Wicked Days

Review:

This is one of those books I have to write the review out before settling on a * rating. So Ivy lives in a small town and happens to be a witch. She's around 28 (I think- didn't mention ages, but I know (or assume) it's been at least 10 years since she's been out of high school). Jack is around 30. Jack had Something Bad happen and he decided to move to Shadow Lake from Detroit. Re: the Something Bad- I know he got shot and there is a mention of a betrayal. What happened (I'm assuming) will be revealed in a future book.
Ivy finds a body in her yard on Jack's first day on the job. There is an instant connection between Ivy and Jack. But, very little romance in this one. There is a lot (A LOT) of back and forth with Ivy and Jack. They felt younger than the ages they are supposed to be. Jack sees Ivy with her brother and automatically assumes she lied to him about having a boyfriend. Ivy was rude to her aunt.
I thought this was weird too- Ivy's father confronting Jack on his interest in Ivy/Ivy's interest in him. Um, Micheal, you just met Jack. Jack and Ivy have known each other for a few weeks? Just weird. 
After all the "I'm not looking for a relationship," (from both) and the constant reminding of Ivy being a witch, I was just tired and irritated. At the least the mystery wasn't too bad. 

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1789050/wicked-days

Rogue Countess

Review:

I will come right out and say this- I am not a big fan of the forced marriage/abandonment trope. But I've read a book by this author that I really liked, so I thought I would give this one a try. 
Anna was married at 16. She was found in bed with Jude. Jude happened to be engaged to Anna's sister Olivia. Jude is forced to do the honorable thing and marries Anna. He then impulsively leaves the country and travels for the next 8 years. Anna is left alone. Luckily, Jude's father is supportive and Anna learns all about horses and racing. It turns out, she's one smart cookie.
Fast forward 8 years, after he father's dead, Jude returns. I have very mixed feelings. I really liked Anna. She is smart, independent. I thought she deserved so much more. I really didn't like how Jude blamed Anna for the marriage when she was just as much a victim (granted, he didn't know it, but still I was very annoyed, disappointed). I didn't like his treatment of her and I thought he come-around at the end was too quick. I felt there was no groveling, apology. His confession of love didn't ring true to me. 
Some things annoyed me: while married, Jude engaged in numerous affairs in his travels. Anna, true to the trope, remained chaste. After they've made the initial "re-connection," Anna comes across his mistress at the hotel. 
I did like the story line about the marriage and Anna's family. I was invested in the story. I'm glad Lief is getting a story, I liked his character. 

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1788323/rogue-countess

Forged in Fire

Review:

Anne and her crew are back. While at a festival, they come across a dead werewolf. However, this is Anne and nothing is so simple. To keep non-magical beings from seeing, and to attempt to find out more, they take the dead werewolf with them. 
Las Vegas is over a rift to Hell; the Western Infernus Rift. The demon Vagasso is trying to open it. The demon, the rift; all comes to a (satisfying) conclusion. I did not expect there to be a cliff hanger ending. But there is. 

Spoiler:

Anne and Vale are kidnapped. By the Feds? 

 

 

 

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1788049/forged-in-fire

Curious

Review:

Jeremy and Owen have been best friends and have known each other for most of their lives. Owen happens to be straight. Jeremy happens to be bisexual. Jeremy has been secretly in love with Owen and I'll say vice versa. Owen has been "curious" about what sex with Jeremy would be like.
This was HOT. Just looking at it from an erotica standpoint, this was well done. Hot, hot, hot sex scenes. My eye balls were on fire! But, while I do like erotica, I like it even better when there is more of a plot too. This was weak (IMO) on plot and character development. I feel this is important to note: NO SLUT SHAMING! 
For me:
Jeremy- parents kicked him out, didn't like their bisexual son. Lived with Aunt. Considers the Finns to be his family.
Owen-a Dom at the local club, Jeremy's BF
Tasha-Jeremy's female fuck buddy (not anymore) and Jeremy's 2nd BF
Jen- youngest Finn. Broke engagement to asshole.
Seamus- owns the bar, single father (4? kids)
Stephen- senator. He and Tasha have a thing. Seamus's twin.

 

 

 

 

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1787391/curious

Skirting the Ice

Review:

Murphy was the girl next door, coming for periods of time to stay with her grandfather while her father was away at work. The Bannisters lived next door. Murphy was friends with all of them, but the closest with Jack. She was in love with Jack and vice versa. Then her dad got a job that didn't require travel and she left, never coming back. Fast forward about 10 years later.
Murphy's grandpa died, leaving her his house. Jack lives on his parents property in an apt above the garage. Murphy is putting down roots and hoping to turn her hockey team into a professional women's one.
This was a nice 2nd chance story. Both have their own insecurities that (almost) jeopardize their relationship. I could both empathize and understand those insecurities. However, Jack's attitude/insecurity over things he had no control over (his asthma for ex) really got on my nerves. One of the reasons I wanted to read his story is because he is NOT like his hockey brothers.
I thought Murphy's stalker was unnecessary.
(5 brothers- Owen, Bane, Jack, Nathan, Beau)

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1786709/skirting-the-ice

A Shift in the Water

Review:

I was pleasantly surprised. Mara is dying. She has a blood disorder that no one can figure out and is transfusion dependent. The only time she feels better is when she is in the water.
Cade is a born werewolf. He father made an enemy who murdered him and is not after Cade. Katerina captures him and traps him in his wolf form. He is held prisoner, tortured, and slowly starved to death. 
Cade is able to escape and finds Mara. Being around Cade's wolf, Mara feels better. Mara helps heal both the wolf and the man. I liked both Cade and Mara. What I especially liked was Cade is not a typical alpha. I thought they fit very well. Their attraction and love gradually builds, no insta-love here. That was also a plus. 
Mara's chosen family and Cade's pack are supportive and add to the interplay between the 2 main characters. 
One of Katerina's coven, Bella, might actually be someone else. (Liam's love jumped off a cliff and her body was never found, she was an air elemental like Bella).

 

 

 

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1786347/a-shift-in-the-water

Halloween Bingo

 

 Picks, subject to change.

1st row

Ghost Stories:  The Kingdom by Amanda Stevens

Creepy Carnivals: Wicked Weaves by Joyce and Jim Lavene

Genre: Horror: Dreadful Skin by Cherie Priest

Spellbound:  A Witch's Handbook of Kisses and Curses by Molly Harper

Relics and Curiosities:  Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews

2nd

Genre: Suspense: Barefoot With a Bodyguard by Roxanne St Clair

Baker Street Irregulars: The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle

Cryptozoologist: Shield of Winter by Nalini Singh

13: She Hulk by Marta Acosta

Cozy Mystery: Truly Madly by Heather Webber

3rd

Terror in a Small Town: Dark Cries of Gray Oaks by Lee Karr

Dead Lands: Once Bitten, Twice Burned by Cynthia Eden

Free Space:  Magic to the Bone by Devon Monk

New Release: I Am Justice by Diana Munoz Stewart

Diverse Voices: Black Lace by Beverly Jenkins

4th

Doomsday:  Married With Zombies by Jesse Peterson

Supernatural: Possessing the Witch by Elle James

Fear the Drowning Deep: Tsunami Blue by Gayle Ann Williams

Modern Masters of Horror: Dead Spots by Rhiannon Frater

 

Country House Mystery: Ghost of a Chance by Katie MacAllister

5th

Southern Gothic: House of Shadows by Jen Christie

Darkest London: Firelight by Kristin Callihan

Shifters: Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs

 

Terrifying Women: A Girl in Disguise by Greer MacAllister

Murder Most Foul: Lowcountry Boil by Susan Boyer

 

 

The victims, I mean books:

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1786039/halloween-bingo