While I might be a book junkie I’m not exactly a book snob. If you’ve been following along on my book challenge then you’ll know that I’ll give most books a chance, and a book has to be really bad for me to give it less than 3 stars. I figure if a book is good enough to get published it deserves at least 2, and if I can finish it then it deserves 3. Of course now that people can self-publish so much more easily I should change that, but then again, most of my books are from my library, and they don’t carry many self-published books.
When a friend of mine, Laura, mentioned that the authors of Villere House were looking for some bloggers to read the book, review it, and blog about it, my interest was sparked. I don’t do many reviews, despite getting emailed to on a regular basis, but the synopsis sparked my interest and sounded like something I would enjoy, so I decided to do it. And in case that wasn’t clear enough – yes, I was given this book for the purpose of reading, reviewing, and blogging.
Now let me tell you a little about Villere House.
Synopsis:
College senior, Lottie Boyd, expects to drink too much while on spring break in New Orleans. What she doesn't expect is to be haunted. Or fall in love. But that's exactly what happens.
It starts with strange, vivid dreams about a 19th century widow so desperate to save her sick little girl, she's willing to do anything--even if it involves the black magic of Voodoo. It doesn't end there. Voices, ghost sightings, familiarity with things and places she couldn't possibly know. All leading her to the Villere House of Voodoo and the young Creole owner, Xavier Villere.
Xavier is compelled to help and is drawn to Lottie in a way he's never known, but skepticism of his family's century-old link to Voodoo and the occult keep her at arms length. If he can only come to terms with his heritage, he might be able to help solve the mystery of the widow plaguing Lottie's dreams. And maybe even find love in the process.
Note: Villere House is an adult romance and not suitable for readers under 18.
It reminded me (only vaguely mind you) of one of my favorite older books by one of my favorite authors. Just in the whole a person being haunted by a ghost in New Orleans and all the family ties in it. As I have mentioned before, I’m a sucker for historical fiction and a bigger sucker for books based in the South. Southern historical fiction will get me every time. True, this only has small bits of it, but that’s good enough for me and it does tie in to the present story line.
Also, I liked the idea that this book falls into that New Adult genre, and I’m always on the lookout for books that do. As most YA books contain characters my little sister’s age or younger I get kind of skeeved out reading their hot passionate embraces, even if they don’t go all the way.
My rating – 4 Stars.
I liked Villere House, a lot. I didn’t have any trouble getting into the story of it. I liked the characters and the ways that they were created and emerged through the story. I felt that the relationship between the two main characters wasn’t forced – and I really liked that it didn’t stem from a “I hate him” type of beginning like I keep finding in so many books right now. I actually liked it all enough that I’m considering hunting up the Human Vampire series on Amazon the next time I get some money in my account.
Why not 5 Stars?
I think I would have liked to have seen this stretched out over two books with a little more development into the story and characters and relationships. It’s not that the book was rushed or anything, but I think it could have had a little more to it. Then again, I’m also usually more of a series book reader.
Even so, it’s a good stand alone book. I’d have probably gone ahead and gave it a 4.5 or 5 stars… if it wasn’t for the sex scene. Now, I’m not a prude, and I don’t mind sex scenes in books. I don’t hunt out books with them, but I won’t discount one that I know will have them. Several of my favorite authors LOVE sex scenes. I’m kind of “meh” about them. However. Without any spoilers, lets just say that at the start of the sex scene – when they finally do it – I went “HA! No woman has ever in the history of ever said that outside of a porno” and John agreed with me. That might seem like a little thing, but after finishing the book that is what stands out in my head.
What do others say about the book?
"This epic tale spanning past and present will have you on the edge of your seat. Set in a world of Voodoo, spirits, and the historic locale of New Orleans, Villere House is deliciously spooky and romantic." - Tracey Garvis Graves, author of the New York Times bestseller, On The Island and Covet.
You can get Villere House here through Amazon, and here through Barnes and Noble.
The Authors:
C.D. Hussey
Leslie Fear
Through October 31st you can get Villere House for only 99 cents!!
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