Parts & Wreck

by Mark Henry

Wade Crowson, a brutish and brooding playboy and veteran vivisectionist for the Parts Department, runs into more than he bargained for in new partner, Lucid Montgomery, a quirky beauty with a bizarre secret and a string of psychiatric diagnoses she tries hard to keep hidden. Loving Luce will stamp a demonic target on her back and thrust Wade into a frenzied whirlwind of hilarious misunderstandings and, quite possibly, a stripping gig for emptynesters. Can they withstand the savagery of an exorcism (with or without the split pea soup) and come out alive and …in love?


No longer available from Entangled Publishing as of June 2016.

Genres: Paranormal, Romance, Paranormal Romance, Humor, Fiction, Urban Fantasy

200 pages, ebook

First published November 25, 2013

About the author

MARK HENRY traded a career as a counselor to scar minds with his fiction. In stories clogged with sentient zombies, impotent sex demons, transsexual werewolves and ghostly goth girls, he irreverently processes traumatic issues brought on by premature exposure to horror movies, an unwholesome fetish for polyester and/or witnessing adult cocktail parties in the swingin' 70s. A developmental history further muddied by surviving earthquakes, typhoons, and two volcanic eruptions. He somehow continues to live and breathe in the oft maligned, yet not nearly as soggy as you’d think, Pacific Northwest, with his wife and four furry monsters that think they’re children and have a complete disregard for carpet.

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars

I thought this was total garbage, and I'm not really getting where all the 4 and 5 star reviews are coming from. At all.
I will say that some of the lines were sort of funny, so maybe if the story had been a bit more coherent I would have like it a little more.
I'm assuming Luce's character was supposed to be plucky and irreverent, but I just thought she was obnoxious and annoying.
And the thing about harvesting organs to rid people of demonic possession?
What?
The only character I liked was Hitch.
And apparently he was evil.
Hmmm.
Nope. Can't think of anyone I'd recommend this to.

I received a digital copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Stacee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was hilarious. It was the first time I actually laughed out loud while reading. The characters were fun, the plot was fast paced and the snark was some of the best.

I can't wait to see what the next one brings.

**Thanks to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a super quirky read!! It had my attention from beginning to end!! Kind of because it jumps around and you really have to be on your toes.

Wade is more of a straight forward guy and when her meets up with Luce sparks fly! They go from one crazy situation to the next, really fast paced action. Maybe a little too fast at times. Always enjoyable!

I adore Luce and all her quirkiness, is she crazy or just eccentric, I sat the latter! She just seems to be one of those gals who always finds trouble or odd situations. I say roll with it! Loved her sass and she was a perfect match for Wade.

Loads of story to keep a gal busy, fantastic lead and supporting characters, really dynamic storytelling and a laugh out loud riot!

The romance isn't really a scorcher but they definitely have a little fire going on! I can not wait to see more, hint hint Mr. Henry...I am expecting a series here!

The narrative is mixed, going between Luce and Wade. It gives you a fair amount of insight into the characters. This does help put the story together. It has some jumpy bits that had me trying to follow what happened.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Valerie Gilbert. who does a great job with the challenging read. Her pace really helps keep eh story moving. I loved her voicing of Luce, plenty of sass to keep her fun. Wade was a little rougher, but very distinct. Overall, I enjoyed the read, there were a couple spots where it was a touch stilted, ala Captain Kirk. But they were not enough for me to be put off the book.

Marc Henry is a new author for me and if his other books are as much fun as this one, I'm sold!

Disclosure – I received this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts opinions and ratings are my own.

*** If you found this review at all helpful, please take a moment to let me know. I love reading and sharing my opinions with other readers. Thanks for taking the time to read my review! You can see more audiobook reviews on my blog www.eargasmsaudiobookreviews.com ***

Merged review:

This is a super fun quirky read!! It had my attention from beginning to end!!

Wade is more of a straight forward guy and when her meets up with Luce sparks fly! They go from one crazy situation to the next, really fast paced action. Maybe a little too fast at times. Always enjoyable!

I adore Luce and all her quirkiness, is she crazy or just eccentric, I sat the latter! She just seems to be one of those gals who always finds trouble or odd situations. I say roll with it! Loved her sass and she was a perfect match for Wade.

Loads of story to keep a gal busy, fantastic lead and supporting characters, really dynamic storytelling and a laugh out loud riot!

The romance isn't really a scorcher but they definitely have a little fire going on! I can not wait to see more, hint hint Mr. Henry...I am expecting a series here!

Marc Henry is a new author for me and if his other books are as much fun as this one, I'm sold!

*Disclosure - I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts, opinions and ratings are my own.*

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally posted at Bitten By Books: http://bittenbybooks.com/66226/parts-...

Wade Crowson is an excellent asset for The Parts Department. As a senior specialist he has seen his fair share of action, but not much in his past can prepare him for his next job–training Lucid Montgomery as his new assistant. Luce, as she prefers to be called, needs this job, even if she does not exactly know what it entails. She needs something that she can succeed at, to prove that she is not crazy, despite what all the doctors tell her.

When Wade and Luce first meet the sparks fly, but Luce’s desire to keep her secrets and Wade’s sad past stand in the way. Can they survive a series of truly hilarious events, an incredibly awkward stripping gig, and an exorcism, to find love in the end?

Parts & Wreck is a hilarious, fast-paced, and thoroughly enjoyable read that will have you in stitches. Luce and Wade are positively sizzling, Quince is, in a word, amazing, and I simply need to know more about Sister Mary-Agnes. These characters are alive and kicking. Luce is by far the most wholly-developed character, but this really served the plot and negated a few Mary-Sueish qualities she has. Wade is a pretty routine Alpha male, but definitely benefits from some excellent backstory. Together they are simply delightful. All of the secondary characters are interesting in their own rights and are fully-formed. I look forward to hearing more from Hitch, Quince, and Sister Mary.

I love the entire concept of The Parts Department and cannot wait to hear more about it and how it functions. The way Henry has turned the concept of exorcism and blended Catholic traditions with urban legend is inspired and leave endless amount of inspiration for future installments. I cannot say I have ever read anything like this.

Parts & Wreck hits the ground running and does not give you one single second to catch your breath, and while that makes for an engaging and exhilarating read there were definitely a few parts that got a little jumbled for me. That is the only critique I have for this fun, unique, and delightful tale. If you are looking for a quick yet totally amusing read with fantastic characters, a great concept, and breakneck pace, Parts & Wreck is the book for you.

[Anne · Rating 2 out of 5]

For .99 I would give Parts and Wreck an OK rating and would recommend with reservations.

I found the setting and story line to be intriguing. Demons can be transferred from person to person via organ transplants. When the Parts Dept. finds out a demon possessed organ has been transplanted, they spring into action and get the organ back (sometimes to the transplantee's demise, but the Parts Dept. thinks dead is preferable to possessed). All of the characters, both main and secondary are quirky. While the Netgalley copy I received had poor formatting and many typos/word errors (piece for peace), I can't say if that would be an issue in the final version available here. The story also seems to skip ahead without filling in what happens from point A to point C. The training video Luce watches is a hoot.

What I didn't like was that we received minimal background information on our main characters Wade and Luce. They don't actually even talk to each other much before the big climax. When you are a trainee, when has your trainer not actually told you what you were supposed to do and lay out the plan of attack? The parts that I believe others thought were funny fell flat for me because of the lack of connection between the characters and the lack of context a back story would have provided. What new employee would ask her supervisor if he was stopping at a rest stop to pee or get a BJ in the bushes?!? Really??? All we know about Luce (short for Lucid) is that she has been diagnosed with psychological problems, and has an imaginary/invisible friend and ate cornstarch straight from the box as a kid. How does this translate into this inappropriate banter which doesn't occur with others?

This book is only half of one. It has potential but needs to be fleshed out and made more complete by expanding our knowledge of the characters and providing a more complete, direct story line from beginning to end.

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy Crap! When this book starts cooking the laughter will be contagious. The characters personalities truly make the book work. I spent my entire Sunday reading this book from start to finish...and can't wait for the next book. The snarling nun was just the icing on the cake. A new twist on the paranormal and you can't have that without atleast one very sexy man. This book is so much better than the description and offers a little bit of something for everyone. A Fun read you won't want to pass up :)

[Marlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted at Reading Reality

If you still talk to your imaginary friend when you’re an adult, are you deranged? What if he isn’t really imaginary? How do you tell? Next question; which is more deranged, a demonic possession or a strip-tease involving bodily fluids, even if those fluids are fake?

Believe it or not, those questions manage to connect in a snarktastic and occasionally scary start to Mark Henry’s Parts Department series in Parts & Wreck.

About those parts...if a victim of demonic possession dies and donates their organs, the possessed organs, well, are not exactly the gift of life that they’re supposed to be. The recipient lives, true enough. But they live possessed by a demon, just like the donor.

It tends to be a short, corrupt and unhappy life. And if the Parts Department catches up to those possessed organs, even shorter. Because the Parts Department surgically removes all those nasty, demon-possessed, well, parts.

Parts the transplant recipients needed fairly badly, after all. That’s why they had those transplants in the first place. But demon removal and exorcism trumps any individual life. The Parts Department operators always call an ambulance before they leave.

It’s a nasty and brutal job, but somebody has to do it to keep the demons in their place.

Wade Crowson is one of those people who do that horrible job. He’s very good at it. The only problem is that he keeps losing his partners to demonic possession. Then they die. What’s worse is that the demon Astaroth seems to be targeting Wade intentionally. That damn demon wants Wade to suffer. The feeling is mutual, but the demon is having way more luck at the problem.

Part of Wade’s suffering is that he keeps attracting, and being attracted to, female partners. And then losing them. His new partner is Lucid Montgomery, and Wade starts out not being sure whether Luce is a candidate for his next partner at the Parts Department, or the next candidate for an exorcism. Her file shows that she’s either slightly loony or slightly possessed, but it’s difficult to tell which.

All Wade is sure of is that she’s totally captivating. And that she doesn’t seem to have a filter on what comes out of her mouth, a fact which makes him smile for the first time in years.

It also makes Luce tremendously fun to follow. right up to the point where she finds out that her imaginary childhood friend was a very real demon. And that he’s still around.

Escape Rating B+: This is the first time I’ve ever read a book where the romance is furthered over a vivisection. Really. And this isn’t a horror story even though the idea of demons colonizing via donor organs is well, kind of, horrifying.

Instead, the crew at the Parts Department thrives on gallows humor. Anyone who worked there and couldn’t snark like there was no tomorrow (because they know there might not be) would probably die of terminal depression long before the demons did them in.

After all, the background set up for this story is damn dark under all the snark. There are demons out there and they are out to get us. Wade’s first demon exposure wasn’t just life-altering, it also robs him of his childhood.

Same is true for Luce, even though she doesn’t realize it. When they find each other, it’s a chance for a bit of light amidst the darkness, if they dare to grab it.

The emphasis in this story is on the build-up. I could see the underpinnings being put in place for a fantastic series about the grim world that makes the Parts Department necessary. I’m up for reading more. There’s also a kind of kinky-sweet love story between Wade and Luce, but I enjoyed Parts & Wreck mostly for setting up the underbelly of how this world works.

It felt like the demons have had it out for Wade for a long time, so I think Wade and Luce will be back. That's bad for them, but good for the rest of us.

The most frightening concepts in this story are at the strip club, because those don’t seem to be totally demon inspired, but they are awesomely evil.

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audio Review

I saw a review of this book at April's Eargasms blog and thought it sounded quirky and hilarious. A psychotic heroine and rough demon-hunting hero team up in this black comedy paranormal romance.

This was my first time experiencing this author's work. It was like stepping into a parallel dimension that was similar, but different enough to leave me off-balance. The premise was out there, the humor raunchy, and the characters not the usual in heroism.

Luce can't keep down a job, but gets an interview with the Parts & Wreck department making a wrong assumption about what it is. However, she needs a job and being the assistant to a demon exorcist will have to do especially since her partner is the hot guy she met the night before at the bar. Luce has to be careful not to let her brand of crazy out. She has an imaginary not-so friend who has been with her since childhood. Hitch can't be seen by anyone else. Luce was treated for mental illness and now at all costs, she works hard to appear normal. However, at her new job, her crazy isn't nearly the weirdest thing and her new partner has his own issues.

Wade is on his third partner. They keep getting possessed and killed mostly because they tend to rush into danger. He is reluctant to see it happen again especially with the lewd and fun, Luce. He knows she is a bit crazy, but that doesn't change the respect he has for the spunky woman who can keep up with him and seems to take her new job in stride. They make a deal to keep it all professional, but that gets more difficult as they spend more time together working on cases. The latest takes them to a sex club where the kink is even a shocker for him. But he will do what it takes to keep Luce safe even if this is a tough dangerous demon they face.

So, I still don't know what to make of this one even after I listened to the end. I felt pulled in opposite directions throughout. Whether it was plot, characters, humor, or the romance, I enjoyed the unusual quirkiness, but also found it off putting at times too. It's not strongly developed or one that I felt a strong connection, but it was entertaining and a good distraction. I think this won't be for everyone because it will depend on the reader's brand of humor. If the absurd and raunchiness can get a laugh then this will have appeal, if not, this will be- well, absurd.

As I said, things are developed just enough so the reader has the general idea of what is going on and has enough connection to engage with the story and characters. It was the kind of story that I could enjoy while I listened, but not have trouble setting aside to do other things before coming back.

The audio was an enhancement, I think. I liked the way the narrator told the story and did the characters. This was my first time listening to Valerie Gilbert as a narrator, but I would gladly listen to other books she has narrated.

All in all, I had a good time with this one, but would cautiously recommend it to Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance fans who get into off-beat, irreverent humor, snarky exchanges, quirky and odd characters, and a light, but slightly skeevy paranormal plot.

[Ren Puspita · Rating 2 out of 5]

1,5 stars

This is the first time I read Mark Henry book. And, well, I'm sorry that this book failed to meet my expectation. When see so many 4-5 reviews on Goodreads here, and I request this because the blurb look promising and funny, unique and different, I expect this will make a good laugh. Alas, like it title, the story is a wreck, a mess. I think that Mr Henry try so hard to make a sexy story, but it left me cold. Sure the sex scene was steamy and bordering erotic. But the bantering between the main characters, Luce and Wade is not sexy. It feel forced, it's not romantic. The "L" is kinda forced too. It feel like Mr Henry want to write romance story and he mixed everything he know from romance novel into this book, but his attempt is failed.

By the way, the idea of exorcism is fresh. The demon possess human by organ transplantation, I admit is a brilliant idea. I would love to see Mr Henry focus for this idea, not how to make Luce and Wade's relationship work. I'm okay with pure urban fantasy with less romance, if it will make the story work for me. Parts that I love, maybe when Wade must go to strip club that make me smile, or when Luce got into her first repo works. Another character like Quince, Sister Mary-Agnes, also Luce's imaginary friend, Hitch are interesting. Sadly, I can't connect into Luce and Wade, that's why it's so hard to finish this one.

Thanks for Entangled for provided the e-ARC

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I accepted an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. Then I immediately googled "Vivisectionist" because I had no clue. It was then that I realized this book was going to be a little different. To me, being different is a compliment. There's so many similar paranormal books nowadays.

Luce, is probably the only insecure character I've ever loved! She's got a long history of talking to her imaginary friend Hitch, and DR's, and medications, etc. She's pretty convinced she's crazy. After reading a magazine, she's convinced that if she gets and keeps a job she can't be given a diagnosis she doesn't want.

Wade, has a sad history. Most of the people he's close to die. Including his previous partner. He's the straight man in this book. He wanted Luce from the get go, but doesn't do relationships. I can't say that I liked him as much because of the push/pull things he did to Luce.

I'm really surprised at some of the reviews on here. To me, this was a hilarious book. Luce is quick witted and always has something to say. Kind of like the drunken nun. It was nothing like I expected. It was much much much better than I expected.

[Shawna The Crazy Bookseller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm ready for some depraved raunchy reading.

And that's exactly what I got. But to be honest I wouldn't expect anything less from Mark Henry. I'm still working on writing long extensive reviews, but I like the short and sweet ones. This book had it all...snarky and a bit crazy characters, a drunk ex-nun, imaginary friends, demon possessions, mommy parties with strippers acting like children for the empty nesters, romance and sex. ok I'm sure I might have left something out but I feel I hit on the main things.

So if you take anything away from this it should be this...if you want a good read with laughter then you need to pick this book up. I know when the next one shows up for pre-order I will be clicking yes.

[Amanda Menninga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucid is trying to find a job and convince herself and the imaginary friend that nobody else can see that she is normal. If she can just find a job that is a step in the right direction. Then she meets Wade who is a veteran of the Parts Department. Lucid doesn't realize exactly what they are extracting until she goes into the job and learns they are taking possessed body parts. What she doesn't know is that Wade has a history of his partners getting killed.

They spend time trying to find these possessed body parts and the fact that they get the wrong guy. Wade gets a job as a male stripper in a diaper. There were some really hilarious parts to this book. It was a little far out there for me, but I would recommend it if you like the paranormal.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I freaking loved this book!!! Mark Henry captured my attention from the first word. True to form, it was outrageous at times, completely depraved and laugh out loud funny. It was a really fast read and wildly entertaining. I have been waiting a long time for a new Mark Henry book and I was not dissapointed. Read the book and then tell me if you'll ever forget the term "peepee teepee."

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snarkey, sassy, sexy and a lot of fun. The characters in this book are just so much fun....Enjoy!

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark Henry's books are a hoot. Perfect for fans of Christopher Moore. :)

[L.A. Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

According to the Author's Notes, this is Mark Henry's first foray into Paranormal Romance. I've read (and re-read) his Amanda Feral series and it's due to their quality that I read this book. As a first attempt I give it a solid B+.

The Parts & Wreck Department is a shadowy agency that repossesses the demon possessed organs from unwitting citizens. The demonic possession is somewhat like a virus that can spread from one person to many, depending upon the number of organ recipients. It's Wade's job to get these organs back - and not necessarily at a hospital.
Wade is a tattooed tough guy who's lost more than one partner doing the job. He's unsettled by his attraction to his new partner - and worried she'll meet the same fate.
Luce (Lucid) is slightly nutty, with a broken brain-to-mouth filter that really needs to get this job to prove to herself she isn't totally crazy.

They flirt outrageously while using creative and spontaneous means to repossess the organs on their list while fighting their own issues and desires.

There are a few issues, bear with me while I nitpick:
The plot seemed a little rushed, with pieces missing. I found myself re-reading the first third of the book searching for an event that Luce mentions. In her context it sounded like a bigger event than what actually happened. Also, she goes from a runner to a fighter with sharp instincts without any explanation.
I know it's not Henry's fault, but there were many text/punctuation errors in the digital text that threw me off. Compounded with his choices for Luce's character voice, these were occasionally confusing in regards to tone, especially when Wade responds to it in a manner that seems over-reactive or shocked. (i.e. Sometimes there'd be a question mark or period in the oddest place.)
My only other issue was the love scene. As this is his first in the genre, I have to admit that there is great potential. He doesn't shy away from straightforward statements or verbiage. However, the pacing seemed odd, and the many different synonyms for Wade's genitals was highly distracting. It wasn't crude, but for a moment I felt like I was reading the list from The Bald Headed Hermit and the Artichoke.

Nit picking over:
The plot is inventive and fresh, with supporting characters that are just as interesting as Luce and Wade. A drunken, defrocked nun in a man's suit and a sharp wit gives the directives. A copier room full of pot-luck happy vegans spew angry office repartee on a whole new level of cubicle hell. The training video Luce watches is an amazing piece of hilarious mental imagery all by itself.
Luce's bawdy humor and irreverence are what Henry writes best - and when it works it's stellar. Her off the cuff sexual statements are shockingly funny. The duo's solutions to the situations they find themselves in are original and had me laughing out loud.
I hope that Henry continues this as a series. With a little polish and practice, it promises to be another on my re-reader shelf.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well if you needed a job don't know if you could work here because you would have to be pretty competent to handle these jobs. Wade and his colorful co-workers work at the parts department and they have some mighty interesting jobs. They believe he needs to speed date. Then there is Luce she needs a job. She also goes to the night activities of speed dating. Luce though has a imaginary friend named Hitch or so she believes he is who has been with her for many years. At times been her only companion but now a real one will do. One crazy evening follows must read for sure. But guess who hooks up in a quick min? Wade and Luce, encounter just the beginning of some crazy fun they don't know yet they will continue to enjoy. Remember who needs a job and where there is one available? All right then she goes gets to looking for her place of interview and finally makes it there after a crazy detour though norm for Luce I would say. But guess who the first person she see- Wade oops there goes the door slamming. All the while Hitch for the most part does and will carry on some interesting conversations. Interview about to commence and they after their own play by play agree to remember they are just co-workers. Her his assistant of all things. Surprise surprise and she will fit right in. Anyways this department retrieves parts from customers that is like this repossessing of the repossessed parts that is. Slap me silly this was different in a storyline for sure. Humorous to the max but even with all that and the colorful characters and drama of the jobs there is romance in this story too. Comedy and romance great combo. This also was first time reading this author and picked it from description of what it was about sounded not run of the mill and not disappointed there. But there is a big surprise in store concerning Luce and her friend that she realizes too late but not hopeless for her. Conclusion really enjoyed but hey it is only theirs since I hope he has this is part of a series and not the end of this deptarment. Received a arc for a honest review.

[Lady Entropy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Netgalley kindly gave me this as ARC to review.

The concept for Parts & Wreck is kinda interesting, and, at least, somewhat original: demons transfer into new victims via transplants of "cursed" organs or other bits, and there is a rogue Vatican group that exorcises such victims by removing such organs (most of the times, without permission) - the Parts Department. The PD is lead by a hard-drinking, heavy cussing former nun, who is the best character of the series.

And this is where the good things of the book end. I had to force myself to keep reading because it wasn't particularly engaging. Too much time was spent with Luce obsessing over her attraction towards Wade, to the point where I didn't know what this book wanted to be - (badly written) Romance or Urban Fantasy. Normally, both mesh very well, but in this one, it was almost jarring the jump from one genre to the other. A great deal of the book went by before something important happened, and the "great conflict" was all but thrown on us.

The exploration of Luce's "imaginary" friend felt ludicrous, even pointless -- until the plot twist is revealed, and then you realize it was all a set up (and a clumsy one at that) just to have that that particularly plot twist revealed.

Luce felt schizophrenic in how she jumped from "Oh noes, I am teh crazy!" to "OMG Wade is SOOOOOO hot! FLIRT FLIRT FLIRT" and to "We must do this job right!" and so I couldn't care much for her plight or her as a protagonist at all.

Then, there were the typos.

Look, writers, when I, a NON-native English speaker can be jarred by your typos, it's time to change your editor.

All in all, not a "bad" book. But certainly one you can pass.

[Miriam · Rating 5 out of 5]

***Received from Entangled Publishing for an honest review***

A fast-paced, hilarious adventure involving one hell of a handsome cautious vivisectionist and an outspoken quirky brunette who may or may not be crazy. I loved everything about this story--Wade's hesitation at getting involved with Luce, Luce saying whatever she wanted and her odd relationship with Hitch, the P&W's odd faculty, and the P&W's purpose.

Mark Henry did a spectacular job creating characters that are complex yet believable. He didn't shy away from the goriness of repos, the ugliness of disagreements, or the oddness of human behavior. And he introduced a concept I haven't come across in any other demon themed books I've read--the transfer of a demon from one human host to another.

A delightfully fun tale that left me grinning, laughing, snorting, and laughing some more. Can't wait to read the next P&W!

[Jen Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably one of the best books I have read from Mark Henry since, well, Velveteen. The writing as usual was awesome! The characters are all well written and when it was stated to get ready for raunchy......well hold on to your hats kids!

[Jodi Linton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first book of Mark Henry that I've read, and I really enjoyed it. I like the edgy humor and snarky characters. I'll definitely be looking into other books by this author.

I received an ARC of Parts & Wreck from the author.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Snide, funny, sometimes downright silly urban fantasy romance. Let the publisher's blurb give the plot clues and skip the spoilers. I enjoyed it a lot.
My copy is an audio, and Valerie Gilbert brings the house down with her terrific snarkability!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book. It was fast paced and lost me in some parts but I enjoyed it

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was laugh out loud funny, with a love story to boot. I thoroughly enjoyed the humor and snark if these characters.

[Angie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Parts & Wreck is another book where I didn't remember anything that I just read after putting it down. It's a good thing I take some notes for my reviews, because this book is utterly forgettable. Wade is a self-proclaimed playboy; women just can't resist him! I can't see why though, except he's super hot or something. Anyway, he hires Luce as his new assistant, and of course she's another one of those women who can't resist him, except that she does.

There's one very annoying thing about Parts & Wreck: the jokes. I struggle with humor to begin with, but I can normally tell when something is meant to be funny. The jokes here are all sex based, mostly about prostitutes, because apparently sex work is hilarious. Also ruffies.They weren't funny and seemed more there for shock value? I don't know. It just wasn't funny at all and it bothered me.

The plot of Parts & Wreck is also pretty darn slow, which is unusually for the Paranormal genre. We don't even know exactly what Wade's job is until about a quarter of the way in, and then nothing plot related happened until...well, ever, honestly. I couldn't even tell you what the plot was suppose to be outside of the budding romance between Wade and Luce. Something about demons and surgery and prostitutes, probably.

Parts & Wreck was simply not my jam. Maybe dudes with raunchy humor, who remove organs from possessed people, is your jam. But don't forget the ruffie jokes. Those shouldn't appeal to anyone.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Lucid Montgomery needs to find a job. She's convinced herself that's what sane people do, so if she can hold down a job, she must be sane despite her "symptoms." Her imaginary friend Hitch (also known as those symptoms) is not so sure that a job is the answer. He tricks her into going speed dating, where she meets Wade. The two of them start to make out in the alley behind the event until Luce calls it off. Despite her attraction to Wade, she's not sure that's appropriately sane behavior.

The next morning, Luce goes to her job interview at the Parts Department, which she thinks repairs cars. When she gets there she finds not only Wade, but a drunk nun and a cast of eccentric cubicle dwellers, and not a car part in sight. It turns out the Parts Department "repossesses" organs from transplant recipients when the donor is found, a little too late, to have been possessed by a demon. (Demons can split their consciousness in order to possess multiple victims and can hide in the organs of the dead.) Luce was selected for the job by a man she thought was a headhunter, though I'm still not sure what his actual job is, and is to be Wade's new partner.

Wade resists his feelings for Luce because he says getting involved with him will make her a target for demons. His last partner was killed by a demon, only the latest in a long line of those close to him. Luce also thinks he resists because he read her file and knows about her long history of mental illness. In fact, everyone at the Parts Department seems to have read her file and may know more about her past than she does. Regardless of his motivations, Wade runs hot and cold toward Luce enough to keep me from warming up to him as much as I did to Luce. She says exactly what she's thinking, which is usually something raunchy. Her voice is reminiscent of Henry's Amanda Feral, but with the added insecurity from constantly questioning her sanity (and thankfully without the footnotes.

Their first case takes them to a strip club catering to some really unusual clients. Wade auditions to be a stripper wearing a diaper, which is just the tip of the fetish iceberg. The scenes in the club are exactly what we expect from Mark Henry, sick and twisted and hilarious.

I really wanted to love this book. The premise is original and the characters are interesting, but the story was slow to get moving for me. I wish the backstories were a little more fleshed out, especially Wade's. And the copy editing is atrocious. All of Luce's snark and fabulousness just couldn't quite make up for that. Still, the concept and the supporting cast intrigue me enough that I will probably check out the rest of the series.

[Heather book whore & shifter slut extrordinaire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can honestly say I have NEVER read another book like this - which is too bad cause this was hilariously awesome! I laughed and wondered aloud "HUH?" at times and thoroughly enjoyed getting to know everyone in this book, even Hitch. Which is surprising when you figure out... NO SPOILERS! Seriously this book is the funniest, most irreverent thing I have read in a long time and I cannot wait for the next one!

I thought the concept of this book was whacked and admit that when it first came out I passed it over cause it didn't sound like something I would enjoy. BOY WAS I EVER WRONG and I am so glad that came out or I would never have had the chance to sample this book and see just how funny and interesting and completely insane (in that good way we all enjoy) it could be. Then I had the good fortune to see (on twitter) that the author was looking for people to review his book so 30 seconds later I had contacted the nice man and there you go - I was reading and enjoying this book!

This book takes advantage of everyone's love for the paranormal and the assumption that the weird, wacky and (sometimes not so) wonderful things that happen in our world can be explained by demons and their possession of humans. It also has a completely unique method of transference of demon essence from one person to another, possibly leaving pieces of a demon in quite a few humans if the demon is powerful enough! The Parts Department's job (where Wade and now Luce work) is to remove the demonic parts from the human and possibly/hopefully leaving them alive and now alone in their body.

The supporting characters in this book were the exact opposite of the expected of their character - a defrocked nun who drinks and swears like a sailor? A lesbian who is so out there she hits on anyone remotely feminine but still manages to have the back of her boy buddies! And an administration department that appears to potluck every other day and those who don't participate are frowned upon....

I received a copy of the ebook from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Rhianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Get your weird on with PARTS & WRECK

Ya know how sometimes you have this friend who loves a book and she's so vehement that you must read it that you cave and do it only to wonder what the heck she was smoking when she read it? PARTS & WRECK is so that kind of book. There's no pretending it's going to appeal to everyone... not even most someones. It's just that special.

From the get-go I was pretty lost. Luce is one hard fish to pin down and I was immediately confused who the guy, Hitch, following her around was. There's just something about Henry's writing that made me feel like I was in a fever dream being narrated by Hunter S. Thompson that never let up. Wade was a little less hard to figure out but I never quite felt as sympathetic to him as I usually do with romance heroes. If you like your heroes large and well... in charge... you'll probably dig Wade. There's a weird push and pull between them as a couple that I never quite bought as love but was definitely feeling as bed-buddies.

As newly minted partners tracking down demon organs they had a pretty interesting world building concept going but there was just something off-color about it all that never quite washed with me. I have a pretty twisted sense of humor and I like weird but unless you find fetish funny you should probably find a different Covet to read.

While I never quite rose above a 'it's just okay' blandness with PARTS & WRECK, I really love that it gave me a chance to read another guy author's take on romance. I'll be picking up the next Part Department series installment for sure because hey, it ain't every day I get to read how a priest's glass eyeball was replaced by a dirty jawbreaker in a strip club bathroom... at least, I think that was how it went down... I gotta go figure out what I was smoking when I read that. Enjoy! ;)

Notes: ARC received via publisher.

[Monica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm really sorry I can't give a better review for this book since the author was kind enough to give it to me. I received a PDF arc copy and that was part of the problem. There were so many mistakes that I found it hard to concentrate on the story. I also found the beginning of the story to be very confusing. It took me a while to fill in the blanks of the storyline.

Lucid Montgomery has an imaginary friend and a history of mental illness. She desperately needs a job and is on her way to The Parts Department for an interview. She thinks she may be working for a auto dealer, but no, The Parts Department is an agency that repossesses transplanted body parts that were tainted by the donor being a victim of demon possession. Apparently, the demon can migrate to a organ of the body and then possess another victim when that organ is transplanted. Points for a very original storyline that would lend itself to a farcical read.

Wade also works for The Parts Department and Luce is to replace his deceased partner. Luce and Wade are very attracted to each other but try to resist although they engage in snarky flirting.

Luckily, the repossessing of the body parts is not described too explicitly. That would have been too much gore for me. This book is supposed to be a snarky, comedic romantic paranormal and after looking at the reviews it is obvious that the book is either loved or hated. While I enjoy humorous paranormal romance and urban fantasy, this book was not my "cuppa tea". I really didn't find it that funny though other reviewers found it hysterical.

I see from other reviewers that poor copy editing and a lack of background information on The Parts Department and the characters was a common complaint even in the finished product.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wade doesn't want to get to close to his new partner Lucid aka Luce. He has lost partners in the past when he got to close and doesn't want it to happen again. Demon hunting is a dangerous job and he doesn't want her to be the next victim. Luce has only her imaginary friend Hitch for a friend. She needs a job and this one seems to be perfect. Only trouble is Wade who she hooked up with during a speed dating. Now they have to work together. Luce has a problem even she doesn't know about and Wade will have to save her.

This book has plenty of laughs and well written characters. I like the plot of the story and it moves at a good pace. You see what made Wade the way he is and why he is good at his job. Luce is funny on her own as she has to deal with several things. These two don't want to get to close together but they can't fight what is between them like they can demons. I like how they are both very different but seem to work. The book is fast paced with lots of action and entertaining. The only problem I had with the book was I wanted to know more about the department. I think with some more details on it it would have been rated better for me and if at times the characters could have took a breathe. This is a good book many will enjoy and if you want a witty, action packed book pick this one up.