Flora Reviews... Her Fallen Angel (Her Angel Series Book 2) By Felicity Heaton

Her Fallen Angel (Her Angel Romance Series Book 2)

by Felicity Heaton

https:/www.goodreads.com/book/show/9529833-her-fallen-angel

My Goodreads Rating – 3 Stars

Read in December 2014

…My Review in a Nutshell.

This is a novella within Felicity Heaton’s Her Angel romance series.  It is a tale of righting a wrong, resisting temptation and fighting forbidden hungers but underlining it all it is a love story.

Her Fallen Angel is the second book of the series but can be read as a standalone story; you don’t need to read the other books in the series to enjoy this one. I downloaded this 96 page book to my Kindle because it was only 99p on Amazon UK and I’d already read other books by the same author and really enjoyed them.

...So what’s this book about?

Lukas is an angel accused of a crime he didn’t commit, he’s been cast out of Heaven, sentenced to live in the mortal world and not allowed to fly. For three years, he’s searched for a way to prove his innocence, and for three years, his only reprieve from his pain has been a beautiful mortal female, Annelie.

Annelie fell for Lukas the moment he walked into the pub she worked in. The tall, sensual blonde sets her heart on fire with his stunning green eyes, wicked smile and unwavering ability to listen to her woes.

When alcohol finally weakens the barriers one night, a single heated kiss allows both Annelie and Lukas to enact the passion that’s been simmering below the surface, but in the cold light of day can a mortal really have a relationship with an angel?

 ...So, what did I like about it?

I love Felicity Heaton’s writing style, the way she makes the most explicit sexual scenes very romantic – I think she’s a very talented writer.  For me, a story is only really erotic if I’m emotionally connected to the characters involved, Ms Heaton gives her characters such depth that they become real, even in these novellas. As always, this story made me chuckle, shed a tear and keep me wondering if Lukas was going to be able to prove his innocence. Of course, I got caught up with the shenanigans (who wouldn’t *blush*) but the tender insights into both Lukas and Annelie’s doubts and the growth of their trust in each other’s love was heart-warming to read.

...So, ummm, was there anything I disliked about it?

Well, not “disliked” but I found that my religious beliefs and faith meant that I found it tricky to relate to Annelie’s dilemma about “loving an Angel” and “going to Hell” for her feelings for Lukas, the whole Angel fantasy romance is new to me and not really something that I personally fantasize about.

...So, basically what I’m saying is...

I really enjoyed this angelic novella. It was a nice read that made me smile, cry and feel all warm & fuzzy inside with well written erotic thrills, fight scenes and tons of romantic gestures.

Flora Reviews... Her Dark Angel (Her Angel Series Book 1) By Felicity Heaton

Dark Angel (Her Angel Romance Series Book 1)

by Felicity Heaton

https:/www.goodreads.com/book/show/9180599-her-dark-angel

My Goodreads Rating – 4 Stars

Read in October 2013

…My Review in a Nutshell.

This is a novella within Felicity Heaton’s Her Angel romance series.  It is a tale of revenge, temptation and forbidden hungers but underlining it all it is a love story.

Her Dark Angel is the first of the series but can be read as a standalone story; you don’t need to read the next books in the series to enjoy this one. I downloaded this 96 page book to my Kindle because it was free on Amazon UK and I’d already read other books by the same author and really enjoyed them.

...So what’s this story about?

Apollyon is a warrior and “The Angel of Death” whose job it is to guard the pit of Hell making sure that the Devil doesn’t escape.  He’s been alone in Hell doing his duty for centuries; bored and longing for the pleasures of flying & fighting.  When he senses someone calling him, he seizes his chance for freedom but soon discovers the call comes from a beautiful woman he has watched over from Hell, a woman who awakens the darkest desires of his heart.

Serenity is a witch living in Paris who casts a simple vengeance spell to get revenge on her ex-boyfriend in an attempt to mend her broken heart. She is shocked when the wickedly sensual black-winged Angel of Death shows up offering to obey her and give her revenge.

...So, what did I like about it?

I love Felicity Heaton’s writing style, the way she makes even the most explicit sexual scenes feel romantic – I think she’s a very talented writer.  For me, a story is only really erotic if I’m emotionally connected to the characters involved, Ms Heaton gives her characters such depth that they become real, even in these short novellas. As always, this story was a page turner and I enjoyed reading it. Of course, I got caught up with the shenanigans (who wouldn’t *blush*) but the tender insights into Apollyon and Serenity’s insecurities and the growth of their trust and love were beautiful to read.

...So, ummm, was there anything I disliked about it?

Well, not “disliked” but I found that my religious beliefs and faith meant that I found it tricky to relate to Serenity’s dilemma about “loving an Angel” and “going to Hell” for her feelings for Apollyon, the whole Angel fantasy romance is new to me and not really something that I personally fantasize about.

...So, basically what I’m saying is...

I really enjoyed this romantic novella. It was a nice quick read that made me smile, cry and feel all warm & fuzzy inside with well written erotic thrills, testosterone filled scrapes and heaps of romantic gestures.

Flora Reviews.... Forever Charmed (Halloween LaVeau Series Book 1) by Rose Pressey

Read: 21^st-23^rd November 2014

My Goodreads rating - 2 Stars - It was OK.

So I really liked the premise of this book; our main character is a second-rate witch called Halloween LaVeau (although she prefers Hallie, well wouldn’t you?!), who’s inherited a mansion from her Great Aunt that she’s trying to turn into a Bed & Breakfast. She finds a book hidden in the attic that’s written in some strange language, she reanimates a ghost and there are two amazingly handsome men Nicolas Marcos and Liam Rankin who just happen to turn up wanting to stay! Great, I do enjoy paranormal romance books with a bit of fun and mystery!

I downloaded this because it was cheap and had a good number of 4 or 5 star ratings on Amazon and the Goodreads website. I’ve enjoyed reading the Jolie Wilkins series by H.P. Mallory and “Haunted on Bourbon Street” by Deanna Chase was expecting something similar but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations.

Now you need to know that I’m in my early 40’s and I don't have the patience for YA novels; their characters full of angst, relationship naivety, a MC’s inability to see the bigger picture,  "read between the lines" or know that the world isn’t just black & white,  good or evil but a myriad shades of complex grey.

Hallie was a very frustrating character for me, she felt like a teenager or pre-teen most of the time when in reality she was supposed to be 28 years old. In fact most characters in this story were rather frustrating in one way of another and lacked the depth I was hoping for.

...So, basically what I’m saying is...

So, although I realised that this book wasn’t going to live up to all my expectations after the first couple of chapters, I did generally enjoy the story. I tried to let it just wash over me as I was reading and simply enjoy the ride. Sadly, I didn’t engage enough in Hallie, Nicolas or Liam enough to want to read the next book but this one did make me laugh out loud a few times. However, as it has received some 5 star reviews from other Goodreads readers obviously it ticks all the boxes for some people.


Find it on my Goodreads bookshelves: contemporary-paranormal, young-adult-teen

Flora Reviews... "No Knight Needed (Ever After #1) by Stephanie Rowe

 

 

Read from November 16 to 21, 2014

What a wonderful contemporary romance story. I usually read paranormal romances but I have to say that this did feel rather magical, it definitely had a spark! I loved it!

Stephanie Rowe has a great writing style, I find her books easy to read with a varied cast of characters and a wonderful depth to her main protagonists. 

 

I thought that this love story story progressed at a good speed, the relationship between Clare Gray and Griffin Friese developed at a realistic pace; both with their own concerns, doubts & hopes, with enough trials and twists to keep me guessing whether this tale would be one of  a "Brief Encounter" that changed them both for the better  or "...and they lived happily ever after".

This is "No Knight Needed"  Book 1 in the "Ever After" series but you can read it as a stand alone story.

Flora Reviews... "Witchy Business (The Witch Detectives #1)" by Eve Paludan and Stuart Sharp

 

Read from October 06 to 10, 2014

Authors  Eve Paludan and  Stuart Sharp
 
...So, what’s this book about?
Elle Chambers is a respected freelance insurance investigator working in Edinburgh, Scotland who goes above and beyond to solve her cases while trying to keep everyone happy. Elle’s life is about to get completely turned upside-down when she accepts a job to find a missing piece of art.
The blurb is a bit misleading though “Elle is a witch – and a damn good one, too” well Elle Chambers is an Enchantress (she can feel people’s emotions and project emotions onto others) and a “weak” one at that because her mother raised to believe that she must control her ability and protect herself completely from the onslaught of other people’s emotions or she’s go insane or die and all her life she’s been told by The Coven (the big organisation that governs all supernatural beings and makes sure that humans are kept in the dark about their existence) that enchanters are not as powerful as a witches.
“Elle must first find a missing bad boy who might or might not be a werewolf” is also misleading as she’s already found the bad-boy werewolf, Ferguson Black, on the first page and he's a beleaguered lawyer who worries about his aging Mum, not very bad boy to me. Lol!
This book is the first of “The Witch Detectives” series. There are 3 books in the series at this time; “Witchy Business” (#1), “Witch and Famous” (#2) and “Witch Way Out” (#3).

...So, what did I like about it?
I really like the premise for this book, an enchantress/witch who investigated insurance claims; a young Miss Marple with added super natural abilities perhaps? Brilliant!
I liked the main character and the fact that we got to experience the tale from her (1st person) perspective. Elle is an innately good person who doesn’t mind bending the rules slightly to ensure fairness. We get hints of all the skills (picking locks, computer hacking, etc) that she’s picked up over the years being an investigator and the good contacts that she’d made.
I thought that the fight scene, near the end of the story was well written and kept me turning the pages, wondering how it would all end.
What I also like is that although this is a beginning of a series, this book doesn’t have a big cliffhanger ending, which is fantastic for me (I hate that).

...So, ummm, was there anything I disliked about it?
I don’t think the authors have been writing for long, as I felt the writing style lacked “polish” and at times the turn of phrases used and story progression felt child-like/amateur, however, I do feel that this is something that usually improves over time with experience.

...So, basically what I’m saying is...
This is a nice story. It is a journey of self discovery for the MC. It has romance, mystery, action and drama and it could work as a standalone novel as the ending isn’t a major cliffhanger.

Flora Reviews... "The Stroke of Midnight: A Supernatural New Year's Anthology"

The Stroke of Midnight: A Supernatural New Year’s Anthology

By J.M. Gregoire, Amy Miles, Bella Roccaforte, Beth Dolgner, Brandy Dorsch, Connie Suttle, Danielle Bannister, Lola Rayne, Faith McKay, K.L. Brown, Kyra Dunst, F.F. McCulligan, Susan Illene and Michael Siemsen.

...So what’s this book about?

This book is a collection of fourteen urban fantasy and paranormal short stories/novellas with the common theme of the stories being set around “New Year’s Eve/Day”. I downloaded this Kindle version for free from Amazon UK.

Chapter 1“A stray in the night” by Lola Rayne

I enjoyed this short story. Strong but funny handsome lead character, strong female love interest, fast paced story, bit of mystery, hot lust/romance scenes left me wanting the story to go on...

Chapter 2 "Obsidian Flames" by Amy Miles.

Salem, evil witch, innocent girl sent to the stake - a well written story that had my 21st century values/characteristics forgotten & immersed in Mary Albright's world.

Chapter 3 "Suffering - A Demon Legacy Short Story" by J.M. Gregoire. Cleverly setting up a background story spanning hundreds of years without slowing the pace of this very short story takes a skilled author - I am duly impressed & will hunt out more stories about Vegas & Dez's saga...

Chapter 4 "Eternal Beginnings - A Hunger Mate Novella" by Brandy Dorsch.

I found this a bit of a struggle. The writing style isn't as smooth as the other stories so far (although new authors often have to find their feet as their experience grows) but I felt lost with the story too. I'm assuming that the timeframe of this Novella is well into an established series that has seen major storylines.

Chapter 5 “The Lurkers” by Danielle Bannister

This is a very short ghost story that plunges you right in the middle of the action; a team of U.S. Federal “Retrieval” Agents undercover in a house to remove the rebel ghosts. I found it easy to read and understand the concept behind the plot. Great story with an unexpected twist that left me thinking and coming up with my own “what happened next” scenarios.

Chapter 6 “Ghost of a Girl – A Betty Boo, Ghost Hunter Story by Beth Dolgner

This short ghost story is set at a séance in an old haunted house. The writing style was easy to read and I enjoyed the building tension of waiting for the ghost to appear but I didn't feel engaged with the characters enough to want to find out what happens in their lives next after this story. I am happy & satisfied leaving this as a quick standalone ghost story.

Chapter 7 – “GSW, or How I Met My Mother” by Connie Suttle

Not what I was expecting, in a good way! I completely fell in love with Conner Francis and think Shane Taylor is a great supporting character. I loved the story and would definitely buy a paranormal series if they were the main characters! It made me laugh and I actually shed a tear at the end which I think is impressive for a short story!

Chapter 8 – “More Glitter” by Faith McKay

This is a Teen/YA short story, relationship/life angst is not my choice of reading even in a paranormal setting, however the writing style is good and it was a nice change to read this very short story about magical adolescents

Chapter 9 – “The Smiths” by Michael Siemsen

I really loved this story. The writing style was easy to read and the world building was believable. I felt a connection to the main character, Kyle Smith and enjoyed being plunged feet first into his life. Although this story is in the paranormal genre, the dynamics and complexities of living as part of a huge family are brilliant captured and will resonate with many readers and could have easily taken place in many a family home at Christmas (or Thanksgiving). Lol! I loved the ending, it left me wanting find other stories about Kyle Smith and his usually talented family ;-)

Chapter 10 – “’Til Death Do Us Part” by K.L. Brown

I didn't get involved in this story. It left me feeling "meh". The writing style didn't flow for me, the build-up felt complicated & I couldn't connect to the characters. It’s a shame really because the concept was good. I suppose sometimes as a reader you click with a story and sometimes you don’t.

Chapter 11 – “What Lurks Within” by Bella Roccaforte

Absolutely brilliant!! I loved this story with a passion. Very easy to read writing style, believable characters with depth & great plot twists! The creative world building had me right there in Mortimer & Heidi’s life, they quickly became characters that I cared about. This story made me laugh and cry. Perfect!

Chapter 12 – “Fifteen Minutes until Midnight – An Annwn Unveiled Short Story” by Kyra Dunst

Although, this tale is obviously a short story centred on a supporting character from within a well established series, the character building and “Annwn Unveiled” background story was interweaved beautifully within this story. I found the writing style easy to read and quickly found myself engaging with Teagan’s tale. I loved her rather unique quandary; I haven’t read about a newly turned vampire who was vegan in human life before! What a conundrum!    

Chapter 13 – “Maltese Cross My Heart” by F.F. McCulligan

I feel that this short tale is more sci-fi or urban fantasy than paranormal but I enjoyed reading it. I did find the story a bit confusing at the beginning; who was this main character, what was he - is he a schizophrenic, is the story set in a future time or a different planet? But once I stopped trying to work it out and let it wash over me, I felt captivated by Glen’s journey of self discovery; it became one of those stories that gets you thinking... wow – what if? I love it when I’m still thinking about a short story days after reading it, don’t you?!

Chapter 14 – “Tempting the Moon” by Susan Illene

I loved this short story; the writing style was easy to read, the pace was good, I engaged with the main character, Mel, and I loved the complexities of her relationships with the supporting. I have since found out that this tale is from a series called “The Sensor”, I haven’t read any of the 6 books in the series and can say that you don’t need to to enjoy this story; it works well as a stand-alone story, the character building is great and we’re given all the background story we need to be able to follow what’s happening. I loved this short story so much that I think I’ve found myself a new paranormal series to read!  

...So, basically what I’m saying is...

I have enjoyed having this book as an ongoing back-up, to be able to pick up and read when I’ve had a bit of free time. I’ve enjoyed reading 11 out of the 14 tales; I think it’s got a nice collection of different paranormal creatures, settings and sub-genres under the paranormal umbrella to suit most tastes.

~ Happy Reading ~