Review : Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble by H.P. Mallory

"A self-deprecating witch with the unique ability to reanimate the dead. A dangerously handsome warlock torn between being her boss and her would-be lover. A six hundred year old English vampire with his own agenda; one that includes an appetite for witches. The Underworld in a state of chaos. Let the games begin.

Life 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 who also happens to be a ghost. Jolie not only uncovers the cause of the ghost's demise but, in the process, she brings him back to life!

Word of Jolie's incredible ability to bring back the dead spreads like wildfire, putting her at the top of the Underworld's most wanted list. Consequently, she finds herself at the center of a custody battle between a villainous witch, a dangerous but oh-so-sexy vampire, and her warlock boss, Rand. "

Published : July 2nd, 2010

Source : Freebie from Amazon

Format : EBook

I wanted to like this book. I really, really did. The synopsis sounded interesting, and I hadn't read much about witches lately, so I figured this would be a refreshing change of pace. 

But it just didn't click for me. I couldn't really get into it and it just dragged on and on. The plot didn't really pick up until the last 20 pages or so, and even then, it only lasted about 5 pages.

The main character drove me INSANE. She had multiple guys falling all over themselves to be with her, and her attitude was "oh, I don't know why they like me I'm so average" and so on and so forth. And not only that but she had absolutely NO problem with changing in front of a ghost who was seriously one of the biggest creeps I've ever read about. 

There was also the insta-love factor, not once, but TWICE. I don't know why that is present in so many novels now-a-days, but I'd really like to read a book where that's not in it.

Also, the writing was repetitive. The word "glittery" was on the same page three different times. And if I heard one more mention that Rand's aura had "tinges of purple," I would have screamed. 

The story had the potential to be awesome, but instead it just fell flat. I don't think I'll be continuing with this series.

Only two shelves for this one.

This book was read as part of the Fall Into Autumn Reading Challenge. Make sure you go sign up if you haven't already!