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Feb212012
BOOK REVIEW: ‘Happily Never After’ by Jeaniene Frost
by Laura • Posted in 3.5 Star Reviews, Authors E-H, Book Reviews, Jeaniene Frost, Paranormal Romance, Reviews by Laura
Title: Happily Never After (Night Huntress #1.5)
Author: Jeaniene Frost
Publisher: Avon
Publication Date: July 2011 (originally part of Weddings From Hell Anthology published in June 2008)
Ebook: 106 Pages
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Source: My own copy
Reviewed by Laura
SUMMARY:
Isabella Spaga is about to reluctantly walk down the aisle with Mr. Dangerously Wrong…but not if dashing vampire Chance has anything to say about it. As a favor to Bones, Chance has come to derail this wedding of beauty to the beast. Now if only he can keep his hands off the bride. From New York Times bestselling author Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress world, it’s the wedding of the season…that everyone wants to miss. (Originally appeared in Weddings From Hell anthology) (Goodreads)
REVIEW:
‘Happily Never After’ is a paranormal romance set in the Night Huntress world. But if you’re looking for an extra Cat and Bones story you’ll be disappointed. Cat is not in the story at all and Bones is in about two scenes. Instead Bones’ vampire friend Chance is the lead in the story.
The book begins with a rather cool old lady called Greta asking Bones for help. Help it turns out for her grandchildren Isabella and Frazier who have somehow managed to get mixed up with the mob. Which has left Isabella agreeing to marry vile mob boss Robert to save her brother’s life. Unable to help himself, because of course as this book is set between books one and two in the series we all know he is actually looking for Cat, Bones sends Chance in his place.
I enjoyed this book more than ‘Reckoning’ the other novella I’ve read by Frost, it has a lighter more fun tone, and is definitely sits in the paranormal romance genre rather than urban fantasy.
Chance is a great, charismatic hero who deals with the baddies with wit and finesse. There are some scenes that made me chuckle as he kept baffling the mobsters by coming back to life.
‘Ritchie, oddly enough, didn’t fly into his usual hair-trigger temper.
“You can’t be here,” he almost squeaked.
“We-”
“You what?” Chance interrupted. “Shot me?”‘
You can’t help but grin as you know the baddies are going to get what’s coming to them, unbeknownst that their rival is a virtually un-killable vampire.
Isabella is gutsy and refuses to cow to Robert’s bullying, making her a heroine you can’t help but like to route for. She has her own amusing way of dealing with Robert’s unwanted advances.
I actually didn’t expect this book to have a romantic element, I’m not sure why as most of Frost’s books do, and also the title is probably a giveaway too *facepalm*. But, never the less, this element was a nice surprise. They were a fab couple with plenty of sizzle and they had several good verbal spars too.
One small comment, I would of liked to see a bit of Greta, I really liked her!
VERDICT:
A sexy, light-hearted paranormal romance, that is a nice, quick read for a quiet evening.
RATING: 7/10 – Very good, would definitely recommend
Books in series order:
1. Halfway to the Grave
2. One Foot in the Grave
3. At Grave’s End
4. Destined for an Early Grave
5. This Side of the Grave
6. One Grave at a Time
1. Halfway to the Grave
2. One Foot in the Grave
3. At Grave’s End
4. Destined for an Early Grave
5. This Side of the Grave
6. One Grave at a Time
This book counts towards the following BCC Reading Challenges:
