Review for The Trouble With Twelfth Grave

Blurb courtesy of GoodReads.com:
Ever since Reyes Farrow escaped from a hell dimension in which Charley Davidson accidentally trapped him, the son of Satan has been brimstone-bent on destroying the world his heavenly Brother created. His volatile tendencies have put Charley in a bit of a pickle. But that's not the only briny vegetable on her plate. While trying to domesticate the feral being that used to be her husband, she also has to deal with her everyday life of annoying all manner of beings--some corporeal, some not so much--as she struggles to right the wrongs of society. Only this time she's not uncovering a murder. This time she's covering one up.

Add to that her new occupation of keeping a startup PI venture--the indomitable mystery-solving team of Amber Kowalski and Quentin Rutherford--out of trouble and dealing with the Vatican's inquiries into her beloved daughter, and Charley is on the brink of throwing in the towel and becoming a professional shopper. Or possibly a live mannequin. But when someone starts attacking humans who are sensitive to the supernatural world, Charley knows it's time to let loose her razor sharp claws. Then again, her number one suspect is the dark entity she's loved for centuries. So the question becomes: Can she tame the unruly beast before it destroys everything she's worked so hard to protect?

My Review:
Let me preface this by saying I had not read anything after book 9 until Summoned to Thirteenth Grave was provided as an ARC. Why? Because Darynda Jones knows how to write a fast paced story that leaves you hanging and screaming for more. I got frustrated waiting for each new release and decided to practice patience.
And OMHisBrother, I am so glad that I did. 
Twelfth Grave, much like its predecessors, has so many twists that make perfect sense. While I usually struggle with the various storylines, Ms. Jones manages to keep the confusion at a minimum but without losing a drop of momentum. 
But, as usual, just when everything seems have a happy resolution, Charley finds herself in a tough situation and excuse me while I download Thirteenth Grave to see how she gets out of it!

New Release from Valerie Bowman!!

Ok, so it's been a really long time since I've been active. There's been a lot going on. Trust me, still reading, but just wasn't focused!

Well, that has changed and while I have plans to redo my blog, I wanted to share this post because it is a MUST READ!!

Yes, this is book 9(!), but don't let that deter you! I'm usually one of those "I must read every book in order" readers, but it wasn't a problem with A Duke Like No Other at all!

Summary

First comes love, then comes marriage. Unless it’s the other way around. . .

General Mark Grimaldi has sacrificed everything for his military career, working his way
through the ranks without the benefit of a nobleman’s title. Now, his years of dedication are about to
pay off—with an offer for a prestigious promotion to Home Secretary.
There’s only one condition: Mark must be married. Aside from the small matter of not actually
wanting to be wed, Mark faces another troubling problem: he already has a wife.

Nicole Huntington Grimaldi has spent ten contented years in France without her husband—
and without regret. When Mark asks her to return to London and play the part of his beloved wife,
she sees her chance. But neither of them is prepared for news that will throw Mark’s future into
chaos…nor the undeniable desire they’ve rekindled. Maybe happily-ever-after can happen the
second time around in A Duke Like No Other, the next Regency romance from Valerie Bowman.


Valerie Bowman’s Playful Brides novels are:

“Wholly satisfying.”—USA Today

“Smart and sensual…readers will be captivated.”—RT Book Reviews

"Smoldering.” —Booklist

Buy Links:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Books-A-Million

Indie Bound

Powells

Social Links:

Author Website

Twitter: @Valeriegbowman

Facebook @ValerieBowmanAuthor

Pinterest

Author Bio:

VALERIE BOWMAN grew up in Illinois with six sisters (she’s number seven) and a huge supply of historical romance novels. After a cold and snowy stint earning a degree in English with a minor in history at Smith College, she moved to Florida the first chance she got. Valerie now lives in Jacksonville with her family including her mini-schnauzer, Huckleberry. When she’s not writing, she keeps busy reading, traveling, or vacillating between watching crazy reality TV and PBS. She is the author of the Secret Brides and Playful Brides series.

Duke of Sin- Release Day

It's finally here!! I have been waiting for Valentine's book and I really wish that I didn't have to work today!!!

DUKE OF SIN by Elizabeth Hoyt (May 31, 2016; Grand Central Publishing Mass Market; The Maiden Lane Series #10)

A MAN OF SIN

Devastatingly handsome. Vain. Unscrupulous. Valentine Napier, the Duke of Montgomery, is the man London whispers about in boudoirs and back alleys. A notorious rake and blackmailer, Montgomery has returned from exile, intent on seeking revenge on those who have wronged him. But what he finds in his own bedroom may lay waste to all his plans.

A WOMAN OF HONOR

Born a bastard, housekeeper Bridget Crumb is clever, bold, and fiercely loyal. When her aristocratic mother becomes the target of extortion, Bridget joins the Duke of Montgomery's household to search for the incriminating evidence-and uncovers something far more dangerous.

A SECRET THAT THREATENS TO DESTROY THEM BOTH

Astonished by the deceptively prim-and surprisingly witty-domestic spy in his chambers, Montgomery is intrigued. And try as she might, Bridget can't resist the slyly charming duke. Now as the two begin their treacherous game of cat and mouse, they soon realize that they both have secrets-and neither may be as nefarious-or as innocent-as they appear . . .

Thank you, Under the Covers Book Blog!

My TBR pile is monumental and beautiful. But there are times when I am so overwhelmed with it that I just throw my hands in the air and read a book that just came out, or even worse, buy one that I see on Facebook.

Thankfully, the wonderful ladies over at Under the Covers Book Blog came up with a way for me (and others like me!) to tackle the mountain. Rollback week is a weeklong (duh) challenge where no books released in the last two months can be read.  For this challenge, I am going with Julia London's Secrets of Hadley Green series.

I haven't read any of London's historicals, but I am a huge fan of her contemporary novels.

                                            
(not my photo)


Check out Julia London's page here.

~~~
Does anyone else take part in #RollbackWeek?  If not, how do you attack the TBR monster?

Review: Hooked By Love - Toni Aleo

Things are out of control for the Sinclair boys! With two already in the NHL, Jace Sinclair is ready to follow in his brothers’ HUGE skates in the last Bellevue Bullies novel…

Jace Sinclair here, and I’m amazing. There is no other way to describe me. I am the leading scorer for the Bellevue Bullies, I’m the captain, and people love me: my family, my teammates, my coach, and the NHL. I already have one foot in the draft and I’m ready. This is my last year in college–it’s basically a conditioning year to get me ready for the NHL, to further my game, and I have to be focused. But then, it’s also my last year to have fun and not give a damn before my life really starts. Which means I’m gonna run through every girl I meet. That’s my plan. Because my one and only love is hockey. It keeps me warm even when it’s freezing. It’s always there when nothing else is. And it pushes me to be the best I can be. It’s my love.

That is, until I see her against a tree with a guitar.

Avery.

The last thing I wanted was to meet anyone. My heart is on the bench because I’ve watched my mom get broken by the person I call my father, and I don’t want that for myself. I don’t want to be hurt by anyone. I can’t give them that power.

But my heart is begging for ice time, and I can’t control it around her.

* * *

I’ve always been in the background. No one has ever had time for me and that’s fine; I’ve learned to cope. Coming from a family where hockey is life, the last thing I want is some big, burly hockey player charging at me. I don’t have time for it, but Jace Sinclair isn’t one to be deked around. The thing is, I came to the University of Bellevue for one reason and one reason only. To make my dreams of being a singer/songwriter come true. To work in the industry and pay my dues. Become who I really want to be.

I didn’t want to meet anyone. I didn’t want to end up freezing the puck with him. It’s not what I want.

I have demons.

I have issues.

Living in the shadows, no one even knew until it was too late. But Jace wants to know.

He wants me.

And that scares me the living hell out of me.

We were so worried about what would happen if we fell, but we never thought what could happen in the process of falling. We never saw it coming. But it’s here, and the repercussions are not pretty. We should have known that there is no way out of the zone when you are being Hooked by Love.

(Courtesy of Goodreads website)

My review:

I actually read this a couple of days ago, but needed time to get my head around just how absolutely fucking amazing this book is!

Confession- I pretty much binge on anything written by Toni Aleo, but Jace's and Avery's story grabbed me by the throat and just would not let go. Even though it has been more years than I care to admit since I stepped foot on a college campus, I felt as if I was reliving those years- feelings of insecurity and new-found freedom, delight in independence but still wanting someone to count on, everything.  

I have stated before that switching POVs is not something I really like, but no one does it like Toni. She makes it seem so easy to slip from Jace's mind into Avery's that I never felt lost or confused- each character's voice was so distinct that it was pretty clear who was speaking.

Toni- this book made me laugh, roll my eyes, cry and cheer. I simultaneously wanted to hug and strangle characters. And, much as it pains me to say, the hate that I feel for one character in particular can't be healthy. But you, my dear, have written yet another book that I can't wait to tell everyone to read!!

It Feels So Good to Be Back!!!!

I can't even begin to describe the craziness that has been my life lately... School starting...surgery...back to school...7th graders are crazy...trying to keep my sanity and now, THANK GOODNESS for Christmas break!! I recently found a new series--new to me, at least- and I devoured the whole series in a week. I am so lucky that my GT students like to read--they get their work done, open a book and you better believe I read too. I have to show that I practice what I preach, right? So, the series is the Black Knights, Inc series by Julie Ann Walker and OH MY GOD!! The link to her site is here. If you like your men former military, total alphas and on motorcycles--check these out immediately!!

Teaser Tuesday: Here comes Jordie!! Toni Aleo's Overtime is coming soon!!

Overtime by Toni Aleo

Series: Assassins Series #7

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Goodreads

PRE-ORDER ON AMAZON

Down and out with an injury keeping him away from the game, Assassins’ defenseman Jordie Thomas lives for the blades of his skates on the ice and the feeling of oblivion off it. With no choice but to heal, he’s forced away from the sport that runs through his veins. With everything at stake and darkness setting in, he quickly finds himself spiraling even further out of control. As his life begins to come crashing down around him and his contract with the Nashville Assassins on the line, he’s given an ultimatum. Ready or not, Jordie is forced to face his past, the fears that consume him, and the one woman he let walk away.

Kacey King had her professional dreams come true, yet her heart was battered and broken. With an Olympic gold medal around her neck, she’s ready to look forward to the future but without the one man she wanted in it. She’s missing the key pieces of her heart she left months ago with the only person who was capable of destroying it, causing her to falter in all her plans to move on.

In the game of life, there are winners and losers, and neither Jordie nor Kacey want to be on the losing bench. If only Jordie could convince Kacey he’s a changed man and that he wants her right by his side as his MVP for the biggest and best parts of a life they build together. With emotions running high and the game on the line, can two proud people find happiness with each other, or will their hearts and souls be left in the cold? Will they see that sometimes having someone by your side who knows the good, bad, and broken is better than going it alone and losing everything through the back of the net? They are out of time on the game clock and fighting for the win of their lives.

But overtime was made for an Assassin like Jordie.

---------- Teaser ----------

     “What? Scared I’ll get my feelings hurt?”

“You don’t have feelings, Jordie. You’re allergic to them,” she said simply, her hand digging deeper into his skin. 

He smiled, covering the grimace that was surfacing. She did her job great, but she had always been a little rough. “That’s not true. I have feelings for you.”

She paused and looked up at him. “Wanting to fuck me may be a feeling but not the feelings I want.”

---------- About the Author ----------

Toni Aleo is the author of the Nasvhille Assassins series: Taking Shots, Trying to Score, Empty Net, Falling for the Backup, and Blue Lines.

When not rooting for her beloved Nashville Predators, she’s probably going to her husband’s and son’s hockey games and her daughter’s dance competitions, taking pictures, scrapbooking, or reading the latest romance novel.

She lives in the Nashville area with her husband, two children, and a bulldog. Read more about Toni here.

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