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Of Fire & Bone (Of Magic & Scales Book 3) by Natalina Reis – Review by Naomi McDonald

Of Fire and Bone (Of Magic & Scales, #3)Of Fire and Bone by Natalina Reis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Of Fire & Bone is the third book in the Of Magic & Scales series. Somehow, I ended up with the third book without reading the second one. I read the first one and going from that one to this one I can say that it’s not difficult to pick up what’s going on, BUT you miss out on the actual events that sparked what’s happening in book three. So, I’d definitely say you need book two for the best reading experience.

This is a quick, fun-filled read. I love the banter between the characters and how easy it is to connect with them. I liked how the book had a warm vibe without tipping over into cheesy. The only thing I wish had been different was that the final battle seemed a bit glossed over. That could be because I missed book two and maybe that’s where most of the action happened with that character.

Overall, a pleasant read. Even though this is the conclusion to the main books, I’m looking forward to the holiday book, which is unusual for me because I don’t normally prefer holiday themed books. These characters draw you in, though. Plus, I have to find out what Vee does for the event. There’s bound to be something, what with all her wild ideas…

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Remember His Name (Remember My Name Series Book 2) by Laurencia Hoffman – Review by Naomi McDonald

Remember His Name (Remember My Name, #2)Remember His Name by Laurencia Hoffman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Remember His Name is the second book in the Remember My Name series. I had a rocky experience with book one, but I decided to give the second one a chance anyway. I’m here to say that book two did a MUCH better job with suspense and overall story telling.

While I still felt like there were a lot of major time skips, this story held my interest more than the first book. It also answered the question of whether the first book ties into this one at all. It does. I can’t really say how or it’ll ruin the story, but I will say there is one part of the tie in that connects to the cliffhanger in book one. That piece felt much too brief after the buildup from book one. Maybe there will be more regarding that in an upcoming book? The main story line in book two is rounded out and feels like part of it has a conclusion, which is what I think was missing in book one. Even with somewhat of a cliffhanger in book two, there was still a sense of closure, which made for a much more satisfying read.

This book is a bit different in that you could read it by itself for the main story line, but if you don’t read book one, you’ll miss the impact of how things shape up toward the end. It will make sense, but you won’t fully understand why it’s important. So, even though book one was not my favorite, I’m glad I read it to get the full reading experience for book two.

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Remember My Name (Remember My Name Series Book 1) by Laurencia Hoffman – Review by Naomi McDonald

Remember My Name (Remember My Name #1)Remember My Name by Laurencia Hoffman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Remember My Name is the first book in the Remember My Name series. This was not the reading experience I expected. This book is marketed as suspense, but I didn’t feel like it was suspenseful at all. I feel like it’s more of a dark, angsty romance because the main character has a haunted past. I had what I’m guessing was supposed to be the suspenseful part figured out within the first few chapters.

Now, I LOVE a dark, angsty m/m romance, so I tried to get into this book despite the mis-marketing, but I couldn’t get emotionally involved with the characters until over half-way through. There wasn’t a good emotional build up at the beginning.

Another thing that was a bit distracting was the choppy way the scene breaks came up. It didn’t flow well, so there were times I had to take a minute to figure out where they were or what was going on. And the overall story was a bit slow in places.

Also, the book ends abruptly after only 13 chapters. It is unclear whether or not the author meant for it to be a cliffhanger. There isn’t really any closure to the story. I read the description of book two in order to try to see if there was a hint that it was continuing, but based on what I read, it looks like book two has a completely different set of characters. Basically, it left me confused as to the authors choice of ending the story where it ended. I’m wondering if maybe there was supposed to be more and it just didn’t get uploaded?

Something I did like about the story is that the main character had people around him who were truly trying to support him no matter how much he pushed them away.

This story had a lot of potential and I really wanted to like it more than I did. Maybe book two will be more satisfying. I’ll give it a try, just in case.

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Avenging Devil Part 1 (Satan’s Devils MC San Diego #3) by Manda Mellett – Review by Naomi McDonald

Avenging Devil Part 1: Satan's Devils MC San DiegoAvenging Devil Part 1: Satan’s Devils MC San Diego by Manda Mellett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Avenging Devil Part 1 is the third book in the Satan’s Devils MC Dan Diego series. Obviously since this is part one, it is not a standalone. It ends on a hard cliffhanger, but you can read it without having read the previous two books in the series. I would also say that you definitely should heed the content warning of this being a book that could trigger sensitive readers.

This book was a difficult read. Not because it’s not written well, the author did amazing work with this story. The subject matter is very real and it’ll get you right in the feels. Saffie’s had a hard life and the hits just keep coming. And the choice she has to make is really hard to read about because this is real-life stuff.

Something I liked about the book was that it is not insta-love or even insta-lust. They are having to build everything from the ground up, especially trust. I feel like this is going to make the end of the next book truly satisfying.

Cyn… lawd have mercy, she tries my last nerve. I hope that she redeems herself in part two. Right now, reading about her is like someone running their nails down a chalkboard. But, that’s part of creating a good character – getting an emotional response from the reader.

This book is an intense, but good read. I look forward to part two. Although, I have a feeling I’m going to want to throw the book across the room at least once before I get to the satisfying conclusion, lol.

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Carnival of Shadows (Black Water Magic Book 2) by Leslie Scott – Review by Naomi McDonald

Carnival of Shadows (Black Water Magic #2)Carnival of Shadows by Leslie Scott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Carnival of Shadows is the second book in the Black Water Magic series. I didn’t realize this was the second book in the series when I picked it up, but you can catch on to the story fairly quickly without having read the first book. Although, I feel like I would have connected better to the characters if I’d read the first one. Especially since it felt like Teagan went from one guy right to the next when it’s clear she still has feelings for the first guy. I think if I’d read book one, maybe that wouldn’t have seemed so abrupt. Context matters.
The story line was interesting. Teagan seems to be a bit rough around the edges, but that could just be because her character is still mourning the loss of her grandmother and trying to deal with everything at the same time. The only character that I really connected to was Sean. So, again I’m going to say, it’s probably a good idea to read the first book before this one.
All-in-all, it was a good read. It’ll be interesting to see where things go from here.

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Moonlit Kiss (A Venice Romance) (Moonlit Destination Series) by Amy McKinley – Review by Naomi McDonald

Moonlit Kiss (A Venice Romance)Moonlit Kiss by Amy McKinley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Moonlit Kiss is the second book in the Moonlit Destination series. It can be read as a standalone.
I loved the paranormal aspects of this book and the connections to past and present. There was an air of mystery about the book, but not in the traditional sense. It was definitely an intriguing read. I also enjoyed the fact that despite their immediate connection, the interaction between the two main characters didn’t feel like insta-love. I liked the overall feel of this book in a way that I can’t quite put into words.

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Blue Summer Part Two by Everly Taylor – Review by Naomi McDonald

Blue Summer Part TwoBlue Summer Part Two by Everly Taylor
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Let me start by saying that you absolutely should read the first book before this one as this one starts where the first one left off and the first book has a hard cliffhanger.

In part two we continue this Smurf reimagining with the events leading in from the previous book coming to a head. Personally, I feel like the first book was stronger in story telling and this would have worked better as one book versus being split into two. It does have an HEA, so that’s something to look forward to. Overall, I would have liked to see more of a solid emotional connection between the characters instead of the insta-love, but if you liked the Smurfs, the nostalgia kind of helps things along.

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Blue Summer Part One by Everly Taylor – Review by Naomi McDonald

Blue Summer Part OneBlue Summer Part One by Everly Taylor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

How I experienced this book:
Why does this feel familiar? Reading… reading… Seriously, why does this book seem so familiar? Reading… reading… Mother of all that is good and pure – it’s a Smurf reimagining.

Ok, seriously though, it took me a little bit to get past the insta-lust/love vibe in order for it to even click that it was this kind of retelling. I can do insta-lust/love sometimes, but I wasn’t feeling it for this book. Now, that being said, I gave this book four stars because I have read thousands of books from squeaky clean to dark taboo and I have never once run across a Smurf reimagining. The creativity of finding something that hasn’t been retold hundreds of times was refreshing. This book ends on a cliffhanger so you’ll need to pick up the next book to continue the story.

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Sleeping Angel (Soul Connection Book 2) by Nikki Lynn Barrett – Review by Naomi McDonald

Sleeping Angel (Soul Connection, #2)Sleeping Angel by Nikki Lynn Barrett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Sleeping Angel is the second book in the Soul Connection series. It can be read as a standalone, although Scott, the main character in the first book is present in this book as well. If you want to find out more about his story before you sink into this one, it’d be a good idea to read the first book.
I’m giving this book four stars for creativity. The story was an interesting take on the paranormal, but there was also a lot – A LOT – of things going on that you have to keep up with. In some ways that’s good because it builds suspense, but in some instances, it feels like too many layers and a bit convoluted. I feel like it would have been a great story if there hadn’t been so many directions to go on the surface and there had been one or two that were explored in more depth.

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Elusive: Dark Billionaire Mafia Romance (Billionaire Bodyguards Book 5) by Via Mari – Review by Naomi McDonald

Elusive (Billionaire Bodyguards #5)Elusive by Via Mari
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Elusive is the fifth book in the Billionaire Bodyguards series. It can be read as a standalone, however you get more out of it if you read previous books and the other related series.
This story took me a little bit to get into because how Alexis gets brought into the fold, so-to-speak. I would imagine that if you are a family that needs heavy security, you’d have back up options already vetted in case your primary person wasn’t available. Other than that, the story was entertaining – full of suspense, danger, and steamy scenes as one would expect in a romance.

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Apocalypse NOPE!! (Queerpocalypse) by Deidre Huesmann – Review by Naomi McDonald

Apocalypse NOPE!!Apocalypse NOPE!! by Deidre Huesmann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book has got to be one of the strangest, yet entertaining books I’ve read in quite some time. There are definitely some parts where you’ll have to suspend belief, but it all works for this book. I enjoyed this author’s interpretation of the Four. War and Death are my favorite! The solution Ivy has to put forth to remedy the situation is… unique. The one thing I will say is that if you don’t like transparent social commentary in your books, you may not enjoy this one.
Overall, fun and entertaining read!

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Tapestry of Worlds, Part Two: Running and Gunning by Hadley Thorne – Review by Naomi McDonald

Tapestry of Worlds, Part Two: Running and GunningTapestry of Worlds, Part Two: Running and Gunning by Hadley Thorne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is the second book in the Tapestry of Worlds series. I didn’t read the first one and I was able to follow the story pretty well. I’m sure the reading experience would be enhanced if you had some background from the first book, but it’s not necessary.
As for the story itself… it’s an interesting mix of various genre elements. Definitely a different read. The plot sounded promising, but I’m not sure all of the elements worked together seamlessly. It felt like it was a little scattered – there was a lot going on. To be perfectly honest, I’m not sure how I feel about the book overall, but it’s a very creative idea. I’m giving it four stars for originality and creativity.

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Murder at Honeybee Lake (Shadow of a Doubt Book 2) by Jessica Aiken-Hall – Review by Naomi McDonald

Murder at Honeybee Lake (Shadow of a Doubt, #2)Murder at Honeybee Lake by Jessica Aiken-Hall
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Murder at Honeybee Lake is the second book in the Shadow of a Doubt series. It can be read as a standalone.
I enjoyed this book. Great plot and well-written characters. The paranormal element doesn’t overwhelm the story and it feels very natural. There were a couple of places that felt a little slower, but not enough to put me off. The back and forth of emotions between Randy and Ben in the beginning was like whiplash because it happened several times in a short space, but you understand the flip-flopping a little more as their backstories come out in detail later on.
Overall, great read!

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Relentless: Dark Billionaire Mafia Romance (Billionaire Bodyguards Book 4) by Via Mari – Review by Naomi McDonald

RelentlessRelentless by Via Mari
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Relentless is the fourth book in the Billionaire Bodyguard series. You can read it as a standalone, but it’s a good idea to read the previous ones as there are some tie ins.
I’m going to start off by saying that the repeated use of the endearment ‘Princess’ grated on me. Pretty sure that’s a personal preference thing, though. Outside of that, the story is pretty good. Definitely full of the drama, danger, intrigue, and steamy scenes you would expect to find in a mafia romance series.

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I Will Bury You by Brandy Nacole – Review by Naomi McDonald

I Will Bury YouI Will Bury You by Brandy Nacole
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I didn’t really know what to expect when I picked up this book but I thought I would give it a chance. My recommendation is not to read it as a mystery because the general story line is predictable. If you read it in the context of the character’s self- discovery, it is fairly well done. There are a few places where I had to re-read some sentences because there needed to be some editing, but it wasn’t horribly distracting from the story. I thought the theory of the character’s experience was interesting. I don’t want to give any spoilers so I’m not sure how else to say that, but if you read the book, you’ll know what I’m referencing.
Overall a pretty good read. I was able to get through it in an afternoon.

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Key West Dead (Jake Wolfe Book 6) by Mark Nolan – Review by Naomi McDonald

Key West DeadKey West Dead by Mark Nolan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Key West Dead is the sixth book in the Jake Wolfe series. It can be read as a standalone.
On the whole, this book was pretty good. There were a few places the dialogue wasn’t great, but there was enough suspense to keep things interesting. The one thing that really stood out in this book, now that we are seeing more of the girlfriend, is that their relationship seems forced in places. It doesn’t always seem like a natural flow. As always, the one thing that keeps the story going is Cody. He’s the real star.
Action, danger, suspense, explosions, a car chase… it has some things going for it.

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Savage (Ash Park Series Book 10) by Meghan O’Flynn – Review by Naomi McDonald

Savage: An Ash Park Novel (Volume 10)Savage: An Ash Park Novel by Meghan O’Flynn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Savage is the tenth book in the Ash Park series. It really helps to get the full impact of this story if you read the previous books.
This book is intense and I couldn’t put it down. I felt so bad for Petrosky; he’s been through so much and now he’s got to face down the past in a harsh way. Intrigue, suspense, danger – it’s definitely a dark thriller that will keep you turning the pages.

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Twisted Throttle (Satan’s Devils MC Second Generation #3) by Manda Mellett – Review by Naomi McDonald

Twisted Throttle (Satan's Devils MC Second Generation #3)Twisted Throttle by Manda Mellett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Twisted Throttle is the third book in the Satan’s Devils MC Second Generation series. It can be read as a standalone. If you want more backstory on the characters outside of the main ones in this book, I recommend reading the other Satan’s Devils series by this author.
This story starts out with intensity and keeps the pace throughout. Even though I had figured out most of the mystery by the first quarter of the book, it was interesting to see how it played out. Toward the end I suspected which way the final twist was going. Interesting choice for motive.
Good action, danger, a twisted stalker, unexpected love…it’ll keep you turning the pages.

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Forged by Secrets (Deadly Isles Special Ops, book 3) by Amy McKinley – Review by Naomi McDonald

Forged by Secrets (Deadly Isles Special Ops, #3)Forged by Secrets by Amy McKinley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Forged by Secrets is the third book in the Deadly Isles Special Ops series. It can be read as a standalone.
The first few chapters of the book were a little repetitive regarding Malina’s past and her back and forth with feelings about Ty. Overall, I found the story held my attention once it really got going. It was interesting to see how the situation with the mole played out. Good suspense, elements of danger, and several secrets that create some fascinating twists.

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Auctioned (Billionaire Bodyguards Book 3) by Via Mari – Review by Naomi McDonald

Auctioned (Billionaire Bodyguards Book 3)Auctioned by Via Mari
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Auctioned is the third book in the Billionaire Bodyguards series. It can be read as a standalone.
Great read with some action, suspense, danger, and, of course, romance. Even though this book has the requisite steamy bits, I liked the story line more. It’s a fast-paced tale so it’s easy to get sucked in and read it all in one sitting.
Some readers may find the subject matter sensitive in nature.

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The World Beyond the Walls: epic dystopian eco-fantasy (Natural Forces Book 3) by Jean Gill – Review by Naomi McDonald

The World Beyond the WallsThe World Beyond the Walls by Jean Gill
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The World Beyond the Walls is the third book in the Natural Forces series. While it could be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the previous books in the series.
It is easy to get lost in this story right away. You feel like you are living the adventure with the characters. The world building is excellent and the twists and surprises will keep you turning the pages. I read the whole book in one sitting just so I could find out how everything turned out.
I enjoyed the way the paranormal elements were woven into the story – very different than most paranormal books. It’s a wonderful blend of fantasy and paranormal storytelling.

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Witness (Ash Park Series Book 9) by Meghan O’Flynn – Review by Naomi McDonald

Witness: An Ash Park Novel (Volume 9)Witness: An Ash Park Novel by Meghan O’Flynn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Witness is the ninth book in the Ash Park series. It can be read as a standalone.
This book was not a quick read for me. It has a lot of moving pieces to follow so you have to pay attention or you will miss important details. Definitely a page-turner as the complexity of the mystery keeps you engaged with the story. There are several ways the story could turn out and it will keep you guessing to the end.

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Vengeance (The Sundown Series Book 5) by Courtney Konstantin – Review by Naomi McDonald

VengeanceVengeance by Courtney Konstantin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Vengeance is the fifth book in the Sundown series. It can be read as a standalone. The author does a good job of weaving in important backstory so you don’t feel like you are missing anything.
This book has everything you’d expect in a post-apocalyptic tale, include a variation of zombies. Overall, I would say this particular story is really more about the interpersonal relationship development of the characters as they get prepared to go after an old enemy. That being said, it does have plenty of suspense and danger mixed in to keep things moving right along. There are also some emotional moments that will get you right in the feels.

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Goddess of Everything by Paul DeBlassie III – Review by Naomi McDonald

Goddess of EverythingGoddess of Everything by Paul DeBlassie III
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Goddess of Everything is a psychological thriller that will keep you turning the pages. This is not a quick read as there are many layers to the story. The imagery paints a vivid picture that you have to take your time to savor, and the characters are well developed and you feel as if you are living right alongside of them as you read. The author has done a great job of blending psychological and spiritual elements to weave a wonderfully dark tale.

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Hungry Business: A Short Story by Maria DeBlassie – Review by Naomi McDonald

Hungry Business: A Short StoryHungry Business: A Short Story by Maria DeBlassie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Just in time for Valentine’s day we have a short story about a woman dating after zombies have become a part of existence. The writing style in this book was a little difficult for me to get into at first, but I did find the story unique. I hate to say it, but the struggle of dating is a real thing, even if you aren’t trying to date zombies, lol, so this book is also relatable in that way. The tale leaves off in a way that leaves room for it to go on if the author chooses to continue it at a later time.
Quick tale for a late night when you want to read, but don’t want to be a zombie the next day from lack of sleep.

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Bound by Secrets (Deadly Isles Special Ops Series Book 2) by Amy McKinley – Review by Naomi McDonald

Bound by Secrets (Deadly Isles Special Ops, #2)Bound by Secrets by Amy McKinley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Bound by Secrets is the second book in the Deadly Isles Special Ops series. The story line between the main characters regarding the romance is wrapped up, but there is a piece of story line that is left open that has been continued from the first book.
I enjoyed the premise of the story and learning more about Jax and what happened that caused Kayla to have such ill feelings toward him, as mentioned briefly in the first book. While I found the overall story a good read, I did feel that there were some parts that were repetitive. That being said, the twist near the end was good.
If you have a sensitivity toward domestic violence, there is one particular scene that may trigger you.
Looking forward to the next book.

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Twisted Secrets (Deadly Isles Special Ops Book 1) by Amy McKinley – Review by Naomi McDonald

Twisted SecretsTwisted Secrets by Amy McKinley
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Twisted Secrets is the first book in the Deadly Isles Special Ops series. The main story between Xander and Riley wraps up, but there is a cliffhanger to the other part of the story line.
Overall, I enjoyed this story. The characters are interesting and the plot is intriguing. The only struggle I had was the way that Riley’s friendship with Mel developed. It seemed like there was something missing that got them from point a to point b, but I may have just inadvertently missed a key point somewhere in the story.
A promising start to a new series.

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Capturing Fate by Abbie Roads – Review by Naomi McDonald

Capturing Fate (Fatal Truth, #2)Capturing Fate by Abbie Roads
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Capturing Fate is the second book in the Fatal Truth series. It can be read as a standalone. Somehow, I missed the first book in the series but I was able to pick this one up and read it without getting lost or feeling like I was missing anything.
I’ve read other books by Abbie Roads and loved them so I picked this one up without even really paying attention to the description. I was not disappointed. This book sucks you into the story immediately and keeps you turning the pages. Capturing Fate is full of suspense, danger, and mystery as you trace the threads that connect all of the pieces together.
I love a gritty, dark, romantic thriller, and this book checks all of the boxes.

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Stormy’s Thunder (Satan’s Devils MC Utah #2) by Manda Mellett – Review by Naomi McDonald

Stormy's Thunder (Satan's Devils MC Utah #2)Stormy’s Thunder by Manda Mellett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Stormy’s Thunder is the second book in the Satan’s Devils MC Utah series. It can be read as a standalone.
For anyone new starting the series with this book, the background recap in the first part of the story will catch you up. If you’ve been following the series for a bit, you might find the first part of the story slow during the recap parts.
I am so glad we finally got Stormy’s story. It was driving me nuts not knowing what was going on with him. Poor guy had a hard life. And, Cat – oh my heart.
Honestly, I’d like to say more, but I can’t without potential spoilers because it’s all so interwoven together.
If you have triggers around violence toward women, proceed with caution.
After this story, I’m interested to see if Pip gets a book in this series or if he’s going to show up in the Blood Brothers series.

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Finders Reapers: A Paranormal Romantic Comedy (New Orleans Nocturnes Book 4) by Carrie Pulkinen – Review by Naomi McDonald

Finders Reapers (New Orleans Nocturnes, #4)Finders Reapers by Carrie Pulkinen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Finders Reapers is part of the New Orleans Nocturnes series. It can be read as a standalone.
I loved the premise of this book! It turned out to be a great read. One of my favorite expressions from the books is Holy Phantom Farts…cracked me up! There is a wonderful witty feel to this story that balances out the more serious parts.
The characters in this book are really well written. I felt sorry for Jasmine, leading the lonely life of a necromancer. And, Asher, wants to love, but initially doesn’t want to make the sacrifice to have it.
Finders Reapers features ghosts, magic, drama, suspense, and of course, romance.

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