Review and Giveaway: The Accidental Werewolf 2: Something About Harry

The Accidental Werewolf 2: Something About Harry (Accidentals - Book 8) by Dakota Cassidy

Publication Date: 12/03/2013
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Sensation
Genre: Paranormal Romane
Pages: 320
ISBN-10: 0425268659
ISBN-13: 978-0425268650

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Sensation)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Dakota Cassidy on the WEB: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Books in the series:

Accidental Werewolf (2008), Accidentally Dead (2008), The Accidental Human (2009), Accidentally Demonic (2010), Accidentally Catty (2011), Accidentally Dead, Again (2012), The Accidental Genie (2012), The Accidental Werewolf 2: Something About Harry (2013)

Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Excerpt from The Accidental Werewolf 2: Something About Harry, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature.

Synopsis:

He’s in a furry situation.

Accountant Harry Ralph Emerson has always been a by-the-numbers kind of guy. But when he finds himself trapped at work sprouting an obscene amount of hair, he knows his odds for maintaining normalcy are zero to none. After a frantic internet search, Harry goes through the OOPS—Out in the Open Paranormal Support—checklist and comes to a disheartening conclusion: He’s turning into a werewolf and he needs help ASAP.

She might be the only solution.

Werewolf Mara Flaherty has long carried a torch for Pack Cosmetics’s sexy single accountant, even after her attempt to seduce him went down in flames. When her sister-in-law, Marty, shows up to handle Harry’s OOPS emergency, she tasks Mara with showing the hirsute hottie the ropes. But Mara knows Harry’s condition is a result of her lab experiment gone wrong—and the previously mild-mannered object of her affection is about to give her a piece of his mind…

Thoughts:

The Accidental Werewolf 2: Something About Harry is the eighth book in Dakota Cassidy's outrageous Accidentals series. Cassidy's over-the-top humor and pop culture references give this novel a light and fun atmosphere which will appeal to paranormal fans, as well as, romance readers. The author has a flair for the dramatic and her characters are vivacious and full of life. Something About Harry is definitely a hair-raising book, with lots of paranormal fun!

What I liked: 

This novel was a first for me from this author and I was impressed with Cassidy's humor and the overall comedic appeal. Her books are obviously not meant to be dark paranormal tales. There was a lightness about it that was fun and entertaining.

Pop cultures references abounded in Something About Harry, and Cassidy was able to interject them into just about every situation. From Harry Potter to the Walking Dead, the author had a penchant for contemporary speech and thought patterns that made me chuckle more than once.

The characters were multi-dimensional and had a bit of depth that is sometimes missing in a novel that has a lot of humor. Cassidy made staid accountant Harry come alive as he dealt with his newly acquired werewolf sensibilities and even his overactive libido. Mara was a perfect match with her analytic mind and her wacky experiments. These two sizzled on more than one occasion which was fine with this reader.

What I didn't Like:

Fortunately, there were not to many things I didn't like about this one. I am one of those readers than can get into any kind of romance book, paranormals being some of my favorites. I enjoy a good love scene, and it can get a bit graphic, but one thing that tends to bug me is the use of too many colorful metaphors (as Spock from Star Trek might say). I don't like a lot of bad language in a book. In the bedroom certain things are expected, and I realize that "Good, Golly, Gosh Darn," doesn't always convey a characters point. But too much is too much. This one was a little wordy for my tastes, so that's just something to be aware of. It didn't take anything away from the overall read, which was excellent!

Bottom Line: 

I wish I had started reading this series a lot earlier. Now I have to catch up. This a read that has a lot of humor, some great characters and a whole lot of contemporary pop culture references that will have readers rolling. It is good as a stand alone and you won't get lost at all, but I have a feeling as part of a series, this one will rock! Try it... I think you'll like it.

The Accidental Werewolf 2: Something About Harry is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

This one gets 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

I'm trying a new review format, let me know what you think!

About the Author:

Dakota Cassidy is the national bestselling author of the Accidentally Paranormal series, including The Accidental Werewolf and Accidentally Dead. She lives in Texas.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of The Accidental Werewolf 2: Something About Harry by Dakota Cassidy.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US Addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, December 19th.

1. Please leave a comment with some of your favorite werewolf authors and series.
2. Please fill out the FORM.

Winner's Post!

I keep saying I am going to do these more often, but inevitably my schedule gets the best of me and I get one in about once a month or so, bear with me, I really do try! 

Thank-You to everyone who participated in these giveaways. Thanks for offering your comments and letting me get to know more about you. I will be notifying winners by email this evening and publishers tomorrow morning. 

Enjoy!

Casa for the Holidays - 4 Book Giveaway!
Winner: Felicia Sidoma

Song at Twilight by Pamela Sherrwood
Winner: Crystal GB

Gilt Trip by Laura Childs (2 winners - sponsored by the author)
Winner #1: Rita Wray
Winner #2: Brooke Bumgardner

Chili Con Carnage by Kylie Logan
Winner: Linda Rima

Murder and Marinara by Rosie Genova
Winner: bn100

What the Cat Saw by Carolyn Hart
Winner: Michelle Willms

Final Catcall by Sofie Kelly
Winner: Nancy Luebke

A Finder's Fee by Joyce and Jim Lavene
Winner: holdenj

Poisoned Prose by Ellery Adams
Winner: deb soliz

Kinked by Thea Harrison
Winner: Renee Grandinetti

Strip Search by Shayla Black
Winner: Anita Yancey

A Talent for Trouble by Jen Turano
Winner: Lisa Garrett

Read it and Weep by Jenn McKinlay
Winner: Michelle Fidler

Relic by Heather Terrill (sponsored by Debbie's Book Bag)
Winner: Vicki S.

The Luckiest Lady in London by Sherry Thomas
Winner: Elizabeth Schroedle

Promise Me Texas by Jodi Thomas
Winner: Maxie

Charms and Chocolate Chips by Bailey Cates
Winner: Sue Farrell

Philip Pullman's retelling of Grimm's Fairytales
Winner: Karen Barnett

A Potion to Die For by Heather Blake
Winner: Ann Marie Alter

Jill Mansell Prize Pack
Winner: Nora-Adrienne

How to Handle a Highlander by Mary Wine
Winner: Diane Sallans

Wild Darkness by Lauren Dane
Winner: Janie McGaugh

Once a Seal by Anne Elizabeth
Winner: Shelley S.

The Thrill of the Haunt by E.J. Copperman
Winner: anne

Freezer I'll Shoot by Victoria Hamilton
Winner: Carol M.

I'm Sad!

I want to talk to you about a couple of things that are going on. 

I have recently had a few people who have not received their winning books. For the most part I have had very little problems with this, but lately it has become an issue. I have a very good relationship with the publishers I work with and I hate to think that my readers are getting the wrong idea about them. I do not think it is the readers place to go to the author and expect them to provide a giveaway copy when they did not agree to offering the giveaway in the first place and this comes out of their pockets. I have considered sending out my own copies of the book when the publisher doesn't come through, but I feel that is an injustice to me as well. I work hard to make sure this blog is a good book blog that offers what readers and publishers want. I work very hard to read these books and let readers know what to expect if they choose to buy them. I work tirelessly to get publishers to sponsor giveaways and I feel the copy of the book I receive is the compensation for all of that work... giving it away seems a waste of all the time and work that went into the posts. If you've never done a blog of your own you have no idea the amount of work that goes into it. 

It has made me question whether or not to continue doing book giveaways at all. 

I do not want the publishers to be dis-satisfied, the authors or you as readers. If you win a book you should receive it. I don't do giveaways very often from the blog that are not publisher sponsored because I cannot afford the postage to send the books out. It has been very disheartening to me, to read your comments about the giveaway process. I have long said that I am not responsible, when books don't turn up, but in a sense I still feel responsible. I apologize to those of you who have not received your books and I would like to say that it doesn't happen very often. But if this continues to be the case, I will be removing any and all giveaways from the blog. I will still give details where you can go to try an win a copy on other blogs if that information is available but I would rather not continue if it is going to cause problems. I have enough worries without adding that to the mix.

I will make one more attempt to retrieve any books you have not received. Please email me with the name and author of the book and your mailing address, as soon as possible. If I do not hear from you this week, I will make no further attempts, as I am becoming a nuisance instead of a respected blogger. (justpeachy36@yahoo.com)

I know this sounds on the harsh side and I want you to know that I am not blaming you for wanting to receive the books you have won. But my blog was always supposed to be fun for me and for you, and when there is conflict all of the fun goes out of it for me.

On a brighter note... I will be posting the latest winner's post later this evening. 

If things improve, the giveaways will remain the same... if not December's books will be the last of the giveaways on my blog. If you have comments or questions please feel free to email or to post them here in the comments.

Review and Giveaway: Quilt Trip

Quilt Trip (Southern Quilting Mystery - Book 3) by Elizabeth Craig

Publication Date: 12/03/2013
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Obsidian Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 304
ISBN-10: 0451240634
ISBN-13: 978-0451240637

(Received for an honest review from Obsidian Mystery)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Elizabeth Craig on the WEB: Website, Blog, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads

Books in the series:

Quilt or Innocence (2012), Knot What It Seems (2013), Quilt Trip (2013)

Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Excerpt from Quilt Trip, courtesy of Barnes & Noble Read Instantly feature.

Synopsis:

As a quilter, retired folk art curator Beatrice Coleman likes to have all the seams stitched together—but her plans keep getting tangled up in unexpected ways…

Beatrice has never crashed a party but now her fellow quilt guild member, Meadow Downey, is driving them to a Victorian mansion in the mountains beyond Dappled Hills, North Carolina. Muriel Starnes, an elderly eccentric, has organized a meeting of quilters to pick someone to administer a quilting scholarship. The fact that the Village Quilters weren’t invited isn’t enough to keep Meadow from speaking her piece.

But once the quilters arrive at the mansion, it seems they may never leave. An ice storm sends an old tree crashing across the driveway, leaving them stranded for the night. And by the next morning, they are one fewer—for Muriel has been sent to meet her maker. With everyone in the house a suspect, it’s up to Beatrice and the Village Quilters to figure out who has a guilty conscience before someone else gets tied up in knots.

Thoughts:

Elizabeth Craig's Southern Quilting Mystery series continues with her latest offering, Quilt Trip. It is the third mystery in the series and has the feel of an old fashioned whodunit, complete with a group of unsuspecting quilters gathered in a mansion, terrible weather and a killer in their midst. Craig's use of humor and adventure add to the mix, making this a very enjoyable cozy for mystery lovers and quilter's alike!

My grandmother's were avid quilter's. I tried my hand at it when I was younger, but it wasn't the niche for me. I am a cross stitcher at heart, but I love those memories of watching them pick the fabrics and colors, of the many happy hours they spent around the quilting hoop, laughing and enjoying the peace and tranquility that quilting brought to their lives. I miss them very much. I am very thankful for some of the wonderful quilts they created though, to remember them by.

This book reminded me of a good old fashioned mystery. Akin to the game Clue, where you have all of the suspects contained in one place, unable to get away, until someone solves the crime. I liked that Agatha Christiesque kind of mystery. In my opinion Agatha was the forerunner of the cozy sub-genre with her Miss Marple series and I enjoyed the nod to her writing style that Craig uses here. I found myself pondering... Was it Miss White in the kitchen with the candlestick? a few times and I liked that part as well.

Beatrice and Meadow have heard about an eccentric ladies wish to create a foundation that would supply quilting scholarships. Muriel has invited several quilting guilds to her home in order to choose which guild will administer the foundation. Unfortunately, the Village Quilter's were not asked to join the group, but they decide to crash the party. The weather turns gruesome and everyone must stay for the night. When Muriel is found dead in the morning... the mystery is on! I thought Craig came up with a creative idea for her third book in the series and I could see something like this taking place, which gave it a ring of truth that readers will enjoy.

Beatrice is once again a very methodical investigator. She asks all the right questions and puts two and two together in a somewhat clinical sort of way. It is Meadow who brings a bit of the unpredictable into the equation. She is more free spirited and asks those questions that others might not think of, together they make a great team of amateur sleuths. I think Craig paired them well and adds an element of humor in their relationship and how they view the world.

Though Colonel Mustard and Professor Plum were not among the suspects, there were plenty to choose from and enough motives to keep even the most avid mystery reader scratching their heads. This one was a hard one to put my finger on, but in the end my guess was correct. The clues logically pointed to a certain character as the main suspect, but things are certainly not what they appear in most mysteries and this one is no exception. Craig keeps the reader off balance by adding in clues that aren't necessarily a part of the mystery at hand. It was interesting to see how it all came together in the end. 

The quilting aspect of the book was definitely in the forefront, and Craig brings a bit of nostalgia to readers who enjoy the craft of quilting. I enjoyed all of the references to different styles of quilting and specific quilt patterns. There was something for both quilters and mystery enthusiasts in this book and I thought Craig did a great job of balancing the overall theme of quilting with the underlying aspect of the mystery. A good addition to the series to be sure!

Quilt Trip is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Elizabeth Craig writes the Memphis Barbeque series as Riley Adams and the Southern Quilting mysteries under her own name.  A lifelong resident of the South, she enjoys finding inspiration for the Southern Quilting mysteries in the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina. She is currently at work on her next novel.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Quilt Trip by Elizabeth Craig.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US Addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, December 18th.

1. Please leave a comment describing a quilt you have made or would like to have.
2. Please fill out the FORM.

Review and Giveaway: Murder She Barked

Murder She Barked (Paws & Claws Mystery - Book 1) by Krista Davis

Publication Date: 12/03/2013
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley Prime Crime
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: 304
ISBN-10: 0425262553
ISBN-13: 978-0425262559

(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Krista Davis on the WEB: Website, Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Pinterest

Excerpt from Murder She Barked, courtesy of Barnes & Noble

Synopsis:

The Sugar Maple Inn in Wagtail, Virginia, is the country's premiere vacation hot spot for pet owners who can’t bear to leave their furry friends behind.  But this tourist town smells trouble when a killer goes on the prowl....

Holly Miller's life has gone to the dogs. She has no job, her boyfriend's former flame is sniffing around, and a scruffy but loveable Jack Russell Terrier is scattering crumbs all over her borrowed car. Just when she thought things couldn't get worse, a troubling phone call about her grandmother sends her rushing home to the family inn on Wagtail Mountain.

The staff—and a frisky Calico kitten named Twinkletoes—adopts Holly and her new dog on arrival.  But someone in this friendly town is bad to the bone. One of the employees at the inn has been killed in a hit-and-run accident—which is looking anything but accidental. Now Holly and her furry companions will have to nose out the murderer before someone else gets muzzled.

Thoughts:

Cozy mysteries resident Domestic Diva, Krista Davis is going in a new direction with the first book in her new Paws and Claws Mystery series, Murder She Barked. Wagstail, Virginia is a very special town, dedicated to pets and their persons. Davis does a fantastic job of making this little town a place that pet owners and their pets will love. From restaurants that allow pets, and even give them their own menu's to activities designed just for cats and dogs, there seems to be a lot going on, including murder!

I was really delighted to see where Krista Davis would take readers with her new series. Considering that I am an animal lover as well, this series was right up my ally. Can you imagine a town that caters to animals in every way possible? That's Wagstail. What a great setting. Davis makes readers believe that a place like Wagstail and The Sugar Maple Inn could really exist and I'm sure most of us wish it did after reading this book. 

Twinkletoes and Trixie were the stars of the show in this book. I know that my little dog can get into some pretty good messes, but these two take the cake. They really added a lot of humor and comedy to the novel. What amateur sleuth wouldn't want this pair helping them figure out the clues? I thought Davis did a great job with them and then I read that they were patterned after her own dog and cat. I can totally see that, they are so realistic, but over-the-top as well. I loved these two and can't wait to see what they get into next.

I think that Davis balanced her love of animals well with her love of baking and cooking in this book and the recipes at the end of the book are an added bonus. Pet lovers and mystery readers a like will all find something they like in this first book. Davis sets up the background for the town and it's eccentric shop owners quickly and doesn't rely to heavily on that part of the story to carry the book. The mystery may be the main focus of the novel, but the little details are what sets this one apart.

The mystery aspect of the book was very cleverly done. Who would want to kill one of the Sugar Maple Inn's employee's? What's really going on around there? I thought Holly was a great lead character and I liked the way her mind worked as she figured out each clue and found the killer. I figured this one out shortly before the big reveal. There were plenty of suspects and motives, but Davis was quick to keep the reader off balance and grasping for their own clues.

A great first book in a series, that I think will take the cozy sub-genre by storm. I loved it and think I like the way Davis thinks. There should be a lot more fun to come from the Sugar Maple Inn as we get to know Holly and furry friends.

Murder She Barked is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

Krista Davis is the national bestselling author of the Domestic Diva Mysteries. Multiple books from that series have been nominated for Agatha Awards and have hit the New York Times extended list. Krista lives in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia with a brood of cats and dogs, including a snoopy Jack Russell Terrier and a nosy Calico cat. Her friends and family complain about being guinea pigs for her recipes, but she notices that they keep coming back for more.

Giveaway Details:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Murder She Barked by Krista Davis.

~ You must be an email subscriber to participate.
~ US Addresses only.
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST, December 17th.

1. Please leave a comment describing funny pet antics.
2. Please fill out the FORM.

Review: A Seal Wolf Christmas

A SEAL Wolf Christmas (Heart of the Wolf - Book 12) by Terry Spear

Publication Date: 09/24/2013
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Imprint: Casablanca
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Pages: 320
ISBN-10: 140228408X
ISBN-13: 978-1402284083

(Received for an honest review from Sourcebooks Casablanca)

Purchase: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound

Terry Spear on the WEB: Website, Blog, Twitter, Goodreads

Books in the series:

Heart of the Wolf (2008), Destiny of the Wolf (2009), To Tempt the Wolf (2009), Legend of the White Wolf (2010), Seduced by the Wolf (2010), Wolf Fever (2010), Heart of the Highland Wolf (2011), Dreaming of the Wolf (2011), A SEAL in Wolf's Clothing (2012), A Howl for a Highlander (2013), A Highland Werewolf Wedding (2013), A SEAL Wolf Christmas (2013)

Coverart: Click the image for a larger, clearer view of the covers in this series.

Excerpt from A SEAL Wolf Christmas, courtesy of Amazon's Look Inside feature.

Synopsis:

Can an Alpha Wolf Who's Met His Match...

Navy SEAL Bjornolf Jorgenson has had tough missions before, but going undercover with feisty gray wolf Anna Johnson could top the list. She drives him crazy—in more ways than one. Now he has to investigate a murder, supervise a wild teenage wolf—and handle Christmas with Anna.

Survive the Holidays with Her?

For Anna, the only thing worse than staging the perfect family Christmas is having to do it with Bjornolf posing as her husband. Anna is a serious undercover operative who isn't afraid of a fight, even with a hunky SEAL shifter. With a killer on the loose, Anna just wants to focus on their mission, but the one thing she can't fight is her sizzling chemistry with Bjornolf.

Thoughts:

Terry Spear once again returns readers to the world of her Heart of the Wolf series with a Christmas treat, A SEAL Wolf Christmas. Spear's attention to detail and her remarkable research into pack dynamics and behaviors has made this a must read series for fans of paranormal romance. Her latest offering has mystery and danger, as well as, a good dose of the Christmas spirit. Spear's talent for writing compelling characters, with unrealistic abilities is exceptional. This author writes about the impossible and makes you believe every word!

The Heart of the Wolf series was one of the very first paranormal stories I read, when I decided to give the genre a go. I wasn't sure if I'd like it, if I would find it over-the-top or just too far fetched. I am so very glad that I chose this series to start with, because I think it made all the difference. Had I started with a series that was not as well written or researched, I may have given up on it all together and I very happy I did not. 

This series is written with such a great amount of authenticity. Terry Spear has done extensive research and it comes through on every page. Her shapeshifting werewolves act like real wolves, they are territorial and acquiesce to the alpha, they react like real wolves and they effect is mesmerizing. Readers who are looking for a werewolf series that has balance and sizzle, need look no further, the Heart of the Wolf series has it all. A SEAL Wolf Christmas may be the twelfth book in the series, but it doesn't look like Spear will be done telling her stories about this big extended wolf family any time soon!

The hero in A SEAL Wolf Christmas is Bjornolf Jorgenson, has all of the qualities that women look for a in a good hero. He is strong and courageous. His job as a Navy SEAL is one of the most difficult jobs imaginable. He is sexy and sweet and the kind of man any of us would love to read about. Spear does an excellent job of showing Bjornolf as a man, with wants and dreams like anyone else, but also as a soldier, who believes in loyalty and justice. He certainly ranks right up there with one of my favorites in the series, Leidolf Wildhaven. They are very different characters but still have underlying aura of command and safety about them.

Anna Johnson, the heroine was slightly harder for me to connect with. She is one tough customer. An undercover operative, dangerous, yet vulnerable. I liked the fact that Spear lets Anna explore that vulnerability with Bjornolf, without taking away from her rough exterior and attitude. After I got used to her manner and way she held herself in the book, I really started to like her. She stands up for what she believes and expects others to, as well. That's a very attractive quality. But let me tell ya, it takes a strong man! Bjornolf was certainly up to the task and the romance between them was both beautiful and hot.

The love scenes sizzle in this one to be sure. Spear may know a thing or two about writing about wolves, but she also knows how to create an atmosphere. Not only is Christmastime the setting for the story, but it also creates a lot of tender moments. It has a hand in the mystery, because of a connection to a Christmas tree farm and the times spent with friends and family with lots of Christmas cheer are heartfelt and fun to read. Christmas just permeates the book, which in my humble opinion, makes the story even better. I can certainly get into the idea of a few stolen moments by the light of the Christmas tree! Oh my!

Bottom Line: Don't miss this great addition to a fantastic series. Add some Christmas cheer to your own life with this wonderful Christmas novel!

A SEAL Wolf Christmas is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.

I'm giving this one 5 out of 5 apples from my book bag!

About the Author:

USA Today bestselling author Terry Spear has written over two dozen paranormal romance novels and medieval Highland historical romances. In 2008 Heart of the Wolf was named a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year. A retired officer of the U.S. Army Reserves, Terry also creates award-winning teddy bears that have found homes all over the world. She lives in Crawford, Texas.