Saturday, March 29, 2014

Forgotten Fairies


17657000Fairies in My Fireplace by R.L. Naquin

A migration of mythical creatures has begun, and more and more of them are landing on Zoey Donovan's doorstep. As the only Aegis left in the country, it falls to her to protect the Hidden and keep them safe—and her house has become a sanctuary for water sprites, goblins, harpies, djinn and more.

Keeping track of her boarders is a full-time job, and Zoey has already got her hands full trying to run her wedding planning business. Good thing she has a resident closet monster to keep her organized, and a hot Reaper boyfriend to help her relax every once in a while.

But she can't keep up monster-triage indefinitely, and as more Hidden arrive, it becomes clear that someone—or something—is hunting them. In the midst of planning an event for a notoriously difficult client, Zoey has got to figure out who's behind the hunt…and she's got to stop them before there are no Hidden left.



Rate & take


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Happy am I to know that in a few short weeks the next book in this series will be out!!
Each book in this series has been a fun read that keeps the plot happenings nicely paced.
This third book was even a bit moving in a rare sad moment. 

I'm so glad I found this author and series!!

Readers Note: The subject line was due to the fact that I had somehow left off doing this review! I could never imagine such a thing happening, but it did and here I am fixing my error. 

Monday, March 24, 2014

Re-reading goodness


19091194Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years by Sarah Delany, Elizabeth Delany, and Amy Hill Hearth


Dr. A. Elizabeth (“Bessie”) Delany and Sarah L. (“Sadie”) Delany were born in Raleigh, North Carolina, on the campus of St. Augustine's School (now College). Their father, born into slavery, was an administrator at the school and America's first elected black Episcopal bishop. Sarah received her bachelor's and master's degrees from Columbia University and was New York City's first appointed black home economics teacher at the high sool level. Elizabeth received her degree in dental surgery from Columbia University and was the second black woman licensed to practice dentistry in New York State. The two sisters spurned offers of marriage, choosing instead to pursue their careers. In 1960, they retired and bought a house in Mt. Vernon, New York, where they livechd in obscurity until 1991, when a journalist named Amy Hill Hearth tracked them down and interviewed them for a feature story in The New York Times. Ms. Hearth worked closed with the sisters for the next two years to expand her story into book form. The result was Having Our Say, a New York Times bestseller for 113 weeks that was adapted to the Broadway stage and for an award-winning telefilm. Bessie Delany died in 1995; Sadie in 1999. They are buried in Raleigh beside their parents.


My rate & take



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Readers Note: Reading smut is great but lately not just any smut will do. I've found myself being crazy picky and actually wanting well written characters with a good plot too. So I've started a few books and turned my nose up at them. My GoodReads reading goal for this year can attest to this as it boldly tells me I am currently 3 books behind for my 2014 reading goal. This never happens to me! But I will catch up before years end.

Review: I first read the Delany sisters book many years ago and it stayed with me all this time, so much so that I knew I had to experience it again. This book is a solidly satisfying read, however it can also be an uncomfortable one. It is one thing to have a general idea of what Colored (a term the Delany sisters preferred) Americans went through during and after slavery was abolished, it's another thing to hear it directly from two people who lived it every day. The shameful conduct of White Americans was unforgivable.
One thing I love about the sisters and their whole family is that they kept their dignity and sense of humor no matter what life threw at them. A true example for us all.

Monday, March 17, 2014

Betcha can't just read one


15777865Pooka in my Pantry by R.L. Nequin

Zoey Donovan—empath, wedding planner, go-to girl for monsters with personal problems—has been marked twice for pickup by Death. On both occasions, Riley the smoking-hot reaper has refused to follow through. For his breach of protocol, Riley is now on probation. For her refusal to die on schedule, Zoey's right to live is challenged. She will have to undergo a life-or-death trial, but she won't know when or where it will happen…

Staying alive might not be so difficult if the Leprechaun Mafia hadn't strolled into town. Now every business owner with the slightest connection to the supernatural community is being threatened with the most appalling bad luck if they don't pay up. Mirrors are smashed, bodies are dropping, and Zoey's still got clients waiting for fabric samples.

With a little luck, she might be able to save everyone and still have time for a second attempt at a decent first date with her favorite reaper.



Rate & take


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These books are so fun and filled with characters that are quirky. The plot moves along very well. This series is like popcorn for me, I want more! So I am now off reading the 3rd in the series. Be back soon with a report.

Monday, March 10, 2014

Zany fun


14624355Monster in My Closet by R. L. Naquin

I stopped believing in monsters long ago. But I knew I wasn't imagining things when I found one in my kitchen baking muffins. I'd seen him before: lurking in my closet, scaring the crap out of my five-year-old self. Turns out that was a misunderstanding, and now Maurice needs a place to stay. How could I say no?

After all, I've always been a magnet for the emotionally needy, and not just in my work as a wedding planner. Being able to sense the feelings of others can be a major pain. Don't get me wrong, I like helping people--and non-people. But this ability has turned me into a gourmet feast for an incubus, a demon that feeds off emotional energy. Now, brides are dropping dead all over town, and my home has become a safe house for the supernatural. I must learn to focus my powers and defeat the demon before he snacks on another innocent woman and comes looking for the main course...




Rate & take


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This book was a big ol' bit of fun, pure reading sunshine. I love books that feature people with extra abilities and throw in a cast of 'mythical' creatures and I am in one happy reader, AND if an author could also take this one step further and make it all into an interesting and well paced plot...that's when the sunshine happens. If you like this type of genre and find yourself needing a read to make your reality escape with you should get yourself one of these....this is book one in a series that I plan on making friends with.


Monday, March 3, 2014

Neck Deep in the dark


20761943The Arrangement 14 by H.M. Ward

Sean Ferro is a liar. Everything he’s ever told me melts away until only the truth remains and I don’t like what I see. Gabe tried to warn me, but I didn’t understand the depths of Sean’s corruption until he let them take me away. After everything we’ve been through, I’m crushed, but I refuse to accept this fate. Screw that, I’m not dying tonight.


Rate & Take

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I have said (thirteen other times before) how much I enjoy each installment in this ever evolving series, I am loyal and glued to each one. Even so, a part of me wants to figure the end game now, 'cause I'm greedy like that...not because I wish it was over. It might have something to do with this latest one making feel like I'm in a totally dark room, I can hear things happening but I don't know where or what exactly is going on. The bad guy(s) haven't showed themselves or tipped their hand in any way so literally anything can (and probably will) happen in the next book. Wait and anticipation.....I want to shake my fist at both.