All Hallows Eve (Haven Hollow, Book 10) - HP Mallory & JR Rain

Something wicked this way comes.

This novella is the first Remarkable Remedies book and the 10th in the Haven Hollow series. It is a collaboration between HP Mallory and JR Rain. The book falls in the Paranormal Women’s Fiction genre. In this book there is no romance or scenes of a sexual nature. As the name suggests, this book is set at Halloween.

This series gets better and better. I really enjoy it. Secondary characters are being brought forward and given their own voices, which allows us to see life in the Hollow from new perspectives. As always, the collaboration between HP Mallory and JR Rain works really well. The writing is easy to read, the story moves at a good pace and the characters are well developed.

This book is told from the perspective of Astrid, Wanda’s 16 year old niece who was also banished from their former coven for defending Wanda and now lives with her aunt full time. Samhain is the biggest celebration in the Witches' calendar; Astrid is homesick for the festivities she grew up with and is struggling to adapt to the Halloween customs followed by humans in America. During her moping, she gets a surprise call from her estranged brother, Maverick; a Warlock who was previously banished from Haven Hollow after challenging Wanda and losing the right to claim sanctum. The offer of meeting up with him to celebrate the season like she used to is too great a temptation, even though Astrid knows Maverick isn't really to be trusted.

What follows is a series of mishaps, engineered by Maverick, which result in Astrid accidentally hexing Wanda and putting all their positions in the hollow at risk. How is she going to get herself and Wanda out of this? She’s a young witch, still in training. Nothing has prepared her for this.

The Haven Hollow series features Wanda’s Witchery, Poppy’s Potions,Haven Homes and now Remarkable Remedies. They all run in parallel to each other.The reading order so far is:

Gypsy Magic : Poppy’s Potions (Haven Hollow, Book 1) 

Cashmere Curses : Wanda’s Witchery (Haven Hollow, Book 2)

Faery Enchantment : Poppy’s Potions (Haven Hollow, Book 3)

Spandex Sorcery : Wanda’s Witchery (Haven Hollow, Book 4)

Love’s Goddess : Poppy’s Potions (Haven Hollow, Book 5)

Demon in Denim : Wanda’s Witchery (Haven Hollow, Book 6)

Taffeta Trickery : Wanda’s Witchery (Haven Hollow, Book 7)   

The Black Cat Cocktail Club : Poppy’s Potions (Haven Hollow, Book 8)

French Country Frights : Haven Homes (Haven Hollow, Book 9)

All Hallows Eve : Remarkable Remedies (Haven Hollow, Book 10)

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Wildfire ( Hellfire, Book 1) - Ella Moore

A great start to this new series. A story of love and the fight for survival in Hell on Earth. 

This is the first book in a new paranormal romance series from Ella Moore. The book is set on a version of Earth where humans and demons both live in their own family tribes on the same plane of existence. 

I really enjoyed reading this book. It was nice to read something where both main characters were supernatural and humans didn’t really come into play very much. The characters were all really well developed and the author clearly gave a lot of thought to their very different personalities. The book is written from the POV of both main characters and switches between the two seamlessly, giving a much more holistic view of the story for the reader.I love the writing style. The story was well paced and there was nothing which jarred me out of this very detailed world the author had created. Excellent world building. Excellent character development. Excellent writing style. This author is now firmly on my reading list and I look forward to immersing myself in future books from them.

This book is set in a time before hell was separate from Earth. Before Lucifer had taken his place as ruler. Before humans dominated the planet. In this world, demons spend most of their time in human form and only bring forth their demon form in times of battle. There are many levels of demon; some far more deadly than others.

Erisi is a warrior demon who lives in her human form; very few have seen her demonic form and those who have, invariably don’t live to tell the tale. Erisi is blood bound to Lucifer and tasked with expanding his rule and influence over the demon population. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she is ordered to take control of the strategic stronghold of the Arav family, which she does by sending their leader to his true death. 

Torag is an Arav demon, enslaved by it’s former leader. His role has been to keep the family safe behind the scenes, despite the terrible leadership. It’s a role he has maintained for a millenia. When the leader is dispatched with, the responsibility for keeping the family safe is formally placed on his shoulders when he finds himself named as second in command. He doesn’t trust easily but it would seem that Erisi might just be the type of leader his family needs.

This story is complex. A story of how manipulative and controlling Lucifer was in his rise to power. A story of two very damaged individuals growing and learning to live again, against the odds. A story of love in the most unexpected of places. I was completely enthralled and I cannot wait to see where else this story goes.

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Blue Shadow Prophecy (Chimera, Book 2) - Anca Antoci

Another excellent book in this Fantasy series. 

This is the second book in the Chimera series. The book is set in modern day USA. There is no romance in this book, although the potential for it is alluded to.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It went in a completely different direction to the one I had expected and it was all the better for it. The writing was really easy to read despite English not being the first spoken language of the author, there were a few things which the editor should have picked up but nothing insurmountable and it didn’t interrupt the flow. The story is well paced and interesting. There are a plethora of new characters, all of which are well developed. 

Rae’s introduction to the supernatural was more of a trauma than an adventure. She wasn’t meant to remember it but she does. She is persuaded that it is her destiny to join the Resistance and she sets off on that path but her life is once more derailed after the induction ceremony which gifts her the powers of The Huntress. Her eyes are opened to wider issues, she learns about other realms and once again, it appears that her world was not all that it seemed. Rae has important decisions to make; some of which mean life or death for those around her. 

If you love fantasy books, I’d definitely recommend this series. I’m looking forward to reading the third one when its published, which I believe is not too far off. 

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Captured in Love (Nora Moss Series, Book 2) - Zoe Ashwood

Witches, Sea Dragons and near-death experiences fill this steamy RH PNR.  

This is the second book in the Nora Moss Series, a Paranormal Romance and Reverse Harem series. The book is primarily set in Iceland and has very descriptive scenes of sexual interactions between all three of the main characters; two males and a female. 

I really enjoy Zoe Ashwood’s writing style and story telling. Her world of Witches and Sea Dragons is one I like to get lost in. The stories are well paced and beautifully described. The characters are relatable and develop well throughout the book. 

If you’ve read Zoe Ashwood’s other two series (Sea Dragons of Amber Bay and Norse Sea Dragons), you’ll be familiar with this world of Witches and Sea Dragons. This new series runs parallel to those. 

Nora Moss is a witch who feels that magical knowledge should be shared with all witches and not just held by a select few covens. Her mission is to access the extensive secret libraries of the Scottish Coven by entering their annual magical treasure hunt. Following her near death experience in Egypt on the first leg, she, along with her boyfriends Levi and Raphael, have headed to Iceland to collect their second token. 

Iceland is a place where witches have not been seen in decades. The tokens they need to collect are deep under the sea and underground in a long abandoned Sea Dragon city. The mission is fraught with danger and it’s starting to seem as though the deadliest traps are set up to target Nora specifically.

Secrets from Levi’s past catch up with him and the relationship between him, Nora and Raphael could unravel just as they seem to be settling into being a trio. Once again they find themselves on the same path as Isak and his real identity becomes apparent. Nora finds herself drawn to him and I, as a reader, am now wondering if this trio is destined to become a full harem. Please let it become a full harem!

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French Country Frights : Haven Homes (Haven Hollow, Book 9) - HP Mallory & JR Rain

Murders, Manipulators and Malnutrition! All this Succubus wants is a quiet life. Is that too much to ask?

This is the first Haven Homes book and the ninth in the Haven Hollow series. It 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 scenes of a sexual nature.

I love the Haven Hollow stories and I’m delighted to see Fifi being given her own book as a main character instead of the secondary character she has appeared as previously. This series is a pleasure to read. The collaboration between HP Mallory and JR Rain works really well. The writing is easy to read, the story moves at a good pace and the characters are well developed. This book mentions and briefly features Wanda and Poppy, who have been the main focus of the series up until now and it is filled with other familiar characters.

Seraphina Stenham, known to her friends as Fifi, is a very reluctant Succubus and new owner of Haven Homes in the sanctuary town of Haven Hollow. Her mission is to cater to the more exotic and unusual supernatural being. It seems to be going well until a very prominent and potentially lucrative new client is murdered while viewing a property. It soon becomes apparent that someone out there might not want Fifi running her new business and she’s left with no choice but to try and find out who that could be and stop them before they ruin her.

Fifi is no ordinary Succubus; she’s a romantic at heart. Much to the disgust of her family and her interfering brother, she has decided to break with the tradition of using her good looks and sexuality to manipulate the rich and powerful in order to feed her inner sex demon. Fifi decided long ago to forgo the one night stands and meaningless encounters in order to look for a settled life with a husband and children. Not too much to ask, you’d think. It is if you’re a Succubus. Feeding from humans could drain all their life force and there are very few suitors in Haven Hollow who could withstand her need to feed on a regular basis. After five years of celibacy, Fifi is literally starving to death.

Will she be able to save her business? Will she be able to get her manipulative brother off her back? More importantly, will she be able to actually survive without breaking her own moral code?

The Haven Hollow series features Wanda’s Witchery, Poppy’s Potions and now Haven Homes. They all run in parallel to each other. If you haven’t already read those, the reading order so far is:

Gypsy Magic : Poppy’s Potions (Haven Hollow, Book One) 

Cashmere Curses : Wanda’s Witchery (Haven Hollow, Book Two)

Faery Enchantment : Poppy’s Potions (Haven Hollow, Book Three)

Spandex Sorcery : Wanda’s Witchery (Haven Hollow, Book Four)

Love’s Goddess : Poppy’s Potions (Haven Hollow, Book Five)

Demon in Denim : Wanda’s Witchery (Haven Hollow, Book Six)

Taffeta Trickery : Wanda’s Witchery (Haven Hollow, Book Seven)   

The Black Cat Cocktail Club : Poppy’s Potions (Haven Hollow, Book Eight)

French Country Frights : Haven Homes (Haven Hollow, Book Nine)

Available from Amazon

Forget Me Not (Chimera, Book 1) - Anca Antoci

Things which go bump in the night. An excellent start to a new series. 

Forget me Not is the first book in a new Fantasy series by Anca Antoci. The book is set in modern day Alaska. There is the potential for romance but none in this book and no descriptive scenes of a sexual nature.

I really enjoyed this book. The story was refreshing and different. The writing was really easy to read and although there was the odd hint at English not being the first spoken language of the author, there wasn’t anything which stood out as being incorrect. The story was well paced and interesting. The characters developed well as the book progressed and I ended the book very much wanting to see what the second book will bring.

Rae’s life has crashed down around her ears. Everyone in her immediate family is gone. Dead. She’s the only one left, apart from an estranged aunt who she’s had no contact with in almost a decade. After her sister’s funeral, Rae travels to Alaska to find her long-lost aunt. What she finds instead is a long empty cabin and news that her aunt has been missing for the last eight years. Grief and depression combine and she makes a foolish decision which has life altering consequences. 

Don’t go wandering in the forest at night. More specifically, don’t go wandering barefoot in the forest at night after downing a cocktail of booze and antidepressants. Definitely don’t go wandering barefoot in the forest at night wishing for death. There are creatures out there who might just answer your request and who won’t want to listen if you change your mind. 

Rae’s venture into the forest at night has opened her life to a world she never knew existed and one which has given her life purpose. Vampires and Shifters are real; not just characters in the books she reads. Her own life has not been what she believed it to be and there’s a good chance she herself isn’t the person she thought she was. Sadly for her, the only way for her to get out of the forest alive is for her memory to be wiped. How will she manage going back to the empty shell of life she had before? Will she manage to live up to her full potential without the new information she has learned? Can she figure out an alternative before its too late?

Book two is already out. It’s on my list to read. 

Available from Amazon

Dark Destiny (The Dark Creatures Saga, Book 2) - Ella Stone

Naz is in trouble. Again. Worse than before. How is she going to survive this time?

This is the second book in the Dark Creatures Saga, an Urban Fantasy / PNR series from Ella Stone, set in modern day Britain. There is some romance and some fade to black scenes of sexual activity.

I really enjoy Ella Stone’s writing. Her style is easy to read and well paced. The world building is great and the characters are interesting and well developed. There are some I love and some I love to hate, which makes for a really interesting read.

Naz is in trouble. Again. She’s avenged her father but the consequences of that are far greater than even she could have imagined. The Vampire Council wants her dead and she finds herself being whisked north to Scotland by Calin, her only ally within Vampire society. She’s heading to hide with a remote and secluded pack of Werewolves. The pack contains more surprises; one in particular which no-one saw coming. 

Naz will have to do a lot of learning and growing up and she doesn’t have the luxury of time. Secrets from her past come to light and she has to learn to live with her new reality. Her relationship with Calin is changing both of them. They have both spent each of their lives in a very insular bubble until now: Naz being solely fixated on her own needs; surviving and avenging her father were the only things she could focus on. Calin spending his time as a Vampire just existing rather than living. The chaos Naz has brought to his ordered existence seems to have woken him up and given him purpose.

There are several new characters who I hope are carried into the rest of the series. The interaction between all characters is believable, even when some of them make questionable decisions. The motives are clear and the outcomes are feasible. The character development in this book is excellent. There is growth and change in both main characters as a result of the events around them. The story is well paced and the writing is easy to read and flows with the pacing. As with the first book, this one ends with an unexpected twist and now I want to dive straight into the next one.

More from this author, please!

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