2nd Chance: Her Perfect Mate by Paige Tyler

Author: Paige Tyler

Narrator: Holly Adams
Title: Her Perfect Mate (X-Ops #1)
Genre: Paranormal Romance & Fantasy
Format: Audiobook
Published: May 2014
Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)

Summary: 
Their attraction is more dangerous than any weapon of mass destruction 

When Special Forces Captain Landon Donovan is chosen for an assignment with the Department of Covert Operations, he's stunned to find his new partner is a beautiful woman who looks like she couldn't hurt a fly, much less take down a terrorist.

Ivy Halliwell isn't your average covert op. Her feline DNA means she can literally bring out the claws when things get dicey. She isn't thrilled to be paired with yet another military grunt, but Landon is different. He doesn't think she's a freak-and he's smokin' hot. Soon they're facing a threat even greater than anyone imagines... and an animal magnetism impossible to ignore.


Review:

This was a DNF second chance! A while back I had thrown in the towel and given up. 2024 is a year of second chances and this is the first one for that challenge. 

Here we follow Ivy and Landon. Landon is chosen for an assignment with the Department of Covert Operations. He's stunned when he meets his new partner....a woman who looks like she wouldn't hurt a fly. Ivy isn't your average covert op. She is a shifter. She has feline DNA which means she can literally bring out the claws when things get dicey. After her last partner is KIA, she is given a new partner and he looks like another military grunt. Quickly, she realizes there is so much more to Landon. They will face a threat greater than anyone imagines and at the same time battle the attraction they have for each other. 

Okay. I finished this. I was quite shocked! I know last time I did get pretty far in it before I tossed it down. However, I decided to give the audiobook a try instead. A couple people suggested going that route and it worked!

And.......I actually....enjoyed this. *insert gasps from the crowds*

Yes, yes. I grew to like both Ivy and Landon. They were very sweet. 

I still hate Buchanan. I know his book is next so maybe he'll be redeemed fully there? He was slightly redeemed at the end here, but still. Ugh. 

Love Kendra. 

Love Landon's old group. They are adorable. 

Mmm.

Still a couple of things I was meh about, but it didn't stop me from reading this time around. Like the scene in the apartment. Boo. Still annoying.

The ending helped with one of the things that bothered me, but I feel like the government should've dealt with that situation better. I won't spoil it, but there is a character who gets some sweet, sweet justice FINALLY. That is all I will say. 

The narrator. Ah, yes, the narrator pulled everything together for me. Her voices helped me stay engaged. She did a wonderful job. 

All-in-all, I'm glad this was picked to be the first DNF Second Chance! I actually ended up enjoying myself and I might read book 2 of the series. We'll see. I still have my reservations with Buchanan. *grumbles about dumb males* This had a couple of things I was still meh about, but I was able to look past them and enjoy the story and the characters. The ending has me SUPER curious to see what is going to happen next. EEEE. In the end, I'll stamp this with 3 stars. 

ONE WORD SUMMARY: Intriguing

Challenge(s):
- Audiobook #17

- Romance Reading Challenge #13 (Not wolf shifter) 

Audiobook Review: Big Witch Energy by Molly Harper

Author: Molly Harper

Narrator: Amanda Ronconi & Teddy Hamilton

Title: Big Witch Energy

Series: Starfall Point #2

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Fantasy

Format: Audiobook

Published: October 19, 2023

Where I got It: Audible

Summary: 

The lost love that’s always haunted her is about to make an unexpected return....

Caroline Wilton has no time for romance. She’s too busy running her family’s bar to even think about dating. She’s also one of Starfall Point’s resident witches, responsible for keeping the local ghost population in check.

But even the most magical of witches can use a shoulder to lean on, which is what happens when Ben Hoult, the handsome doctor she never quite got over, walks back into her life. Ben is a single dad now, and as he and Caroline reconnect, they discover that they both have a knack for helping and protecting the people near and dear to them.

Soon they’re working together to unravel a centuries-old murder, and Caroline has to face the wrath of angry ghosts...and the uncertainty of opening her heart back up to love. She’s not sure which one is worse. All she knows is that keeping her heart safe will take every ounce of magic she’s got.

Review:

Couldn't resist starting book 2!!! I liked book 1 so much and Harper is always great for relaxing my brain. It's been stressful in the life of Carole lately. 

Okieee here we have Caroline and Ben. Back in the day they were young and in love. However, Caroline let him go so he could go to college and follow his dream. Why not go with him? Well, her family is cursed to remain on the Island. If they are gone over 24 hours they tend to have a little accident and die. Years down the line to the present. Ben is a successful doctor with two kids. He recently divorced his wife and is ready for a quiet life as a small-town doctor so he moves back to his hometown. Caroline has been single and ready to mingle and feeling lost until she falls into a witch coven. Her and her coven help ghost. Ben and Caroline reconnect but nothing is simple especially with a murderous ghost running around.

Ummmmmmmmm where is book 3? I'm ready LOL. 

This was fun. Loved Caroline. Loved Ben. Loved his kids. Loved her coven. I LOOOOOOVE this town. I would def move there in a heartbeat. Ugh Caroline's family made me angry...esp the lazy brothers and her dad. Yes, yes. I get that the one brother died a few years back after tempting the curse, but that is no excuse for making Caroline and the mom do ALL the work at the restaurant/bar. Grieve, yes, but neglecting your responsibilities? No. GAH. 

OOOO and Ben's ex? Screw her. She was a jerk and selfish and mean. Those kids are good kids and deserve a mom like Caroline. 

All the twists were fun!! I loved the mystery of the ghosts and the possible connection between one of the ghosts and Caroline's family's curse. That was nice. 

Loved the ending! It was sweet and it made me need more. 

Great narration as per normal. They do Harper's work justice. 

Mmmmm.....what else?

Always a blast. I would def say read book 1 first. Lots of backstory. 

In the end, I am def loving this series. This one was good. I'll give it 5 stars. 

ONE WORD SUMMARY: Fun

Challenge(s):
- Audiobook #16

- Romance Reading Challenge #12 (Medical Profession) 

Best of March

Bye-bye March! Hello April! 

Here are our bests of last month!

Best Book of the Month:

Blodeuedd -  Witchmark by CL Polk

"Well written!"

Carole -  The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare

"Simply adorable"

Best Movie of the Month:

Carole - Nada

"Nothing was really 5 star worthy for March. Lots of okays...good. But not great."

Blodeuedd - Damsel (2024)

"Best movie goes to Damsel!"

Best TV show of the Month:

Blodeuedd - Love is Blind

"I am still watching Love is blind. The drama, oh the drama."

Carole - Ghosts (Season 3) & Quiet on Set (2024)

"'Ghosts' is always hilarious and fun! 'Quiet on Set' is so good, but will break your heart."

Best Cover of the Month:

B's pick - "Also best cover cos so cool!"

C's pick - "So beautiful and magical!"

Blodeuedd's Monday Review: Witchmark by CL Polk

Series: The Kingston Cycle (#1)

Format: 318 pages, Paperback

Published: June 19, 2018 by Tor.com

Fantasy/library

I even had this as a free ebook, but we all know those never get read here. So I picked it up from the library, finally! And I am glad I did because this was a really well written book. The one that is just so well written that you just float along for the ride.

It was an interesting world, an England of sorts where WW1 just ended and the men are returning home. Many with ptsd. There is magic, but the upper families hide that they are in fact the ones holding it. Miles the main character has magic, but he has the kind that he is doomed to be a sort of magic slave to someone else. Someone who would take magic from him and leave him used up. So he left.

There is a murder mystery that goes deep, and there is a threat that is growing bigger for each moment. Actually several threats but who is counting. And then there is a romance blossoming between Miles and a handsome stranger he meets.

But damn it was a trilogy! Now I need more, damn it.

In an original world reminiscent of Edwardian England in the shadow of a World War, cabals of noble families use their unique magical gifts to control the fates of nations, while one young man seeks only to live a life of his own.

Magic marked Miles Singer for suffering the day he was born, doomed either to be enslaved to his family's interest or to be committed to a witches' asylum. He went to war to escape his destiny and came home a different man, but he couldn’t leave his past behind. The war between Aeland and Laneer leaves men changed, strangers to their friends and family, but even after faking his own death and reinventing himself as a doctor at a cash-strapped veterans' hospital, Miles can’t hide what he truly is.

When a fatally poisoned patient exposes Miles’ healing gift and his witchmark, he must put his anonymity and freedom at risk to investigate his patient’s murder. To find the truth he’ll need to rely on the family he despises, and on the kindness of the most gorgeous man he’s ever seen.