Review of Valentine’s Slay by Navessa Allen

/ authoramysbrown / Leave a comment

Synopsis:
Roses are red, violets are blue, Emma’s not dead, and her gravedigger’s hot too. This Valentine’s Day, love claws its way out of the grave in #1 New York Times bestselling author Navessa Allen’s steamy and hilariously dark rom-com.

Louisiana gravedigger Noah Evans’s Valentine’s night shift takes an unexpected turn when his high school crush starts screaming from her freshly dug grave. Whoever tried to bury Emma six feet under is in for a nasty surprise—they should have checked for a pulse because she’s got unfinished business, starting with the hot gravedigger who just saved her life. As they unearth a deadly family conspiracy, Noah and Emma discover that old flames burn even hotter the second time around—especially when someone’s trying to kill them.

Navessa Allen’s Valentine’s Slay is part of The Improbable Meet-Cute: Second Chances, stories for star-crossed lovers and hopeless romantics. They can be read or listened to in one sitting. Let’s do it again.

Review:
This book is more a novella than a novel and is a good, quick read if you’re looking for something super spicy with a bit of grit and edge to it. Did I think things went a bit too fast? Yes, in parts. This is also an extremely short story in regards to doing the most you can with the least amount of characters possible, but having it make sense as to why there aren’t more people around. It’s a great dark romance with some very serious stuff going on in the background. The chemistry between the main characters was great, and the ending was just perfect. This is definitely one that will grip you from the first page, and leave you hoping for a happily ever after because damn, do they deserve one.

If you’re looking for a quick in between palate cleanser book of dark romance with quite a lot of spice, this is the book for you! If you just want some dark romance that involves graveyards, also the book for you!

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯
Spice rating: 🌶️🌶️

Review of The Duke and I by Julia Quinn

/ authoramysbrown / Leave a comment

Synopsis:
Can there be any greater challenge to London’s Ambitious Mamas than an unmarried duke?—Lady Whistledown’s Society Papers, April 1813

By all accounts, Simon Basset is on the verge of proposing to his best friend’s sister—the lovely and almost-on-the-shelf—Daphne Bridgerton. But the two of them know the truth—it’s all an elaborate ruse to keep Simon free from marriage-minded society mothers. And as for Daphne, surely she will attract some worthy suitors now that it seems a duke has declared her desirable.

But as Daphne waltzes across ballroom after ballroom with Simon, it’s hard to remember that their courtship is a sham. Maybe it’s his devilish smile, certainly it’s the way his eyes seem to burn every time he looks at her . . . but somehow Daphne is falling for the dashing duke . . . for real! And now she must do the impossible and convince the handsome rogue that their clever little scheme deserves a slight alteration, and that nothing makes quite as much sense as falling in love.

Review:
“I don’t believe I have ever been condescended to by a woman before.”
She shrugged, “It was probably past time.” (Page 102)

I decided to give this book a shot as it was on kindle unlimited and I am waiting for the end of the fourth season of Bridgerton the television show to drop on the 26th. I was very pleasantly surprised as once I started I could not set this book down! I spent most of yesterday reading, finishing well into the early hours of the morning (thank goodness authors set their own hours and can sleep in!) The characters were so very different from the show, in good ways and bad. Violet has far more gumption and intention than her television counterpart; soft spoken about the marital act aside, she has whims and ways of controlling and manipulating the family that the children aren’t even aware of. The looks of the characters also very distinctly from the television show, with all the Bridgerton children having chestnut hair and various eye colours and Violet being fair haired with blue eyes. Simon himself also instigates more than the television show led one to believe. I loved the brotherhood of Anthony, Benedict and Colin and how Anthony was willing to go up against Simon all the time for his sister. I definitely hadn’t expected what actually happened at Lady Trowbridge’s ball, nor how Daphne actually learned more about the marital act.

I could write an entire compare and contrast of the two but in the end the most important thing to note is that the book absolutely enthralled me from the first page and I could not set it down. There was not any intimacy until deep within the novel which made it all the more alluring. Simon and Daphne had a far superior connection in the novel than the book, and I quite enjoyed the difference in Daphne’s personality and her understanding of men given her three older brothers. Daphne is far more witty and cutting than her television counterpart.

As with all things book to screen one has to almost consider them completely separate entities but this author will encourage you to read the first book in the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn, for if we are anything alike, you’ll be hooked.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of Owl Take Thee by Leanne Leeds

/ authoramysbrown / Leave a comment

Synopsis:
Wedding bells are in the air for witch Astra Arden and her werewolf fiancé Lothian—not to mention her divine owl familiar Archie and his feathery bride-to-be Noctua. But when a guest turns up dead at their joint bachelor-bachelorette party, “till death do us part” takes on an entirely new meaning.

With both weddings just days away, Astra finds herself juggling seating charts, cake tastings, and a murder investigation that’s hitting too close to home. Even worse, the victims’s dying message points to someone in the wedding party as the killer. Could one of their nearest and dearest be harboring deadly secrets beneath their celebratory smiles?

As magical mishaps plague the wedding preparations and suspicion falls on their friends and family, Astra and Archie must race against time to unmask the murderer before they say “I do.” With wedding gifts arriving that seem more like threats and mysterious omens appearing at every turn, the path to matrimonial bliss is anything but smooth.

Can Astra solve the case and still make it down the aisle? Or will this wedding celebration end with a funeral instead of a reception?

Review:
“Bacon transcends tradition. It’s universal. Timeless.” (Page 5)

“… love isn’t about finding someone perfect but about finding someone whose imperfections fit perfectly with yours.” (Page 430)

This book had one of the most intricate and well done mystery plots I have read in a Leeds book in a while! For the first part of the book I found myself frustrated that nothing seemed to relate to Astra’s past in the military and specifically her pyrometry power but both of those things became integral to the plot of this novel! I do wish that there had been more mention of what type of owl Archie is, as I found myself at a loss at one point. I also wish that the cover more accurately portrayed what Astra’s wedding vision is, though perhaps this is the “Percy-ified” version with Blushing Bride pink.

I loved the layers to this mystery and how while certain fae may have been trying to help, they couldn’t outright do so. There were definitely many worries that the wedding would not happen in time, or that a curse would befall them for having to postpone. Though there was tension with Astra’s mother (as always) it was so sweet how much she wanted to be there for her daughter… though I’m sure the cost will equal another book’s adventure in the future. The ending of this book was absolute perfection, and all my love goes to Midnight the owl for being the best little boy he could be!

I recommend this series to anyone who loves cozy modern fantasy mystery and especially owls.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of The Wizard’s Cat by Nathan Lowell

/ authoramysbrown / Leave a comment

Synopsis:
It started with a dandelion.
Innocuous. Ubiquitous.
Who knew it was a warning?

After claiming his big bonus, things are coming up roses for Roger Mulligan. A job he loves. A house that feels like home. Money in the bank. A solid roof over his head and job security.

But when he finds a dandelion on the pristine grounds of Shackleford House, he starts down a twisted, garden path. Old man Shackleford says the fairies have a problem, the pixies keep falling down on the job, and the house seems to grow weaker by the day.

He’s soon tossed into a confusing mixture of fact and fantasy, accompanied by Shackleford’s cousin and – of all things – a stray cat. Surrounded by the fantastical, it’s hard to tell magic from mundane.

Review:
I loved how Barbara got to become front and center in this novel, and how Roger, while changed, has become more resilient than he ever thought possible. While following Roger was always amusing, it was clearly the cat who was the star of the show. I really enjoyed this novel, but in some ways I felt like it didn’t feel as extravagant and all encompassing as the first in the series. In the first novel there were a series of different things that Roger, the house and family had to overcome. In this novel, while there was technically more to be overcome, most of the discourse and nitty gritty of such things (Barbara’s turmoil, the company issues) were done off the page and only vaguely mentioned or referenced. I don’t feel like we are done with the Wizard, his Apprentice, or the Cat so I really hope there will be another book in the future.

I would recommend this series to anyone who loves the average guy using his wits to save a situation (especially the magically people involved), people stepping out of their comfort zones and finding their true place, and in the second book- cats!

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯

Review of Too Many Curses by A. Lee Martinez

/ authoramysbrown / Leave a comment

Synopsis:
The wizard Margle the Horrendous takes special pride in never killing his enemies. Instead, he transforms them into various accursed forms and locks them away in his castle. His halls are filled with his collection of fallen heroes and defeated villains, along with a few ordinary folk who were just unfortunate enough to draw Margle’s attention.

It’s Nessy’s duty to tend this castle. It’s a lot of work, but she manages, taking pride in housekeeping talents that keep the castle from collapsing into chaos. But when Margle suddenly dies, everything begins to unravel. Nessy finds herself surrounded by monsters, curses, a door that should never be opened, and one very deadly dark wizardess.

Nessy doesn’t have might or magic on her side; she’s just a kobold: short, furry, and sensible. Her allies aren’t much better: a voice without a body, an angry fruit bat, a monster under her bed, a wizard in a jar (or some of him, anyway), and a one-eyed, one-horned, flying, purple, people eater. It would be smarter to walk away, but taking care of the castle is Nessy’s job, and that’s just what she intends to do.

If only she could find time to polish the silver while beating back the forces of darkness.

Review:
This book was gifted to me for Christmas, so therefore counts towards the paper books read tally. I personally found the book a bit hard to get into, but then it wasn’t a book I would have picked up for myself. This book was interesting in that it dealt with a lot of neat Dungeons and Dragons adjacent creatures/effects. This was definitely a younger age book than I would have expected, though marketed for adults I really think 8+ could read and enjoy this novel. There were a lot of good moments of learning about one’s self and abilities and not being defined by a title you may have gained/have or what you are considered because of the station you were born into in life.

I would recommend this to any young readers into DnD that like adventure.

Star rating: ✯✯✯

Review of The Wizard’s Butler by Nathan Lowell

/ authoramysbrown / Leave a comment

Synopsis:
“He thinks he’s a wizard,” they said. For five grand a month and a million dollar chaser, Roger Mulligan didn’t care how crazy the old geezer was. All he had to do was keep Joseph Perry Shackleford alive and keep him from squandering the estate for a year. They didn’t tell him about the pixies.

Review:
“Ebooks. This is my only connection to the outer world.” (Page 84)

This book has everything except romance, and always left me wanting to keep reading on. I had to sleep halfway through a chapter many a night because I didn’t want to put this book down! While this book has some sort of wizard, maybe, one of the main focuses is easy to relate to Roger Mulligan, who is former army/former EMT. He’s got a steady mind and can be quick on his feet, which makes his entry into a world he had never imagined; that of being a butler, a job that many think doesn’t even exist, all the more exciting. Especially when you add in that Shackleford thinks he’s a wizard. Despite being about the mundane things we do not want to think about in our own day to day life, Lowell writes Mulligan’s activities in a way that make you want to see more of just what a butler may do and how his job influences and interacts with all of the other ongoing plots. All of the characters had great depth and motives. While at times it seemed a very low-risk cozy modern/urban paranormal fantasy, the fatality at stake leads one to need to keep reading. I loved seeing how the house encouraged change for the inhabitants, and how it helped them to find what they most needed in their lives. Mulligan needed this job, but in many ways, Shackleford needed him to lead him into a new era. I’ve already started the second book, and so far (19% in) it is just as good as the first.

I loved this book immensely and cannot wait to share it with my husband and friends in the near future.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of The Ether Witch 2: Confronting the Crafty Concubine by Delemhach

/ authoramysbrown / Leave a comment

Synopsis:
A devil, a familiar, and magic gone wild—Tam’s life is more than a little complicated! Can he turn the chaos into triumph, or will it drag him someplace far darker?

Having narrowly escaped capture by the Zinferan army, Tam, Eli, and Luca find themselves on the run.

Their goal?

Find a way home to Daxaria.

Preferably alive!

But as Tam carries on his family legacy, he continues to land himself in a whole cauldron of hot water!

Despite discovering his familiar and beginning to embrace his magic, greater powers like corrupt covens and a villainous concubine loom over him.

Will he be able to guide his loved ones out of danger, or will he be forced to take drastic actions to end the brewing calamity?

Find out in the second volume of The Ether Witch!

Review:
“Sometimes in life, the disaster we find ourselves in aren’t our faults. But it’s still up to us to figure it out. And sometimes, the best person to save us is ourselves.” (Page 134)

Ah, to be back in with Tam! In this book, Tam really came into his own. He learned how to be assertive and speak up about his thoughts and feelings, in part because he knows he has to be an example for Luca. This book featured quite the epic journey and more hidden surprises along the way. It was also awesome seeing Eli step more into herself and find a true voice. I absolute did not expect Tamlin to go as far as he did, given his social standing, but it was definitely the right thing to do. I adore Penelope and cannot wait to see what happens with her and everyone else in the future!

There were so many unexpected characters throughout this novel that really made it more enjoyable. It has been wonderful getting to learn more about characters we’ve gotten to know and journeyed with for three trilogies. I can only hope that we will have more epic journeys with future characters after the third book in this series comes out; an ending I look forward to reading.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of A Skirl of Sorcery by Helen Harper

/ authoramysbrown / Leave a comment

Synopsis:
Death has a new address—and it’s Kit McCafferty’s.

When Kit offers a room to a powerless ban sith who has lost her magic, she sets off a chain reaction across Coldstream’s supernatural streets. Her neighbours are panicking. Dangerous werewolves are on the prowl. And Kit finds herself trying to solve several desperate problems all at once.

Kit knows the world’s a messy place, especially when magic’s involved. But this reeks of something dark and nasty. She’s paws deep – and there’s every chance that Thane, the copper-haired werewolf who stirs Kit’s heart, will become collateral damage.

Her house is full of cats, and her city is full of monsters … fortunately, Kit McCafferty is one of them.

A Skirl of Sorcery is the third book in the captivating urban fantasy crime series The Cat Lady Chronicles. Expect mystery, adventure and a posse of cats.

Review:
“We all had our demons; some were simply more obvious than others.” (Page 17)

This book was amazing! I wasn’t sure how much Thane was going to play into this novel given how close it was to the full moon, but I actually loved the way his past was tied in to the plot. It was nice seeing Kit remind herself that she is a very capable woman and she can handle things. This book also served as a great reminder that if you’re good to your neighbors/village, they will be willing to do things for you… or maybe Dave just really has grown on Kit/really owed the ban sith. Trilby made some excellent points as well, and I hope that maybe in the very far future we’ll have a series based on her since she is so unique. The ending was both perfect and so frustrating because I cannot wait to hear Tiddles name!!


Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of Tea & Alchemy by Sharon Lynn Fisher

/ authoramysbrown / Leave a comment

Synopsis:
A tea leaf reader in nineteenth-century England falls in love—and in danger—with a reclusive alchemist in an enthralling historical fantasy by the author of Salt & Broom and Grimm Curiosities.

Cornwall, 1854. The people of Roche have always whispered about the recluse in the black granite tower that looms above the moorland. But one young woman is driven to discover the truth behind the old tales.

Her life overshadowed by family tragedy, Mina Penrose escapes her lonely days by working at The Magpie, a cozy tearoom on the village’s edge. Lately she’s been seeing shapes in the sodden leaves that hint at the future. After one such omen, Mina stumbles upon a murdered man on the heath. Villagers immediately suspect Harker Tregarrick, a living, breathing mystery who never ventures beyond the bounds of his centuries-old estate.

Until the day after the murder, when the handsome and compelling recluse visits The Magpie…leading to a meeting that will change both their fates. Captivated by a man around whom danger and rumors of death swirl, Mina has never felt more alive. Can she uncover Harker’s heartbreaking history—and the truth about the murder—before tragedy strikes again?

Review:
“I may not have spent much time around other people, but I’ve read more books than I can count, and I think if there’s anything that defines us as human, it’s wanting things that we shouldn’t.” (Page 179)

Ah, this book was so intriguing! Mina and Harker have such interesting pasts and separate lives, and I loved how they managed to entwine. I really enjoyed the added touches of mysticism with Mina’s predictions and Harker’s potions. What really struck me as unique was the creature and way in which so much of this began; something so unique like the way the beast appears in Disney’s version. The familial connections gave this a very deep and different feel than the book it takes some inspiration from–Jack can be so frustrating and yet you know he’s really trying. I also quite loved Mrs. Moyle, especially her ideas such as, “Being a woman is not excuse for being uninformed.” (Page 5)

All in all, I think this is an excellent book of Romantasy, for those that like the dark and mysterious, and retellings that turn an original story upside down.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯

Review of What Stalks the Deep by T. Kingfisher

/ authoramysbrown / Leave a comment

Synopsis:
The next installment in the New York Times bestselling Sworn Soldier series, featuring Alex Easton investigating the dark, mysterious depths of a coal mine in America

Alex Easton does not want to visit America.

They particularly do not want to visit an abandoned coal mine in West Virginia with a reputation for being haunted.

But when their old friend Dr. Denton summons them to help find his lost cousin—who went missing in that very mine—well, sometimes a sworn soldier has to do what a sworn soldier has to do…

Review:
“And now we were talking about feelings. I would almost rather he had poured the burning oil on me.” (Page 154)

I could not put this book down! I loved all Alex’s quips on life and keeping to themselves, and poor Dr. Denton and his cousin. I really enjoyed seeing Angus get on with Dr. Denton’s equivalent–very capable people all around. I adored how Alex internally reasoned and tried so hard to not let fear get the best of them, because, you know, they certainly aren’t afraid. I absolutely adore the writing style and voice of this novel; it’s a big part of what ensnares you, because it is almost like a journal written in first person as you go along on the adventure with everyone.

“Christ’s blood, now what?” I asked. Kent appeared and pressed coffee into my hands. I blessed him and all his kin and swore undying fealty to his house. I took several sips of coffee before I realized I’d been speaking Gallacian, which was probably just as well. (Page 76)

This was certainly a different type of paranormal than the last two books, and I quite enjoyed the novelty of it as I haven’t read of anything of the sort before!

Highly recommend for those who enjoyed Mexican Gothic, and enjoy Gothic Horror/Fantasy in general. It’s one that will leave you waiting for another adventure to come along, though I am certain Alex wishes they were done with that life, thank you very much.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯✯