The Curse Servant by J.P. Sloan (The Dark Choir #2)

Original Title: The Curse Servant

Year Published: 2015

Published by: Curiosity Quills Press (an arc was kindly provided via NetGalley)

Number of Pages: 287

First Sentence: "I knew this wasn't going to be the typical meeting with Julian Bright when, instead of the usual political organ-grinders at the campaing headquarters, I found a soccer mom duct taped to a chair, foaming at the mouth."

Goodreads Rating: 4/5

Plot:

The one person standing between Hell… and an innocent girl… is a man without a soul.

A regular life isn’t in the cards for Dorian Lake, but with his charm-crafting business invigorated, and the prospect of a serious relationship within his grasp, life is closer to normal than Dorian could ever expect. In the heat of the Baltimore mayoral campaign, Dorian has managed to balance his arrangements with Deputy Mayor Julian Bright with his search to find his lost soul. Dorian soon learns of a Netherworker, the head of a dangerous West Coast cabal, who might be able to find and return his soul. The price? Just one curse.

Sounds easy… but nothing ever is for Dorian. A dark presence arrives in the city, hell-bent on finding Dorian’s soul first. Innocents are caught in the crossfire, and Dorian finds it harder to keep his commitments to Bright. When the fight gets personal, and the entity hits too close to home, Dorian must rely on those he trusts the least to save the ones he loves. As he tests the limits of his hermetic skills to defeat this new enemy, will Dorian lose his one chance to avoid damnation?

My thoughts:

OK, so I haven't read the first book and thought this would be a problem. It wasn't. There are some things that are most likely connected to the first book, but you don't need to know them to enjoy this book.

Dorian is a good main character. He is a likable and an enjoyable protagonist. A little bit messed up but always striving to do good. Although trying to find his missing soul should be his main concern, he refuses to put is own needs before other people in need. A proper good guy, although he might not agree with that label himself.

The plot itself is also very enjoyable. It took me a little time to figure out what the main plot was (I forgot to read the blurb, how stupid is that?) because there are several sub-plots. They are however nicely weaved together and are very easy to pick up and follow along with. There is enough mystery to really get you hooked, and although I figured out who one of the main antagonists was long before Dorian did, it did not lessen the reading experience at all. In fact, it was really exciting to see if I was right and why the antagonist had done what they did.

Definitely a nice read with a good splash of mystery, magic, romance and real-world problems that created a very nice overall reading experience.

Do I recommend it?

Yes, I do. I would like to point out that you should probably read book 1 as well. I surely will.

Sweet Reckoning by Wendy Higgins (#3 of the Sweet Trilogy)

Original TItle: Sweet Reckoning

Year Published: 2014

Published by: HarperCollins Publishers

Number of Pages: 379

First Sentence: "Not a soul in the Vegas cocktail lounge had any idea demons were in their midst,"

Goodreads rating: 5/5

Plot (taken from Goodreads):

It’s time. 

Evil is running rampant and sweet Anna Whitt is its target. Nobody knows when or how the Dukes will strike, but Anna and her Nephilim allies will do anything necessary to rid the earth of the demons and their oppressive ways.

The stakes are higher than ever, and Anna is determined that the love she feels will be her strength, not a liability. But trying to protect the ones she loves while running for her life and battling demonic forces proves to be perilous—especially as faces are changing and trust is fleeting. When the Duke of Lust sends Anna’s great love, Kaidan Rowe, to work against her, Anna must decide how much she’s prepared to risk.

In the most sensual and fast-paced installment yet, Sweet Reckoning brings all the beloved Neph together one last time to fight for their freedom.

My thoughts:

I loved it! I had been looking forward to reading this book for so long, but for some reason never got around to it. I picked it up two days ago and binge read it. I love it so so much. It's amazing and such a good ending to the story. I even cried, and I rarely cry when reading books these days.

Oh Anna. She has come so far since the first book and I love her. She is a proper badass with a good heart. 

Kaidan is my guy. He is just so... so fantastical. This guy who tries to come of as a proper bad buy but is as soft as a marshmallow on the inside. My kind of guy. And the ending... oh you will cry. We all sigh for Kai.

Marna and Jay. Oh my. Higgins be breaking my heart. It's sad and beautiful. I will say no more. Ginger? She gets her redemption. Blake? You gotta love Blake. Kope and Zania? Oh man, they are both so amazing. Patti? Oh man, I love Patti so much.

This whole book is just so... I can't really put words to it. It probably has many flaws and plotholes but I don't care. I loved it and the way the story ended. It will make you laugh, cry and then sigh with content when you finally close it after reading the last page. At least that's what I did.

Do I recommend it?

YES! I recommend all of the Sweet books. Go read! Now!

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman & Terry Pratchett

Original Title: Good Omens: The nice and accurate prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch.
Year Published: 2006 (first published in 1990)
Published by: HarperCollins Publishers Inc. (First edition by Workman Publishing Company Inc)
Number of Pages: 398
First sentence: "It was a nice day."
Goodreads Rating: 5/5

Plot:
According to The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch (the world's only completely accurate book of prophecies, written in 1655, before she exploded), the world will end on a Saturday. Next Saturday, in fact. Just before dinner. So the armies of Good and Evil are amassing, Atlantis is rising, frogs are falling, tempers are flaring. Everything appears to be going according to Divine Plan. Except somewhat fussy angel and a fast-living demon - both of whom have lived amongst Earth's mortals since The Beginning and have grown rather fond of the lifestyle - are not actually looking forward to the coming Rapture.

And someone seems to have misplaced the Antichrist ...

My thoughts:
Loved it! I always love Terry Pratchett's books but team him up with Neil Gaiman and you get one of the most brilliant book's ever written. I usually dislike books with religious themes but this is just fantastic.

There is a variety of brilliant characters who all are extremely important to the plot. You have the dynamic duo, Angel Aziraphale and the Demon Crowley, the four horsemen, the Witchfinder Newt, the Witch Anathema Device, who is also  descendant of Agnes Nutter, and of course, Adam and the Them. They are all lovely, and there are also several more than the ones I mentioned, but the ones mentioned are probably the most important.

Gaiman and Pratchett tell a brilliant story with many twists and turns. You have no idea where the book will end up which is amazing, There is no way you can predict the end, which could have been annoying but in this case is just fantastic. It is probably one of the best books I've read.

Do I recommend it?
Hell yes! Read it! Go on, do it!