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Showing posts with label Jane Jameson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jane Jameson. Show all posts

Friday, April 6, 2012

Nice Girls Don't Bite Their Neighbors (Jane Jameson, #4) by Molly Harper



     "Well, I'm sure you'd like to get home and start 'feathering the nest,' so to speak. You only have three days to prepare for your new arrival."
     I nearly dropped Jamie from my lap. "I'm sorry what?"
     Ophelia's lip quirk deepened to a full-on smirk. "You're new childe, he'll be living with you. It's your responsibility to help him make the transition into the vampire world. Didn't Gabriel explain the sire-childe dynamic to you when you rose?"
     "Yeah, but I pretty much told him where to stuff it and lived how I pleased."
     "And look where that got you," Peter retorted.
     "In other words, congratulations," Sophie chirped. "It's a boy!"

Have you ever noticed sometimes in life things happen all at once? Within a matter of 24 hours or so, Jane told Gabriel she'd marry him, she'd almost been killed and had become the not so happy sire of her very own hormonal and horny teenage vampire boy. 'Yay!' is not the word she'd use to describe her feelings. Jane knew Jamie for a long time and had been his babysitter when he was younger. When she'd seen him lying there ready to die, pleading she not let that happen, she couldn't say no. In a split second decision, with the help of Dick, she began the process of changing Jamie into a vampire. She had no idea what that entailed or she might have second guessed the wisdom of her decision.

I'm still loving the series. Who'd have thought the guy Jane and Andrea were ogling in the last book would become Jane's new childe? I love how Jane just takes things in stride and everyone gives her a hard time. She is the 'Lucy' (as in I Love Lucy)  version of a vamp and you can't help liking her. While she may not dream up schemes which land her into trouble, trouble seems to find her. I love seeing her mothering instincts kick in and how she helps Jamie make the transition to a vamp. Plus, Jane and Gabriel are getting married which is something I think everyone has anticipated for a while. Of course Jane has some kind of Murphy's law curse hanging over her that always makes things interesting.

Once again Ms. Harper shows off her witty and hilarious sense of humor in this book. I love the little details she's included in each of the books relating to the self help books she sells at her book store. We've had quotes thus far from:
- The Guide for the Newly Undead (Nice Girls Don't Have Fangs)
- Mating Rituals and Love Customs of the Were (Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men)
- Love Bites: A female Vampire's Guide to Less Destructive Relationships (Nice Girls Don't Live Forever)
- Siring for the Stupid: A Beginner's Guide to Raising Newborn Vampires (Nice Girls Don't Bite Their Neighbors)

I adore the predicaments Jane finds herself in and the way her friends would do anything for her as she would for them. As she stated "I am fiercely protective of the people..and canines I love."  That feeling is reciprocated and clearly shines through in quirky and humorous ways such as when the group decides to be proactive for once to keep Jane safe. "I was thinking official 'Keep Jane from Being Murdered Task Force' T-shirts." Hmmm... I wonder if they sell those. *grin*

I enjoyed learning more about Ophelia, the teenage looking vampire in charge of the local vampire Council, although some may have issues with this character toward the end of the book. Also, the death of Grandma Ruthie shakes things up when Jane realizes she's dead, but not gone, and is still looking to take over her home. Plus, someone is once again looking to harm Jane, but she's not the main target this time. Unbelievable, right? lol

Some (not all and I really had to work to whittle this one down) of my favorite quotes/lines/moments:

- "Should I find it disturbing that it took jewelry to make you cry 'yes, yes, yes' in my presence for the first time?"

- "Can we turn into bats?"
  "Sadly, no."
  "Garlic?"
  "Stinky but not harmful."
  "What about sex?"
   I tried to maintain the most neutral expression possible. "What about it?"
  "Will I be having it?"
  "That's sort of up to you."
   Jamie moved toward me and put his hand on my thigh. I shot to my feet and backed away to a distance that wouldn't get me put on some sort of watch list.
  "No, no, no. That's not how this works at all."

- "My only regret is that I can't track down a boyfriend or two and use my evil vampire powers to hypnotize him into stripping naked and dancing the Highland Fling every time he hears the word 'hello'.
  "But he would hear it several times every day." I told her.
  "What's your point?"

- "Darling, I bid good-bye to singleness the moment I met you."

I'm leaving the romance rating off this one because it focused more on the events than on the actual romance. Gabriel and Jane's love life seemed to be placed on hold because of the gaining a childe and all. Overall, I gave this one 4 out of 5 roses.  It was fun to see the fallout Jane received for turning Jamie into a vampire from the community. Plus, I enjoyed Gabriel and Jane finally tying the knot. Oh, and if your were wondering, it's now official Ms. Harper has been added to my list of favorite authors. Her books are guaranteed to put me in a good mood and make me laugh.

Order of series:
Posted by Lisarenee at 7:59 AM 0 comments
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Saturday, March 31, 2012

Nice Girls Don't Live Forever (Jane Jameson, #3) by Molly Harper


Author's Website: http://www.mollyharper.com/

When you become immortal things change. Goals once thought to be long term start looking like short terms plans because your life expectancy increases by an immeasurable amount. Things need to be reprioritized and you have to reevaluate what is important and perhaps reinvent yourself...

'My plan to become a Brave New Jane went a little something like this:
(1) Develop a healthy, normal romantic relationship, preferably with Gabriel.
(2) Create a fulfilling career for myself.
(3) Demand that my family love me without judgment. Even if it means I have to rent a new family over the Internet.
(4) Find a solution for world peace.

I can live without the last one, though I know it's far more likely than the other three.'


Okay, so maybe things don't change that much, but it sure feels like it. 

Jane and Gabriel's relationship is on shaky ground. Gabriel is hiding something and Jane fears it is another woman. How many times have we heard someone say, "How could I have missed the warning signs? They were so obvious." Well, the signs seem pretty obvious. While on their round-the-world romantic getaway, Gabriel kept receiving mysterious messages at each hotel they stayed at. Additionally, he received phone calls which required him to leave the room and be out of hearing range. Just before she decided to pack up and go home, she managed to salvage part of one of those letters for the waste basket. It contained  words like, "bloodmate" and "love you". It also contained "phrases like, 'Remember what we are to each other,' and 'Remember what we have,' 'The woman your with can't satisfy you like I do.'" 

Jane's excuse for going home and gracefully bowing out of the remainder of the trip came when Zeb called with news of a minor break in at her newly remodeled bookstore. When she informed Gabriel she was going home, he didn't put up a fuss, and she wasn't sure if they were a couple anymore. Shortly upon arriving home the same style of letters that Gabriel had been receiving starting showing up at her shop addressed to her. The messages warned her to stay away from Gabriel that he was only using her.

When someone attempts to kill Jane in a fashion that makes it clear that she was the intended target, the question is who wants her dead?  Could it be the letter writer, the person who broke in to the shop, or someone in town who hates vampires or just her?

This was another great book by Ms. Harper. I loved how many fun characters she added into the mix. Mr. Wainwright's nephew Emery was such a pain in the neck, and it was fun to see Jane's conflicted feeling of  wanting to be nice to him because he was Mr. Wainwrigh's nephew and wanting to toss his annoying butt to the curb. She really is too nice. Also, a large number of Chamber of Commerce members being named Courtney was a hilarious addition. Plus, Jane still doesn't know whether it's best to be open with everyone about her "Undead" status or keep it hidden because of the feelings of fear and hostility it can sometimes evoke.

I also enjoyed Jane's endeavors to make the occult bookstore she inherited a profitable business. She's remodeled and upgraded the place to include a lounge area with coffee/cappachino machines, and expanded the stock beyond that of the occult in an attempt to attract more customers and make it more cozy. I loved how she opened her store up as a meeting spot for Friends and Family of the Undead (FFOTU) meetings, a support group for those with a friend or loved one that has been turned.

Favorite quotes/lines/moments:
 - "Wow, is that our dairy guy?" I whispered. Andrea didn't bother removing her eyes from the sight of Dairy Guy's delicious blue-clad bottom swaying as he loaded the fridge.
   "Yep," Andrea answered absently.
   "He's going to be coming here regularly, right"?
   We simultaneously tilted our heads as Dairy Guy's hips changed angles. Andrea sighed, "Yep."
   "Maybe we should arrange for Dick to be elsewhere on delivery nights," I whispered. "Because you're drooling. And milk does a body goooo---Oh, my God." My jaw dropped as Dairy Guy turned, and I recognized him as little Jamie Lanier, who I used to baby sit every summer. 

-  "So you're going to take this like a man. No ice cream. No fruity drinks. No movies where whiny woman 'find their power.' You're not a girl, Jane."
  "I think my God-given gift of cleavage proves otherwise."

- "You're the sister I never really wanted."

-  “The two of them shared a look over my head. Gabriel made serval threatening faces. Dick responded with rude gestures. Eventually, they looked like two inebriated mimes having a dance off.” 

When writing a book it's the little things that mean a lot because without them you have a one dimensional character in a one dimensional world that doesn't translate well. Ms. Harper creates a fun world with characters that are quirky, vulnerable, and flawed in a way that you can't help but identify or sympathize with them. Add on the addition of a community caught in the grips of dealing with a recent paranormal outing and fears and misgivings will run high. All these little things combined make the characters come to life within the pages and make for a fun series that I find most enjoyable. Overall I gave this one 4 1/2 roses.  On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one gets a STEAM rating - too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.

Note:
Molly Harper created a short story between 'Nice Girls Don't Live Forever' and 'Nice Girls Don't Bite Their Neighbors'. It's called 'Nice Girls Don’t Sign a Lease Without a Wedding Ring'  and can be found on Molly Harper's blog at:
Posted by Lisarenee at 9:14 PM 0 comments
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Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men (Jane Jameson, #2) by Molly Harper


  • Title: Nice Girls Don't Date Dead Men (Jane Jameson, #2)
  • Classification: Adult Fiction
  • Genre:  Paranormal Romance
  • Format: Paperback: 400 pages
  • Publisher: Pocket Star (August 25, 2009)
  • ISBN-10: 1416589430
  • ISBN-13: 978-1416589433
  • Author's website:  http://www.mollyharper.com/

"How were you turned?
"Its's not a story I tell most people," I said...
"Why not?"
"If there was a very special episode of 'I Love Lucy', where Lucy was turned into a vampire, she'd probably use my story. Let's just say I didn't have any choice. It was either death or this."


The events that led to Jane being turned would never be included among her more finer moments but rather would probably be listed at the top of her most embarrassing moments. It's not the type of tale you fondly recall and tell others. She'd lost her job, gotten drunk, had her car break down and the pièce de résistance? While walking home she was mistaken for a deer, shot, and killed. The only saving grace was that was the night she met Gabriel, her sire. As an added bonus Zeb, Jane's best friend, met his fiance, Jolene, a short time later at a meeting of the Friends and Family of the Undead support group. After seeing the bridesmaids dress Jolene picked out, however, she was second guessing whether she truly should add that to her list of things that did go right...


"I know, Janie, I know it's ugly," Zeb said, his big doe eyes all guileless and earnest. Dang it, I always buckled under the baby browns. "It is the world's ugliest dress. Of all the dresses you will ever wear, this is the one your body may reject like a faulty organ. As soon as I get back from the honeymoon, I will help you build the bonfire to burn this dress. But I'm asking you as my closest friend in the entire world, will you please just wear the stupid dress for one day?"

As the wedding plans start to come together Jane is to be Jolene's Best Maid (think Best Man/Maid of Honor) and Dick is to have the honor of being the Man of Honor. Jolene, in an attempt to keep the peace, asked Jane to hold  the coveted position. Werewolves, you see, can be a jealous and vicious bunch and having someone outside the pack was the only way that Jolene could think of to prevent hurt feelings among them and keep the from fighting for it. Tension flares and prejudices abound as some of Jolene's and Jeb's family and friends start plotting to break the happy couple apart. With a Titanic-themed wedding the question that begs to be asked is: will the two find themselves on 'Top of the World' or will their wedding plans be doomed like the ill fated journey of the Titanic?

Another hilariously funny book by Molly Harper. I adore all the characters in the book. Jane's family is a hoot and you just want to step in and come to Jane's aid with them. Her sister's suing her, her grandmother won't acknowledge her, and her mom is having a hard time dealing with Jane's death, or rather undeath, and has no qualms about showing it. Thankfully Jane gets by with a little help from her friends and a few informational books from Mr.Wainwright's bookstore. :)

Meanwhile, Jane's relationship with Gabriel is gaining momentum and they go on their first official date. Things start heating up between the two but Jane doesn't know where the two stand, she's hoping to find out. Plus, all their friends seem to be getting along and they are becoming a very close and tight knit group.

Some of my favorite quotes/moments:

- "If someone were going to design the perfect mate for me, it would be you. Even when you infuriate me with your pigheaded stubbornness and your temper and incredible lack of anything resembling self-preservation—"

- "You're the most fascinating, maddening, adorable creature I've ever met," he said, sighing and pushing my hair out of my eyes. "So, when I seem possessive or I'm raving like a lunatic, it's just that part of me is still very afraid that I'll lose that—that I'll lose you. I love you.”

- "When I was a girl, nice young men did not paw at young ladies in dirty alleys."
  When she was a young lady, Mama Ginger got cited for mooning a busload of tourists in town for the annual lace-tatting conventions.

Overall, this one gets a 5 out of 5 roses from me. A delightfully funny series with just the right amount of romance, humor, and drama. I highly recommend this one. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one gets a FAN rating - the temperature in the room seems to have suddenly gone up a couple of degrees and a fan would be nice.

Funny side note: The names of Dick and Jane being used in this book brought back memories of another book someone once told me about, and yes, it's a real book. Just click on the picture of the cover below to be transported to Amazon where you can read the description:

Order of series:
Posted by Lisarenee at 11:13 PM 0 comments
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