Tag Archives: romance

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A Very Shitake Christmas

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16122026

A Very Shitake Christmas (Shitake Mystery #1.5)

This was short but pulled me in immediately and had me like the characters and ready to follow them. I always like a book with a strong female character and Mo is definitely strong in her own way. The setting is contemporary and makes it perfect. The language is what you would expect with little quirks to keep it interesting from both the Brits and Americans. The relationships are very real and do not seem forced or rushed but built from the bottom up.

Imogene ‘Mo’ Tuttle had worked as a private detective until she met Ross Grant and would have been fired for trying to protect him. They have since moved in together and she is still out of work while he has been cast in one new movie with another to start after filming ends on this one. To really make things interesting Ross’s father Bertram contacts Mo and tells her he will be coming for Christmas, she of course assumes she has 6 months to prepare, but he celebrates the historical Christmas in June.

Mo gets a cal from her old boss wanting to hire her back, but Mo is not interested in going back full time but is willing to take work as an independent contractor. Her first job is to serve a restraining order on a man who is very good at eluding them. When she gets to close to things he takes revenge in a novel way.

This was a fun read without any big mystery or anything but characters who had plenty of personality. After reading this I have to read the first book in the series since this was 1.5 and find out how things got started.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
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Silver Bells

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13007259

Silver Bells

This was a sweet story with an interesting take on Santa and who and what his reindeer are. It was hard for me to get into the story which was not very short. The character were just dropped in without any real introduction as to who they were. It was hard to have any feeling for either of the characters even though you knew you should because this was going to be a sentimental tale. Once you get past the rather lackluster beginning the story moves a lot more quickly.

Dash Bartholomew lives and works on the south side of Howle, a less than desirable area. He keeps the carousel animals looking good for the summer season through the winter. He has a harness with silver bells attached that he can no longer hear. Merry is a homeless woman who ducks into the barn he works in to get out of the cold and wind. She is a proud woman who will not accept charity but is willing to work and help Dash with the animals. She can hear the bells and finds the sound sweet and comforting because she heard similar ones when she was a child. These two people have more in common than they know.

There were a lot of short cuts taken, I have no idea when they were supposed to have fallen in love because there was nothing to indicate it had happened. Like I said, a sweet story but not very filling.

My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
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A White Cougar Christmas

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18593279

A White Cougar Christmas (Southern Shifters #3.5)

I am giving this 3.5 stars because though I liked it there still seemed to be something missing from the story. This is a short story of 19 pages but I think it could have been fleshed out more with some depth to the characters and plot line. This was a Christmas story and I really did not get the holiday vibe from it I would have liked to. The narrative is fine and flows very well. There needed to be more information on the characters so you could get to know something about who they are.

Niki Harris is a shifter, a cougar shifter and she does not want to be alone for Christmas this year. Dean is also a shifter and the owner of the bar Niki has gone in order to find someone to help her through the holiday. They come together when Niki is about to make a mistake and attack a human man who will not stop bothering her. They have an instant attraction and maybe she will have someone for more than just this year.

The sex is rather quick but expected since it is said in the beginning that it is what Niki is looking for. I would have liked to have gotten some more information on the type of cougar Niki is since it was mentioned and then quickly passed over. Hoping for more about this couple in the series. Worth a read.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you. We don’t need that kind of trouble,” the stranger warned. Her snarl of frustration cut through the din of conversation in the bar, garnering the attention of more than a few patrons. But the warmth of the hand encircling her wrist distracted her, reminding her why she’d come this far from home in the first place. She didn’t want to spend Christmas alone this year. She raised her eyes to the newcomer to discover sex on legs standing next to her. At least six feet of broad, muscular male stood less than a foot away from her and just ripe for the picking.” Eliza Gayle  ― Eliza Gayle, A White Cougar Christmas
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The Wolf Who Stole Christmas

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18858777

The Wolf Who Stole Christmas (Xmas Tales – Legendary Lovers)

This is a short and sweet novella with just a hint of the erotic. The story progresses swiftly but does not lack a plot that involves and pulls you in. The characters are actually very well realized in a short period of time and make you feel what they are feeling. The dialogue is good and keeps the story moving forward. There are a few problems with words being wrong or grammar, but it is minor and does not take anything away from the story.

Holly is the only daughter of Santa and Mrs Claus. She has eyes only for their engineer, a wolf shifter named Furio, who is very tightly wound and does not seem to be interested in her. Then there is Jack Frost who has made no bones about his interest in Holly and with the blessing of her family who think he would be a great catch. Furio has a troubled past and does not think he is good enough for Holly, but he does want her, even if she cannot see it.

This is a very nice addition to a holiday reading list.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
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A Nomadic Witch

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21567836

A Nomadic Witch (A Modern Witch #4)

These are quirky stories about a group of witches who keep expanding because of the internet and I really love it. The characters are all strange in one way or another or they have some type quirk you can identify with. The characters are all down to earth types who just happen to have the ability to manipulate the elements.

Marcus lost his brother to the mists over 40 years ago, he was a traveler and never returned to his body, he got lost. Marcus has never forgiven himself for not being able to save him and has become a bitter old man who pushes everyone away. In recent months, since the birth of new babies, and pushing by Moira, he has started to interact with others more. But something happens that could push him back into his shell.

A baby is left on Marcus’s porch and he is not sure why. When he finds out that it was sent to him by his brother, and that the baby is also a traveler, he is ready to give it up. But how can he turn his back on a baby who needs him when she was sent by the brother he still misses and loves?

This is fun, light, and total escapism. I can listen or read this and enjoy myself because I really care about these characters and what is going on in their lives. They always put a smile on my face even as I cry for the sad things that befall them. You cannot help but be charmed by these witches and the love that surrounds them. Give this series a try!

 

My rating: 5 of 5 magical stars

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Tempted

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Tempted (Eternal Guardians #3)

This was another great book in this series. I always like the guardians and the fact that you get a look into the mythology that it is based on. The characters are all very tortured in one way or another whether they deserve to be or not, this just makes them seem more human. The story moves along at the perfect pace allowing for changes in venue and character as they fill us in on what is happening. The language never fails to entertain with words that seem to be pulled out of the past. I was pulled in and not allowed to stop except for those emotional moments I could not help it.

Isadora is a princess who always finds herself in trouble. She has been kidnapped and is about to be sent to the enemy, Atalanta, for what she is not sure. The witches, one of whom is her handmaiden, have given her a potion so she can be taken a man she does not want. Their plans are thwarted when the guardians, including Demetrius, arrive to rescue her and are met with serious resistance. When Demetrius takes her and Gryphon through a portal they end up in the last place they should and find themselves taken captive by Atalanta.

Demetrius has been hateful to Isadora all of her life but the person he truly hates is himself. Demetrius has been hard on himself for something that he could not change anymore than anyone could their origin.

I am so into these stories because I feel so deeply about the characters. These stories have intrigue, romance, hatred, myth, warriors, damsels in distress, and heroes galore. Definitely give it a try.

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“Maybe,” she said softly, hoping to bridge it herself, just a touch, “maybe one day I can return the favor.” “You can’t save me,” he whispered. “Why not?” “Because some things aren’t worth the effort.” Her heart went out to him right then and there. As firelight flickered over his chiseled features, she saw secrets brewing in his eyes. Secrets that fed something dark in his past that kept him closed off from the world. For years she’d thought he didn’t have a soul, but as she stared into his eyes now, she knew she’d been wrong. He hurt, just as she did. And he longed, the same as she. While she’d curled into herself over the years, letting her father and everyone else make her decisions for her, he’d gone the other way, pushing every single person away until they all thought he was nothing but a cold, evil shell. How wrong she’d been. How utterly hateful and horrid she’d been to him. As they stared at each other, she didn’t see him as an Argonaut. Didn’t see him as a fighter or even a hero, really. She saw him as a man. With the same humanity the gods both hated and envied. With the same frailties and faults she possessed. She moved into him fast, burying her cheek against his chest and wrapping one arm around his waist while the other held the blanket closed at her front. He sucked in a surprised breath, but she didn’t let go. Against her skin he was alive and warm, and her body jumped to life everywhere they touched.”
― Elisabeth Naughton, Tempted   Elisabeth Naughton
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Me and My Ghoulfriends

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11459628Me and My Ghoulfriends (Larue Donavan #1)

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Cherry Pop

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24284198

Cherry Pop (Vampire Cherry 0.5)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I read a short story in an anthology which was good enough to make me want to read more about this character because it sounded like it would be fun. Well, it is still basically good but I think I am going to need to read more to see if it gets better. This was an introduction that was a bit slow and did not really give much of a background on any of the characters that were introduced. The language is fine and is descriptive enough to keep your interest for the most part. This is a novella length book but could have contained so much more.

Cherry is found by a woman who brings her to Los Angeles and places her in porn movies under the name Cherry Stem. She has been a bit player in a few movies but has now been offered a starring role and is very excited about her big break. In order to get her face out there she is sent to a party full of up and coming stars where she meets someone she cannot resist. Cherry wakes up the next morning not exactly herself and finds her life completely altered with no way back.

This is a different kind of vampire story with some old and new myth’s about how vampires interact with the human population as well as how they interact with each other. Cherry is a likable character who could be really fun if she is fleshed out more and given more of a personality. This is a nice diversion when you are in between reads.

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Wolf at the Door

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22609974

Wolf at the Door (Shifter Town Enforcement Book 4)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I do love a good shifter story! I fell in love with the Shifter Town Enforcement from the first book that introduced them. The characters are always believable and draw you in with their personalities. There is also a nice balance between new and established characters, so that you always have someone that you are getting to know while you learn more about someone you have met before. The plots are always interesting even though you know that there is going to be a love match between two of the characters, usually someone you know from a previous book. The stories do pull you in though and that is the important thing. You cannot help but want to see that things work out for the best because there is likely a killer on the loose and he is not going to be easy to find

Timber Kearney is a wolf shifter who had the bad luck to come to the attention of a man who wanted more than anything to be turned. He takes Timber and for a full year tortures her and forces her her to bear witness as he murders other young she wolves. When she finally escapes all she wants is to help others and forget what was done to her, if only her subconscious would cooperate.

Brandt Lawrence worked on the Wolfman case all those years ago and he was never caught. Brandt knew that they were looking for a human who tried to kill like a wolf but that did not make it any easier. Now the killings have started again, even though he is in a new state, and he is sure it is the same man but he is now a real wolf. This time he has someone who has first hand knowledge and a name of the killer, but can he keep her safe long enough to capture a man/wolf who seems always to be one step ahead of them.

This was a really good entry with a killer who was a worthy adversary for Brandt. I can only hope that we will get more in the future because there are some great twists and turns within each story. They also feature some truly strong women who go through hell but always manage to pull themselves through whatever has been thrown at them. I like these for that in particular, even though they have low spots, the women never really give up. This is a fun series with some seriously hot moments which do not take away from the serious business going on around them. Well worth a try!

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4 stars No Review

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Each book has a hot story with great characters who are very human.  You have demons, vampires, and just plain people in situations they would not have chosen for themselves in most cases. I really liked each of these and even though I did not recommend them at the time I cannot see why anyone should miss out on them. This is escapism at its hottest with a real story behind it. Enjoy!