Bone Voyage (Midlife Spirits, Book 5) : HP Mallory

Spiritual connections and disturbing information.

This novella is book five of Midlife Spirits, a Paranormal Women’s Fiction series of short novels from HP Mallory. The book is set in the Garden District of New Orleans, USA. 

This short story is set just after the events in book four (Bump in the Night). Peyton is hired to solve a mystery using her new found abilities to communicate with the spirit world. During her task, she uncovers a disturbing piece of information regarding Voodoo Hoodoo Priestess, Guarda, which could have an impact on how the rest of the story unfolds.

I am eagerly awaiting book six in this series. I love the way the characters have really come to life and I’m invested in their journeys. HP Mallory writes in a well paced style, which draws the readers into her world.

The reading order for this series is as follows:

Book 1: Afraid of the Dark

Book 2: A Ghost of a Chance

Book 3: Mischief Brewing

Book 4: Bump in the Night

Book 5: Bone Voyage

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Fallen Warrior (The Fallen, Book 5) : Layna Snow

A Dark Elf. A Demon-possessed Fallen Angel. A love which really could be Apocalyptic.

This is the fifth and final book in the Fallen series. Although the book is part of a wider series, it can be read as a standalone novel. The book is a Paranormal Romance set in the USA. There are descriptive scenes of a sexual nature. 

Aamaya is a former demon-fighting Warrior Angel, who has fallen. Now on earth, living the life of a wingless human, she’s experiencing an increasing number of blackouts and can’t account for the missing time. There’s a darkness within her. It’s getting stronger and trying to take over but she doesn’t know how to combat it by herself. The problem is, she’s always been fiercely independent and now she’s alone with nobody to turn to. 

Malyk is a Dark Elf who left his own realm for a life on Earth. He’s difficult to approach, doesn’t play well with others and he wears a glamour at all times to keep his true nature hidden. He works for the Hunters; a group of supernatural beings led by another Fallen Angel. The Hunters’ ultimate mission is to prevent the Apocalypse and save humanity at any cost. 

When a Seer’s vision identifies Aamaya as a key component of the Apocalypse, Malyk is tasked with watching her and eliminating her if it becomes necessary. When the demon possessing Aamaya forces them together, all Hell really could break loose.

Layna Snow has an easy to read style of writing and good worldbuilding which is easy to get to grips with. There are all manner of supernaturals in this story; Elves, Angels, Demons, Vampires and Shifters, amongst others. I read this book as a standalone and I enjoyed it. I will likely go back and read the previous four books to get more insight into some of the characters in this story but not having read them didn’t detract from my ability to understand and enjoy this book.

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Dark Legacy (Crawford Investigations, Book 7) : JC McKenzie

There’s no such thing as a quiet life for the Queen of Corvids. 

This is the seventh book in the Crawford Investigations series.The book is Urban Fantasy with some level of romance. There are mentions of sexual activity but no descriptive scenes.This book once again focuses on Raven Crawford and is set six years after the first book and follows on directly from the books about Raven’s sister, Juni. 

There’s no such thing as a quiet life for the Queen of Corvids. It seems that everyone needs Raven’s attention: the young Troll Prince is missing and the Trolls are requesting her help to find him; her brother, Mike, is investigating another case of a missing boy and needs her help to find him; yet another Roller group is causing problems, attempting to link their souls to the Realm of Light; to top it all off, Juni has been coerced into binding herself to the Lord of War and Raven is forced to look for a way to break the binding. 

As ever, JC McKenzie’s style of writing is fluid and easy to read. The story is well paced and although there is a lot going on, we don’t lose track of it. The world building is very good. We get more of a glimpse into the Realm of Light in this book. The characters are well developed and interact with each other in a believable and relatable way. The story is increasingly complex; the big shiny hook at the end has definitely reeled me in and I want to know more.

I’m enjoying this series. If you like to read predominantly Urban Fantasy with a touch of Paranormal Romance and worldbuilding which takes you beyond the mortal realm, then this is the series for you.

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Bump in the Night (Midlife Spirits, Book 4) : HP Mallory

Time is running out. Peyton has the opportunity to vanquish the demon but it might cost her everything. 

This is book four of Midlife Spirits, a Paranormal Women’s Fiction series of short novels from HP Mallory. The book is set in the Garden District of New Orleans, USA. There is some romantic interest and there are some mild descriptive scenes of a sexual nature.

I absolutely raced through this book. I couldn’t put it down. 

A further visit to the Voodoo Hoodoo Priestess leaves Peyton’s senses fully open to the spirit world and a subsequent meeting with the mysterious and otherworldly Loa of the Dead, Baron Samedi, leads to her remembering her first session with the untrustworthy Priestess.

Peyton finds herself attempting the seemingly impossible in order to save herself and other members of the town from the impending bloodbath at the hands of the demon Axeman. To succeed she promises Baron Samedi anything he wants, which is a broad and dangerous promise to make.

While her relationship with Ryan is progressing well and she does love him, Peyton is finding herself increasingly drawn to Drake, who has become more to her than a haunting spirit residing within her body. The more she learns about Drake, the more she realises that she also loves him, despite the fact that a relationship with him will never be possible.

I love the complex dynamic of the relationship between Peyton, Ryan and Drake; how torn she is between the two men she loves and who both love her. I found myself getting increasingly invested in the story. That ending; I could feel everything Peyton was feeling, I was so drawn in. This story is well paced and beautifully crafted. I can’t wait for the next installment.

The reading order for this series is as follows:

Book 1: Afraid of the Dark

Book 2: A Ghost of a Chance

Book 3: Mischief Brewing

Book 4: Bump in the Night

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Mischief Brewing (Midlife Spirits, Book 3) : HP Mallory

Impending tragedy and a brush with the spirit world. Has our heroine put her own mortal soul in jeopardy?

This is book three of Midlife Spirits, a Paranormal Women’s Fiction series of short novels from HP Mallory. The book is set in the Garden District of New Orleans, USA. There is some romantic interest but no descriptive scenes of a sexual nature.

Peyton has successfully exorcised the malevolent demonic entity from her home but will it be enough? All signs point to a sudden spike in paranormal activity throughout the town which coincides with the exorcism and it seems as though she has only two days to try and figure out how to stop tragedy from striking the town again.  

The local Priestess and Warlock who helped her before are concerned and seeing no other option, they take Peyton to see a powerful Voodoo Hoodoo Priestess. Can this Priestess be trusted though? Drake, the spirit possessing Peyton, doesn’t think so and he might be right. Is Peyton getting herself too embroiled in local witchcraft and putting herself at risk? Could this Priestess have traded Peyton’s soul? If she has, what is it in exchange for?

Meanwhile, she has to come clean to Ryan about Drake possessing her. How will Ryan react and what will it mean for their fledgeling relationship?

This book has wonderfully descriptive scenes of frustrated passions, hauntings, possession and a glimpse into the ritual practices of voodoo witchcraft. This story arc ends on a dramatic note and leaves the reader itching to dive into book four, which fortunately is now published. 

As ever, HP Mallory’s fluent style of writing draws the reader in. The story is well paced and makes the reader feel like they are being taken on a journey. The character development and world building are good and I find myself further invested in what happens to Peyton, Ryan and Drake. 

The reading order for this series is as follows:

Book 1: Afraid of the Dark

Book 2: A Ghost of a Chance

Book 3: Mischief Brewing

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Undertow (The Carolina Files, Book 2) : Willa Blackmore

Urban Fantasy meets Horror in this tale of kidnap, murder and possession.

This is book two of The Carolina Files Series; Urban Fantasy meets Paranormal meets Horror. The book is set in the town of Henley-on-Hale, North Carolina. A unique town where supernatural beings mix freely with local mundane humans.

Tula Whitlow is one of three witch sisters who run a local Inn for Supernatural beings. The three had let their talents lapse and were living the high life until recently, when trouble landed on their doorstep and they were forced to start learning their witchcraft to defend the town. 

Trouble continues to plague the town. A series of gruesome murders of local teenagers comes to light. Demonic sigils found tattooed on the dead teens and daubed at the sites where their bodies are left leads local law enforcement to call in Tula to help investigate. All signs point to a ritual sacrifice which took place 15 years before. Were the teens involved in a demonic cult or are they paying for the sins of their parents?

I really enjoyed this book. The descriptive world building and character development is great; I like Willa Blackmore’s style of writing. It’s well paced and draws you into the story. I like that we see a bit more of what Tula’s sisters can do. I hope we get to know them better as the series progresses. I like that Tula hasn’t suddenly become an all-powerful, all-knowing witch and is having to actually learn her craft and hone her skills. I love Ruby and I like the way she is pulled in to help and uses everything as a teaching moment. I love that Tula hasn’t leapt into a relationship with the vampire, Victor, even though I kind of really want her to. 

This story is more complex than the first book and it’s all the better for that. I was completely immersed in this tale from start to finish. I really enjoyed it. I’m excited to see what the next book will hold. This is definitely one of the more interesting new series I’ve read lately. Willa Blackmore is an author to watch.

Available from Amazon

Invasion (The Carolina Files, Book 1) : Willa Blackmore

A paranormal mystery story with a touch of comic horror  

This is the first book in The Carolina Files; a planned Urban Fantasy meets PI series. I originally read and reviewed this book in April 2021.

The story features Tula Whitlow, a magic user who has let her talents lapse. She is one of three witch sisters, living in the small town of Henley-on-Hale, North Carolina. The town is a peaceful one and is made up of a good mix of magical and non magical inhabitants.

Mystery and peril arrive, brought by visitors who are caught up in events just outside of the town’s borders. This is a tale of magic, villainy and a summoned malevolent ancient god. What could possibly go wrong? 

I loved this book. The main and secondary characters are well defined, grow throughout the book and I found myself invested in their journeys. I could definitely relate to the main character, who finds herself thrust into situations she has no idea how to manage, yet somehow makes it through, often by the skin of her teeth. She grows from a young lady who is winging her way through life and not really taking anything seriously, to a woman whose need for magical skill has been thrust back upon her, giving her a focus and sense of purpose by the end of this story arc. 

The writing is easy to read, funny in places and there were no grammatical issues to pull me out of the flow of the story. I found myself staying up into the early hours because I wanted to know what came next and I couldn’t put the book down.

I’m delighted that there will be more books to come. I loved the humour and the comic horror element and I am really looking forward to what has the potential to be an excellent paranormal PI series. 

Available from Amazon

A small happy dance

I have to post this here because I might be a bit excited at this mention in the acknowledgments of Dreia Wells’ Temptation. Look at the last paragraph. 

Temptation (Owensen Witches, Book 2) : Dreia Wells

A witch on the run. An unborn child to break a curse. Be careful what you wish for, the Devil really is in the details. 

Temptation is a Paranormal Romance from new author Dreia Wells. Although it is the second book in the Owensen Witches series, it is her first full length novel. Book one was released as a novella. There is romance in the book but it’s not the main focus. There are references to scenes of a sexual nature but no descriptive scenes. 

The story is primarily set in America’s South and centres around pregnant Witch, Eddy Owensen, who is on the run from her family after betraying her cousin and handing her over to the Devil himself in order to protect her unborn child. Eddy’s son will be the first male born to the family in a century, breaking an old curse. To top it off, he will be both Witch and Wolf Shifter; the first hybrid. The supernatural world will be turned upside down and everyone wants a piece of this child. 

The book is filled with a plethora of supernatural beings; Witches, Shifters, Vampires, Archangels, Demons and the Devil himself. There are chases, battles and family feuds but there is also love and the sense of the importance of family connection. 

This book is leaps and bounds better than the first novella. I really enjoyed the story. The writing flows well and the world building is well thought out. The characters have developed well since book one and new characters have been brought in. The story did not take the direction I had thought it would after reading book one and it is so much better for it. I am very much looking forward to the next book. I want to see where this story goes and how the characters grow. Roll on book three! 

Available from Amazon 

A Ghost of a Chance (Midlife Spirits, Book 2) : HP Mallory

A Haunting, A Possession and an Exorcism. Not the settled, quiet life Peyton had hoped for.

This is book two of Midlife Spirits, a new Paranormal Women’s Fiction series of short novels from HP Mallory. The book is set in New Orleans, USA. There is some romantic interest but no descriptive scenes of a sexual nature.

The story is set in the Garden District of New Orleans and follows the life of 44 year old Peyton Clark, who recently moved to the area after divorcing her abusive ex and inheriting an old Antebellum house from her great aunt.

Following the news that her house has recently become home to a malevolent entity, Peyton employs the services of a local Witch and Warlock in an attempt to remove the intruder and close the portal that she and Ryan’s sister had unwittingly opened during a Ouija board session. Is it too late? The entity has already attacked her once and now it wants her. 

Ryan can’t decide how he feels for Peyton. He likes her a lot but his feelings are still tied up in grief for his late wife and he’s struggling to get past the guilt. Meanwhile, Peyton becomes increasingly concerned about the welfare of Drake, her resident ghost; he is the only thing protecting her from the entity but his energies are being depleted by it and its not clear how much longer he can continue. Drastic measures are needed but can Peyton bring herself to go through with them and should she continue to involve Ryan?

This book has wonderful descriptions of paranormal activity, haunting, exorcism and a good dose of frustrated romantic feelings. As ever, HP Mallory’s fluent style of writing draws the reader in. There is a good mixture of fast paced and calm scenes, which help to make the reader feel like they are being taken on a journey. The character development and world building are good and I find myself quite invested in what happens to Peyton, Ryan and Drake. 

The reading order for this series is as follows:

Book 1: Afraid of the Dark
Book 2: A Ghost of a Chance

Available from Amazon

Demon in Denim - Wanda's Witchery (Haven Hollow, Book 6) : HP Mallory & JR Rain

A predatory demon, a runaway libido and increasingly uncontrolled dark magic. Is time running out on Wanda’s stay of execution?

This is the third book in the Wanda’s Witchery series and is a collaboration between HP Mallory and JR Rain. The book falls in the Paranormal Women’s Fiction genre and although there’s the potential for romance, there are no adult scenes and romance is not the main focus of this book.

We find ourselves back in Haven’s Hollow, USA following the increasingly complex and magical life of Wanda, a 140 year old witch who has left her coven to seek sanctuary in the Hollow after being turned into a blood witch by a Lorcan, the vampire. Wanda’s status as blood witch is something which carries a death sentence amongst witches and vampires. Right now, she is living on borrowed time.

Dev, a smart and handsome newcomer to the Hollow, has a very strange effect on Wanda. Her libido is going wild and she is having some very intense and unexpected feelings about Lorcan. This is having a knock on effect on her magic; things are getting messy and Wanda finds herself losing blocks of time and waking up surrounded by death and destruction. All of this is drawing the attention and ire of both vampires and witches. It seems that time is running out for Wanda’s temporary stay of execution. 

Since the last book, Wanda’s character has grown. She tries to maintain the gruff and unemotional exterior that witches are meant to portray but community life has rubbed off on her: she’s developed an actual friendship with the local Gypsy, Poppy; she looks after her niece; she even tolerates Libby, the zombie she raised and Darla, the former ghost who is now corporeal, thanks to her unpredictable magic.  

This is another good collaboration by HP Mallory and JR Rain. They write well together, which makes for a smooth flowing story which is interesting and easy to become immersed in. These books are light, entertaining and easy to read. I’m already looking forward to the next books in both these series.  

The Wanda’s Witchery series and the Poppy’s Potions series run in parallel to each other, set in the same town. If you haven’t already read those, the reading order so far is:

Gypsy Magic (Poppy’s Potions, Book One) 

Cashmere Curses (Wanda’s Witchery, Book One)

Faery Enchantment (Poppy’s Potions, Book Two)

Spandex Sorcery (Wanda’s Witchery, Book Two)

Love’s Goddess (Poppy’s Potions, Book Three)

Demon in Denim (Wanda’s Witchery, Book Three)

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Afraid of the Dark (Midlife Spirits Book 1) : HP Mallory

Spooky new PWF series set in New Orleans

This is book one of a new Paranormal Women’s Fiction series, Midlife Spirits from HP Mallory. The book is set in New Orleans, USA. There is some romantic interest but no scenes of a sexual nature.

On the day she receives her divorce papers, 44 year old Peyton Clark also receives the deeds to a property left to her by a previously unknown great Aunt. For Peyton, this is a sign that she can start afresh, 2000 miles away from her abusive ex, in an old Antebellum house in the Garden District of New Orleans. 

The old house is in a bad state of repair but the huge project is just what Peyton needs to pick herself back up again. Within days of her arrival, the area is hit by huge storms; a badly leaking roof and a small electric heater are not a good combination and she is reluctantly rescued from her plight by neighbour, Ryan Kelly, who she persuades to take on the role of building contractor for her. 

The house holds more than she bargained for, however and the renovations disturb a century old ghost; police officer Drake Montague. Despite her skepticism, Peyton is strangely drawn to her ghostly flatmate, who visits her in her dreams and urges her to investigate and learn about a series of grisly axe murders which took place in the area in the early 20th century.

There’s a definite chemistry between Peyton and Ryan; one which she would very much like to explore further. As well as being serious eye candy, he has the advantage of being a real, living person. 

The book is written in HP Mallory’s usual easy to read and fluent style. The characters are relatable and have depth and you want to get to know them and their journey. The ghost and the inclusion of a series of murders which actually happened, give this book an extra edge. Book two will be released very soon and I am looking forward to it. 

Available from Amazon

Decadent Sins : Heather Relken

Sometimes it takes something darker than good to defeat what is truly evil.

I loved every minute of reading this book. It’s on my list of favourite books which I will read time and time again.

This book is a standalone dark paranormal romance with descriptive scenes of murder, torture and scenes of a sexual nature. There is a trigger warning for child endangerment and another for rape of an adult woman. It is within the context of the book and is essential to the story. Be warned. Here be monsters. 

Malah is a reluctant Princess, forced into marriage with an abusive Prince and living under the despotic rule of his father, the King; a ruler who tortures and kills his people on a whim. Life is not sacred in his kingdom. 

Malah is treated as a pariah in his castle, with no one to talk to and no one turn to, so after accidentally killing her husband during one of his bouts of rage, her only option is to call upon the man her husband had frequently paid to torture her. He takes her, for a price and she hides with him in fear for her life, hoping her past doesn’t catch up with her. 

When your enemy has dark magic at their disposal, just how long can you remain hidden?

This is a story of a fight for survival. Of finding home and family in the most unexpected of places. Of love born from pain and torment. Sometimes it takes something darker than good to defeat what is truly evil.

This book is full of suspense and so well written. I've been glued to this story. Malah came across as resourceful and intelligent. Her character continued to grow throughout the story. Crane, her unplanned love interest, is a dark man; morally grey and increasingly devoted to her. He reminds me a little bit of Loki and I love that. The many tense scenes were perfectly paced and I read them with a healthy dose of trepidation!

I originally read this book as a Beta read. It was the first book I’d read by Heather Relken but I guarantee it definitely won’t be the last. She’s straight into my list of favourite authors. I’ve already started on her back catalogue. 

Available from Amazon