Spell Binding (Midlife Spirits, Book 11) - HP Mallory

Fantastic ending to this wild and spooky series

This is book 11, the final book in the Midlife Spirits series; a Paranormal Women’s Fiction series of novels from HP Mallory. The book is set in the present day in the Garden District of New Orleans, USA. 

I’ve really enjoyed reading this series. The character development throughout the series has been fantastic. We have seen the main characters grow and change as a result of their experiences. The world building is immersive and wonderfully written. The whole series is filled with different types of magic, from different cultural backgrounds. I loved reading about the Voodoo Loa and the practices associated with that culture and religion. 

This book wraps the series up and ends on a positive note. There is magic. There is suspense. There is action and drama. There are cemeteries and ghosts. The love triangle is resolved. To top it all off, there’s a really cute puppy. What more could you want in a book? 

I’m a little sad to say goodbye to Peyton and Drake. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the wild and sometimes spooky ride that the last eleven books have taken me on. 

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

Book 6: Deadly Intentions

Book 7: Ghostly Gathering

Book 8: Magic in the Night

Book 9: Making Spirits Bright

Book 10: Hauntingly Happy

Book 11: Spell Binding

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Ritzy Business (Haven Hollow, Book 22) - HP Mallory & JR Rain

You’ve got to keep a poker face when dicing with Death

This is the 22nd book 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.

This was a fun book to read. It’s a Spook Society book, so we are seeing the world of Haven Hollow through Darla’s eyes. As Darla originally died in 1920’s America before she was resurrected and given a second chance at life, she speaks with the slang of that era and is still getting to grips with the modern world.

Darla’s return to the living after a century of being dead has not gone unnoticed. Death is curious and wants her for himself. His game is Poker and his price if she loses is her soul. Darla has a day to learn to play well enough to go up against him. 

I really enjoy this series. It’s fun. The characters are all really well developed. The world building is lovely and I enjoy the writing style of these authors. 

The Haven Hollow series is written from a variety of points of view and features stories from Wanda’s Witchery, Poppy’s Potions, Spook Society, Haven Homes and Remarkable Remedies. They all run in parallel with 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)

Mystic Veil : Poppy’s Potions (Haven Hollow, Book 11)

The Yule Log : Remarkable Remedies (Haven Hollow, Book 12)

The Broken Mirror : Remarkable Remedies (Haven Hollow, Book 13)

Art Deco Apparitions : Hallowed Homes (Haven Hollow, Book 14)

The Vampire’s Grave : Remarkable Remedies (Haven Hollow, Book 15)

Herringbone Hexes : Wanda’s Witchery (Haven Hollow, Book 16)

Raising Cain : Spook Society (Haven Hollow, Book 17)

Druid’s Curse : Poppy’s Potions (Haven Hollow, Book 18)

Colonial Corpses : Hallowed Homes (Haven Hollow, Book 19)

Angora Alchemy : Wanda’s Witchery (Haven Hollow, Book 20)

Day Dream : Remarkable Remedies (Haven Hollow, Book 21)

Ritzy Business : Spook Society (Haven Hollow, Book 22)

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A Mermaid to remember (Midlife Mermaid, Book 3) - HP Mallory & JR Rain

A Twist in the Tail

This is the final book in the Midlife Mermaid trilogy. I really enjoyed reading this collaboration between HP Mallory and JR Rain. The book falls in the Paranormal Women’s Fiction genre with some romance thrown in for good measure. There are no scenes of a sexual nature in this book.

Eva is a 40-something year old mermaid who escaped from the clutches of Cullen, the abusive King of the underwater city of Corsica and made a new start on land in the US coastal town of Shell Harbor, supported by her new friends Wendy and Sawyer. Cullen has attempted to kidnap her twice now. There is bound to be a third attempt.

This book did not go the way I thought it might. I enjoyed the unpredictable ending. The potential love triangle with Eva, Sawyer and Mayer. The constant threat of Cullen returning to take her back to the depths and the difficulties of settling into a human life on land. It all made for an interesting book with a twist in the tale.

Available from Amazon

 

The Lady and the Orc (Orc Sworn, Book 1) - Finley Fenn

Spicy, spicy, spicy!

Wow! I really enjoyed this book. It was action packed from the beginning. I am late to the party on these. This was published in 2019 and there are several more.

There are many very detailed scenes of a sexual nature throughout the book and it didn't take long to get to them.

I enjoyed the character development and the world building. I enjoyed the easy to read and very descriptive writing style.

If you like monster romance, with a large grumpy male and a feisty, determined female mc, I wholeheartedly recommend this one.

Available from Amazon

 

The Assassin in the Castle (Crown of Lies, Book 2) - HP Mallory & JR Rain

This series keeps getting better.

I dropped everything else to read this book as I had enjoyed the first book so much. I wasn’t disappointed. This book was equally engrossing and I could not put it down. Yet again, it felt like it ended too soon because I was so immersed in it. There was action, fighting, politics and a lot of sexual tension. There were non-explicit scenes of a sexual nature.

This is the second book in a new Historical Fantasy Romance series from HP Mallory and JR Rain. The book is set in a fantasy realm in and around the Kingdom of Woodfall Gath.

Charlotte soon finds herself accompanying Nicolo on a personal journey outside the gath, which would give her ample opportunity to carry out her mission. However, when they leave the castle and the politics behind, she sees a new side of him and finds she is unable to do so. She’s already taken too long and assassins are now coming for her. 

Much like the Genie from Aladdin, I found myself shouting at Charlotte to tell him the truth; to explain everything, including the captive boy with the violet eyes. Much like Aladdin, Charlotte withheld the truth for too long and unsurprisingly, there were consequences to that. 

These characters are very well thought out. The worldbuilding is brilliant and the story so believable that I didn’t want it to end. I have a theory on the identity of the boy with the violet eyes but I don’t know whether to write it here in case I am right. I can’t wait for book three.

The reading order so far

Crown of Lies, Book 1 : The Man with the Violet Eyes

Crown of Lies, Book 2 : The Assassin in the Castle

Available from Amazon

 

The Girl in the Dark (The Dark Circus Trilogy, Book 3) - HP Mallory & JR Rain

Brilliant conclusion to this spooky series. 

This is the final book in this dark trilogy from HP Mallory and JR Rain. The story is set in the Cirque du Noir; a circus of curiosities travelling through 1930s rural USA. 

This is a fantastic series. It is dark, full of suspense and twists and I inhaled books two and three in a day. Excellent character development, fantastic worldbuilding and kept me guessing right up until close to the end. Wonderful! 

This has a real Twilight Zone feel to it. It is a creepy, exciting, suspenseful and intriguing series from start to finish. I absolutely love it.

The reading order is:

The Girl Who Joined The Circus, The Dark Circus Trilogy, Book 1
The Girl On The Poster, The Dark Circus Trilogy, Book 2
The Girl In The Dark, The Dark Circus Trilogy, Book 3

Available from Amazon

 

The Girl on the Poster (The Dark Circus Trilogy, Book 2) - HP Mallory & JR Rain

A thrilling read. Haunting and spooky Cirque du Noir 

This is the second book in this dark trilogy from HP Mallory and JR Rain. The story is set in 1930s rural USA. 

I loved this book. It’s even darker than the first and the mysteries uncovered in book one have only deepened in book two.

The characters are well written, the world building is excellent and the story is gripping. I love the way these authors write. I feel pulled into their world. I found that I could relate well to the main character, despite her life being nothing like mine. There were times during reading that I feared for her safety. 

This story is not straightforward. It didn’t progress in a way that I had assumed it would and I’m glad of that. I need answers so I am jumping straight into book three.

The reading order so far:

The Girl Who Joined The Circus, The Dark Circus Trilogy, Book 1

The Girl On The Poster, The Dark Circus Trilogy, Book 2

Available from Amazon

A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR, Book 1) - Sarah J Mass

Brilliant read. Blew me away. 

I have been looking at people singing the praises of this series for a while now and finally decided to give it a go. I don't know why I waited so long. It's absolutely brilliant. I was glued to it from start to finish. 

The writing is smooth and easy to read. The worldbuilding is excellent. The characters are well developed, have depth and continue to grow throughout the book. I found myself really rooting for the main female character, far more than I usually do. 

The story has some twists and turns and a lot of action and tension. I could not put it down. I was completely engrossed. This is one of the best books I’ve read in a while. I can't wait to get the next book.

Available from Amazon

Her Orc Guardian (Black Bear Clan, Book 2) - Zoe Ashwood

Newly independent FMC meets reluctant, grumpy love interest. 

I really enjoyed this book. Zoe Ashwood has an easy to read writing style, which flows beautifully. This is the second book in a new paranormal monster romance series but each book can be read as a standalone. The story is set in a fantasy world of Orcs and humans. There are descriptive scenes of a sexual nature between consenting adults. The worldbuilding is great and the characters are relatable.I've read several of her other books and I've enjoyed them all. 

Poppy is on the run, alone and destitute. After her father died she was left with nothing but a locket left to her by her Mother and a letter her father wrote with instructions for Poppy to deliver to his friend. Her step-mother has reported her to the authorities, accusing her of theft for taking her own belongings. Poppy’s only option is to travel and search for her father’s friend. What her father didn’t tell her was that this friend is an Orc.

Steagor finds Poppy starving and feverish in the woods. He reads the letter that Poppy’s father has written to him, which requests that he take on the role of Poppy’s guardian, protecting her and finding her a suitable husband. A task he feels honour-bound to carry out, despite recognising Poppy as the true mate he has been seeking.

I raced through this book in one evening. It is filled with all the things you want in a romance novel; a little conflict, a little danger along the way, a lot of steam and the story ends with a happy ever after. 

If you like Monster Romance with a determined and independent FMC, then this is the book for you.

The reading order for this series so far:

Her Orc King (Black Bear Clan, Book 1)

Her Orc Guardian (Black Bear Clan, Book 2)

Available from Amazon

 

The Girl Who Joined The Circus (The Dark Circus Trilogy, Book 1) - HP Mallory & JR Rain

Fantastic start to this dark and spooky series.

This is the first book in a new dark and spooky trilogy from HP Mallory and JR Rain. The story is set in 1930s rural USA.

I loved this book. I genuinely couldn’t put it down and I blasted through it in one evening. Definitely a page-turner. Excellent, fascinating characters and fantastic world building.

The story is told from the point of view of its main character, nineteen-year-old Bindi, who has left her home to meet her best friend Amelia and join the Cirque du Noir as a contortionist. Amelia doesn’t show up for their meeting so Bindi goes ahead and joins on her own.

As its name suggests, the Cirque du Noir is a dark and twisted place. Many of the performers are what would then have been considered to be freaks. Reality is blurred and all is not what it seems. 

It would seem that Bindi is expected, though she cannot work out how or why. There are posters with pictures of a young woman who looks exactly like her and both the owner and the manager feel very familiar to her, although she could swear she’s never met them before. The longer Bindi stays, the less she can remember about her life before. She is drawn to the forbidden black caravan at the outskirts of the Cirque; a place she has been warned never to enter alone. Naturally, her curiosity gets the better of her and what she finds in there is shocking.

I absolutely cannot wait to get into book two. 

Available from Amazon

 

Blood Knight (Chimera, Book 0.5) - Anca Antoci

The Hunter, The Witch and the Vampire. The Chronicles of Chimera: An Introduction.

Blood Knight is a novella prequel to the excellent Chimera urban fantasy series. If you haven’t read that series, you should definitely get it after you’ve read this.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s an excellent introduction to the Chimera series and gives us a better perspective of some key characters. I love the writing, the world building and the characters. 

Ella is a witch who is running for her life. Her family has sold her magic to the High Priestess of the coven who wants it all but Ella is not willing to comply. 

Hot on Ella’s heels is a bounty hunter who is known for fulfilling his contracts every time. He is not willing to give up on his hunt.

Ari is a centuries-old vampire. He spends his nights running a bar in a quiet town. His relatively calm life is interrupted when Ella arrives at his back door, bleeding and scared. Despite the age-old animosity between vampires and witches, Ari is not willing to leave Ella to the whims of either the bounty hunter or Ella’s coven.

If you like your books focused on the world of the paranormal, I definitely recommend this. 

Reading order:

Blood Knight, Chimera, Book 0.5

Forget me Not, Chimera, Book 1

Blue Shadow Prophecy, Chimera, Book 2

Blue Shadow Legacy, Chimera, Book 3

Available from Amazon