Molly and the minotaur by Bea Gallow

2.5 Stars

Love is the key to unlocking the magic in Minos Falls!

For most of her life, Molly Durand was told to stop believing in fairytales, and when she arrives in Minos Falls, North Carolina, she finally does. With no boyfriend, no job, and no place to live, a mysterious town in the mountains is the last place she wants to start over. So, when she’s offered her dream job managing the town’s bookstore, she accepts. Until she discovers her new boss, Leo Angelos, is a Minotaur.

Leo Angelos has been waiting for his mate to arrive for fifteen years. Not because she’s destined to be the love of his life, but because she’s the key to breaking the curse plaguing his town. He just wasn’t expecting his mate to be his newest employee.

But when monsters from Molly’s past step out of the town’s shadows, they jeopardize not only the end of the town’s curse but also her happily ever after with Leo.

I wanted more world building and character development. I wanted more information on everything which led to me feeling like something was lacking. It was insta love between Leo and Molly which was meh. I am undecided about reading the next book.

Book 1 Magic in Minos Falls

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Djinn and Bare it by Darcy R Acula

3 Stars

A housewarming gift unleashes a djinn… but I think he’s defective.

To be honest, a big part of why I moved to a remote island was to escape my overbearing mother. She wants me to get married, settle down, and pop out some grand-trophies. I’m not opposed to the idea, but every time I swipe right, I seem to end up dating hot messes or worse: suspiciously perfect guys. No thanks. I want a normal guy who loves to snuggle and binge watch TV until we fall asleep in each other’s arms. A guy who will make me happy. Is that too much to ask?

I hadn’t even finished unpacking before my mom’s housewarming gift was tossed onto my porch—an antique lamp. While checking for damage, I rubbed the lamp, and you’d never guess what came out. Although, the title kind of gives it away, so darn it, you already know what popped out.

 

It turns out, being shaken around like rice inside a maraca during shipping isn’t great for a djinn’s memory; he is only able to remember bits and pieces of his past. Not to mention that every time he uses magic to help me, I end up with another mess to clean up.

Still, there is no denying I’m attracted to him. I just need to keep my mom from meeting him, so she doesn’t start hearing wedding bells. When someone makes a grab for the lamp and my man, I'm ready to do whatever it takes to save him.

I really enjoyed this book. It meshed well with the rest of the books in this world. It wasn’t the best of the bunch but it was good to read. I think it needed to be a longer book to flesh out some of the relationship between Genevieve and Djinn but overall it was good. Genie’s mom however can go far far away.

Book a part of Monster Mate Mayhem

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Marriage Hex by Sara Blue

3 Stars

It was a stupid wish. One that’s come to haunt my doorstep fourteen years later.

When I made a pact with my best friend to marry each other if we were both still single at thirty, I had no idea it would be magically bound… by me.

Time and circumstance have separated us, and we’re no longer the naïve teenagers we once were. I’m thriving with my coven and Silas is the newly appointed Alpha of the local shifter pack.

Which is why this marriage will never work.

The Celestial Coven and the Moon Walker Pack have had an ongoing feud that spans generations. My former best friend has now become my sworn enemy. Unfortunately, my magic hasn’t gotten that memo and my nemesis/husband is now living under my roof and walking around my house topless in gray sweatpants.

I don’t want him. I shouldn’t want him. But why do I find myself stalling at figuring out a counter curse?

The characters in this book irritated me so much which is the majority of the story. They are just so ridiculous about who abandoned whom. The fight just got real old real quick. Then all the stuff about forgetting and I just didn’t enjoy this book as much as I wanted to.

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Big Little Spell by Hazel Beck

 

3 Stars

Rebekah Wilde was eighteen when she left St. Cyprian, officially stripped of her magic and banished from her home. Ten years later, she’s forced to return to face the Joywood Coven, who preside over not just her hometown but the whole magical world. Rebekah is happy to reunite with her sister, and with her friends, but the implications of her return are darker and more dangerous than they could have imagined.

The Joywood are determined to prove Rebekah and her friends are a danger to witchkind, and her group faces an impending death sentence if they can’t prove otherwise. Rebekah must seek help from the only one who knows how to stop the Joywood—the ruthless immortal Nicholas Frost. Years ago, he was her secret tutor in magic, and her secret impossible crush. But the icy immortal is as remote and arrogant as ever, and if he feels anything for Rebekah—or witchkind—it’s impossible to tell.

I goofed and read the second book first. Had 0 issues following along without reading the first book. This is very much a closed-door romance so if that’s not your jam skip the book. I enjoyed it enough to not care. I loved the characters and the premise of the book. I’m hoping book one had more world building as that was lacking in this one. Loved the give and take between the FMC and MMC. Can’t wait to get my hands on book 3.

Book 2 Witchlore

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Magical Makeover by Brenda Trim

4 Stars

Divorce comes as a relief when you discover your husband is a walking cliche and having an affair with a woman half your age. When life gives you lemons... give yourself a magical makeover!

One day I'm married, living in the triangle, and working as a head nurse at one of the country's best hospitals. The next, I've shed a hundred and seventy-five pounds of idiot and find myself encountering ghosts, dragons and pixies while taking care of a sick patient.

Losing my sanity didn't seem like the worst thing to happen since I moved back home with my mom and nana. But I have to make the best of this mess for the sake of my children. And I refuse to give my ex the satisfaction of knowing he literally drove me crazy.

I didn't mind rolling with the punches... I just never imagined those hits would come in the form of magic. Witches, shifters, and Fae don't exist, right? This new world I've discovered is dangerous.

The Tainted want to kill me, innocent paranormals want my help, and the son of Hades needs me to find demons. Give me an Ibuprofen, and watch out. I'm not about to stand by and let someone else ruin my life.

I'm a middle-aged woman on a brand-new mission, and nothing's going to stop me.

This was a different book in a good way. Phoebe is older and human but becomes magical with a very steep learning curve. The pacing in the book was nice and I liked all the characters. Phoebe is very determined to do her best by everyone and at times does to much. It doesn’t end with Phoebe ending up with anyone yet and I can’t wait to see how it plays out.

Book 4 Midlife Mysteries and Magic

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Wishcraft by Savannah Kade

3 Stars

Delilah doesn’t want love ever again after the worst betrayal. She has one-night stands and casts spells to make the men forget her. When she meets one man who won’t forget her. No matter the spell Brandon remembers her and won’t let her go. When he realizes she is casting spells on him he doesn’t get mad he decides to get even. Will they find a way to have their HEA?

I like this one but felt like the secret about what happened with the FMC’s husband was dragged out way too long. I am also left with so many questions about the sister. I did enjoy the back and forth with MMC and FFC. I loved he wasn’t taking no for an answer but in a good non stalker way. Will check out the next book in the series.

Book 1 Touch of Magic

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Dance of the Forest King by Alessa Thorn

3 Stars

King Oberon, Taranis, and Mananan were separated from their kin for many years and are now on earth with their nephews. They are here to stop the worlds from being destroyed. If they don’t stop it there will be no more magic. Oberon figures he will have to sacrifice himself to save those he loves until he meets his fated mate. Chrissy is not someone he was expecting and he doesn’t know why she’s always mad at him but he will do anything to keep her safe.

It was an ok read. It felt rushed for most of the book. The romance was nice but also rushed. This is book one in a new series, but it is a spin-off of another one and you do need to read that one to understand this one. They are referenced and it’s been a while since I read the original series and it led to some confusion. Overall, this book left me wanting more. It was ok and there are two more books that I will probably get to eventually.

Book 1 Lost Fae Kings

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Enchanted by Demelza Carlton

2 Star

Enchantress Zuleika was summoned by the king to help him with a problem. Instead of letting her do her duty he forces himself on her. She curses the King and swears she will never help him again. She travels the world learning new things and helping those in need. When one of her father's ship goes off course causing financial problems she heads to the last known location and discovers the Beast. The Beast is Prince Vardan. He's been cursed and will only help if she breaks the curse. She's willing to help even if he's a beast. When secrets are revealed will they be able to find their happy ending?

I love a good retelling of a fairy tale. I don't mind explicit sex scenes. What I do mind is misogynistic statements being made and then we're supposed to brush it off as a joke. No thank you. I liked Zulerika. She was a woman who is dealing with a lot after she's sexually assaulted. She deserves better than a love interest who cracks a joke about wanting to ravish the FMC who had already been raped. When the Prince is called out on the statement, he's all it was a joke. He was just an ass through most of the book. I would skip this one.

Book 1 Romance a Medieval Fairytale

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Witches in the Weeds by Lila Dubois

3 Star

Nimue is responsible for her family. She inherited her family's curse and she needs to figure out away to fix it before it passes to one of her sisters. Her solution is to kidnap Harris Barclay a competing elemental. The problem besides the ethical issue of kidnapping two elementalists can't be in the same space without catastrophic issues. Plus, when his family discovers he's been kidnapped they live a third elementalist to track them. Trajan is good at his job and soon finds them and each use their magic that creates a bubble world. What is this world and will it help them?

The writing was good but the story was a little convoluted. The world building was also a little weird. There was also a parking issue where there was a lot of action then the story wondered then more action. So, it was just an Ok book and feel she has better ones out there.

Book 1 Elemental Covens

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