Review of Coffee and Kelpies by Rebecca F. Kenney

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Synopsis:
Marlowe Reilly comes from a long line of kelpies… wild, shape-shifting water horses with a taste for human flesh. She’s been allowed to live in the magical town of Crescent Cove provisionally, as long as she can keep her bloodthirsty nature in check, which she manages in part thanks to the magical, mood-changing drinks served up at the Toast & Tide, a local diner.
Marlowe owns a riding stable where she provides a safe space for both rescued horses and traumatized humans. But her livelihood and her tenuous place in Crescent Cove are jeopardized when a member of the violent family she left behind comes looking for her. And when a grouchy, scruffily-handsome man takes over the diner, her usual coping mechanisms are disrupted.
Rick Thane considers himself an excellent brewer of emotive potions, and he’s not sure why the beautiful owner of the riding stable won’t trust his work. He starts trying to win her over, not realizing that the deeper he moves into her life, the more uncertain his fate becomes. Marlowe’s human side might claim to hate him, but her kelpie side craves him in the most primal way, and giving in to that hunger even once could prove ruinous for them both.

This beachy paranormal romance novella is for fans of Gilmore Girls, Practical Magic, and Supernatural, all rolled into one, with a side of Celtic mythology.

Review:
“All my manners zoomed right out the window the second I got hit in the face with change.” (Page 11)

I really liked Marlowe and how she tried to use her natural instincts to connect with often misunderstood horses. I thought she was well developed and thought out, with clear flaws and issues she was trying to work through regarding control. I also quite liked Rick, and how he was trying to make his new start and deal with his own trauma. Unfortunately, I am not much of a fan of instant-connection so while the story overall was alright, I didn’t quite like how quickly things progressed. Despite that, it was quite the adventure and fight!

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯

Review of A Killer Heart by Helen Harper

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Synopsis:
What happens when the hunters become the hunted?

Kit McCafferty is an upstanding citizen of the magical city of Coldstream.

She’s a good neighbour. She has a fabulous partner, an occasionally tidy home, and only a moderately alarming number of cats. Her days as a professional assassin with Eagle Enforcers and Liquidators are behind her. Or so she thinks.

When Kit volunteers to assist local law enforcement with crowd control, she comes face-to-face with her former life. Someone is trying to destroy EEL — the discreet but deadly firm of assassins she once called home — and they’re not concerned about collateral damage. They’re willing to raze Coldstream to the ground to finish the job.

Whoever is targeting EEL knows its inner workings and its secrets. Kit’s old friends and colleagues, as well as the citizens of Coldstream, are at risk. To stop blood from spilling onto the city’s glittering streets and shadowed alleyways, Kit must decide who she is now – a heroic citizen determined to protect her city or a stone cold killer.

Walking away from her past might not be an option.

Review:
“She Who Commands Werewolves flopped onto her back and presented me with her furry belly. I smiled at her obvious trap. I was too much of a cat lady to fall for that sort of trick. I liked my fingers where they were, thank you very much.” (Page 162)

This book was marvelous. Not only did we get to see Kit attempt to do her usual cat lady routine but we learned that she wasn’t fooling everyone. I loved this insight and tie in from Kit’s past along with a certain other person in a position in power. Getting to see Kit step up in her old place of work was also very interesting, and while part of me really expected a different outcome, I was glad that she made the choice she did in the end. I certainly might have had some suspicions about who the big bad might have been throughout the novel but I never would have guessed how so many loose ends had been tied up so neatly and hidden in plain sight!

This book reminded me again of how awesome Harper is with words, and how much I cannot wait for her future books to release! The ending left me needing more immediately, but alas, the next is not out until April!!

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of Owl Hallows’ Eve by Leanne Leeds

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Synopsis:
A Halloween festival in a town full of mediums.
A medium dead in the corn maze.
And a debt to the god of the dead that just came due.

Astra Arden has avoided Cassandra—hard to feel welcome when the mayor blames you for her son’s death. But when the town’s ghosts go silent and Hades calls in her mother’s old favor, avoiding it stops being an option. Someone in Cassandra is keeping a soul that belongs to the Underworld, and the Arden sisters have until the festival ends to bring it home.

Then a medium turns up dead under a sign in her own handwriting, the town closes ranks, and the mayor bans Astra from the grounds. Now she’s solving a murder from the couch above a gas station—in a town that won’t talk, hunting a soul in a town that talks to nothing else.

And midnight is coming either way.

Review:
“My sister had more faith in her father’s good nature than three thousand years of literature did, and I kind of loved her grumpy gothic butt for it.” (Page 104)

I absolutely loved this book. Astra has come so far from where she started out; she has friends and family that she relies on and communicates with. She is learning to be better in the roles she hasn’t had before, such as wife, and at being a sister who is present but not smothering or acting in a more parent role. This book focused on something important from earlier in the series; the star cards. While perhaps we have become too accustomed to the intervention and appearance of Gods/Goddesses in the lives of the Ardens, given the lineage of the sisters, it was great to see how connected (or not) the rest of the pantheon really is with the family. This book really helped put the timeline of Astra’s return home in perspective with how grown up and mature Ayla has become, and how she does have a life and identity outside of the family. I loved this mystery, and I honestly hadn’t seen what had happened coming at all! There were a lot of twists and turns, confusion, and ultimately, a conclusion that makes the next book need to be available immediately!

Cliffhanger warning, but the book was phenomenal!

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of Owl the Small Things by Leanne Leeds

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Synopsis:
Astra Arden just wants one quiet week at home.

After a locked-island murder investigation that left the whole team running on coffee fumes and borrowed sleep, she’s earned it. But the moment she walks through the door, she discovers Aunt Gwennie has been secretly dating Detective Briggs—and before Astra can process that, things around the house start going wrong.

Small things, at first.

A shelf collapses when no one’s near it. The garden gate swings shut on Briggs’s fingers. A batch of Gwennie’s famous snickerdoodles tastes like soap. Arden House has always had a personality, but this feels personal.

Then the small things stop being small.

Someone—or something—has Briggs in its sights. And with the human detective dodging hexes he can’t see, Astra has to figure out who’s targeting him and why before the small things turn deadly.

But the deeper Astra digs, the more she realizes the threat isn’t coming from outside. It’s coming from inside the family — from a ghost who can’t let go and a house that takes sides.

Welcome back to Arden House. The snickerdoodles are fresh, the owl is judging you, and the walls have opinions.


Review:
“Interrogation and sisterhood share exactly one technique, and it’s this one. Patience.” (Page 20)

“He’s going to keep coming back either way. He’s got that energy. He’s like if a casserole wouldn’t take no for an answer.” (Page 23)

This series has been doing a great job of shifting focus from having only Astra as the star of the show to showcasing other people in the family. This time, both Althea and Ayla played pivotal roles in figuring out exactly what is going on. Briggs is a good man so it’s great that the family comes together to support him, and while it seemed like the answer to what was happening might have been obvious, it was slightly different than what was expected. As usual, a quick, fun, light, clean read by Leanne Leeds.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯

Review of The Dark Lord’s Guide to Honeymooning (and Other Acts of Tyranny) by Tiffany Hunt

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Synopsis:
Kazimir and Arabella embark on a honeymoon where the only thing more dangerous than their enemies are their growing feelings for each other in this deliciously wicked and riotously funny second book in the Guides to Villainy and Love romantasy series that’s Assistant to the Villain meets Dreadful.

Step Four: Take her on a honeymoon.
Step Five: Learn to co-villain effectively.
Step Six: Try not to get possessed by ancient evil.

Now bound by marriage and the formidable power of the Heirloom, Dark Lord Kazimir Blackrose and his Dark Lady Arabella are the realm’s most feared and chaotic power couple. And after years of scheming, Kazimir is poised to conquer Solandris. But when the Alchemist calls in a debt, Kaz is forced to postpone his reign of terror or face consequences even he can’t escape.

Arabella declares it the perfect opportunity for the honeymoon she was never promised. But their villainous getaway soon devolves into mayhem involving mass kidnappings, uncomfortable truths about Kazimir’s demonic past, and a talented pastry chef with heroic blood who won’t stop baking scones.

As if that weren’t enough, Kazimir’s mind is also filling with whispers not his own, while Arabella secretly tries to recover her stolen memories. But the greatest threat may be those three dangerous little words that could shatter their carefully constructed walls…and unleash an evil that destroys them all.

This sexy and side-splittingly funny fantasy romance is perfect for readers who love: villains who stay deliciously wicked (but are catastrophically in love); a powerful heroine carving out her place in the world; touch them and die; plotting world domination; sizzling spice and wickedly amusing banter; dark humor; found family of villains; and a honeymoon phase with assassination attempts.


Review:
“Stupid, arrogant, emotionally stunted villain,” I muttered. (Page 268)

This book continued much in the vein of the first in that it was hard to put down and there was always more that needed to be learned. Unfortunately this book also suffered a bit from Kaz and Arabella being a bit too inside their heads and not communicating. They had gained a great rapport but it fell apart so easily, and neither was willing to speak up for the majority of the book. I absolutely adore Sebastian, and all of the secondary characters that we really got to see shine and have a bit more knowledge and backstory on.

The ending was an absolute cliffhanger so be prepared!

I would highly recommend this series to people who love enemies to lovers, the villain gets the girl, found family, fantasy (dragons!) and delicious banter.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of The Dark Lord’s Guide to Dating (and Other War Crimes) by Tiffany Hunt

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Synopsis:
A conflicted villain and his unstoppable bride form the realm’s most chaotic alliance in this riotously funny dark romantasy perfect for fans of Assistant to the Villain, but darker and spicier.

“What’s mine stays mine.”

Step One: Kidnap someone cute.
Step Two: Force her into marriage.
Step Three: Try not to catch feelings.

When Dark Lord Kazimir Blackrose kidnaps Lady Arabella for a forced marriage, he expects an obedient, trembling bride. What he gets is a knife to the throat and a furious woman with demands of her own. He may need her heroic bloodline to achieve ultimate dominion, but she’s not about to make this easy for him.

Arabella has already survived her father’s tower prison and a lifetime of being treated like property. Getting abducted by the realm’s most notorious villain is just another Tuesday. If she must be married to the infuriating (and infuriatingly attractive) Dark Lord, she’ll do it on her terms: freedom within his fortress, hands strictly to himself, and complete honesty about his plans.

But when those plans go awry, Kazimir faces his most terrifying challenge yet: he must date his own wife. Between magical training sessions, playing golf with the eyeballs of his enemies, and aphrodisiac dinners gone spectacularly wrong, his attempts at villainous seduction are failing at every turn.

As Kazimir and Arabella navigate magical explosions and jealous exes, they discover a far more terrifying prospect than war or magical catastrophe: They might actually be falling for each other.

This dark and sexy fantasy romance is perfect for readers who love: a morally gray antihero (who stays that way); a strong heroine who embraces her dark side (she doesn’t need rescuing, thanks); the touch her and die trope; hilarious, wicked banter and sizzling spice; one bed/forced proximity; kidnapped bride/forced marriage; and dark humor.

Review:
“Marriage, it turned out, was an annoyingly complicated arrangement.” (Page 143)

This book is the perfect amount of banter mixed with slow (earned) trust and romance. While Kazimir clearly seems emotionless it is obvious that Arabella is more than a force to be reckoned with. I absolutely loved watching as Kaz attempted to woo Arabella with gifts and food (*ahem* aphrodisiacs) and as they learn more about the others abilities, even more amusement was had. I loved the back and forth between the two characters, and how Arabella, though publicly known as a troublesome and having lit someone on fire, had much more intensity (and tragic backstory) than one would expect. This book made me hate her father, love Kaz, and need the next book immediately. The slow burn of this was absolutely perfect, and I absolutely love how, despite being kidnapped, Arabella very much is not a damsel in need of rescue. Seeing Kaz develop feelings and open up was lovely, as was getting to see Arabella use those court manners that she would have had drilled into her. This book was everything and I cannot wait to continue on in the next.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of We’ll Prescribe You a Cat by Syou Ishida

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Synopsis:
A cat a day keeps the doctor away…

Discover the award-winning, bestselling Japanese novel that has become an international sensation in this utterly charming, vibrant celebration of the healing power of cats.

Tucked away in an old building at the end of a narrow alley in Kyoto, the Kokoro Clinic for the Soul can only be found by people who are struggling in their lives and genuinely need help. The mysterious clinic offers a unique treatment to those who find their way there: it prescribes cats as medication. Patients are often puzzled by this unconventional prescription, but when they “take” their cat for the recommended duration, they witness profound transformations in their lives, guided by the playful, empathetic, occasionally challenging yet endearing cats.

Throughout the pages, the power of the human-animal bond is revealed as a disheartened businessman finds unexpected joy in physical labor, a young girl navigates the complexities of elementary school cliques, a middle-aged man struggles to stay relevant at work and home, a hardened bag designer seeks emotional balance, and a geisha finds herself unable to move on from the memory of her lost cat. As the clinic’s patients navigate their inner turmoil and seek resolution, their feline companions lead them toward healing, self-discovery, and newfound hope.

Review:
“The amount of time you spent together probably matters, but less time doesn’t mean less love. Whether it’s a day or year, human or cat, and even if we may never see them again, there are those who are irreplaceable in our lives.” (Page 268)

This book was so touching! I definitely found myself tearing up at the end. I loved how cats can bring so much joy and change to a person. I felt very reminiscent to when my husband and I got our first two cats together; I had never had cats and thought I was a dog person! Cats may sometimes come across as standoffish or not caring, and their certainly have their own minds, but their love, once given is everything. I loved how cats both made people feel better but want to do better and be different. Oftentimes the cats also reminded people that what they thought they wanted or needed in life wasn’t the case, and if they looked to what they were missing, they would open up a whole new world of opportunities and connections. While the magical realism of this one hit home, especially in our geisha’s case, I would recommend this book to any who love cats; you’ll smile, you’ll cry, and you’ll remember just how lucky you are to have such small perfect family members–challenges and all.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of Selkie by Nataly Gruender

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Synopsis:
Seven years ago, Quinn finally dared to transform from a seal into a human and took her first steps on land. As a selkie, she is both a daughter of land and sea. But when a human stole her pelt, he stole her freedom as well, forcing Quinn to become his wife and bear his children. As legend tells, capturing a selkie will bring you luck, and she became a coveted prize.

Constrained to a life that was no longer her own, Quinn longed for nothing more than to find her pelt and seize her freedom. Then one day, her eldest daughter hands Quinn her pelt and without a second thought, Quinn snatches it and escapes to the sea. But she’s no longer used to swimming and doesn’t know where her herd has gone. And after an almost disastrous encounter with her former husband, leaving her severely injured, Quinn doesn’t have the strength to go searching.

Instead, she finds herself taking shelter on a nearby island with a lighthouse and three lighthouse keepers. Quinn doesn’t trust humans anymore and wants to stay hidden from the keepers. But she can’t survive on her own. Can she learn to trust these humans and shed her hatred of all humankind? Or will she give into her fears and accept the monstrous fate that others have bestowed upon her?

Review:
I spent most of the first 7 or 8 chapters wondering why I was trying to push myself to keep reading, finding it very hard to fall into. The stories of the selkies were excellently interwoven to the story, and this is the first novel I have read that featured them as the main creature. Quinn felt different on land and didn’t get along with humans, but we learn more and more as the time went on how she made no efforts to attempt to fit in, and likely no one understood why she was so standoffish. By the time she had children it was too late; no one would allow her into their circles. Once Quinn makes it to the island shelter the story seemed to take off, for me. I loved the story of found family, of learning to trust people despite tragic happenings in your past. While the ending is adequate, I couldn’t get over that Quinn was willing to do everything she could for them while leaving her children behind when it had allegedly bothered her so much previously.

Star rating: ✯✯✯

Review of The Daisy Chain Flower Shop by Laurie Gilmore

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Synopsis:
The greatest love is the one you never expected to find

Daisy is fed up with being unlucky in love. And since Mayor Kelly declared her beloved flower shop cursed in one of his infamous visions, business has been slow.

Dream Harbor newcomer Elliot has been adjusting to small-town life following his own relationship turmoil. And until now he’s avoided the flower shop at all costs. If the mayor is correct, he doesn’t need any more bad luck in his life.

When he finds himself walking through the door of the Daisy Chain Flower Shop, he doesn’t expect it to be a life-changing moment. But as the petals blossom in the sunlight, might the unluckiest woman in Dream Harbor finally find that love comes when you’re least expecting it?

The Daisy Chain Flower Shop is a cozy romantic mystery with a fake relationship dynamic, a small-town setting and a HEA guaranteed.

Review:
“And one day you might meet someone who becomes your new favorite person and then hearing them laugh becomes your new favorite thing.” (Page 98)

I really liked Daisy. Yes, she’s been unlucky in love, but she can turn her own luck around, darn it! I also liked Elliot; so willing to blend into the background but so drawn to this girl that he’s willing to step in and help her change her fate. While there were some pseudo generation curses to work on, it was awesome seeing Daisy and Elliot bloom from protecting themselves and only caring about business to remembering what life and love can be like. It was very amusing to experience Daisy’s back and forth between whether or not she is cursed, and how such thoughts are laid to rest. I also love Goldie and how connected she was to Daisy and Elliot. The ending was absolutely perfect.

Although the stories are rather predictably happily ever after, I did very much love this story and look forward to reading more in Dream Harbor in the future.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of Of Mages and Matcha by Shari L. Tapscott

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Synopsis:
Of Mages and Matcha is the final book in Owls, Tea Shops, and Other Magical Nuisances, a lighthearted contemporary fantasy full of humor and romance.

My name is Kit, and I’m in love with my owl.

Normally, developing a romantic attachment to an animal is frowned upon, even if you’re fae, but my owl is actually a mage. A very handsome mage, to be precise. One who enjoys Taiwanese oolong, stealing my e-reader, and making eyes at me across the tea shop.

I want Rowan. He wants me. And our bonded magic wants us together.

The only problem? His ex-fiancée wants him, too. (And she’s kind of scary.)

I have no doubt it will all work out, but I also have a passel of pesky gnomes to deal with, a garden soirée to throw, and a lot of money to raise before July.

I’m running out of time, but thankfully, business is flourishing. As long as I can keep the Fae Preservation Society from shutting down the shop, everything will be just fine…

Owls, Tea Shops, and Other Magical Nuisances is a rom-com style contemporary fantasy. The perfect lighthearted escape, this story is sure to delight readers who enjoy cozy magic and humor.

The books in this series feature smoldering-but-sweet, closed-door romance. (Passionate kisses and some innuendo, but no spicy scenes.)

Review:
“You are adorable–the kind of girl a man wants to cuddle up to and protect.”
“You make me sound like a purse dog.” (Page 61)

The final conclusion of the story is bittersweet! There were some inclinations towards the grand reveal about Rowan and a lot of surprise that Ash hadn’t figured it out beforehand. I love how everyone arrives and does their best to help and support Kit however they can. While clearly opinionated I also like that Kit’s parents do their best to be supportive of her dating decisions, even if they dislike them. I will say I didn’t see the main climax coming, and I was very glad when Kit was tracked down! Some parts of this story seemed as if they were only there to encourage readers to learn more in a next series, but that didn’t really bother me.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯