Review: Mercy Thompson: Hopcross Jilly

Mercy Thompson: Hopcross Jilly by Patricia Briggs
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Maybe it’s just that I don’t typically read comics or maybe it was just because my kindle is not the best medium, but it took me forever to read this one. I love Mercy and love that world so the story wasn’t so much the issue as the medium for me.

This story is really more of a Jesse story than a Mercy story. Yes, it starts with Mercy and the pack discovering a gruesome scene, but Jesse and her horrible high school time get the most play here. Jesse is not exactly the most popular girl in school. What some people might think is cool (having a famous werewolf as a dad) is exactly what causes her drama at school. Nobody really wants to be her friend and that gets reinforced after Mercy and her dad find the bodies that are related to some of the mean girls at school. Luckily, a new girl shows up and decides to take a chance on Jesse.

Meanwhile, the murder investigation is going on to try to find the person responsible for killing a bunch of kids in a horrible way that suggests fae involvement. There’s a few cameos from some good characters from the series, but really Jesse stumbles onto the answer a lot quicker than everyone else (without really knowing it). I’m torn between wishing this was a longer story or wishing it were just in straight short story format. Either way, it’s always nice to visit with Mercy and her family.


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Review: Awakened

Awakened by Elisabeth Naughton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. While it took me longer than usual to get to this one, I’m glad I delayed to read the short story (#7.5) before this book as it directly explains the events prior to this one. There is a time-jump, so fans of the series and new readers alike can probably jump in here.

Damon has been a kept slave on Olympus for 25 years and has no recollection of his life before that. He doesn’t even remember his own name, other than the one they gave him upon waking. As a break to the constant responsibilities of being a goddess’s sex slave, he is occasionally offered the opportunity to train the Sirens and assist in their testing. Sure, this also involves a bit of seduction, but anything with a hint of free will is better than the servitude he endures regularly. The first trainee he encounters during the trials is Elysia, who ends up triggering some protective instinct in him he thought long dead.

Elysia thought the worst thing that could happen to her just did – she is being forced into an arranged political marriage. While running away, though, fate reminded her just how wrong she was. Identified for the Sirens and dropped onto a dangerous island, she is forced to make herself into the warrior that will survive this life. Oh, and it doesn’t hurt that there’s this wonderfully protective and sexy man willing to risk punishment to be with her.

There’s oodles of God/Goddess/Argonaut drama (and, yes, the orb is still in play) but there is also a really great love story between these two. They both grow (more than the built-in 25 year time-lapse) and are ready to step into the shoes of the last few main characters. I’m excited to see where this series is headed and if they ever complete this darn orb!


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Review: Father Mine

Father Mine by J.R. Ward
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It was nice to go back in time and revisit the Zsadist/Bella storyline. While I know that things end up good (as they almost always do for the BDB), it was definitely worth a read for completion sake. We join Zsadist and Bella right after the birth of their daughter, Nalla. If you thought watching Bella and Zsadist battle through his abuse and aversion to touch, it is even more difficult to watch the same thing happen with his baby girl, Nalla. There are layers upon layers of trauma in Zsadist’s head, and none of it would be an issue if he could articulate these things to Bella.

Bella, being the strong woman and new mother that she is, knows that it will only hurt her child more if she continues to let her endure a father who won’t even reach for her. While heartbreaking, she’s willing to take the risk until a horrible night brings everything into perspective. This short story reminded me why I love this series and convinced me to dive back in where I left off.


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Review: Moonstruck

Moonstruck by Lauren Dane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was completely blown away by the awesomeness in this book! As the first book in a series, this delivered a solid world, a quirky and adorable couple, and a story that had me dying for more!

Katie was dumped at the altar by her high school sweetheart. In a small town, people tend to remember those things, so she ran away. It isn’t so easy for a witch to be away from her people for so long, so when her father gets sick, she makes the obvious decision to move back home. Aside from the rather public and unresolved issues with her ex-fiancé’s family, she’s also got to figure out how to handle where to live. The werewolves in town will take her moving into their territory as a sign that she’s choosing one of the two packs over the other. She’s obviously going nowhere near her ex’s pack, which leaves her firmly in the territory of Jace Dooley.

Jace and Katie had one night of hooking up that never really got resolved but that all changes when she ends up renting a room right across the hall from him. Their sizzling chemistry won’t let them avoid each other and are soon obviously together. In their small town, though, this causes a lot of drama. When a super powered witch and soon-to-be leader of a pack hook up, everybody gets involved.

This book was a real pleasure to read and had me hoping for more. With such a wonderfully entertaining group of characters with dialogue that made me laugh out loud, who wouldn’t love this new take on paranormal romance?


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Review: Vampires are Forever

Vampires are Forever by Lynsay Sands
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was a fun, sexy, paranormal read that was like candy for the brain. Sure, it was a little quick – but that’s really what made it even more enjoyable. Who doesn’t love a story that’s entertaining from start to finish?

Thomas, the surfer/lay about/general black sheep of the family is the only one who is free (obviously) to go looking for their missing mother. She’s not actually his mother, but she pretty much raised him, which means he’s going to go. Oh, and there’s also the little fact that he actually isn’t a lay about and has been secretly composing music all these years. There’s some family drama and trauma behind that, but the real story is about him and his lifemate.

Inez is the newly appointed VP who, through a case of new-lifemate-forgetfulness, never found out about vampires. The usually organized Bastian has recently had a bit of trouble staying focused on work issues and things like making sure his higher-ups know everything. This probably wouldn’t have been such a pressing issue if he hadn’t sent Inez to pick up Thomas from the airport and help him search. It’s kind of important to know the person you’re looking for is a vampire.

Their meeting at the airport doesn’t go so well, but their relationship (after the whole “get back, demon” phase) evolves pretty quickly. The lifemate thing helps, I’m sure, but something about the composer and the planner really worked. There’s not some huge resolution to the larger storyline at the end of this book, but I assume they will keep building until we get one. I’m happy just reading love stories about vampires and their mates, so keep ‘em coming!


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Review: Ravaged

Ravaged by Elisabeth Naughton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I admit that it’s been a while since I read one of the Eternal Guardians books, but I’m pretty sure you could read this as a standalone if need be. This short story throws you back into a world filled with mythology, curses, heroes, and romance. If you enjoy any of those things, this series is worth a shot.

We begin with Daphne, a nymph who is still trying desperately to become a siren. After losing her family at a young age, she is determined to make her own family out of the sirens, if she could only pass her last test. It seems like a blessing when Zeus assigns her a replacement task and guarantees her a spot in the sirens at its completion. With Zeus, however, things are rarely that straightforward. She’s just got to kill an Eternal Guardian who has been deemed a madman. Oh, and she’s got to seduce him, too. Zeus was a little weak on the rationale there, but I guess when you’re a god you can pretty much do whatever you want.

Ari went as far as faking his own death to make sure he was truly isolated in his new life. Plagued with blackouts and the murderous need to kill sirens he encounters, he is just trying to live out his days killing daemons. When he rescues the beguiling Daphne, he knows it will bring nothing but trouble. Somehow, though, Ari just can’t let go of his need to do good. The fact that she and he have an undeniable attraction might also have something to do with it.

There are revelations, reconnections, and the typical god backstabbing plays, and all of those things made this feel like a full length book instead of a short story. Usually short stories leave me a little unfulfilled, but this one really delivered.


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Review: My Ghostly Valentine: A Haunting Paranormal Romantic Comedy

My Ghostly Valentine: A Haunting Paranormal Romantic Comedy by Ani Gonzalez
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am completely in love with these fun and flirty books! Remember how Zach is caught eyeing the Rosemoor in the last book? Well this really dives in and gives you his lucky/unlucky love story.

This story gives you a much deserved love story for two of the familiar faces from previous books: Zach and Patricia. You might remember Patricia from the bakery and being an awesome friend. She is also one of the early adopters of the paranormal lifestyle. She and Zach have been partners in a sense since they both realized how much money there was in the “paranormies.” What started as a friendly rivalry suddenly becomes a real rivalry when Patricia stumbles upon Zach in a compromising position. At first, she seems to be heading towards helping him out, but when she finds out he intends to put a bid in on the Rosemoor (just like her!), her logical side convinces her to leave him and hope he misses the deadline.

If that were the only obstacle to the bidding process, this would have been a pretty short book. Unfortunately for our two main characters, they are forced to jump through hurtle after hurtle which ends with them doing a bit of a cook-off while cameras record all the good and bad. These two are complicated and wonderful people who truly deserve the HEA that this book grants them. Oh, and the chemistry between them doesn’t hurt either!


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