The Haunted Heist

Book: The Haunted Heist
Author: Angie Fox
Series: Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries, Bk 3
Publisher: Angie Fox
Release Date: March 17th, 2016
Pages: 264
Price: e-book $4.99; paperback $12.99

What I Gave It: 4 Stars

Summary: Backdrop for those who haven't read the previous books, if you read them you can skip to the second paragraph! Verity is a down on her luck graphic designer from Sugarland Tennessee. She left her pig of an ex-fiancé Beau Wydell at the altar. Only Mrs. Leland Herworth Wydell III sues Verity for every dime she has left to pay for the scandal that was supposed to be their wedding. After selling pretty much everything she has Verity is stuck with a dirty ugly vase no one else wanted. So she cleaned it up throwing what she thought was dirt and dust into her rose bushes. Only it was actually the remains of Beau’s uncle a 1920’s gangster named Frankie, and what she did was to ground him to her ancestral home. Saddled with a ghost, having become the town pariah, and with no money she takes on a few ghostly mysteries to help pay the bills. On her way she gets back in touch with the black sheep of the Wydell family a cop named Ellis (Beau's Brother), and starts a burgeoning romance! Except they have to overcome an almost mother-in-law from hell Mrs. Leland Herworth Wydell III!

Things have taken a turn for the worst for the characters in this installment! Poor Frankie has found out he can be ungrounded from Verity's ancestral home so long as he can find the thing he loves the most, and bury it with his urn near his ashes! However finding out what Frankie loved the most proves to be a troublesome task! That Gangsters feelings are locked down tighter than fort knox! Poor Verity has figured out she wants to give Ellis a chance only to be saddled with Mrs. Wydell who is bound determined to make Verity's life awful while keeping her away from all of her sons!

Finally catching a break Verity gets an offer for a job with the local bank doing actual graphic work! Only that seems not to have meant to be, because after having gotten the offer the Bank Manager Reggie is killed in the Vault..... What, you say that sound so unfair! I thought so to. Frankie who went along to case the bank for old time sake swears that Reggie was killed by South Town Gang's hit man Handsom Henry, who has been dead for awhile! So of course Verity can't let the cops hunt for a possibly dead killer all by themselves. However since Frankie is an opportunistic ghost Verity must promise Frankie that she will help him find his favorite gun before he'll help solve the murder. Frankie is pretty sure this gun is what he loves most, and will set him free! So armed with her ghost Verity must find not only a murder but the gun Frankie thinks he loves most......

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this one. I liked that it was a little more serious than the first two. While Frankie is kind of depressed through a large portion of the book that doesn't mean it still doesn't have the humor, and spunk of the last books! It does; it was cute, funny, and has an interesting plot. Verity and Frankie get themselves into heaps of trouble in this book. They end up needing help from many old friends and a few new friends to find out who the murder is.

I'd recommend this one to anyone one who has read the past books, and anyone who enjoys mysteries with a hint of paranormal. Its a cute, fun series though, so you should start at the beginning!

*I received this book from the Author in return for my honest review. I received no other money, or goodie bag just the book so that I could form an opinion. That in no way changes my opinions of this book.*

The Skeleton in the Closet

Book: The Skeleton in the Closet
Author: Angie Fox
Series: Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries, Bk 2
Publisher: Angie Fox
Release Date: August 26th, 2015
Pages: 250
Price: e-book $4.99; paperback $11.99

What I Gave It: 4 Stars

Summary: The Skeleton in the Closet puts use back in Sugarland Tennessee just in time for the Annual Cannonball in the Wall Festival. This is a town festival to celebrate the local militia's win over the Yankees during the civil war that ended with a cannonball in a wall of the town library! The majority of the festival events are sponsored by Verity's now arch nemesis Virginia Wydell mother of Beau Wydell verity's slimy ex. A long running family feud between the Wydell's and the Jackson's has been taken to new heights as both families fight to have the most stuff in the historical exhibit taking place at the library during the festival. When the head volunteer of the historical society Darla turns up dead Ellis Wydell, Beau's hot cop brother enlists the help of Verity and her ghost Frankie to help find the murder.

Favorite Quote: Verity speaking to her sister about Ellis Wydell "But he's like kettle corn. You can't have just one little taste." Yes Verity he totally is, I'd read about Ellis all day!

My Thoughts: The Skeleton in the Closet has a little southern charm complete with feuding families, an annual town festival, ghosts, long kept town secrets, and a budding romance combine in this book to make another hit cozy by Angie Fox! I think I enjoyed this installment more than I did the first in this series. The characters are what make this book. Verity is a cute, fun and competent investigator even though she just wants to be a great Graphic Designer. Ellis a good cop who is hard pressed not to like Verity even though he shouldn't. Frankie is a down on your luck ghost who really just wants to be ungrounded. We also have Jilted Josephine back along with tons of other great civil war era ghosts.

I'd recommend this read to anyone who has previously enjoyed Mrs. Fox's past work, anyone who enjoys a great cozy every now and then, and people who enjoy the supernatural.

*I received this book from the Author in return for my honest review. I received no other money, or goodie bag just the book so that I could form an opinion. That in no way changes my opinions of this book.

Amber Smoke

Book: Amber Smoke
Author: Kristin Cast
Series: The Escaped Book 1
Publisher: Diversion Publishing
Release Date: June 9th, 2015
Pages: 275 pages

Price At Amazon: e-book 9.99, Paperback 12.33!  To me this is totally an over inflated price for her first Solo book.  I totally regret spending my 9.99 on it!

What I Gave It:  2 Stars

Covers: While this cover to the left is for the paperback & e-book version (I purchased, and read the e-book version) is OK, its just nothing special.  It didn't really evoke any want in me to read the book.  Having hit the audible button on its amazon page later I was disappointing at the paperback cover.  I absolutely love the audible cover!  It makes me want to listen to the story, or read it.  Even  though there not really that different, it does make a difference to me.  I wish the e-books would have had the audible cover  : (   I'll posted both so feel free to make your own decisions!

My Summary:  Maiden one of the three furies (crone, and mother being the other two) makes a huge mistake by having a love affair with an inmate of Tartarus.  A curse is somehow (wasn't explained) set in place because of this affair.  The curse ended up releasing some inmates (evil souls) of Tarturas allowing them to break through to the mortal world.  As the curse continues all of Tartarus will devolve leaving all its evil souls to break through to the mortal world, to cause hell on earth.   Maiden being the reason the curse its there calls on Hera who magically makes Maiden with child.  This child becomes Alek who is the "Warrior of Tartarus," destined to save the world.  Eva is brought into play because she is the descendant of Pythia the Oracle of Delphi.  Eva is destined to help Alek break the curse, and maybe be the love of Alek's life!  Who knows.  Alek must unlock Eva's oracle powers so that they together can end the curse by capturing the evil souls of Tarturas who escaped.  Well basically that is most of the plot, you'll have to read the book to find out the rest!    

My Thoughts: My feelings after reading this book are mixed, but mostly I think that this book is a failure at what ever it was trying to be. Its kind of disjointed. It could have be broken up into two parts, or two novella's. The first half creeped slowly on, and I almost didn't finish the book. The second half didn't really get any better with the characters making more stupid decisions, and ended on the hugest cliffhanger I've come across. It was like end of the season episode on a tv drama cliffhanger!

The characters are so immature that you cringe thinking that their world is counting on them. Eva for the most part is a goodie goodie who can do no wrong, and I just couldn't like her. She was not the smartest cookie in the box, and doesn't act rational throughout most of the book. Then we have Alek, yeah cause the furies (mother, maiden, and crone) would name there child Alek! Anyway I got off on a tangent there, sorry. Yes Alek the second main character, and love interest is kind of a douche bad. This might be because he was raised in the underworld, and only visited our world occasionally. He doesn't get the mortal world, and ends up making an ass of himself most of the time.  The language barrier might supposed to have been funny, but it just fell flat for me.  Truthfully his attitude just didn't endear him to me, and I wanted to shove him in front of a bus. The secondary characters were nothing special, and straight out of the HON series. As was the setting, its pretty much and altered setting of the HON series. Don't even get me started on the big bad. OK, well he was probably supposed to be creepy but just ended up not being so.  Also he was really easily defeated by Alek, which just made me wonder why he needs Eva!

There are parallels to the HON series that she co-authored, and similarities that I noticed. Its like she used a formula based on the HON series to write this book. I don't really think this is a compliment. I don't understand why she broke off on her own, only to write something with so many similarity to her co-authored books. I don't think I'll be continuing with this series, because in my experience with series like this they never really get better!

I'd Recommend This Book: Probably to anyone who fell in love with the House of Night Series, loved every book, and worshiped the book shelves they sat on. Otherwise if you found any fault with that series you should probably stay away from this one. Read at your own risk!

Night Of The Living Demon Slayer

Book: Night Of The Living Demons Slayer
Author: Angie Fox
Series: Accidental Demon Slayer Book 7
Publisher: Angie Fox
Release Date: May 31st, 2015
Pages: 206
 
What I Gave It: 4 Stars
 
Cover: I absolutely love all of the covers done for this series.  I'm a big fan of Pirate (the Dog), he's such a cutie.  This cover fits the book perfectly, and thankfully doesn't contain half naked men!      
 
Summary:  What's a Demon Slayer to do when a well meaning Necromancer calls in his favor owed? Well of course the sassy Biker Demon Slayer Lizzie, her dog Pirate, Pirate's pet Dragon Flappy, and her Grandma's ragtag Biker Witch Coven head straight to New Orleans to help out the lovable Necromancer Carpenter. He is owed a favor, and Lizzie's an honorable Demon Slayer!

In this 7th installment of the Lizzie Brown saga as I've come to call it (the Demon Slayer series if your everyone else), Lizzie finds herself lounging at Grandma's since her Husband is on Griffin business, when Carpenter shows up toting a trapped black soul. He's there to call in his favor owed. He only wants Lizzie to help figure out how a Dark Bokor (evil voodoo priest) is trapping black souls, and her help to release a black soul from an alligator. Can't be to hard, right? As usual what was supposed to be an easy job turns into a full out war Biker Witch Style! Pirate, with the help of the Biker Witches drag Lizzie down into even more trouble while staying in a haunted house owned by Biker Witch Ant Eater's family. Though in true form Lizzie manages to come out the other side mostly unharmed.

Favorite Quote: ""I do have to warn you," Ant Eater said, holding up a finger, "the walls bleed."" Why is this my favorite quote you ask because Lizzie, her Grandmother, and their coven brush off the fact that the abode they are staying in has walls that bleed from a ghost haunting.  They mostly seem to take this new in stride.  They do some spells and stay there anywhere.  Most people would be like "Ah Hell No," and find someplace different to stay.     

My Thoughts:  I had so much fun reading this one even though its a little shorter than past slayer books, Lizzie was somewhere new, fighting an evil she's never faced. It also gives you a little more insight into Ant Eater's past, and into Carpenter's life. Though Carpenter is still mostly a mystery, one I really want to see on paper in the future! As always with this series lots of laughs were had, steamy love were scenes devoured, and at times I was on edge of my seat with suspense wondering how Lizzie was going to get everyone out of this......

If you've read the previous books this one is totally on par with the previous ones, if you have not I suggest you start out from the beginning with The Accidental Demon Slayer (Demon Slayer #1) by Angie Fox and let the fun times roll!  

  
**I received this book from the author in return for my honest review.  I received no other money, or goodie bags for this review beyond a copy of this book.  Receiving a copy of this book in no way influences my opinion of this book** 

Emergen - C Review

First off let me start off by recapping that I got a free sample pack of Emergen-C from Smiley360.com.  I'd also like to state I have an Auto-Immune disorder, and Deficiencies that keeps me on a lot of vitamins per my Doctors orders.  I've been trying to find new fun ways to take my vitamins.  I dislike pill vitamins, because they just feel like they sit in my stomach for a long time without digesting.  This makes my tummy a little upset for a while after taking my vitamins.  This isn't a huge problem, but enough of one that when I was offered to try out these drink vitamin mixes I jumped at the chance. 

For those that don't know here is what my kit was supposed to contain:

 

• Five packets of Emergen-C® Vitamin Drink Mix (flavors: Super Orange, Coconut-Pineapple, Strawberry-Kiwi, Immune+Citrus and Warmers Berry Medley) for you to try and share your additional samples with family and friends

• A pack of five $1.00 off coupons

Here is what I got:

• Five packets of Emergen-C® Vitamin Drink Mix (flavors: Coconut-Pineapple, 2 Strawberry-Kiwi, Immune+Citrus and Warmers Berry Medley)

• A pack of five $1.00 off coupons

 

I somehow ended up with no Super Orange and 2 Strawberry-Kiwi.  I guess I'll just have to wonder about the super orange because I just don't feel confident enough I'll enjoy it. 

Here is what my Mission page shared with me so I am going to share this with you exactly how it was stated on my page:
please keep in mind that this product:

1. Does not "boost" or "enhance" your immune system
2. Does not help prevent, treat or cure colds, flu or any other illnesses
3. Does not give you increased energy levels

Emergen-C Vitamin Drink Mix will help provide support for your immune system.

Ok, after having said that I can say this probably isn't a product that I will be purchasing anytime soon.  There are several reasons for this but the main reason for this is that they just don't taste that great.  They also have a metallic aftertaste, they don't dissolve all the way leaving large particles in the drink, and the back of the package doesn't list the vitamins how other vitamins do its more like how a food package would (like in the picture to the left, I disliked this).  What I did like was how they fizzed that was cool.   

I hate Coconut so I didn't even try the Coconut-Pineapple; and I didn't get the Super Orange, so I didn't get to try that either. What I did try was the Strawberry-Kiwi, Immune+Citrus, and Warmers Berry Medley flavors.

Of the three the NEW Warmers Berry Medley is the only one I might purchase more of.  It has the same problems as the others though because it doesn't dissolve all the way either, it has a metallic aftertaste too, and the package also listed the vitamins like ingredients.  It also tastes like berry children's vitamins the chewable kind of like Flintstones.  Its not an awful taste, but that is what it reminded me of.  However it was warm, and a little soothing so I finished the whole thing.

The second best one I tried was the Strawberry-Kiwi and again it had the same three problems I listed above (aftertaste, dissolving, and packaging).  However this one really didn't taste too bad though it has a really tangy taste that I just don't think I would want to drink this all the time.  I took a picture of the Strawberry-Kiwi before I drank it, as you can see particles of vitamins are visible in the drink.  Its like they created a chewable vitamin and crushed it.

The Immune+Citrus though was with out a doubt the most awful thing I've drank all year.  While still having the same three problems as the previous  (aftertaste, dissolving, and packaging), it has the most awful taste.  This one for me was a one sipper, as it totally made me gag.  The taste on this one reminded me of the mag citrate that they use to have people chug when you were having a colonoscopy.  I just can't even stomach anything that reminds me of that crap after having drank a whole bottle of it once.  Its not a pleasant taste, and I don't know how anyone can drink this.  I would not recommend this one to anyone.


If you'd like to find out more about this product and Smiley360 check it out here: http://h5.sml360.com/-/ozrh

If you want to request your own free sample you can do so here: https://www.emergenc.com/free-sample/#1

You can also request a free coupon by clicking here: https://www.emergenc.com/get-coupon/#1

I get nothing out of you requesting samples or coupons via these links so enjoy!

If you are curious about these products anymore you can ask me any question by leaving a comment here on the blog, or check out their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/EmergenC  


**I received these products for free for testing and review purposed from Smiley360.com, though these Opinions are all my own** 

  

What's In The Mail

I've been sick for the last few weeks, I have not been spending as much time online checking for freebies and samples.  Sadly there wasn't much in my mail this week for me.  Though if Natasha Jones would change her address that would be awesome as I had to return to sender some of her junk mail!  What did come though is my new mission kit from Smiley360.com.  This is a mission for Emergen-C Vitamin Drink Mixes.  This was something I really wanted to try because I am on a crap ton of vitamins per my doctors order because I have several Deficiencies.  I am frequently trying to find fun new ways to take my vitamins that don't include a pill as those pills tend to upset my stomach.  So a vitamin drink was totally something I am willing to try, and hoping to love.  I've recently made the switch from my regular calcium pills to the Caltrate chocolate truffle soft chews so I am in the market to make changes to the way I take my vitamins.  Hopefully I'll find it with some help from Emergen-C!

Here is what my kit was supposed to contain:

• Five packets of Emergen-C® Vitamin Drink Mix (flavors: Super Orange, Coconut-Pineapple, Strawberry-Kiwi, Immune+Citrus and Warmers Berry Medley) for you to try and share your additional samples with family and friends
• A pack of five $1.00 off coupons

Here is what I got:
• Five packets of Emergen-C® Vitamin Drink Mix (flavors: Coconut-Pineapple, 2 Strawberry-Kiwi, Immune+Citrus and Warmers Berry Medley)
• A pack of five $1.00 off coupons


I somehow ended up with no Super Orange and 2 Strawberry-Kiwi.  I guess I'll just have to wonder about the super orange or purchase a package!  I will be trying these out in the next week and posting a review right here on the blog.  I can't wait to test these out and find out if any are a winner I can switch into my daily routine.


So what else was in the mail you ask, well it was some coupons for my coke rewards for free 20 oz that my Father will be happy to receive.  If you don't know about my coke rewards you sign up for their account and use codes that you find on coke products to get free products out of there catalogue.  They have recently updated there rewards system so if you haven't checked it out you should.  You can now share stuff and invite friends to join to get status points too.  I've not been doing much and don't purchase many coke products but already the points have added up to get my dad 4 free 20 oz coke products! 



From the past week I had received another Smiley360 kit for the ARM & HAMMER
Truly Radian Family of Product.  It contained:
• One tube of ARM & HAMMER™ Truly Radiant™ Rejuvenating Toothpaste
• One Spinbrush™ Truly Radiant™ Deep Clean Manual Toothbrush
• One bottle of Truly Radiant™ Whitening & Strengthening Fluoride Rinse

I have been using this product religiously for the last week and will be back before Friday to give anyone who wants to read about it my full review.  These really are some great products that I can't wait to talk about!

I did get all of these products for free but that will not sway my opinion in any way so check back to find out what I though of them!

Southern Spirits

Book: Southern Spirits
Author: Angie Fox
Series: Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries Book 1
Publisher: Angie Fox
Release Date: January 21st, 2014
Pages: 280

What I Gave It: 5 Stars

Cover:  A lot of Cozy's are going towards these cartoon covers and I really like them.  They are cute and convey an air of fun over the book.  This worked well with this new Paranormal Mystery from Mrs. Fox.  I'm very happy we didn't end up with the normal Paranormal cover you guys know what I talking about, the ones with scantily clad people in funky positions.  This one works a whole lot better with this book then one of those would have, and it sets the mood for the book.  

Summary:  Verity Long is a down on her luck graphic designer from Sugarland Tennessee who gets in a little over her head when she leaves her fiancé Beau Wydell at the Altar.  Beau happens to be the most eligible bachelor in three counties, and is from a very prominent family.  After being sued by Mrs. Leland Herworth Wydell III in revenge for the scandal jilt Verity finds herself owing more than $20,000.  While cleaning out her house to get the money she inadvertently lets loose the ghost of Beau's uncle a 1920's gangster named Frankie, and accidently grounds him to her ancestral home.  Saddled with a ghost, and no money in the hopes of keeping her house Verity takes a job working for her ex's brother black sheep cop Ellis Wydell.  She is charged with the job of cleaning out a violent spirit from the restaurant that Ellis is remodeling.   Many hijinks ensue during the book which culminates in Ellis and Verity being embroiled in a decades old murder mystery.  Will they be able to solve the mystery, and move the ghost on before the murder catches them!   

Favorite Quote:  This pretty much sums up how it all starts ""Listen, Doll" Frankie said his tone softening a hair. "When your great-uncle so-and-so dies, there's a reason you scatter his ashes.  You scatter," he said making a motion like he was feeding birds or something.  "You let them catch the wind.  You give the spirit Freedom if he wants it."  His voice grew tight.  "You don't dump them all in one spot then stomp on 'em.""

My Thoughts:  This book was so much fun, as are most of Mrs. Fox's book.  She has a real way with humor, and world building.  Its loaded with interesting character that make up a fun, and charming new world.  Truthfully this book was a blast of a ride from start to finish, and I totally enjoyed every bit of it.  The pacing was fast, and the writing was well done.  I really found myself loving Verity and Ellis.  I also loved her cute skunk for a pet she was a great idea, and has never been done before.  Lauralee is a good start for a character though I wish she had been more a part of the story.  There is also a whole array of interesting ghost that feature in this book, though my favorite was Jilted Josephine.  I totally want to see more of her, though her mother could move on to the great beyond! 

I believe that I would put this book in the Paranormal Cozy genre, and would totally recommend this to anyone who loves Cozy Mysteries of a ghostly nature.  Also anyone who loves Mrs. Fox's other works should totally love this great new world she created.  I'm dying to read the next book in this series. 


**I received this book from the Author in return for my hones review.  I received no other money, or goodie bags.  Receiving this product from the author in no way influences my opinion of this book. **