Tag Archives: Molly Harper

Big Witch Energy (Starfall Point 2) by Molly Harper-review

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Big Witch Energy (Starfall Point 2) by Molly Harper-review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play / Chapters Indigo /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 12, 2024

If only true love’s kiss could break this curse…

Caroline Wilton is dying to get off Starfall Point, but if she leaves, there’s a good chance she’ll literally die. For centuries, any Wilton who ventured off the island immediately perished in some freak accident. While Caroline has begrudgingly obeyed her family’s curse, she’s never forgiven all that it has cost her. After all, her high school sweetheart left for college and never came back. Until now.

Although Dr. Ben Hoult returned to take over the med clinic, in his heart, he came back for Caroline. Practical, sensible Ben was too stubborn to believe in her curse. But when his own two teenagers meddle their way into coven business, Ben’s eyes are opened to the world of magic. He quickly learns that Caroline and her friends have the power to see ghosts—like the angry woman in eighteen-century garb occupying her family’s tavern with a menacing glare—and boy, do they need managing.

As the witches dig through old spell books for insight, they discover the angry tavern ghost as one of the island’s most sinister legends—information that could be the key to breaking the Wilton curse and giving Caroline the life she’s always wanted with the man she’s always loved.

••••

REVIEW:BIG WITCH ENERGY is the second instalment in Molly Harper’s contemporary, adult STARFALL POINT paranormal, mystery/suspense series. This is witch Caroline Wilson, and doctor/single father Ben Hoult’s story line BIG WITCH ENERGY can be read as a stand alone but for backstory and cohesion, I recommend reading the series in order as there is an ongoing premise throughout.

Told from dual omniscient third person perspectives (Caroline and Ben) BIG WITCH ENERGY follows the second chance relationship between our story line couple. Caroline and Ben were childhood sweethearts but a curse threatens the Wilson family, and Caroline was unable to leave Starfall Point, sending the man that she loved towards a future with someone else. Fast forward to present day, Dr. Ben Hoult returns to his home town with his two teenaged children in tow, a return that pulls the family into a world of mayhem and magic. Dark magic is taking aim at our story line heroine, and with the help of Ben’s children Mina and Josh, Caroline will discover the truth about a family curse that goes back hundreds of years. What ensues is the rebuilding relationship between Caroline and Ben, and the potential fall-out as the past refuses to let go of a perceived betrayal.

The world building follows the rekindling relationship between our story line couple, and the revelations that Ben’s children discover the truth about their connection to Starfall Point

The relationship between Ben and Caroline is one of second chances. Unable to leave Starfall Point, Caroline pushed Ben Hoult out of her life but never out of her heart or mind
Ben’s return home comes with the addition of his children, and the position of Starfall Point’s new doctor, and the possbility of a new chance at a happily ever after. The $ex scenes are all implied.

The secondary and supporting characters include Caroline’s coven: Riley (Edison) and Alice; ghost mentor and house butler Plover; attorney Clark; an assortment of ghosts, as well as the introduction of Caroline’s parents Gert and Denny; brothers Will and Wally; Ben’s children Mina and Josh, and handyman Cole.

BIG WITCH ENERGY is a story of magic, betrayal and vengeance, family and forgiveness, acceptance and love . The character driven premise is enchanting and magical; the characters are determined and dynamic; the romance is subtle.

Click HERE for Sandy’s review of book one WITCHES GET STUFF DONE

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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WITCHES GET STUFF DONE (Starfall Point 1) by Molly Harper-review

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WITCHES GET STUFF DONE (Starfall Point 1) by Molly Harper

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Google Play / Chapters Indigo /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date September 5, 2023

Juggling newfound witchy powers, a house full of ghosts, and verbal battles with the handsome local librarian is almost too much for a new witch to manage. A new witch with a coven, however, can get so much more done…

From the moment Riley Everett set foot in Starfall Point, magic bubbled inside of her. But with only her late aunt’s journals and a cantankerous live-in ghost butler to instruct her on all things witchy—including her newly inherited Victorian haunted house—Riley seeks out a coven for sisterhood and support. The last person she expects to be drawn to is the town’s frustrating, yet ridiculously attractive head librarian.

Edison Held knows almost everything there is to know about Starfall Point, but Shaddow House was always off-limits, thanks to its elusive owner. If he can convince the new owner, Riley, to let him take a peek inside, there’s so much he could learn. But as he gets closer to Riley, he’s fascinated by her dazzling wit and fiery spirit. Edison will do whatever he can to help Riley keep her family legacy alive, especially if it means spending more time with the captivating new witch in town.

•••••••

REVIEW: WITCHES GET STUFF DONE is the first instalment in Molly Harper’s contemporary, adult STARFALL POINT paranormal, mystery/suspense series focusing on Riley Everett, librarian Edison Held, and the newly formed witch’s coven of Starfall Point.

Told from omniscient dual third person perspectives (Riley and Edison) WITCHES GET STUFF DONE sets the tone for the Starfall Point Series. An invite from her aunt Nora, sends Riley Everett to the Upper Peninsula in Northern Michigan where our heroine will discover her aunt has passed, and she is the sole heir to a haunted mansion known as Shaddow House. Riley Everett will learn she comes from a long line of powerful witches, and each successive generation is tasked with housing/collecting and locking down an assortment of items attached or possessed by its’ late user but Riley is unaware of her heritage, and is about to be thrown to the proverbial wolves as she encounters a house full of objects, each with an attachment to someone dead and gone. Meanwhile, a chance and sickly encounter on the ferry to Starfall Point with a stranger is the beginning of a new relationship when said stranger is the man with whom Riley will fall in love. What ensues is the building relationship between Riley and Edison; the introduction of Shaddow House ghost butler and Riley’s mentor Plover; Riley’s new coven members- Caroline, Natalie and Alice; and the potential fall-out as someone is targeting Riley, and the house in which she will come to love.

The world building reveals some of the background of Shaddow House: its’ purpose, its’ inhabitants; and Riley’s job to oversee the attachment objects and the ghosts to which each belongs, and to free the ghosts who wish to move on. As the story unfolds, Riley will be tasked with locating nine ‘locks’, locks that someone else is desperate to find.

The relationship between Riley and Edison begins acrimoniously. Riley struggled with severe motion sickness, and the ferry ride to Starfall Point leaves much to be desired but someone else has occupied the lone bathroom stall, and Riley is about to come face to face with her future in the guise of Edison Held. Edison has loved and lost but struggles to move forward from the ghost of his own past. The $ex scenes are passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Riley’s coven: Caroline and Alice; ghost mentor and house butler Plover; ghost Natalie; library employees Margaret and Kyle; attorney Clark, and an assortment of townies and ghosts who come in and out of Riley’s life.

WITCHES GET STUFF DONE is a story of ghosts and magic, secrets and revelations; obsession, determination, greed and power. The slow building premise is intriguing, entertaining and engaging but dragged in spots as the author set the stage for future story lines; the characters are energetic, sassy, determined and interesting; the romance is a bit of an issue. I didn’t feel any palpable attraction, sexual or otherwise. There was no longing, yearning or desirous actions-the relationship went from zero to ten at the turn of the page. WITCHES GET STUFF DONE ends on a bit of a cliff hanger-you have been warned.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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A Few Pecans Short of a Pie / Gimme Some Sugar by Molly Harper-Reviews & Giveaway

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A Few Pecans Short of a Pie / Gimme Some Sugar by Molly Harper-Reviews & Giveaway

 

 

A FEW PECANS SHORT OF A PIE
(Southern Eclectic 2.5)
by Molly Harper
Genre: adult, contemporary, romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 4, 2019

Sexy school principal Kyle faces the biggest challenge of his career: getting his (pregnant) event planner girlfriend Margot down the aisle before the baby arrives!

Readers first fell in love with big city event planner Margot in the first Southern Eclectic novel, Sweet Tea and Sympathy, as she discovered a long-lost branch of her family—the McCreadys, of McCready’s Bait Shop & Funeral Home. To Margot’s surprise, she’s taken a liking to life in small-town Georgia…helped along by a romance with the hot elementary school principal.

The two of them have been taking it slow—or they were until Margot gets pregnant! Kyle wants to make an honest woman of her, but Margot’s still trying to proceed with caution. After all, she was the best event planner in Chicago before she ever came to Lake Sackett—her wedding has to be perfect, and perfect includes not having the baby halfway down the aisle.

•••••••••

REVIEW: A FEW PECANS SHORT OF A PIE by Molly Harper focuses on the continuing relationship between event planner Margot Cary, and her fiancé, elementary school principal/single father and widower Kyle Archer whom we met in book one-SWEET TEA AND SYMPATHY.

Told from third person perspective (Margot Cary) A FEW PECANS SHORT OF A PIE follows big city girl Margot Cary as the people of small town Lake Sackett try to take over the wedding plans for Margot and Kyle. Pregnant, and struggling with on-going morning sickness, Margot battles between head and heart as it pertains to the small town ideals, versus a quiet wedding alone on a beach, far, far away. When the busy-body ladies of Lake Sackett continue to ‘offer’ their opinions and ideas for Margot and Kyle’s-no date set-wedding, Margot is of the belief that eloping may be the solution to their current dilemma. Not only does Margot have to deal with family and friends, but Kyle’s ex in-laws chime in their opinions, as well as Kyle’s two school-aged daughters who have differing opinions and ideas of their own.

A FEW PECANS SHORT OF A PIE is a fast paced, novella length story of family and friendship in small town America where everyone knows your name, your business, and your relationship history. We are witness to the struggling relationship between Margot, and Kyle’s two young daughters; as well as Margot’s battle with morning sickness, her family, and her fiance’s ex in-laws. A sweet, fun and honest look at blended families, grieving parents, and second chances at happiness and love.

A FEW PECANS SHORT OF A PIE introduces the heroine in the author’s next instalment- GIMME SOME SUGAR-about a young widow (Lucy Brewer) who returns to Lake Sackett to open a bake shop, and falls in love.

Copy supplied by the publisher

Reviewed by Sandy

______________

GIMME ME SOME SUGAR
(Southern Eclectic #3)
by Molly Harper
Genre: adult, contemporary, romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 2, 2019

 

A young widow returns to Lake Sackett, Georgia to face the ghosts of her past—and decide if she’s ready to take another chance on love.

Lucy Brewer would never have guessed that her best friend, Duffy McCready (of McCready’s Bait Shop & Funeral Home) has been in love with her since they were kids. Fear of rejection and his own romantic complications prevented Duffy from confessing his true feelings in high school, so he stood by and watched her wed Wayne Bowman right after high school. Wayne had always been a cheapskate, so it comes as no surprise when he suffers a fatal accident while fixing his own truck.

Even as her family and friends invade Lucy’s life and insist that the new widow is too fragile to do much beyond weeping, Lucy is ashamed to admit that life without Wayne is easier, less complicated. After all, no one knew what a relentless, soul-grinding trudge marriage to Wayne had been. Only Duffy can tell she’s hiding something.

In need of a fresh start, Lucy asks Duffy to put his cabinet-building skills to use, transforming the town’s meat shop into a bake shop. As the bakery takes shape, Lucy and Duffy discover the spark that pulled them together so many years ago. Could this finally be the second chance he’s always hoped for?

••••••••••••

REVIEW: 
GIMME SOME SUGAR is the third full-length instalment in Molly Harper’s contemporary, adult SOUTHERN ECLECTIC romance series focusing on the men and women of Lake Sackett, Georgia. This is tour boat operator Duffy ‘Duff’ McCready, and widow/baker Lucy Brewer’s story line. GIMME SOME SUGAR can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person points of view (Lucy and Duff) GIMME SOME SUGAR follows the second chance romance between childhood best friends, tour boat operator Duffy ‘Duff’ McCready, and widow/baker Lucy Brewer. Years earlier Lucy Brewer fell in love with her best friend Duff McCready but life, and someone else got in the way. Fast forward to present day wherein Lucy, now a widowed, single mother has returned to Lake Sackett, Georgia to open her own bakery shop in spite of the obstacles, including her former in-laws, standing in her way. Duff McCready never stopped loving his childhood best friend but their individual marriages, and his eventual divorce sent our couple in different directions. Lucy Brewer’s return to Lake Sackett came with the possibility of second chances, a second chance that is all but destroyed by the overwhelming pressure Lucy places upon herself to be independent and never to rely on someone, again. What ensues is the rekindling romance between Lucy and Duff, and the potential fall-out as Lucy’s need to remain in control, and interference from her former in-laws, threatens our heroine’s peace of mind.

The relationship between Duff and Lucy is one of second chances; an unrequited love between two people whose lives went in opposite directions despite their life-long friendship, and lack of love for the significant others. Duff is desperate to rekindle his relationship with the woman he has always loved but convincing Lucy to take a chance is tempered by the drama that has become her life. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The colorful secondary and supporting characters are an eclectic mix of quirky, small town gossips, busybodies, family and friends. The requisite jealousy and rivalry comes from Duff’s ex-wife, as Lucy does battles with her former mother and sister in-law who is are desperate to prevent Lucy from succeeding.

GIMME SOME SUGAR is a story of family, friendship, second chances and love. The premise is fun and frenetic; the characters are energetic, sassy and eccentric; the romance is sweet, spicy and real. GIMME SOME SUGAR is an inviting and delightful look at small-town romance, family and friends.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
.5 Save A Truck,Ride A Redneck
Sweet Tea and Sympathy
1.5 Peachy Flippin’ Keen
Ain’t She A Peach
2.5 A Few Pecans Short of a Pie
Gimme Some Sugar

Copy supplied by the publisher

Reviewed by Sandy

Molly Harper’s publisher (Simon and Shuster) are graciously offering a paper copy of GIMME SOME SUGAR to TWO (2) lucky commenters at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

NOTE: If you are having difficulty commenting after logging onto the site, please refresh the page (at the top of your computer).

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Please LIKE and follow MOLLY HARPER on Facebook

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5. Please LIKE The Reading Cafe on FACEBOOK and then click GET NOTIFICATION under ‘liked’ for an additional entry.

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9. Giveaway open to USA only

10. Giveaway runs from April 2-7, 2019

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Save A Truck, Ride a Redneck (Southern Eclectic .5) by Molly Harper-a review

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Save a Truck, Ride a Redneck (Southern Eclectic .5) by Molly Harper-a review

Save A Truck, Ride a Redneck

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 16, 2017

Carl and Marianne were high school sweethearts, loving the way only teenagers can—with no thought to logic or pride, just a bone-headed, optimistic frenzy of unicorns and hormones. That was all they needed. Or so Carl thought.

Scared of being stuck in Lake Sackett, Georgia, like so many of her friends—without a real shot at a future or achieving her own dreams—Marianne panicked and bolted to college after stomping Carl’s heart into the high grass. But when she returns to Lake Sackett for the summer with her family after years away, she and Carl are drawn together like moths to a flame. As they rekindle their old romance and remember what it was like to be in love, they have to wonder: is this, finally, their real chance at happiness?

Perfect for fans of Kristan Higgins and Amy E. Reichert, this warmhearted and witty love story introduces Molly Harper’s new Southern Eclectic series set in the small town of Lake Sackett, Georgia. This story about second chances proves that “Molly Harper never lets the reader down with her delightfully entertaining stories. Humor, emotions, and romance are cleverly matched, and her likable characters are most appealing”

••••••••

REVIEW: SAVE A TRUCK, RIDE A REDNECK is the first instalment (and novella) in Molly Harper’s contemporary, adult SOUTHERN ECLECTIC sweet, romance series focusing on the men and women of Lake Sackett, Georgia. This is law student Marianne McCready, and auto mechanic Carl Dawson’s story line.

Told from third person perspective (Marianne ) SAVE A TRUCK, RIDE A REDNECK is a second chance story line between high school sweethearts and lovers Marianne McCready and Carl Dawson. Marianne had big plans after graduating high school with law school in mind, and Carl was willing to wait for the woman he had always loved but something spooked Marianne just days before leaving Lake Sackett, Georgia, and our heroine ran without looking back. Broken hearted Carl moved on with his life hoping one day that Marianne would acknowledge the love they once had. Fast forward four years, and our heroine, at the insistence of her mother, returns to Lake Sackett, Georgia to discover that old feelings burned deeply but a broken heart was harder to mend. What ensues is the rebuilding relationship between Carl and Marianne, as Marianne reconsiders her plans for the future.

SAVE A TRUCK, RIDE A REDNECK is a story of family and friendship; second chances and happily ever after. The world building looks at the usual assortment of townsfolk including the local gossip and busybody still intent on destroying people’s lives. There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including all of Marianne’s extended family who own and operate the local funeral parlour. Be prepared with a spreadsheet to keep all of the characters organized and connected. The romance follows the rebuilding relationship between our leading couple. There are no $ex scenes-implied or otherwise. A majority of the story line follows Marianne as she reconnects with family and considers the next step in her life. SAVE A TRUCK, RIDE A REDNECK is a cute, clean story of second chances with an odd collection of eccentric family members, towns people, southern charm and figures of speech.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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Where the Wild Things Bite (Half-Moon Hollow #5) by Molly Harper-a review

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WHERE THE WILD THINGS BITE (Half-Moon Hollow#5) by Molly Harper-a review

 

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / BAM /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date July 26, 2016

Delivering a rare book to a valued customer is definitely part of mild-mannered archivist Anna Whitfield’s job description. You know what isn’t? Protecting her precious cargo from mid-flight theft by the very pilot who is flying her to Half-Moon Hollow…while trying to appear as unappetizing as possible to the only other passenger, a vampire. Undead bookstore owner Jane Jameson could be waiting a very long time for her book. Possibly forever.

Fortunately, Anna’s dashing fanged companion Finn Palmeroy helps her fend off the attack, but not before their plane crash lands in the forest hundreds of miles from civilization. Great, now she’s stranded with a priceless tome and a rakish vampire whose bedtime is fast approaching. Why does everyone want this book so badly, anyway? Anna just wants to get it to Jane before Finn decides to turn her into dinner-or sweep her off her feet. Okay, the second option is really tempting. But they’re not out of the woods yet.

•••••••••••••••

REVIEW: WHERE THE WILD THINGS BITES is the fifth full length instalment in Molly Harper’s contemporary Half-Moon Hollow paranormal romance series. This is vampire Finn Palmeroy, and archivist Anna Whitfield’s story line. WHERE THE WILD THINGS BITE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Finn was first introduced in Harper’s The Single Undead Mom’s Club.

Told from first person point of view (Anna) WHERE THE WILD THINGS BITE follows Anna as she is tasked with returning an important package to vampire Jane Jameson-Nightengale in Half-Moon Hollow but a near death experience including a deranged pilot, a plane crash, a journey through the backwoods of Kentucky (cue the Deliverance music) and a vampire who may or may not be on her side have forced Anna to look at the bigger picture-someone or something wants the package she carries, and if found in the wrong hands could mean disaster to all concerned. What ensues is the back and forth, bickering and sarcastic relationship between Anna and Finn, and Anna’s determination to stay one step of the vampire who is in dire need of an influx of human blood.

Finn is a bad boy; a con man; a vampire whose latest target is our story line heroine. Finn has been ordered to retrieve the package Anna’s carries, but finds himself reluctant to break Anna’s heart. Anna is human, raised by an absent father and an overly compulsive and neurotic mother. Our heroine is well aware of the undead and is having a difficult time with the existence of the other supernatural races including the very species taking aim at our story line couple.

Molly Harper weaves a humorous tale of adventure and quirky fun. There are plenty of colorful and eccentric characters including Jane, Gabriel and our favorite Dick Cheney, along with a number of shifter oddities and anomalies. The sexual relationship between Anna and Finn is lighthearted; they spend most of the story line bickering and arguing about their fate and current circumstance. The premise is entertaining and giggle worthy; the characters are animated and spirited; the romance is a slow build to a happily ever after-for now. WHERE THE WILD THINGS BITE is a sexy paranormal story with a little bit of romance and fun.

Copy supplied by the publisher

Reviewed by Sandy

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From Russia with Fangs (From Russia…#2) by Jacey Conrad / Gia Corona-Review, Giveaway, and Release Day Blitz

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From Russia with Fangs (From Russia…#2) by Jacey Conrad/Gia Corona-Review, Giveaway & Release Day Blitz

From Russia

FROM RUSSIA WITH FANGS
From Russia…#2
by Jacey Conrad/Gia Corona
Release Date: November 24, 2015
Genre: adult, contemporary, paranormal, romance

From Russia with Fangs

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / BAM

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 24, 2015

Between her family’s drunken antics and vicious verbal attacks from her so-called friends, Irina Sudenko Volkov is having the worst night ever. And that’s before she’s widowed.

Volatile, cheating, no-good Sergei’s death-by-assassin unleashes chaos in the werewolf criminal underground. Irina’s panicked Papa assigns Beta wolf Viktor Zhukovsky to Irina’s security detail until her husband’s killer is found. As Irina’s world crumbles around her, the perfect princess mask falls away and Viktor meets the sharp, passionate woman underneath. Their initial chemistry gives way to a deeper attraction when Irina begins to see the decency underneath Viktor’s gruff, tattooed exterior, despite his insistence that it doesn’t exist.

Their tendency to find themselves semi-nude and in enclosed spaces is a source of amusement to her sister, Galina, but each of them knows of the deadly consequences if their relationship is brought to light. Things get even more complicated when Papa Sudenko begins to match-make Irina and Andrey Lupesco, who also happens to be in a secret relationship with Galina. Family dinners are awkward. With danger closing in on all sides, Irina has to find her claws and learn to howl.

In the much-anticipated sequel to From Russia with Claws, readers get a new perspective of the lusty exploits of the untameable Sudenko family. Gia Corona and Jacey Conrad craft a delightful tale of the anything-but-average human Irina and the libidinous lycanthropes in her life.

•••••••

REVIEW: FROM RUSSIA WITH FANGS is the second instalment in Jacey Conrad’s (aka Molly Harper) and Gia Corona’s contemporary, adult FROM RUSSIA paranormal, romance series focusing on the werewolves of the Russian Mob. This is beta wolf and security expert Viktor Zhukosvsky, and human female Irina Sudenko Volkov’s story line. FROM RUSSIA WITH FANGS runs parallel to, and crosses over with, the events of book one FROM RUSSIA WITH CLAWS therefore, if you have read book one, there is plenty of duplication and repetition.

Told from third person point of view (Irina) FROM RUSSIA WITH FANGS follows Irina in the days following the murder of her abusive husband and werewolf Sergei Volkov. Irina is the adopted, human female daughter of Russian mobster Ilya Sudenko, and has become the bargaining chip in her father’s business dealings. When Irina’s husband is killed, Ilya assigns beta wolf Viktor Zhukovsky as Irina’s personal security guard in the hopes of protecting her from not only the probable repercussions upon her husband’s death, but from a potential threat from someone inside the Sudenko family. What ensues is the building and forbidden relationship between Viktor and Irina, and a takeover at the top of the Sudenko pack.

The relationship between Viktor and Irina is quick to build and begins during the funeral visitation and ceremony. Four years earlier Irina had been forced into a marriage, by her father, with a wolf she never loved, and she is having a difficult time grieving the loss of her late, abusive husband. Viktor’s protective nature found our heroine drawn to his strengths and need to protect; their attraction to one another is immediate and intense. The $ex scenes are seductive, entertaining and impulsive. Viktor and Irina are caught with their proverbial ‘pants down’ on several occasions, but they are not the only couple who get caught in a compromising position.

All of the Sudenko siblings play a secondary and supporting role including Irina’s sister and alpha female Galina Sudenko. Galina’s storyline begins in book one FROM RUSSIA WITH CLAWS and continues into the second instalment- there is a cross over between books one and two.

If you are a fan of Molly Harper, be warned, that the writing style is different and Harper’s use of humour, wit, and sarcasm is not as prevalent, and the tone of the story(s) is altered and slightly darker, but that is not to say that different is less entertaining. The premise is intriguing and exciting; the characters are charismatic, aggressive and captivating; the romance is sensual and erotic.

Copy supplied by the publisher

Reviewed by Sandy

___________

From Russia with ClawsFROM RUSSIA WITH CLAWS
From Russia…#1
by Jacey Conrad/Gia Corona
Release Date: August 18, 2015
Genre: adult, contemporary, paranormal, romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / BAM

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 18, 2015

When Alpha female Galina Sudenko agreed to attend her distant cousin’s birthday party, she wasn’t counting on meeting the devastatingly handsome and powerful Rom Alpha, Andrey Lupesco, or having her sexy times with him interrupted by the murder of her idiot brother-in-law, Sergei. But such is life when your father is one of the most powerful werewolves within Seattle’s supernatural Russian organized crime syndicate.

Not content with being just a pretty face and good breeding stock, Galina sets out to make her mark within the family. But in doing so, she runs afoul of her eldest brother, Alexei, the heir apparent to the family dynasty. He has no intention of ceding his position without a fight.

Andrey and Galina’s burgeoning romance is threatened when she discovers that before his death, Irina’s husband, Sergei, hijacked Andrey’s shipment of the werewolf drug, Bullet, a synthetic drug that gives the supernatural creatures a cocaine-like high. Sergei’s theft means that Andrey had a reason to have Sergei killed, leaving Galina to decide whether to risk trusting Andrey even as her feelings for him deepen.

As her brother Alexei’s behavior becomes more erratic, Galina must find the missing shipment, prove to her family that she’ll be a capable leader, and decide whether her lover Andrey can be trusted before she can hope to challenge her brother for his position as head of the family.

A tale of sexy werewolves, forbidden love, family power struggles, and danger closing in, Gia Corona and Jacey Conrad’s From Russia With Claws will leave you howling for more!

•••••••••••••

REVIEW: FROM RUSSIA WITH CLAWS is the first installment in Jacey Conrad (aka Molly Harper) /Gia Corona’s FROM RUSSIA adult, contemporary, paranormal romance series focusing on the werewolves of the Russian mob. This is mob daughter and Alpha female Galina Sudenko, and Rom Alpha male Andrey Lupesco’s storyline.

Told from third person perspective (Galina) FROM RUSSIA WITH CLAWS introduces the Sudenko family of Seattle, Washington. Galina Sudenko is an alpha female but women are not allowed to serve at the ruling table. After the murder of her sister’s (Irina) husband, Galina goes in search of the evidence that will point the guilt at her brother in law’s own demise. Enter Andrey Lupesco, a Rom alpha werewolf, and the man who would steal Galina’s heart.

Andrey is a Romanian wolf, and as such is not respected within the Russian mob. When a shipment of a new designer drug for wolves known as Silver Bullet goes missing, Andrey suspects that someone from the Sudenko family may be behind the missing shipment. What ensues is Andrey and Galina’s search for the product, and the forbidden relationship between our leading couple.

FROM RUSSIA WITH CLAWS is an entertaining paranormal storyline with moments of sexy fun, humor, and romance, along with some darker scenes of violence and death, and dysfunctional family relations. The large ensemble cast of characters includes our strong, sexy, alpha heroine who is willing to fight for what she wants- she wants Andrey Lupesco, and she wants the head seat at the family table. Andrey is an alpha male, whose positions sits on the fringes of the Russian mob, and with it comes the dark and dangerous world of importing and distributing a new, designer drug. These are not lawful citizens of the USA, but high ranking members of the US/Russian mob.

There are some moments of humor and sarcasm as per Molly Harper’s style of writing, but less prevalent then in her other series and story lines. The premise is entertaining; the characters, although colorful and dynamic, were not very well developed; the $ex scenes are numerous and provocative. There are several issues of repetition that felt like deja-vu, and in some cases almost word for word phrases and sentences.

FROM RUSSIA WITH CLAWS is a welcome addition to any library for fans of the paranormal romance genre. I love the Russian mob trope with shifter wolves.

Copy supplied by the publisher

Reviewed by Sandy

About The Author beige

Jacey Conrad (aka Molly Harper)  is a sushi­ loving, pop culture nerd living in the South with her high school sweetheart. She delights in horribly made mutant shark movies and watching Sean Bean die in his various cinematic incarnations. To keep up with Jacey on twitter, go to Jacey Conrad on Twitter

Gia Corona loves boots, boys, and bourbon, not necessarily in that order. When she’s not actively stalking Michael Fassbender and his abdominals, she’s watching questionable television or reading comics. You can find her at Gia Writes on Twitter

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Fangs for the Memories (Half-Moon Hollow 4.5) by Molly Harper-a review

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FANGS FOR THE MEMORIES (Half-Moon Hollow 4.5) by Molly Harper-a review

Fangs for the Memories

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / BAM

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 2, 2015

How did Andrea and Dick Cheney fall in love? Join Half-Moon Hollow’s favorite couple for a trip down memory lane—to a time when Mr. Wainwright was newly dead, Jane Jameson was a newbie vampire, and a budding paranormal romance was not yet uncorked…

Half-Moon Hollow’s supernatural social event of the season—Zeb’s Titanic-themed werewolf wedding—is coming up, and Dick Cheney (not that Dick Cheney!) needs a date. But Andrea’s had enough of clever, handsome, and rakish to last a lifetime, and Dick Cheney is certainly not the sort of man you bring home to mom (not that Andrea’s deadist parents are speaking to her ever since she dropped out of college and became a blood surrogate.) Shameless, relentless, roguish, with a Stetson-worthy swagger, a naughty sparkle in his eyes, and a constant smirk—oh, and fangs—no, Dick is the last person (er…vampire) Andrea wants to date.

But the infuriatingly irresistible man who lives quietly on the edge of a criminal underworld knows exactly what he wants, and once he surprises Andrea with a thrilling hot and dirty kiss behind the paranormal bookshop, she knows what she wants too: Dick. All it takes to ignite their unconventional courtship is a near-undeath experience that confronts Dick with a choice between turning Andrea, losing her forever, or tapping into his countless shady resources)

••••••••••••

REVIEW: FANGS FOR THE MEMORIES is a flashback novella in Molly Harper’s contemporary, adult HALF-MOON HOLLOW paranormal romance series-a spin off from her Jane Jameson series. FANGS FOR THE MEMORIES looks at the beginning of Dick Cheney and Andrea Byrne’s relationship. The timeline falls immediately following the death of Mr. Wainwright and the ‘Titanic’ themed wedding of werewolves Zeb and Jolene.

Told from first person point of view (Andrea) FANGS FOR THE MEMORIES focuses on Andrea’s early days as a human blood donor for vampires who prefer their meals from the source. What ensues is a near fatal feeding that finds Dick nursing Andrea back to health. Along with his enormous collection of t-shirts with less than appropriate logos, the reader discovers that Dick has been attracted to Andrea for a very long time.

FANGS FOR THE MEMORIES is a very quick read that reveals a little bit about Dick and Andrea’s past; Dick’s relationship to the original book store owner; and Andrea’s previous vampire lover who destroyed our heroine’s faith in all men.

Molly Harper writes with her usual flair for the fun and humorous side of the paranormal life; her witty comebacks and t-shirt logos that add a giggle-snort to an already entertaining storyline.

READING ORDER:

The Care and Feeding of Stray Vampires
A Witch’s Handbook of Kisses and Curses
Undead Sublet(Novella)
I’m Dreaming of an Undead Christmas
The Dangers of Dating A Rebound Vampire
The Single Undead Moms Club
Fangs for the Memories

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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The Single Undead Moms Club by Molly Harper-a review

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THE SINGLE UNDEAD MOMS CLUB (Half Moon Hollow 4) by Molly Harper-a review

The Single Undead Moms Club

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / The Book Depository / BAM

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 27, 3015

Widow Libby Stratton arranged to be turned into a vampire after she was diagnosed with late-stage cancer. It wasn’t the best idea she’s ever had, but she was desperate—she’s not about to leave her seven-year-old son to be raised by her rigid, overbearing in-laws.

On top of post-turning transition issues, like being ignored at PTA meetings and other mothers rejecting her son’s invitations for sleepovers, Libby must deal with her father-in-law’s attempts to declare her an unfit mother, her growing feelings for Wade—a tattooed redneck single dad she met while hiding in a closet at Back to School Night—and the return of her sire, who hasn’t stopped thinking about brave, snarky Libby since he turned her.

••••••••••••••••

REVIEW: THE SINGLE UNDEAD MOMS CLUB is the fourth installment in Molly Harper’s adult, contemporary Half Moon Hollow paranormal romance series- spin off from Harper’s Jane Jameson series. This is widow/single mom Libby Stratton, and tattooed mechanic, single father Wade Tucker’s storyline. THE SINGLE UNDEAD MOMS CLUB can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty.

Told from first person point of view (Libby) THE SINGLE UNDEAD MOMS CLUB follows Libby after her ‘transition’ to vampire by an unknown sire. As a single mom to six year old Danny, Libby was struggling to survive. Leukemia was slowly killing our heroine; her husband had been dead for a couple of years, and she refused to allow her anal-retentive inlaws total control of her son, so Libby did what she thought was best and placed a ‘Craigslist’ ad for a vampire sire-Libby wanted to raise her son and turning vampire was the only way she could ‘survive’. What ensues are the usual PTA grumblings about a vampire volunteer, hatred towards the supernatural species, and a love affair with a single dad whose son becomes best friends with Libby’s boy. Meanwhile, Libby continues to have haunting erotic dreams about the sire she knows nothing about-a man who will try to seduce the ‘childe’ he sired and left behind.

THE SINGLE UNDEAD MOMS CLUB is an ensemble storyline with several secondary and supporting characters including many of the couples from Harper’s Jane Jameson series-vampires Jane and Gabriel; Dick and Andrea; Nola and shifter Jed; werewolf Zeb and his mate Jolene; and Iris and Cal (The Care and Feeding of Stray Vampires #1). We are also introduced to Libby’s former in-laws-Les and Marge-whose dislike of all things supernatural begins to fester like an open wound that refuses to heal.

Molly Harper adds her usual flare of the sarcastic banter, witty comebacks and one-liners that will have you grinning and giggling at the most inopportune times. Libby’s journey finds our heroine defending her ability to raise a human child against the PTA and her former inlaws who continue to add fuel to an already burning fire.

THE SINGLE UNDEAD MOMS CLUB is a fun, flirty and sexy read with an assortment of vampires, witches, werewolves and shifters who are brought together to celebrate the birthday of a six year old boy. Jane will take on the role of mentor to Libby’s newfound vampirism but it is the identity of Libby’s sire, and his connections to Libby’s past that will raise a few eyebrows in the supernatural community.

Molly Harper’s sense of humor and comedic timing merits a place on my ‘go-to’ list every time.

The Care and Feeding of Stray Vampires
A Witch’s Handbook of Kisses and Curses
Undead Sublet(Novella)
I’m Dreaming of an Undead Christmas
The Dangers of Dating A Rebound Vampire
The Single Undead Moms Club (October 2015)
Fangs for the Memories (Novella-November 2015)

Copy supplied by the publisher

Reviewed by Sandy

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