Review: Earls Just Want to Have Fun by Shana Galen

Posted February 24, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Earls Just Want To Have Fun
Series: Covent Garden Cubs (book 1)
Author: Shana Galen
Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Romance
Published: February 3, 2015
Source: NetGalley

Story Blurb:

His heart may be the last thing she ever steals . . .

Marlowe is a pickpocket, a housebreaker—and a better actress than any professional on the stage. She runs with the Covent Garden Cubs, a gang of thieves living in the slums of London’s Seven Dials. It’s a fierce life, and Marlowe has a hard outer shell. But when she’s alone, she allows herself to think of a time before—a dimly remembered life when she was called Elizabeth.

Maxwell, Lord Dane, is intrigued when his brother, a hired investigator, ropes him into his investigation of the fiercely beautiful hellion. He teaches her to navigate the social morass of the town while his brother attempts to confirm her true identity. But Marlowe will not escape so easily. Instead, Dane is drawn into her world of danger and violence, where the student becomes the teacher and love is the greatest risk of all.

Read on for my thoughts on Earls Just Want To Have Fun. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: The Earl’s Defiant Wallflower by Erica Ridley

Posted February 24, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

The Earl's Defiant Wallflower Title: The Earl’s Defiant Wallflower
Series: The Dukes of War
Author: Erica Ridley
Genre: Historical Romance
Published: December 1, 2014
Source: NetGalley

Story Blurb:

Oliver York returns from war to find his father dead, his finances in arrears, and himself the new Earl of Carlisle. If he doesn’t marry an heiress—and fast!—he and his tenants are going to be pitching tents down by the Thames. He definitely shouldn’t be trading kisses with a penniless debutante… no matter how captivating she is!

Miss Grace Halton is in England just long enough to satisfy the terms of her dowry. But a marriage of convenience isn’t as easy as she’d hoped. Back in America, her ailing mother needs medicine only Grace’s dowry can afford. Which means the dashing earl she can’t get out of her mind is the one man she can’t let into her heart.

Read on for my thoughts on The Earl’s Defiant Wallflower. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Unseen by Amber Lynn Natusch

Posted February 24, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Unseen
Series: Unborn (book 2)
Author: Amber Lynn Natusch
Genre: Fantasy
Published: February 17, 2015
Source: NetGalley

Story Blurb:

Welcome to the Kingdom of Hades, where even its prodigal princess sleeps lightly.

After fighting Soul Stealers in Detroit, Khara hoped to return home to find answers in her father’s realm. But the land of the dead offers little information, and far too much tragedy. Now cut off from her brothers, and left only with her dark and unreliable companion Oz, Khara must navigate the centuries-old webs of deceit and betrayal, all while eluding the Underworld’s most depraved inhabitant. But she soon finds an unexpected ally in her adopted sister Persephone. Together, they endeavor to right a terrible wrong. And as Khara soon discovers, there’s more riding on her success than she ever thought possible.

Read on for my thoughts on Unseen. No true spoilers, promise.

Unborn by Amber Lynn Natusch

Posted February 24, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Unborn
Series: Unborn series (book 1)
Author: Amber Lynn Natusch
Genre: Fantasy
Published: August 26, 2014
Source: NetGalley

Story Blurb:

Born into mystery. Shackled to darkness…

Khara has spent centuries discovering everything about the Underworld―except her place in it. But when she’s ripped from her home, solving the riddle of her origins becomes more important than ever. With evil stalking her through the dark alleys of Detroit, she finds salvation from an unlikely source: a group of immortal warriors sworn to protect the city. Khara needs their help to unravel the tangled secrets of who and what she is—secrets many seem willing to kill for. But time is running out, and the closer she gets to the truth, the closer necessity binds her to an arrogant fallen angel.

Can their shaky alliance withstand that which threatens her, or will her soul fall victim to the unholy forces that hunt her―those that seek the Unborn?

Read on for my thoughts on Unborn. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Breath of Scandal by Sandra Brown

Posted February 22, 2015 by Marsha in Mystery / 0 Comments

Title: Breath of Scandal
Series:
Author: Sandra Brown
Genre: Romance, Mystery
Published: re-published February 26, 2013 (original 1991)
Source: NetGalley

Story Blurb:

On a rainy Southern night, Jade Sperry endured a young woman’s worst nightmare at the hands of three local hell-raisers. Robbed of her youthful ideals and at the center of scandal and tragedy, Jade ran as far and as fast as she could. But she never forgot the sleepy “company town” where every man, woman, and child was dependent on one wealthy family. And she never forgot their spoiled son, who, with his two friends, changed her life forever. Someday, somehow, she’d return, exact a just revenge — and free herself from fear, and the powerful family that could destroy her.

Read on for my thoughts on Breath of Scandal. No true spoilers, promise.

**This novel describes a brutal rape. If this might be a trigger for you – please read no further and click away now.**

Review: Chasing Vito’s Ghosts by G. R. Benyue

Posted February 22, 2015 by Marsha in Mystery / 0 Comments

Title: Chasing Vito’s Ghosts
Series:
Author: G. R. Benyue
Genre: Paranormal, Mystery
Published: February 3, 2015
Source: NetGalley

Story Blurb:

Becka Brandt’s ability to see the dead is pushing her farther from the living. When an explosion in Boston’s downtown district kills her fiancé and colleagues, Becka reluctantly leaves the city she loves to seek refuge from her heartbreak and the restless spirits of those she lost.

Moving to a small Massachusetts suburb, her life is further disrupted when she unknowingly leases a haunted house. Her new roommate is Vito, an ornery old ghost whose flashbacks to his recent murder draw Becka into the terrifying world of a serial killer who targets small children. When Vito was killed, his great-grandchildren were taken. Becka races against time to solve the mystery of their disappearance before an evil force, activated by Vito’s tangled past of hatred and revenge, invades the neighborhood and destroys the trail to the children.

Plagued by new ghosts and haunted by visions of her lost love, Becka struggles to connect clues from Vito’s past life to current events. She is aided in her investigation by her closest friends and a handsome FBI agent who understands her ability in a way that nobody ever has. Despite the pain of her broken heart, Becka will have to embrace the living to free the dead and start life over.

Read on for my thoughts on Chasing Vito’s Ghosts. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: A Stolen Season by Tamara Gill

Posted February 22, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 2 Comments

Title: A Stolen Season
Series:
Author: Tamara Gill
Genre: Historical Romance, Time-Travel
Published: February 23, 2015
Source: NetGalley

Story Blurb:

One small mistake in the past will change everything about her future... Archaeologist Sarah Baxter just broke one of the biggest rules of time travel: leaving a piece of 21st century equipment in 19th century Regency England. Unfortunately, when she goes back to retrieve it, she makes an even bigger mess of things—resulting in the death of an English Earl. Now his brother is not only out for revenge, but he also has Sarah’s device. Which means an entirely different approach is needed. It doesn’t occur to the new Earl of Earnston that his charming acquaintance is responsible for his brother’s death. He is merely swept away by a passion that threatens his very reputation. Yet he gets the distinct impression that Miss Baxter is hiding something from him. Now Sarah must find a way to steal back her device, hide the truth about the earl’s brother and—most importantly— not fall in love…

Read on for my thoughts on A Stolen Season. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Of Silk and Steam by Bec McMaster

Posted February 22, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Of Silk and Steam Title: Of Silk and Steam
Series: London Steampunk book 5
Author: Bec McMaster
Genre: Romance
Published: March 3, 2015
Source: NetGalley

Story Blurb:

Enemies. Allies. Lovers.

When her beloved father was assassinated, Lady Aramina swore revenge. The man responsible is well beyond her grasp, but his dangerously seductive heir, Leo Barrons, is fair game. When Mina obtains evidence proving that Leo is illegitimate, she has the means to destroy both the killer and his son, a man who troubles her heart and tempts her body.

A woman of mystery, Mina’s long driven Leo crazy with glimpses of a fiery passion that lurks beneath her icy veneer. He knows she’s hiding something, and he’s determined to unravel her layer by silken layer. He just doesn’t expect the beautiful liar to be the key to overthrowing the corrupt prince consort… or to saving his own carefully walled-off heart.

Read on for my thoughts of Of Silk and Steam. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Ugly Young Thing by Jennifer Jaynes

Posted February 22, 2015 by Marsha in Mystery / 0 Comments

Title: Ugly Young Thing
Series: Sequel to Never Smile at Strangers
Author: Jennifer Jaynes
Genre: Mystery
Published: March 3, 2015
Source: NetGalley

Story Blurb:

Sixteen-year-old Allie has already experienced a lifetime of horror, having lost her mother and serial killer brother to mental illness.

Returning to her childhood home in Louisiana, Allie ends up in foster care and is placed with Miss Bitty, an eccentric but kindly older woman who shows her a new direction and brighter future.

But Allie’s new life takes a devastating turn when young women in the area start turning up dead, and she begins to see shadowy figures outside her bedroom. As Miss Bitty grows inexplicably distant, a nagging voice makes Allie wonder if death has found her yet again…or if it never really left her at all.

Read on for my thoughts on Ugly Young Thing. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Soul Crossed by Lisa Gail Green

Posted February 21, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Title: Soul Crossed
Series: Of Demons and Angels (book 1)
Author: Lisa Gail Green
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal
Published: February 25, 2015
Source: NetGalley

Story Blurb:

One Demon.

One Angel.

One Soul.

Josh lived a reckless, selfish life, so upon his death, escaping the eternal torments of Hell by assuming the role of a powerful, soul-corrupting demon is an easy choice. His first soul assignment doesn’t seem too hard: the mortal Camden is already obsessed with weapons, pain, and torture. If only Josh wasn’t distracted by Cam’s beautiful friend, Grace.

Grace never expected to die violently at age sixteen, but now she’s an Angel, responsible for saving a soul. She can already see past Camden’s earthly flaws, so the job should be be easy. If only that handsome, playboy Josh would stop getting in the way.

It’s forbidden for an Angel to be with a Demon, so if Josh and Grace stop resisting each other, the results would be disastrous.

And only one can claim Cam’s soul.

Read on for my thoughts on Soul Crossed. No true spoilers, promise.

Feature & Follow #6

Posted February 20, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 25 Comments

FeatureFollowParaAlison Gain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers — but you have to know — the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts,Parajunkee of Parajunkee’s Viewand Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow us to show off more new blogs!

This week’s question:

Do you like fantasy or realistic books?

I’m pretty equal between the two. There is nothing like a fantasy, sci-fi or paranormal to let me escape for a few hours. But I can escape just as easily with a contemporary novel or a how-to book. Basically, if it has printed letters on it I will most likely read it.

If you’re a new follower I’d really prefer a Bloglovin’ follow – the button is over on the side bar 🙂 Thanks.

Now since there are no official feature blogs to check out, I’m going to follow our hosts idea of celebrating National Love Your Pets Day. 🙂

My home is ruled by two felines. Charlie, who is our 18 year old grey striped king of the household (very much a smaller version of Charlie in that picture of National Love Your Pet Day banner)

And I introduced Leia earlier this week on a Waiting on Wednesday post but here she is in all her Ragdoll beauty again…. my puppy-cat who loves her belly rubbed. Leia is in her terrible 2’s right now. She is the largest cat I’ve ever had weighing in at 32 pounds of solid muscle and fur. And when she lands on you… You Know It.

Review: The Last Heiress by Mary Ellis

Posted February 19, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 2 Comments

Title: The Last Heiress
Series:
Author: Mary Ellis
Genre: Christian Romance
Published: February 1, 2015
Source: NetGalley

Story Blurb:

Bestselling author Mary Ellis (A Widow’s Hope) presents The Last Heiress, a new romantic standalone that intertwines the lives of a British manufacturing heiress and an American merchant caught in the turbulent time of the War Between the States.

When Amanda Dunn sets sail from England for Wilmington, North Carolina, she hopes to somehow restore shipments of raw materials for her family’s textile mills, which have been severely disrupted by the American Civil War. Though there is not much one individual can do, the wealthy young woman feels she must try, as her mother and hundreds of employees at Dunn Textiles are dependent on Southern cotton.

When Amanda meets Nathaniel Cooper, her desire to conduct business and quickly return to England changes. Though captivated by one another, neither is fully aware of the other’s true nature.

Nathanial, who on the outside appears to be a poor but hardworking merchant, is actually a secret Yankee sympathizer who will stop at almost nothing to bring about freedom for those who live under subjugation, even when that involves questionable judgment. And Amanda’s wealth is made possible by underpaid workers living in slums around the mills, not much different than American slavery.

Can these two earnest souls find the best in one another rather than focus on what could tear them apart? And though they both believe they are on God’s path, how will their decisions affect those around them?

Read on for my thoughts on The Last Heiress. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Rumors by A. C. Arthur

Posted February 19, 2015 by Marsha in Mystery / 0 Comments

Rumors Title: Rumors
Series: 1 of 2 parts (at least)
Author: A. C. Arthur
Genre: Mystery
Published: December 30, 2014
Source: NetGalley

Story Blurb:

Her death tore them apart. Will solving her murder bring them back together?

Best friends Landy, Tenile, Nicole, Nathan, Justin, and Kareem were the golden children of Tanner University. Their paths were set: doctors, lawyers, business moguls, they were going to light the world on fire. Then, two weeks before graduation, Landy was murdered—and Nathan was blamed. Though he was never charged, vicious rumors drove him from town, and the circle of friends broke.

Ten years later, Nathan is back in Tanner, determined to clear his name. He’s asking questions no one wants answered, and soon rumors threaten to divide the community once more. Everyone in this small town is keeping big secrets—especially Landy’s old friends—and someone is willing to kill to keep their darkest deeds buried. . . .

This is a new edition of the previously self-published title Within The Shadows.

Read on for my thoughts on Rumors. No true spoilers, promise.

Review: Violets & Violence by Morgan Parker

Posted February 19, 2015 by Marsha in Mystery / 0 Comments

Title: Violets & Violence
Series:
Author: Morgan Parker
Genre: Mystery, Thriller
Published: December 15, 2014
Source: NetGalley

Story Blurb:

Violet has magical talent. She can levitate, walk through glass, and be in two places at one time. What happens when Violet discovers true magic in the arms of a new man?

Luke Kemble enjoys the luxury of having Violet, all of her magic and all of her beauty, all to himself. What happens to Luke’s illusion of reality when he and the love of his life are threatened by another man, a dangerous one that holds grudges and anger?

Carter Borden never fully recovered from the heartbreak of his ex-wife leaving him. What happens to a damaged man who begins to believe in magic once again?

Follow two men — Luke and Carter — as they learn the one truth about Violet’s magic (that it’s an only an illusion) and the one truth about her love (that it’s not)

Read on for my thoughts on Violets & Violence. No true spoilers, promise.

I’m not even going to send you to the next page. I cannot truly review this one without giving away important (In My Opinion) spoilers. So let’s cover the very basics.

Violet is an amazing magician. She is magical on the stage. One night during a show an audience member joins her on the stage. The rest, as they say is history – or the story. The story is told through the viewpoints of the two men in Violet’s life. Luke, not only her manager, but her love, her only love for a long time. Carter, still reeling from a divorce, he is broken but stating to mend as Violet’s love rushes through his life. Was illusion only for the stage or did it flow over into Violet’s personal life as well?

Reading Violets & Violence was like peeling an onion, layer after layer until you finally reach the core. I honestly cannot say more or I will give away key parts of their story.

If you love mysteries and thrillers – you won’t be disappointed. If you love romance – there is plenty of steamy loving going on. If you love trying to figure out a magician’s secrets – I dare you to figure out the finish.

It’s a 4 outta 5 rating for me. I really enjoyed this one. It was a slow, detailed builder of a story. Even now, I’m still not sure I know all of Violet’s magic tricks. Read it for yourself – I think you’ll find a wonderful love story at the middle of a mystery.

*I received an e-ARC of Violets & Violence from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*

Review: A Christmas Wedding by Jennifer Lewis

Posted February 19, 2015 by Marsha in Contemporary Romance / 2 Comments

A Christmas Wedding Desert Kings Title: A Christmas Wedding
Series: Desert Kings (novella)
Author: Jennifer Lewis
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Published: December 9, 2014
Source: NetGalley

Story Blurb:

In A Christmas Wedding, Sam Al Kilanjar attempts to negotiate her first holiday season in a country with different customs, a big fat Ubarite wedding and the arrival of her drama-loving family, all without losing her mind—or her beloved, who is called away to deal with a crisis on the eve of their wedding.

Veronica Baxter is excited about her wedding to Zadir Al Kilanjar, but worries that her estranged parents will ruin everything.

Can they find Christmas miracles among the madness and enjoy the weddings they’ve dreamed of?

Read on for my thoughts on A Christmas Wedding (Desert Kings). No true spoilers, promise.

I’m not even going to attempt to set up a teaser introduction to this review. You have everything you need for the basics in the Story Blurb. 🙂

This novella was such a fun read. I laughed until tears flowed – and that doesn’t happen often. Try bringing Christmas traditions to a country that has none – add in a stress-out Queen who turns into a Bride-zilla or a Christmas-zilla, if you will – a bride’s parents who aren’t speaking to each other – a groom who refuses to not see his intended before the wedding – an eruption of butterflies – goats running rampant and two happily ever after couples finally united in an American style wedding.

Oh come on – how can you not chuckle just reading that? 😉

Please, please I beg you – when you need a good, fun, charming love story no matter the time of the year – when you just need to smile and laugh for a bit in a drudge of a day… turn to A Christmas Wedding (Desert Kings) and simply enjoy. Then find the other books in the series and enjoy even more.

I have to give this one 5 outta 5 – it made me laugh and feel good and if that doesn’t deserve the highest rating, I don’t know what does. This one goes in my Christmas reading collection because I intend to enjoy it again next year and beyond.

*I received an e-ARC of A Christmas Wedding (Desert Kings) from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. That does not change what I think of this novel.*