Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble by HP Mallory

 Very fun book to read as the October haunting hours are near.  Witches, Warlocks, and Vampires should be scary, but a light twist to their style gives us a feeling that they aren't so bad, even if you're not sure about trusting them.

Jolie Wilkens has a unique gift of seeing and raising the dead. She has a psychic boutique in L.A., but the funds aren't as plentiful as she'd like.  Rand Balfour, powerful Warlock, is the one who discovers Jolie's ability as not only a psychic, but also a witch and he wants her on his side for a battle of the Witches.

Witches have a powerful sexual attraction.  Jolie feels it with Rand, but if she works for him against the dark side of witches, they can't date.  Other Warlocks on their side, or maybe not, attract Jolie, too.  

Not sure what to do when Rand insists Jolie move to his mansion half way across the world to work, she befriends and questions whether to date other Warlocks since Rand holds back affection.  She'll show him that she isn't going to be a hermit in his home.

the war among the witches is for the power of Jolie, and she must trust herself and the gorgeous Rand to keep her on the good side.  She'd prefer it to be on the good side of his bed in addition! 

Veronica Reviews - BOUND BY EDEN by Lexi Post

 

Bound by Eden

(Eden Series—Tolba Book #2)

Lexi Post

4 Stars Sci Fi Romance

 ★★★★

Welcome to Eden…

Rowena wakes up with the monster of all hangovers.  She barely remembers what happened last night beyond hooking up with a couple of hot Edenists and sharing a bottle of tequila…what was she thinking?!  But she did come to this planet in hopes of becoming a beloved, and with her sabbatical coming to an end, her time is running out.  But what if she accidently bonded with these strangers?  What will this mean for her future?  Especially if she can’t even remember their names…

Takoda’s heart is still broken from the loss of the one loved.  How she could have bonded with someone else, he cannot understand…and is unwilling to let go.  A night with a beautiful woman and her powerful drink seemed like a good idea at the time, but now he’s awoken with a fear that he has bonded with this exquisite stranger, and he must do everything he can to prove their bond was never formed.  But there is a danger surrounding his potential mate, and Takoda must make a choice to let go of the past in order to save his future…

Awan is beyond excited that he and Takoda will be able to move on from their heartbreak now that they have found Rowena.  However, his excitement over the possible bonding isn’t contagious in that Rowena and Takoda are “gun shy” in committing to the idea.  It will take all of Awan’s faith to prove to his lovers they are simply meant to be…

If you are new to this series, here is a quick re-cap. Eden is a planet of very hawt, very naked men in search of their beloved…the one that will make them whole.  With women being out numbered greatly on this planet, the men have begun searching Earth for their soul mate.  So, if reading more the merrier romances is your thing, then you will fall in love with this series!

Lexi Post has written a dream world for those of us who enjoy ménage stories.  After each installment, I am left eagerly awaiting my return to Eden.  Highly recommend!

Sharing what I love, Veronica

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The Downward Slide

 

          Hello, gentle readers! Hope you are all well and staying safe!

So, I am officially on the downward slide of my current work in progress. What does this mean? It means the end is in sight. 

I love beginning a new story—figuring out my characters (what makes them tick? How did they get to this point in their lives?) and plot points then writing those first words—I love the downward slide even better. It means I’ve done my job. It means the ‘happily ever after’ is so close, I can taste it.

The downward slide is even more important in this story. I’ve had several issues, as I’m sure you remember….losing words, getting stuck a corner with no way out except to delete sentences, paragraphs, even—gasp—whole chapters! We’re not even going to talk about how COVID affected my writing (there was a period there of over four months where I couldn’t write a blessed word! And yes, that happened with this story and one other that’s still only halfway done). And then, of course, there was that time when I doubted my work, doubted I could pull this off, doubted…so many things that I really had to dig down deep to find my rhythm, find my passion again (I’m certain other writers feel this way sometimes). So much to overcome and yet, through perseverance and the kind, encouraging words of my critique partner, I am sailing, full speed ahead to the end. Whew!

Of course, this is just the first draft (and that’s an accomplishment all by itself). Once I’ve written “The End”, the real work begins—editing, which can be painful, yet so satisfying. I’m sure there will be a lot to delete, but that’s okay. I have a tendency to get a little wordy. 

And on that note, I should head on back to that manuscript. It’s not going to write itself.

Stay well! Stay safe! And remember to spread kindness wherever you go!

Marie

BOUND BY EDEN by Lexi Post has Released!

Bound by Eden

(Tolba: Book 2)

by Lexi Post

The second book in the ancient city of Tolba and the 7th book on planet Eden. 

The bond of Eden is unbreakable. It should be entered into with much forethought and consideration. There is no worst fate than to choose unwisely. But oh, for he who chooses well, an eternal joy to rival the celestial spirit awaits you.

– from the Preface to Dickinson Law

One night with two alien strangers changed everything.

Risk manager, Rowena Lewis, threw caution to the wind when she drowned her sorrows in a bottle of tequila and two hot Edenists. These seemingly perfect men aren’t making it easy for her to return to her planet and the career she loves. But what if she’s already bonded with them? For life?

Takoda's heart will always belong to another, so he is anxious to prove that he and Awan have not bonded with Ro. But his protective instincts surface when he discovers there's danger far too close to her that he can’t ignore.

​​​Awan’s unshakeable belief that everything happens for a reason has him excited about what their future will hold with Rowena in their life. Finally, they will be happy. But when she rocks his faith in accepting things as they are, he realizes he must take action…that is, if he’s not too late.

Buy Links:

Amazon    AppleBooks 

Barnes&Noble   Kobo

Amazon UK   Amazon AU

Amazon CA   Amazon DE

Excerpt:

By the Crius, what had they done?

Takoda rubbed the sleep from his eyes with his free hand, the other pinned beneath the woman sleeping next to him. He stared at her. She was not his chosen one, not the woman he thought he would spend the rest of his life with. His chest tightened.

No, instead he’d visited a Pleasure Dome to bury his sorrow in the willing body of a meekwee. Looking over her, he found Awan, his arm and one leg thrown over her.

He tried to remember last night, but his brain was cloudy from the Tolban ale and whatever the woman had given them. Some drink from Earth that he blamed for the pain in his head.

“Awan.” He kept his voice to a whisper, not wanting to wake the woman up. That he couldn’t remember her name proved how much her drink had affected him. He always remembered a woman’s name.

Awan didn’t respond, his breathing continued in that blissful state of sleep.

An uneasy feeling about their night to escape their heartbreak caused Takoda’s gut to tense. Everyone knew it was poor judgement for two men to enjoy one woman in the Pleasure Domes. It could be done, but only if the men were well in control to avoid bonding. Unfortunately, he had grave concerns about his control throughout the night. He had to know what Awan remembered.

Slowly, he pulled his arm out and slid from the bed. He only hoped she slept as soundly as Awan. He leaned over the bed, but quickly stood straight again, his head feeling as if a feroon sat upon it. He whispered again. “Awan. Awan, wake.”

The brother of his heart didn’t move. As much as Takoda wanted to slip out and pretend he hadn’t been there, it wouldn’t avoid the ramifications of what they might have done. He had to know.

Did they bond with a woman they’d just met? 

About Lexi:

Lexi Post is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of romance inspired by the classics. She spent years in higher education taking and teaching courses about the classical literature she loved. From Edgar Allan Poe's short story “The Masque of the Red Death” to Tolstoy’s War and Peace, she's read, studied, and taught wonderful classics.

But Lexi's first love is romance novels so she married her two first loves, romance and the classics. From hot paranormals to sizzling cowboys to hunks from out of this world, Lexi provides a sensuous experience with a “whole lotta story.”

Lexi is living her own happily ever after with her husband and her two cats in Florida. She makes her own ice cream every weekend, loves bright colors, and you will never see her without a hat.

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Veronica Reviews - ANY ROGUE WILL DO by Bethany Bennett

 

Any Rogue Will Do

 

(Misfits of Mayfair #1)

by

Bethany Bennett

★★★★★

5 Stars

Historical Romance

“I love you…I’m so sorry I hurt you…go ahead and be angry with me.  I deserve it…I’ll still love you when you’re done with the mad.”

 Lady Charlotte “Lottie” Wentworth was dubbed the “Paper Doll Princess” during her first Season.  Fleeing the gossips of London, she finds solace in taking over the running of her father’s estate.  But when circumstances change, and Lottie is faced with an ultimatum to keep her independence, she enlists the aid of her Godmother to seek a husband that will allow her to keep her freedom.  Never would she dream the very man that ruined her all those years ago with the nickname “Paper Doll Princess” would become the very savior she needed…

Ethan Ridley, Lord Amesbury and known as “Mac” to his friends, can’t believe his good fortune, or mayhap it is a curse, but he finds himself once again in the company of the beautiful Lady Charlotte.  Years ago, in a drunken stupor he unintentionally hurts Lady Charlotte by calling her a “Paper Doll Princess”, and it was just too good for the gossip rags not to publish and completely ruin her.  With hat in hand, Ethan apologizes, and while not overwhelmingly accepted, Lady Charlotte and Ethan come to a truce…which blossoms into a budding friendship…and friends do tend to make the best of lovers…

Lottie and Ethan’s story is a wonderfully written second chance romance I could not put down!  There is so much happening within these pages, and I don’t want to give away too much in a review!  

Dear Reader, be ready to add this smexxy Scot to your boyfriend list!  Highly recommend and look forward to the next installment to the Misfits of Mayfair!

Sharing what I love, 

Veronica

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. **

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Death Stalks Door County by Patricia Skalka

 Door County is a peaceful and beautiful peninsula.  Why would anyone commit suicide at the county park with comforting nature all around?  

When the list of deaths gets longer, Dave Cubiak can't help but check on his suspicions.  Cubiak left Chicago after burnout as a homicide detective and the death of his family, hoping to regroup and find himself.  Being a detective is the way he thinks.  Multiple unexplainable deaths isn't normal.

Cubiak is  accepted and pulled into a small group of locals.

  There's the motherly ones, fatherly, and friendly residents.  And those that hide their thoughts versus share them.  He's seeking the hiders and meets several capable of committing murder.  

Cate Wagner, a photographer, approaches Cubiak at a party he attends.  He's looking for clues and finds a little more.  Eventually they realize their backgrounds are what they have in common, at least the part on how to deal with themselves.  A mutual interest develops in short interludes. 

I like the fact that many suspects are studied, and it's not easy to figure out who did it.  Also, the romance isn't a for sure thing. I'm going to have to read the series and see how far Cubiak and Cate get together or apart.

Happy reading,

Dawn  

Labor Day Weekend Time Off

 

          Hello, gentle reader! Hope you are well and staying safe.

So, I took a couple days PTO from the day job over the Labor Day weekend and I have to say, it was wonderful! I had several goals in mind for those days off and I’m happy report, that I have completed them (most of them).

What was number one on my list? I wanted to sleep in. I know, that doesn’t sound like much of a goal, but when you wake at 4:30 every morning (and have been for over twenty years), whether you’re going to the day job or if it’s the weekend, it’s a challenge. I will admit that I love the early morning hours. It’s so quiet and peaceful when the day is just beginning, but still, I’d like to rise, every now and then, when the sun is already up. In some respects, I succeeded and failed at this goal. I managed to sleep until 5:30 one morning, but didn’t fare as well on the other days.

I cooked, making another huge batch of spaghetti sauce (the DH and I are visiting our son over Thanksgiving…he’s expecting me to bring some meatballs, sausage, and sauce with me…I would not be forgiven if I did not). I realized as I was bagging it up (I use Ziplock freezer bags) that the list of people I give my sauce to is growing. And it’s all good. If I can provide a quick and easy dinner for friends, I’m happy.

I cleaned, too (hmmm, seems like I'm always cleaning! *sigh*)

I wanted to relax and read as well, which I did. I have started a wonderful story by Michelle McLean called Hitched to the Gunslinger. Ms. McLean writes so well and there’s a lot of humor, which I’m loving (such a balm for everything that’s happening in the world right now…we all need to laugh).

I wanted to put some stuff out for bulk garbage pick up (we have this here in

Saw this cartoon by Chris Shane and had to share (does he 
know my DH?)

 Phoenix and it’s wonderful for the bigger items you can’t put in your regular trash receptacle). The biggest part of this endeavor is convincing the DH that some things need to go (he has a tendency to be a pack rat, something I am not thrilled with). Not sure why he wants to hang on to things that don’t work anymore. We both know he’s not going to fix it…he just can’t seem to let go. Really? Do we need to keep the old recliner? The springs are broken and we already bought a replacement. Do we need to keep the speakers that have been in my living room for years that only spit static instead of music? I don’t think so (but…but…I can repair them or so he says). I’m pleased to say I was finally able to get rid of all of it. Yay!

Mostly, I wanted to write, which I did as well. Whatever log jam I had in my brain regarding the manuscript I’m working on finally let go (and seriously, I owe a lot of that to my critique partner. Thank you for your support and enthusiasm and for walking me off the ledge once again…I appreciate you more than you know!)

All in all, the perfect way to spend a couple days off!

Stay well! Stay safe! And remember to spread kindness wherever you go!

Marie