the Goddess in the rituals of Beltane to bless the peace talk between several clans. She is to be but a mere vessel to the Goddess, never taking her hooded cloak off or fraternizing with any of the clan members. But then she locks her gaze upon Adam...his eyes, blue ringed with violet are an instant pull for Melanie and she finds herself disobeying more and more orders as they get closer to one another.

But she is to give her maidenhood in the name of the Goddess during the festival, something she was prepared to do until she got to know Adam. And until she overhears a disturbing conversation between the Sorcerer and an unknown person about the maiden with the white feathered mask...her mask....

What a lovely story. I’m still chocked up as I write this, a goofy love induced grin on my face that I can’t seem to get rid of. It’s a short story but it’s so beautiful, and it fills me with hope and reminds me of what I am waiting for in life. True love. A love so pure and powerful it can overcome anything if you believe in it and risk all you know to find it. It’s a simple story, yet it is different, unique, creative and I loved every word of every page. Thank you Heather for writing such a marvelous tale and for writing such unique individuals. I feel like I know every single one of your characters.

Oh and the cover is beautiful! Almost forgot to mention it, hehe.

I should also mention that Heather Long is hosting a contest. Looks like it’s really good. Click here to check it out!

The Path to Freedom by Lisa Pietsch

Talk about having a bad day! Within hours, Sarah Stevens, is let go from the military because of the extra sixty-five pounds she has gained and she walks into her boyfriend’s apartment to find him cheating on her – with a man! What is a girl to do when she’s lost not only her job, but also the only one who should have been by her side?

Her Commander gives her a number to call for a boot camp that specializes in weight loss. So, she calls and it turns out that it was the thing she needed to turn her life around.

Sarah doesn’t know many details about this camp, only that it’s free and it could help her in ways she never thought possible. The only thing she has to do is continually lose weight each week to stay in the program. But something’s a little off, there has to be some sort of catch.

Throughout her time at the boot camp, Sarah loses all the weight she’s gained and more! Not only does she become a total hot bombshell, she gains self-confidence she never thought she had. And, it turns out this ‘fat camp’ was actually training her to become a Black Ops agent!

That’s just the beginning …

Bring on the men, weapons, and sex scenes… ha ha.

This book was great. I usually don’t read military novels, but this one definitely caught my attention and I learned a lot from it. The author did an excellent job at giving lots of information without making me feel lost. It wasn’t just thrown in there; it had purpose and it flowed well.

I loved how all the characters responded towards each other; it felt like they really were friends, trying to get along, trying to cope with one another … it was awesome.

The Accidental Human by Dakota Cassidy

Wanda Schwartz is having a good year, not to mention a bizarre one. Not only did her two best friends find love and get married, they were also bitten by their husbands beforehand and turned into paranormals (one is a werewolf the other is a vampire). On top of that, Wanda’s career at Bobbie-Sue Cosmetics is on the rise, she is the best at recruiting new saleswomen for the company. But when she’s diagnosed with a terminal illness and a mysterious, hunky piece of man answers her Bobbie-Sue ad on the paper; things get a little out of control for this list-making-OCD gal.

The Accidental Human is last installment in the Accidental Friends series. I’m a little sad to see it end, but hopefully Dakota Cassidy has more stories under her sleeve. She’s one funny storyteller! I fell in love with all three girls for different reasons, they’re so different from one another and I love that, I love that they can be best friends despite their differences. You guys really need to read all three books they’re such gems. I’m so glad that I bought The Accidental Werewolf all those months ago, because I had never heard of her, but the cover caught my attention (what can I say it was shiny!) and I’m glad it did! The series has a strong beginning and a strong finish, you wont believe how this book ends!

Bravo!

All Fall Down by Erica Spindler

“The system falls down. They all fall down!”

Through an abusive childhood, triplets Melanie, Mia, and Ashley stood by each other and tried their best to get through it all. Now, as adults, Mia’s married to a physically abusive doctor; Ashley has an abundance of bitterness towards men; and Melanie is a small-town divorced cop fighting for custody of her son, Casey.

It is when men start to unexpectedly die in their town that Melanie begins to think that these “accidental deaths” are actually murder. Every waking moment she has, her attention is on this case to prove she is right.

When Melanie meets Connor Parks, an FBI profiler with ‘obsessions’ of his own, they try to put the pieces together to find out the person behind it all. He comes up with a profile of the killer and Melanie realizes that it sounds all too familiar… sounds like someone she knows personally.

As she gets closer to discovering the killer, she and Connor fall in love. But a happy ending isn’t what the killer has in store for them. Melanie is set up to take the fall for the murders that took place, and it puts everyone she knows in danger.

This book is awesome. When reading, the question that’s lingering in the back of your mind is: is it justice or is it murder? It’s suspenseful and, of course, there’s a twist at the end! Murder scenes are great, but when you involve a bit of kinky sex, whoa, it gets better. I really like how the characters develop throughout the story; you get a sense of their personality, their flaws, likes and dislikes.

Yay for a great book.

The Fire Still Burns by Crystal-Rain Love

The last place Brynn Harlow wanted to step foot in was Black Bear Gorge. She hated the town as much as they hated her, but she had no choice. She needed money and was hired as a P.I. to investigate the string of arson attacks and possible murder of one of their citizens. Zeek Goods murder to be exact. The man who convinced the town she was a whore, which led to her leaving thirteen years ago. The man she detested most in the world. The man who kept her away from her only love, his brother, Adam Good. Now it was up to Brynn and Adam to put their mixed, unresolved feelings aside and catch the arsonist. Brynn just hopes she can do it quick before Adam realizes that all he thought he knew of what transpired thirteen years ago was a lie, and before he saw that Brynn’s son looked an awful lot like him.

WOW! Rain has been bugging me to read her debut novel, The Fire Still Burns for a while now. I’ve had it in my computer for months, but just got around to reading it now. I knew it was going to be good, I read her second novel, Moonlit Dream, and I thought it was awesome (Read the review here). But damn, if I knew it was going to be THIS good, I would have read it the moment I got it! I don’t really know what to say, everything sounds cliché and doesn’t feel like it’ll do her book justice. All I can say is that Crystal-Rain Love has a great talent for storytelling. She creates great stories with conflicts, twists and turns, and honest characters with flaws. She paints a clear picture of the characters and their surroundings, immersing one into her fictional world in a way that makes you feel part of the story. In this case, I felt like part the town of Black Bear Gorge, eavesdropping and gossiping with the best of them, gawking at Brynn and Adams' displays of affection. But unlike the rest of the town, we are privy to their intimate moments too, with eachother and by themselves; we hear their every thought, their hopes, dreams, and fears.

So instead of wasting your time reading this review, you should go buy her e-book! Why are you still reading this!? GO GET THE FIRE STILL BURNS BY CRYSTAL-RAIN LOVE (don’t you love her name???)

Today’s lesson: When Rain tells you to read her book, READ IT, like, YESTERDAY.

A Sure Thing by Brit Blaise

Cara Thomas, voluptuous redhead needs to get laid. When her best friend arranges “a sure thing” with her cooking instructor, Chef Mike Nichols, Cara decides to go for it even though she has to take a cooking class and can’t cook worth a damn. Things quickly get hot and not necessarily in the kitchen, though food is involved, as they both realize that just maybe, this is more than A Sure Thing.

If I would have known this book was going to be this good I would have read it sooner! It’s such a cute story. I love Cara, I love that she can’t cook, I love that she’s a size 16, and especially that she’s a redhead (I find redheads exotic).

Chef Mike, is yummy with a capitol YUMMY. He sounds like my dream guy. A bit of a man’s man, but with a soft mushy heart. Sexually adventurous with no qualms about using his precious food as foreplay. Where can I get me one of those!?

A love-at-first-sight novel that warms your heart, and steams your glasses (for those who wear glasses). LOVED IT!

Hex Appeal by Linda Wisdom

Hex Appeal by Linda Wisdom is the the sequel to 50 Ways To Hex Your Lover. It continues Jazz's story; a 719 year-old witch living in the mortal world trying to live her life as normal as a witch can live it. It picks up a few months after Jazz and Nick (her on again off again vampire boyfriend) destroy Clive Reeves (the bad guy in 50 Ways...) Jazz is trying to make her relationship with Nick work, while trying to adjust to the additions in her household.

Irma, her ghostly friend which haunted her T-bird convertible for the last fifty years, who--thanks to Jazz--was free of the passenger side of the car, moves into the carriage house where she demands more and more luxuries by the day, and even ends up with her own pet. A ghost dog that slobbers ectoplasmic drool. Jazz also gets a new pair of hexy shoes, a pair of crocodile stilettos named Croc and Delilah who have an affinity to cosmetics. Her mortal roommate, Krebs, starts dating his vampire client, and Fluff and Puff (her hexy bunny slippers) have been accused of eating a wereweasel and Jazz has no choice but to lock them up until she can prove their innocence. If that isn't enough, she begins to have awful nightmares, and certain enemies from her past reappear in her life. And all she wants to do is get hot and heavy with her man.

I love this series! All the characters, even the secondary characters and villains are awesome. They've very detailed, they're very original and I love what Linda does. Kudos for creating such a fun world. So many things happen to poor Jazz, one on top of the other, yet she stays strong (cept for that one time she woke up a mortal...) through it all. She never gives up, and she always ends up on top. Even if her sentence on earth keeps getting longer... She's a kick-ass heroine I would love to channel.

FIVE HEXY STARS!

The Accidental Demon Slayer by Angie Fox

The Accidental Demon Slayer by Angie Fox is about, well an accidental demon slayer, of course. Lizzie Brown opens her front door on her thirtieth birthday to see her birth grandmother (who she has never met) at her doorstep. She looks nothing like a grandmother should look and pushes her way into Lizzie's house and her life. Along with her bossy attitude and her Kiss My Asphalt T-shirt, she seems to have brought along all sorts of crazy unusual things. One of them being the demon that comes out of Lizzie's toilet. After defeating the demon, Lizzie is dragged out of her home and her normal life, along with her (now) talking dog, and pulled into an unusual adventure. One filled with demons, imps, and sexy griffins. An adventure she wont soon forget.

I finally finished this book! I've been trying to read this book for months, but I kept having to put it down to review books that authors had asked me to read (not that it was bad, because if you've read my other reviews, they were all good), but I'm glad I was able to finally give this book the time it deserved. I loved it. I think it was brilliantly written, all the characters are quirky in their own unique way, and I love that. They're all fresh and unlike anything I've read in a loooong time. Lizzie is hilarious with her refusal to curse. I love her. And Gertie, and Ant Eater! I love them all. And of course, Dimitri too. He's an alpha male (yummy) but with a beautiful soft side...does that make him a gamma? Well whatever he is, he's yummy! Can't wait to read the next installment in this hot new series. Oh yeah, I love Pirate too! :D

Ok, I was going to end it there, but I have more things I loved. Like all the random spells (like the giggle spell, or the macarena spell, or how about the lost keys spell, and many many more), and all the roadkill (hehe poor Lizzie), the Smuckers jar was brilliant. The things Lizzie can do are very original too, and Angie set up such a strong world that I believe all the things Lizzie does. Ok, I'm done now. Take my stars Angie, you deserve them all!