Novella November: Christmas Past

Christmas Past by Mary Burton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

*I received a free kindle copy from the publisher via NetGalley
**Trigger warning of abusive relationships and brutality

The cover caught my eye and since it is Novella November I couldn't wait to dig in.
Christmas Past is a tale of romance and violence extending 3 days. David Ayden is absorbed by his attraction to Nicole. He wants to marry her. He's a good cop who lost his wife to cancer and is now a single dad to 2 teenage boys. Nicole is a struggling photographer and a single mom who is being tormented by her dead husband from beyond the grave. Her past is shaped by violence and abuse.
Can these two find a happily ever after? With a little help from their friends, they just might.

Because of her ex-husband, Nicole thinks she brings evil into everyone's life just like she did with Claire Carmichael, who was murdered for helping Nicole escape domestic violence. She doesn't want anyone else to die because of her. I got the impression Nicole was smart and capable though. When she reveals to Ayden a DVD she receives from her late husband, it appears Nicole was taking initiative and she needed to catch the one responsible. She was very strong and determined and a plan was formed which provided a very cozy romantic escape for the two of them BUT her life was still in danger and who better to have by your side than a 'warrior' sergeant?

About Mary Burton

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Mary Burton’s latest tale of romance and suspense is Hide and Seek. The author of thirty-two published novels and five novellas, she’s also written five works of contemporary fiction as Mary Ellen Taylor. Find out more on her website

The Journals of Octavia Hollows Audio Blitz

Do you like urban fantasy and snarky heroines? Then you'll want to meet necromancer Octavia Hollows and her sidekick Bacon. We are celebrating the release of The Journals of Octavia Hollows by Stacey Rourke on Audio. This collection features all six journals in the series and was published by The Audio Flow. Come fall in love with this feisty heroine, her pet pig, and the brilliant narration provided by Brenda Scott Wlazlo.

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇ The Journals of Octavia Hollows ⋇⋆✦⋆⋇

Grab your copy: Audible | Audible UK

With a touch of her hand, Octavia Hollows can restore life. Yet, she couldn’t save the man she loved from the horrific accident that stole him from her. Octavia thought she could outrun the pain, but ghosts from the past refuse to be silenced. Out of options, she chooses to retrace her wayward journey across the country in search of answers. Surrounded by baffling mysteries of the undead, what she learns about herself along the way might become her greatest weapon. This six novella series chronicles Octavia's adventures in: Wake the Dead Dead Man's Hand Caught Dead Drop Dead Gorgeous Dead Ringer Dead as a Doornail

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇ Listen to A Sample ⋇⋆✦⋆⋇

⋇⋆✦⋆⋇ About the Author ⋇⋆✦⋆⋇

Stacey Rourke is the award-winning author of works that span genres but possess the same flare for action and snarky humour. She lives in Florida with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two giant dogs. Stacey loves to travel, has an unhealthy shoe addiction, and considers herself blessed to make a career out of talking to the imaginary people that live in her head.

Website| Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Audible

One lucky US winner will receive a signed paperback copy of the Journals of Octavia Hollows collection. The book will be signed by author Stacey Rourke and narrator Brenda Scott Wlazlo. a Rafflecopter giveaway

This post was made possible by Kimberley Costa @Caffeinated PR

Urban Faery: A (well-written) Modern Fantasy:

Urban Faery: A Modern Fantasy by Angela Savidge

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, that was nothing short of amazing! From the start, my eyes were drawn into an artist's impression of a god amidst the mother of the sea Gwenhwyfar (ya, that's just the Welsh spelling for Guinevere) but of some guy coming up out of the ocean, riding the waves on his surfboard in the middle of the night. He appears on Earth yet was from another world. A Night Owl was watching over him that had to do with some fairy tale about the Elders waiting for the right time to intervene in the world and make humans aware of the Fae creation, again. That surfer dude Luc was going to be the bridge. It was so good.

Just as it was apparent that Luc was harmless, guileless and good. His grandfather Madoc was a Dark Fae, not so good. His grandfather hates humankind for destroying the Earth. Anyway, I'm not going to go into detail of how Luc meets Cate but she was sort of on the path and destined for the encounter and again paranormal romances are still the ones I love. It's a love story.

Anyone who has ever lived in California and is from there would probably be thrilled for this book. Numerous places and areas are surrounding California that is referred to and to the Trump administration and the Malibu fires. Heck, Urban Faery A Modern Fantasy is the bee's knees, although the bees are gone and dying :P Ravens are a bad omen in this fantasy yet a Raven is Luc's spirit animal. It's complicated but exciting. The story is well-written with beautiful prose like a garden of flowers in bloom with rhododendrons :)

**I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Goodreads Summary:

Los Angeles, 2018 Cate has grown disillusioned with the realities of Hollywood and a deep sense of meaninglessness has been looming over her lately. Desperate to reconnect with the natural world, she wades into the ocean at one of Malibu’s most notorious surf breaks but is unaware that a powerful swell has moved in putting her in the direct path of danger. When Cate is rescued by a mysterious surfer named Luc, an alluring Welsh renegade and a modern-day descendant of the ancient Fae race, she is propelled into a new era of self-discovery and a total re-evaluation of the world around her. A metaphysical journey through the history and magic of Los Angeles and a shining example of visionary fiction, Urban Faery: A Modern Fantasy embraces universal wisdom and ecological consciousness and makes it relevant to the twenty-first century. If you are a fan of urban fantasy, Fae romance or New Age Fiction, this book is a must-read!

About the Author

Website

ANGELA SAVIDGE was born on an American military base in Germany and raised in rural North Carolina. She moved to New York City in her early twenties and has lived in Los Angeles for more than a decade where her debut novella, Urban Faery: A Modern Fantasy, was originally conceived as a pilot for a television series. Angela is a dreamer and writer with an insatiable urge to travel the world in search of all things magical. Currently, she is working on a series of Urban Faery-inspired photo shoots in which she will be transforming herself into a magical raven. In October 2019, Angela will be based in Cardiff, Wales where she will be completing research for book two of the Urban Faery series set to be released in February 2020.

Storm and Fury is Amazing

Storm and Fury by Jennifer L. Armentrout

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A paranormal fantasy with a touch of romance is exactly the kind of matter Storm and Fury is made of. The way that Gargoyles are presented is nothing short of amazing. They are called Wardens and they serve a purpose: to protect humankind from demons and guard and protect Trinity Marrow. Trin, as she is called, is special and she might be a bit of a spoiled brat for being treated differently than any other human but there is a reason for it. She is a Trueborn which means she's a Nephilim. She is half-human and half-angel. Her father is a very big and important archangel and her mother was human and they .... well... had sex.

I loved Trinity's friends but some of them weren't as well fleshed out as others. Like I hated Misha, Trinity's so-called protector which we learn had been a mistake. Zayne and Peanut are my favourites. Peanut is a ghost! He is very funny who has a habit of not knocking lol

Demons run amok in Washington D.C and something is killing Wardens. However, what if we were wrong about demons? Is it possible we are mistaken about them? I for one wish it were the case because I happen to like Roth the Crown Prince of Hell! This demon knows love, and how is that possible? He is a fabulous character and I hope to see him again. Anyway, Bael is evil and remains elusive. If I remember correctly, Bael is the reason that Zayne and Trinity travel to Washington D.C. It kidnapped Misha, and Trinity is intent on finding him. Did I mention she knows how to fight and is a kickass warrior? She is. There are also witches and a Harbinger dun dun dun dun. Bring it on!

All in all, it was a fantastic read if you like that sorta thing. I enjoyed her Covenant series and Titan spin-off. Storm and Fury stoked the fire once again. Loved it!

Willow fights to escape a nation ravaged by Zombies

Willow (Defy the Ravaged Book 1) by E.M. Raegan 

Kindle Edition, 150 pages
Published June 30th, 2019
My Rating: 3 of 5 stars 

Goodreads Summary

My name is Willow. His name is Jason. He hated me. I hated him— while silently hiding how much all that hate hurt deep down inside me. But all that was before. Before everything changed. Before I woke up to gunshots and screaming and death. Now he still hates me, along with his Uncle Paulie and their club brothers. But I don’t hate him. I can’t, not after he came for me. Not after he saved me. Not now that the ravaged are here. They come at you like you’re nothing. With their feral snarls, and bloodshot eyes. Their decaying mouths salivating for a bite of you. They are hungry for life and we are their meal. I didn’t want to believe it. I didn’t want to accept it. But I can’t ignore them now that they’re everywhere. Now that the threat of them haunts us every waking moment. But with Jason standing between them and me— I can’t hate him anymore. I don’t want to. *This story ends in a cliffhanger* ***Warning. For readers 18 years and older. Contains explicit sexual situations, possible triggers, dark themes, language, and violence.***

**I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thanks to Cortney E Designs for creating such a beautiful cover. I probably wouldn't have read it otherwise. Sci-fi or dystopia is not my favourite genre, but I try.

I like Willow and Jay but their relationship was very tumultuous. It must be the case that Willow comes from a messed-up family. Her mother was banging someone else's husband. It was very hard to keep up with everybody.
What I know is the one person who gave a damn about her is now dead and so is her mother. Furthermore, everyone else is dying around her as she fights to survive and escape a nation ravaged by Zombies.

The Turn of the Key

The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware

Narrated by Imogen Church
Published by Simon & Schuster Audio
Released Aug 27, 2019
1.2X speed 12 hours

My rating: 4 of 5 stars🔗

From the very start, we believed the Nanny's name was Rowan and she was on trial for murder. We don't know who was murdered but when she retells her story to her solicitor she has to go into detail with her side. It was a nightmare but the character building was formidable as I was drawn in and felt very close to the important characters which IMO were the children. Always the children ho-hum. Brats. Yes. They were brats. The only exception, 5 yr old Ellie. She was adorbs ♥

Heatherbrae House wasn't a "smart-house" if a young child could manipulate it AND from an older phone on top! UGH! I could never live in a house like that! I am not one who trusts technology enough for my life to depend on it. The house was wired up and could function on an app called Happy as it didn't even have doorknobs or light switches.

Still, creak...creak... goes the sound of something in the attic.

Admittingly the suspense was killing me but when the attic was finally opened up there were still the unexplainable open windows, the lost or stolen necklace, the sudden music disturbances and most importantly the history. Why would all the hired Nanny's tuck tail and run? The Turn of the Key is a well-written murder mystery/haunting but I felt I was deceived with all the hidden secrets. The main one being about who Rowan was.

I can't imagine what the girls had been through. Was it because of their father? What disturbed them so much? They kept repeating that they hated her and she should go away. Why? Was it not because of what their father made them do? 

The strange poison garden seemed exciting but I was disappointed that nothing became of it. All we know about the history of the house is that it used to be called Struan House and that Dr. Kenwick Grant planted rare poisonous plants nowhere else found in all of Scotland. His daughter died from ingesting some of those plants and he and his wife also passed away there. I wasn't convinced the house was haunted though *shrugs, even though it was meant to be believed as such. Not particularly fond of the end. Too many loose ends.

Stitches and Witches

Stitches and Witches by Nancy Warren

Amazon 🔗
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Stitches and Witches surround the Watts sisters who own the Elderflower tea shop next to Cardinal Woolseys. Mary Watts has strong suspicions of her sister's boyfriend, Gerald Pettigrew, and Florence suspects Mary of killing him.
There are more connections to a person if you want to catch a killer than is initially thought. With a little bit of magic and help from her vampire club, Lucy can solve the case and figure out who done it.