Tag: paranormal romance

Book Review: The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna

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Rating: ★★★★
Genre: Paranormal Romance 
Length: 336 pages
Author: Sangu Mandanna
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: August 23rd, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

A warm and uplifting novel about an isolated witch whose opportunity to embrace a quirky new family–and a new love–changes the course of her life.

As one of the few witches in Britain, Mika Moon knows she has to hide her magic, keep her head down, and stay away from other witches so their powers don’t mingle and draw attention. And as an orphan who lost her parents at a young age and was raised by strangers, she’s used to being alone and she follows the rules…with one exception: an online account, where she posts videos pretending to be a witch. She thinks no one will take it seriously.

But someone does. An unexpected message arrives, begging her to travel to the remote and mysterious Nowhere House to teach three young witches how to control their magic. It breaks all of the rules, but Mika goes anyway, and is immediately tangled up in the lives and secrets of not only her three charges, but also an absent archaeologist, a retired actor, two long-suffering caretakers, and…Jamie. The handsome and prickly librarian of Nowhere House would do anything to protect the children, and as far as he’s concerned, a stranger like Mika is a threat. An irritatingly appealing threat.

As Mika begins to find her place at Nowhere House, the thought of belonging somewhere begins to feel like a real possibility. But magic isn’t the only danger in the world, and when a threat comes knocking at their door, Mika will need to decide whether to risk everything to protect a found family she didn’t know she was looking for….

FULL OF HEART.

I’ve seen this compared to The House on the Cerulean Sea and is definitely a comparison I can follow. This had a lot of those vibes but in a new story that I adored all the same.

I loved the found family between the girls, Mika, and everyone else in the house. Mika needed most to find somewhere to belong with people who knew everything about her and wouldn’t have to leave. I love that she got that chance and how we saw the ups and downs of allowing someone into our lives. It’s not always steps forward, but it’s worth it in the end for the right people.

The romance could have used a little more oomph for me. I did like it, but I thought it was missing something. Maybe a bit more between them would have helped me feel fully connected to Mika and Jamie.

I liked the plot and it moved with a steady pace for a read like this. There were some surprises and a great ending that was filled with sweetness and hope in new beginnings. I’d love to read another book by this author!

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal Fantasy + Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: open but then fade to black
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: mention of death of parent, emotionally detached parent, sibling abuse

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Book Review: Deja Brew (Deadlights Cove #2) by Aimee Vance and B. Perkins

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Paranormal Romance
Length: 292 pages
Author: Aimee Vance and B. Perkins
Publisher: Revel Books
Release Date: October 1st, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Nimue Fitzpatrick never really meant to leave Deadlights Cove, but after she’d impulsively kissed her best friend, Kit Sayana, it suddenly became easier to take freelance photography jobs out of town. Just what she needed to forget the mess and the amber eyes she couldn’t bear to face anymore in the Cove. Now, after four years away, it might be time to admit that she’s been avoiding him.

The last four years haven’t been the easiest for Kit as the pressure to assume his responsibilities as future Alpha for the Arrowwood skulk takes over his life. Needing space, he moved out of his family home and into the apartment above his tea shop, Immortali-Tea. Despite the closeness among the members of his skulk, there is one thing he hasn’t shared with anyone, even his closest friends: ever since he kissed Nimue all those years ago, he’s known she’s his mate. The problem is that an interspecies mate bond is impossible, so it can never be.

When Nimue returns home for her cousin Blaze’s Halloween party, everything changes. No matter how the two childhood friends try to avoid their feelings for each other, fate has other plans. With magic turning on the shifters, the town is set into a panic that requires everyone to work together — especially Kit and Nimue.

Can they recover their prior friendship enough to come together and solve the next mystery, before it has lasting effects on the shifters in town?

Follow Kit and Nimue’s story, along with the quirky band of local misfits, through the Deadlights Cove series, in book two, Deja Brew.

While each book follows a different couple, the Deadlights Cove series is best read in order. Catch up and find out what Petra and Blaze discover in book one, Smoke Show, first.

FIERY.

I love this quirky town. It’s like my favorite small town contemporaries but make it spooky and I am here for it. There’s all sorts of paranormal creatures running around and I love that there’s different focuses on learning more about them with each book.

Fated mates reallllly worked for me between Kit and Nimue. It was written incredibly well that had me feeling all the chemistry they had for each other. It was hot and sweet and all the things in between.

The outside plot is interesting and I like how it subtly continues. Not overshadowing the romance but upping some intensity and bringing the action. This is a great writing duo and I look forward to the future books in this series!

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: two open door; med-high explicit
  • Violence: med
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: Physical and magical altercations, kidnapping

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Book Review: Karma is a Witch (Deadlights Cove #5) by Aimee Vance and B. Perkins

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Rating: ★★★★☆
Audience: Paranormal Romance
Length: 400 pages
Author: Aimee Vance
Publisher: Self-Published
Release Date: August 25th, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Devanna Bailey has worked her way up to Boss Witch since her teens, throwing herself into her witch supply shop, Carpe Noctem, no matter how the irksome mayor has tried to stand in her way.

Equally driven, it took Orion centuries to earn his post as Mayor of Deadlights Cove. This weird little town and its quirky residents are his life’s purpose, and he might lose it all. When a local witch is murdered and the human FBI arrives, nothing will ever be the same.

Shifters have been outed to the human world. Nergal, a powerful, ancient demon, is out to destroy Deadlights Cove. The angel realm is in turmoil. And Orion can’t save this town alone.

She’s a brat.
He’s a control freak.
Neither of them know the meaning of the word yield.
The only question is, who will break first?

GREAT CONCLUSION.

What an absolutely FUN series. I loved this whole concept, the world, magic, all of the paranormal people and the romance. It was a wild ride that brought a smile to my face every time I picked up one of these books.

I loved seeing Orion and Devanna AT LAST come together. The intense heat and passion between two unmovable forces could be felt through my kindle. While the spice wasn’t my personal cup of tea I know others will enjoy the more hate love scene/dominating style. I did love how fiercely protective they became for each other and how loyal once they let down a few walls.

The plot wrapped up really well and I liked seeing those final strings tied off. Getting the end of the larger story and seeing those HEA’s was so dang sweet. I’ll miss this entire cast.

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: 2-3 open; moderate explicit
  • Violence: high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: false imprisonment, battle themes, loss of life

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Book Review: The Kiss Curse (Ex Hex #2) by Erin Sterling

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Paranormal Romance
Length: 320 pages
Author: Erin Sterling
Publisher: Avon Books
Release Date: September 20th, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Welcome to Spooky Season!! The follow-up to Erin Sterling’s New York Times bestselling hit The Ex Hex features fan favorite Gwyn and the spine-tinglingly handsome Wells Penhallow as they battle a new band of witches and their own magical chemistry.

Gwyn Jones is perfectly happy with her life in Graves Glen. She, her mom, and her cousin have formed a new and powerful coven; she’s running a successful witchcraft shop, Something Wicked; and she’s started mentoring some of the younger witches in town. As Halloween approaches, there’s only one problem—Llewellyn “Wells” Penhallow.

Wells has come to Graves Glen to re-establish his family’s connection to the town they founded as well as to make a new life for himself after years of being the dutiful son in Wales. When he opens up a shop of his own, Penhallow’s, just across the street from Something Wicked, he quickly learns he’s gotten more than he bargained for in going up against Gwyn.

When their professional competition leads to a very personal—and very hot—kiss, both Wells and Gwyn are determined to stay away from each other, convinced the kiss was just a magical fluke. But when a mysterious new coven of witches come to town and Gwyn’s powers begin fading, she and Wells must work together to figure out just what these new witches want and how to restore Gwyn’s magic before it’s too late.

BETTER THAN THE FIRST.

I had some *thoughts* on the first book but felt inclined enough to give the second book a go and I liked it so much more!!

The romance was developed in a way I could get behind. There was still that lust component that isn’t for me personally, BUT, it was used here in an easier to handle light that ended with me actually liking this couple. A dash of enemies to lovers / workplace rivals that come together to save the town. Perfect for the season right?

It’s quirky and Gwyn is boisterous and full of banter that is well received by Wells. I especially liked that the third act wasn’t blown out of proportion. There was reasonable befuddlement that led to some simple answers and both Gwyn and Wells actually believed each other! YAY. There’s good tension and fluff mixed into a plot that has the same essence as the The Ex Hex.

Great for the season.

Overall audience notes:

  • Paranormal Romance
  • Language: strong
  • Romance: multiple open door
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: alcohol consumption, blood depiction, torture mentioned, kidnapping

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