Tag Archives: Vickie M.

Past Due by Elizabeth Seckman-a review

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Past Due by Elizabeth Seckman (Coulter Brothers #1)-a review

Past Due

Description: Release June 2012

Jenna Austin is a young, widowed artist raising a teenage son on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. As the costs of living in paradise rise, she struggles to make ends meet. Life isn’t easy, but she manages.

When her car breaks down, she trudges on. She assumes life can’t get any more complicated than it is. But it can…

Chance brings her nose to well-formed chest with Tres Coulter, the handsome, affluent aid to Governor Hunt. Jenna and Tres share a history; they also share a love they thought long lost. Their lives are about to be altered forever as the deceptions of the past transform the very foundation of the present.

The price of happily ever after may be too steep to pay once the past comes due…

Review:

Jenna Austin is one tough cookie, but she’s tired. She works tirelessly to try and make a good life for herself and for her son, Tanner. Without moral support from Maureen, Jenna’s deceased husband’s mother, she wouldn’t have made it this far. To say that Jenna has had it tough all of her life would be a gross understatement. She is estranged from her father, with whom she lived with after her mother died. And, boy, what a back story there is with that bunch!! And, things just seem to get more complicated when Tres Coulter comes to town.

Once Tres runs into Jenna, he knows that he’s in trouble. Even though it’s been years since he last saw her, he knows that he still loves her more than anything. But, in typical Jenna fashion, she pushes him away. Seems she’s been keeping a secret for 15 years that has the possibility of hurting everyone she loves and tearing apart what family she has left. And, once that secret is revealed, an avalanche of things happen that throws everyone and everything into chaos. Will the secret truly cost Jenna everything and everyone she’s ever loved? Or, will true love conquer all? You’ll have to read to find out.

I really enjoyed the world that Seckman created in Past Due. The real life struggles of a single mom trying to raise her child really hit home with me. It is set on the outer islands of North Carolina, a place where I have been many times myself. I could hear the gulls calling each other and feel the wind……. The one downside, at least for me, is that when the secret is revealed, it leads to more secrets and disclosures from numerous people and the details got bogged down just a little bit for me. The upside to that is that we get to meet some great folks along the way and I can’t wait to read more about Tres’ family, namely his two brothers, Craig and Trip. And, the boys’ mom, Barbara Coulter? Let’s just say she adds a whole new dimension to round out the Coulter clan. This is, in a nutshell, a story about life, love, family, hope and forgiveness. I have a feeling that the family dynamics in future books will be well worth the read!!

ORDER LINKS: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Vickie M.

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The Holly and the Thistle by Regan Walker-a review

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THE HOLLY AND THE THISTLE by Regan Walker-a review

The Holly and the Thistle by Regan Walker

About the book: Release date November 24, 2012

A chance meeting at Berry’s wine shop, a misunderstanding and Christmastide all come together to allow the most handsome Scot in London to give Lady Emily Picton the best Christmas gift ever: a marriage not of convenience, but of love.

Review:

The Holly and the Thistle begins with Lady Emily Picton hurrying along the rain soaked streets of 1818 London, trying to reach Berry’s wine shop in order to procure a favorite wine for a Christmas affair being thrown by the Dowager Countess of Claremont. Upon entering the wine shop, Lady Emily looks less the lady and more the “bedraggled chit” due to unfortunate events involving rain, mud and carriages. She encounters a handsome “store clerk” who fetches the wine for her. She leaves the store in a snit, and, to add insult to injury, is that laughter she hears?

Lady Emily, widowed three years earlier, knows that the Countess will be up to her old tricks: trying to play matchmaker, but the Countess has become a dear friend and Emily would never refuse her invitation. Emily arrives early for the party where the Countess informs her that indeed there is a Scottish gentleman whom will be attending the party the she wants her to meet, Mr. William Stephen.

As the guests arrive, Lord and Lady Ormond, (whom we first meet in Racing With the Wind), are chatting with Emily as the Countess brings a gentleman over to introduce to her. Mr. Stephen and Lord Ormond attended college together and are old friends. When the introductions are made between Emily and William, she is surprised to see the “store clerk” whom she encountered in the wine shop, who obviously, is not a store clerk at all, but a wealthy Scottish businessman who builds ships. They recognize each other immediately and the attraction is instantaneous. But, Lady Emily has vowed to remain a widow. Her first marriage only lasted three years and he was definitely not a gentleman. She has no desire to go through that kind of turmoil again. William knows that he has his work cut out for him and knows that she will be worth the effort. So he sets out to prove that all men are not created equal. Does true love conquer all? Does this Christmas season turn out to be the happiest of all for Lady Emily? You’ll have to read to find out.

The Holly and the Thistle is a short story that had me from the beginning. Emily and William are great together and I loved the strength in each of them. There was a teary moment or two in this for me and I love the small cast of supporting characters. And, of course, I looooved getting to see Lord and Lady Ormond again and see their ever growing family. Truly a great Christmas read. The one problem with this short story? The word SHORT!! I wanted it to go on and on………… Regan Walker has been added to my list of authors that are must reads and I suggest you do the same.

ORDER LINKS: Amazon / Barnes and Noble/ KOBO

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Vickie M.

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A Feast of Souls by Hailey Edwards-a review

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A Feast of Souls by Hailey Edwards

Book 2 in the Araneae Nation Series

About the book: Release Date December 18, 2012

The only way to save her is to bind their souls as one.

Born with the ability to communicate with the dead, few things take Mana by surprise. But when a canis lopes into her life, announcing himself as the long-dead father of a childhood friend, she’s shocked. To make matters worse, he has a dire message that she alone can deliver.
Now Mana must face Vaughn, the male who inspired one too many girlish fantasies, and impart the spirit’s message—without acknowledging her source—so the soul can be laid to rest.

With rumors of a burgeoning clan war setting his nerves on edge, the last thing Vaughn needs is for an innocent to get caught in the crosshairs. But the woman he remembers as an awkward girl refuses to leave his side until he’s heard her out. That’s not the only change in her that calls to him. Her kindness soothes his battle-scarred soul—and he craves her in ways a warrior shouldn’t.

When they are both captured, they learn of an even greater threat. The plague devastating the southlands has come to his clan home. And his best—and only—chance to keep his people alive is the female who walks among the dead.

Review:

A Feast of Souls begins not long after the end of A Hint of Frost. Once Rhys and Lourdes have settled, Mana encounters a spirit who is more powerful than any she’s encountered before. She’s a walker who has always been able to help a spirit move on, but this one seems………..reluctant. Once she communicates with it and discovers that the plague of yellow death is ravaging the southlands, she knows she must venture home in order to see if she can aid the Mimetidae clan who are Vaughn’s people. Vaughn and two of his men begin their journey escorting Mana to her homeland. Unfortunately, they are attacked along the way and taken captive, which infuriates Vaughn. He had vowed to keep Mana safe. And his feelings for her are growing stronger. He also wonders about the wild canis that has befriended Mana and become protective of her as well.

Once they finally reach Mana’s home, politics come into play. Seems her maven, and aunt, is not keen on letting her leave the relative safety of their home. But when Old Father gives Mana his blessing, they begin last leg of their trip to Cathis, Vaughn’s home, and where he will one day rule as he is their maven’s first born.

Upon reaching Cathis, the gates are closed. Once they gain entrance, it is discovered that his mother and maven, Isolde, is gravely ill with the plague. Mana, being a spirit walker and healer, can also heal on a spiritual level and agrees to try to heal Isolde. They also discover that the yellow death has claimed many of Vaughn’s clan, and many more have taken ill. Mana wants to help Vaughn’s clan, but politics play into whether or not she’ll be accepted. Her feelings for Vaughn are growing as well, and the clan knows it. Will they accept a union between Mana and Vaughn? Or will the threat of yellow death be the end of them all?

I really liked this book as well. Mana has pined away for Vaughn most of her life. And she thought it was purely a one-sided thing…..dumb girl!! I really liked Mana’s character. Love her sense of duty and the way her feelings for Vaughn unfold. And, what to say about Vaughn? A good bad boy! LOL!! His sense of duty and honor are an integral part of the storyline, and he’s fierce in both. This book has a little of everything: intrigue, a little mystery, betrayal, touching moments and such a sweet romance. Definitely worth the read and I look forward to reading the next installment.

ORDER LINKS: Barnes and Noble / Amazon

Reviewed by Vickie M.

Copy Supplied by author.

*********************

A Cast of Shadows – Araneae Nation, Book 2.5

Coming February 2013

The strongest net is no match for destiny.

Daraja has grown up watching her brothers journey down the river on the traditional Deinopidae rite of passage. Each returned with riches from their travels, and lovers with whom to share their lives.

Now she has reached the age where she would strike out on her own to seek her fortune—if she were male. Instead, she is expected to sit patiently, weave her nets and wait for the river to bring a husband to her.

Patience, however, has never been her strong suit.

Brynmor haunts the forest surrounding the city of Cathis, his disembodied spirit inextricably bound to the wild canis roaming his lands. Until the day he stumbles across a brazen trespasser in his woods.

Compelled to step in when the canis suspect her of poaching one of their own, Brynmor fears he has lost a piece of his ragged soul to the feisty, adventure-seeking female. And when the canis confront the real poachers, he is forced to choose which life to sacrifice. Hers…or his own.

Warning: This book contains one heroine with a knack for weaving nets and one hero who relishes getting caught. Expect singing, some howling, ghostly shenanigans, and the start of a love that transcends death.
————————————————-

*************

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Hailey Edwards

Born in the Deep South, Hailey is a lifelong resident of Alabama. Her husband works for the local sheriff’s department and her daughter is counting down the days until she’s old enough to audition for American Idol. Her doxie, Black Ilex, helps Hailey write by snoozing in his recliner in her office.

Her desire to explore without leaving the comforts of home fueled her love of reading and writing. Whenever the itch for adventure strikes, Hailey can be found with her nose glued to her Kindle’s screen or squinting at her monitor as she writes her next happily-ever-after.

She loves to hear from readers. Drop her a line here.

You can also swing by her blog or subscribe to her newsletter for all her latest news.

Hailey is published with Samhain Publishing and by Grand Central Publishing‘s Forever Yours line.

Click HERE for Hailey’s WEBSITE

 

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Word and Deed (Wordless Chronicles #2) by Susannah Noel-a review

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Word and Deed (Wordless Chronicles #2) by Susannah Noel

About the book: Released December 15, 2012

Until three months ago, Riana lived a safe, quiet life as a Reader for the Union government, but her life is no longer quiet or safe.

She is now part of an underground rebellion called the Front, and she works closely with Connor, the covert leader of the movement and her best friend. Together, they’re trying to translate a mysterious book that might give them answers about the disaster that transformed their world.

Union officials want to arrest them, and radical Zealots want to destroy them. And Mikel, her Soul-Breather boyfriend, wants Riana to stop putting herself in danger for a cause he doesn’t support.

Then it gets even worse, when the Zealots start to frame the Front for violent acts of terrorism. Riana has to stay alive and juggle conflicting loyalties, deciding who to trust, where her heart lies, and what she really believes in.

Review:

Word and Deed begins three months after Word and Breath. Still trying to decode the Book, Riana and Connor walk into the Exhibition to find and read a passage in a book that will help them with their code. Being the leader of The Front, Connor, a.ka., the Librarian, knows the risks all to well. And Riana, who is a Reader, knows the risks as well. Riana’s grandfather had owned half of the books in the Exhibition which were confiscated when he died. Only those known as Readers could actually read in this dystopian world created by Noel.

The government, known as The Union, doesn’t believe in reading. They believe that the spoken word is the only way. There was an event, the Cataclysm, that launched the world into its hatred of the written word. There are three factions:

The Union, which is the governing body
The Front, which is an underground rebellion fighting to save the written word
The Zealots, who, for lack of a better description, don’t think that the Union is doing enough to stop the Front, are zealous in their efforts to stop every and anything that they don’t agree with.

We are not privy to what exactly was the Cataclysm and hopefully that will be explained in the next book.

Mikel, who is a Soul-Breather, is in love with Riana, walks back into their lives after having been gone for the last three months. And Conner isn’t happy. Seems he’s in love with her too, but with the weight of the whole rebellion on his shoulders, he has yet to tell her.

As the plot unfolds, there is a play for power by one faction trying to frame another. There is a “plague”, some sort of sickness, that is claiming far too many. Lines are blurred between friend and foe, and split decisions have to be made. There is an assassination attempt on the President, but who will be blamed? There will be losses on all sides as the fight for the written word continues. And the battle for Riana continues as well……..

Word and Deed is based on a concept that was, in my opinion, refreshing. Can you imagine a world where reading was frowned upon? The characters are well developed and I look forward to finding out more about them. If I had one complaint about this story, it would be that it wasn’t fast paced enough. With that said, I enjoyed the book and look forward to the next.

ORDER LINKS: Amazon / Barnes and Noble /

Copy supplied by Author.

Reviewed by Vickie M.

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Wild About You by Kerrelyn Sparks-a review

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Wild About You by Kerrelyn Sparks- a review

Wild About You by Kerrelyn Sparks

Book 13 (Released November 27, 2012) in the Love at Stake series

About the book:

Handsome Howard…Hunky Howard… Hot Howard…
It’s not every day that Elsa Bjornberg feels fragile, not when she hosts a home renovation show where she can effortlessly demolish a kitchen. But from the moment she meets Howard Barr, this bear of a man makes her feel like a woman. And the way he looks at her, as if she was a pot of honey he’d like to lick…

Howard is not like most men. For one thing, he’s a shapeshifter. And he always thought his celebrity crush would never amount to anything more than drooling at Elsa on the TV. When his meddling vampire employer gets involved, the star is suddenly within his grasp—and within a hair of her life. For an ancient curse forbids their newfound love, and Howard is suddenly torn between his desire for her and his desire to keep her alive.

Review:
Wild About You begins with Howard on vacation in his home state of Alaska. He found out in book 12, Wanted Dead or Alive, that his arch nemesis, Rhett Bleddyn, is alive. Howard and Rhett went to school together and became bitter enemies. Rhett, a werewolf, had made it his mission to torture Howard in any way he could. It culminated with Howard’s girlfriend being killed by Rhett. Howard and Rhett fought and Rhett went over a cliff. Howard ended up being banned from Alaska, mistakenly being blamed for having a part in his girlfriend’s death. He took the punishment in order to keep his family from the Bleddyns, who were power hungry and had a very large pack whose numbers were far more than the were-bears.

Howard enlists the help of his twin cousins, Jesse & Jimmy, and Dougal and Carlos, a vampire and a shifter who teleported in to check into why Howard was still in Alaska. Howard is systematically going after Rhett’s holdings. He’s already destroyed two homes, and now, he’s after Rhett’s financial records. Upon retrieving that information, his lifelong friend, Harry, who writes for a local paper, starts printing stories that show just how underhanded and devious Rhett is.

While Howard was away in Alaska, Shanna Draganesti, one of Howard’s employers, discovers his secret crush. Elsa Bjornberg, who happens to be on a home renovation show. And you’ll never guess…………. Shanna has a house that needs renovating.

When Howard and Elsa finally meet face to face, their mutual attraction is instantaneous. Unfortunately, there are many things at play. The curse that they have both been told about all their lives, which they both always thought was more lore than fact, comes center stage. And Rhett is lurking in the background, ready to make Howard suffer for revealing his secrets. Will Howard be able to keep Elsa safe? And, how about the curse? You’ll have to read to find out.

I have been waiting for Howard’s book for a long time and definitely wasn’t disappointed. Howard is strong, loyal and hot!! And, Elsa is perfect for him. Sparks always writes with humor in her stories, and this one delivers on that aspect too. There were touching moments, sad moments and hot moments. We get to catch up with a few old friends and meet some new ones. I’m looking forward to the next in the series. If you’ve not read this series, you’re definitely missing out!! It is one of my must read series and hope that it becomes that for you as well!!

LINKS TO ORDER: Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository / KOBO

Reviewed by Vickie M.

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Mr. Real by Carolyn Crane-a review

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Mr. Real (Code of Shadows #1) by Carolyn Crane

MR. REAL (Code of Shadows #1) by Carolyn Crane (Release Date October 30, 2012)

BOOK BLURB:  He finds the girl of his dreams…with the secret agent of his nightmares.

Alix Gordon is a woman who doesn’t take life too seriously. What’s the fun in that? So when she stumbles across occult software that can bring any computer image to life, she conjures up lots of awesome outfits and accessories. And then, on one drunken, horny night, she conjures up Sir Kendall, the sexy TV ad spy . . . who looks exactly like Paul Reinhardt, the super-sexy martial arts teacher who kicked her out of class three years ago.

Fighter Paul Reinhardt has good reason to hate Sir Kendall, the character he brought to life to land a part in a TV ad; he’d do anything to forget him. A cross country road trip seems just the thing . . . until Paul finds himself inexplicably drawn to Minnesota and is shocked to discover Sir Kendall – in the flesh – with the girl he’d once loved from afar. He barges into Alix and Sir Kendall’s love nest, determined to stop the madness – somehow.

But is superspy Sir Kendall transforming into something more dangerous anyone can imagine? And what will Sir Kendall do when Paul and Alix finally give into their mad lust for each other?

Review:

Alix never feels like she is enough. She feels like she is overshadowed by everyone, her over achieving sisters and her friends. She covers it up by hiding behind her “Crazy Alix” personality. And, she was devastated when Paul kicked her out of his martial arts class, and has pined away for him ever since. And, unbeknownst to her, he had also pined away for her.

The premise of this story is a solid one. Things were revealed about Paul’s traumatic childhood that should have enhanced the story. Instead, the way it was brought to the forefront seemed forced and didn’t flow into the story that had already been building. Sir Kendall was a “persona”, if you will, that Paul was forced to assume at the hands of his tortuous step-brothers. And how he ultimately dealt with it was, in a word, strange.

When Alix conjured up Sir Kendall, she had no idea that she had also conjured up another “character”……… And when they all come together at the climax of the story, it, in my opinion, fell short.

To say Alix is a little flighty would be slighting her. LOL!!!! Her thought process was laughable at times, but in the end she tried her hardest to make everything “right”. There were some funny moments in the story and some downright strange ones. However, in the end, there is a happily ever after. I understand that this is the first in a trilogy and hope that the next one “brings to life” something a little less chaotic.

Copy supplied by the author.

Reviewed by Vickie M.

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Rapture (The Fallen Angels #4) by J.R.Ward

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Rapture-Book 4 in The Fallen Angels series by J.R. Ward

RAPTURE (The Fallen Angels #4) by J.R.Ward-Book Description:

Out of the wickedly inventive imagination of #1 New York Times bestselling author J.R. Ward comes a world where sin and salvation collide in a battle for the future of mankind—where a cynical fallen angel struggles against the seven deadly sins and a demon’s lure over seven chosen souls…

Mels Carmichael, reporter for the Caldwell Courier Journal, gets the shock of her life when a man stumbles in front of her car outside the local cemetery. After the accident, his amnesia is just the kind of mystery she likes to solve, but she soon discovers they’re in over their heads with his past. Over their heads with passion, too…

As shadows walk the line between reality and another realm, and her lover’s memory begins to come back, the two of them learn that nothing is truly dead and buried. Especially when you’re trapped in a no holds barred war between angels and demons. With a soul on the line, and Mels’s heart at risk, what in Heaven—or in Hell—will it take to save them both?

Review:

Mels Carmichael is at a crossroads of sorts in her life and in her career. She moved back to Caldwell, New York from New York City when her father, a Caldwell police officer, was killed in an auto accident three years earlier. Not wanting her mother to be alone, she gave up her job at a prestigious paper in NYC to work at the Caldwell Courier Journal in order to be there for her mother. Mels is on her way home late one night, when someone walks into her lane of traffic. She hits him and crashes her car. Little did she know that things as she knew them would never be the same. She has no idea of the battle that wages between good and evil, right there in Caldwell.

Matthias awakens on a grave, naked and cold. And has no idea how he got there and no memory of his past life. He does know that he needs to gather himself and get moving. Once he gets out of the graveyard, he is struck by a car and the next he knows, he wakes up in the hospital. When the door opens, in walks Mels Carmichael, there to apologize for the accident and he knows as soon as he lays eyes on her that she will be part of his life.

Jim Herron, team leader for the Angels on Earth, and his sidekick Adrian, have no idea who the soul is that they are to save. Nigel, Jim’s boss from Heaven, tells him that it will be very plain to him who it will be. And when Jim sees Matthias, he knows the he has one more shot to save him. He had already lost against Devina, the Devil, when Matthias’ soul was up for saving in a previous match up. And Devina won. However, due to Devina’s cheating, the Maker placed his soul back in play and gave him one more chance to redeem himself. Matthias and Jim have a past as he was Jim’s boss when they were members of XOps, an organization that took care of “problems” for the government, but that the government would never acknowledge knowing about.

Matthias is drawn to Mels and once Jim realizes that, he knows that she is the key to saving Matthias. The bigger problem? Devina figures it out as well. Matthias’ memories start slowly coming back and the race begins for those out to get him. The XOps that he is no longer a part of and Devina who wants his soul. Could Jim save his soul? You’ll have to read the story to find out.

I was really looking forward to this book. I am a J.R. Ward junkie, and even though this series started out slowly, the books got better each time out. I loved that Mels was such a strong heroine. And loved the fact that Matthias wanted to be……….better. The romance that developed between the two was great, and once Mels figured out that all was not as it seemed, I loved it even more. The problem I had was that Nigel only made a few appearances and Colin (Nigel’s partner in Heaven) didn’t show up at all. They were a big part of the previous book and even though we think all is well with them, I would have liked that to have been confirmed in this book. And, Eddie (another of Jim’s cohorts and Adrian’s best friend) is still dead. I know down to my toes that he will come back, but the question is when. I can only guess that it will be something spectacular when it happens. And, I will say the ending had me saying “REALLY JIM?!?!?”………… Unfortunately for me, this book was a bit slow. We get to see Devina quite often, but there just wasn’t enough Angel action for me. With all of that said, it was a good story, just not as WARDish as I was anticipating. Oh, and for those of you wondering about Dog, this is the one for you!

Reviewed by Vickie M.

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Copy Cats, Reviews and Such

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COPY CATS, REVIEWS and SUCH

IN MY OPINION by Vickie M.
Copy Cats, Reviews and such……………..
 
I’ve had some things on my mind for a while, so I figured what better place to vent than right here!!  When I first started reviewing for The Reading Cafe, I would look at different reviews to see what the general feeling was about that book.  It is, in my humble opinion, inevitable that reviews will generally follow the same route.  Of course there are those who love it and those who don’t, but even with that, the lovers follow a similar path as well as the haters.  I realize that there are only so many words that one can use to describe certain situations in the scenes that we read.  This, of course, does not apply to Sandy and Barb here at The Reading Cafe.  Their reviews are so thought provoking and wonderfully written.
 
With that said, I can’t help but notice that sometimes sites post an idea or a thought, only to be seen on another site within a day or so with a few of the words changed, and maybe said a little differently.  BUT, the basis for the idea is the same.  So here is my conundrum.  Is it a coincidence that folks are thinking about the same article at the same time?  Are others feeding off of other sites?  And is there anything that can be done about it?  Or, should anything be done about it?  I recently read an article about reviewers reviewing books that they hadn’t even read.  They were reading other reviews and creating their own that way.  Talk about dishonest!!
 
Another thing that sticks in my craw is to read a review about a PARANORMAL ROMANCE and the reviewer says “it was not believable”.  As opposed to what?!  Now don’t get me wrong, I’m with ya when it comes to my beloved series and the author comes totally out of left field with something that that character would have never done. I don’t like that either.   Whenever I see someone post that the story wasn’t “believable”, my first thought is always, ALWAYS, “you do know vampires and dragons aren’t real, right?”.  😀
 
Happy reading!!!!
Vickie M.
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