Boyles

Synopsis:
In this cozy romantasy, the villain finally gets the girl.I have three problems:

One: The hot guy I met in the bushes (don’t ask) has magic so cold and dangerous it should come with a warning label.

Two: My family’s dragging me to a ball hosted by the Nightmare King—you know, the cruel monster who rules the dark half of town where the sun literally never rises.

Three: Turns out Hot Bush Guy and Nightmare King are the same person. And when our magic touches? We make flowers. Which would be romantic if I wasn’t supposed to be terrified of him.

Eryx Nightshade has spent ten years alone in his castle, haunted by a voice in his head that demands blood and revenge. Until I walked into his spell and the voice went from “destroy everyone” to “she’s pretty, don’t mess this up.”

Now he’s thrown a ball to find me. I’m trapped in pink tulle and sparkly sneakers. And every time we touch, our magic does things that shouldn’t be possible.

He thinks I’m his salvation.

I think he might be mine.

But I’m supposed to marry someone to save my family’s dying magic, and he’s got a revenge plot ten years in the making.

Falling for the Nightmare King wasn’t part of anyone’s plan.

Especially the nightmare’s.

Review:
“Sparkles don’t equal sweetness.” (Page 138)

This book did an amazing job of showing people with two very different types of trauma regarding having/being in relationships and what they had to do to overcome their biases. Usually instant attraction/fated mates/magical explosions are not a way to endear me to a relationship, but I think that for these particular two it was justified. As with all Boyles’ Seven Suitors books so far I would say it’s rather plot light/obvious but the story was well done. I actually much preferred seeing Chelsea have to really look insider herself and assess why she thinks so negatively about romantic relationships (not just short entanglements) to most of the work between Eryx and Chelsea. Nightmare was just so perfectly there–I couldn’t imagine the story without him. This story really had elements of so many fairy tales that I am not sure I could state which in particular she wanted to highlight; there’s obvious nods towards red riding hood, Cinderella, and Beauty and the Beast. All in all, a great light cozy fantasy book.

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯

Synopsis:
What happens when magical enemies wind up in a real-life Freaky Friday?

Witch Blair Thornrose has spent her life working in her family’s magical bookshop. But when the magic begins failing, the only thing that can save it is for Blair to marry. The one way that witches know how to do that—throw a witchy ballroom dance to find the most eligible suitor.

But Blair has a power that makes most men run for cover—all of them except the brutally handsome and terribly arrogant Devlin Ross, that is.

Wizard inventor Devlin Ross has never gotten over Blair Thornrose. The two dated in high school, but things ended badly between them. When he discovers that she must find a husband, Devlin’s jealous. He wants Blair badly, but there’s a reason why they can’t be together—a secret that Devlin refuses to share.

When a magical spell goes terribly wrong and Devlin and Blair switch powers, Blair is furious. But Devlin makes her a deal—he will help her win the man of her dreams if she helps him build his latest invention. This is too big an opportunity for Blair to give up. But will Devlin reveal the secret that tore them apart, or will he push Blair into the arms of another man and give her up forever?

If you love sisterhood, romances that sweep you off your feet, magical bookstores, and loving families, then you’ll adore the second book in the Seven Suitors for Seven Witches series.

Review:
This book is a great second chance romance. A comfy, light read. Despite their friction it’s so obvious that there is still so much between Blair and Devlin. I quite enjoyed the story and was glad for how everything ended. While there were some obvious parts, and some parts where you wanted to shake the characters and tell them to just talk to each other, over all the story was sweet. I loved that Devlin really knew her and encouraged Blair to look into herself for what she liked and wanted to do instead of just being what she was expected because of her family. Looking forward to seeing how they help the other sisters get married off in the future!

Star rating: ✯✯✯✯

Amy S. Brown

Review of How to Negotiate With a Nightmare by Amy Boyles

Review of How to Outfit a Wizard by Amy Boyles