Guest Review: Toil and Trouble - HP Mallory

Jolie Wilkins 2

Genre: paranormal romance
Pages: 307
Published: November 2010
Review by Lis

The Underworld in civil war. The cause? A witch who can reanimate the dead. A sexy as sin vampire determined to claim her. An infuriatingly handsome warlock torn between duty and love. Who says blonds have more fun?

After defending herself against fairy magic, Jolie Wilkins wakes to find her world turned upside down—the creatures of the Underworld on the precipice of war.

The Underworld is polarized in a battle of witch against witch, creature against creature, led by the villainous Bella, who would be Queen.

While Jolie has one goal in mind, to stake the vampire, Ryder, who nearly killed her, she also must choose between the affections of her warlock employer, Rand, and the mysteriously sexy vampire, Sinjin.

And as if that weren’t enough to ruin a girl’s day, everything Jolie knows will be turned inside out when she’s thrust into the shock of a lifetime. 

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Dum, dum, dum!! Remember Jolie Wilkins? The Witch? From Fire Burn and Cauldron Burn? The story that left us on the edge of a great big battle? Well her story is continued in Toil and Trouble! And oh my is it ever a story!

In Toil and Trouble is good vs evil. Bella again Jolie and Rand. Of course the evil side has a lot more misguided people on their side and of course love gets in the way! Because remember SinJin? The not-so-quite-evil vamp from the previous story? He's about to complicate the meaning of love for Jolie. These things always come at a not so convenient time. Come, let a girl win a war before you make the moves on her. But nooooooooo... men and their one-track mine *grin*

Then there is Rand. It's clear they love each other, but they can't just commit. It's a soul mate thing. If they get together in a permanent way, there is no out. It's forever. And forever is a very long time if you don't really like each other. It makes a girl put her thinking hat on first! The soul mate thing was a bit of a let down for me. I'm a realistic kind of gal and people change. Love changes. Soul mates is fine, but forever with one guy? But then if you reaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaally love each other *nudge nudge*

Plus Rand is the overprotective guy *rolls eyes* Yup, that makes a girl want to spent time with one hell of a hot vampire too.

Back to the story. On the one hand this story is action-packed and full of adventure and I loved it. On the other hand, Jolie is training and learning and exploring. Plus the end of the previous book left her quite drained and I don't mean the melted and boneless kind of drained, if you get my meaning.

In many ways Toil and Trouble is a lot better than the first book. The writing has even improved and I liked Jolie's snarky narrative! Something tells me, we're not quite finished with her!

There is a major twist that left me gaping and re-reading the scene at least three times, but no sharing! If you want to find out what happens with Jolie, Rand and SinJin (Yum) then I guess you have to run to the cyber-bookstore and find out for yourself!

Thanks Lis :)

review copy from the author, for Lis

Guest Review: Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble - HP Mallory

Jolie Wilkins, book 1

Genre: Urban fantasy/paranormal romance
Pages: E-book, 206
Published: 2010
Review by Lis

A self-deprecating witch with the unique ability to reanimate the dead. A dangerously handsome warlock torn between being her boss and her would-be lover. A six hundred year old English vampire with his own agenda; one that includes an appetite for witches. The Underworld in a state of chaos. Let the games begin.

Life isn’t bad for psychic Jolie Wilkins. True, she doesn’t have a love life to speak of, but she has a cute house in the suburbs of Los Angeles, a cat and a quirky best friend.

Enter Rand Balfour, a sinfully attractive warlock who insists she’s a witch and who just might turn her life upside down. Rand hires her to help him solve a mystery regarding the death of his client who also happens to be a ghost. Jolie not only uncovers the cause of the ghost’s demise but, in the process, she brings him back to life!

Word of Jolie’s incredible ability to bring back the dead spreads like wildfire, putting her at the top of the Underworld’s most wanted list. Consequently, she finds herself at the center of a custody battle between a villainous witch, a dangerous but oh-so-sexy vampire, and her warlock boss, Rand.

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Remember how a while back I reviewed How to Kill a Warlock? That was H.P. Mallory's second book. Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble is the first. I got both books at the same time, but decided to wait a bit for the second review. After reading the book I wonder how I managed to wait this long!

The set-up for this book is much the same, though unlike in the other book, Jolie has no idea who she is. When the book starts she is just one of the many women out there trying to make a living. In her case as a fortune-teller, because she is aware she can do things others can't. This all changes when Jolie meets tall, dark & extremely hot (and 150+ years old) warlock Rand. Rand quite literally turns her whole world upside down when he tells Jolie she is a witch. Of course, the meeting is not just that random, Rand wants her help with a dead and see-through client.

The stories might be different, but there are elements between the stories that are the same. Without trying to make this a compare feast, the biggest was the host of (male)characters that meet the main character and have an interest or two in her. Don't get me wrong, I loved the characters. H.P.  Mallory certainly has quite the talent for writing funny, witty and likeable character. Even the evil queen b(w)itch  Bella was likeable, even though she is evil with a capital e. Again the strength an weakness of the book was in its characters. If you want to know who they are...well you're just going to have to read the book, now don't ya? Suffice to say, there are enough (hot ones) to keep you interested!

What I especially liked about this book, apart from the story, was the world building. Many authors take the (paranormal)setting for granted. This author doesn't. As a result you have a vivid picture of the world the characters live in and how it functions. While the subs or paranormals in the book are nothing new, basically your average witches, warlocks, vampires, ghosts and werewolves, the author manages to write them in an entertaining manner.

What I liked less was Jolie's constant doubting of herself. Get over yourself woman! Sorry, sometimes that really annoys me in women. Yes, everyone has their doubts, but the reader is constantly reminded of her shortcomings and her struggle to accept that she is a witch. Though I did like that she grows throughout the story and that she is the one to make a move on Rand, while Rand is the one trying to be a gentleman and restrain himself. Hehehe, beware modern women, old man!

Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble  is a witchy wicked read. It might be chick lit (or not, depending on how you look at genres), but it's quite an entertaining and funny read that will have you thirsting for more. Did I mention yet that Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble is basically a set-up for an epic battle lurking just out of view, beyond the horizon? No? Well it is. And you'll definitely want more!

 Lis is back with one of her fun reviews!