Tag: paranormal romance

Book Review: Prom Night in Purgatory (Purgatory #2) by Amy Harmon

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Rating: ★★★
Audience: YA Paranormal Romance
Length: 264 pages
Author: Amy Harmon
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: August 12th, 2012
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Where does before end and after begin?

Johnny Kinross is a boy from the 1950s, a boy trapped in time, and Maggie is the girl who loves him. By some miracle and against all odds, Johnny and Maggie are given a second chance at life and love. But Johnny is freed from Purgatory only to find himself in a totally different time and place, in a world full of strangers. One unsolved mystery becomes another, and Johnny and Maggie must unravel the past to have any chance at a future. ‘Prom Night in Purgatory’ is the sequel to the love story that is unlike any other, where time is shifting and everything can change, and Maggie must fight for Johnny all over again.

SHOULD HAVE BEEN ONE BOOK.

As a MAJOR Amy Harmon fan I’m a bit bummed this one didn’t work for me like I wanted it too. My biggest issue was just that it felt like it should have been one book. Much of this plot was dragged out.

I did like the romance between Johnny and Maggie. I loved how they found their way together and the ups and downs of worlds colliding. There’s a lot of complexity with side characters too. And I didn’t love the ambiguity of the ending.

I don’t really have much else to say??

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Paranormal Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: physical abuse, attempted sexual assault, gun violence, murder, loss of life

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Book Review: Slow Dance in Purgatory (Purgatory #1) by Amy Harmon

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Paranormal YA Romance
Length: 232 pages
Author: Amy Harmon
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: April 2nd, 2012
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Orphaned from the age of ten, 17-year-old Maggie finally finds a permanent home with her elderly aunt in a small Texas town. Working part-time at the local high school, she becomes enmeshed in a fifty-year-old unsolved mystery where nothing is as it seems. Who is the boy no one else can see? And what do you do when you fall in love with a ghost? This volatile and mismatched romance is doomed from its start, as Maggie struggles to hold on to yet another life destined to be taken from her. Secret love and hushed affections are constantly threatened by outside forces resulting in a terrifying race to stay alive.

‘Slow Dance in Purgatory’ captures the heart-ache of a love story where there can be no happy ending…

GHOSTLY.

I’m honestly a hard sell on paranormal ghost based romances and that was my biggest draw back here. Granted, I thought the way things worked out has me totally intrigued and I will be picking up the next book to see what happens.

It’s a very quick story (honestly thought it could have been one book??). I enjoyed both main characters and that we got dual POV. MY FAV. The dancing and little dates and intensely heated conversations were all great. There’s a lot to unpack throughout.

One of the side characters drove me up a wall and I wish we didn’t have any of his POV or commentary or anything else. It just came off naïve and silly and a page filler.

Otherwise, I’m loving getting the chance to work through Amy Harmon’s back list (I think this is her first released book too). It’s fun to see how writing styles have changed.

Overall audience notes:

  • YA Paranormal Romance
  • Language: a little
  • Romance: make-outs
  • Violence: moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: brief gun violence, losing a loved one, physical altercations, bullying

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Book Review: Celestial (Angels of Elysium #2) by Olivia Wildenstein

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Urban Fantasy Romance
Length: 424 pages
Author: Olivia Wildenstein
Publisher: WildStone Publishing
Release Date: January 5th, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

In ninety-two days, the feathered appendages that link me to the people I loathe finally come off. Dear, winglets, you will not be missed.

Celeste has spent the last four years building a life outside of angelic guilds—parties, check—pursuing human ambitions instead of celestial ones—college, check—and shedding feathers across Parisian cobblestones and more recently New York sidewalks—speaking her mind, always check.

She swore off angels, but the death of the woman who took her in the night Leigh died brings them soaring back into her life . . . and not just any angel but the most detestable one, the one complicit in Leigh’s death—Seraph Asher.

Although Celeste tells the archangel to feather off, the unreasonably pretty and obstinate man doesn’t leave her alone. He returns and insists she complete her wings. When she asks him for one good reason to do so, he gives her an unbeatable one: what he did with Leigh’s soul.

Asher never meant to share his damning secret, but he knows it’s the only way to save Celeste—the rebellious Fletching he can’t get out of his head . . . or heart.

* WARNING: contains graphic scenes. Recommended for 18+.

NEW FAV.

This will probably be my favorite of this series. I was VERY surprised when I realized this had new points of view (I’m not a synopsis reader by nature). After that shock and settling into the story I became HOOKED on this romance.

I looooved Celeste and Asher. Oh my goodness. This is how you write a fated romance. There’s good banter and some enemies vibes. Celeste is actually reasonable once she learned all of the facts and allowed Asher in more. Asher is a PROTECTIVE ALPHA type and I could not get enough of him showing up and taking others down.

The larger conflict of the story continued progressing too and once I figured out what the author was creating with the entire series I immediately became curious in seeing this through. I am excited to read the finale.

Plenty of action, politicking, intrigue and very good amount of swoon. This series is clearly underrated.

Overall audience notes:

  • Urban/Paranormal Fantasy Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: 3+ open; high explicit and some fade to black
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: blood/gore depiction, physical/magical altercations, loss of loved ones, organ farming, medical surgeries without consent

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Book Review: Wild Wild Wolf (Timber Creek #1) by B. Perkins and Aimee Vance

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Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Paranormal Romance
Length: 420 pages
Author: B. Perkins & Aimee Vance
Publisher: Revel Books
Release Date: March 29th, 2024
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

She doesn’t believe in fated mates? Game on.

Jade
There’s nothing I want more than to forget my past, especially everything that makes me a part of supernatural society. I’d do anything to keep my sister’s and my secret safe and keep our tormentors far, far away.

Turns out it’s harder to disappear than I thought, especially once Alpha wolf West Larkin catches my scent.

West
Ever since shifters were outed to the human world, my job as Alpha of the Timber Creek pack has gotten more difficult by the day. Between running a town full of supernaturals, my pack, and keeping my family out of trouble, I have enough on my plate as it is.

So why is it every time I run across Jade Rodriguez, a lone wolf who wants nothing to do with me, I want to drop everything to keep her safe?

Wild Wild Wolf is book one in the new Timber Creek series, interconnected standalones following each of the Larkin siblings.

WHAT A GEM.

Gosh I love this writing duo. I have been so excited to start a new series and it delivered. I love the setting and plot. I absolutely love big families and all of the humor and love that’s woven throughout. I was laughing and swooning and just binging this book because it was making my heart feel joy.

I loved West and Jade. The banter was fantastic and I loved seeing Jade slowly but surely open up and realize what goodness was in front of her. And I was very much in the mood for an Alpha romance and West delivered on that front. I loved how protective he was and the way he cared for Jade and everyone around him.

My one tiny tidbit is how Jade handled a situation towards the end, it felt a little out of character after all of the growth she had. It didn’t ruin my reading experience, but I did get a little bugged by it.

I loved all of the wolfy things and the pacing and action and heat. All the tension and all the almost moments. I can’t wait for the next book!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal Romance
  • Language: moderate
  • Romance: 2-3 open door; low innuendo
  • Violence: moderate-high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: a past abusive relationship, loss of parents (recounted)

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