Finders Keepers

Title: Finders Keepers

Author: Vicky Burkholder

Publisher: Liquid Silver

Publisher URL: www.liquidsilverbooks.com/

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-62210-097-2

Genre: {M/F} Paranormal, Contemporary, Sweet

Rating: 4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Rose Nymph

Dean White is a private investigator who prides himself in being able to solve any case without having to resort to claims of magical powers or any of that supernatural nonsense. So it is driving him crazy that he has misplaced something as precious as his grandmother’s beloved ring. He has looked everywhere he can think of, but he just can’t figure out what has happened to it. His grandmother, being very understanding of her grandson’s sudden bout of absentmindedness, suggests he seek the guidance for Maggie Daniels, who can use her magic abilities to help find the ring…when it’s ready to be found, that is.

Dean will do anything to keep his grandmother happy, but secretly he can’t wait to show Maggie up for the fraud he thinks she is. Maggie can tell Dean is a non-believer but senses great power at work. Maggie is a “finder” and is facing her biggest challenge yet – helping Dean find the strength to accept his past and face the very real threat his stubbornness has brought to his own doorstep. 

I enjoyed Finders Keepers from the start. The story is written well and the characters immediately captured my attention. I love the knowledge and patience that Dean’s Grandmother Sarah exhibits. She seems fully aware of the importance of Maggie coming into Dean’s life but continues to support her grandson while he stubbornly refuses to believe what he sees and feels. The conflict and underlying sexual tension between Dean and Maggie is balanced just right for me. In fact the author did such a good job of building up the chemistry between the two characters that I couldn’t help but feel like the ending was a little bit anti-climactic. I thoroughly enjoyed following the characters’ journey, and while the ending is sweet, I would have liked to enjoy the destination a little more.

Promise You’ll Never Forget Me

Title: Promise You’ll Never Forget Me

Author: Leah Leonard

Publisher: Devine Destinies

Publisher URL: http://www.devinedestinies.com/

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-77111-026-6

Genre: {M/F} Sweet, Paranormal, Inspirational

Rating: 2.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Rose Nymph 

When Stephanie bumps into old flame David at the coffee shop, she is pleasantly surprised. She remembers the good time with fondness, but it isn’t long before David’s faults remind her that her life has moved on. David is the same impulsive guy, asking if he can whisk her away on a romantic hiking trip. Of course she says no – David is in her past and should stay there. It doesn’t stop thoughts of him popping into her head at the strangest times though. 

A week later, Stephanie hears the tragic news that David was killed while hiking. She is devastated and can’t stop thinking about the “what if’s”. Her friends and family are trying to help, but their advice is just making her more confused. Just when she thinks she can let go of the past, David’s spirit starts appearing to her. Can Stephanie ever come to terms with what has happened? 

I was hooked by the premise of Promise You’ll Never Forget Me – a woman seemingly getting the chance to find peace after suffering the tragic loss of a past love. The characters are realistic and the author does a good job of conveying a past between Stephanie and David. The effect David has on Stephanie is quite touching and poignant in places. However, my overall feeling of this story is that depth of character was sacrificed in order to push the plot forward. The characters are nice, but I couldn’t really connect to them. Stephanie comes across as a bit self-absorbed, which is pretty realistic when it comes to bereavement, but I just wanted the story to have the substance it deserved. Perhaps I am being unfair as loss is a difficult subject to tackle, but the inspiration was lost on me personally.

The Ornament

Title: The Ornament

Author: Tianna Xander

Publisher: Devine Destinies

Publisher URL: http://www.devinedestinies.com/

ISBN/BIN: 978-1-77111-037-2

Genre: {M/F} Sweet, Paranormal

Rating: 3.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Rose Nymph 

Kylee has given up on finding a real man who can match the passion she experiences with the vampire of her dreams. Even her closest friend thinks she’s crazy, but Kylee looks forward to dreaming of Gregori. It feels so real, she swears she is communicating with him.  

During a trip to the mall, Kylee is drawn to a mysterious ornament in the window of a strange looking store. She can’t explain why, but she just has to have it. As she makes her way back home however, everything has changed 

Gregori’s existence has been torture ever since he lost his mate. However, just as he decides to take matters into his own hands, she appears to him once more. Now that he has her back, he’s going to make the most of this miracle, just so long as he can protect her from the people wanting everyone and anyone associated with his kind dead. Gregori seems convinced her place is by his side, but can Kylee leave everything behind her for this dark and dangerous world? 

The Ornament is an interesting story about a fiery woman who is pulled into a world of vampires and humans, vying for dominance. Kylee knows she is in love with Gregori, but she can’t understand why. I liked this aspect, plus the idea of it being her destiny to be by Gregori’s side. I liked that she wasn’t about to be controlled or pushed into something she didn’t want to do. She was uncertain of her feelings and what she should do for the best and this endeared me to her. 

The plot had a lot of different ideas that I feel could have been explored further. I was teased with an exciting, atmospheric world and a very intriguing character in Gregori, but ultimately wanted more from this story. I wasn’t convinced enough of the powers of the ornament and how it linked Kylee’s world to Gregori’s. I feel like the author has gazed the surface of a world that has a lot of potential, and I hope there is more to come.

All Lessons Learned

Title: All Lessons Learned
Author: Charlie Cochrane
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Publisher URL: http://www.samhainpublishing.com/
ISBN: 978-1-60928-354-4
Genre: {M/M} Historical Sweet Romance
Rating: 5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Scandalous Minx

The end of The Great War has cost Orlando Coppersmith more than most realize. He has returned to St. Bride’s College, where he tries to pick up the pieces of his life. Orlando must find a way to move on without his Jonty Stewart.

Those closest to him understand, quite well, his pain and suffering. When he is approached about a possible commission to investigate a young officer’s disappearance, Orlando decides the distraction is just what he needs. With each new revelation comes another layer Orlando must shift through to finally find the truth.

I wasn’t prepared for Charlie Cochrane’s All Lessons Learned, the eighth book in the Cambridge Fellows Mystery series. Jonty is one of those characters that crawls under your skin and makes a second home. His fortitude, sense of humor and raw passionate devotion to Orlando made it hard not to miss him. Orlando’s pain was so pronounced, I ached for him. At moments, it was as if he lived life by the moment and the hour; but I have to give him credit, I was sure he would once again crawl into the shell that Jonty pushed him out of but that was not to be. His love for Jonty wouldn’t allow him to hide away, as he did in the past.

Charlie Cochrane knows how to add twists to the story that will leave you floored by the events. I truly didn’t see some of them unfold until the signs were hard to ignore, thanks to her ability to build upon each with a mastery of a mason. Every new layer to the story was added perfectly. Each nuance included with just enough information to build on the last, but never giving away the true ending of the story.

A sound plot, believable characters, and remarkable settings are awaiting you in All Lessons Learned. I will miss reading these tales that took me back to the England of yesteryear. Each story was unique and a credit to the author.