Book Review: Golem in my Glovebox (A Monster Haven Story Book 4) by R.L. Naquin

Golem in My Glovebox (Monster Haven #4)
by R.L. Naquin

Kindle Edition, 218 pages

April 21st 2014 by Carina Press

In her role as Aegis, Zoey Donovan has rescued and cared for hundreds of monsters and mythical creatures. Now humans are the ones in need of her help. Someone with a personal vendetta against the Board of Hidden Affairs has kidnapped all the other Aegises in the country--including Zoey's mother.

With the Hidden government in shambles and a string of deadly clues to follow, Zoey and her reaper boyfriend set out on a cross-country chase to stop the kidnapper from killing the captured Aegises. Along the way, they pick up a miniature golem who's on a quest to find his humanity...and may be the key to solving the grisly clues.

If Zoey succeeds in defeating this new evil, she'll finally be reunited with the mother she lost over twenty years ago. But if she fails, she'll become the final victim.

Don't Miss Monster in My Closet, Pooka in My Pantry, and Fairies in My Fireplace, available now!

Another "hidden" Jewell.

R.L. Naquin keeps churning out these wonderful stories of supernatural creatures finding solace with an Aegis (a 'hiddens' protector.)

When I start any of these books I just set back, open my mind and let the words of the story take me away to a world teeming with supernatural creatures and new adventures. I feel as if Zoey, Riley and Maurice are old friends of mine and they have stopped by for a visit to tell me about their latest adventure.

During these times they make me laugh, cry or gasp but always keep me wanting to listen attentively so I don't miss anything. I hope the author has a brain full of ideas for new adventures so I can (selfishly of course) continue my relationship with these heartwarming characters!

Review: Monster in My Closet (Monster Haven #1)

Review: Pooka in My Pantry (Monster Haven #2)

I give this story 4 1/2 sheep

JeanieG

About the Author:

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R. L. Naquin is an urban fantasy novelist and short story writer. She writes the Monster Haven series for Carina Press. You can find her on the Web at: www.rlnaquin.com

Rachel’s head is packed with an outrageous amount of useless Disney trivia. She is terrified of thunder, but not of lightning, and often recites the Disneyland dedication speech during storms to keep herself calm. She finds it appalling that nobody from Disney has called yet with her castle move-in date.

Originally from Northern California, she has a tendency to move every few years, resulting in a total of seven different states and a six-year stint in England. Currently, she’s planning her next grand adventure. Rachel has one heroic husband, two genius kids, a crazy-catlady starter kit, and an imaginary dog named Waffles.

She doesn’t have time for a real dog.

Book Review: Pooka in My Pantry (Monster Haven #2) by R.L. Naquin

Pooka in My Pantry (Monster Haven #2)

by R.L. Naquin

Kindle Edition, 236 pages

Published March 25th 2013

by Carina Press
Zoey Donovan—empath, wedding planner, go-to girl for monsters with personal problems—has been marked twice for pickup by Death. On both occasions, Riley the smoking-hot reaper has refused to follow through. For his breach of protocol, Riley is now on probation. For her refusal to die on schedule, Zoey's right to live is challenged. She will have to undergo a life-or-death trial, but she won't know when or where it will happen…

Staying alive might not be so difficult if the Leprechaun Mafia hadn't strolled into town. Now every business owner with the slightest connection to the supernatural community is being threatened with the most appalling bad luck if they don't pay up. Mirrors are smashed, bodies are dropping, and Zoey's still got clients waiting for fabric samples.

With a little luck, she might be able to save everyone and still have time for a second attempt at a decent first date with her favorite reaper.

"Bring on the Bad Luck! I'm ready"

Zoey is just as empathetic in this story as the first and has a whole new set of problems! Not only is she introduced to a "bad luck charm" called a Pooka, but she discovers more about her "hidden" talents that just might end her life as she knows it in in less than 10 days!

I am sure we humans think we cornered the market on "gangs", "thugs" and "mafia" associations but...try on the Leprechaun Mafia that deals in the power of "Luck" or "lack of" and see where having them on your bad side gets you! Who could imagine those cute little greenies would have such a ruthless, greedy side. Imagine open umbrellas inside, black cats, spilled salt and open ladders and being forced to cross the "bad luck" line to suffer the consequences...makes me shiver just thinking about it!

Throw in the fact that Zoey has attracted the notice of the governing board of the "hiddens" who want to reclassify her powers to use as they see fit and you have disaster waiting to happen! She even has to come clean about her life to her best friend and risk the chance she may cross the line of being "normal but quirky" to totally insane!

These stories remind me of my obsession with the "Cat Who..." Books. I can't wait to read the next installment of Zoey's adventures! So once again the author takes you on a well written adventure with new "hiddens," new problems and a little more romance with the "reaper"! And the next time you go through a patch of "bad" luck, remember, it might not be you...it might just be a "Pooka" in your pantry!
Review: Monster in My Closet (Monster Haven #1)

I give this book 4 1/2 stars.

Jeanie G

About the Author:

website-FB-twitter

R. L. Naquin is an urban fantasy novelist and short story writer. She writes the Monster Haven series for Carina Press. You can find her on the Web at: www.rlnaquin.com

Rachel’s head is packed with an outrageous amount of useless Disney trivia. She is terrified of thunder, but not of lightning, and often recites the Disneyland dedication speech during storms to keep herself calm. She finds it appalling that nobody from Disney has called yet with her castle move-in date.

Originally from Northern California, she has a tendency to move every few years, resulting in a total of seven different states and a six-year stint in England. Currently, she’s planning her next grand adventure. Rachel has one heroic husband, two genius kids, a crazy-catlady starter kit, and an imaginary dog named Waffles.

She doesn’t have time for a real dog.

Book Review: Monster in My Closet (Monster Haven #1) by R.L. Naquin

Monster in My Closet (Monster Haven #1)
by R.L. Naquin

ebook, 209 pages
Published July 30th 2012

by Carina Press

I stopped believing in monsters long ago. But I knew I wasn't imagining things when I found one in my kitchen baking muffins. I'd seen him before: lurking in my closet, scaring the crap out of my five-year-old self. Turns out that was a misunderstanding, and now Maurice needs a place to stay. How could I say no?

After all, I've always been a magnet for the emotionally needy, and not just in my work as a wedding planner. Being able to sense the feelings of others can be a major pain. Don't get me wrong, I like helping people--and non-people. But this ability has turned me into a gourmet feast for an incubus, a demon that feeds off emotional energy. Now, brides are dropping dead all over town, and my home has become a safe house for the supernatural. I must learn to focus my powers and defeat the demon before he snacks on another innocent woman and comes looking for the main course...

"Stephen King meets comic relief!"

The first few chapters made me wonder if Stephen King changed genres and started penning lighthearted urban fantasies! The introduction to the story and characters is so well written (descriptive without being burdensome) that I immediately felt a kinship with Zoey. A nice girl that can't say no to a needy person.....or MONSTER. Haven't we all been in her shoes?!

Zoey is a wedding planner and a sympathetic human that discovers she is really an empath (duh) that has inherited her gift from her mother whom she lost at the age of 8. She really thought that it was normal to be able to "read" other's emotions. (Really would be a nice perk or a "Seventh Sense").

Zoey wakes up one day and comes face to face with her childhood nemesis....the closet monster! Of course waking up to fresh homemade muffins and brewing coffee just might influence anyone to allow a frightening character to find refuge in your house....yeah, right!

She finds herself immersed in a fairytale world of even more needy "hiddens" and realizes they may be monsters but also can become family as they help protect her from a real monster looking to drain her of her life force. Always a great friend, there are moments in this story that just might make you reevaluate hooking up with someone always filled with other people's emotions. That friend just might inadvertently offer you up as part of her delicious buffet for an incubus!

I think my favorite line in the story that shows it's flavor was concerning the smell of dead fish in the ocean air and being to told to breath through her mouth...."if I didn't want it in my nostrils, I sure as hell didn't want it in my mouth"

To me, this story was so well done that it could be abbreviated (and definitely edited as to the actions of an incubus) for delivery to a 5 year old to help banish their own "monster" in the closet. I so enjoyed this book that I will immediately read the next 2 in the series! It was just the right break from the heavier paranormal stories. So head to the beach, mountains or coffee shop to relax but don't forget to take along your own "monsters" and this book!

I give this book 4 1/2 sheep

Jeanie

About the Author:

website-FB-twitter

R. L. Naquin is an urban fantasy novelist and short story writer. She writes the Monster Haven series for Carina Press. You can find her on the Web at: www.rlnaquin.com

Rachel’s head is packed with an outrageous amount of useless Disney trivia. She is terrified of thunder, but not of lightning, and often recites the Disneyland dedication speech during storms to keep herself calm. She finds it appalling that nobody from Disney has called yet with her castle move-in date.

Originally from Northern California, she has a tendency to move every few years, resulting in a total of seven different states and a six-year stint in England. Currently, she’s planning her next grand adventure. Rachel has one heroic husband, two genius kids, a crazy-catlady starter kit, and an imaginary dog named Waffles.

She doesn’t have time for a real dog.