Deluged With Books Cafe

Finally, it is here! We celebrated its fine  cover reveal  weeks ago on the blog and now the book is officially released. So prepare to be allured. Allure  is the second installment of Lea Nolan's The Hoodoo Apprentice series following Conjure , packing much adventure, dark magic and suspense to enthrall fans and readers alike. Emma and Cooper are now together but the summer isn't yet over. Trouble is still brewing and is starting to pick up like an impending storm in St. Helena Island. Cooper's sixteenth birthday is fast approaching and before the Beaumont Curse engulfs him, Emma, with the help of Miss Delia, an old hoodoo lady practitioner and her twin brother Jack, is doing all she can to break the jinx before Cooper changes and morphs into something else, a soulless person. On top of that, visitors descend into the island and are wreaking havoc on Emma's already crazy summer in the form of a suspicious detective of hidden force to pull some strings and an il

Mrs. Poe was one of those stories that creeps up on you. It makes you curious at first and then the further along you go, the more you want to know. This is a book I usually categorized as fictionalized biographies, we are given real people but the story is made up, usually based on some facts but overall is the product of creative imagination. The setting is New York in 1845, and the characters are the well known figures in the literary world. At this time Edgar Allan Poe is the current star. The premise is based on a rumor of his unfounded affair with Frances Osgood, another writer of poetry. She at this particular time was relatively well known for writing children's stories but is also publishing poetry. Both were married at this time. If you go by facts the so called affair was based on a rumor and some of Mrs. Osgood's poetry published then was suggestive that there was something between her and Poe. Surprisingly enough, Mrs. Poe, Virginia, seemed to encourage

Sex would never be enough... Nathan Livingston has more in his life than he can handle--a high-powered job in D.C. politics, a sixteen-year-old daughter he's raising alone, and another daughter who ran away from him, whom he hasn't seen in two years. He doesn't have anything left to invest in a real relationship. A night of hot sex with Lynn every three months is as much as he'll allow himself, and it doesn't matter that it never feels like enough. Lynn shouldn't be involved with someone as high-profile as Nathan, since it could negatively affect her successful web magazine, but she just can't resist their nights together. Then his complicated personal life catches up to their no-strings-attached affair, and they both find out everything they're missing Review:  Missing is such an intense book, encompassing more than the romance between the main characters but also with regards to everyone around them. The writing was flawless,

The first installment in a sexy new paranormal romance series by Larissa Ione, author of the bestselling Demonica series! A WOMAN OUT FOR BLOOD Nicole Martin was only eight years old when the vampire slaves rose up in rebellion and killed her family. Now she devotes her life to finding a vaccine against vampirism, hoping to wipe out her memories—along with every bloodsucker on the planet. But there’s one thing she cannot destroy: her searing, undeniable attraction for the one man she should hate and fear the most . . . A VAMPIRE OUT FOR REVENGE A member of the renegade vampire MoonBound Clan, Riker is haunted by demons of his own. When he recognizes Nicole and remembers how her family enslaved his loved ones, his heart burns for vengeance. But when he kidnaps Nicole and holds her in a secret lair, his mortal enemy becomes his soul obsession, his greatest temptation, and, perhaps, his only salvation—a hot-blooded lover who could heal him with her touch . . . or bury  Review: B

Clodagh is an Irish girl who lived in a crumbling manor house, cold and drafty, with her sickly twin sister Mare. She is enamored by her distant beautiful mother, Agatha, whom she hasn't really known despite living with her. They said she tired of life and went away to the sea and that she was half a selkie . It seems Clodagh, too, is feeling out of place in ordinary and most normal places. So she is out to find herself. What started as a daughter's yearning for a mother's love and grief for her twin ended with a journey on unfamiliar landscapes, self discovery, and a mysterious stranger. Regina McBride writes like a poetry and nostalgia rolled into one. It has that quality of melancholic memory, as if remembering things in a coat of sepia. I was definitely enthralled by her tones, Clodagh's voice, and was only regretful that the character's decision in the end propelled her into a territory that disturbs me somewhat.

In one moment, high school teacher and single mother Brooke Davenport interrupts a vicious assault, saves a young woman’s life, and attracts the attention of a serial killer. Sixteen years ago, Brooke lost her roommate to a brutal murder. Now she teaches women’s self-defense, still trying to heal from the guilt and grief that plague her. Convinced the predator knows his victims and is stalking his prey online, she is determined to find him before he strikes again. Her brother’s friend, Luke has the computer expertise to help. But Brooke’s unexpected desire for Luke complicates her investigation, and her fixation with the case provokes a deadly reaction from the killer. Injured in terrorist bombing overseas, computer expert Luke Holloway is still haunted by flashbacks of his young assistant’s death in the explosion. But Luke can’t refuse the request of a deployed friend to look after his sister, Brooke. Taking on responsibility for Brooke’s safety threatens Luke’s tenuous rec

The final book in Laura Kaye's Hearts of Anemoi Series, East of Ecstasy has a cover! Annalise Fallston made peace with postponing her big-city dreams to care for her ill father, but lately she’s been filled with a restlessness not even her beloved painting dispels. Worse, the colors don’t speak to her as they always have, and all her efforts produce dark, foreboding images of a dangerous man and a terrifying future.  Devlin Eston, black-souled son of the evil Anemoi Eurus, is the only one who can thwart his father’s plan to overthrow the Supreme God of Wind and Storms. But first, Dev must master the unstable powers he’s been given. Distrusted and shunned by his own divine family, he never expected to find kindness and passion in the arms of a mortal. But Devlin’s love puts Annalise in the path of a catastrophic storm, and in the final Armageddon showdown between the Anemoi and Eurus, sacrifices will be made, hearts broken, and lives changed forever…or lost.  Amaz

Recently rediscovered by art historians, and one of the few female post-Renaissance painters to achieve fame during her own era, Artemisia Gentileschi led a remarkably "modern" life. Susan Vreeland tells Artemisia's captivating story, beginning with her public humiliation in a rape trial at the age of eighteen, and continuing through her father's betrayal, her marriage of convenience, motherhood, and growing fame as an artist. Set against the glorious backdrops of Rome, Florence, Genoa, and Naples, inhabited by historical characters such as Galileo and Cosimo de' Medici II, and filled with rich details about life as a seventeenth-century painter, Vreeland creates an inspiring story about one woman's lifelong struggle to reconcile career and family, passion and genius.  ( see ) In my deep interest with history and ancient art, I could not pass up reading the books of Susan Vreeland whose titles are reminiscent of Tracy Chevalier's (most are related t

Love is the most dangerous obsession… Skye Sullivan is trying to put the pieces of her life back together. She survived a brutal stalker and escaped his abduction, and now she is looking to the future—a future that includes Skye’s lover, billionaire Trace Weston. Skye thinks the danger is finally over for her. She’s dead wrong. When Trace’s past comes back to haunt him, Skye discovers that the man she loves isn’t quite who he seems to be. Trace has been leading a double-life. An ex-special forces agent, his military training turned him into the perfect killing machine. He made more than his share of enemies during his time in the military—and as he built his security empire—and one of those enemies is striking back. He won’t lose her. Skye is the one weapon that can be used against Trace—his only vulnerability. But he won’t let her go—he can’t. Trace will do anything necessary to protect Skye. Anything. Yet when she discovers the secrets that he’s tried to keep hidden, Skye’s pain and

This was a fun and quirky whodunit that left me laughing and more bewildered about Agatha Raisin and her detectives than the mystery itself. Something Borrowed, Someone Dead opens with the death of Gloria French, the do-gooder who has a knack of borrowing stuff from her neighbors and never giving it back. Death by Elderberry wine that was the verdict and yet suspicious circumstances has left the town of Piddlebury cautious. Hence, the services of Agatha Raisin, private investigator was employed. What happens afterwards is a tale of village blackmail, a couple of murders, a coven of witches all wrapped up in humorous and witty dialogue and events. Add in a veritable number of oddball sleuths and you have an entertaining murder mystery. Agatha Raisin, is not by all means Miss Marple, in fact she seems the total opposite, with her smoking and her loud acerbic personality and her obsession with good looking men. But her wit and sharp intelligence saves the day. Her merry band of

I really liked this book. JAX, aka Jacquelyn Frank, is a really talented writer when it comes to world building and character development. This time around Hunter centers around witches and warlock, good versus evil and true love versus extremely addicting sexual attraction. Hunter has returned to Willow Coven, after 10 long years of soul searching. Known as the Sentinel, a very strong Spellcaster, he has been summoned as evil has threatened his family. Tatyana finds her way to the Willow Coven house that same night, unaware of the danger she has fallen into while seeking her brother Dmitri who has found his path among a new family. Hunter , despite the title, is actually a very good paranormal thriller centered around magic.   Romance is definitely the central theme but the Willow Coven and its band of white or good witches are definitely a story on its own. The author excels in vivid description, fantastic characters with very individual traits that jump off the page.

Gia has always had a crush on Luke, a coworker but feels that she's a little out of his league. While on a girls' night out, her sexual fantasies were outed and her friends decided that she needs to pursue it. Especially since rumor has it that Luke will be leaving the company in two weeks. The plan was hatched to make her fantasy come true while Luke was on a business trip in Vegas. But she'll be doing the seducing as her alter ego, Vanna, a sexy siren with titian locks, red stilettos and a barely there wardrobe displaying her hidden assets. All goes to plan and what a night it was, hot steamy and everything she could have imagined and then some. But the morning after made her realize that Luke was more than just a dream, she could totally fall for him. Fearless   was a fun, entertaining and very hot read. Gia and Luke were definitely on the same path of finding that perfect someone but had some misgivings when it was happening too fast. The novella was divided

The Van Ripper women have been the talk of Tarrytown, New York, for centuries. Some say they’re angels; some say they’re crooks. In their tumbledown “Stitchery,” not far from the stomping grounds of the legendary Headless Horseman, the Van Ripper sisters—Aubrey, Bitty, and Meggie—are said to knit people’s most ardent wishes into beautiful scarves and mittens, granting them health, success, or even a blossoming romance. But for the magic to work, sacrifices must be made—and no one knows that better than the Van Rippers. When the Stitchery matriarch, Mariah, dies, she leaves the yarn shop to her three nieces. Aubrey, shy and reliable, has dedicated her life to weaving spells for the community, though her sisters have long stayed away. Bitty, pragmatic and persistent, has always been skeptical of magic and wants her children to have a normal, nonmagical life. Meggie, restless and free-spirited, follows her own set of rules. Now, after Mariah’s death forces a reunion, the sisters

There's nothing like a little fantasy book to escape the every day dreariness.  But for a young boy named Tristran, stepping into the magical realm is nothing but a birth right. To gain his heart's desire, Tristran Thorn crossed over from Wall to Faerie in search of a falling star and what awaited him as he reached it turned out to be a feisty pale haired girl. Together they found themselves falling into treacherous paths of magical adventures. Stardust  is a dark fairy tale, with a hint of savagery as on nature’s way and a splash of fate’s subtle cruelty. The story is narrated in a straightforward manner seeped with downright irony and bleakness, the kind which leaves a lingering taste. It is a tale that won’t leave you satisfied and contented, no, it will leave you restless, pondering and searching. 

Looking back, I wonder if I had an inkling that my life was about to go from ordinary to extraordinary.   This was a page turner with a very interesting twist in the romantic angle. When I started reading it, I was already jumping to conclusions about star crossed lovers, typical girl shouldn't be with boy type of obstacles. It was a high point to find that it was definitely more than that. The writing was good, the pace flowing, the characters likeable and relatable. However, I also felt that there could have been more depth to them. It felt like it was skimming the surface of who Lillie and Tom were, as individuals and as a couple. Again, the unique plot device was good but the ending felt a little too pat, not rushed but more as a convenience. Execution wise this felt flat like it could have been more. It was still a very good entertaining book with a good plot device and interesting characters for the most part I could relate to. Still recommend this to lovers of

Ill-Gotten Gains is the second book in the Nell Forrest Series. Like the first book, Nell Forrest is involved in another cozy murder mystery in the town of Majic. Entertaining and engaging, readers will find themselves amused, bemused and at the edge of ones seat trying to guess who the culprit is. Nell's character is so relatable and real that you actually will be rooting for her and trying to punch her ex in behalf of her. Other quirky characters in the book adds dimension and makes you believe this town really exists and you just want to drop by one day and have a visit. Nell Forrest is a single mother to a teenager and 4 other daughters who've moved out of the nest.  This in itself is a story on its own, but its the town of Majic that becomes the centerpoint for a murder or murders.  Well a certain police officer of the gorgeous kind thinks it could be Nell, again its another story.  The lively almost laugh out of your seat detective solving ways of Nell and her poss

From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Dane comes the latest release from Cosmo Red-Hot Reads from Harlequin. She won’t be satisfied with just one bite... Art student-slash-bike messenger Wren Davis pursues what she wants. And what she wants now is Gregori Ivanov, rock star of the Seattle art scene. With his tattoos, piercings and sensual sneer, Gregori is the ultimate bad boy. Wren’s gotten to know the man beneath the body art, too—and it only makes her crave him more. But Gregori loves women like he loves cake and champagne—intensely, but only for the moment. And after Wren experiences just how scorching sex with Gregori is, she’s determined to show him that just one taste won’t be enough... Review: This was really, really good. We have two artists for main leads, approaching the practice of their art from two different perspectives. They come from two very different family backgrounds.  One has reached the top of his field and reaping the benef

"I've left some clues for you. If you want them, turn the page. If you don't, put the book back on the shelf, please." So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the bestselling authors of Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist . Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a cosmic mismatch of disastrous proportions? Review: A very fun and entertaining read, Dash & Lily's Book of Dares had me turning the pages until the last. It was a sweet and funny romance between two 16 year olds written in alternating his and her's point of view. Admittedly the dialogues and word usage were

Never Kiss a Rake , is an engaging romantic suspense novel set within a historical backdrop. It starts with finding Bryony Russell and her sisters right after they were left destitute by their father's demise. The sisters weren't convinced he was an embezzler and that his death was accidental. To find proof, Bryony has set herself up as housekeeper in the Earl of Kilmartyn's home. Convinced the Earl was involved, Bryony instead finds herself falling for his rakish dark charms. Adrian Bruton, Earl of Kilmartyn, knew that his housekeeper was a spy. Instead of firing her, he decided to let her stay. The attraction was mutual and however much they fight it, they eventually give in to the forbidden.  I loved this book. The tone was definitely dark, the writing deft and successfully kept the pace that built the tension so tight you didn't really know what to expect. The characters were well developed. Both Adrian and Bryony were not perfect heroes which adds uniq

Some Like It Spicy ,definitely lives up to its name. The title doesn't just allude to the heat level between the characters of Celebrity Chef Ty Cates and Ashton Grey, although that was definitely High Heat. It also places emphasis on the way their relationship started and how they were walking a very fine line while pursuing it. Ty and Ashton, as characters were both given enough depth to make the story more plausible. A jaded celebrity whose love for cooking has been put to the back burner, Ty was about ready to call it quits but contracts and obligations seems to stop him at every turn. Ashton Grey, a talented chef in her own right, needed to win this contest to save her restaurant from closing. Her temper and displaced anger was something else she needed to control. Once they met however, obligations and everything else was forgotten. This was a very well written book, full of bantering dialogues, yummy food, steamy sex as well as giving us glimpses on how those real

Today, we're celebrating the cover reveal of Allure , the sequel to Lea Nolan's Conjure, coming October 1 st from Entangled Teen! Worst. Summer. Ever. Emma Guthrie races to learn the hoodoo magic needed to break The Beaumont Curse before her marked boyfriend Cooper's sixteenth birthday. But deep in the South Carolina Lowcountry, dark, mysterious forces encroach, conspiring to separate Emma and Cooper forever. When Cooper starts to change, turning cold and indifferent, Emma discovers that both his heart and body are marked for possession by competing but equally powerful adversaries. Desperate to save him, Emma and her twin brother, Jack, risk their lives to uncover the source of the black magic that has allured Cooper and holds him in its grip. Face with the horror of a soul-eating boohag, Emma and Jack must fight to resist its fiendish power to free Cooper long enough to join their strengths and face it together, before it destroys them all. Amaz

Leo and Bryony got married, he a handsome promising academe young man she a brilliant lady surgeon going against the grain of gently bred women, and got annulled in less than a year. Escaping England, Bryony sailed far away and ended in India as a traveling physician. Now, Leo sought her out to escort her safely back to England at the urgent request of her sister. With the past hovering between them and all the things left unsaid, what things lie on their journey back? Achingly bittersweet and full of luminous prose, this is the first book I have read of Sherry Thomas. It is a story of second chances in love, of trust and forgiveness, with unforgettable characters. The book starts with the future, a glimpse of it, hardly revealing and then it moves into the present, on that exact moment when Leo and Bryony met again after years of separation. As the two journey in the frontiers of India, their past is revealed through little flashbacks (short details that won't bore you down

Beth Carter a clinical psychologist and single mom to four adorable sons has a thriving practice based at home. She has an amicable relationship with her ex-husband and has good standing in her community.  Sounds perfect right.   Well yes, but not quite.  See on the outside that's what it looks like but in reality Beth Carter's life is like the menagerie she keeps in her backyard.  Half the time she has no idea if her patients are more sane than her kids and the other half its the other way around.   Set in the suburbs of Melbourne, Trust Me , is a frolicking ride filled with humor and wacky slice of life adventures. Follow Beth as she deals with a son who is accident prone, another who has more than his slice of vanity, one who has a very bright future in politics just because of his stellar charm and a four year old son who wants to be a lesbian. She has no social life and has some paranoia about attractive men wanting to date her, not to mention her sons seems to dislike