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Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble

(Jolie Wilkins #1)

H.P. Mallory (Goodreads Author)

3.85 · Rating details · 14,708 ratings · 1,140 reviews

FIRE BURN AND CAULDRON BUBBLE is the first book in the Jolie Wilkins series. If you like your books steamy (this is a paranormal romance series for adults, not for kids or teens!) and you appreciate a good witch, warlock and vampire romance triangle, read on!

A self-deprecating witch with the unique ability to reanimate the dead.
A dangerously handsome warlock torn between ...more

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ebook, 304 pages

Published July 2010

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Start your review of Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble (Jolie Wilkins, #1)

Apr 19, 2011 Tracy rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: light-comedic-urban-fantasy

Burned and Bubbled My Patience
Jolie Wilkins had been content with her little life, running a shop in L.A. with her best friend Christa and using her abilities to read auras and glimpse futures to provide the business that supported them both. Then she saw the ghost - her first, actually, and soon after her life didn't resemble anything she recognized.

That wasn't the ghost's fault, at least not directly. It was more the influence of one ultra-sexy warlock Rand Balfour, who sent the ghost to Jolie ...more

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Mar 09, 2011 Trina Lore rated it did not like it

Shelves: did-not-finish

Why does Goodreads not have a "Did Not Finish"/"Will Not Finish" shelf? Because that's where I'd put this one (so I added one of my own, but they still made me choose one of the pre-sets). I bought it on my sister's recommendation, and she later apologized for not updating her rec. I thought maybe she was punishing me for procrastinating on finishing a different series that we're both into.

But I digress. I don't often/always review books, but in this case I feel like I have to. This is complete ...more

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Dec 06, 2011 Beth rated it it was ok

Shelves: couldn-t-bring-myself-to-finish

I used to be one who forced herself to finish every book she started even if she didn't like it - and that was fine when the book I was reading was Moby Dick or some other classic that I felt I should have under my belt. But for 99 cents, and a book about sexy warlocks, I give up.

I like chick-lit (I'm a big fan of the Shopaholic series), and I like paranormal romance (I liked Twilight and I liked Amanda Hocking's vampire series). I think what completely irritates me is when the two are ...more

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May 23, 2012 Jacob Proffitt rated it did not like it

Shelves: will-probably-regret, unfinished, urban-fantasy

I gave up at the 50% mark. I really wanted to like the book because I sort of liked Jolie. While the writing is mostly good there are three problems that tanked my ability to really engage with the story.

First, and most importantly, the emotional gage was permanently cranked to 11. Jolie reacts to everything like it’s the most important event in the history of ever! In one scene her heart gave enough palpitations I wondered if she’d need an EMT to get her through it. It felt like Jolie (or H.P. I gave up at the 50% mark. I really wanted to like the book because I sort of liked Jolie. While the writing is mostly good there are three problems that tanked my ability to really engage with the story.

First, and most importantly, the emotional gage was permanently cranked to 11. Jolie reacts to everything like it’s the most important event in the history of ever! In one scene her heart gave enough palpitations I wondered if she’d need an EMT to get her through it. It felt like Jolie (or H.P. Mallory) deliberately chose the most dramatic option in any given situation. By the time she moves out of Rand’s protection in a snit I’d had enough.

Second, H.P. Mallory clearly doesn’t know what some words mean. For the record:
- If something is said “facetiously” then at least some of the statement needs to be untrue, or at least exaggerated.
- It’s impossible to be “entirely divested in his accounting books.”
- humility is when you are humble, not when you are embarrassed. That’s humiliation.
- Depressing your foot “from” the accelerator is a bit weird and you’d definitely never “depress” anything but the brake before a turn.

These are the instances I remember. There were more—and all before the halfway mark. In addition, Mallory thanked an editor, Teri, at the Editing Fairy. Teri, you’ve got some ‘splaining to do. I sincerely hope you flagged these and Mallory chose to ignore them. I’d like to think that, but unfortunately, I really can’t see how an author would override an editor on word definitions that can be easily verified with a competent dictionary. Being thanked by an author is good advertising. Being thanked by an author on a poorly edited book, not so much...

Third, Jolie’s attitude towards her friend, Christa, was sometimes very off-putting. No sooner does she establish mental contact with Rand than she’s mentally undermining Christa to him. She’s barely met him! And even if they were old friends, making behind-the-back comments about your “good” friend Christa is a bitch move at any time. If that were the only incident I could chalk it up to a bad moment, but Jolie hardly misses an opportunity to look down her nose at Christa and came off as both arrogant and insecure doing so. She should have been humiliated. And humbled, come to think of it...

Mallory comes off as addicted to drama during the course of what I read. I’d say it was a character trait associated with Jolie as the main character, but Rand also made choices that made no sense to his character and only served to up the drama. Yeah, he may be reluctant to start a relationship because he’s technically Jolie’s “employer”, but then he should also be aware of, and reminding her, that he’s even in this situation because he chose to defend her in the first place. He could have avoided the whole thing, himself, if he’d just left her to twist in the wind in the first place. That he doesn’t point out something he should be keenly aware of when his interference is tossed in his face, yet again, breaks my last excuse for the author being authentic to her characters.

Mallory’s writing isn’t complete crap. She’s got a decent grasp of the fundamentals, even if she doesn’t always know what words mean. But her grasp of character is weak and in the end, I felt I was watching a puppet show directed by teenagers. ...more

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Mar 13, 2011 Alicia rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: maybe-if-i-were-14, so-bad-it-raped-my-mind, wish-i-could-unread

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The most compelling aspect of this book was how the flaming hell so many people gave it such good reviews, both here and on Amazon. I am literally stunned by the amount of people praising it, which makes me question if they even read the damn thing.

*Here there be spoilers and a lot of trashing*

I figured I was going to hate it from the first page. I'm not a fan of authors who begin their book with a one sentence vague hook, but every now and then you find an author who can pull it off. I find it ...more

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Jun 13, 2012 TJ rated it really liked it

Shelves: paranormal, contemporary-romance, contemporary, kindle

3.5/5.0

Ok, so this is not rocket science, folks, but it is fun!! And, sometimes that is just what one needs.

Mallory's writing is smooth, upbeat with a light air, while telling stories of witches, vampires and assorted otherworldly beings, all trying to live peaceably - or not - with each other. While Jolie's character gets to be more than a little annoying with her "poor little me, I can't do anything" attitude and her constant actions to prove the point, the addictive storyline, handsome men ...more

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Jun 02, 2012 Michelle rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: michelle-mcm-s-2012-reading-list, read-june-2012, hp-mallory

This is one of those books that you shouldn't judge by it's cover. I sat down with my kindle expecting a light, funny paranormal romance and instead got an action packed urban fantasy tale with witches, fairies, werewolves and vampires!

I was amazed with this one, it took me a couple of chapters to leave my expectations behind but that's when it really hooked me in and I enjoyed every page. I can't wait to find out what happens next, thing's are really starting to heat up for Jolie!

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Jan 26, 2011 Katrina Passick Lumsden rated it did not like it

If I could take back reading any of this, I would.

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Sep 18, 2017 Brittain *Needs a Nap and a Drink* rated it did not like it

Shelves: did-not-finish, fantasy, paranormal, love-triangle, nope-nope-nope-nope, ghostly-encounters, insta-love-is-insta-boring, across-the-pond, helpless-heroine

DNF at 15% but this book has 2 more attached onto the end so in all fairness, I have no idea how far I have gotten and I don't give a flying shit.

Ok, so this girl is a psychic. Or something. She reads tarot cards and gets by in life. Then she sees a ghost for the first time. She gets spooked but continues with her life. Enter Mr. Tall, Dark, and British.

He asks her to read his aura then promptly tells her that he is magical and shit. So he brings her on a little project where she somehow ...more

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Jul 11, 2012 Trang rated it did not like it

Girl-next-door Jolie one day found herself visited by a drop-dead gorgeous warlock who insisted that she had great potential as a witch and helped her discover her rare talent in resurrecting the dead. Innocent Jolie suddenly was caught up in an Underworld war that had a lot to do with attractive warlocks, vampires, and werewolves who competed against each other over her. While hiding away from the evil witch who tried to rule the Underworld, Jolie did not waste any time practicing magic and Girl-next-door Jolie one day found herself visited by a drop-dead gorgeous warlock who insisted that she had great potential as a witch and helped her discover her rare talent in resurrecting the dead. Innocent Jolie suddenly was caught up in an Underworld war that had a lot to do with attractive warlocks, vampires, and werewolves who competed against each other over her. While hiding away from the evil witch who tried to rule the Underworld, Jolie did not waste any time practicing magic and engaging in hot romance with her protectors.

To each his own. My apologies to this book's fans but it was entirely out of curiosity to find out how silly this could get that I got through half of this book. I would say that it has some good contents and some new contents. Unfortunately, the good ones are not new and the new ones are not good.

The first witch and warlock fight was a big let-down for me. I expected some serious spells or summons, not a fist-and-knee brawling between a man and a woman. Nice try at being creative, though. What irritated me the most is the fact that the plot, and especially the heroine, is something you'd see at least a hundred times in many shoujo manga (Japanese teen girls comics). The (poor and nothing special) heroine is a potentially powerful supernatural who has yet to discovered her rare abilities. In the mean time, the innocent, naive, and defenseless girl would be sought by evil forces who try to rule the world using her power. Luckily for her, heroes who are ready to die for her are plenty and happen to all be powerful, rich, perfect in appearance, and/or from a high social status. They also happen to fall for her immediately and will compete each other on the race to winning her hand.

I had trouble determining the age of audience. There's too much sex for young readers and too little content for adult ones. 2/3 of the book is dedicated for describing how hot the male characters were, how Jolie and they lusted after each other, and how they exchanged flirtation or sex acts. I guess the blame is on me for expecting too much content from a fantasy book that's categorized as romance, but even the romance was not of my taste. Lust comes too intense too fast too easy and too often here. I found myself scanning over the pages to find some serious plot development as soon as I reached about 1/3 of the book. To my dismay, there wasn't a lot.

I can't determine which annoys me the most, Jolie's ability (resurrecting the dead without penalty to her or the resurrected? Come on!), her quick lust, jealousy and gullibility, her friend Christa who'd sleep with any handsome guys and is otherwise useless, the guys who are all flawless, the guys who hopelessly swoon over her (boobs or legs), or the tediousness and redundancy of the lust (I have trouble calling it "love") scenes.

This is, literally, bad romance. I give one point for the mental and physical effort of creating the story. ...more

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Sep 05, 2010 JenBee rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2010-read, all-pnr-uf, 1st-in-series, e-book, indie-author, x-reviewed-old, 3-urban-fantasy, 5-read-fiction, 6-for-review-author-netgalley-tour

Jolie Wilkins is a psychic who is living life quietly running her fortune telling shop until the mysterious Rand, a warlock, turns up on her doorstep and everything changes forever. Offered a job she can not refuse Jolie travels to Chicago where she discovers her special talent. It is this special talent which causes her to be drawn into a world of vampires, magic and mayhem! Watch out for a fun and fast paced journey into this world as Jolie learns about her new life!

Jolie is a very likeable ...more

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Sep 18, 2010 Belinda Boring rated it it was amazing

One of the greatest things I loved about this book was that just when you thought you'd seen it all, the author introduces a new twist that just totally blows you away. When I first started reading, I was expecting a quick read about a girl with supernatural powers who has an adventure, falls in love and saves the day. End of story and so not what I got. This story was smart, funny and INCREDIBLY sexy in both plot and characters. Each idea flowed right into the next one and I was excited as each One of the greatest things I loved about this book was that just when you thought you'd seen it all, the author introduces a new twist that just totally blows you away. When I first started reading, I was expecting a quick read about a girl with supernatural powers who has an adventure, falls in love and saves the day. End of story and so not what I got. This story was smart, funny and INCREDIBLY sexy in both plot and characters. Each idea flowed right into the next one and I was excited as each scene unfolded because I could never tell what was going to happen next. I'd think the story was heading in a certain direction and BAM, here comes a characters and the story takes on a totally new meaning. I just have to say, HP Mallory writes one hell of a story and this is by far my favorite.

I LOVED Jolie. Yep, LOVED her. She starts of this kind of insecure girl who has these abilities and is trying to make the best out of life. When a sexy stranger enters the picture, she takes a risk and accepts his job offer to go back in time and find out how a client of his died. From there she explodes into this amazing character with powers that have the supernatural world falling over themselves to have her. She puts up with so much drama and I love how she refuses to put up with it. From the insecure girl in the beginning, you would think she'd be a complete push over and I was so excited to see that she wasn't. There came a point where she didn't allow her heart to be given the run around anymore even though it broke her heart. She wouldn't allow others to steamroll over her with all their demands. She didn't allow herself to be taken advantage of by people and she did what she felt needed to be done. Now did this happen all at once? No and sometimes it took a few attempts but the thing I loved is she grew into her strength. The character she was in the end wasn't who I saw in the beginning and I LOVED watching the journey. I do have to say this for Jolie - I'd love to spend a day with her because the men that flocked around her? OMG. That's the thing with these strong Alpha types - they're drawn to strength and they saw that in Jolie. She's the type of character I love to read.

The men in this book were to die for. The ones that had me panting were Sinjin, a sexy master vampire and Rand, her infuriatingly hot Warlock boss. No surprise really that one of the guys I'd fall for would be a vampire but Sinjin was just so smooth and had a way of talking that had me wanting to reach into the book and stroke him. He was such an incredible flirt and so seductive and I don't know how Jolie didn't just jump all over and attack him. I don't know if this is the right word but what I most liked about Sinjin was that he had this kind of masculine softness. Masculine in that he gave off a powerful presence but a softness in the way he treated Jolie. He was playful but could be forceful when needed and he just had this way about him that had me licking my lips in parts. Not to mention every time he said "Poppet" I laughed, and all kinds of crazy images would flood my mind. He may not have been the over the top Alpha vamp that I love but he was pretty close.

Rand. I didn't know whether I wanted to throw him on the floor and "play" with him, melt into a puddle from his intensity or slap him silly for his stuborness. He was an amazing lead character. He had me all over the place and gosh the man was smoking. From the very second you're introduced to him, he has this mysterious feel to him and when you realize just how powerful he is you become addicted. Jolie and him are such an amazing team but he drove me nuts with his bouncing around. He is a prime example of how much it sucks to have to deny yourself because you want to do the right thing, and of how difficult it is to try to control a burning passion for someone without going crazy. I found myself talking to him through out the book (which got ALOT of raised eyebrows from those around me) because I always felt that with just the right amount of encouragement, the way I wanted things to be with Rand and Jolie would happen. There were scenes with Rand that SIZZLED and fogged my glasses up and I'm REALLY looking forward to future scenes where he can totally unleash himself. My gosh that man was amazing.

You just never really knew the motives behind some of the characters and so it was always a surprise when a character who you thought was the good guy turned out to be a jerk and the jerk turned into someone who played an important part in the war Jolie and Rand were preparing for. But then there were characters that you just knew were evil and as a sucker for those characters this story had a few. I love a good villain and I won't give too much a way but Ryder? Based on this story, after I got over the giddiness of how evil he was, I would have staked him in a heartbeat. What a horrifying monster. Even now when I think of him I shudder and feel an overwhelming need to go scrub myself. I did prefer him over the resident evil Bella though, but I have this sinking feeling that we haven't seen the half of it when it comes to what that witch will do for power. So many possibilities that I can't wait to see.

I hope this review does the book justice because it really is an amazing read. It's the first book in a series that I know lovers of romance and the paranormal will easily become addicted to. HP Mallory is definitely an author to watch out for. I've read both her books now and haven't stopped raving about them since I finished them. Don't hesitate to get a copy of Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble (and To Kill A Warlock) because it really will blow you a way . A must must must read. Enjoy!
...more

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Feb 01, 2011 Ursula rated it it was ok

Shelves: paranormal-romance, vaginalalaland

I agree with a lot of people who have said the book would be better if the author didn’t feel the need to mention sex on almost every page. I love a good romance and don’t shy away from steamy scenes (especially where vampires are concerned)and felt that often, the sexual aspects of the book are both hit and miss and don’t really add anything to develop the characters or the storyline. It seems like all of a sudden every main male character wants to have a sexual relationship with her. And, ...more

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Feb 11, 2012 Lynsey (A Bookish Life) rated it really liked it

Shelves: favourites, kindle-freebies

Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble is the first book in the Jolie Wilkins series. We join Jolie's story to find herlivinghappily inignorantbliss, believing she's apsychic; giving readings and fortunes from her quirky little shop with her bestfriendChrista. Turns out the reason she's so good at reading people has nothing to do with being psychic at all, it'sbecauseshe's a witch. She has her eyes forcibly opened to this salientpieceof information by Rand, a rather dashing warlock, who, among other Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble is the first book in the Jolie Wilkins series. We join Jolie's story to find her living happily in ignorant bliss, believing she's a psychic; giving readings and fortunes from her quirky little shop with her best friend Christa. Turns out the reason she's so good at reading people has nothing to do with being psychic at all, it's because she's a witch. She has her eyes forcibly opened to this salient piece of information by Rand, a rather dashing warlock, who, among other things, has a job he needs her to do that she just can't turn down, but may later wish she had anyway.

I'm already three books into H.P. Mallory's other series about Dulcie O'Neil, a Faerie law enforcement agent, so I came to this expecting a similar style of writing and world-building, and that's just what I got. I don't believe they are actually set in exactly the same 'world' (although I could be mistaken about that) because there do appear to be some discrepancies, particularly regarding the Fae race, but it has that similar feel to it. So basically, if you enjoy one series, you'll probably enjoy the other one, too.

It's written from Jolie's POV in first person, and I found her to be endearing and likeable, if sometimes a little naive and clueless. I can't help but compare her to Dulcie, who is a lot tougher and more sure of herself, particularly about her skills at her job as a sort of supernatural cop. Jolie is much softer, much less kick-ass, but no less enjoyable to read about. Her whole life has just been turned upside-down, and because everything is so new to her, she's naturally a lot less confident at the start of her journey.

I also really liked Rand, the warlock I mentioned earlier. He's Jolie's first connection to this new supernatural world and I enjoyed reading about the relationship that's slowly developing there. He's a Brit, a bit of a loner, his dimples sound adorable and I just hope to see much more of him as the series progresses.

At first, I found the scene jumps a little bit jarring. There are lots of transitions between settings, time lapses, skipping over any travelling or long journeys, and it can feel a bit jumpy at first. But by the end of the novel, when I thought back on all the different scenes that were still flying around in my head, it actually served to make it feel as though I'd read a story much longer than only 300ish pages. I felt like Jolie had come so far, seen so much, been so many places. It gave it a feeling of scale and scope.

As I said earlier, if anyone's read the Dulcie O'Neil series and were wondering about this one, you should like it just fine. And as with her other series, which also has these cutsie cartoon covers, you always get a lot more substantial plot than you're probably expecting. They're not just silly, ditzy mysteries. There are credible bad guys, a couple of hot guys, some heartache, a steep learning curve. And if this is still free on Amazon, which it was last I checked, you should absolutely, positively, definitely snap it up ASAP.

4 Stars ★★★★ ...more

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May 21, 2013 Anna rated it did not like it

Shelves: f-m-romances, new-weird-urban-fantasy, could-not-finish

Could not finish this poorly written, shallow, tediously boring book. It reads like someone trying to rip off the Sookie Stackhouse books but without the skill or any semblance of quality.

The 'heroine' is a vapid, shallow, unpleasant, rude, self centred, thoughtless idiot with a spine of solid jelly. The 'hero', assuming that the First Guy is meant to be the hero, is entirely without character. The supporting cast are a series of cardboard cutouts with cliches attached. The 'plot' is often Could not finish this poorly written, shallow, tediously boring book. It reads like someone trying to rip off the Sookie Stackhouse books but without the skill or any semblance of quality.

The 'heroine' is a vapid, shallow, unpleasant, rude, self centred, thoughtless idiot with a spine of solid jelly. The 'hero', assuming that the First Guy is meant to be the hero, is entirely without character. The supporting cast are a series of cardboard cutouts with cliches attached. The 'plot' is often disregarded so that the heroine can digress into thinking about or obsessing over sex. The language is by turns overwrought, repetitive, cliched, repetitive, stilted and repetitive. The author often uses the wrong word (for example, someone pastes on an 'indignant smile' rather than an indulgent one). The use of British English is an utter failure - either so over the top as to be painfully obvious (no Briton ever says bonking in real life) or entirely disregarded. The book utterly fails at Show Don't Tell; an event that one would assume to be really rather important is skipped over entirely and the reader is presented with the aftermath during a one page conversation between the heroine and her best friend. Also, I know it's pronounced Sinjin, but I've always seen it written as St. John. This is a minor niggle, but one that genuinely bothered me (some googling suggests it is an accepted spelling, at least in American English).

I'm at a loss to explain the positive, glowing reviews this book has received from so many. I'm glad this book was free, as I would feel extremely cheated had I wasted even a single penny on it.

Addendum: As I can't remove this from my currently reading shelf for some reason - if anyone knows how, please do share - I went back to try and at least skim to the end. Oh dear GOD the 'Scottish'. I may have to share selected quotes with my Scots friends to see if they find it as awful as I do.

Addendum to addendum: I love the random review I read that told me how to make exclusive shelves. Begone, foul polluter of my kindle... ...more

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Sep 07, 2016 Melissa rated it it was ok

Shelves: paranormal-romance

This was a disappointing read. It started out so well, sucking me into the world building and liking the characters; it ended with a cliffhanger that left me feeling "meh". There were problems with consent, with a quasi-rape (vampire forces his fangs and drinks from heroine's pubic area) and a threat of sexual rape in the same scene. This is why I prefer my vampires being the dark, brooding villains rather than the sexed up beautiful corpses (with the exception of the Midnight Breed series).

I ...more

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Sep 17, 2016 Barbara ★ rated it it was ok

Shelves: paranormal-vampires, paranormal-magic, zzz-cover-moon-stars, x-set-in-usa-california, read-2016, paranormal-fae-faerie, paranormal-witches-wizards, zzz-cover-animal-pet, humor-funny, romance

This book was terrible. The heroine (and I use that term loosely) is one of those "too stupid to live" heroines that you just want to smack for being so stupid and immature. This reads like a young adult novel even though it is not. Jolie has sex on the brain. Every male within 10 feet of her is subject to her thoughts (she rarely acts on anything but her inner dialogue got old real fast). She even lusts after the males who have kidnapped her, tied her up, and sucked her blood almost to death. ...more

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Sep 01, 2010 Mandi Schreiner added it · review of another edition

Couldn't finish this one - The tone was cute and the concept was okay but I couldn't grasp the heroines motivations for anything she did. She never thinks before she acts - and it made her into a TSTL heroine. Like going to a party full of vampires (who she had never met before) and because of this ends up having to give up her whole life. Yet, seems to bounce back really quick.

She gets sucked into a dangerous world and then halfway through the book decides to move out of the protection of the ...more

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Jul 22, 2011 Laura rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: crap

I did not like this book. I had to struggle through it, skipping more and more on the way. The main female character was empty and uninteresting, I couldn't care less about her fate, moreover, I couldn't find a single thing in Jolie to cause anyone to fall for her. The romance line? I didn't find this "we can't do this" convincing, or "aha, if I can't have him then I will focus on anyone who casted a glimpse on me" romantic.
This book had some potential, but resulted in something that could only ...more

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Oct 23, 2010 Annette rated it did not like it

Shelves: kindle

Sadly, I won't finish this book. Main character has had too many "too stupid" moments and when she finds herself in some trouble... I truly just don't care enough to see how she gets out.

I really really wanted to like this, but after avoiding reading *anything* for weeks because I felt guilty not finishing this book, I'm letting it go!

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Jun 06, 2017 Gillian Murrell rated it liked it

If you want a bit of light fluff to read then this is ok. Jolie Wilkins leads a perfectly contented life reading fortunes in L.A. Until her life is turned upside down after taking on a new client. Before you know it Jolie finds herself in the middle of a war and living in England. All because she is in hot demand because of powers that she had no idea she even had.

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Dec 27, 2010 The Flooze rated it liked it

Shelves: owned, urban-fantasy-paranormal, vanquished_2012

After the cartoon covers of Sookie and Queen Betsy, I should know better than to presume such styles mean a fluffier story.

I can't recall if books one and two of this series were freebies or just frightfully cheap. I do know I didn't purposefully seek them out and so my expectations weren't high.

It was a nice surprise then to find a relatively entertaining series debut. It's not remarkable, but it's basic premise and characterization was enough to keep me engaged. (In a world full of FBS, After the cartoon covers of Sookie and Queen Betsy, I should know better than to presume such styles mean a fluffier story.

I can't recall if books one and two of this series were freebies or just frightfully cheap. I do know I didn't purposefully seek them out and so my expectations weren't high.

It was a nice surprise then to find a relatively entertaining series debut. It's not remarkable, but it's basic premise and characterization was enough to keep me engaged. (In a world full of FBS, that's about all it takes.)

While reading about new witch, Jolie, being dragged into a hidden world of vamps and faeries and wolves oh my, I was reminded quite often of Sookie: her overall good nature, her unfair treatment as a commodity, her fierce desire to retain her independence...her bevy of supernatural suitors. Jolie mirrors her in all these ways. Thankfully, these saving graces prevent me from wanting to kill her every time she launches into an I'm Not Pretty Enough or Special Enough tirade.

However, it doesn't stop me from being annoyed when Jolie needs concepts re-explained to her...especially when the repeated lessons don't reveal any handy new tidbits.

The side characters fit the basic UF archetypes: the dippy friend who may become a liability; the brooding, demanding hottie who toys with her emotions for the sake of the Greater Good; the aggressive, all-in shapeshifter; and the gorgeous rogue who shouldn't be trusted and yet his open manipulations make him more reliable than the rest. Yes, we've met them all before! And as with other series, they all hold some level of appeal in these preliminary stages. We'll see how they distinguish themselves as the books continue.

I will say one thing: though Jolie's revved up lust is a bit overused - particularly since she barely acts on it - the few moments of real passion are quite well-written. Using that as a foundation, a full-on sex scene promises to be a scorcher.

The plot is okay. Although the intermediary villain is quite the bitch, I don't feel wholly invested in defeating her since bigger threats have been mentioned. I wish we'd explored those more so I could better appreciate what's at stake. Still, this book is mostly setup - focusing mainly on Jolie's acclimation and the basic world-building - so I suppose I can wait. Walk before you can run and all that.

On the whole, I'm intrigued enough by Jolie's mysterious powers and the intersection of magical races. I hope the next book strains free of the UF fundamentals and brings something memorable and unique to the table. ...more

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Aug 14, 2010 Christine rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Jolie is a psychic who has no idea that she is actually a witch. Together with her cat and her best friend she leads a relatively quiet life. Okay, she doesnt have a boyfriend, but so what. All that changes when one day smoking hot Rand walks into her life. Not only does she meet the very first ghost in her life, she also discovers she has very extraordinary powers. From now on, ghosts are the most normal things she will encounter.

Jolie is is a very down to earth character who sometimes has to Jolie is a psychic who has no idea that she is actually a witch. Together with her cat and her best friend she leads a relatively quiet life. Okay, she doesn´t have a boyfriend, but so what. All that changes when one day smoking hot Rand walks into her life. Not only does she meet the very first ghost in her life, she also discovers she has very extraordinary powers. From now on, ghosts are the most normal things she will encounter.

Jolie is is a very down to earth character who sometimes has to struggle with all the changes in her life and sometimes seems to be a bot overwhelmed by it. However, she never gives up or is whiny as other characters. Christa, her beautiful, flirty and fun-loving best friend is on her side. Rand, the male lead character is everything you wish for: atrractive, mysterious and powerful, yet still caring and charming whenever he is alone with Jolie. There are some really hot and steamy scenes between those two.

The story picks up the pace quite fast and you´ll never have a dull moment reading it. Jolie finds herself in the middle of the powerstruggle of a supernatural society whose rules Jolie doesn´t know. Throughout the book, you´ll never know whom to trust. Throw in another sexy and recently brought-back-to-life werewolf and you´ll get a picture if the chaos Jolie´s life and love-life is.

I really enjoyed the worldbuiling in this book. Other than most of the other Urban Fantasy books, H.P. Mallory has chosen England as the main location. IPelham Manor, Rand´s house was described with very much love for deteils and atmosphere and I could really picture the splendid manor with all its beauty and luxury. The supernatural society is inhabited with creatures like weres, ghosts, vampires and fairies. The schemes and powerstruggle guarantee for a lot of action and excitment and Christa sightly ADD-like behaviour adds light and funny moments.

The writing is really good and just right for the story. H.P. Mallory finds the right balance of action, humor, romance and sexy scenes to guarantee for a thoroughly entertaining read. The end leaves a lot open for the next book in the series.

Favourite scenes: I really loved the scenes with King Odran and his Fairy court. He has a very unsual and blunt charm I found very refreshing and amusing. Sinjin, the mysterious and sexy vampire adds further spice to this book.

If you´re looking for a funny light and sexy read for your summer, then Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble is exactly the book.

...more

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Sep 21, 2011 WildAboutBones rated it really liked it

Shelves: read4bbpr-review

H. P. Mallory has come up with yet another delightful story and series. Humorous, good chemistry, fun characters, unexpected twists and turns,with ghosts, vampires, shapeshifting witches and warlocks, Lurkers, werewolves and demons. Drew me in from the first paragraph. It was a quick read, even at 382 pages.

Jolie, 28, is a tarot card reader with a small self esteem issue.

Rand, is a warlock who needs Jolie to go back to the 1920s with him to find out who killed his client, a ghost. Jolie says H. P. Mallory has come up with yet another delightful story and series. Humorous, good chemistry, fun characters, unexpected twists and turns,with ghosts, vampires, shapeshifting witches and warlocks, Lurkers, werewolves and demons. Drew me in from the first paragraph. It was a quick read, even at 382 pages.

Jolie, 28, is a tarot card reader with a small self esteem issue.

Rand, is a warlock who needs Jolie to go back to the 1920s with him to find out who killed his client, a ghost. Jolie says about him, "...Greek God, Sean-Connery-would-be-envious good looks that grabbed me first or his considerable height. It was his aura." With Brit accent, "His face was angular, and his Roman nose lent him a certain Paul Newman-esque quality."

Sinjin, is a vampire, Jolie describes him, "he was quick witted and ... well, sexy as a son of a bitch ... he was just scrumptious."

Trent, is the werewolf pack leader, another attractive male with charisma, who Jolie is able to bring him back to life after he is murdered and then he asks her out for dinner.

Odran, king of fairies, is another hottie who wants in Jolie's pants.

Jolie is very attracted to Rand but feels she is too plain Jane to ever attract him.

Rand tells her she is a witch to which she tells him he's crazy. Turns out she is and gets embroiled in a tug of war with several "people" who want to be her "protector" (read: slave) because she is very powerful with a unique power. Her world is turned upside down and she can no longer live in her non-paranormal world. She ends up in England being taught her craft by fairies.

Jolie has all these men suddenly giving her all this attraction and she is dubious of them all.

This is a laugh-out-loud funny paranormal story which I call a romance but some will call it a fantasy romance and some just a fantasy. Read it and make up your own mind while enjoying the story.

Warning Spoiler Alert!!!
Story continues into book 2 but will Jolie and Rand finish their romance? Or she and Sinjin wind up together? Is Trent completely out of the picture? And what of Odran? ...more

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Sep 04, 2012 t'irla ~The Bookslayer~ t'irla's Talk Book Blog rated it liked it

Recommends it for: Readers who love the witch/Vamp/faery combos in their reads

Recommended to t'irla ~The Bookslayer~ by: Katie's Freestyl'n Challenge

Shelves: owned, urban-fantasy, vampire-magic, 3-star-read

HP Mallory brings in a funny, well paced story that will make you smile and get you cheering for Jolie and crew.

Description:

ife isn't bad for psychic Jolie Wilkins. True, she doesn't have a love life to speak of, but she has a cute house in the suburbs of Los Angeles, a cat and a quirky best friend.

Enter Rand Balfour, a sinfully attractive warlock who insists she's a witch and who just might turn her life upside down. Rand hires her to help him solve a mystery regarding the death of his client ...more

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Sep 06, 2010 Stacey Kennedy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Where do I begin? Oh yes―this book was simply fantastic!! The story revolves around Jolie, a woman on a journey of self-discovery as she learns about her unique abilities as a witch. Powers she was unaware she possessed. When Rand, the undeniably sexy warlock seeks her out to use her special gifts of reanimating the dead, you are taken on a wild ride.

This story was just my cup of tea. It hit all the right spots. The characters are witty and leave a lasting impression. Not only, Jolie and Rand, ...more

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Jun 01, 2016 Annette Dahl "Old Vicarious Reader" rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: amazon

This was a tale that I think had a totally new spin on warlocks and witches. The premise of the plot I found new and witty. Rand was our spectacular warlock hero, and our Jolie was, in her own words, "the dumbest woman alive". I agreed with her self-concept completely.

There were many LOL snippets, but this scene had me rolling with giggles....
"They continued to growl and circle each other, as if daring the other to make the first move. The white wolf sniffed Trent’s rear and Trent did the ...more

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Oct 22, 2016 Sadie Forsythe rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle-lendable

Disappointing. That's the most concise review I could write. This is one of those standard 'woman has magical powers that she's lived 28 years without noticing, until a man comes along and tells her about them' books. Meanwhile, he controls every aspect of her life while refusing to give her the information she needs to stay safe and chastising her for endangering herself in ways she wasn't told would be dangerous.

And of course these magical powers she's gone 28 years without noticing are ultra ...more

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Sep 06, 2012 Olivia rated it really liked it

Upon reading this for a group discussion I fell head over heels for this book. I can agree with some others that Jolie (new found witch)with her lack of self confidence did tend to really get on my nerves. But as I continued it was really a story builder. It just shows you how much she has grown on her journey. I love the witty humor tucked into the story and the sensual tension between Jolie and hmmm all the men she comes into contact with in the underworld...LMBO There is Rand, Sinjin, and ...more

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Oct 31, 2011 Lorre rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Recommended to Lorre by: Chelsea

In the beginning of the book Jolie Wilkins is just the normal girl-next-door but with a few pshycic "abnormalities".
She deceided to make a living out of her gifts and has a fortune-telling business together with her bff Christa.

Her quite life is completely turned upside down when Rand, a hot warlock, tells her she's not just a pshycic but she's a witch. And apparantly there is a whole world of otherwordly creatures she never knew existed.

Werewolves, vampires, demons, fairies, pixies... they all ...more

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About H.P. Mallory

H.P. Mallory

2,468 followers

I’m a huge fan of anything paranormal and I always have been. I get super excited whenever they have those Twilight Zone Marathon days and anything ghost or vampire related will always attract my attention.

My interests are varied but aside from writing, I’m most excited about traveling. I’m extremely fortunate to have been able to live in England and Scotland, both places really having a profound ...more

Other books in the series

Jolie Wilkins (5 books)

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“The only thing separating Americans and Brits is a comman language.” — 28 likes

“You want some more?" Christa asked, her right eye drooping like an old lady's pantyhose. It was a sign that Christa was drunk. She said it was a form of lazy eye; I just thought it was hysterical and laughed although I tried to hide it with an inconspicuous cough.” — 15 likes

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