Tag Archives: Marcie

Playing With Forever by Amy Andrews – a Review

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Playing With Forever by Amy Andrews – a Review

 

Playing With ForeverAmazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository

Description:
Country boy, Ryder Davis has the world at his feet. A stellar rugby career, a winning way with women and a beach view that keeps him in blue sky and bikini babes. He’s living the dream.  The last thing he needs is a Great Dane called Tiny destroying his feng shui.  

Dog whisperer, Juliet Morgan is about to start living her dream and she’s counting down the days. In two months she’ll finally be moving to Italy and no man’s going to stop her this time. Not even a rugby superstar with a badly behaved pooch.  

But when Ryder skids into the animal shelter looking for help Juliet agrees to assist him with his canine issues.  Pretty soon they’re assisting each other out of their clothes and tumbling headlong into a sex thing with an expiry date. 

Neither of them expected it to become more. But when for now starts to feel like forever Juliet hits the panic button. Ryder knows he has to play the long game and let her walk away. After all it’s not over until the final hooter sounds and all’s fair in love and rugby. 


Review;

Amy Andrews is a new author for me and I’m glad I had the chance to read Playing with Forever.  I really enjoyed this one from beginning to end.  Ms. Andrews seems to know how to grab the reader’s interest from the first page.  Playing with Forever is a fast paced, hot, steamy, sexy, charming and fun story. 

I quite enjoyed both of the lead characters in this one.  Both Ryder and Juliet are very strong, confident, take charge type characters.  Both know what they want out of a relationship and sex and aren’t afraid of showing it.  The chemistry between these two is off the charts, and every time they get together they set the pages a blaze. Their romance is fast to get going, but Ms. Andrews never made it feel like it was just thrown together.  Even though Ryder and Juliet’s romance started pretty much from the get go in their story, we were still allowed to learn what makes the two tick as individuals, and as a couple.  The supporting cast of characters help to propel their romance forward showing us different sides to both characters.   Along with their intense and steamy romance, they wind up forming a very strong friendship along the way and aren’t even aware of the fact they are falling in love with one another until it’s almost too late for them. 

The timing of the scenes that show us when they realized they’ve fallen in love with each other is spot on and perfect for the final climax of the book.  These scenes leave you hanging on the edge of each page wondering if they are going to make it or not.  I absolutely loved the scene when Ryder learns that Juliet loves him, it’s so Juliet and fitting how she tells him.  It was a cute, yet tender scene.  You have to read the book to know what I’m talking about and being one who doesn’t like spoilers, I’m not spoiling anything for you. 

Even though Playing with  Forever is a very intense and steamy romance, Ms. Andrews manages to lighten things up with some humour and fun involving a Great Dane named Tiny who isn’t very tiny and only seems to respond to the female gender.   This leaves poor Ryder frustrated at times and thus Tiny is the reason for Ryder and Juliet’s paths crossing.  Their interactions with Tiny are comical at times, but light and refreshing which is makes it a perfect balance against their intense and sexy romance.  Playing with Forever is a fun, charming and sexy read, with two lead characters who manage to carry the story with little to no effort.  It’s a perfect read for a lazy Sunday afternoon with a you favourite glass of wine and box of chocolates or carton of ice cream. 

Until next time, happy reading.

Reviewed by Marcie

Copy provided by Publisher

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Intensity by Sherrilyn Kenyon – a Review

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Intensity by Sherrilyn Kenyon – a Review

 

IntensityAmazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository

Description:
It’s a demon-eat-demon world for Nick Gautier. Just when he thinks he’s finally gotten a handle on how not to take over the world and destroy it, Death returns with an all-star cast that is determined to end the Malachai reign and lineage forever. Worse? Death and War have found the one, true enemy Nick can’t find, and even if he did, it’s one he could never bring himself to banish or kill.

Now framed for murders he hasn’t committed, and surrounded by new friends who might be turncoats, Nick is learning fast how his father went down in flames.

The heat in New Orleans is rising fast, and Nick’s threat-level has gone into a whole new level of intensity. He’s learning fast that when War and Death decide to battle, they don’t take prisoners. The don’t negotiate. And they’re both immune to his biting sarcasm and Cajun charm. To win this, he will have to embrace a new set of powers, but one wrong step, and he will belong to the side of Darkness, forever.

Please note! While this is officially the last book of the Nick Chronicles, it’s not the “last” book.  There will be four books about Nick and Cyprian in the upcoming “Shadows of Fire” series.  Please stay tuned for those dates.

 

Review;

I really enjoyed Intensity by Sherrilyn Kenyon.  It was packed full of action, suspense, twists and turns that it left my head spinning.  As a matter of fact I’m still trying to wrap my head around everything that happened in this book.  In true Kenyon fashion, for every answer about an event or character in this book, we got about 10 more questions popping up in our head about something/someone else that hasn’t been answered by books end.  This is especially true after reading the epilogue as it’s setting us up for not only the next series, but the final set of stories for Nick.  To which I’m assuming will bring us to his adult DH book. 

As I said, so much happened in this one that I can’t say too much, or I’ll spoil the plot and information about characters and events that have either happened, are happening now or will happen.  Yes this book had lots of time travel; to the past, present and future. So much so that I had a hard time keeping up to where poor Nick was, who was after him now and what was going to happen next.  It got to the point I was leery about turning the page for fear it would bring on more confusion for me. LOL!!  Thank goodness for my version of Coles notes that I make as I go along when I read a Kenyon book these days. If I didn’t make my notes along the way to help connect the dots, I’d be totally lost.

Like I said a lot happens in this one and it happens fast. Hopefully without dropping too many spoilers or giving away plot line we learn more about;

-Nick’s mom, her bloodline and how it plays an important role in Nick’s personality and morals. 

-Jaden and Jared and how their lives came to be intertwined,

-Myone and Xevikan, their relationship and what became of it, along with interesting tidbits regarding Nick, Jared and Jaden

-Apolloymi’s true identity, some of her story, and an interesting tidbit about her and Nick

-Kody’s memory issues, and see a glimpse into her’s and Nick’s future, along with a fun fact about Simi in that future.  Also something shocking that happens in relation to Kody that I wasn’t happy about!

-Noir and Azure’s weakness, how it can destroy them and how they plan to stop it

-Cyprian, how he really came to be, who his parents are, why he’s after Nick and how he’s been wrecking havoc pretty much everywhere he goes

-an interesting tidbit about Takeshi and Nishira and see more into his life finally

There is so much more that happens, but I would be hear all day typing it up with all my connect the dots finds.  LOL!!  For anyone who is a Kenyon fan this is a must read.  If you haven’t been following this series you will definitely be lost trying to make heads or tails out of everything that happens in this book.  It’s an action packed adventure filled with twist and turns at every corner keeping you the reader on your toes in this page turner. Along with all the information we learn, Kenyon also keeps up her wacky sense of humour and sarcasm with her band of misfits in Intensity.  Now bring on Shadows of Fire because I can’t wait to see how this all plays out!

Until next time, happy reading my fellow Menyons!!

Reviewed by Marcie

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The Baby Project by Miranda Liasson – a Review

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The Baby Project by Miranda Liasson – a Review

 

The Baby ProjectAmazon / B&N/ Kobo / BAM / Book Depository

Description:
Liz Kingston spends her life delivering babies and longs for one of her own. All she needs is someone with fabulous genetic material. Who better to ask than her sexy ex-fling, who has no interest in ever settling down or being a father.

International correspondent Grant Wilbanks loves danger and travelling the world. But nothing in all this Brit’s experience could have prepared him for the way a torrid affair with Liz makes him feel. When she asks for his assistance, he figures he can help her out with a simple donation. No strings, no emotions, just…test-tube science.

But this simple favor gives them both more than they ever bargained for. Grant agrees to her terms, but stepping away gets harder and harder because the more time they spend together, the more he finds himself falling…and losing the battle to safeguard his heart.

 

Review:

I quite enjoyed The Baby Project by Miranda Liasson.  It’s a sweet, charming and emotional read about two people who have different ideas on relationships, love, children and what they want out of life.  I enjoyed both characters Liz and Grant, but I did have some issues with how Grant saw himself in regards to love and relationships.  I honestly wanted to club him over the head a few times, but I will say by book’s end Grant grew on me.  Miranda does an excellent job of navigating these waters with Grant and Liz and delivers a well-rounded and balanced story that keeps the reader turning page after page to the very end.

The chemistry between Liz and Grant is there from the very beginning and just continues to simmer throughout the story until it finally boils over when the two finally get together.  Their romance is electric and intense, but also charged full of emotion that just pours off the pages and into the reader.  You can’t help but feel every emotion they are dealing with.  I liked how Miranda wrote these two characters to feel so real and life like, and make you hang on their every word, hoping that they can find common ground and get to the HEA that both deserve. 

I also really enjoyed meeting Liz’s family, the closeness they have, and their interactions are wonderful and heart-warming.  When they finally find out everything that is going on with Liz, I liked how they came together to stand with her and support her no matter what.  I will also say I really enjoyed the last two chapters as it brought everything together for me, and made me really root for Liz and Grant.  The scene with Grant barging into the examining room had me oooing and ahhing and thinking, ‘well it’s about damn time buddy’.  The epilogue is touching and sweet and you can really feel the change in Grant and see that he has finally allowed himself to feel what love and family really is, and that he’s content and happy, and so to is Liz with their little family. 

The Baby Project is a fast paced read, chalked full of emotion, with real characters who are dealing with real life issues that are relatable to everyone.  Liz and Grant’s relationship is like a rollercoaster ride, but in the end they figure everything out and find their HEA they both deserve.   

Until next time, happy reading.

Reviewed by Marcie

Copy provided by Publisher

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Elina/Halo Boy by M. Garzon – Reviews

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Elina/Halo Boy by M. Garzon – Reviews

 

Halo BoyAmazon

Description:
How do you fix things when you’re failing at every part of your life? Don’t ask me. 
I did okay in high school. I had friends, dated, even made decent grades thanks to my brainy twin sister. But now high school’s over. It’s time to be a man… if only I knew how. 

I couldn’t live by my stepfather’s rules, so I flew the coop and landed at my genetic father’s, in Spain. A whole new country for me to screw up in. So of course, I did. After I’d burned through a second family, there was nowhere left for me to go. Maybe I was destined to wander the earth—me, the homebody. 

 

Review:

Halo Boy by M.Garzon spot lights Seth, Tea’s twin brother.  We met Seth in the Blaze of Glory trilogy and learned a little about him, but now it’s time for Seth to stretch his legs and tell his story. 

Halo Boy is about feeling lost, finding oneself and learning that it’s okay to screw up along the way as long as you don’t loose sight of the big picture and forget where you came from.  Seth is your typical teenager, sorta adrift with his life, and not knowing where he wants to go next, or what he really wants out of life.  He feels that by going to Spain and meeting his biological father he can find all this out.  However, it’s the exact opposite, he doesn’t want to be anything like his biological father, in fact he starts to realize that maybe Dec, his stepdad, is the father he truly wants to have in his life.  It’s through his friend Eli who he meets in Spain, and a family he winds up working for in Ireland on a horse breeding farm of all places, go figure eh Seth, back to the horses again, that he finally realizes just what he wants out of life and what direction he wants to go with his life.  He finally figures out what he wants to do once he’s done school.  Once Seth finally comes to this realization he decides it’s time to finally go home to the only real home he’s ever had, and wants to have back in Canada on the farm he loves dearly, and everyone he truly loves and holds dear lives.

Halo Boy is a sweet story about a teenage boy who feels like he’s failed at everything and is destined to be a screw-up the rest of his life.  I enjoyed watching Seth go through his journey and finally realize that he isn’t a screw-up, but only needed to find what he loves most and go for it.  Watching Seth ‘grow up’ and see that he can  do whatever he wants in life if he puts his mind to it and believes in himself was very satisfying for me because I always felt bad for him in the Blaze of Glory trilogy. I was hoping we’d get to see Seth’s side of things and see how he came to the realization he came to in the end of the Blaze series.  Ms. Garzon has knack for writing these coming of age stories and showing just what young people of today deal with in there every day lives.  Seth is a well written character that any teenage boy can relate to and connect with in reading Halo Boy.  Halo Boy is a well written story, with a solid cast of characters and plot development.  It’s a story that any young person can connect with, along with any parents who have teenagers today.  I feel another hit coming on for Ms. Garzon with Halo Boy.

Until next time happy reading everyone. 

 

Elina

  Amazon

Description:
A mother will always do what’s best for her children… even if it means giving up her own chance at happiness.

A decade ago, Elina’s life was derailed by a smooth-talking charmer. Since then she’s toiled endlessly to create a better life for her children, putting thoughts of romantic love aside. But when handsome, intimidating Declan wins her over with his timely help and old-fashioned notions of love, Elina has a decision to make. Her long-awaited financial success requires a move to Montreal, a city too far away to keep new love alive, and Declan runs his family’s equestrian business – he can’t move. How can Elina find happiness when her heart is pulling her one way and her children’s futures are pulling in another?

Discover the story behind the Blaze of Glory trilogy readers have come to love. You don’t know everything about a man until you know his history.


Review:

Well Ms. Garzon has done it again with Elina.  She’s written a story that reaches the  reader on a realistic level with real fleshed out characters who are facing very real everyday problems/issues.  This is Elina’s story, Tea and Seth’s mother, whom we learn a little about in the Blaze of Glory trilogy.  After learning what we do of Elina in the Blaze of Glory triology through her children and Declan, it was nice to finally read her story, and see how she and Declan met and fell in love.  As nice as it was to read Elina and  Declan’s story, it was somewhat sad for me as I knew what becomes of Elina in the Blaze of Glory trilogy.  So for me it was a little bittersweet when I got to the end of this story. 

As we meet and learn who Elina is in this one, we also get to meet a much younger version of Tea and Seth.  These two just steal the show with every scene they are in and watching the mother/child interactions is sweet and adorable.  We can see and feel the love that this little family has for each other and you can’t help but fall in love with them.  Seeing the determination and willingness Elina has, and will do whatever she has to for her children is very strongly written and empowering.  Elina is a very strong female protagonist that anyone can relate and connect with. 

Elina and Declan’s budding romance is rocky at first but slowly moves into a sweet, charming and loving relationship.  For Declan it’s practically love at first sight not only with Elina but her children as well.  You can see Declan’s love for not only Elina but her twins as well with his actions and words whenever they are in scenes together.  He knows they are a package that goes together and stays together and is willing to take them all on because he loves them that much.  When Declan admits all this to Elina it’s a scene that steals the story, and made me wish I didn’t know what was to come for Elina in the Blaze trilogy.  Elina and Declan are a wonderful well written and realistic couple who both have problems of their own, but together realize that they are stronger together then apart.

In my opinion Ms. Garzon has another hit on her hands.  Elina is a lovely, charming, heartwarming and well written pre-quel to the Blaze of Glory trilogy.  I enjoyed finally learning and reading about Elina, the younger versions of Tea and Seth and seeing how Elina and Declan met and came to be.  It’s a fast paced story that is hard to put down once you get going with it.  The events happen quickly and keep the reader interested every turn of the page to the very end.   For anyone who hasn’t had a chance to read these wonderful, heartwarming stories from Ms. Garzon, I say what are you waiting for. 

Until next time, happy reading everyone!

Reviewed by Marcie

Copies supplied for reviews

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The Billionaire’s Paradise by Victoria Davies – a Review

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The Billionaire’s Paradise by Victoria Davies – a Review

 

The Billionaires ParadiseAmazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM

Description:
Avery Clark loves her life. She travels the world doing a job that keeps her so busy she can’t think about how lonely she is or the fact that she hasn’t had a day off in two years. This trip to paradise is a chance for her to get some sun and have a Mai Tai or three. That is until she runs into billionaire hotel mogul Hayden Wexton, who is absolutely one hundred percent off limits.

Hayden Wexton is a man who knows what he wants. As soon as he sees Avery, he can’t get her out of his head. He’s determined to show her life can be fun and she can still get her work done. Only, the more time he spends with her, the more she gets under his skin. That was definitely not a part of his plan.

Avery never makes mistakes, but with Hayden, well, hell, he might just be the best mistake she’s ever made.

 

Review:

The Billionaire’s Paradise by Victoria Davies is a fun, flirty, sexy, and charming fast paced read.  It’s the type of book you want to take on vacation with you, or makes you want to take a vacation to a tropical paradise with a sexy companion.  It’s filled with flirtatious dialogue, sexual angst/chemistry that makes me wonder how Ms. Davies managed to keep her couple from jumping each other earlier in the book. 

Boy oh boy do Avery and Hayden bring the heat in this one, but they are also a very fun, charming and real couple to read about.  They keep the reader entertained from beginning to end, as Hayden keeps chasing Avery, trying to wear her down and get her to agree to his proposition.  Their interactions with each other range from playful, to sexy, to serious.  I like that Ms. Davies wrote these two characters as real as possible, with very real past relationship problems, that threaten to ruin any future relationships.  Watching them deal with their past, come clean with each other, and open their hearts up to new possibilities are very real for the reader to read about and relate too.  It’s always nice when an author writes their characters as real as possible.  Sure it’s nice to site back and read a story that’s light and fluffy, but then you’re sitting their going yeah as if that ever happens.  It’s refreshing to have a book explore two characters that are solidly written, and as close to reality as possible, yet keeping the story fun and light to balance out the serious stuff. 

I really enjoyed The Billionaire’s Paradise by Victoria Davies.  I’ve had the opportunity to read all three books in this series so far, and each one just keeps getting better and better.  Her characters are always real and well developed with real issues the reader can relate to, but at the same time fun and flirty with each as their sexual chemistry smolders on the pages.  If you are looking for a fun, sexy fast read, then look no further then The Billionaire’s Paradise.

Until next time, happy reading everyone!

Reviewed by Marcie

Copy provided by Publisher

 

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Dragonsworn by Sherrilyn Kenyon – a Review

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Dragonsworn by Sherrilyn Kenyon – a Review

 

Dragonsworn
Dark-Hunter series – Book #21
by Sherrilyn Kenyon
Release Date: August 1, 2017

DragonswornAmazon / B&N / Kobo / Book Depository

Description:
There is nothing in the universe the cursed dragon, Falcyn, hates more than humanity . . . and in particular, Greek humans. In a war he wanted no part of, they systematically destroyed everything he’d ever cared for. Now he lies in seclusion, away from the world and waits for the day when evolution will finally rid him of the human vermin.

Medea was born the granddaughter of the Greek god Apollo, and among the first of his people that he cursed to die. But she will not let anyone rule her life. Not even her notorious grandfather. And when Apollo sends a new plague to destroy what remains of her people, she refuses to standby and watch him take everything she loves from her again.

This time, she knows of a secret weapon that can stop the ancient god and his army of demons. Once and for all. However, said device is in the hands of a dragon who wants nothing to do with politics, the gods, humanity, demons or Greek Apollites. And especially not her. He is the immovable object.

My enemy’s enemy . . .

When Apollo makes a strategic move that backfires, he forces Falcyn back into play. Now Medea either has the weapon she needs to save her people, or she’s unleashed total Armageddon. If she can’t find some way to control the dragon before it’s too late, Falcyn will be an even worse plague on the world than the one Apollo has set loose. But how can anyone control a demonic dragon whose sole birthright is total destruction? 

 

 

Review;

Dragonsworn by Sherrilyn Kenyon pleasantly surprised me.  I wasn’t sure how I felt about Medea getting a storyline as I’m not a Stryker/Daimon fan, but I really enjoyed her character. She was a strong female lead; feisty, funny, smart, badass with a sword, loyal to those she holds dear, and turned out to be the perfect mate for Falcyn.  Falcyn has been a mystery to me so far and really intrigued me, so I was very eager to get my hands on his story and see what makes this dragon tick.  Let me just say, Falcyn did not disappoint me in anyway.  He is everything you would expect from a dragon shifter; strong, arrogant, cunning, smart, charming, funny and sexy as hell.  No wonder Medea was instantly attracted to him, one would have to be comatose not to.  The two hit it off immediately with their personalities, witty banter, and past demons both are trying to bury.  They wind up realizing just how much they have in common over what’s been done to them over the years, and have an understanding for what the other has been through. For me they are two characters who just clicked from their first scene and ran away with their story.  There was no shortage of witty banter, off the charts sexual chemistry or heart warming moments between Falcyn and Medea.  

The cast of secondary characters of Urian, Blaise, Brevalaer, Brogan, Simi, and a host of other characters we meet along the way, along with Sherrilyn’s unique humour just added something more to the story.  Lets just say there was no shortage of off the wall shenanigans, or sarcastic comments to be found.  Even in the most dire of situations our dysfunctional group manages to bring the humour and turn a dark moment into a funny one.  I don’t know how many times I LoL at one of their comments or actions.  I swear this group of misfits had to be one of the funnier groups for me to read about in a Kenyon book, and she has no shortage of funny off beat characters.  There was just something special and unique about this crew.  Maybe because they couldn’t be more different from each other, and the fact they are all from different species, etc, but they just made the story fly by and keep me entertained.  They just fit for some reason. 

Along with finding out more about Falcyn, the relation between him, Maddor and Blaise, why Medea needs his dragonstone to save her race, and the sizzling romance between Falcyn and Medea Ms. Kenyon continues to drop hints about other characters, storylines and strengthening the ties between the DH and CON series.  We learn more about the first Malachai, Monakribos and the prophecy surrounding him that is linked to none other then Apollymi!!  We learn some very interesting details regarding her and a past life, that also affects not only Ash, but Styxx and his son Urian.  In true Kenyon fashion we are left hanging as to what’s going to happen next with Urian and his HEA who I won’t say a word about because it’s such a major spoiler.  I never saw it coming and was shocked when I read who it is. I for one can’t wait to read his book and see just where Ms. Kenyon will take us, and just how Apollo plans to use Urian to bring down Ash once and for all.  Can I just say Apollo needs to go, I say sick Simi and her sister on him and let them feast.  I now hate Apollo more then his sister the Heifer Goddess.

So much happens in Dragonsworn that I’d be here forever reviewing it.  So instead I tried to give you as much as I could without dropping too many spoilers.  If you aren’t up to speed on the series you will be confused and a little lost as to all that is happening.  If you are up to speed then you will hopefully understand all that is going one and where it’s leading us.  Dragonsworn was fast paced, action packed and filled with sexual chemistry thanks in part to the lead couple of Falcyn and Medea. The cast of secondary characters helped to further the plot and add some fun along the way.  The new reveals about characters, past, present and future storylines will have your head spinning as is par for the course with Kenyon.  Dragonsworn leaves you wanting more and eagerly anticipating Urian’s book Battle Born. 

Until next time, happy reading my fellow Menyons!! 

Reviewed by Marcie

 

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The Importance of Being Scandalous by Kimberly Bell – a Review

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The Importance of Being Scandalous by Kimberly Bell – a Review

 

The Importance of Being ScandalousAmazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository

Description:
A horse race in trousers on Rotten Row. Visiting a gaming hall in a dress that would make her mother faint. Sneaking an invitation to a masquerade ball attended by only the wickedest, most debauched members of society…

None of these things are scaring off bookish but strong-willed Amelia Bishop’s stuffy, egotistical fiancé.

The only thing left is to entice childhood friend Nicholas Wakefield into a truly engagement-ending scandal. The Wakefields are the height of propriety, and Nicholas’s parents have made it clear a wife from the neighboring Bishop family would be unacceptable…

But Nicholas would give up his family and his fortune if Amelia would ever see him as more than just a childhood friend. He’ll go along with her scheme, even if it means ruining them both, because he’s got a plan that will change her mind about him being merely the boy next door. 

Review:

I quite enjoyed The Importance of Being Scandalous by Kimberly Bell.  Ms. Bell set the stage for the adventures of Amelia and Nicholas from the very beginning and these two characters just ran away with the story.  Amelia and Nicholas were also well matched with the secondary characters of Amelia’s sister Julia and Nicholas’ friend Jasper.  These two characters were a hoot to have around, and there was never a dull moment when they were in scenes with the other characters.  Let’s just say everyone needs a Julia and Jasper in their lives.  I really enjoyed how they supported the main couple, but at the same time provided backstory and furthering of the plot line for Amelia and Nicholas.  The Importance of Being Scandalous was fast paced, cheeky and fun.  I couldn’t help but LoL many times at Amelia and her sister as they plotted ways to get Amelia out of her engagement to that horrid excuse for a man Embry.  Him I did not like from the first scene he was in.  He’s just one of those males that I find sketchy and give me the creeps.  Personally I couldn’t wait for him to either call off the engagement, or mysteriously disappear suddenly. 

The romance between Amelia and Nicholas is sweet and seductive, yet set up nicely with no rush or preamble.  She lets the characters explore these underlying feelings they’ve always had for each other, and come to the realization that they’ve been in love from their first meeting as teenagers.  When Amelia finally realizes she’s been in love with Nicholas since forever it’s like she’s been kicked in the head from her horse.  I was waiting anxiously for this revelation to dawn on her and if it wasn’t for her sister Julia, who knows if she ever would’ve come to this conclusion on her own.  Well maybe by the time she was in her senior years, lol!!  Nicholas and Amelia are  well suited and this allowed for the romance to blossom, the chemistry and anticipation to build to a boiling point for when the two finally do submit to temptation.  Even then, that dolt Embry won’t call off the engagement. He’ll go to any lengths to keep Amelia, even plotting with Amelia’s mother to ferret her away to another country where he can marry her at sea and force her to be his.  The ensuing scenes with Amelia, Julia, Nicholas, Jasper and his twin sister are fast paced and comical as they race against time to get away from Embry so Amelia and Nicholas can escape to Scotland to be secretly married. 

As I said earlier, The Importance of Being Scandalous is fast paced, cheeky and fun.  It’s full of LoL moments between the sisters, as well as best friends Nicholas and Jasper.  The characters are lively, well developed and carry the story with ease, keeping the reader entertained from beginning to end.  If historical romance, with a good dose of scandalous behaviour is your cup of tea, then look no further then Kimberly Bell’s The Importance of Being Scandalous. 

Until next time, happy reading everyone!

Reviewed by Marcie

Copy provided by Publisher

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Deadmen Walking by Sherrilyn Kenyon – a Review

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Deadmen Walking by Sherrilyn Kenyon – a Review

 

Deadmen WalkingAmazon / B&N / Kobo / BAM / Book Depository

Description:
Hell hath no fury as a demon caged . . .

To catch evil, takes evil.

Enter Devyl Bane—an ancient warlord who has absolutely no love of humanity.  Yet to return to the human realm as one of the most notorious pirates in the Spanish Main for the sake of vengeance, he makes a bitter bargain with Thorn—an immortal Hellchaser charged with battling the worst monsters the ancient gods ever released into our world. Monsters and demons Bane himself once commanded against Thorn and the humans.

For eons, those demons have been locked behind enchanted gates…which are starting to buckle. Now, Bane, with a vicious crew of Deadmen at his command, is humanity’s last hope to restore the gates and return the damned to their eternal prisons.

But things are never so simple. And one of his biggest vexations, aside from keeping his crew from killing each other before they have a chance to save humanity, is the very ship he sails upon. For Mara, the Sea Witch isn’t just a vessel, she’s also a woman born of an ancient race Bane helped to destroy. And sister to the possessed creature who is one of the worst of those trying to break through to claim his soul, and retake the world.

Mara’s innate hatred of him makes the very fires of hell look like a sauna—not that he blames her. Centuries of war and betrayal divide them. But if Mara can’t find the humanity inside the Devyl and the Devyl can’t teach Mara to embrace her darker side for the good of their crew and the world, the two of them will go down in flames and take us all with them.

 


Review;

Deadmen Walking is a new trilogy by Sherrilyn Kenyon.  The events of this trilogy take place well before the Dark Hunters, Chronicles of Nick, and the Hellchasers.  However, there are some characters in this trilogy that we’ve already met in both of her other series.  We learn more about Thorn and how he became the leader of the Hellchasers/Deadmen, as well as some very interesting information about him that I prefer not to spoil for anyone who hasn’t read this one yet.  As well, there are some spoilers/hints in regards to the Chronicles of Nick to which I will not spill as well.  Sorry folks but I don’t like spoilers so therefore I refuse to spoil plotlines for all of you.  😉  Since Deadmen Walking is a new trilogy for Kenyon there is a lot of world building going on in this one, which for me I liked because it’s setting the stage for the other two books in this trilogy, but I found much of it confusing to me.  I spent a lot of time trying to keep everything straight from new characters, new pantheons, realms, mythologies, etc.  My head was hurting a few times from this information overload. 

Being a Kenyon fan I can safely say I enjoyed this new addition to her Dark-Hunter/CON/Hellchaser universe, but I didn’t love it.  I think that’s a first for me.  It’s not that I didn’t like the origin of this one because I love Pirates, Mer-people, demons, sprites, you name it, that creature was probably in this one.  Heck the heroine, Marcelina is of an acient race that can shift into trees, or become one with wood.  She is basically the ship Devyl and his crew of Deadmen are sailing on.  Actually, for a second there I thought I was re-visting Middle Earth in the The Lord of the Rings when they encounter the Ents(Tree People), lol!!  Actually, Marcelina’s race and backstory was pretty interesting for me to read about.  I wound up liking her in the end.  As for Devly and his crew of Deadmen, they are under Thorn’s watch/control.  The Deadmen as they are called in the book are actually earlier versions of his Hellchasers, at least that’s my opinion and am thinking he must  eventually rename them later on at some point, but don’t quote me on this.  Devly’s backstory and how he becomes the Captain and leader of Thorn’s Deadmen is interesting and we see how his life and Marcelina’s are twined together.  Their story at times felt rush to me, but eventually it did start to fall into place about halfway through the book.  It took awhile, but eventually I started to connect the dots and the information overload started to make sense, and the rest of the story just fell into place for me and carried me along to the end of the book.  To which like previous Kenyon books she leaves us hanging as to what’s in story for characters in the next installment. Particularly, a very intriguing Merman who has given himself up to save the life of a two important characters.  Again I won’t give away anything….(evil laughter rings throughout the rafters of The Reading Café)

Deadmen Walking is an interesting installment in the Kenyon paranormal universe.  You just need to have some patience and a large pad of paper beside you for note taking to help keep everything in perspective and in order.  LOL!!  I’m looking forward to the continuation of this one and hopefully seeing how it will eventually weave into her current storylines. 

Reviewed by Marcie

 

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