Mr. Fuzzbuster Knows He's the Favorite by Stacy McAnulty

Mr. Fuzzbuster Knows He's the Favorite by Stacy McAnulty
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My 6 year old daughter loved the book and thought the ending was very funny. We have 5 cats and there is no way she could pick a favorite, although we all have a certain kitty that has taken up with each of us.

View all my reviews

Catsass by Claude Combacau

Lecciones de vida por catsass by Claude Combacau
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It's cute. Really wish it was a paperback version instead of digital so I could color it in and cut out some of the funny signs.
My daughter would love it, but there are some adult words in the book.
Overall, it made me laugh because I have 5 cats and they all do the things mentioned in the book.

View all my reviews

Cat vs Human Fairy Tails by Yasmine Surovec

Cat vs Human Fairy Tails by Yasmine Surovec
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was completely adorable! It was a quick read for my daughter and I before bedtime. We giggled the whole way through the book. My daughter's favorite story was Sleeping Beauty because she thought it was hilarious that the cat was able to wake her up when the prince couldn't. My favorite was The Ugly Kitten, I have a soft spot for cats that are usually overlooked in shelters. We recently adopted two solid black cats from our local shelter. I was pleased with the ending of this story. I admit I got a bit emotional when the kitty slept behind the trash bin. Then, I was really happy when the lady scooped the kitty up and took it home.
My daughter and I really loved this version of these fairy tales. I originally expected them to be a bit longer or more detailed, but I actually think this is perfect for a quick and funny bedtime story for kids. I hope to get a physical copy for my daughter to have since she loved it so much.

(I received an electronic copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.)

View all my reviews

NetGalley
Goodreads 

Waking Up Married by Mira Lyn Kelly

Goodreads
 

Kindle Edition, Harlequin KISS, 275 pages
Published December 1st 2012 by Harlequin KISS
ASIN: B009YP9L7U
URL: http://miralynkelly.com/
Setting: Las Vegas, Nevada (United States)

Summary from Goodreads:
Her first thought: "Who are you?"
It's the morning after her cousin's bachelorette party in Vegas and Megan Scott wakes up with the mother of all hangovers. Even worse, she's in a stranger's penthouse having woken up with something else as well - a funny, arrogant, sexy...husband!
Up until now, finding even a boyfriend had seemed impossible - been there, got the broken heart, sworn off men for good. Then a few martinis with Carter...no, Connor Reed and she's gone from first meet to marriage in one night!
Megan wants a lawyer. But Connor's shocking bombshell?
"I don't want a divorce."
My Thoughts:
I figured this would be a light, romantic read, but I didn't expect the emotions I got from the dialogue. The story was a bit predictable and drawn out, but at the same time it wasn't. I found myself thinking "Make up your minds!" more than once, in a good way. I also like that the book gives multiple points-of-view from the characters.
Megan is an independent woman who is tired of dealing with men and the hurt they can cause. She decides to take matters into her own hands and have a baby herself. She just needs the right guy to provide the good stuff. But right now, she must deal with going to Vegas for her cousin's wedding.
Connor is a controlling businessman who is used to getting what he wants. He and a few of his buddies decide to take a trip to Vegas. Connor and Megan had  rough childhoods, resulting in both of them having trouble in their romantic relationships
After drinking way to much, Megan and Connor wake up together the next morning. She can't remember a thing, but he remembers everything. Megan wants a divorce, knowing that this isn't part of her plan. Connor remembers what they talked about the night before, and he just can't let her go. He wants to give the marriage a try. Megan isn't so sure. So, they decide on a trial period. After that, she is free to go if she wants to.
Connor spends the next few weeks trying to show her how great they are together. Megan tries to get him to see the things that may not be so great about the relationship, like him coming home to find her wearing a stinky face mask. After a while, it gets to be too much for her, so she heads back home. Connor doesn't want to give her up that easily.
In the end he learns not to be so controlling and I have to admit that he pissed me off a few times. It was also hard to stay mad at him when he was doing it in a caring way just trying to get her to see that the marriage could work. Megan learns how to open up and allow him to be a part of her life and that not all men make promises that they don't keep.
The ending itself was really sweet. I would say more about why, but I don't want to give it away. So, this is your typical Vegas wedding story, with a twist. I think it is something a bit different and refreshing.


I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
.

Taken By Him (The Billionaire's Club #2) by Red Garnier

Photo from Goodreads

ebook, 112 pages
Published May 28th 2013 by St. Martin's Paperbacks
ISBN:  1466833459 (ISBN13: 9781466833456)                                
Series: The Billionaire's Club

Summary from Goodreads:
   The Billionaire’s Club: The wealthiest, most powerful men, not only in Chicago, but in the world.  They are used to having whatever they want, whenever they want it.
   Luke Preston is the ultimate playboy among his billionaire friends.  Every bad girl in Chicago has surrendered in his bed.  Some good girls, too.  But when he ends up in the hospital after an assassination attempt, his friends suggest he take a long vacation to recoup, regroup and lay off the women until the man is caught.  However, when Luke lays eyes on the stunning brunette across the beach, she inspires every dark, erotic thought his mind can conjure.
   Peyton Lane has always been serious and responsible and she’s determined to have some fun for once in her life.  And that means a deliciously, sexy affair with a stranger while she’s on vacation.  So when a blond Adonis named Luke crosses her path at the Cancun resort, she’s determined that he will be the one. But Peyton gets more than she bargained for when Luke introduces her to a passion unlike any she has ever experienced and she discovers that behind that charming smile are secrets and a beautiful, damaged soul.
   Red Garnier takes readers deep into a world of incredible emotion and undeniable power and possession.
   Also, don’t miss CLAIMED BY HIM, the first unforgettable story in The Billionaire’s Club, available now.

 My Thoughts:
First off, this is a hot, erotic quick read.
Luke Preston is a billionaire from Chicago who is smart, charming, and quite the playboy. He was shot while sleeping with a woman. After recovering, his friends think he needs to lay off on and manage to talk him into going out of town for a while because they are afraid the shooter will try again. It would give the police a chance to find the guy.
Peyton Lane is a businesswoman who hasn't had many relationships. Her personal life is non-existent. She takes pride in being a perfectionist but realizes she needs some time away from the office. She decides to go to the beach for a break.
Peyton gets her first glance at Luke when he is tossing a football with a young boy on the beach. Of course, the ball ends up flying in her direction and Luke runs over. Peyton realizes that being here is the perfect time for a one-night fling and this guy would be perfect.
They end up spending the next few days together and know that it has to come to an end when she leaves. The fling is supposed to be just that, a fling. A one time thing and then move on. But, it doesn't happen like that. They begin talking about their lives back home, only he keeps his info pretty vague.
The time comes when she must go back home and return to the real world. Later, Peyton finds out who Luke really is and agrees to go to a party with her coworker who happens to be neighbors with Luke.
Luke just can't get into the party he is throwing to help him get over her...and then she walks in.
  I really liked the story. In the beginning I hated Luke's arrogance, but as I got further into the story, I found myself liking him. Some of the dialogue had me giggling and threatening to wake up my hubby. In the end, I do think Luke could have done a better job explaining himself and his actions after lying to her. The reader gets to see both of their points-of-view along the way. I think this story shows that love can be based on something other than money. Especially if you are a hot billionaire. This is a stand-alone book that can be read separately or as part of the series. It is quick, so a short afternoon reading in a hammock would be the perfect setting. I can't wait to read more from Red Garnier. I also plan to pick up book #1 of the series soon.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Relatively Dead by Sheila Connolly

Photo from Goodreads

Kindle Edition
Published May 16th 2013 by Beyond the Page
ASIN: B00CUEGU4E

Summary from Amazon:

From New York Times bestselling author Sheila Connolly!

Abby Kimball has just moved to New England with her boyfriend and is trying to settle in, but the experience is proving to be quite unsettling, to say the least. While on a tour of local historic homes, Abby witnesses a family scene that leaves her gasping for breath—because the family has been dead for nearly a century. Another haunting episode follows, and another, until it seems to Abby that everything she touches is drawing her in, calling to her from the past.

Abby would doubt her sanity if it weren’t for Ned Newhall, the kind and knowledgeable guide on that disturbing house tour. Rather than telling her she’s hallucinating, Ned takes an interest in Abby’s strange encounters and encourages her to figure out what’s going on, starting with investigating the story of the family she saw . . . and exploring her own past.

But as Abby begins to piece together a history that’s as moving as it is shocking and unravels a long-ago mystery that nearly tore her family apart, she also begins to suspect that Ned’s got secrets of his own, and that his interest may be driven as much by a taste for romance as a love for history.

My Thoughts:

     I would describe Relatively Dead as a bit historical, romantic, and paranormal.
Abby Kimball moved to Massachusetts with Brad, her boyfriend of two years. He is constantly pestering her to get out of the house to meet new people and find a job. Abby finally decides to take a tour of some historical homes around town. At the last house, she suddenly finds herself "seeing" things that are not there. Ned Newhall is there and helps her calm down. He asks her about what happened and encourages her to look into the house's past, but doesn't pressure her to do so.
     Abby starts doing research on the people who owned the house years ago. At the same time, things with Brad seem a little awkward. He's either in a good mood or a bad one, depending on how work went that day, and he takes it out on her. She tries to be the nice girlfriend and listen to his ranting, but it has started to get old. She also tries to share her family history with him, but after a few minutes he gets distracted by work or a game on television. He is hardly home on the weekends, so this gives her the chance to share her findings with Ned because she doesn't want to mention the "visions" to Brad. She knows he would just call her crazy and say she needs to see a doctor...or a shrink.
     After a while, Abby manages to find a decent job, which ends up taking a lot of time away from her research. She becomes too tired to make sure Brad's dinner is on the table when he gets home. She figures he is an adult and can take on more of his share of the household chores now that she isn't sitting around at home all day. As the story progresses, Abby discovers more about her family history and how she may be connected to the people she saw in her "vision". She also learns why she feels these strong emotions along with them and what they mean.

I liked how Abby seemed to grow up over the course of the story. She went from a quiet person who wanted to please everyone, to a woman that was tired of being trampled over. I think there was a lot of foreshadowing in the story...Brad, family ties, etc. I picked up on a few things before Abby put them together herself, making it a bit predictable. Although, I think Abby and Ned being together kind of came out of nowhere for me. I also felt that the ending snuck up on me. I just turned the page and there was nothing else. I wish they would have figured out more about why and how they both came to see these "visions". What was special about their ancestors to be able to pass down the ability and to leave the visions only when there were such strong emotions. I wish there was a epilogue or maybe even part of a series so that I could find out more.

About the Author:
Sheila Connolly began writing mysteries in 2001, and has since been nominated for an Agatha Award twice. Her most recent book is the nationally bestselling Buried in a Bog, the first book in the County Cork Mystery Series. Sheila is also the author of the New York Times bestselling Sour Apples (Orchard Mystery Series) and Fire Engine Dead (Museum Mystery Series). She lives in Massachusetts with her husband, daughter, and three cats.

 

Relatively Dead can be purchased here on Amazon.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

 

Carnally Ever After by Jackie Barbosa

Cover from Goodreads

ebook
Published September 18th 2011 by Circe Press (first published February 18th 2011)
ISBN: 0013419668 (ISBN13: 2940013419667)
Series: Ever After Novellas #1

Summary from Goodreads:
This ebook includes CARNALLY EVER AFTER, a short story (15,000 words/50 pages), EPIPHANY, a bonus epilogue (3,400 words/11 pages) and an excerpt from Jackie's upcoming release, THE LESSON PLAN (6400 words/21 pages).
DESCRIPTION
Jilted at the altar, Lady Louisa Bennett seeks the solace of a quiet, empty chapel and instead finds Alistair de Roche, her fiancé’s best man and the subject of her fantasies from the moment she met him. Alistair knows bedding his best friend’s betrothed is well beyond the pale, but Louisa has haunted his dreams for months. Soon, Louisa and Alistair are caught up in a consuming love affair that threatens their families’ plans and their own hearts. Can they find a way to live happily, and carnally, ever after?
CARNALLY EVER AFTER was previously released under the same title by Cobblestone Press. The bonus epilogue, EPIPHANY, is available for free in the anthology TWELFTH NIGHT

My Thoughts:
Louisa Bennett was left at the altar by Greenville, a man she doesn't care to marry in the first place. His best man, Alistair de Roche, is there to comfort her. They want each other, but know that no one can find out. Louisa knows she is still going to have to marry Greenville, and Alistair is set to be wed very soon himself. After their first time together, she decides to defy her family's wishes, even if it is just to be his mistress. 

Carnally Ever After was a quick, hot historical read about learning not to settle for who others think you should. They may not approve, but everyone deserves to be happy with the person they love.

The epilogue to the story was very sweet. I think it made me enjoy the story as a whole a lot better. I liked the story itself, but I could really relate to the epilogue.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.