The Widow of Pale Harbor by Hester Fox

The Widow of Pale Harbor by Hester Fox

Narrator: Lauren Ezzo
Audiobook Publisher: Harper Audio
11 hrs via Scribd
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Like Pearl Harbor, Carver Castle was under attack except in this case by a murderous and vengeful young man. Dead ravens had been scattered on Sophronia's doorstep and sometimes horrible messages like bad Poe poems were attached to the violent acts. Sophronia, the widow of Carver Castle, was the talk of the town. Some of the townspeople hated her but those who knew her loved her. I hated the people of Pale Harbor though. The folks were all so proud and judgemental. The one-man police force wasn't even helpful. Ugh.

Everyone in Pale Harbor secretly believed Sophronia Carver was a witch and had killed her husband Nathaniel Carver. They were just rumors for the most part. She wasn't a witch and Nathaniel didn't die because of her. Nobody knew he used to abuse her every time he got drunk either. He may not have deserved to die, but Sophronia didn't deserve the abuse and I am glad Nathaniel was dead. It meant Sophronia inherited a lot of money but she felt like a prisoner in her house because of the brutal looks she would get when she went out. Oh, the injustice of it all!

Gabriel came to Pale Harbor hoping to be the next Church minister and to start a new life. Being a minister was not who he was but he felt like honoring his dead wife's memory. She would be proud of him, but his background story was kind of sad and disparaging. He also knew next to nothing about Transcendentalism. I thought it was going to be a problem but it wasn't because he had everyone fooled. I did not like him lying although when he becomes romantically close to Sophronia, he reveals his secrets and vice versa. At least they were both being honest with each other and that was everything. The Widow of Pale Harbor is a romance and the outcome is HEA

Because of the townspeople, the police weren't of much help to Sophronia, so she and Gabriel had to be detectives while suspicions are directed at friends until they figured it out. Helen and everyone else was suspect until the very end. I was not satisfied with how it ended.

Publisher Summary 

A town gripped by fear. A woman accused of witchcraft. Who can save Pale Harbor from itself? 
Maine, 1846. Gabriel Stone is desperate to escape the ghosts that haunt him in Massachusetts after his wife’s death, so he moves to Maine, taking a position as a minister in the remote village of Pale Harbor. But not all is as it seems in the sleepy town. Strange, unsettling things have been happening, and the townspeople claim that only one person can be responsible: Sophronia Carver, a reclusive widow who lives with a spinster maid in the eerie Castle Carver. Sophronia must be a witch, and she almost certainly killed her husband. As the incidents escalate, one thing becomes clear: they are the work of a twisted person inspired by the wildly popular stories of Mr. Edgar Allan Poe. And Gabriel must find answers, or Pale Harbor will suffer a fate worthy of Poe’s darkest tales.

AUTHOR

Hester Fox has a background in the museum field as a collections maintenance technician. This job has taken her from historic houses to fine art museums, where she has cleaned and cared for collections that range from paintings by old masters to ancient artifacts to early American furniture. She is a keen painter and has a Master's in historical archaeology, as well as a background in medieval studies and art history. Hester lives outside of Boston with her husband.

Novella November: One Snowy Night

One Snowy Night by Jill Shalvis

Audiobook Narrated by Karen White
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Rory Andrews is 23 yrs old, living in San Francisco and works as a dog groomer. Her sordid past involves being a victim of school bullying. To make things right with her family she intends to spend Christmas with them. Things haven't been so great since she ran away from home at seventeen.

Max Stranton offers to give her a ride because he is going that way anyway, but she reluctantly agrees because...( she is crazy in love with him). They know each other from school but naturally, life got in the way. On the four hour journey to Tahoe, they get stuck in a snowstorm and are forced to stay in a hotel overnight to wait out the storm. Perfect time to make amends and cuddle. Max's furry Doberman loves Rory and is a welcome distraction.
This novella has an equal amount of action plot and adventure to make it exciting. I appreciate that.

"Reading this novella contributed to the 2019 #HoHoHo Readathon"

Goodreads Summary

New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis returns to Heartbreaker Bay with a fun and festive holiday novella! It’s Christmas Eve and Rory Andrews is desperate to get home to the family she hasn’t seen in years. Problem is, her only ride to Lake Tahoe comes in the form of the annoyingly handsome Max Stranton, and his big, goofy, lovable dog Carl. Hours stuck in a truck with the dead sexy Max sounds like a fate worse than death (not), but Rory’s out of options. She’s had a crush on Max since high school and she knows he’s attracted to her, too. But they have history… and Max is the only one who knows why it went south. They’ve done a good job of ignoring their chemistry so far, but a long road trip in a massive blizzard might be just what they need to face their past… and one steamy, snowy night is all it takes to bring Max and Rory together at last.

Review: The Fireman

The Fireman by Joe Hill

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Fireman, written by Joe Hill (King) and narrated by Kate Mulgrew.👌👍💝
The best narrator there ever was or will be haha!

When John, the fireman Rookwood and Harper Grayson-Willowes meet the first time, she is (the only) nurse on staff in a hospital full of sick patients waiting in a lineup a mile long. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a man with a fireman outfit steps out of line carrying a little boy in his arms insisting no, demanding, they do something for the boy. He was taken seriously eventually, and the boy treated for a ruptured appendix. Meanwhile, the rest of the world is being wiped out on a catastrophic, apocalyptic scale from Dragonscayle. A spore that infects you from ash and can kill you making you burst into flames if you let it. Nobody is safe from the fires but John Rookwood has found a way to deal with it instead.
I usually don't like reading about apocalyptic end-of-the-world scenarios, because I can't handle the endless carnage and human waste and suffering. However, I never felt hope was lost in The Fireman. Right up until the end there was a glimmer of hope that everything (the world surrounding Harper) was going to be Ok. It didn't feel like all was lost for Harper's little group, at least the situations they encountered were not insufferable all the time. I was right.

Although the nature of humanity was sick as ever, I could relate lol
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So I haven't read a lot this year

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

I plan a New Year's resolution to read more, talk less, post more reviews, and participate more in the blogging community starting right now!

I am currently reading two Holiday Collections of which are very affordable and will help you get into the Christmas Spirit.

Love, Christmas, and Christmas in the City II, are two very fun and fabulous anthologies developed by authors with pizazz.           Click to Tweet

Christmas in the City II by Samantha Chase

Buy on Amazon |

If I had, to sum up, Christmas in the City in just three words it would be, Fantastic, Fun, and Festive.
So far, I am enjoying it immensely.

Christmas Once Again by Samantha Chase is about Hunter Ashton and Lexi Hayes. They are practically High School sweethearts who are reunited after they'd broken up eight years prior. How could Hunter, who still loves her, fix Lexi's broken heart? By being honest and trustworthy and by growing more balls when it comes to his overbearing, pestering, mother, Susan.

Like Christmas by Ashlee Taylor is different in that Emmeline doesn't know who Sebastian is, contrary to Sebastian knowing everything about Emmeline. He has loved her all her life. I must say I am very intrigued by him. I am very curious to read more.

I liked Ugly Sweater by Elizabeth Hayes. It had lots of winter fun in the snow. Two girlfriends meet two gorgeous men. They fly to Aspen for a weekend and go Tubing and Skating, and well, hot-tub. Both men were wealthy as fuck.

A Change of Heart was different from the others in that it was about suffering and terminal illness. I liked Hunter, though, and I am looking forward to reading A Heart of Time.

Christmas break by Misha Elliott I didn't like. I didn't care for the characters

Joyful Temptations by Janine Infante Bosco would appeal to the hard rock, hard sex type of which I'm not that. Harley bikes and Satan's Knights. Really? I'd rather not think the devil as good in any way. Blackie and Lacey. Leather and Lace? I don't know that song reference. I also didn't like the sex. I thought it was gross.

Dancing Snowflakes by Madison Street
to be cont...

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Love, Christmas - Holiday stories that will put a song in your heart!

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The song "Do You Hear What I Hear?" was written as a plea for peace during the Cuban Missile Crisis in the middle of the Cold War.

Now Christmas is just around the corner and live-in-lovers Shelley and Jake are in a cold war of their own. Detective Shelley Caldwell has all wonderful memories of Christmas, while Jake DeAtley, born of a mother turned vampire while pregnant with him, has none. They’ve come to a compromise that she can decorate “her half” of every room, but no Christmas tree. Then a case of hit-and-run leaves a dead body and a magical Christmas tree that Shelley can’t resist bringing home, heating up the war between her and Jake. There is more to the tree than either knows. When they discover the truth about it, will it bring them together or keep them farther apart?

I just finished Do You Hear What I Hear in the Love, Christmas Collection and I loved it! I appreciate the paranormal element in this novella. It was a very well written story by anyone's standards. If you like paranormal fantasy, you will like this. Mind communication, cute lovely fairies, and two cats in the yard! Sarge and Cadet. Also, Jake DeAtley, whose mother became a vampire when she was pregnant with him, so that's exciting! I liked the romance as well. Their troubles weren't so far away from real life. Shelley and Jake had their differences when it came to celebrating Christmas but who doesn't have their arguments over family Traditions and such things? I enjoyed this story, and that is why I wanted to share it with you. You can't find this story anywhere else but in the Love, Christmas Collection.

Lily Harper Series #1 - Better Off Dead

BETTER OFF DEAD by H.P. Mallory

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Free on Amazon

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I am of the opinion that Lily was Better Off Dead because. . .she gets to choose anywhere in the world she wants to live. She chose Edinburgh Scotland. The kind of body she inhabits is 5'8", hair color red, bra size 34D and 140 lbs, and for her new name she chose Lily O'Shaughnessy instead of Harper. Compared to her real life that was a vast improvement AND she had a fully loaded, never empty, bank account complete with credit card, and a car! She also accepts the job of being a Soul Retriever, which means she gets to live again, but as an employee of Afterlife Enterprises.

Death in the Afterlife Enterprises is a light and humorous concept. Nothing in the real world had changed since Y2K, only in the afterlife. Their was a glitch in their systems that somehow misplaced some souls. Now it is Lily's job to go and "retrieve" them from either earth, hell or heaven and bring them back to their rightful place because you can't have bad people in heaven and good people in hell.

Lily has to travel to the underground city with her very obnoxious and incompetent guardian angel as her guide. He carries a copy of Dante's Inferno with him but he has never read it himself. Admittedly I have never read Dante's inferno but I've heard of the River Styx and the levels of hell. In Better Off Dead they call Hell the Underground City. My favorite character is the undeniable Celtic Warrior Druid they meet while they are in the Dark Woods. His name is Tallis Black who is quite the enigma, and Charon, their guide who takes them on the river styx.

About the Author

My Website

I started my writing career as a self-published author and basically became an overnight success with my Jolie Wilkins and Dulcie O’Neil series. Since then, I’ve decided to become a traditionally published author but I will always maintain my indie roots by keeping a foot in each camp. I’m both a New York Times and a USA Today bestselling author which means I’ve been able to cross off a couple of line items on my bucket list! I’m a huge fan of anything paranormal and I always have been. I get super excited whenever they have those Twilight Zone Marathon days and anything ghost or vampire related will always attract my attention. My interests are varied but aside from writing, I’m most excited about traveling. I’m extremely fortunate to have been able to live in England and Scotland, both places really having a profound effect on my books.

Bound to Remember by Lola James

Bound to Remember by Lola James
Free on Amazon 
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Toni Hollander is a doctor who has the job of introducing their new head surgical nurse around the hospital. His name is Benjamin Slaton and is also a vampire. Toni doesn't remember things she should've known because her memories were taken by a witch.

I thought there were too many spelling errors and major editing mistakes

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My Review : The King (The Black Dagger Brotherhood # 12)

The King by J.R. Ward
Audio
Narrated by : Jim Frangione
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This is how the Epilogue and first chapter felt like... In the words of J.R Ward: "...she tried to pull something worth hearing out of her ass." Ugh! what nonsense and Wrath's treatment of Beth was horrible! On top of it all I can't stand the narrator, Jim Frangione. He keeps pronouncing Xcor like Score when the X should be silent and Xhex like Zhex when it should be pronounced Hex. Not to mention Trez ugh! I always pronounced it like tray. Who the hell says Trèz? Jeez louise.

What a terrible start to book #12. There was a time when I chewed these books up one after another cause I couldn't get enough but I guess that's what happens when you have to wait so long. You fall out of love. I love the black dagger brotherhood but who the hell is Abalone? and why should the glymera want him as King? I thought Xcor wanted to usurp the throne? wtf man? I am one who happened to like the Band of Bastards. I didn't see them as bad, only Old School. The Lessers however are just annoying and stupid just like the Omega. I can recall only one incident in The King where a lesser gets wiped out.

Relationships between Xcor and Layla, Assail and Sola aka Marisol, Trez and Selena left us hanging cause honestly, there just isn't enough space to write about them in a book that is supposed to be about Beth and Wrath!*eyeroll* In fact what I dislike most about J.R. Wards writings, particularly of the BDB, is that she crams too many stories into one. I also had no interest in reading about Wrath's parents. I found it grueling and to think I waited a year for this?!! Never again. I'm going to wait until the next one is in paperback and more affordable.
FYVM


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If You Desire (MacCarrick Brothers#2)

If You Desire by Kresley Cole
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's hard to say which couple I liked most out of this trilogy. They all had their special quirks but if I had to choose it would be Hugh and Jane.

The only obstacle that stood in between Hugh and Jane was the dreaded Curse and it was the most infuriating part about If You Desire. They both clearly loved each other from the start.

Since the day Jane and Hugh arrived at Courtland's house it was sweet, full of fun and humor. It was funny to see Jane learn a few things like how not to use Kerosene to wax the floors.

The fact that Jane knew how to use a bow and arrow kinda reminded me of Katniss Everdeen. Anyway she was brave and capable of defending herself . She actually saved Hugh's life from Grey. Ya what a psycho he was.

I just like this story .

My Review Green-Eyed Demon (Sabina Kane #3)

Green-Eyed Demon by Jaye Wells

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goodreads summary:

Things to do:
1. Rescue sister.
2. Murder grandmother.
3. Don't upset the voodoo priestess.
The clock is ticking for Sabina Kane. Her sister has been kidnapped by her grandmother, the Dark Races are on the brink of war, and a mysterious order is manipulating everyone behind the scenes.
Working on information provided by an unlikely ally, Sabina and her trusty sidekicks--a sexy mage named Adam Lazarus and Giguhl, a Mischief demon--head to New Orleans to begin the hunt for her sister. Once there, they must contend with belligerent werewolves, magic-wielding vampires and--perhaps most frightening of all--humans.
But as much as Sabina is focused on surviving the present, the past won't be ignored. Before she can save those she cares about most, she must save herself from the ghosts of her past.

I'd have to say Green-Eyed Demon was certainly eventful and Sabina and Adam kicked some serious vampire ass.
It starts off with a bang when Sabina and the gang try to kidnap one of the evil vampire sisters. Hoping to kidnap Persephone they manage to take Tanith instead, but she had her own agenda and ends up helping them by shooting her bodyguard. O well. Adam whisks them all away to the Seelie Court to meet up with their own council and the Fae Queen Maeve , leader of the Tuatha de Danan, somewhere in the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains. Maeve doesn't like Sabina for killing one of her entourage which leaves her and Giguhl out of the circle "standing in the antechamber like two assholes without invites to the party of the year" - quote from page 23

Their plan was to lead them to New Orleans where they believe Lavinia is keeping Maisie. Lavinia had recently become involved with some mysterious sect who call themselves The Caste of Nod so the bulk of the book consists of searching for clues. We already met their friends Zen and Brooks who were expecting Sabina, Adam and Giguhl to arrive in New Orleans needing a place to stay. Zenobia is a friend of Rhea's while Brooks is gay and a cross dresser. I didn't like that it took a whole book just to find Maisie and ultimately kill Lavinia, but I was satisfied with how it ended.

Desperate to find Maisie they resort to capturing Master Mahan's annoying white Owl, Stryx. Adam thought they could somehow someway get the bird to speak. haha 'NOT', instead they end up raising a dead corpse! When Zen the voodoo princess takes Sabina to a cemetery to perform a ritual on the bird, things go wrong and Sabina accidentally raises a dead corpse. Her Chthonic magic powers had amplified the necromancy spell! You can read all about that in Chapter 17. The zombie also eats Stryx lol.

One of my favorite quotes is when they'd brought the bird home they tried to restrain it from harming itself or them and Sabina tells Adam to...

"Put the fucking bird in the fridge already."

It was fun meeting two lesbian werewolves and a Mage outcast.

Greta and the Goblin King (Mylena Chronicles, #1)

Greta and the Goblin King by Chloe Jacobs

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This story depicts a hellish nightmare for Greta and I would have liked to know more about her life in her world, but we find her already fighting goblins, ogres and other fantastic creatures in a land called Mylena. This fiery place had two moons and two suns and was often plagued with eclipses. During an eclipse, all the creatures turned into ferocious beasts.

Being human was unsafe to say the least and she fought for her life everyday. Of course it didn't help her to know she was the enemy and every creature wanted her dead except for the few whom Greta befriended. You can see why I felt it was a nightmare for Greta. She had taken on a bounty hunter role in Mylena and the Goblin King admired her , a lot.

It was romantic what Isaac[the goblin king] did just for Greta. She was stubborn and determined to get back through the portal which she had fallen into , back to her own world, and with the help of the Lost Boys she succeeds in removing the evil Agramon who had plagued Mylena with dangerously cold weather, ice, frost and snow, not to mention stole young boys for their blood. He needed human blood for the spell that would release him from his prison and to open a portal for him to escape.

I was unsatisfied not knowing what happened to the few Lost Boys Greta had hidden in Luke's underground cellar, because they didn't make it through the portal obviously. I presume between her and Isaac they will find a way back home too eventually.

In the end Isaac and Greta are happy in Mylena , hopefully the land will stay safe and beautiful and sunny, now that Agramon is removed BUT what about Earth? Agramon was sent back through the portal with all the other little boys. I know there is going to be a sequel however...

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