Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble by H.P. Mallory

Original Title: Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble

Year Published: 2010

Published by: Self-published

Number of pages: 304

First Sentence: "It's not every day you see a ghost."

Goodreads rating: 1/5

Plot:

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.

My thoughts:

I really wanted to like this book. However, I can't say I do. The basic premise of this book is good although perhaps not so original. The execution of it is not so good. Jolie is an ok character and I even liked her alongside her friend Christa. The rest is not so good.

All the men are overly dominant and try to control the women at every step. I suppose this was done to show that, in this case, the men know better and are only trying to protect the women, but it was ridiculous and just annoying. Just like a lot of the plot was ridiculous and somewhat annoying. I actually just skimmed the last chapter because I felt obligated to finish the book, but had no interest in the outcome.

Do I recommend it?

No.