Book Review: A Cowgirl's Christmas

Title: A Cowgirl's Christmas
(Carrigans of the Circle C)
Author: CJ Carmichael
eBook from Tule Publishing
Pub Date   Oct 28 2014

For years Callan Carrigan has been her father’s right hand man, so when her dad’s will names city slicker Court McAllister the new owner of The Circle C Ranch, Callan feels betrayed on every level.

Then she and her sisters find their mother’s diaries, hidden from them by their father since their mother’s accidental death 18 years ago, and the shocking revelations explain a lot. Reeling, Callan seeks refuge in the local saloon, where it seems no one can reach her, until Court offers her a challenge.
If she agrees to be foreman at the Circle C for one year, he’ll deed the ranch back to her and her sisters. The deal seems too sweet at first—until Callan realizes Court has his eyes on something she protects even more than her family’s land—her heart.

Right from the start, I had tears in my eyes when the patriarch of the Carrigan family dies. But it also shocked me when he uttered the swear word "bastard" in front of her daughter before he met his demise. This immediately peaked my interest and had me reading A Cowgirl's Christmas until the end.

Luckily, I was able to read two of CJ Carmichael's Carrigans of the Circle C series, so I already had an idea about the Carrigan sisters. But this latest book takes the cake, because it further explains Callan's and her sister's true identity. It shocked me, really, to learn about their mother and respective fathers. Yes, you read it right, there is something much deeper and intriguing about the lives of the Carrigan sisters, but somehow, Callan's true parentage was the biggest revelation in the story. Callan spent all her life with a father who barely acknowledged or showed affection and love to her. Hawksley dying was bad enough to her, learning that he didn't bequeath the ranch to any of his daughters just rubbed salt into Callan's wound. Meeting Court McAllister, her father's distant relative from St. Paul, inherited Circle C ranch instead, and now, he is offering half of the ranch to her, provided that she stay with him for at least a year. This is an offer that made Callan even more furious. How could she ever accept that deal and how could she ever live with him?

A Cowgirl's Christmas is an entertaining and emotional read. Callan was the most affected among the Carrigan brood, having had to witness her father's death. That itself was tear-jerker to me. Coming to terms with the truth also made me realize that life isn't really fair. That life is full of surprises and the truth actually hurts. But above all these, Callan learned that finding one's self and moving forward with love and acceptance helps. THis is truly a wonderful read :)

About this author 

Rita Award nominated author C.J. Carmichael has published more than 30 books with Harlequin. Right now she's loving cowboys and Montana--those are the themes of the books she's writing for Harlequin American.

CJ likes to write stories about romance and intrigue with a strong sense of community and family. If you enjoy her Harlequin books, you might want to check out her self-published titles. The Gift is a short novella Christmas story and A Buried Tale is a puzzler of a mystery that will keep you guessing and shock you with the surprise ending.

You'll find both on Amazon, kobo and her website.

http://www.cjcarmichael.com

Security by Mandy Baggot

Title: Security
Author: Mandy Baggot
Kindle Edition, 354 pages
Published June 30th 2013

Autumn Raine is a pop vocalist at the very top of her game. She’s a style icon, the paparazzi’s darling and everyone wants to be her friend. But when her safety is threatened, her whole life starts to unravel.Enter Nathan Regan, an ex-elite soldier who is assigned to protect her. He’s a good man doing bad things but what drives him? Passion? Madness? Or grief? Demons from his past are threatening to consume him. Can he win the fight alone or will he have to admit he needs help?As the threat deepens, Autumn starts to find out who she really needs in her life. Is there still room for personal assistant Janey or rapper boyfriend Rockweiler? When everyone around her is feeding her lies, how does she work out the truth? Does her record producer know more than he’s letting on? What is her mother, the British Foreign Secretary’s involvement in the situation? And can Autumn put her faith in a forty-something Jamaican woman who handles an automatic weapon as expertly as she cooks?Eluding kidnap and trying to stay alive, can Autumn find the strength to be the person she longs to be? And can two people, poles apart, forge something strong enough to survive anything?

I've watched The Bodyguard before & when I got this book by Mandy Baggot, at first I thought this was just another one of those rip-offs. But when I started reading Security, I was clearly mistaken. 

This book focused more with the safety & security of a famous celebrity because of her ties with the Foreign Secretary & As-Wana, a terrorist group under the Al-Qaeda. Autumn Raine, the famous celebrity/singer was regarded as a wild-child, OC, & spoiled brat. She seemed to have everything and had everyone wrapped around her finger. She had her bestfriend-turned personal assistant, Janey, and a rapper-wannabe boyfriend at her beck and call. And there were the fans, the paparazzi and the awards, all at the tip of her fingertips. But these people didn't know what Autumn really desired. Deep inside, she longed for a mother who would nurture and care for her ever since her father died when she was young. 

When Foreign Secretary Alison Raine, hired a bodyguard for her daughter without her knowing, Autumn's chaotic yet organized status turned into a world full of danger, betrayal and seclusion from celebrity life. Especially now that there were groups of people wanting to kill her.

Security is a well-written book, bursting with drama, action, suspense and romance. An enjoyable read! I loved the twists and turns in the story, how Autumn was betrayed and almost killed by the people she trusted. How Nathan Regan, her bodyguard, had changed her life's perspective and opened her eyes to the real world. Mandy Baggot's writing is genuine and highly recommended. Hoping to read more of her stories in the next days. 

Lazar's Darkness (Jack Lazar Series Book 5)

Title: Lazar's Darkness (Jack Lazar Series Book 5)

Author: Kevin Sterling
Kindle Edition

My rating: ★★★★

In this fifth, sexy, edge-of-your-seat thriller, one of Jack’s closest friends is getting married at a villa in Tuscany, and Jack’s best man speech seems like the most taxing part of the trip. But things get complicated when he romps with the maid of honor, Francesca, an Italian lingerie supermodel. She has a brother at the Vatican who’s in a difficult jam, and she convinces Jack to help him out.
It doesn’t take long before Jack gets entangled with a dark conspiracy against the pope, and the group behind it will kill anyone who gets in their way. To make matters worse, their top henchman, Diego, has his own horrendous scheme going on, elevating the evil tempest of death to something even more appalling.
In no time, Jack is running for his life, and everyone around him including Francesca ends up in jeopardy. Ultimately, it’s more than he can handle on his own, but with a little help from his friends in the intelligence community, maybe there’s a way to get out of this mess alive.

Coming from bestselling author Kevin Sterling, the Jack Lazar series had been touted as James Bond meets Fifty Shades of Grey. When I first heard about it, I had to think twice if I'm going to read this. Firstly because, I'm not really into the BDSM genre and secondly I didn't really like those bondage scenes in 50Shades. But I decided to take a chance and delve into this book and know more about Jack Lazar. He could be compared to James Bond with a strong character, appealed to the womanfolk and had looks and brains that suits his personality.

In Lazar's Darkness, a new pope had been selected. Cardinal Narducci believed he should have been the one selected on the conclave to be the next pope, but he was robbed of the title. On the streets, someone accused Marco Ferrera of conspiring against Cardinal Narducci, a chase was soon ensued and then, he got killed. Diego, the pursuer, after having killed Marco, was next seen sacrifizing a lady on the chains, tortured her and eventually killed her, much to his delight. Then he got a call from his boss to recruit an Antonio Sabatini.  Jack Lazar, on the other hand, was invited to the wedding of his bestfriend in Italy and he was set to be paired with Francesca Sabatini, a hot & sexy lingerie model. Their first encounter left a sour note on Francesca's mouth, on their second meeting, they still got into the wrong foot but soon on their next reunion, there was a 180 degree turn. Before they knew it, they got tangled up in sheets and in the conspiracy in the Vatican, since Antonio is actually Francesca's brother, the personal butler of the pope.

This novel is a fast paced thriller and mystery and got lots of sex. Admittedly, I was bothered by the extremely explicit sex scenes. Bondage, menage-a-troi-whatchacallit? What I do know is, there's more than ample violence and sex in the book, but the essence of the story was still there. And what I did like in the book is, the author exerted meticulous attention to detail. The action scenes were full blast, Jack Lazar got everyone on their toes, and the mystery was resolved, although there were still some missing links. Overall, Lazar's Darkness is a very entertaining read, and one that would make the reader feel hot and bothered.

=================

To know more about the critically-acclaimed author, Kevin Sterling, you can visit him at:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1606124.Kevin_Sterling/blog

And for his Lazar series, feel free to check out his website at: http://www.jacklazar.com/

Crossroads from Damascus: Mississippi Headlights

Title: Crossroads from Damascus: Mississippi Headlights
Author: Jason Akley
Kindle edition, 269 pages

My Rating: ★★★★

The legalization of marijuana is becoming an issue more mainstream these days, but most of its advocates still come from the underground. Crossroads from Damascus is a chronicle of the consequences of pot addiction. As a collection of stories and poems connected by non-fictional, inter-related narrative passages, they also tell what was happening while writing them--a tragic yet funny chronicle of working as a traveling lab tech while trying to hide a weed habit. The stories roam from St. Louis to Montana, Texas, and New Orleans, stories that include an account of a real murder that took place in St. Louis back in 2005, a recounting of a pot run to Spokane with Mush, a Native American off The Rocky Boy Reservation (a 1500 mile road trip across the Rocky Mountains in an overheating truck with a half-pound of weed inside), a funny episode about hiding fake pee at a clinic in Texas, and a poem about a birthday in New Orleans with Harry, an old hustler who fixes shoes on Oak Street. 

The book left me bewildered and wondering from the beginning. I couldn't stop reading because "The Swab" intrigued me. The author used very effective words that makes the reader turn the pages further and further. In addition to an engaging story, the book also includes poems & short stories, personal thoughts and verses that speak of the author's emotions and not-so-fictional life as he struggles with pot addiction. Ideally, Jason Akley brought up a few issues that a man under the influence wouldn't be able to ponder about.

Among the short stories I liked was the Candlestick, which really tells something about one's quest for the light at the end of the tunnel, that whether or not you are under the spectrum of light or shrouded by darkness, the light of the candle will lead you to your soul and make you in control. Another favorite of mine is Abracadabra - which featured motivating conversation between Mr. Tambourine Man and Mr. Brown. For how many questions you have in life, you will always end up answering them as you journey through time. And greatness is born everytime something dies. This had been a truly wonderfully written & inspiring book.


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Check out the author's blog: http://jasonakley.wordpress.com/

I Think I Love You

Title: I Think I Love You
Author: Stephanie Bond
Kindle edition, 369 pages
Published October 2011

So there's some bad blood and bruised egos among the Metcalf sisters. At least they're reuniting. A cause to celebrate? Not for Justine, Regina, and Mica. Their parents are splitting up and the family business is going on the auction block--just a little reminder of how much they really have in common...
Take the local bad boy who proposed to Justine, seduced Regina, and ran off with Mica. Add the unsolved murder they witnessed when they were young girls, and their vow to keep it a secret. Toss in their knack for being drawn to shady men, and there's only one thing left for them to do--put the bonds of family loyalty to the test.
But it takes courage to outsmart a murderer, know-how to avenge the cad who betrayed them, and patience to bring their parent back together. Three talents. Three sisters. And who knows? Maybe even three new chances to fall in love when Justine, Regina, and Mica discover how much they're willing to risk--and forgive--in the name of sisterhood.

I very much liked the setting and characters of the story. I was able to relate with the sisters, since I also have two other sisters who sometimes can't bear to see one another and yes, oftentimes, want to grab each other's throats.

But despite the animosity  we sometimes feel for each other, we can't deny the fact that we are of the same blood and that we really love one another and would do anything to protect our family. Much like Justine, Mica and Regina. A quick recap of the three main characters: Justine, the eldest in the brood, an office girl who goes after married men. In short, a bitch. LOL. Next is Regina, the level headed sister who tried her best to stop her parents' divorce. And lastly, Mica, the hair model who was living in with her boyfriend, who was formerly engaged to Justine. Dysfunctional, huh? You bet, they were a bunch of crazy girls. But, it was Regina's attempts to unravel the mystery of a murder in the past and finding a key that might be connected to them kept me entertained. There was a believable plot, good mystery and surprisingly a dab of romance in the end.

This is a very good quick read and perfect to those who love to guess "who done it" mysteries. As usual Stephanie Bond delivered a satisfying read ;-)

The Lost One

Title: The Lost One (End of Days #2)
Author: Meg Collett
.mobi, Kindle edition (ARC)

They say some things must be broken before they can be fixed. But when Michaela hoped to cast doubt on the Aethere, she never thought things would fall apart like they did. Now the Aethere have turned their attention to the End of Days, and they won’t rest until they obtain the tools of Earth's final destruction: the Seven Seals.
The world is falling apart at the seams, and Michaela finds herself clutching the threads. She alone understands what will happen if the Aethere ever get the seals, and it’s the one thing she will fight to the death to prevent if she has to.
Even amidst the devastation on Earth, Michaela struggles to restore her faith in Gabriel. Together, they'll need to decide if their love is strong enough to erase the line she had fought so hard to draw between holy and fallen.
Michaela said she wanted a war, but when the End is looming, what will she fight for?

This isn't one of those good vs evil themes that I usually read. This isn't your average fallen angels gone rogue type of story. This is a masterpiece that must be read and spread. This is a wickedly fantastic book that I devoured in one night )a rare feat since I usually finish a book in two days).

My heart cried out for Clark; no, he isn't the lost one but it seemed that he was the one who lost everything. My favorite fallen arcangels, Michaela and Gabriel truly deserved each other and the sacrifice they made tore me apart. Meg Collett drove me crazy, but in a good way. I liked how she weaved romance and paranormal in an angelic setting. I liked how her writing is at par with this generation's bestsellers. Now I can't wait to read the next book!

Black Hills

Title: Black Hills
Author: Nora Roberts
Paperback; 544 pages
Publsihed 2010

Lil Chance fell in love with Cooper Sullivan pretty much the first time she saw him, an awkward teenager staying with his grandparents on their cattle ranch in South Dakota while his parents went through a messy divorce. Each year, with Coop's annual summer visit, their friendship deepens - but then abruptly ends. Twelve years later and Cooper has returned to run the ranch after his grandfather is injured in a fall. Though his touch still haunts her, Lil has let nothing stop her dream of opening the Chance Wildlife Refuge, but something - or someone - has been keeping a close watch. When small pranks escalate into heartless killing, the memory of an unsolved murder in these very hills has Cooper springing to action to keep Lil safe. They both know the dangers that lurk in the wild landscape of the Black Hills. And now they must work together to unearth a killer of twisted and unnatural instincts who has singled them out as prey .

Have I mentioned before that I am a BIG Nora Roberts fan? Well, who isn't? From one great book to another, Nora Roberts is a legend!!

The story is set in a wildlife refuge in the Black Hills of South Dakota, hence the title. Lil Chance met brooding city boy named Cooper Sullivan, who clearly had family issues but won't admit it. Soon they became close with each other and remain friends until their adolescent years.

One day, when Cooper decided to go back to the ranch after something terrible happened while he was on duty as a cop. His feelings towards Lil changed. But a psychopathic killer was on the loose and had been stalking Lil. She and Cooper teamed up to discover the truth behind the mystery surrounding Black Hills.

Reading another Nora Roberts after almost 2 years was a welcome change. I’ve been reading a lot of YA/Fantasies/Paranormals lately so I was giddy when I started Black Hills. Nora Roberts writes with passion and her characters really pull you into the story. Cooper and Lilian found themselves embroiled in a romance that needed to be nurtured. The mystery part of the story is great, although the main characters were a little complicated, in my opinion. I would have given this a 5star rating, but something held me back – maybe because I see some Montana Sky anecdotes in the story, specifically on the animal protection part. Nevertheless, Nora Roberts still is one of my favorite authors ever!

The White Aura

The White Aura (White Aura #1)

by Felicia Tatum
Kindle Edition, 211 pages
Published November 29th 2012

How do you live with the gut-clenching truth that the one you love will die if you meet them? Twenty year old sorcerer Scott Tabors is learning how. After seeing seventeen year old Olivia Whitehead outside of a coffee shop, his heart will never be the same. He longs for her, he wants her, and he knows she will be his. They are heart mates. …but due to a curse on his family, he can’t meet her. Not yet. So for now, he visits her in her dreams. Her dreams where he can tell her everything but his name. 

Olivia Whitehead is a typical junior in high school. She and her best friend are having the time of their lives, but she can’t help but notice the changes happening to her. Especially the changes in her heart after she begins dreaming about a mysterious dark haired young man. But what will happen when the school heartthrob decides he wants Olivia? Will she realize the dream man is real or will she move on?

I learned about this book from twitter via @lyndajdickson’s. Then I went to her blog and read her wonderful review of Felicia Tatum’s dream-inspired fantasy novel, The White Aura. I got curious so I went to amazon and read all the other reviews. Soon I found myself buying the book and loving it. (By the way, thank you Miss Lynda Dickson for that intriguing tweet!)

Olivia is not your typical teen who grows up with doting parents. In fact, they are  distant from her. But at least she’s got Juniper, her BFF and the man of her dreams, literally. In her dreams, she has been seeing a sexy gorgeous man, who always showers her with kisses and caress. Little did she know that Scott aka Mr. Sexy is so real, is just a few miles away from her and was in fact, a sorcerer.

But the so-called Mr. Sexy can’t simply approach her. Because of an ancient course that prevents them from being together, Scott is unable to personally introduce himself as her heart-mate, until she reaches her rightful age. At first, he’s content in seeing Olivia in dreamland, but when a new guy was demanding for Livvie’s attention, Scott employs his sister’s help to know more about his competition.

Aiden Cavalier, the teenage playboy who suddenly showed interest in Olivia,  has a hidden agenda. In ancient times, he was known as Crimson Calamitous, and he intends to get Olivia, by hook or by crook. Soon, the war between sorcerers was ignited and our lady in distress suddenly has white aura surrounding her. To top it off, Olivia seems to have the power of seeing one’s death with just a simple touch.

Mystery certainly surrounds the life and dreams of our two main characters, Scott and Olivia. I loved how they alternately told their story in the book. Sorcery is not a new topic to me in the books that I've read, but in The White Aura, it was somewhat lacking. I was waiting for spells or incantations to be uttered by any of the Tabors family, but I wasn't able to find it. However, I liked the story a lot so I told myself: “to hell with the spells! Scott and Livvie is what matters the most!”

The fact that I was able to read the book in 2 days mean a major thing to me. With my busy schedule at home and now with my kids’ school, I usually finish a book in 3-5 days, max. But with Felicia  Tatum’s light and breezy storytelling gift, I finished the book at a shorter time. I liked how she kept the other characters still shrouded with mystery,(what’s up with Sebastian? he seems like the evil twin.. and what’s the real deal with Livvie’s parents? what awaits Juniper’s newly changed future?) and so on..

The story of Scott & Olivia was unique. I loved how the author played with their personalities and thoughts while both are on dreamland. And I love how she left me reeling and asking for more. The ending was a definite cliffhanger, one that would totally make the reader buy the next installment. And I will not e an exception. I would definitely read the next book, so I can find out more about the Red Calamari..i mean, crimson calamitous!

For more books and info about Felicia Tatum, just go to - http://www.feliciatatum.com 

Other Contact info: 

via Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/FeliciaTatumWriter 

via Twitter - https://twitter.com/sassybrunette55 

via Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6592100.Felicia_Tatum 

via Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Felicia-Tatum/e/B00AGI1IVQ/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

My Paper Heart

Title: My Paper Heart 

Author: Magan Vernon

Kindle edition

Published August 2012

There are worse things in life than failing out of college- such as having your parents receive the letter that you’ve been kicked out.  

Now to appease her parents self-proclaimed sorority princess Libby Gentry is packing up her Prada bag and heading to work for her great aunt’s antique store in tiny Elsbury, Louisiana. She’s pretty sure she can tackle the swamp and deal with her great aunt and tom boy of a little cousin, but what she doesn't know is if she can handle the local town playboy, Blaine Crabtree. 

As Libby's feelings for Blaine grow, so does her need for acceptance and all of the insecurities she has kept inside are coming out. She may have survived the Louisiana swamp, but she may not survive Blaine's reluctance to say the 'L' word. When Blaine finally commits to the three words Libby’s been waiting for, she only hopes they haven’t come too late.

In this book, we encounter characters who have flaws, characters who may be well-off, but unfortunately do not have  perfect lives.

The story starts off with Libby Gentry being kicked out of college when her folks learned about her low grades at school. Her disappointed parents decided that it would be best to send her to Louisiana to stay with her grandmother and cousin.

Being with her extended family, Libby learned how it was to be simple and earn.  There she met Blaine Crabtree, a player, a lifesaver. He was the man who initially rejected her, but in the end, helped her become a better woman. But there was the possibility of going back home  that would derail their relationship. Will their love stand a chance? What about the loser ex-boyfriend who wanted to get Libby back? Will she go back to her old life as a spoiled brat / mean girl / dumb blonde / rich daughter?

I liked Magan Vernon's take on teenage life. Like it or not, we all had are fair share of crushes, first love; and like Libby, we were also once impulsive, aggressive, lovestruck.

Libby wanted more from her relationship with Blaine, but the guy wanted to reform his ways to be a better person for her.

In the long run, Libby found something she had never experienced in the city and that is the feeling of acceptance. That whatever had happened in her past, people can forget about it and see her for what she has become. And that money & popularity do not make the world go round.

I thought the author Ms. Magan Vernon did a good job with My Paper Heart. While I would have preferred that the issue of Libby's eating disorder should have been resolved, I have this wishful thinking of seeing her well and independent in the second book that Miss Vernon is writing. I'd really love to see Libby and Blaine mature and grow old together, soon.

About the author:

Magan Vernon is a Young Adult and New Adult writer who lives with her family in the insurance capital of the world. When not writing she spends her time fighting over fake boyfriends via social media.

You can find her online at www.maganvernon.com

Taken (Channie 2)

Title: Taken (Channie #2)

Author: Charlotte Abel
Kindle edition
Published 2012

Bound by love and magic. Betrayed by those they trust. Not everyone survives. 

Gasp-out-loud action, heart-pounding romance and an OMG ending that leaves you hungry for the next book.

This is the second book from the Channie series, a darker and more fierce story than the first. I like this more than Enchantment, the first one, simply because Taken had all the spices I need in a story - romance, comedy, action, adventure, family issues, suspense and  paranormal.

In the first book, Channie had been a mage and Josh was a biker/racer enthusiast, until their paths crossed and thing weren't the same ever again. An unfortunate event had made Channie an Empty- a play on the word magically disabled or MD. She was unfortunately stripped off her powers, while Josh soon discovered that he was a royal mage, belonged to a powerful family of mages. He was given a power name and had acquired his powers. Channie and Josh became a couple bound in marriage by Aunt Wisdom and through the power of  the moon.

Here in the second book, the couple struggled on their lives while away from their parents. They made progress in their married life but it grew a bit difficult for Channie especially now that she had lost all her magical powers. Her mom, on the other hand became vicious right after she lost the 'Book of the  Dead’. She became the Devil incarnate, in my opinion, who wad willing to sacrifice her own daughter, just to get what she wanted. I hated Channie's mom in the first, but it seemed I abhorred her more in Taken. She was bad to the bone, very very bad. The other characters were also commendable; the Trips (triplets) were growing up as well as their powers. Their mom, Abundance or Abby, finally settled her differences with the triplet's father, another Empty, Diego. And Josh's father was definitely cool.

And this time around, there's more humor, thanks to Hunter and his antics! I loved how he protected Channie in his own little way, saved their asses more than once, and soon discovered his alter-ego and making money out of it. I actually liked Hunter more than Josh.

 But not everyone came out alive in this book. I was heartbroken with the ending :'( This isn't my first Charlotte Abel book and this is definitely not the last. I have read Enchantment during the early part of the year and it left a mark on my Kindle. So I got the second book as well as the other series, River's Recruit.

 Allow me to say then these simple words: Great job, Miss Abel for an entertaining and magically heart-stopping sequel. You made me crave for more! I will definitely read Book 3 Finding Valor so all the questions in my mind would settle down.

Highly recommended to every one who have found and needs to find the  Magic in their lives.


About the author:

Charlotte Abel was born and raised in Oklahoma where she met her soulmate, Pete. She chased him to Boulder, Colorado and finally convinced him they were meant to be together forever. They've raised three kids, two ferrets, three dogs and countless hamsters -- and are still happily married.

She's in love with "real" life and paranormal romance. When she's not reading or writing, Charlotte enjoys hiking, bicycling and primitive archery (although she's never shot at anything other than a target!)

The final book of The Channie Series, "Finding Valor," is now available!

Look for "River's Remorse," the second book of "The Sanctuary Series" in 2014

Awakening (The Watchers Trilogy)

Awakening (The Watchers Trilogy: Book 1)
Author: Karice Bolton
Kindle edition
Published 2011

Alone in snowy, remote Whistler village, Ana tries to build a new life since losing her parents. With a cozy condo, a sweet-faced bulldog and an evening job to leave the days free for the slopes, life slips into a great routine. If only she could shake the guilt for not remembering anything about her parents and banish the night terrors that haunt her every dream. On a whim, Ana goes out with Athen, a guy she’s just met in the Grizzly Pub... The only problem is that she feels like she already knows him. Within 48 hours of meeting Athen and his family, Ana’s world implodes. She falls for Athen quickly and before she knows it, a past life begins to resurface. As thrilling as the revelations appear at first, she fights against the chilling information that Athen is from the underworld. Soon she begins to struggle as her own supernatural gifts are slowly unveiled, and she realizes that the nightmares she’s been having might be premonitions and not dreams at all. It is up to Ana to decipher between fact and fiction before it is too late, and her new love, Athen, follows in her same fate - one that is lost between two worlds.

In a world where Angels are considered celestial beings, there were three unlikely angels who actually came from the Underworld.

Meet Ana. Mysteriously, she had no memory of her past. She didn’t know her parents and she had no recollection of the events in her younger days, although there were some newspaper clippings that kept her at bay. She also often had nightmares where she saw a man being chased by monstrous creatures. However, she found solace in the diner where she  worked as a waitress. Plus, there was Mathilda, her trusted bulldog companion.

One day, mysteriously again,  there were some strangers that made her feel overwhelmed yet familiar. First she met Cyril and Arie, then soon she met and dated Athen. At first, I thought it was such a whirlwind romance. I raised my eyebrows when Ana readily accepted the three strangers’ invitation to a weekend getaway. I was like, “wow, that was fast.. Really, Ana? In just two days?!…” This is the perfect example of a whirlwind love affair. But I still kept on reading until Ana, and I, learned that they were all angels of the Underworld. Or should I say, White Demons. They are the counterpart and enemies of the Black ones. Soon, reality set in and Ana learned about her powers and whatnots, and embraced the Nephilim in her. It is until I reached the latter part of the book when the bomb was dropped out of nowhere. The ending is definitely something to wait for.

Overall, I liked the story. It was kind of slow in the beginning, I thought, why should the trio of Athen, Cyril and Arie took their time in telling the truth about Ana. If I were in Ana’s shoes, I may have already put handcuffs on the three and would not let them go until they told me everything. But then, that’s just me.

Also, some grammar and typos are quite visible on the book, but I easily ignored these errors because I was entertained. I can’t say much more about the author, Karice Bolton, except that she has a great storytelling techniques. Her vivid description of snow and everything else was fantastic. I look forward to reading the second installment, because as a rule for a bookworm like me, once I start a series, I will do my best to read all of the next. Here’s my 4 star rating for Karice Bolton and Awakening. ****

The Wanton Bride

Title: The Wanton Bride
(Hunter Brothers #2)
Author: Mary Brendan
Paperback, 273 pages
Published April 1st 2008 by Harlequin

ONE SCANDAL LED TO ANOTHER ...
Mark Hunter managed to vex her at every opportunity --- and seemed to enjoy doing so! However, to prevent a family scandal, Emily Beaumont must turn to him for help. Mark was more than happy to be of service to the delectable Miss Beaumont; with her quick wit and determined spirit she always made deliciously diverting company. But Mark soon discovered that Emily truly was in danger ...
With disgrace just a breath away, Emily ached for Mark's strong arms to comfort her. Yet she held a secret --- one that would surely prevent any gentleman from considering her as a suitable bride.

Once in a while, I read regency novels because I love knowing the cultures and behaviors of people from centuries ago. So I got this Wanton Bride from Harlequin Regency edition at my favorite bookstore and spent an evening with Sir Mark Hunter and the tempting Emily Beaumont.

When Emily's older brother Tarquin went MIA or missing in action, she thought of the worst that her brother could have experienced. Tarquin had been known to accumulate a lot of debts and failed to pay, so this got Emily worried. And when she haven't heard from him for a long time, she thought one of his shenanigans got the worst of him, so Emily finally asked for assistance from an unlikely ally, Sir Mark Hunter. For his part, he was, firstly, hesitant to mingle with her, since he has been reputed to be having another mistress . The fact that Emily seemed to have a reckless attitude towards him, made Mark put her off. Soon he grew quite intrigued with Emily's beauty and aloofness towards him.

While Emily disliked going to Mark for help, she did her best to make sure that her brother was safe from harm. Little did she know that she was going straight to the devil's hands when she thought she was going to her brother's aid. Good thing, Mark was wise and resourceful; he was able to save the damsel in the nick of time. Or was he really the one who saved her?

Amidst the chaos that Tarquin has created is a scandal waiting to be revealed. A secret Emily never wanted anyone else to know. Would she be able to hide the truth from Mark after coming to her aid? And by the way, what's with Emily's family? It didn't look like her father was really concerned about his son's whereabouts. I wonder why.

I liked the story of The Wanton Bride. There were some tensed moments between the characters, as well as romantic suspense. I didn't know that this was actually a sequel to a Hunter trilogy. It's only now that I discovered this info when I was looking for an image to put up here on my blog. So now I need to read the first book so I could understand The Hunter brothers even more.

Let me also say that the author Mary Brendan certainly knew a lot about regency, because I learned a thing or two after reading this book. Looking forward to reading more of her works.

My rating for The Wanton Bride: 4 ****

A Wedding Story

A Wedding Story
by Dee Tenorio
ebook, 35 pages
Published June 13th 2011

Ruth Anne Barbellis—unhappily nicknamed "Rhubarb" by her lifelong enemy, Bobby Wichowski—is in Wedding Hell. Why?
Her sister is marrying Bobby's brother.
She's trussed up in a bridesmaid dress that must have been designed originally as a Victorian Torture Chamber.
To teach them a lesson, she and Bobby have been assigned to the Kiddie Table.
And that's only the beginning...

Short but definitely cute story between two mortal frenemies.. Or so they thought.

Ruth Ann aka Rhubarb was stuck in a tight-fitting, torture-laden bridesmaid dress and the only way to get out of it was to ask for help, from whoelse but Bobby.

Will Bobby help Rhubarb in her predicament, or would he rather stay with the ever-inquisitive kids at the Kiddie table? Will there still be a wedding when the bridesmaid had gone missing?

This is one of the short stories that definitely made me smile. You may think that being a short one, it should be lengthened or expanded. But not for me. I already enjoyed the quirky scenes and relentless banter between the two main characters. There were butterflies in my stomach while I was imagining their big “fight” in an uncomfortable bathroom waiting for someone to assist them. The ending? I loved it!

Truth is, while I was reading A Wedding Story, it was like I was watching one of the earliest episodes of Friends from Season 1, where Phoebe is Rhubarb and Bobby is Joey Tribbiani. Oh yes, they were actually my favorites from the tv series, so I thought of these two stars as Rhubarb & Bobby, and it definitely clicked!

Just imagine this dialogue from the book like the way Phoebe talks to Joey:

Rhubarb: You are the reason fungus exists! You are the slime that grows in swamps that even the acids can’t break down….

Bobby: How long do you plan to keep this up, Rhubarb?

Rhubarb: Why?

Bobby: Because I was going to hail down a bottle of beer, I figured you might be thirsty for having your mouth open so much…

Rhubarb: Make it white wine and I’ll keep it short..

 I don’t know about you but that scene was simply hilarious! This book is highly recommended if you want to take a quick nap or on the beach, or waiting for someone to show up. I assure you, after reading this, you wont get mad if the person you are waiting for arrived a little late.

4 **** for Dee Tenorio and A Wedding Story. ^.^.

Always The Last to Know

Title: Always The Last to Know
Author: Crystal Bowling
Kindle edition
Published 2009

Summary from Goodreads:
Wearing a Maid of Honor dress that very well may cause the South to want to rise again, Jess Reynolds is prepared to walk down the aisle at her best friend’s wedding. It’s just that things keep getting in the way, like a sex-crazed coworker, an annoying brother-of-the-bride, and a handsome and horribly charming friend posing as the Best Man. As it turns out, Jess might just be the last one to know everything, including the workings of her own heart.

I got this ebook for free from amazon and I must say, for something free like this, I had fun time reading it.

Oh, who am I kidding? I actually enjoyed reading this wonderful mix of romance and comedy!

Jessica Reynolds is bestfriends with Carla Callahan who was going to get married to Evan Winters. I’d say that Carla is some kind of a bridezilla who wanted everything organized, wanted to be in control of everything. But she is definitely a great dear friend to Jess.

On the other hand, Jess had been tasked to do the duties of a Maid of Honor and make sure that the groom will not get cold feet, before the wedding bells ring.

Sometime before this wedding takes place, Jess met Matt Mancini, a delectable Italian guy who was not only buffed and gorgeous, but could also cook. A man who could literally make the ladies wag their tongue and drool. Could he be the One Jess has been destined to marry?

But what about her BFF’s brother? Jess and Riley Callahan had grown up together, had known each other through the years, and even had the same taste in music. Yet, they always ended up frogging or strangling each other or quarrelling over petty things. Then one day, he asked her to live with him. What’s up with that?

Actually, the story of Jess and her date to her bestfriend’s wedding was a bit predictable. The signs that she might be in love were very obvious, but then she was oblivious to the fact that the guy loved her back. It was only a matter of time before she realized that she was the last to know about her feeling, hence the title.

Although I knew that Jess and her lover boy would end up together, I continued reading the story because I didn't want to let go of the giddy feeling I was experiencing while knowing that sooner or later, Jess would finally come to her senses, thanks to her co-worker’s crazed & sex-infested mind.

This is surprisingly a very interesting book. It has funny aspects, as I certainly found myself laughing at several occasions. The writing was not hard on the eyes and I liked that it was based in Jess’ perspective, which was kind of easy to relate with. There’s also the wedding that I looked forward to because I was curious how the bride would react when his groom suddenly got cold feet.

I liked Jessica’s incoherent mumblings and smart ass remarks. The personalities of the other characters were not fully developed but it didn’t matter a lot to me since my focus was on Jess.

Overall, I am glad to have read this funny and quirky story. Recommended for your summer beach read. Expect lots of laughter and cringe-worthy scenes, in the most fashionably giggly fun way. 4 stars for author Crystal Bowling for successfully keeping me entertained until the end. ****

The Sin Collector

Title: The Sin Collector

Author: Jessica Fortunato

147 pages, Kindle edition

Published February 2012

“The Sin Collector” follows the life of Liliana, a born Sin Collector. She has spent over 100 years absorbing people’s sins so they may rest in peace come death. However when she meets another Collector, one who insists everything she has been taught is a lie, Liliana must make her way from Sunny L.A. all the way to the streets of Madrid. Searching for answers to a question we all share. Why are we here? The friends and enemies she makes along the way only seem to blur the line between right and wrong. Can Liliana fight the Castus, an organization bent on killing off every Sin-Eater? Should she trust her head or her heart when the two most important men in her life are fighting alongside her?
Then there is the worst question of all, who will be left when the dust settles."

This book has been sitting on my To-B-Read shelf for sometime now. During the Holy Week (Lent), I decided to read and contemplate. I thought, at first, Liliana was an angel who absorbs the sins of mankind. But as the story progressed, I was incredibly mistaken.

The truth is: I haven’t read any book that tells me about Sin Eaters or sin collectors. SO I went on researching for it through Wikipedia and this is what I got: The term sin-eater refers to a person who, through ritual means, would take on by means of food and drink the sins of a household, often because of a recent death, thus absolving the soul and allowing that person to rest in peace.

So, within 24 hours, I immersed myself in this Jessica Fortunato book and I exclaimed in the end: “The Sin Collector is Groundbreaking!”

The story follows Liliana, a sin collector who is already a hundred years old. Back when she was a child, she was mentored by Olexander and thought her how she wad going to be a sin collector.  Collectors, as they were called, stop aging when they reach 20. Soon her mentor left her, as it is impossible for Collectors to be near each other. They would feel excruciating pain when this happens. So Liliana had been on her own since then.

Her life as a librarian may not have been as exciting nor fulfilling, added to the fact that her boss is kind of jerk, but she enjoyed her solitary life. She gained friends like Sophie and George. One day, an old friend (really old, as in a century old)  showed up and then her boss was murdered. Coincidence? Not really. To unravel the mystery, she had to accompany her friend, Billy all the way to Ireland. Soon she went on a journey that led her to the knowledge that her fellow Collectors were being murdered by an organization called The Castus. There she also saw her former mentor and was shocked when there was no more pain felt while they were together.

Jessica Fortunato did a fantastic job with The Sin Collector.  The prologue immediately got my attention and it made me want to read more. Although the book was fairly short, I was not disappointed at all. The story itself was action-packed, fast-paced, and brilliantly executed. The characters were easy to relate with. They”re really not as complicated as you think. The twist revolving one Collector was a welcomed surprise. Truly, in this world full of sinners, you can never trust anyone, even your own kind.

I would love to read more about the future that was waiting for Liliana and her companions. The little girl, Julia proved to be a special innocent child who could turn into an amazing woman when her time comes. I can’t wait to get my hands on Book 2!

I’m pleased to rate The Sin Collector with 4 stars. Looking forward to reading Thomas, soon. Truly a tour de force!

The Dating Game

Title: The Dating Game
Author: Susan Buchanan
Kindle Edition
Published October 29th 2012

The Dating Game on Amazon.com

Workaholic recruitment consultant, Gill McFadden, is sick of her friends trying to match-make for her. Up until now her love life has been a disaster and she’s going through a drier spell than the Sahara desert. 

She realizes she has to act, as work keeps piling up and at this rate she will have retired before she has time for a relationship.

Seeing an ad on a bus one day, she decides to visit Happy Ever After dating agency. She quickly discovers men are like buses. They all come along at once. Unsure what her type is, Gill decides to keep her options open. Soon she has problems juggling her social life as well as her work diary. Will she ever strike the right balance?

Before long she is experiencing laughs, lust and… could it be love? But like everything in Gill’s life, nothing is straightforward and she ends up wondering exactly who she can trust.

Let me just say that I had always been curious how dating services worked. The last book I've read about an upscale dating service was Champagne For Two by Patrice Wilton. With Susan Buchanan's book, I finally learned more about it.

Gill McFadden had been unlucky in love. So her friends tried to help her find the one. But even her matchmaker pals' attempt with blind dates were major fails.  Then she found herself signing up for a dating services named Happy Ever After. Soon, a string of gorgeous men were vying for attention and date with her. There was Charlie, Anton, Sean, Gary, among others.

Things started up well with her first two dates. Charlie was charming and Anton was adorable. But the interesting dates soon stopped when she was unceremoniously embarrassed by a drunk Sean and got her trousers split while on a date with Gary. Oh my, those disaster dates were really disconcerting!

To distract herself, Gill and her girlfriends went to Barcelona for a much needed vacation. I have read stories about Spain's tourist attractions and a dear friend of mine had actually sent me a postcard of Sagrada Familia. Learning more about its design and history in the book was a big plus! (I had always wanted to visit Barcelona, mind!)


A mugging incident in Spain soon turned into a chance encounter when Gill went back to work. Liam became the apple of her eye. She decided to end things with Sean after a painful bowling incident and she ended her friendship with Gary after a wedding fluke. And she dumped Chancer Charlie after an encounter with his wife. Whoa!

But with Liam, everything went smoothly with their relationship, until someone appeared again in her life. A few months after their last romantic night, Anton came back and explained his side. What would Gill do? Would she forgive him, even listen to him? Would she continue her relationship with Liam?

I loved Susan Buchanan's characterisation of Gill and her friends and dates. The laughter, banter and pieces of advice that her friends gave her were vital to the story. I suddenly missed my circle of friends! awww... The way Angela, Debbie and Lisa show their support was overwhelming, even though there were times when they want to cut each other's throats. Reading the male's  point of view was also a bonus. At least I was able to see what were on their minds while they were on a date with Gill.

The ending was somewhat a big surprise to me. I was really rooting for the other guy but Gill chose the other one. Who was who, you might ask.. Well, I'm not spilling any beans..

But let me share my favorite scenes from the book: 1) When Gill split her trousers and Gary had to accompany her to her home. 2) When Gill's mother open her bedroom door and saw her with daughter with a man in bed. 3) When Lisa came back from the restroom, only to find out that the two gorgeous men she previously saw were actually gay. 4) When Gill made a fool of herself in front of a child while throwing pins in a bowling alley.... and so much more.

In the end, I finally conceded and accepted Gill's decision and I was happy for her and her man. Her tumultuous journey of finding The One was really an exciting one and I say, Kudos to Susan for a job well done! :)

Transfusion (Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter)

Transfusion (Volume I)
Aurora Sky: Vampire Hunter

Author: Nikki Jefford
Kindle Edition
Published November 2012

If there is one thing eighteen-year-old Aurora Sky wants, it’s to get off the iceberg she calls home. Being kissed before she graduates wouldn’t hurt either.

Then a near-fatal car wreck changes everything. Government agents step in and save Aurora’s life in exchange for her services as a vampire hunter. In Alaska. Basically she’s a glorified chew toy. All thanks to her rare blood type, which sends a vampire into temporary paralysis right before she has to finish the job… by hand. 

Now Aurora’s only friends are groupies of the undead and the only boy she can think about may very well be a vampire. And if he’s a vampire, will she be forced to kill him?

Watch out Buffy. There's a new Vampire slayer in town. Hmmm.. In Alaska, that is!

Aurora thought her life couldn't get more boring,  especially when she had always been at the sidelines, unluckily dodging an incoming volleyball, or witnessing a couple making out and kissing behind lockers.

Then the unexpected happened. Aurora almost died from a car crash. A team of government agents did everything to revive her, even replaced her other body organs, just to secure her survival.

All seemed OK. Until Agents Melcher and Crist told her she had a very special blood which they injected with "modified organisms and viruses making her a deadly powerful weapon against the demonic beings that plague the earth."  What tough luck she got there!

Soon, Aurora learned the true nature of her being. Her special blood had the unique ability to paralyze the vampire who bit her, and then finish the creature using a stake.

That being said, Aurora was soon sent to an orientation. She was tasked to kill a vampire by letting it bit her neck and suck her blood. Did she have a choice? Of course she did. She actually had 3. Comply, Be a vampire or Die. Hmmm.. Not much of a choice, isn't it?

Well, the upside of the situation is: Aurora now have confidence with her life. She became carefree, almost carelessly carefree, and soon accomplished most on her short bucketlist: kill first vampire, get drunk, kiss a boy, lose virginity. Ooohh, what an experience those had been!

At school, she became friends with vampire lover Noel. Oh, and there's another misfit vampire hunter in town: Dante, which Aurora's mom very much approved of (as her daughter's boyfriend). Together, they ventured out to kill vampires and even made friends with their informants.

When Aurora learned that her boyfriend, Fane might be a vampire, she did a double-take. Until she realized that her mortal enemy Valerie had her clutches on him! Would Aurora continue to hide her ex-lover's identity from the Agency, or would she kill Fane with her own hands?

Transfusion is the first in this thrilling Vampire Hunter series, penned by the bestseller author, Nikki Jefford. As usual, Ms. Jefford blew me away with her wit and talent. In this era of vampire and shape-shifters, other people may not appreciate "yet another vampire slayer" story. Personally, I've grown tired and weary of vampires and the likes. When I picked Transfusion for my Kindle, I tried hard to forget about Buffy and Spike, Edward and Bella, and even Damon and Elena.

Good move! Because Transfusion is very much and entirely different from Twilight and The Vampire Diaries. The author created likeable characters (Aurora, Fane, Noel, even Valerie). And the story is fast-paced... Not boring at all! Sure, some parts are predictable, but there is still the mystery factor which continually gagged me until today. Like, how did Noel become friends with Marcus? Why was Aurora's father always absent in her life? Is there a chance that Valerie and Aurora could become allies instead of foes? Who are the other vampires to watch out for? Who is the real face behind the Agency? And sooo much more!

So I will definitely be on the lookout when the second book comes out. For sure, it is going to be another hit!

Caution: There are some scenes in the book thqt are nit suitable for younger bookworms. But the book is definitely recommended to all New & Young Adults ;) Transfusion deserves a 4.5 bookmark ratings.

Into You

Title: Into You
Author: Riley J. Ford
Kindle Edition, 253 pages
Published July 2nd 2012

What if you could know exactly what your friends are thinking? High school student Winter Reynolds can, but there's a catch...
She can only read people's thoughts when she's kissing them.
When a member of the track team is murdered, Winter has an opportunity to use her special ability to find the killer. Trouble is, kissing everyone on the track team isn't such a good idea when you have a new boyfriend. Talk about complications!
Should Winter persevere using her secret power to catch the murderer still in their midst, even if it means risking her relationship with her one true love?
Disclaimer: Mild profanity and a graphic murder scene. While humorous, this book also explores the underbelly of teen life. May not be suitable for younger teens.

Truly a fantastic read!

Before I babble and squeal, let me tell you something about the author. Miss Riley J. Ford is awesome! This is the second Ford book I've read and as usual, she has impressed me with her talent in storytelling.

Into You introduces us to Winter Reynolds, who, for the very first time, had kissed a boy and had discovered that she can read his mind when he touched his lips with hers. At first, she thought, Ethan just whispered out loud, but the second time, she really heard Ethan's not so romantic thoughts on her. He even had the nerve to call her a "ho"!!

With this revelation, Winter's normal life took on a huge turn. She couldn't tell her mom how this happened, but she was glad she had Miranda whom she could count on.  But when her so-called friend asked her to kiss a boy, Winter soon realized that her friend might be using her to know if the boy actually liked Miranda.

A new girl and a boy from Winter's past came to town and soon her life turned upside down. A murder took place and she decided to use her new ability to track down the murderer. Could she really kiss every boy in her school just to get into the mind of the criminal? My oh my, oh my.

This is an engrossing read. It really didn't have any dull moment nor boring escapade. The setting was fast-paced and well executed.
I could easily relate with Winter and couldn't help but agree with her decisions in handling her powers. It's good that she has a good head on her shoulders and believes that with great power comes with great responsibility. Something that her bestfriend should have had in the beginning. While I may be over thirty years old, (yeah, i'm not that young anymore), I could still see myself in her when I was in my teens, daydreaming about the cutest boy in school. I think I may have a crush on Jason Stumblemeyer right now. ha-ha!

Into You is highly recommended to teens and young & new adults alike. Satisfaction guaranteed! My rating for this Riley J. Ford great piece of work: 4 bookmarks!

I actually enjoyed every kissing moment of it.. Seriously :)

The World of Karov

Title: THE WORLD OF KAROV
(The Children of Demilee)
Author: Elyse Salpeter
Kindle Edition
Published December 2012

Adam and Alec look like identical twins, but their personalities are as different as possible. Adam is gentle and kind, whereas Alec is the essence of nightmares. Always jealous of his twin, Alec does everything he can to destroy his brother’s happiness, including kidnapping Adam’s fiancée on their wedding day and disappearing with her deep into the Canadian mountains. Adam searches for them for months, but he never finds them. Just when Adam is at his most grief-stricken point, a stranger appears and offers him a chance for a new life in a land filled with magic, gems, and powers unimaginable; a world mysteriously led by a special tribe of children who have hidden themselves away from a great evil that is seeking to destroy them. Adam takes the chance and goes with the stranger, but his past is never far from his mind. Eventually, reality comes back to haunt Adam, resulting in a final showdown with his brother…. and this time, only one will win.

I have been reading a lot of stories revolving around twins, the good and the bad, mostly about sisters. There's The Lying Game by Sara Shepard, Entangled by Nikki Jefford, and The Man in the Iron Mask (by Alexander Dumas) to name a few. But the World of Karov is a totally different story. The evil twin, Alec is the very son of the Devil, killing animals, driving his mom crazy, taking away everything that his good twin, Adam loves. Including the one he was supposed to marry.

Adam spent so many months looking for Arianna, the love of his life while his health dangerously failed. Then came a stranger who soon took him to the world of Karov. A world filled with promise, mystery, and a dark future that looms upon Adam's existence. Just when he thought he could fully live the life he dreamed of, his evil twin made it a nightmare.

How much pain does he had to take just to live a normal life? Will he lived to see that happen?

I'd like to say, this is one of those fantasy-themed stories which is dark yet illuminating. The fast-paced approach was riveting, the story depiction was well-delivered and the characters were developed as the tale progressed.

I'd like to give a round of applause to Elyse Salpeter for creating a different kind of world.  I have actually felt the pains that Adam experienced; the joys he had felt, and the sufferings he had undergone. Not a lot of authors have that capability to make their readers feel what their characters actually portray. Bravo, Ms. Elyse Salpeter! Looking forward to reading more of Adam and Alec's tale soon.

The Book of Lost Souls

Title: The Book of Lost Souls
Author: Michelle Muto
Kindle E-book format
Published March 2011

summary from goodreads:

When teen witch Ivy MacTavish changes a lizard into her date for a Halloween dance, everything turns to chaos. And when no one is powerful enough to transform him back except Ivy, it sparks the rumor: Like father, like daughter. Ivy has heard it all before - that her father, who left when she was seven - was involved with the darkest of magic.
Making the rumors worse, someone uses an evil spell book to bring back two of history's most nefarious killers. Ivy's got a simple plan to set things right: find the real dark spell caster, steal the book, and reverse the spell. No problem! But she'll have to deal with something more dangerous than murderous spirits that want her and her friends dead: the school's resident bad boy and hotter-than-brimstone demon, Nick Marcelli. Nick's offering Ivy more than his help with recovering the missing book - he's offering her a way to ditch her scaly reputation as a lizard-lover. Demons are about as hard to handle as black magic, and as Ivy soon discovers, it's going to take more than a lot of luck and a little charm if she wants to survive long enough to clear her status as a dark witch, get a warm-blooded boyfriend, and have her former date back to eating meal worms before the week's end. 

Meet the Regulars or the humans and the Kindreds or the supernaturals. These beings keep the town of Northwicke peaceful and in order. Until teenage witch Ivy turned her friend's pet lizard, Spike, into a human, just to make her crush Dean get jealous. Spike soon got away and never wanted to be turned into a lizard again. That's when no one wanted to get involved with her. And everyone thought she was just like her father - evil.

But Ivy has her best friends by her side. The vampires Raven & Gareth, and the werewolves, Bane & Shayde. Together they got entangled on a web of mystery and witchcraft. Together, they had to make sure that Spike, the lizard boy, in order to bring him back to his original form. And together, they had to clean up a cemetery as part of their punishment. That's when two mysterious books appear from under a tree. The books 1001 Quick Recipes and A Botany of Spells, Magic for the Garden. Although these books seemed harmless, the other one was The Rise of the Dark Curse, by the name itself, is definitely a book of pure black magic. However, it was obvious to Ivy that there was still one book missing. And that was the most dangerous book of them all - The Book of Lost Souls.

Suddenly, a murder happened in Northwicke. And then a couple of dead people had risen, wrecking havoc and causing the murders in the once peaceful town. Soon Ivy's life has turned to worse.

However, there was one hot demon named Nick who was willing to help. Was he really into Ivy, or did he have a hidden agenda? How about Dean? Would Ivy get a chance with him?

I actually found this story fun to read. The characters' personalities were greatly detailed and the history of their names were even discussed. I love the mystery surrounding the books and the people or the supernaturals who were holding them. And the voices that we hear when the books are being opened - creepy!

Michelle Muto knows how to keep her readers interested and engaged. The story may seem a little predictable, but in a good way. I actually found myself smiling because the banter between Ivy and Nick was catchy and fun! Like this one:

Ivy asked, " What do you want, Nick?"
The corner of Nick’s mouth eased into a grin that made Ivy’s insides somersault unexpectedly. “You,’ he said without breaking eye contact.”

Oh! I feel like  I'm in high school again.. Whew!

My rating for Michelle Muto's Book of Lost Souls: 4 bookmarks!

Hoping to read more about Ivy MacTavish soon!