MY FAIR LAZY by Jen Lancaster

Publisher: NAL
Date published: May 2010
ISBN: 978-0451229861
Woman's Fiction
Hardback
Reviewed by Angie
Review copy provided by publisher


Jen Lancaster describes her novel as "One Reality Television Addict's Attempt to Discover If Not Being a Dumb Ass is the New Black, or a Culture-Up Manifesto" and this sums it up completely. She takes bits of her own life and leaves readers breathless with laughter. As she goes through her very own transformation from low class to high class she learns a lot about herself and what she wants her life to be.

Jen begins her tale by admitting she is the loud mouth everyone avoids at parties. She drinks too much and becomes rambunctious, saying whatever thoughts come to mind. Her mouth often gets her into trouble with friends, family and colleagues. She thinks she lost her job during the dot com failure just because she was unable to compete with those who had better manners.

Jen's submersion into culture is hilarious and complete. As she begins going to plays and reading poetry she leaves readers laughing out loud. She has made me as a person want to know more about opera and even learn more about cultural food - I will admit her description of herself as the Beverly Hillbillies hits home. I have decided to do my own makeover when I return from vacation. I, like her will begin by learning more about each culture and venturing into new food groups - starting with Indian and maybe Japanese, I think easing in will be my best bet.
Jen Lancaster has taken her life and turned it into an open book. I am not sure how much of her memoir was truth, and how much poetic license she took, but she made me want to be her BFF! The one downside to this novel was the footnotes she uses. I kept missing the little numbers as I read and then getting to the bottom of the page and going back and searching for what they refer to - very confusing for me as a reader. Yet most of them made me laugh, and wish I had the foresight to have footnotes in my own diary.

A great read for the beach! I will be reading more by Ms. Lancaster in the very near future!

This is an objective review and not an endorsement of this book.

A LITTLE LIGHT MAGIC by Joy Nash

reganPublisher: Dorchester Publishing
Date published: June 2009
ISBN 978-0-505-52693-9
Contemporary Romance
Mass Market Paperback
Obtained via: Publisher
Reviewed by Dawn


Tori Morgan has longed for a family to call her own. Her parents have been gone a long time and now her Great-aunt has recently died, leaving Tori determined to transform her inherited house into something more. Hiring contractor Nick Santangelo, Tori finds something much more in Nick and his family. With an enchanting summer by the Jersey Shore, can that magic called love find its way to two people who may be different on the surface but deep inside are perfect for each other?

A LITTLE LIGHT MAGIC is a wonderful blend of romance, magic and is perfect for an evening reading under the covers on your couch. Ms. Nash has a wonderful way of creating characters that seem flawed in the beginning but eventually the reader finds the “real” person inside them. With a masterful touch, this author delivers a story full of intriguing characters, a fast paced storyline and romance that builds up till it explodes across the pages.

Meet Tori Morgan, a woman alone in the world and when she inherits a house from her deceased great-aunt, she is determined to make her own new age shop, Destiny’s Gate. I loved the way Tori at first seems a little flakey and eccentric but when Nick walks onto the pages, you can feel the simmering attraction between the two even as they fight it with every breath. The characters are center stage in A LITTLE LIGHT MAGIC and Ms. Nash does a fine job in creating them all to appeal to her readers. With some wonderful secondary characters that keep the story flowing smoothly, Ms. Nash keeps the reader in suspense as Tori and Nick find themselves falling in love on the Jersey Shore.

A LITTLE LIGHT MAGIC is a light, fun novel that is character driven and keeps the reader highly entertained from start to finish. Ms. Nash a talented storyteller who manages to captivate the reader with characters that will capture your heart. I hope Ms. Nash goes back to the Jersey Shore in the future as I would love to know more on Nick’s family. They had me laughing over their antics. If you haven’t checked out A LITTLE LIGHT MAGIC, then run to grab it from your local library or bookstore. It is a wonderful gem that will keep you on your toes even as you laugh over the characters antics.

THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF THIS BOOK. THIS IS AN OBJECTIVE UNBIASED REVIEW.

Immortals: THE RECKONING by Jennifer Ashley, Joy Nash and Robin T. Popp

Publisher Dorchester Publishing/Lovespell
Date published February 2009
ISBN 978-0-505-52768-4
Paranorma Romance
Mass Market Paperback
Reviewed by Dawn



Three final stories into the Immortals world where vampires, werewolves, Celtic sidhe and other magical beings roam in the human world; The ones who reign supreme are called the IMMORTALS and they are the ones who hold them in check. Take a walk into the world of magic, love and adventure as three fabulous authors delve one final time into the world of the Immortals.

Kicking off this wonderful book is Jennifer Ashley’s WOLF HUNT. You’ve met Logan in one of the past Immortal books and this time he is center stage as is the Demon woman he finds himself saving. Can he save Nadia from his vengeful former Wolf Pack before it is too late? What secrets does Nadia hold from Logan?

WOLF HUNT is a wonderful kick-off to the last book in the IMMORTAL series. Full of intriguing characters, favorite friends and a fast paced storyline, you get a sense of the characters heart and soul before the last page is read. Ms. Ashley delivers a wonderful hot story full of sexual tension and characters that leave you breathless.

Next up is Joy Nash’s BLOOD DEBT as a vampire with revenge on his mind finds the one woman he thought killed him long ago and the means to defeat the one who turned him. What Jackson never expected was the stone that was h is heart to crack open as Leanna destroyed the walls that surrounded him for ages with her heart felt sincerity and love.

BLOOD DEBT is another fast paced ride as Mac’s half sister; Leanna gets her own story and love. You’ve met Leanna in Immortals: The Crossing and this time she has to make amends with the one man she thought she killed long ago. With shocking revelations, consuming passion and a love that flares bright between these two, Jackson and Leanna find themselves fighting for survival against the one who hurt Jackson long ago and turned him into a vampire. Ms. Nash delivers a high action packed story that will keep you on the edge of your seat with a bated breath. I highly enjoyed seeing Leanna find a love of her own and seeking forgiveness for past transgressions.


Finally, Robin T. Popp delivers BEYOND THE MIST and a story of gods, souls and forgiveness all rolled up in one delightful story. Meet Jenna, a woman who thinks she destroyed her family and let down her sister from past mistakes. Enter Dave, a spirit walker and the one man who can heal her heart and make her believe in love again…that is if she doesn’t end up trapped on the ghost cruise ship.
BEYOND THE MIST is a wonderful ending to IMMORTALS: THE RECKONING and Ms. Popp does a fabulous job in telling Jenna and Dave’s story. Full of intriguing characters, twists and turns abound and some really hot sexual tension that will make you melt, BEYOND THE MIST is a story that hooks you from the beginning and doesn’t let up until the last page is read.

IMMORTALS: THE RECKONING is highly enjoyable, captivates you from the first page to the last and makes you wish for one of your own magical beings to call your own. The Immortal series is a wonderful set of stories that will leave you breathless and IMMORTALS: THE RECKONING is no different. Full of past characters and some new ones, these three talented authors delve once more into a world where magic abounds; love is center and delivers action-packed paranormal fun for the reader to enjoy. If you haven’t read any of the immortal books, run, don’t walk, to your nearest bookstore/library and grab them. They will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat as the Immortals keep a tight reign over the magical world and where you might find a little magic of your own.

IMMORTALS: THE CROSSING by Joy Nash

Publisher Dorchester Publishing
Date published October 2008
ISBN 978-0-505-52767-7
Paranormal
Mass Market Paperback
Reviewed by Dawn




For Celtic Demigod Manannan mac Lir, all he wanted was some peace and quiet after a major world tour and helping the Immortal Warriors save the world in the last year. What he doesn’t anticipate is a woman who delves into a mixed bag of magic that blows him away and causes him to burn with lust for her or kill her, depending on what she does to him. For Artemis Black is a woman who is sly and innocent; a woman who is on a mission to retrieve something very precious to her but she never anticipates the lure of Mac and that she will do the one thing that will cause him to either wish her dead or kiss her all over. This time Mac met his match in a powerful witch and they will have to visit the pits of hell to have that love that is determined to grow between them.

WOW is all this reviewer can say after reading IMMORTALS: THE CROSSING by Joy Nash. An action packed ride in the saga of the Immortal Warriors, destined to keep watch over humans and magical creatures alike. I couldn’t put this book down, it was so enthralling. From start to finish, Ms. Nash takes you on a magical journey that will have you going to the council room of the Sidhe to the lowest pits of Hell itself. Each page keeps you glued to the seat and when Mac and Artemis come together, the sparks start flying. Get ready for the next chapter of the Immortals series, when this time Mac gets his chance at a love so deep it defies Hell itself!

This reviewer recommends reading the other books in the series by Joy Nash, Jennifer Ashley and Robin T. Popp to understand some of the characters and to see the events that are mentioned in THE CROSSING in passing. You meet some new characters and some familiar ones as well. If you love magic, the battle of good vs. evil and a powerful love, be it a mothers love or a soul mate love, then you need to read IMMORTALS: THE CROSSING. Each page is like being driven on a 100 mph ride with hairpin turns that drop your stomach and steal your breath away. When the sexual tension comes to be too much, the pages crackle with the flames and the senses explode.

Ms. Nash delivers a spine tingling story that will keep you entertained and gasping for me. Her neat twist at the end will leave you reeling and this reviewer is anxiously awaiting the last two in the series. If you enjoy magical creatures, death defying actions and sex so powerful it singes the fingertips, grab THE CROSSING as well as the other Immortals books. They are so divine; you can’t help but read them over and over again.