Review: Forever and Forever by Josi S. Kilpack

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01 for Oh, how my heart is happy!! I must admit when I first picked this book up, I kept wracking my brain to who this Longfellow was. The name sounded familiar, but I couldn’t place it. So I googled it and found my answer and was greatly distraught afterwards. I’m not one for book spoilers and that basically told me how his story ended, not how the book ended. I realize Forever and Forever is their love story, but to know the final part, was almost more than my heart was prepared for. So I sat down and read with a heavy heart and began their journey.

When we first meet Fanny, she’s an 18 yr old with not a care in the world. Very young and immature at times. Most women her age were looking for husbands, but not her. She was content with living under her father’s roof and off his money. She wasn’t cruel or evil, mind you, just very immature. I found as I was reading, I really wanted to shake some sense into her. She was making me so very angry with her attitude towards Henry Longfellow.

Henry was a widower and a professor, when he first laid eyes one Fanny. I loved him instantly. He loved and lost and you knew he wasn’t just going to give his heart away to anyone. He wasn’t even looking for anyone, until he stumbled upon Fanny. Slowly he started to fall for her and spent 7 years convincing her to give him a chance.

And forever and forever,
As long as the river flows,
As long as the heart has passions,
As long as life has woes;

The moon and its broken reflection
And its shadows shall appear,
As the symbol of love in heaven,
And its wavering image here.

As I said before, I knew how their story ended, so I spent most of the book quite angry at Fanny for dismissing him so easily. He was so romantic with his poems and books. She didn’t deserve him, but he loved her and was patiently waiting for God to change one of their hearts. By the time I was done, I had tears flowing. She wasted so many years being stubborn. I’m just glad they had time at all.

Now this book isn’t classified as Christian romance, but it could be. God is mentioned a few times, but it’s a very good balance. Religion was a very important part of this history, so I find it refreshing.

Forever and Forever is my first book by Josi, but I know it won’t be my last.

~Melpomene

Buy FOREVER AND FOREVER.

Review: Unhooked by Lisa Maxwell

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I love it when authors put their own unique twist on classic stories and fairytales.  Bonus points if their version is even more dark and twisted than the original.  This is what you get with the latest from Lisa Maxwell.

We all know the story of Peter Pan and the Lost Boys.  The story from my childhood places Peter in the role of hero, saving all who are lost.  And the Neverland I remember was a magical place full of swashbuckling fun with a dash of danger thrown in.

This is not the story we grew up with.  This Neverland is full of deadly secrets at every turn.  There are more beasts than you can keep track of.  And death is a regular occurrence.  Oh and Peter?  He may not be what you remember.  This Peter is more sinister and conniving. And then there’s Captain Hook.  Because what would a Peter Pan story be without a bad guy?  But maybe Hook isn’t really the bad guy.  Or maybe he is.

This is what Gwendolyn has to decide for herself.  Her entire life has been spent moving from place to place.  Just as soon as she gets settled, her mom uproots them yet again.  She has a good reason.  They are running from monsters, after all.  To Gwen, this is just more of her mom’s eccentric behavior.  So when they end up in London, she doesn’t take any of the warnings seriously.  Keep the windows closed, don’t turn off the lights…

And when she doesn’t heed these warnings, bad things happen.  In the form of dark shadowy creatures who swoop in and capture Gwen along with her friend Olivia.  When Gwen wakes up, she finds herself on the ship of the infamous Captain Hook.  She knows the story, so she knows he’s not the good guy.  So she escapes and is rescued by Peter Pan.

Here’s where the story takes even more twists and turns.  Gwen quickly realizes that Pan may not be what he seems.   And it would appear that she holds the key to saving herself and Olivia.  Maybe her mom wasn’t so crazy after all…

This was such a fun book to read.  The author has a way with words and is able to create magical worlds that transport the reader.  While staying close to the original storyline, she still gives us a fantastical alternate version.  Add this one to your list!

~Thalia

Buy It Now:  Unhooked

Review: Bounty by Kristen Ashley

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01 bounty There’s just something about a Kristen Ashley book that brings a smile to my face. Not sure if it’s the stories themselves or the many parts of them, but whatever it is, I fall a little bit in love with each of them. Between the scenery, romance, the emotional tone, and even the characters themselves, I am swiftly caught up in all the action and swept away on a happy cloud and left feeling emotionally full and content.

Justice is recovering from a loss and has chosen to do that in a fixer upper, in the Colorado Mountains. She plans on making this her happy place away from the rest of the world. She just wants to be her and not the Justice Lonesome, that the rest of the world knows. She’s done with that life and wants to find her “more.” She’s hoping the simpleness of Colorado will hold that in store for her.

Deke is a simple man. What can I say about him? I love him. We’ve read about him before. He’s proven he’s a good friend and strong man to have on your side. He doesn’t take crap from anybody. He’s always wanted more, but knew that he’d never get it. When he accepts a job to fix up Jus’ house, he had no idea that this woman was going to be the key to his “more.”

I think I felt a connection to this story due to the musical undertones. Something about the lyrics drew me in. I sit back and listen to the songs, that are named, and cry sometimes. I feel it deep down in my gut. I can’t put in words what this does to me. But what I can say that it adds an extra something something to it. Can’t place my finger on it, but it’s there.

In true Kristen Ashley form, Bounty was is beautiful love story filled with a pleasant slow burn that transformed into a hot and saucy romance. And of course it has a bit of confrontation and a hefty dose of family and friends. It makes me wish I lived in the mountains.

“I’m a lucky girl. Blessed. Given so much bounty, it’s almost embarrassing how much God likes me. But he really must like me because I have all I have and He also gave me you.”

~Melpomene

Release Date: 4-18-16
Preorder Bounty (Colorado Mountain Series Book 7)

You NEED to read the first six books in this series. Trust me. Your heart will thank you for it.
The Gamble (Colorado Mountain Series Book 1)
Sweet Dreams (Colorado Mountain Series Book 2)
Lady Luck (Colorado Mountain Series Book 3)
Breathe (Colorado Mountain Series Book 4)
Jagged (Colorado Mountain Series Book 5)
Kaleidoscope (Colorado Mountain Series Book 6)

Review: Paris is Always a Good Idea by Nicolas Barreau

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Rosalie had high hopes for her humble  wishing card shop in the middle of Paris. She had little idea a famous author would stumble in and change her world. She had absolutely no notion she’d have another gentleman stroll in … and rock her world. 

This charming book had me aahhing and mmmm’ing and sighing, as well as laughing with tears in my eyes. Barreau’s descriptions of Paris streets and pastries brought me back to my one and only trip abroad when I was in my twenties. 

The famous author’s past offered the reader a cozy mystery and provided opportunities for Barreau to flesh out Rosalie’s character. Though Rosalie was primarily an artist and shopkeeper, we got to know her better through her mystery-solving endeavors and interactions with other characters. 

My favorite part of this book was finding out about a secret love story in addition to the obvious one. Paris once, Paris twice, Paris always. 

-calliope

Buy PARIS IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA

Review and Giveaway: Listen to Me by Kristen Proby

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01 lis What a great way to start this new series!

Addison has been hurt a time or two, by musicians, so she has sworn them off. Never again shall she fall for one. HA! Yeah right. As soon as she makes this statement, it’s like the rock gods look down and laugh at her. She just wants to run her restaurant, with her friends, and just be her. But when Jake Keller steps up on stage and sing his heart out, she get knocked for a loop.

Jake walked away from from his rock life, five years ago. He always though he’d be happy without it, but in truth, he misses the singing. So when he’s offered a chance to get up on a stage and just do that, he goes for it, and it’s like all is well in his world. Plus it has the added benefit of seeing super sexy Addison when she’s working.

Addison is determined to remain closed off to Jake, but he slowly works his way into her heart. She is so afraid to open herself up again. But there’s something about Jake she can’t deny. The fun banter these two have makes the seduction all the more sweeter and creates quite a sizzle. But love doesn’t come easy for these two, that’s why I like it.

This book wasn’t just about the romance, it was about friendship. Jake and Addie have a great support system of friends that had me wishing I was sitting right there with them. It’s such a diverse group of friends and I can’t wait to continue with this series!

~Melpomene

Buy Listen to Me.

Enter giveaway HERE

LtM Teaser 5

Author Pic_Montana About Kristen Proby:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Kristen Proby is the author of the bestselling With Me In Seattle and Love Under the Big Sky series. She has a passion for a good love story and strong, humorous characters with a strong sense of loyalty and family. Her men are the alpha type; fiercely protective and a bit bossy, and her ladies are fun, strong, and not afraid to stand up for themselves.
Kristen lives in Montana, where she enjoys coffee, chocolate and sunshine. And naps.

Review: The Cracked Spine by Paige Shelton 

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Book-lover Delaney from Kansas answers a Help Wanted ad placed by a Scottish bookshop owner. When she arrives in Edinburgh, she realizes she’s getting more than she bargained for: Treasures, ghosts, and new friends keeping closely held secrets. 

When Delaney finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery, she does some amateur investigating… and there her adventures get real. 

I loved the bookshop setting, the streets of Edinburgh, and especially Delaney’s Pub across the street with the good-looking, kilt-wearing, half-smiling, full-on charming pub owner. 

I could’ve done without the dialogue being written in Scottish dialect and the contrivances trying to convince me that Delaney really loved books. Both were off-putting, and I almost didn’t read past chapter one. I think the story would have flowed a little better – especially in the beginning – had the author not tried quite so hard to prove her points. 

Once I accepted the Scottish dialogue and allowed myself to skip over anything repetitive, I started to love Delaney and her new friends. She left her home for a new experience — and she really dove into it head first. Gotta love that courage. 

Take a trip with Delaney in Edinburgh. You’ll get into her head and help her solve a mystery. And keep an eye out for the handsome Scot across the street. 

-calliope

Buy THE CRACKED SPINE

Review: The Expats by Chris Pavone

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expat***Spoilers without spoilers***

Another tough one for me. I love this book for the most part…put the ending really knocked it down for me from a book I could have loved to just “meh”.

The stuff going on between Kate and her husband, Dexter was more than enough to carry the entire book. Once we found out what Kate’s previous job was there were dozens of ways this book could have went…All of them good. When you add the secrets that she kept from her husband and how they continued to grow after time to such an extent that she felt she could never share them. Once you’ve went years not telling the truth, the truth becomes even harder to share, simply because you didn’t do so long ago. Something simple and harmless (Although her previous job was far from that!) grows more menacing as the time goes by…The party kept in the dark will always wonder why didn’t you share SOONER? What else have they hiding all that time.

Then you have Dexter…who might not be so innocent as Kate once believed. Maybe he doesn’t truly have such a passive personality after all. If she has her secrets, why shouldn’t she realise that he might have his very own. Perhaps even bigger than hers!

See! Paranoia just feeds upon itself with just that….it just builds and builds. Considering Kate’s previous job title, paranoia is understandable…or is it? See! There it goes again! That is why this book could have been fantastic….

Alas, the author decided that it wasn’t enough….he had to throw in some extra characters and at the ending make the entire storyline not about Kate and Dexter, but about this mass cover up/conspiracy/manipulation. The entire novel could have…nay, should have left the other couple as bit players and nothing more. I wish authors remembered that you don’t have to fabricate drama in every sentence. If it’s there it’s there! No need to try to insert more. It just seems forced and unbelievable for me. I understand the need for some authors to provide *surprising and shocking* endings in novels. I suppose the public does demand them. However, the best ones are the believable ones aren’t just Johnny on the spot and seemingly there to cause drama. They are the ones that were there all along…

Another major let down for me, but just as the book was too predictable, I suppose my let down is just as predictable….

Until next time…

Urania xx

Buy it now The Expats by Chris Pavone

Review: Smoke and Fire by Donna Grant

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01 dark I love this series. Plain and simple. Dragons are my weakness and I can’t hold myself back when I see books with them in it. And when you combine dragons with the fae, you have a recipe for Melpomene’s happiness.

Kinsey and Ryder were in love, or so she thought. Then her broke her heart and she never saw him again. That is until during the battle, in Glasgow, when he changed right before her eyes, and she was faced with more than your every day secret. This was a life shattering secret. She was devastated and was determined to never set her eyes on him again. Little did she know that her work was sending her straight into her worst nightmare.

Ryder has loved Kinsey for years. He never forgot about her. And when he was sent to Glasgow to stop the dark from killing every mortal, he had no idea that he would be revealing himself to the one person he vowed to keep in the dark.

This story was different than the rest, in the sense that they already have a history. They’re in love, even if they won’t admit it to themselves. I was actually quite happy with that aspect, since there was so much happening in the background already. If we had to wait for them to find each other and fall in love, it would take away from the dynamic of the entire story. Without saying any spoilers, let’s just say that history almost repeated itself, and in the worst way possible.

Now for the side characters, Ulrik is keeping some very HUGE secrets from everyone. And I mean H.U.G.E. This is a game changer no one even knows yet. Part of me hopes that reconciliation can happen, with Con and the rest of the Kings, but I’m not holding my breath.

Rhi wants to stay with Balladyn, but I’m not so sure that’s a good idea. While being with Rhi makes him more light than dark, his normal side is dark and I fear this isn’t good for her. I have my suspicions as to who her King is, and if I’m right, I’d rather they both get their heads out of their butts and realize it and get back together. After her captivity, she can’t afford anymore dark in her life.

There are many more questions that still need to be answered and I am anxiously waiting for them. Until then, I’ll keep on reading and hope I can draw some correct conclusions and discover answers for myself. #Dragons4Ever

~Melpomene

Buy Smoke and Fire: A Dark Kings Novel

Start from the beginning and fall in love with all the Kings:
Darkest Flame (Dark Kings)
Fire Rising (Dark Kings)
Burning Desire (Dark Kings)
Hot Blooded (Dark Kings)
Night’s Blaze (Dark Kings)
Soul Scorched: A Dark Kings Novel
Passion Ignites (Dark Kings)
Smoldering Hunger: A Dark Kings Novel

Review: The Children’s Home by Charles Lambert

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This was one weirdly confusing book. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It left me thinking for a bit, wondering exactly how I wanted to proceed with my review. Because it’s a story that’s not for everyone. Some will love it, some will not.

The story opens with the arrival of children. Nobody knows where they came from or how they got there. And that remains the case for the entirety of the story. But they arrive one after the other, some left on the doorstep and some simply wandering up to the door.

As owner of the sprawling estate, it falls on Morgan to decide what to do. As a hermit, he’s lonely from time to time and comes to enjoy the company of the children as does Engel, the caretaker. Who, by the way, also showed up mysteriously shortly before the children. Strange children are accompanied by strange happenings, of course.

So here is the overriding mystery of the story. But another equally compelling mystery concerns Morgan’s reclusiveness. What happened during his childhood to horribly scar him? Yet another intriguing tidbit the author drags out as long as possible.

I guess I’m not sure exactly how to describe this book. It’s good, but frustrating at the same time. I wanted more answers but in a way am glad they weren’t given to me. And if I’ve confused you even more, so goes The Children’s Home.

~Thalia

Buy It Now:  The Children’s Home

Review: A Lady’s Favor by Josi S. Kilpack

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01 alady I just finished this sweet romance and my heart is so very content and happy. A Lady’s Favor is short novella that will have you swooning and smiling all over the place.

Bianca is under the constant attention of a very pompous, Lord Strapshire. No matter what she does, she can’t sway him away. Even though she hasn’t spoken to Mathew, since the embarrassing “incident” a few years ago, she has asked for his help, in trying to persuade Lord Strapshire to move along.

Mathew is still quite embarrassed from causing Bianca such comfortableness, years ago, but he is thrilled to be asked for his help, even if it’s only to repay his debt to her. But soon he quickly realizes that he isn’t playing a game and he doesn’t want her to think that anymore.

I loved Mathew. He was a great friend to her and I liked being in his head. Watching him go from acquaintance to friend to more, was so much fun. He may have done foolish things, but when it counted he stepped up and helped her out.

If you like sweet romances, I highly recommend A Proper Romance titles. They will make your romantic heart happy.

~Melpomene

Buy A Lady’s Favor.