Book Review: A Trick for a Treat (Wayfair Witches #3) by A.A. Albright

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Length: 238 pages
Author: A.A. Albright
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: October 22nd, 2017
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

It’s Wanda’s first Halloween at home for years, but that doesn’t mean she gets to enjoy the holiday. A famous werewolf has disappeared, and his girlfriends are getting knocked off one by one. Murder and mayhem might be all in a day’s work for the Wayfair coven, but this time the stakes are higher than ever. This time, Wanda’s own friends are under suspicion.

Wanda needs to discover the real culprit, and she needs to do it fast – otherwise the people she cares about could spend their lives behind bars. Oh, and while she’s at it, she also needs to pass another few of the Minister’s tests. But who ever said that being a witch was easy?

SMITTEN BY THIS SERIES.

I am now three books in and still wanting to read more. There is clearly something enigmatic and easy to love about these books and my favorite witch, Wanda.

These mysteries have been uniquely different and I honestly don’t easily catch who the culprit is. It only makes me want to read more so I can figure out what paranormal fiend has become the villain now.

Not to mention, the subtle romance that I know will keep building. I am caught up in a small love triangle and…I don’t hate it? I KNOW. I’m just as surprised as you are.

It’s hard to write a long review because these are shorter books. I just like the feeling these books give me. They’re on the lighter-hearted side. The comedy makes me smile and feel like I’m right there with this coven. For someone who isn’t a general paranormal fan, these have captured my reading heart. Can’t wait for the next one and see what Wanda is up to next!

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal cozy mystery
  • Language: none
  • Romance: an almost kiss
  • Violence: murder (nothing bloody/gory)

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Book Review: Roommaid by Sariah Wilson

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Contemporary romance
Length: 301 pages
Author: Sariah Wilson
Publisher: Montlake
Release Date: October 1st, 2020
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

From bestselling author Sariah Wilson comes a charming romance about living your life one dream at a time.

Madison Huntington is determined to live her dreams. That means getting out from under her family’s wealth and influence by saying no to the family business, her allowance, and her home. But on a teacher’s salary, the real world comes as a rude awakening—especially when she wakes up every morning on a colleague’s couch. To get a place of her own (without cockroaches, mold, or crime scene tape), Madison accepts a position as a roommaid. In exchange for free room and board, all she needs to do is keep her busy roommate’s penthouse clean and his dog company. So what if she’s never washed a dish in her life. She can figure this out, right?

Madison is pretty confident she can fake it well enough that Tyler Roth will never know the difference. The finance whiz is rich and privileged and navigates the same social circles as her parents—but to him she’s just a teacher in need of an apartment. He’s everything Madison has run from, but his kindhearted nature, stomach-fluttering smile, and unexpected insecurities only make her want to get closer. And Tyler is warming to the move.

Rewarding job. Perfect guy. Great future. With everything so right, what could go wrong? Madison is about to find out.

INCREASINGLY BETTER.

I admit, I struggled through the first quarter or so of this one.

Too much detail focused on Madison’s family and her previous lifestyle, etc. I will say, it did come back into play, but I don’t think that much time needed to be spent on it. They were a nuisance from start to finish. I’m reading a romance, I want the two love interests front and center!!

After that initial issue, I got really on board with this one. Tyler is absolutely someone to be smitten with. Precious and easy to love. He and Madison truly did hit it off and I thought their chemistry was fantastic. Those WHY DIDN’T YOU KISS HER scenes are some of the best in this book. I loved their progression and development of feelings. When we got to the main conflict (which we all know happens in a romance formula), I liked the way it was handled. It wasn’t overly blown out of proportion and things got back on track quickly enough that I didn’t feel like anything missed a beat.

I thought the side plots and characters were funny. Watching Madison try to figure out how to use a dishwasher and take care of a dog had me snickering. I think it made her character really lovable and I wanted to cheer her on for choosing her own path, out of the grasp of her Mother.

By the end, I was loving this and even went and picked out another Wilson book to read for my TBR. This low-steam contemporary romance was playful and sincere, and I always love a read that goes by so quickly!

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary romance
  • Language: very little, light
  • Romance: kisses / make-outs
  • Trigger warnings: emotionally and verbally abusive parents; a cheating significant other

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Book Review: Bricking It (Wayfair Witches #2) by A.A. Albright

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
Length: 220 pages
Author: A.A. Albright
Publisher: Self-published
Release Date: October 9th, 2017
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

All her life, Wanda thought that things would be better once she received her magical powers. Turns out, not so much.

The Minister for Magical Law is insisting that Wanda go back to school before she can become a working member of the Wayfair coven. Oh, and she’s also insisting that Wanda perform no magic at all until she’s passed all of her tests.

But Wanda’s coven needs her now more than ever. Witches are going missing, and skeletons are turning up in closets and changing rooms all over Ireland. Will Wanda stick to the Minister’s rules, or will she risk it all to help the people she loves?

I’M ENJOYING THESE.

Who knew? I’m usually not a witch (or paranormal) fan. But these? I’m really liking them! I found Bricking It, better than the first and once again had me downloading book three to continue these cozy mysteries.

I love Wanda’s outlook on life and her strength, and humorous self. She’s a great main character who keeps things lively and is always in the most interesting situations.

Some of the drama is, maybe, a bit ridiculous, but it works so well here. The absurdity of the Minister and other characters in Wanda’s world make me roll my eyes, then furiously read to make sure things work out in Wanda’s favor.

I’m curious how these will continue with Wanda learning more about her powers, and maybe falling in love?! I need to know.

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal cozy mysteries
  • Language: none
  • Violence: murder, physical

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ARC Book Review & Blog Tour: Float Plan by Trish Doller

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Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Contemporary Romance
Length: 272 pages
Author: Trish Doller
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Release Date: March 2nd, 2021
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Critically acclaimed young adult author Trish Doller’s unforgettable and romantic adult debut about setting sail, starting over, and finding yourself

Since the loss of her fiance, Anna has spent the last year foundering on land, shipwrecked by her grief and inability to move on. But when a reminder goes off about a trip they were supposed to take, she impulsively sets off in their sailboat, intending to complete the planned voyage around the Caribbean that Ben had mapped out for them.

But after a treacherous night’s sail and a brush with an ocean tanker, she decides she can’t do it alone, and hires a professional sailor to help her get to Puerto Rico. Much like Anna, Keane is struggling with a very different future than the one he had planned, and he can’t refuse her offer. Together they find a way to rebuild their lives and the possibility of new love.

Trish Doller’s unforgettable adult debut, Float Plan, reminds readers that starting over doesn’t mean forgetting: you can build a new home, right alongside the old.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an eARC. All opinions are my own!

A TOUGH [& GOOD] READ.

Trigger warning, this review will be discussing suicide, grief, depression and possibly other sensitive topics. I mention it here because the basis of the book is losing a loved one who passed away from suicide.

I liked the way this book was approached. Every time Ben was brought up, the appropriate terms were used (such as passed away from suicide) which I sincerely appreciated. Anna’s grieving process was raw and out there in the open. It was heart-breaking and really had me pondering many important topics. Anna’s healing process wasn’t linear. She stumbled sometimes, took two steps forward to go one step back, but always had such a strength about her. I liked that this wasn’t linear because nobody can tell you how long is too long to grieve and process the unthinkable.

Keane was exactly what Anna needed though. He allowed her to grieve as she needed, made sure she was safe, and became a good friend first. The chemistry was kept on the low end and allowed for a progression of emotions and desire to come out as it needed to.

The trip itself made me want to get on a sailboat and sail the Caribbean myself. It was beautiful writing and really brought the islands to life. I loved all of the things Anna and Keane got to do together while sailing and visiting islands and meeting new people. It added charming side characters and more depth to the story.

I’m grateful I picked this one up (and got approval from Netgalley!) because this approached a hard subject, and also gave a sense of hopefulness in enduring.

Overall audience notes:

  • Contemporary fiction + romance
  • Language: strong throughout
  • Romance: kisses / make-outs; innuendo, a few open-ish (mild detailed) love scenes
  • Trigger warnings: suicide (of a loved one, including method and being the first one to find them); severe grief, depression; losing a limb from a car wreck and resulting trials

AUTHOR BIO:

Trish Doller is the author of novels for teens and adults about love, life, and finding your place in the world. A former journalist and radio personality, Trish has written several YA novels, including the critically acclaimed Something Like Normal, as well as Float Plan, her adult women’s fiction debut. When she’s not writing, Trish loves sailing, traveling, and avoiding housework. She lives in southwest Florida with an opinionated herding dog and an ex-pirate.

Find her on Instagram and Twitter: @TrishDoller

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