Lemon Sisters by Jill Shalvis – 5*

Mindy Lemon has never understood how her sister Brooke could lead a life of wild adventures. Mindy settled down with her high school sweetheart and had 3 kids. It isn’t until Mindy shows up at Brooke’s door having a break-down Brooke agrees to take the 3 kids back to Wildstone and give Mindy a much needed break. By going home Brooke is forced to confront her past to move on. 

I loved the dynamics between the sisters. It was interesting to see the relationships between the siblings, the significant others, and in laws.

Brooke gets Mindy a little bit better and way sooner than Mindy does. At times in the book I really hated Mindy. I am guessing the author wanted you to hate her but Mindy has no understanding at all what Brooke has been through. Brooke is all in in supporting Mindy but when push comes to shove Mindy is judgmental. It isn’t until Brooke lays everything out, things that she shouldn’t have to tell her sister that her sister finally understands why Brooke is the way that she is.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. It was interesting to see the give and take in relationships and how they finally seem to understand each other.

Scoundrel in Her Bed by Lorraine Heath book 1 of Sins for all seasons – 3 Stars

Lady Lavinia Kent is seeking redemption for her past.  When her path crosses with Finn Trewlove, a man from her past.  They can’t fight the love they have but when the truth comes out will they be able to live with their new truths.

I love most of the other books written by Lorraine Heath and I wanted to love this story too.  The plot was good, so were the characters and the character development.  What didn’t work for me was you would have a chapter in the current time and then a chapter of their past.  It was back and forth through about half the book.  The scenes from their past didn’t enhance the present story-line.  For me it detracted to the point I skipped a couple chapters because I wanted to continue the current storyline.  I didn’t care that Finn rescued Lavinia’s horse from being killed.  It wasn’t vital to the timeline.  The book had a prologue where Lavinia gives birth and that is all I needed to understand the current timeline.  I didn’t need the full backstory of how they met and fell in love and ended up being split up to become invested in the romance. 

Once the back and forth was done the story picked up for me and I enjoyed it immensely.  Both Lavinia and Finn were screwed over by Lavinia’s parents in different ways but they were able to come together in the end.  The whole story-line about their baby just made me so sad.

Overall I enjoyed this book.  Particularly when Lavinia and Finn got their well-earned Happily Ever After.

Fluffy by Julia Kent – 3.5 Stars

Mallory is a professional fluffer.  She stages homes for people.  When she is out of work she finds a job on Craigslist looking for a fluffer.  She takes the job only to find out it isn’t what she thinks it is.

Will shows up at his parent’s house to kick out the trespassers to find his high school crush needing rescuing. 

I really really wanted to love this story.  The humor was in the story but I had a hard time believing Mallory was that sweet and innocent that she didn’t understand what was going on.  The whole scene in the house just felt very forced.  Later in the book they talked about how smart Mallory was but it was not portrayed in the book. 

Overall, this was a miss for me from an author I normally love. 

Little Miss Perfect by Julia Kent Prequel to Fluffy – 4 Stars

This short story is set ten years prior to when Fluffy takes place.  Mallory and Will are in high school about to graduate.  It is the interaction that is discussed in Fluffy. 

I liked seeing them in high school and having this moment fleshed out.  You could tell in the writing that they liked each other and they were unaware the feelings were mutual.

Overall this wasn’t long and I enjoyed it but I also think that reading this before Fluffy would not make sense.  It is very much a prequel you need to read after Fluffy

American Witch by Thea Harrison – 4.5 Stars

Electrical surges, random car breakdowns, and unexplained visions have been driving Molly Sullivan crazy.  When she discovers her husband is having an affair it pushes her over the edge and into her witch powers.  When she begins divorce proceedings she uncovers a dangerous secret that her husband will do anything to keep hidden.

Powerful witch Josiah Mason is on a mission to take down a powerful enemy when he stumbles across Molly.  He must decide whether he will help Molly with her husband or continue on his quest to take down his enemy.

I loved almost everything about this book.  There was give and take between Molly and Josiah.  Molly’s world is falling apart when she discovers her magic.  Instead of falling apart she goes with it and is determined to take care of herself.  She is strong even when she is nearly killed.  Josiah also had to deal with his own issues.  He has to decide if he is going to continue on his track to get revenge or give it all up for Molly.  This struggle made the book more interesting because it wasn’t instantly I love yous and changing my life.  It took him working through his issues to get to the point where he was willing to walk away from his revenge for her because she mattered more than the revenge. 

There were some pacing issues at the beginning of the story.  There were times I wanted to move on already but once it got going it got going and I enjoyed the story.  This is a me thing but I kind a wanted some of the characters from Elder Races series to make an appearance.  That is completely on me and it wasn’t technically necessary but I wanted it.

Here’s hoping this becomes a series of books cause I want more.

Mane Event by Shelly Laurenston book 1 Pride – 4 star

This book is two short stories by Shelly Laurenston. 

Story One
Mace Llewellyn, lion shifter, has love Desiree “Dez” MacDermot since they were in middle school.  Mace fresh out of the Navy is determined to track Dez down and make her his no matter what.  She been married and isn’t interested in anything but figuring out who killed a man connected to Mace’s sister. 

Story Two
Brendon Shaw, lion shifter, kidnapped and held by the hyenas in the last book is going through the fever.  Ronnie Lee Reed, wolf shifter, is tasked with sitting with him to get him through the fever.  She is determined to find a mate and settle down.  Brendan is determined to be that mate even if she doesn’t want it he will find a way to win her over.

The books are very fast paced but don’t feel like they are going too fast.  There doesn’t seem to be any backstory missing, which some short stories have issues with.  The books are also very so funny.  There is so much humor between the characters.  I did enjoy Mace’s story more than Brendon’s.  I think it was more to do with the interactions between Mace and Dez then anything being wrong with Brendon’s.

Audio

Charlotte Kane does an amazing job bringing voice to the different characters.  When she is reading you know exactly which character is talking based on how she is speaking.  Would highly recommend listening to this whole series by Charlotte Kane.  She gives Dez this very Bronx accent that just makes you think definitely a New York girl.  Mace and Brendon both get a very cultured voice but they were both different.  Ronnie was given a very southern girl slow drawl that makes you think south.  All of this made for a very good book to listen too.

How to Marry a Warlock in 10 Days by Saranna DeWylde – 4 stars

Middy Cherrywood has always lusted after Dred Shadowins but after his jokester ways in high school she is only interested in his Weekly Warlock centerfold.  Until a Warlock pulls his funding for a charity event.  Middy has to get Dred’s support so the children won’t go without.  Dred will help only if Middy helps him by becoming his fake fiancé.  He probably should have told his mother this was a fake engagement before she slips Middy a potion that turns the fake engagement real unless they both want to lose their powers.

The book was incredibly funny and hot.  Very very hot.  There was a lot of banter between Middy and Dred that made me crack up laughing.  The scenes where they are getting heavy in the bedroom were also really good.  Ironically the book is almost over when they have sex for the first time.  I loved Middy’s take no prisoner attitude.   She finally is going for what she wants and she doesn’t even care if it is temporary. 


The one part of the plot I didn’t like was the potion the mom slipped Middy.  Even though you could already see they were meant to be together the potion made it seem like they didn’t really have a choice in the matter unless they wanted to lose their magic.  It just felt wrong to me.

Even though I knew who the bad guy was I enjoyed getting to the end and I will be picking up other books by this author.