Author Archives: karenjvjohnson

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Sexy as Hell

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16089712

Sexy as Hell (More Than Men #1)

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
I’m kind of torn on the rating I want to give this, so I am going with 3.5. This was basically a good story from an author I had never read before and so wanted to try at least once. The characters are not fully defined as to who they are and the story does not seem fully realized. I wanted more about what was actually going on and maybe some background on the characters that we meet so abruptly with only minimal explanation. The dialogue works well and at least makes them feel like a part of the world.

Seth was about to die when he was given the choice of becoming immortal and working for the Archangel Michael or facing his fate. For fifteen hundred years he has fought demons and sent them back to hell as an immortal warrior in the service of Michael but things are about change. Seth is being targeted by a succubus who has managed to find him and knows who is and wants to take his soul. The problem is that the temptation is going to almost more than he can resist.

The sex scenes were nice but not really hot as I expected. I liked Seth but would not have felt totally let down if he had died. Camille I had a hard time warming up to because she was such a blank slate as far as who she was. I still think it is worth reading and I will be reading the next book because it sounds pretty interesting.

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American Vampire

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10949690

American Vampire (Vampire for Hire #3)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was another good entry in the life of Samantha Moon, a woman who makes me proud one minute and wanting to choke her the next. The characters and plots get more interesting and intricate with each new book and the addition of new characters make it even better. The flow is always good with the story moving along effortlessly from place to place and person to person.

This time Sam finds herself with a case she did not seek out but that she wants to solve very badly. A call from a child who said her mother has been killed and she is with the man who did it. She has also met her cyber buddy Fang in the flesh and finds out that he has been stalking her for a while because of clues she gave him. Her life is further impacted by the illness of her son which is serious and makes her think of doing the unthinkable to save him. This is not the best week she has ever had.

There are always multiple plots playing out and that keeps thing fresh and moving. It is very much like real life because in life we don’t just deal with one thing at a time but sometimes more things than we want to. These books give a very real look at the world. I seem to like Kingsley more than Sam does, since she seems to have a child’s view of the justice system where only good people get to have lawyers. I don’t trust Fang yet, but maybe he is not as bad as I think.

If you have read the first two you are going to like this one.

“Kingsley got up, and as he did so, he flashed me the goods. Whether he meant to or not, I don’t know…but holy sweet Jesus. Did I really just see that? My God, how did he walk around with that thing? Kingsley, defense attorney, werewolf—and now, apparently, pervert—sat next to me and gave no indication that he had just given me the mother of all peep shows. “I’m going to let you in on a little secret,” he said, and knocked back the rest of his wine like it was booze-flavored Kool-Aide. “It’s not a secret,” I said. “And it ain’t little.” “Excuse me?” “Never mind.” But I caught the smallest of shit-eating grins on his face. “Go on,” I said, shaking my head. “And this time try to keep the robe closed.”
― J.R. Rain, American VampireJ.R. Rain
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Erotic Diaries of a Warlock

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18134250

Erotic Diaries of a Warlock: Book 1 of 3

My rating: 2 of 5 stars
This was nothing like what I was expecting when I bought it. I cannot say that I particularly liked it but I did not totally dislike it either. There was no true story here that I could find. I mean it was supposed to be about this person finding out who he was but I could not follow completely because it did not go in a linear fashion. This is supposed to be being written by an actual Warlock, but if that is the case he should have gotten a ghost writer. There was simply not enough of a story to keep me from being bored and stopping and starting multiple times. The narrative was kind of disjointed and did not flow well from chapter to chapter or even within them in some instances.

This is the story of Justin, as he is to be called, and his journey to find himself as a warlock.

This has the word erotic in the title and I did not really find it to be so at all. I was actually a bit disturbed to find scenes between a prepubescent boy and older woman in sexual situations. I could not in recommend this to anyone. I will not be reading the next two books if this what I can expect. No real story, no heat, no interesting moments.

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The Awakening

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18304155

The Awakening (The Marriage Diaries #1)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the first thing I have ever read from this author, and I am so glad I found it. Now there was no major character development here but I think that it will be a part of the series as it continues. The characters are likeable however and there seems to be a great deal of potential for them. The language seems appropriate for who they are and their lives. The first few pages didn’t pull me in but it was easy-going by the time I had been reading for 20 minutes or so.

The kids are out of the house and Jillian Noble is ready to add a little spice to her life. She and Dean have a nice love life but she is ready for more and hopes to find that her husband is willing to go along with the changes she wants to make. To feel him out about it Jillian is going to his office to seduce him.

Dean Noble is a good-looking man who loves his wife. What she does not realize is that he has fantasies that he has never thought would be fulfilled because he is afraid of truly letting go. When his wife does something so hot and sexy as to seduce him in his office, he wonders if it is time to let the beast out.

This was a pretty hot introduction to a couple I think are only going to get better. I say give it a go!

“Shit.” Dean scrubbed a hand along his jaw and gave Jillian a stern look. “You made me forget all about the meeting I had scheduled for this afternoon with a very important client.” She should have told him she was sorry, but honestly, she wasn’t the least bit contrite about seducing her husband. “Then I guess I should be going.” She stood up, and so did he. Just as she turned to walk around his desk, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her back around again. His heated gaze roamed over her disheveled hair, then her face, and he smirked that confident, cocky smile of his. “You do realize, don’t you, that you look like you’ve just been fucked.” She didn’t miss the possessive inflection in his voice. Already, she sensed a change in him, a darker edge that excited her. “I feel like it, too,” she said, unable to deny that she was very tender in the most delicious places. “Do you think anyone will notice that you had your way with me when I walk out of your office?” “I’m sure they will.” And he wanted them to! The rogue.”
― Erika Wilde, The Awakening  Erika Wilde
http://www.amazon.com/AWAKENING-Marriage-Diaries-Book-ebook/dp/B00BCRVAAO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1436670666&sr=8-1&keywords=the+awakening+by+erika+wilde
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Killer Twist

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15755628

Killer Twist (Ghostwriter Mystery #1)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I read the fourth book in this series first and was so happy with it that I had to go back to the beginning and see where it all started. Surprisingly enough this book was just as good as the one I originally read. The only real complaint I have is that it lagged in the beginning, though it at least gave a little background on the main characters as it did so. Once it starts to move it does so at a nice pace that actually helps to build the suspense as it introduces more suspects. I found the dialogue to be just right to elicit the emotions and feelings they wanted.

Roxy Parker is a ghost writer, which means she is hired by those wishing to write their memoirs to make it sound intelligent and well written, and she does not get any credit. Roxy is just fine with that as long as they continue to pay her and she can continue to pay her bills. Roxy also has a rather macabre hobby, she collects crime clippings, mostly about murders which her boss calls her “Book of Death.”

Roxy has been hired to ghost write the memoir of the wealthy society matron Beatrice Musgrove. So far things have been very tame and somewhat boring, but then Beatrice says that she has a few revelations coming up that will make for more interesting reading. Days before she is to see Roxy and reveal her true secrets she is murdered in her home and it is declared a suicide, which Roxy does not believe for one minute. She launches her own investigation and finds that some things might be better left alone.

I had a good idea of who the killer was well before the end but it was still fun finding out if I was right or not. A good mystery always has enough red herrings that you make mistakes more than you get it right at the beginning. There was one thing that annoyed me greatly about Roxy and it was the fact that she liked Merlot, I hate Merlot. A little light romance or at least an attempt at romance on the part of one character. Good clean mystery.

“https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/15411105-karen”
http://www.amazon.com/Killer-Twist-Ghostwriter-Mystery-Book-ebook/dp/B006LAAUHG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1435621232&sr=8-1&keywords=killer+twist
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South Beach

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12842552

South Beach (Hot in the City #4)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was another nice story in the series that gave us a look at someone not directly linked to the March sisters but who was in Las Vegas with one of them at the same company. The characters as just as well laid out as usual and you will either like them or hate them. The set-up is familiar but at least different enough that you do not feel like you are reading the same book as before with different names, which could happen when things are close like this. The local is another that made me want to go and lay out and just enjoy the sun and gorgeous men.

Holly Pettit’s life took a turn that she never expected when she was an idealistic 18-year-old working for the summer at a South Beach Hotel. After that summer her world fell apart because of a man and the course of her life became something that she has not been exactly proud of since then. Trey Kennedy is the man who made her love him and then suddenly left her life without a word.

Holly and her friend take a vacation at the Imperial Palms Hotel where they both worked ten years ago never expecting to run into Trey. But while out at the pool who comes along and seems to still be working there but the man himself.

This was very hot and not for anyone who does not like some heat with their tale. The love story was a little thin but that was alright because it still worked.Quick read for a lonely night.

“https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/15411105-karen”>View all my reviews

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Extinction Age

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25332734

Extinction Age (The Extinction Cycle Book 3)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Here we are at book number three and things just keep getting better and better. I am so invested in this series that I cannot bear to have any of the characters hurt or even worse. The characters are true to life and make it very easy to feel for what they are going through. I even understand some of the science stuff that is talked about because it is not over the head of anyone. I am totally loving the action and even if I want to scream at them sometimes it only means that I have found my fully into their world.

When we left off last time Reed and Jensen along with other members of Team Ghost had been dumped into the sewers underneath New York as the rest of the military evacuated back to Plum Island. Things did not look good for them as they found their way through the maze underneath the city. I will say that everywhere they go they seem to find survivors in the most unlikely places.

Kate is still feeling as if she is responsible for the death of the world, even though she made it at least a little safer. Major Kennor finally takes responsibility for his mistakes, though its to little to late. And they are back to needing Ellis and Kate to come up with a way to save them all.

The tension and horror is ratcheted up ten fold as changes come to the Island and to the world around them. They are working to survive for each other and for their friends. I have to say again that Reed is my ideal man but if Fitz were a little older I could go for him too. Death, destruction, loyalty, betrayal, and bravery. These are things they deal with and it is exciting to get to be a part of it.

If you have not read this series you have no idea what you are missing, so you should remedy that right away. Extinction Horizon is where it all begins but the story is far from over here.Enjoy!

View all my reviews

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Cades Cove

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8783169

Cades Cove: The Curse of Allie Mae (Cades Cove #1)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This is the first book that I have read from this author and I really enjoyed it and look forward to reading many more. I was totally sucked into the story from the very beginning. The characters were interesting and made me feel for them and their plight, I was even drawn to the ghost who I felt sorry for even while she was doing things that were so evil to innocent people. The action flowed effortlessly and had me so wanting to know what was going to happen that I stayed up reading when I should have been sleeping so I could get to work.

David and Miriam Hobbs take a weekend trip for their anniversary to Gaitlinberg, Tennessee. While there they go to Cades Cove, a place recommended by his boss as being very picturesque and romantic. When they are about to leave they find a small bag containing the keepsakes of someone named Allie Mae. Miriam tells David to return it but he cannot bring himself to turn it over to the rangers and so takes it back home with them, without telling his wife.

When strange things start to happen around the house and it begins to affect his children he wonders if maybe he brought home more than some simple souvenirs. When things turn deadly he knows that he has to do whatever it takes to end the terror.

This was an excellent ghost story with suspense, scares, terror, family, and love. I would say that there is a scene of rape that is very unpleasant and may offend some. Other than that I would recommend this to horror fans and anyone who just likes a good ghost story.

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Serenity: The Shepherd’s Tale

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8596384

Serenity: The Shepherd’s Tale (Serenity #3)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I am a HUGE fan of Firefly (Brown coat here) and have watched the series from start to finish more times than I can count. This is a tale that I have been waiting for from the beginning because they never had a chance to let us in on his secret, which we knew he had a good one. While I might have wanted it done a little differently than it was here I am still happy with the result.

This starts where the movie ended with Booke having been taken down. It is almost like his life is flashing before his eyes as he slowly expires behind his gun on Haven, where he is later found by Mal. There is really nothing more I can say without giving away the secrets which hide behind the life of Shepard Booke. They will surprise some and others may have figured out at least part of his past, but either way it is satisfying to finally know what the enigmatic Booke was hiding from his crew mates.

The art is wonderful and catches the characters well, the story though sparse still gives you a good feel of the character and his motivations. This story is told in reverse order which makes it even more poignant. I could not be happier and hope that we will be treated to more stories about the Shepard and maybe how he came to be on Haven in the first place. Stay Shiny!

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Serenity: Better Days and Other Stories

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11279472

Serenity: Better Days and Other Stories (Serenity, #2)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
It’s the crew of Serenity in more stories. Firefly was a great show and anything that let’s me continue following their exploits is a good thing. Brown coats unite!
This continues the story of our anti-heroes as they continue to go around the verse doing things only they can do in their own crazy way. Mal and his crew do not know how not to get into trouble and they would not be as entertaining if they did. This show was taken off the air much to soon and not given a chance to grow, but here you have a chance to see what could have been
I say enjoy!