Room on the Shelf

Molly Brooks is a telepathic vigilante with a few secrets and a mysterious past. Determined to make something of her bizarre powers, she devotes herself to saving those who need her most. One night, she’s followed by a powerful being in a pickup truck, and her world will never be the same. Finding herself thrust into a world full of supernatural beings she could have only imagined, Molly learns how powerful she really is, and how much she stands to lose. —Book Teaser After reading the premise above and seeing the rave review from one of my favorite authors, Elizabeth Hunter, I was chomping at the bit to try this new series.  I have a soft spot for Urban Fantasy and kick-ass heroines, what can I say? The book started out promising.  I saw a lot of un-plumbed depth in Molly, our heroine and, despite not really having any kind of knowledge of or interest in Detroit, Vanderlinden created an interesting world with intriguing characters.  She had me hooked, and I enjoyed the tension between Molly, Nain and Brennan.  But then, at around 75% into the book, I almost put it down.  And I was angry.  Because I had loved the book so…

*I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, but all opinions are my own.* “It adds a certain je-ne-say-whatsit…”  —Buck Inebriated idiots, murderous mobsters, fraught families, sexy sergeants, and loads of laughs–this book’s got it all. Clio and Sean–a woman with a sketchy past and a member of the Guard–seem like polar opposites. He follows (and enforces) the law, and she has a history of breaking it. Sometimes, though, love is above the law. The question is, will their burning attraction and growing feelings be enough to overcome their heavy pasts and the gangster holding a tab on Clio? “I love you,” he said, and meant it with an earnest intensity he’d never experienced before.  “Now dry your eyes and don’t get shot.” Of all the Ballybeg men, Sean is my absolute favorite. Maybe it’s the uniform, or maybe it’s the quiet strength and sharp wit–whatever the case, he just does it for me. And Clio is absolutely real and relatable, and I admired her spunk and strength in the face of adversity.  Keane crafts their romance with a nice realism and lack of mushiness that suits a somewhat jaded policeman and…

After falling head over heels for Ballybeg in Love and Shenanigans, I was both stoked and a little scared to read Love and Leprechauns (I skipped Love and Blarney, #2 and a stand-alone novella). I loved the world and Zara Keane‘s writing style so much in the first installation that I was afraid the next full novel wouldn’t live up to the first.  But let me tell you:  this one was just as good! The setting of this installation is the same Ballybeg as in Love and Shenanigans (read my review here), but the hero and heroine, Jonas and Olivia, are quite different from Fiona and Gavin–and from each other. We meet Olivia and Jonas in Love and Shenanigans, but we really get to know them in this book.  Jonas is a single father and writer, struggling to balance his writing career with parenting a special needs child.  Olivia dreams of starting a cafe and obtaining financial independence from her abusive husband.  When Jonas has the space Olivia needs for her business, and rent money from Olivia can help keep Jonas’s boat afloat, the two warily join together and sparks fly!  But can new feelings overcome past hurts? I loved the artful blend…

If you’re looking for a fun romance with a little mystery, lots of laughs, and sexy Irishmen, you should definitely pick up this first installment in Zara Keane‘s Ballybeg series. The heroine, Fiona, is a supremely likeable and “real” character.  She’s not model thin or fashionable, and she doesn’t give a feck.  When she’s wrangled into the wedding party (in chartreuse, no less!) for her snotty cousin, and discovers that the groom, Gavin is, in fact, already married (to HER!), Fiona’s life is thrown for a loop. Follow along as Fiona and Gavin navigate the curves, rises and dips (pun totally intended) of the road to love.  Will they hang on until the end, or will roadblocks stop them in their tracks? I literally laughed out loud from the beginning.  Keane’s writing is fresh, and her portrayal of Irish culture masterful.  Why are you still reading this review?! Buy the book and read it now (I’ve even put a handy little link to the book on Amazon just below)! You won’t regret it.  And if you do, you’re an eejit. Love and Shenanigans (Ballybeg, Book 1) (The Ballybeg Series)

Some of my current favorite genres are Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy.  I love a good mystery, a strong female protagonist, and a little romance.  A while back, I discovered Elizabeth Hunter through the first book in her Irin Chronicles series, The Scribe.  I instantly fell in love with her writing style, stalk….er followed her on Facebook, and began to search out more of her work.  When the opportunity to review Shifting Dreams, the first installment in her Cambio Springs series, presented itself, I jumped.  And I’m so very glad I did. Let me start by saying that it took me entirely too long to review this book.  Generally, I can finish a book on my Kindle in a day or two (depending on my children, my workload, and my schedule), but this was my first audio book review.  Those of you with kids know how hard it can be to “listen” to anything actively while at home with kids.  My life is a constant stream of requests for snacks, butt wiping, booger clearing, and playtime, so turning on an audio book was much more difficult than anticipated.  Just something to keep in mind as you decide in which format you’d like to purchase this book…

I don’t know about you, but I hate stories where characters are cliches and dialogue is stale and far from believable.  So, when I discovered Zoe York, I *may* have squealed a bit with delight. My first Zoe York book, Love in a Small Town, was a fun, easy read. There was mystery, there was conflict, there was romance, there was self-discovery, and yes, there was sex. The first book in the Pine Harbour series, Love in a Small Town is the story of Rafe and Olivia Minelli.  Rafe is a police officer and army reservist, Olivia is his small-town diner waitress ex-wife, and the sparks are definitely still flying after their divorce. When Olivia has to decide between an exciting new job or a fresh start away from Pine Harbour, she must also choose whether to protect her heart or give it to Rafe…again. What I liked most was that the main characters were genuine–they were at once likeable and obnoxiously stubborn, and that’s real life. In the real world, marriage is a difficult and delicate balance, and it’s not always easy to find a happy medium between the wants and needs of two people. It can be even more difficult when you…