Review: If The Shoe Fits by Laurie LeClair

If The Shoe Fits by Laurie LeClair
My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

What happens when a modern day Cinderella's dreams don't involve getting married? 

Romance? Love? In this Once Upon A Romance Series Book 1 romantic comedy, Charlotte (Charlie) King doesn't have time for either one. All she wants is her late father's dream to come true by making his beloved King's Department Store thrive again. However, her stepmother has other ideas. Charlie agrees to help her stepmother find grooms for her sheltered stepsisters. In exchange, the stepmother will release her stronghold on the store's budget. After all, one good deed deserves another, right? But, Charlie has no idea what her heart's in for when... 

Alexander (Alex) Royale, dubbed by society newspapers as Prince Charming, arrives for dinner to meet the all-female King family. His ailing grandparents yearn for his marriage and then the baby carriage. Well, that and running the family company. Having unsuccessfully searched for months, Alex doesn't hold out any hope in finding his future bride among the King sisters. However, all his expectations, including his idea of a business-like marriage of convenience, vanish the moment Charlie crashes into him. 

When Alex sets out out to win over Charlotte, he has no idea he has to bargain with the stepmother, secretly buy the store, court Charlotte after the wedding, and, oh yeah, be featured in Charlie's new fairy tale ad campaign, The Charmings, based on them. Can a guy ever get a break? 

The couple never factored in falling in love with each other. Now, faced with losing all their families ever wanted, Charlie and Alex must choose: Do they live their families' dreams or do they finally live their own?

My Thoughts:

This book is a modern day remake of the classic Cinderella story.

Charlotte works hard every day to try to make her father's store successful again since he has passed away. Her stepmother refuses to let her even try to save the store. Charlotte is hoping that if she helps her stepmother marry off her stepsisters then she will let her try to save the store. Little does she know about her stepmother's real plan.

I love how Charlotte is such a happy-go-lucky person despite having to put up with her stepmom's nonsense. Also, the stepsisters actually seem really nice and seemed to be oblivious to their mother's devious ways.

If you love fairy tales or just a sweet romance novel then this book is for you.

Review: You Don't Want To Know by Lisa Jackson

You Don't Want To Know by Lisa Jackson
My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

Nothing

Life as Ava Garrison knew it ended the day her toddler son Noah went missing. In the two years since, she's been in and out of Seattle mental institutions, existing in a fog of grief. Noah's body was never found, and everyone assumed he drowned after falling off a dock. Until recently, Ava thought so too. . .

Is More Dangerous

Since she moved back home, Ava has experienced unsettling visions. She hears Noah crying in the nursery, glimpses him walking near the water. Her family, her psychologist, and her estranged husband are concerned for her well-being. Or are they worried about what she might discover?

Than The Truth

Did Noah really die, or is Ava losing her sanity? The deeper into her memories she goes, the more fearful she becomes. Ava thought her son's disappearance was the worst thing that could happen to her. But before this nightmare ends, she'll discover how terrifying the truth can be. . . 

My Thoughts:

How do I describe this book? Disturbing in a very good way. The book is very well written and full of suspense. You are kept guessing the whole the book.

Ava is in serious trouble. She has no idea who to trust and is being drugged. She sees and hears things that are impossible. Then she stops taking the pills. As her mind clears out, she realizes that someone is trying to make her seem crazy. People close to her are dying and she is the only common link. Despite all of this, she is determined to find her young son that disappeared two years ago. 

Ms Jackson has a gift for telling a story full of twists and turns. Each revelation is more disturbing than the last. You will keep guessing who the guilty person is and then you change your mind, over and over again. This mystery will not disappoint you, so grab a copy and enjoy!

Review: You Burn Me by Stella and Audra Price

You Burn Me by Stella and Audra Price
My Rating: 1 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

A priestess of The Morrigan, Xxieda Rolla is a woman who has known success in her business, fulfillment in her family life and is only missing one thing: the love of the man that would have her for always. Sent to Shadow Heights New York by her goddess to find him, she meets the ever tasty, ever surly Dante Barratt. Sparks fly, and so does Amaretto Latte.

Dante, a dealer of rare and illegal commodities, and a very tempestuous fire demon might want the woman who's brown eyes haunt him, but knows better then to get involved with someone who just screams purity. Shes hot, and successful in ways he never could be, and knows a man that just gave away his soul like he did didn't deserve a woman like that.

After a chance encounter on a dark street corner, and an earth shattering kiss, Both are powerless to deny the chemistry between them... until Xxieda tells him her secret: shes a virgin.

Caught between his head and his heart, can Dante accept the fact that Fate sometimes gives us exactly what we really need, not what we think we want?

My Thoughts:

I read the synopsis and thought that this might be a good book. However, by the time I reached 24% on my kindle version of it, I was very irritated. I don't mind one or two spelling or grammatical errors but this book has tons of them. The authors used defiantly instead of definitely, obliviously instead obviously, were instead of where and so many more. The sentences didn't make sense because the definitions of the words used were totally different from the words that should have been there. Unfortunately, I am gonna have to DNF this book. The story line would have been a good one with a bit of proofreading.

Review: Hookah by Cameron Jace

Hookah by Cameron Jace
My Rating: 5 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

A Plague Scarier than Death 

Alice and the Pillar have to stop a Wonderland Monster who'd lashed out an incurable disease onto the world. Their biggest challenge is that the world loves this monster so much.

A Cure Larger than Life 
The only way to save the world is to travel to the other side of the globe, and peek into one of Lewis Carroll and the Pillar's darker pasts.

A Truth Madder Than Fiction 
This time, the price of saving the world is too high. Alice will have to live with the consequences of the maddest logic of the world surrounding her.

Will Alice find who the Pillar really is? What he wants? Is she brave enough to handle the one Wonderland Monster she'd thought was a good friends? And even so, is the world ready the truth? 

My Thoughts:

Cameron Jace is one of the new author's I have discovered. I own every book he has ever written and I can't wait until the next one comes out. Hookah is just like the series title says "Insanity".

Alice Wonder is still in the insane asylum. Once again, Professor Carter Crysalis Cocoon Pillar, has convinced her to escape and save the world from the Wonderland Monsters. I am starting to piece together some of the madness and identify who some of the "monsters" were. I love the addition of some of the lesser known characters from Alice in Wonderland. The Executioner makes his debut in this book. The Duchess (aka Margaret Kent), the Queen of Hearts (aka the queen of England) and Fabiola (aka the White Queen) have returned again.

I love this series. It is insanity the whole way thru the series but in a twisted way, it makes sense- LOL! Alice is finally starting to remember the bus accident that got her locked away in the asylum. I am dying to know who Tom Truckle really is. Yes, this book will have you all twisted up and you will have trouble figuring everything out. It is pure madness, but then again: we are all mad here!

Raining Men and Corpses by Anne R. Tan

This was a cute little mystery. Raina is trying to get the money back that she loaned her ex-boyfriend. He keeps putting her off until she pretends that she is pregnant. Now he sends her a text saying he has her money. However, when she arrives at their meeting, he is dead. To top off her bad day, her ex-husband is the lead investigator.

Raina is still not over her ex or her bad habit of interfering in his police investigations. Things get chaotic and it is a race to find the killer before she becomes a victim.

I enjoyed this little mystery. It is a typical cozy mystery and is perfect to cuddle up with on a cold day. The grandmother is a hoot and had me laughing several times. If you like the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich then you will like this book.

My Rating: 

4 out of 5 stars

Wedding Haters by Melissa Baldwin

This book is about Madie and her friends while she is planning her wedding. Her cousins, that don't treat her well, have hijacked her wedding plans. Madie wants to say something and stop the train wreck but she doesn't want to disappoint her mother and grandmother, who never take her feelings into account.

The wedding plans are falling apart at the seams. Madie & Sienna are racing to fix everything before the big day.

I liked how the book shows families as they truly are. Not every family is like the family on "Leave it to Beaver". Despite, all the family drama and chaos, Madie is able to finally stand up for herself. In a way, Madie finds herself in this book. Instead of letting people walk on her, she finally takes charge. You can't choose your family but you can put them in their place.

My Rating:

3 out of 5 stars

Demons Like It Hot by Sidney Ayers

This book has a bit of everything for the paranormal romance lovers out there. You have demons (good & bad), imps, succubus, angels, ghosts and goddesses.

Serah is a Pure-blood and the Paladins (good demons) are trying to protect her. She doesn't know what she is but she knows that she just wants to be a normal person. She wants to be a chef and nothing else but she is plagued by demons. The Infernati (bad demons) are determined to get to her and Matthias is going to protect her no matter what.

I liked this book. There was even a reference to the TV show Charmed in it. I guess the only thing I wished it that the author explained more about Serah and what she is. It is briefly talked about but not much detail is given. However, as a romance, this book had everything a good romance needed.

My Rating: 

3 out of 5 stars

The Job Offer by Eleanor Webb

This is a pleasant little romance novel. Anne is reunited with a guy she had a crush on as a child. Inadvertently, they end up pretending to be engaged. Unfortunately, he doesn't realize that she is the new employee he has just hired because her last name was changed. She mistakenly thinks his last name is the same as his sister. This leads to an argument with lots of hurtful things said.

Although it is a pleasant romance, it is a typical romance with nothing extra that makes it stand out from the rest. That being said, it is well written and still worth the read. This is one of those romance novels you tuck away for a rainy day.

My Rating:

3 out of 5 stars

Not Your Average Fairy Tale by Chantele Sedwick

This book is about to blow all your ideas about magical creatures like fairies, gnomes, satyrs, etc out of the water. Forget what you think you know. This book takes place at a school for magical beings. They study magic, do an internship before choosing a job.

Ash has always wanted to become a sandman. He is top of his class and he expects to get the internship that he has always wanted. For some reason, he doesn't and his whole life changes. His assignment is to be a Fairy Godmother. Yes, you read that correctly. Whoever said a fairy godmother had to be a female, right? LOL This is where things get really interesting. Absolutely not tights or pink wands for Ash. He is having none of the typical female fairy godmother crap.

I thought this book was very good. My only issue was that the first page of every chapter seemed to be messed up. When I flipped the page, it repeated one or two sentences. It may just be a technical glitch as it is the ebook version that I read. I loved how the author had Ash get an assignment that he totally hated. His attitude really made the book more interesting and made me giggle at times. I will be looking for more of this series.

My Rating:

4 out of 5 stars

True Calling by Siobhan Davis

This is book 1 of the True Calling series.

This book was quite interesting in a Dystopian kind of way. Some people are left on Earth while other people are taken to Novo to begin a new life. The government has erased the memories of the people on Novo so they don't remember the people back on Earth. Citizens on both planets are controlled in different ways. Citizens on Earth are given jobs to make the things the citizens on Novo need. However, the citizens on Novo are not any better off. The government forces young citizens that are at least 17 to participate in The Calling.

The Calling is kind of like a dating game but you can only date 10 people who have been chosen for you. You have a vote in who you end up with but so does everyone in your region and the government officials running the program. These young people then have to marry who is chosen for them and have 3 children in a certain amount of time.

I love the concept of this book. I certainly wouldn't want to live on either planet but it makes for a very interesting read. There is a lot happening in this book on both planets. Of course, there is a cliffhanger ending leaving you want more because this is just the beginning. At the end of the kindle version, there is a link to download the novelettes that go in between the series books so be sure to grab up those freebies.

My Rating:

4 out of 5 stars

Frozen by Melissa Del La Cruz

Frozen is the first book in the Heart of Dread series. The planet is destroyed and freezing. Natasha is a black dealer with a secret. She is one of the "marked". She wears special contacts to hide her eye color and keeps the mark on her body hidden.

Natasha manages to hire some runners to get her out of New Vegas. She wants to get to "the Blue", a rumored place that is not destroyed like the rest of the planer. The Blue is hidden and most people do not know how to find it.

Ryan Wesson is the leader of the runners that Natasha hires. Inexplicably drawn to her, Ryan decides not to turn her in but help her instead. They encounter many things along the way.

I liked this book but I did have a bit of trouble getting into the book at first. Once I did get into it, I enjoyed it. There is a nice romance weaved into the story line, I guess my favorite part of the story has to be the dragon. I do not want to give too much of the story away but it is worth the read if you can get through the slow bit at the beginning. I will read the second book as I am intrigued and want to know what happens next.

My Rating:

3 stars out of 5 stars

Belle of the Ball by Pam McCutcheon

This is the 1st book of the series. The 3 sisters are on a group outing with their suitors. They leave the men to go make a wish at a statue their mother made a wish at years ago. Before they make their wishes, they overhear the gentlemen make some mean comments about them. They also learn that their mother paid them to take her daughters out. In anger, each girl makes a wish based on what the gentlemen said was wrong with each of them instead of the wishes in their hearts. The wishes they made out loud corresponded with the statue of the 3 Graces (minor Greek Goddesses) whom they were named after (beauty, charm and grace). The 3 Graces heard the wishes and decided to grant them one girl at a time. Which wish will they grant each girl, the spoken or unspoken wish?

This book tells about Belle's wish. Her spoken wish was for beauty. Thus her journey has begun. This story is a fun story of a girl who was hurt by the man she liked. She set out on a path of revenge. This poor had no idea what she was about to get herself into.

I really loved this story. I loved how the 3 Graces intervened in her life. Did Belle get her wish and which one? I will let you read the story and find out. You will definitely be surprised at how it turns out. As for me, I think I will be looking for book 2 soon.

My Rating: 

5 out of 5 stars

How To Flirt With a Naked Werewolf by Molly Harper

Ok, so I admit it. The title drew me in. It was too funny of a title not to read this book. The author has a wonderful sense of humor and inserts bits of it throughout this book.

Mo (short for a very unique hippie like name) moves to Alaska to avoid her very hippie (hence the name) parents that are always interfering with her life. She meets Copper, a hot and very manly, werewolf. Then there are wolf attacks in the area, which affects their budding relationship.

I love the werewolf theme, being a big fan of books with anything fantasy or paranormal. This book is definitely a must read for readers that love these types of books. I only put it down when my body commanded that I sleep.

My Rating:

5 out of 5 stars

Cross My Heart and Hope To Spy by Ally Carter

This is book 2 in the Gallagher Girl series. Cammie is still heartbroken over her breakup with Josh. She can't continue to date him and be a spy so she is trying to move on.

Her mother and the other teachers (all spies) decide it may be time to invite some boys from the boy spy school to learn together with the girls. Of course, when you throw boys and girls together in a boarding school things can get crazy. The kids are focused on who they like and the girls are spending more time getting dressed.

I love all the 'tests' that these kids take. They don't even know they are taking one half the time- LOL. This book is just pure fun. I can't wait to see what book 3 has in store for us.

My Rating:

5 out of 5 stars

Ashes and Arsenic by S.M. Reine

This is book 6 in the Preternatural Affairs series.

Cesar is back and this time he is in charge since Fritz is at a summit meeting. He is determined not to have to deal with any demons this time around. He wants a simple case dealing with miscreant witches. Unfortunately, this one hits home for him.

The case he investigates involves witches robbing a bank and a murder of 2 witches. Everything seems to center around his brother. Cesar and Suzy rush to figure out who is behind everything while trying to keep his brother alive at the same time.

As per usual, this book is all action. Throw in lots of magic and this book will keep you intrigued all the way to the end. I really have enjoyed this series and can't wait for book 7 to be released. I was a bit disappointed that Fritz wasn't in this book much and Isobel was pretty much non-existent in this one. I hope the next one has all four of them back together solving the case.

My Rating:

4 out of 5 stars

Deadly Wrong by S.M. Reine

This is book 5 in the Preternatural Affairs series. The thing that is different about this book is that is in not centered on Cesar. This book takes a step back and tells the story of Isobel (aka Hope) and Fritz.

This book picks up after the last book. Isobel had found out who she was before her contract with Anders. She also realized that she had a contract end date coming up which meant that she would die soon. She is starting to rot and now Isobel and Fritz are racing against time to find a way to reverse the contract.

Isobel's old memories are starting to resurface. The problem is that she remembers things that she wishes she didn't.

I absolutely loved this book. The other books all focus on Cesar so I know so much more about him. This one focuses on Fritz and Isobel and makes these characters so much more real. I can't wait to read the next book and see what is in store for Preternatural Affairs group.

My Rating:

5 out of 5 stars

Shadow Burns by S.M. Reine

This is book 4 in the Preternatural series. Cesar, Suzy, Isabel & Fritz are back again dealing with more supernatural creatures.

Cesar & Suzy are called to investigate a problem at a retirement village. Things are not quite as normal as things are perceived. Cesar, who is a witch allergic to magic, can sense magic in the building. A few days later all the residents are dead and things get a bit strange when Cesar and Isabel show up at the memorial service. Somehow, Isabel is connected to what is happening at the retirement community but she isn't sharing. Cesar is determined to figure out what she is hiding before she gets killed.

I really loved this insight into Isabel's past. She was always a mysterious necrocognitive that they called on all the time but refused to tell the OPA about. This book gives the reader some insight as to why she doesn't want the OPA to know about her. Of course, there are ghosts, demons and witches to add to all the drama.

Am I going to continue on with this series? Of course! I have already bought books 5 & 6 and hope to get caught up before book 7 is released at the end of the month. If you like books with supernatural beings then will love this series.

My rating:

5 out of 5 stars

Saving Santa by Franklin J. Dewitt

I picked this book because I was working on a team challenge on Goodreads and we needed a book where someone either ruins or saves Christmas. The title of this book told me that this would most likely work. I am so glad I chose this one.

Santa disappointed 10 year old Travis on Christmas day. All Travis asked for was a bike for Christmas and he didn't get on. He was hurt and upset because he thought Santa didn't think he deserved a bike. He decided to ask his sister's boyfriend to help him sue Santa.

I really enjoyed this book. The author made the elves seem so childlike which really added to the story. The friction between Travis and Brian (his sister's boyfriend) was great. I love how the little boy was constantly one-upping the guy. The other thing I really enjoyed was the author's humor sprinkled throughout the book. Poor Brian really had a hard time of it being so clumsy and he was always getting beat up on- LOL. This is a great little Christmas story that is sure to please people of all ages.

My Rating:

4 out of 5 stars

Footsteps in Time by Sarah Woodbury

So this is Book 1 of the After Cilmeri series but technically it is not since the book before it is 0.5. Basically, the previous book is where their mother and Anna (who is very young) have an accident and end up back in time. She falls in love, gets pregnant and gets thrown back to the 21st century while in labor. This is where this book comes into play.

Anna and David (the baby she was pregnant with) are now teenagers. They are in a car driving during a snowstorm and end up back in the year 1282. They save David's father's life. He knows all about them and where they are from.

Their mother, Meg, also ends up back in time. The whole family is together but how do they avoid becoming separated again if they don't know how they ended up together in the first place.

I really loved this book as much as I loved the first one. I really can't wait to read the rest of the series (yes, I already bought the entire series!). This book is a historical time travel romance that will leave you wanting more.

My Rating:

5 out of 5 stars

Review: Just Different Devils by Jinx Schwartz

Just Different Devils by Jinx Schwartz
My Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Synopsis:

Hetta Coffey is a sassy Texan with a snazzy yacht, and she's not afraid to use it—most of the time. 
She's an intrepid cruiser, but wild rumors of marauding gangs of flesh-shredding giant Humboldt squid on a rampage in the Sea of Cortez could keep even Hetta tied to an expensive dock. However, when the opportunity for an intriguing and highly lucrative charter arises she talks her best friend, Jan, into signing on for a mysterious cruise. 
Damn the calamari! Full bank account ahead! 

My Thoughts:

Hetta owns a small yacht and earns her living doing small jobs. She is hired to take a client on a month long fishing trip on her boat. Meanwhile, there are reports of people being killed by a Humboldt squid. Despite, the risk of being attacked by one of these, Hetta and her friend Jan take on this client. 

People all around Hetta are acting strange and some are even disappearing. Hetta is determined to solve this mystery with the help of her friends and her lovable canine. 

I really enjoyed this book. There were so many secrets and things happening that it kept me guessing who the bad guys were all the way to the end. If you love a good mystery, then this book is definitely for you.