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Toil & Trouble #3
Roses & Rye
*Do NOT read this blurb if you haven't read Parts 1 & 2, you've been warned!*
When shall we meet again...
When the hurly-burly's done,
When the battle's lost and won...
Death is no damn fun. Ask Persephone Gosse. People act like you're invisible, they won't listen to a word you say and nobody offers to buy you a drink.
Seph's had enough. And she's not the only one. Things are going to hell faster than you can say vampires, werewolves and bears. Seph and her ex-Jack Frost are the only ones who really know why.
Between the two of them they might have a chance of saving the FTC world. But that's a problem. Since Seph is a ghost.
And Jack is the reason why.
When shall we meet again...
When the hurly-burly's done,
When the battle's lost and won...
Death is no damn fun. Ask Persephone Gosse. People act like you're invisible, they won't listen to a word you say and nobody offers to buy you a drink.
Seph's had enough. And she's not the only one. Things are going to hell faster than you can say vampires, werewolves and bears. Seph and her ex-Jack Frost are the only ones who really know why.
Between the two of them they might have a chance of saving the FTC world. But that's a problem. Since Seph is a ghost.
And Jack is the reason why.
183 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 13, 2016
52 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Heather R. Blair
22 books219 followersHeather R. Blair wrote her first book in the first grade and hasn't stopped since. Back then it was all about horses, now it's pretty much the dark, sexy and shivery.
She lives in the frozen north of Minnesota, near that big gorgeous lake called Superior and enjoys hiking when the snow melts. She also does murals, rides herd on four monsters(otherwise known as children), is slightly obsessed with Martin Freeman, British television and things that go bump in the night.
She loves reading,(duh!)and interacting with other bibliophiles and authors. Feel free to bug her at will and sign up for her newsletter to get shiny new promos, free stuff and MORE!
https://linktr.ee/heatherrblairauthor
Check out works in progress and upcoming releases on pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/heatherr4300/
She lives in the frozen north of Minnesota, near that big gorgeous lake called Superior and enjoys hiking when the snow melts. She also does murals, rides herd on four monsters(otherwise known as children), is slightly obsessed with Martin Freeman, British television and things that go bump in the night.
She loves reading,(duh!)and interacting with other bibliophiles and authors. Feel free to bug her at will and sign up for her newsletter to get shiny new promos, free stuff and MORE!
https://linktr.ee/heatherrblairauthor
Check out works in progress and upcoming releases on pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/heatherr4300/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
September 16, 2016
So this book man oh man this book...Gave me FEELS.
I will admit I was mad and crying for almost the first half of this book.
Now for me to even be reading this book, is exceptional!
This is NOT my kind of book at all and the story...well seriously outside my comfort zone. The fact that I even read one book is astonishing to me.
My feelings are:" I outgrew the Fairy tales and all these supernatural beings, so NOT my thing."
So how do I read book one.. you may ask.
The answer is simple, humor. I wanted to laugh and I wanted to have fun.
And this Sassy little heroine Seph or Persephone was freaking hilarious. I mean everything she said and the way she acted was fun and engaging to watch and experience. She sold me these books by her captivating personality.
Now the hero, Not so much. In fact I would have started a hate fan club for him prior to this book.
I would get a glimpse of his affection for Seph throughout book 1 and 2 but somehow he would always manage to make it back on my shit list.
DONT READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU HAVE NOT READ BOOKS ONE AND TWO.
Now we start where we left off in book 2 with the Cliffy from HELL.
Yes Seph died.... and she is a GHOST. WELL OF COURSE SHE IS...what else would a powerful witch be but a haunting spirit.
Even her ghost is SASSY and FUNNY.
But I am getting ahead of myself here. We have the hero and his deep regrets. His agony and sorrow is palpable here.
FINALLY, we get to really know the Jack that is inside. His motivations, his fears and finally his feelings for Seph.
OMG I must say when he visits her office...I could not stop crying. Every action he took finally made sense and I totally fell in love with the REAL Jack Frost.
I mean I would totally have his Frosty babies.
Talk about a 180 here. From hate to love just like that.
Jack's inner thoughts
"I'd never met someone in our world so damn soft, yet so strong at the same time. So full of life it hurt sometimes to look at her"
"Before Seph physical response was something I hadn't felt in so long...She woke me back up.
These are his thoughts as he had comes to realize that Killing her would break his heart. His instructions had been easy: Persephone Gosse must be dead by sundown on Yule or more lives will be lost.
REALLY?
And are you buying this bullshit!!!!
However, this is a FTC World and so I must abide by their logic, rhymes and reasons. But I do not have to like it and just so we are clear, I DON'T LIKE IT.
So she is dead and that reality sets in with Jack as he thinks:
Tonight I'm going to watch her die all over again..
OMG DIES INSIDE!
So we finally have a hero worthy of our heroine.
YES, now that's what I'm talking about.
The story unfolds and I really don't want to give too much away here, as I really think this is a book that should be experienced.
SO DON'T WAIT GET YOURSELF A COPY AND READ THIS AWESOME SERIES
Now just some more funny sassy quotes from our epic heroine
"Yup being a ghost fucking sucks.."
"Being murdered by my sister That shit was not Okay"
" Ghosts just want to have fun, too"
and my fav paraphrased here "I'd given my ex lover a physic blowjob"
I can go on and on but I really just think you should
READ THE BOOK
That's it for me and now I need a shot of Whiskey, Bourbon, and Rye. JUST in that order.
Happy reading all.
Btw just so you know Heather R. Blair next time I am waiting until book 3 to start reading one of your series. I have stomach issues and these books seriously messed with my guts! :D
I will admit I was mad and crying for almost the first half of this book.
Now for me to even be reading this book, is exceptional!
This is NOT my kind of book at all and the story...well seriously outside my comfort zone. The fact that I even read one book is astonishing to me.
My feelings are:" I outgrew the Fairy tales and all these supernatural beings, so NOT my thing."
So how do I read book one.. you may ask.
The answer is simple, humor. I wanted to laugh and I wanted to have fun.
And this Sassy little heroine Seph or Persephone was freaking hilarious. I mean everything she said and the way she acted was fun and engaging to watch and experience. She sold me these books by her captivating personality.
Now the hero, Not so much. In fact I would have started a hate fan club for him prior to this book.
I would get a glimpse of his affection for Seph throughout book 1 and 2 but somehow he would always manage to make it back on my shit list.
DONT READ ANY FURTHER IF YOU HAVE NOT READ BOOKS ONE AND TWO.
Now we start where we left off in book 2 with the Cliffy from HELL.
Yes Seph died.... and she is a GHOST. WELL OF COURSE SHE IS...what else would a powerful witch be but a haunting spirit.
Even her ghost is SASSY and FUNNY.
But I am getting ahead of myself here. We have the hero and his deep regrets. His agony and sorrow is palpable here.
FINALLY, we get to really know the Jack that is inside. His motivations, his fears and finally his feelings for Seph.
OMG I must say when he visits her office...I could not stop crying. Every action he took finally made sense and I totally fell in love with the REAL Jack Frost.
I mean I would totally have his Frosty babies.
Talk about a 180 here. From hate to love just like that.
Jack's inner thoughts
"I'd never met someone in our world so damn soft, yet so strong at the same time. So full of life it hurt sometimes to look at her"
"Before Seph physical response was something I hadn't felt in so long...She woke me back up.
These are his thoughts as he had comes to realize that Killing her would break his heart. His instructions had been easy: Persephone Gosse must be dead by sundown on Yule or more lives will be lost.
REALLY?
And are you buying this bullshit!!!!
However, this is a FTC World and so I must abide by their logic, rhymes and reasons. But I do not have to like it and just so we are clear, I DON'T LIKE IT.
So she is dead and that reality sets in with Jack as he thinks:
Tonight I'm going to watch her die all over again..
OMG DIES INSIDE!
So we finally have a hero worthy of our heroine.
YES, now that's what I'm talking about.
The story unfolds and I really don't want to give too much away here, as I really think this is a book that should be experienced.
SO DON'T WAIT GET YOURSELF A COPY AND READ THIS AWESOME SERIES
Now just some more funny sassy quotes from our epic heroine
"Yup being a ghost fucking sucks.."
"Being murdered by my sister That shit was not Okay"
" Ghosts just want to have fun, too"
and my fav paraphrased here "I'd given my ex lover a physic blowjob"
I can go on and on but I really just think you should
READ THE BOOK
That's it for me and now I need a shot of Whiskey, Bourbon, and Rye. JUST in that order.
Happy reading all.
Btw just so you know Heather R. Blair next time I am waiting until book 3 to start reading one of your series. I have stomach issues and these books seriously messed with my guts! :D
July 6, 2019
Re-read 5th - 6th July 2019
Now I’m finally ready to continue on with this series.
Original review.
This has been a surprisingly great series it's a crazy entertaining read with just about every paranormal creature you can think of. The story is good and the characters are interesting.
This is the concluding part and it's the best yet. The previous book 'Bourbon' ended in a huge cliffhanger and this picks up from there it gives us answers and ties up all the loose ends.
We have Seph the quirky smart mouthed witch, the love of her life Jack Frost (hero or villain?) and a whole host of paranormals plus twists and turns galore, some I saw coming and some I definitely didn't.
In this book Jack finally comes to understand the prophecy and what it means for him.
I'll be honest and say this series is not something I would normally read because while I love vampires and shifters witches aren't normally my thing but it kept popping up and getting great reviews so I thought I'd check it out and I'm so glad I did.
Like I said all the loose ends are tied up but I'm not really ready to say goodbye to Duluth and all the characters that live there so I'm hoping there's at least one more book even if it's just a catch up on the sisters and their romances.
This book ticked so many boxes for me like humour and multiple POV and I'll be looking out for other books from this author.
Now I’m finally ready to continue on with this series.
Original review.
This has been a surprisingly great series it's a crazy entertaining read with just about every paranormal creature you can think of. The story is good and the characters are interesting.
This is the concluding part and it's the best yet. The previous book 'Bourbon' ended in a huge cliffhanger and this picks up from there it gives us answers and ties up all the loose ends.
We have Seph the quirky smart mouthed witch, the love of her life Jack Frost (hero or villain?) and a whole host of paranormals plus twists and turns galore, some I saw coming and some I definitely didn't.
In this book Jack finally comes to understand the prophecy and what it means for him.
I'll be honest and say this series is not something I would normally read because while I love vampires and shifters witches aren't normally my thing but it kept popping up and getting great reviews so I thought I'd check it out and I'm so glad I did.
Like I said all the loose ends are tied up but I'm not really ready to say goodbye to Duluth and all the characters that live there so I'm hoping there's at least one more book even if it's just a catch up on the sisters and their romances.
This book ticked so many boxes for me like humour and multiple POV and I'll be looking out for other books from this author.
October 30, 2018
Not A Stand Alone This Is Part Three
***I received this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review***
It Is Book About A Snarky BadAss Witch Persephone
A Sexy Elemental Named Jack Frost
Set In Contemporary Duluth, Minnesota (Burr, Don't Worry Jack Will Warm You)
In Part Three We Finally Get Jack's Side Of The Story
It Has A Bit Of A Mystery Behind Another Mystery Mixed With Suspense
Did I Mention Suspense Cuz It Kept My Stomach In Knots
Fairy Tale Creatures
Shifters Bears And Werewolves
Fairies
Gnomes
Gods
Nursery Rhymes (Mother Goose)
Twist And Turns Which Wrap Up All The Unanswered Questions (Thank You)
Revenge
Steamy Times
Off The Charts Chemistry
Fans Of Humorous Yet Dark Paranormal Stories
I Will Miss These Characters Especially JACK
***I received this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review***
It Is Book About A Snarky BadAss Witch Persephone
A Sexy Elemental Named Jack Frost
Set In Contemporary Duluth, Minnesota (Burr, Don't Worry Jack Will Warm You)
In Part Three We Finally Get Jack's Side Of The Story
It Has A Bit Of A Mystery Behind Another Mystery Mixed With Suspense
Did I Mention Suspense Cuz It Kept My Stomach In Knots
Fairy Tale Creatures
Shifters Bears And Werewolves
Fairies
Gnomes
Gods
Nursery Rhymes (Mother Goose)
Twist And Turns Which Wrap Up All The Unanswered Questions (Thank You)
Revenge
Steamy Times
Off The Charts Chemistry
Fans Of Humorous Yet Dark Paranormal Stories
I Will Miss These Characters Especially JACK
September 5, 2016
Book two ended in toil and trouble ....
And I've been perched & waiting for this book for weeks...
Not to be dramatic, but I thought I would die ~ lol.
Do not read this review if you haven't read books one and two first:
Sixpence & Whiskey (Toil & Trouble #1).
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1734015953
Blackbirds & Bourbon (Toil & Trouble #2).
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1735083985
Plot
What happens to a witch when she dies?
"____ problem number 666, you can't get drunk. If anyone should be able to get drunk with impunity, it's a fucking_____
*insert evil laugh* You didn't really think I was going to tell you?
Jack is pissed and heartbroken, convinced that fairytales really don't have happy endings. All that's left is clearing his name and getting revenge on those that tore his happy ever after away.
And, thus the twists, turns, and loop'd'loo'ness begin.
"All of us with the same basic expression: what the hell is going on?"
Meanwhile, Seph's family is still keeping secrets. Her mom is still MIA. An assassin is still playing all sides. The bears are pissed. The wolves are crazy. The Dark Council is dark as ever. And a couple of gods are playing chess with love and life.
The story here is just fantastic.
Suspense...
Mystery....
True Love...
Paranormal world-building...
Logical twists and conclusion...
Fantastic characters...
5 glorious stars for the plot.
My only complaint is that I want more. More. More. Damnit. I hope this isn't the end for this couple and world!!!
Jack
He's a lover.
"Elementals don't fall in love often or well, but when they do its damn well for eternity.
He's a thinker.
"What to share, what to conceal. What to use. The constant vigilance requires to navigate our world.
He's an elemental on a mission.
"I've got a god to kill and a witch to find."
He's just 5-star perfect:)
"Love has never stopped anyone from killing - in our world or his. In fact, more often than not, it's the catalyst for murder. "
Seph
She's a badass.
"Real sacrifice is digging in and fixing shit."
She's snarky.
"Hope is a deceitful cocktease and I don't trust that bitch."
She's my kind of
"Romeo and Juliet?" he whispers weakly. "Fuck you. I always hated that stupid play."
She's just 5-star perfect:)
"I look at the god of chaos over my shoulder, without taking my hand from Jack's pants."
Writing
I want to make it clear that I love this story, the characters, and the author's storytelling style.
Aside from one small 15-20% section in book two, the pace of this series is fast and furious suspenseful.
Not a single plot hole or unbelievable moment in the entire fucking series.
The POVs and dialogue flow with a natural cadence that's often hard to find in traditional romance, much less para reading.
Fabulous writing and editing on the above aspects.
When I actually looked for technical errors, I found an abundance of grammatical issues. Luckily, most do not affect readability. The author's style almost consumes you; it's easy to get lost in the story and not give a flying fuck about:
Hodgepodge like ....
• "I'm the baby sister, I can be annoying, I know that."
{{{{ ^^^ Three independent sentences linked with commas??? }}}
•" You never cared about her, it was all an act."
{{{ ^^^ Two independent sentences linked by a comma?? }}}
•" Her head falling back, golden hair pooling on one shoulder, that delicate strand of pink drifting in front of eyes slowly going dark.
{{{ ^^^ Three fragments linked by commas to make one long ass fragment??? }}}
Comma usage like....
•" Elementals don't fall in love often or well, but when they do {{{missing ,}}} it's damn well for eternity."
• "The growl gives him away {{{missing, }}} but even so {{{missing ,}}} I barely dodge the huge fist he sends at my head."
•"Or they would, {{{no comma is needed here}}} if I had a damn body.
Usage errors like...
• "I want to shake her awake, to pull her in {{{ should be into}}} my arms and tell her it was all a lie,...
• "The waves turn rustcolored {{{should be rust-colored}}}.."
• "One that has a liking for all thing {{{s}}} frosty."
• "Fairy dust can be used for a lot of things, but the thing is {{{it}}} does best is enchanting.
• "And I am thinking he passed on water just recentlyk ..."
Bottom Line
I would recommend this series to anyone that loves para, suspense, snarky, and a romance that takes one hell'of'a mofo ride to a happy ending.
If not for the grammar issues, this would easily be worthy of five stars.
I guess I'll go back to my perch and await the author's next project:)
*** The author provided an ARC in exchange for an honest, fair, and unbiased review.***
January 23, 2017
5 stars
Everyone is capable of madness. I know that. Everyone. The only difference is what drives us there. I've no idea what happens to her, but the future holds a Persephone out of her mind. The results are quite terrifying. – Jack Frost
First things first, I make no promises that you’ll know what’s going on by the end of this review. It’s better that way. For everyone involved.
Trust me.
And yes, I’m taking a page right out of Oriane’s book here with that attitude. For those of you who’ve read the first two parts of this trilogy, you’ll know exactly who she is. (Or will you? We’ll see…) For those of you that haven’t started this journey yet, the most important question is: What on earth are you waiting for? Chop chop. No time to waste!
(I predict a good number of you will be kicking yourselves that you didn’t start sooner…)
"Who do you want vengeance on badly enough to risk all this?"
"Everyone."
No matter where you are with this serial, a fascinating, funny, heartbreaking and labyrinthine (in a good way) adventure awaits you. I’m actually kind of jealous of those readers who will be diving into it for the first time.
This third and final installment of the Toil and Trouble trilogy was jam-packed with stunning revelations, brilliant twists, unexpected turns and so much magical goodness that I felt like I’d grabbed onto a whirlwind and got taken for one hell of a ride…
At the risk of sounding like the Oracle from The Matrix, let me say this: The end will take you back to the beginning. Because there are things you need to know. Things that will drop all the puzzle pieces into place, one by one…
And Jack Frost, the incredibly hot King of Winter (Yeah, how does that description work? It just does.) and Elemental extraordinaire, will be your guide for the beginning of this particular tour:
"Sacrifice is noble and all that hogwash?"
"It's not hogwash."
"Death is death, sweetheart. It doesn't endear you to those you leave behind."
[...]
"Whatever, Jack. The end is supposed to give you hope. Like maybe everything will all turn out okay in the end."
"Nothing ever turns out okay in the end."
So for those of you who’ve been dying to get inside Jack’s head, to understand his behaviour and his choices, here’s your chance. You’ll also get an inside look at what really happened that night. If you haven’t been peeking at spoilers and delving into places you shouldn’t (naughty, naughty), I will only say this:
You’ll never see it coming…
This series turned my brain into a pretzel that wanted more, more, more. The unpredictable is an absolute pleasure, especially when you’ve been left a trail of breadcrumbs that totally led the way, and you missed and/or misread them. The author keeps you guessing all throughout so there are lots of pleasures to be found here.
And she doesn’t cheat. All the clues and paths to the finale make sense and we’re not given the deus ex machina which would have been upsetting. The power is expected but unexpected. You’ll just have to read this to understand what I mean by that.
I’m not going to tell you much more because if you haven’t read the first two books, you really do need to start there. And if you have read the first two books, I don’t intend to give away much because I want you to experience it, hopefully, the way I did. And if you’ve already read this third book, you already know where I’m coming from.
But I will say this:
I believe that everything in this series comes down to love, sacrifice, what people are willing to fight for and why.
Everything.
There are many kinds of love in this world.
Many kinds of sacrifice.
Many battles lost and won.
And they all matter.
A mother’s love for her child is like nothing else in this world. It knows no law, no pity, it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path. – Agatha Christie
On that cryptic note, have fun, kids.
And thank you, Ms. Blair, for Seph, Jack, this whole fantastic crew and all the magic.
*** A copy of this book was received from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Links to my other reviews for this trilogy:
Sixpence & Whiskey (Toil and Trouble, Book #1)
Blackbirds & Bourbon (Toil and Trouble, Book #2)
Everyone is capable of madness. I know that. Everyone. The only difference is what drives us there. I've no idea what happens to her, but the future holds a Persephone out of her mind. The results are quite terrifying. – Jack Frost
First things first, I make no promises that you’ll know what’s going on by the end of this review. It’s better that way. For everyone involved.
Trust me.
And yes, I’m taking a page right out of Oriane’s book here with that attitude. For those of you who’ve read the first two parts of this trilogy, you’ll know exactly who she is. (Or will you? We’ll see…) For those of you that haven’t started this journey yet, the most important question is: What on earth are you waiting for? Chop chop. No time to waste!
(I predict a good number of you will be kicking yourselves that you didn’t start sooner…)
"Who do you want vengeance on badly enough to risk all this?"
"Everyone."
No matter where you are with this serial, a fascinating, funny, heartbreaking and labyrinthine (in a good way) adventure awaits you. I’m actually kind of jealous of those readers who will be diving into it for the first time.
This third and final installment of the Toil and Trouble trilogy was jam-packed with stunning revelations, brilliant twists, unexpected turns and so much magical goodness that I felt like I’d grabbed onto a whirlwind and got taken for one hell of a ride…
At the risk of sounding like the Oracle from The Matrix, let me say this: The end will take you back to the beginning. Because there are things you need to know. Things that will drop all the puzzle pieces into place, one by one…
And Jack Frost, the incredibly hot King of Winter (Yeah, how does that description work? It just does.) and Elemental extraordinaire, will be your guide for the beginning of this particular tour:
"Sacrifice is noble and all that hogwash?"
"It's not hogwash."
"Death is death, sweetheart. It doesn't endear you to those you leave behind."
[...]
"Whatever, Jack. The end is supposed to give you hope. Like maybe everything will all turn out okay in the end."
"Nothing ever turns out okay in the end."
So for those of you who’ve been dying to get inside Jack’s head, to understand his behaviour and his choices, here’s your chance. You’ll also get an inside look at what really happened that night. If you haven’t been peeking at spoilers and delving into places you shouldn’t (naughty, naughty), I will only say this:
You’ll never see it coming…
This series turned my brain into a pretzel that wanted more, more, more. The unpredictable is an absolute pleasure, especially when you’ve been left a trail of breadcrumbs that totally led the way, and you missed and/or misread them. The author keeps you guessing all throughout so there are lots of pleasures to be found here.
And she doesn’t cheat. All the clues and paths to the finale make sense and we’re not given the deus ex machina which would have been upsetting. The power is expected but unexpected. You’ll just have to read this to understand what I mean by that.
I’m not going to tell you much more because if you haven’t read the first two books, you really do need to start there. And if you have read the first two books, I don’t intend to give away much because I want you to experience it, hopefully, the way I did. And if you’ve already read this third book, you already know where I’m coming from.
But I will say this:
I believe that everything in this series comes down to love, sacrifice, what people are willing to fight for and why.
Everything.
There are many kinds of love in this world.
Many kinds of sacrifice.
Many battles lost and won.
And they all matter.
A mother’s love for her child is like nothing else in this world. It knows no law, no pity, it dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path. – Agatha Christie
On that cryptic note, have fun, kids.
And thank you, Ms. Blair, for Seph, Jack, this whole fantastic crew and all the magic.
*** A copy of this book was received from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Links to my other reviews for this trilogy:
Sixpence & Whiskey (Toil and Trouble, Book #1)
Blackbirds & Bourbon (Toil and Trouble, Book #2)
September 15, 2016
I'm not really sure what to say about this journey that Heather R Blair took me on, other than thank you. Book three is the conclusion of Jack and Seph's story and I'm sad to say goodbye. But hopefully not forever because if Heather R Blair has any kind of a heart, I'm sure she'll be bringing me back to this FT world sometime in the near future. I don't read a lot of PNR, it's hard for me to find good, believable stories in this sub-genre so loving this as much as I did has made the Toil and Trouble series very special for me. All the Ah-ha and I Knew It moments. The grins, tears, disbelief, happiness, my emotions went through the wringer. At 70% I thought my heart would pound out of my chest, and I actually had to put my kindle down a few times and tell myself everything would be all right as I absorbed every word, reading it slow, not wanting to rush the perfection of the story unfolding right before my eyes.
It was a masterfully crafted tale that I will be rereading and recommend to anyone even if it's not your usual sub-genre.
It was a masterfully crafted tale that I will be rereading and recommend to anyone even if it's not your usual sub-genre.
September 14, 2016
This is the third and last book in what could be my favorite series this year.
4 reasons you must pick this up :
1 Jack Frost
We finally get his pov in this one and it was worth the wait. With Seph out of the picture, Jack has nothing to lose. He's broken and wants nothing but vengeance.
He's colder, withdrawn and ruthless in this one.
2 Prophecy
This is a plot device that I absolutely love. A prophecy creates chaos because its open to interpretation and it was used well in this story.
3 The Writing
Heather Blair is gifted with a brilliant writing style. The plot was twisted and unpredictable, blending romance and mythological events really well.
The story was fast paced with layered, mysterious, conflicted characters.
The concept was creative, unusual with great execution.
4 The Icing
The FTC world is in shock, things have taken a dark turn.
Seph is dead at the hands of an unexpected killer.
A Double crossing assassin.
Why being noble is overrated?
No one’s happy or okay or even saved. I only made things worse by letting guilt and fear mess with my head.
We may be fairy-tale creatures to you, but in our world, vengeance is real and bloody and heartless. The bad guys get what they deserve.
I re-read the series this week, the book hangover made me do it. The first time, I read it like the roadrunner, eager to know what happens next. The re-read gave me a chance to slow down and enjoy the twists and turns.
I'm torn between writing a vague review that would make Dumbledore proud and still be spoiler free...or I could torture you with some of the details which would turn you into an obsessive fan girl and force you to read the books.
If you could choose only one, which would it be - staying alive, the life of your one, true love or the end of the world.
If you love snark, dangerous characters, a brutal, magical world, urban fantasy with a dark tone and lots of twists, give this one a try.
I received an ARC in exchange for a honest review.
4 reasons you must pick this up :
1 Jack Frost
We finally get his pov in this one and it was worth the wait. With Seph out of the picture, Jack has nothing to lose. He's broken and wants nothing but vengeance.
He's colder, withdrawn and ruthless in this one.
2 Prophecy
This is a plot device that I absolutely love. A prophecy creates chaos because its open to interpretation and it was used well in this story.
3 The Writing
Heather Blair is gifted with a brilliant writing style. The plot was twisted and unpredictable, blending romance and mythological events really well.
The story was fast paced with layered, mysterious, conflicted characters.
The concept was creative, unusual with great execution.
4 The Icing
The FTC world is in shock, things have taken a dark turn.
Seph is dead at the hands of an unexpected killer.
A Double crossing assassin.
Why being noble is overrated?
No one’s happy or okay or even saved. I only made things worse by letting guilt and fear mess with my head.
We may be fairy-tale creatures to you, but in our world, vengeance is real and bloody and heartless. The bad guys get what they deserve.
I re-read the series this week, the book hangover made me do it. The first time, I read it like the roadrunner, eager to know what happens next. The re-read gave me a chance to slow down and enjoy the twists and turns.
I'm torn between writing a vague review that would make Dumbledore proud and still be spoiler free...or I could torture you with some of the details which would turn you into an obsessive fan girl and force you to read the books.
If you could choose only one, which would it be - staying alive, the life of your one, true love or the end of the world.
If you love snark, dangerous characters, a brutal, magical world, urban fantasy with a dark tone and lots of twists, give this one a try.
I received an ARC in exchange for a honest review.
January 10, 2017
I loved it. This series had it all. It was witty, had a great love story, action and plenty of twists and turns that you never see coming. Definitely a must read.
HEA
Cheating/OW/OM
Any push/pull
Any couple separation
Angst Level: Low
Heat Level: Medium
HEA
Cheating/OW/OM
Any push/pull
Any couple separation
Angst Level: Low
Heat Level: Medium
September 14, 2016
Wow! What an amazing ride this series has been. I wasn’t introduced to it too long before this last book was released so I haven’t had to suffer as many others have. While I am glad of that, I have to say I should’ve listened closer to the recommendations regarding all the Toil and Trouble books.
This book was just as fast paced as the others if not more so because all of my answers were being…answered. There are twists and turns that I never saw coming, didn’t even know they were in the making until they were there.
Jack’s POV is a part of this book and I loved getting to see his thought processes. Seph continued to be a strong heroine and I would love to read more about her sisters and their stories. All of the characters felt real despite being very unreal. I felt like they all stayed true to their original personalities throughout the series.
Thank you Heather Blair for a great experience!
This book was just as fast paced as the others if not more so because all of my answers were being…answered. There are twists and turns that I never saw coming, didn’t even know they were in the making until they were there.
Jack’s POV is a part of this book and I loved getting to see his thought processes. Seph continued to be a strong heroine and I would love to read more about her sisters and their stories. All of the characters felt real despite being very unreal. I felt like they all stayed true to their original personalities throughout the series.
Thank you Heather Blair for a great experience!
February 6, 2019
I am glad we get to read about Jack's POV. The truth, at last and how much he suffered. So, did he win me in the end? Yeah, a tiny bit. 😂 I still can't get over what happened to Georg. It was cruel. He didn't deserve it.
Seph is still snarky even as a ghost. I love her best friend, Syana. She got her happy ending too.
I am not sure about Jett, though. Do I understand her? I dunno. I think I need time before reading her book cause I heard it's next.
Overall, it was great to read the fairy tale characters. I had fun!
Seph is still snarky even as a ghost. I love her best friend, Syana. She got her happy ending too.
I am not sure about Jett, though. Do I understand her? I dunno. I think I need time before reading her book cause I heard it's next.
Overall, it was great to read the fairy tale characters. I had fun!
March 8, 2017
I loved this one too! The twists and turns are so good! This is a great series!
January 7, 2018
I have really, really enjoyed reading Jack & Seph's story.
This last installment of their story was fantastic.
I really loved reading Jack's POV in this book.
So much was finally explained and realized throughout this one.
It was a lovely wrap-up to their story.
Well done, Ms. Blair!
September 1, 2016
Do not read this review if you haven't read the first two books in this series. You've been warned.
To say I was a little concerned going into this book would have been a huge understatement. With the way things ended in
I was very apprehensive about how Seph and Jack would come out of this book or if they'd come out of it at all.
With Seph's death, Jack has nothing left to live for other than revenge. Revenge against the dark council and against her real killer, the last person anyone would have expected. Hoping that he is able to convince the bruins of his innocence, Jack puts his fate in the hands of a werewolf-infected human and an assassin. But revealing the true killer will destroy Seph's family and the delicate balance that has been formed among the FTC.
Be forewarned, in this fairytale things are not always what they seem and not everyone is guaranteed a happily ever after. But the ending of this book makes some of the pain through the series more than worth it. I would highly recommend reading this book and enjoying the twists and turns that make Jack and Seph's story what it is.
To say I was a little concerned going into this book would have been a huge understatement. With the way things ended in
I was very apprehensive about how Seph and Jack would come out of this book or if they'd come out of it at all. With Seph's death, Jack has nothing left to live for other than revenge. Revenge against the dark council and against her real killer, the last person anyone would have expected. Hoping that he is able to convince the bruins of his innocence, Jack puts his fate in the hands of a werewolf-infected human and an assassin. But revealing the true killer will destroy Seph's family and the delicate balance that has been formed among the FTC.
Be forewarned, in this fairytale things are not always what they seem and not everyone is guaranteed a happily ever after. But the ending of this book makes some of the pain through the series more than worth it. I would highly recommend reading this book and enjoying the twists and turns that make Jack and Seph's story what it is.
September 5, 2016
Fabulous conclusion to a fabulous series. When I finished book two of this series, I really had no clue where this story was going. But I had faith that Heather Blair would take me on a fantastic ride...and she certainly did. I really loved how this story came together in the end and how the pieces fit. There are no loose ends, but there is hope that the series will continue with at least one of the other sisters. We finally get to find out who Seph's father really is ... we finally get to meet her mother ... and learn how Seph got her elemental powers. Very cool stuff!
Jack Frost - I love you. What a great character. We see the story unfold from his perspective as this installment was split between H/h. You're not going to believe all the twists and turns the author delivers. My heart really ached for Jack and Seph. Lots of feels in this installment.
Seph - I love you, too. Although I was a bit sad that her character plays a minor - almost non-existent role - for what seemed like the first half of the book. But I forgive the author for this because the storyline is great and I see how it all came together in the end.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Jack Frost - I love you. What a great character. We see the story unfold from his perspective as this installment was split between H/h. You're not going to believe all the twists and turns the author delivers. My heart really ached for Jack and Seph. Lots of feels in this installment.
Seph - I love you, too. Although I was a bit sad that her character plays a minor - almost non-existent role - for what seemed like the first half of the book. But I forgive the author for this because the storyline is great and I see how it all came together in the end.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 27, 2017
Loved it! It's to short, they all are, but so packed with goodness! I'm sad to see the end of Jack and Sephs story, but excited I get to read more in this series because there's still a few sisters left! I really love all the secondary characters in all of these and I can't wait to get more of them. It's safe to say I'm just going to sit back and enjoy the ride of the next few books and hope it's not over to soon. :)
November 30, 2017
Okay I'm quite please with this conclusion of Jack and Persephone's tale. I fell in love these characters and their love story and how they persevered through their trials and tribulations.
The 3rd book of this series was well written, exciting and engaging. Yes I must say I'm very pleased.
If I had to dedicate a song to best describe this tale is "Don't Stop Believe'n" by Journey
Overall rating:
4.8- A Damn Good Read!
The 3rd book of this series was well written, exciting and engaging. Yes I must say I'm very pleased.
If I had to dedicate a song to best describe this tale is "Don't Stop Believe'n" by Journey
Overall rating:
4.8- A Damn Good Read!
February 27, 2018
4.5 stars (it loses points because of the mother. The sisters are growing on me)!
FINALLY we get to see Jack and everything he feels for Seph! I've said it before but I really love this world, and I adore Seph! And Jack? This book just makes up for him being a dick in the first 2 books.
In fact, I think I'm going to get this in paperback (I love my kindle but there's nothing like a real book!).
Look forward to reading more from this author :)
FINALLY we get to see Jack and everything he feels for Seph! I've said it before but I really love this world, and I adore Seph! And Jack? This book just makes up for him being a dick in the first 2 books.
In fact, I think I'm going to get this in paperback (I love my kindle but there's nothing like a real book!).
Look forward to reading more from this author :)
July 8, 2017
Woah, wild ride this one.
but thoroughly enjoyable!
I loved the dual POV in here. It was nice. reading from Jack's perspective.
I'm glad these books weren't long. I get it being a serial part novel but whatever, I like manageable books.
....I don't know what else to say. I'm glad I stuck through after the first book but even though I said I'm only reading for Jett, somewhere along the way she lost her appeal.
Might have to do with the Stephen thing, I don't know.
Anyway I'm still deciding whether I wanna continue so here's to hoping. *fingers-crossed*
but thoroughly enjoyable!
I loved the dual POV in here. It was nice. reading from Jack's perspective.
I'm glad these books weren't long. I get it being a serial part novel but whatever, I like manageable books.
....I don't know what else to say. I'm glad I stuck through after the first book but even though I said I'm only reading for Jett, somewhere along the way she lost her appeal.
Might have to do with the Stephen thing, I don't know.
Anyway I'm still deciding whether I wanna continue so here's to hoping. *fingers-crossed*
waiting-on-kindle-tbr
March 4, 2017$0.99 on Amazon Kindle 3/3/17
September 12, 2016
I waited an eternity for this book. Yes, you read that right. It was like forever until I could get my hands on this fantastic book. Admittedly, it was like a few months, but when you need to know what happened to Seph and Jack, well, it was way too damn long!
There isn't much I can say without giving away spoilers and this book is too delicious to have spoiled. I was on the edge of my seat, flipping pages to find out how everything would go. And let me tell you, I wasn't disappointed. Heather R. Blair crafted one hell of a story.
The point of views alternated between Jack and Seph, and I loved being in Jack's head. Finally we got to see what that sneaky bugger was up to. Honestly, if you haven't read this series yet, do it. You won't regret it. Unless you hate good stories, then... *shrugs*
ETA - I received a copy from the author for an honest review. However, I've still pre-ordered my copy and once it's out in paperback, I'm buying that sucker too!
There isn't much I can say without giving away spoilers and this book is too delicious to have spoiled. I was on the edge of my seat, flipping pages to find out how everything would go. And let me tell you, I wasn't disappointed. Heather R. Blair crafted one hell of a story.
The point of views alternated between Jack and Seph, and I loved being in Jack's head. Finally we got to see what that sneaky bugger was up to. Honestly, if you haven't read this series yet, do it. You won't regret it. Unless you hate good stories, then... *shrugs*
ETA - I received a copy from the author for an honest review. However, I've still pre-ordered my copy and once it's out in paperback, I'm buying that sucker too!
October 8, 2016
4 stars. This is my review for all three books in this series. I enjoyed the Toil and Trouble series so much! It was such a unique story. The series is set in a modern mid-West setting, but living along side normal humans, there are some unusual beings. There are FTC (Fairy Tale Characters), witches, fairies, werewolves, pixies, vampires, gnomes and much more. Fairy tale characters are not really my usual jam, because I think they can very easily turn into a cheesy mess. But that never happened here! The story woven by Ms. Blair was suspenseful, sexy, sometimes funny and totally original.
I am not going to do a synopsis because I think it's best to go into this book blind. This is Persephone (Seph)'s story. I loved Seph. She was an amazing character- spunky, funny and sweet. I wasn't sure about Jack at first, but I ended up loving him too. There is a slow burn between them, but it was hot once it started burning. I was a little worried that this would turn out to be more of a fantasy/urban fantasy than a paranormal romance. But I was not disappointed. The story does center on Seph and Jack's connection/relationship. There is a lot of mystery and you don't know who to trust. Nothing is as it seems at first. The side characters were great and I do see potential for more stories with some of them, especially Seph's sisters. I was totally drawn into this fantasy world and I devoured the series. The writing is simple and easy. This was an exciting, fast paced reading experience that I very much enjoyed. This was my first series by Ms. Blair, but will not be my last!
I am not going to do a synopsis because I think it's best to go into this book blind. This is Persephone (Seph)'s story. I loved Seph. She was an amazing character- spunky, funny and sweet. I wasn't sure about Jack at first, but I ended up loving him too. There is a slow burn between them, but it was hot once it started burning. I was a little worried that this would turn out to be more of a fantasy/urban fantasy than a paranormal romance. But I was not disappointed. The story does center on Seph and Jack's connection/relationship. There is a lot of mystery and you don't know who to trust. Nothing is as it seems at first. The side characters were great and I do see potential for more stories with some of them, especially Seph's sisters. I was totally drawn into this fantasy world and I devoured the series. The writing is simple and easy. This was an exciting, fast paced reading experience that I very much enjoyed. This was my first series by Ms. Blair, but will not be my last!
October 27, 2016
3.75 stars!
February 8, 2018
OMG! That was a wild ride.
Talk about a grand finale!
Talk about a grand finale!
October 6, 2016
Full review to come!
September 16, 2017
A solid 3.5 Stars
Thanks you dear Chantal for the reccy
Really liked this series not to the level of Deborah Harkness All Souls Trilogy, which has a level of writing skill that Heather R. Blair's Toil and Trouble doesn't have but I enjoyed every moment and got misty-eyed in all the right places. So much am I now a fan of Blair's that I'm going to investigate what else she may have written.
Thanks you dear Chantal for the reccy
Really liked this series not to the level of Deborah Harkness All Souls Trilogy, which has a level of writing skill that Heather R. Blair's Toil and Trouble doesn't have but I enjoyed every moment and got misty-eyed in all the right places. So much am I now a fan of Blair's that I'm going to investigate what else she may have written.
September 21, 2016
This series...what can I say? I loved it. All three books got 5 stars from me.
Please let there be books about the other sisters. I'm not ready for this magical journey to end. Simply amazing.
Bravo, Ms. Blair. Bravo.
Please let there be books about the other sisters. I'm not ready for this magical journey to end. Simply amazing.
Bravo, Ms. Blair. Bravo.
March 21, 2018
I'm not crying....you're crying. -wails -
January 28, 2017
I'm pretty bummed this was my least favorite of the series so far. I was surprised by a couple of things but otherwise I felt like things wrapped up a little too easily. I didn't really feel anything, like anxiety or grief, except for a couple secondary characters. Granted I read this really late at night after reading the first two books within 24 hours. So I'm having trouble remembering everything. I think I was skimming towards the end.
Spoilers:
I really didn't like that our leading lady was a ghost for most of the book and that the book was mostly Jack trying to convince everyone of his innocence. It was all sort of meh considering how much I loved the other books and I LOVE the author. I was geeking out so much with all the tv/movie/comic references throughout the entire series. Um hi Doctor Who and Game of Thrones and the Flash and Breaking Bad and I love it.
Spoilers:
I really didn't like that our leading lady was a ghost for most of the book and that the book was mostly Jack trying to convince everyone of his innocence. It was all sort of meh considering how much I loved the other books and I LOVE the author. I was geeking out so much with all the tv/movie/comic references throughout the entire series. Um hi Doctor Who and Game of Thrones and the Flash and Breaking Bad and I love it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 11, 2016
I found this trilogy through Amazon's Unlimited reading deal with the Kindle. Supernatural creatures, mythology, a bar called Toil & Trouble and a witch who loves whiskey? Yes, please. Overall I really enjoyed this series and was pleasantly surprised at some of the unique takes on the mythological/fantasy elements and world building. I found each book to be a fun, quick read and would recommend them to anyone who enjoys urban fantasy.
September 29, 2016
Once I wipe my tears for Jack, I was ready to read on. I can't tell you enough how much I love this ending. I don't want to gave anything away but I will tell you that this is a must read. The characters are complex in every way and always remember family comes in all forms. Awesome Job Heather!!!! Loved It!!!!
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