Hunt on the Dark Waters by Katee Robert

3 Stars

Evelyn is a witch with a perfect storm of impulses: terrible taste in bed partners, sticky fingers, and a lust for danger. After she steals from her vampire ex and falls through a portal to another realm, she’s fished out of the waters by a band of seafarers and their telekinetic captain. She’s immediately given a choice—join their ship’s crew or die.

Bowen has no memory of his life before he became one of the Cŵn Annwn. He and his band of pirates are bound by vow to patrol through Threshold, the magical sea in between realms, keeping the portals to other worlds safe. When he rescues Evelyn, he doesn’t expect to be attracted to the unflappably brassy pickpocket. The longer he spends in her presence, the more he begins to question if his heart is the next thing she’ll steal.

But as tension heats up between Bowen and Evelyn, the danger at sea escalates as well. Because Evelyn has no intention of keeping her vows to the Cŵn Annwn, and if she betrays the crew, both she and Bowen will pay the ultimate price....

I wanted to like this more than I did. I loved the world and the world building. It was the characters I had issues with. I really hated Evelyn and never got past her behavior throughout the book. She was so selfish and it frustrated me. I also struggled with the pacing of the book. I will give book 2 a chance because I love other books by her.

Book 1 Crimson Sails

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Pregnant and Rejected by the Lycan King by Kiara Sere and Via Thorn

2 Stars

My fated mate is the alpha king…

And I’m too weak to be his queen.

So he rejects me- but doesn't know I'm pregnant with his pup.

I’ve been a punching bag my entire life.

Bullied by my pack, sneered at by my family…all because my wolf refuses to show herself.

So when all unmated females are invited to the alpha prince’s ball so he can find a mate, I’m dreading it.

My sister trips me in front of everyone, and I’m ready to be the laughingstock of the ball.

Instead, the prince catches me.

And our mating bond snaps into place.

His fierce protectiveness takes over and he turns his rage on my bullies:

“Apologize to your future queen, or I will toss you out in the cold after breaking the pack bonds to make you a rogue.”

The heat of our connection and the way I feel when he looks at me…it’s like nothing I’ve ever felt.

But then he realizes I’m a weak omega who’s never even shifted.

He doesn’t want me anymore, but it’s too late—he’s already marked me.

I resign myself to being ignored by my suddenly icy, distant mate for the rest of my life.

But then I find out I’m pregnant.

So I run.

Once I’m gone, will he realize how much he needs me?

Or will I spend the rest of my life brokenhearted and mateless, raising our baby by myself?

The book was so slow and took forever to get to the HEA. I also never got past Talen’s rejection of Elena. This is one I wish I skipped.

Book 41 Forbidden Alpha Kings

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Hex Around and Find Out by Molly Harper

3.5 Stars

As the middle sister in a trio of sea witches, Cora Seaworth has spent most of her life hidden away at her family’s magical cottage on Moonshadow Cove. She’s claimed her own corner of the library, cozied up with her favorite novels and a ghost cat named Nicodemus. She’s the deep thinker among her more tempestuous sisters, so she isn’t prepared to be swept up in a real-life romantic adventure in the form of sexy local baker Iggy Galinsky.

Iggy is tired of his reputation as the Island’s unreliable charmer and a man of many talents but no true calling outside his family’s bakery. Sure, it’s mostly true, but it still hurts his feelings. His carefree life gets serious fast when he meets the beautiful, mysterious Cora Seaworth. Before long, they’re working together with Cora’s sisters, various ghosts and the unfathomable creature lurking at the bottom of the cove to defeat an ancient enemy. If they don’t prevail, it’s not just their love that’s at stake, but Starfall Point’s entire magical community.

I enjoyed listening to this book. Cora and Iggy worked well together. The over arching storying progressed nicely. Things are revealed that were interesting. The romance itself was a bit minimum but I still enjoyed it.

Book 2 Moonshadow Cove

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Monster’s Desire by Jillian West

3.5 Stars

The picturesque town of North Falls is as beautiful as it is deadly.

When Nadia is called to help deliver a human woman's little elven babies, she knows she can't say no. After all, she's masquerading as a fertility witch since blood witches were hunted out of existence several generations ago.

But North Falls isn't like any other sanctuary city Nadia has been to and the differences are enough to make her blood boil.

Haven is run by decent monsters, but a corrupt council with an agenda of their own leads North Falls. The ward around their town is failing and they aren't above compelling the witch to their bidding.

Everything will have to fall into place for her to survive the trip. Unfortunately for Nadia, her luck has never been all that great. Add in a rogue alpha wolf, a council-appointed vampire guard who would be more accurately described as a spy, and a couple of demons from her past and it looks like she might just have a fighting chance.

Well, until the council ups the ante that is. Will her newfound protectors be enough to keep her alive? Or will they run when they learn her secrets?

I was so looking forward to this one but it wasn’t as good as the first two. I missed all the original characters and felt there was a pacing issue. There were times it moved but other times I was frustrated with no movement at all. Overall, it was fine and a nice way to round out the series.

Book 3 A Monstrous World

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Monster’s Wife by Jillian West

4 Stars

The picturesque town of Haven may offer sanctuary for all, but the irony is getting harder to miss: monsters are vanishing.

Aline knows better than to meddle. The runaway Princess of Faere learned the hard way what happens when others see what her magic can do.

No, it's far better to focus on her own problems like running The Monster's Den and staying off the paranormal council's radar.

Tragedy strikes Haven as things are finally starting to come together for the lonely fae, and Aline has no choice but to intervene.

The blows keep coming when the paranormal council initiates a full-scale inquiry into why monsters vanish from Haven.

It seems her house of cards is about to tumble.

Can she trust the ghosts of her past and the unhinged monsters desperate to be a part of her future to help keep her safe?

Will they even want to when they see what she's capable of?

There is some overlap with the first book. It was interesting to read and see it from a different perspective. I also loved the give and take between FMC and her men. The original mates were very much misunderstood and I feel bad for them. The continued world building in this book adds to the overall series. Can’t wait for the third one.

Book 2 A Monstrous World

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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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Hearts of Stone by Sam Hall

4 Stars

These four gargoyles tell me I’m their fated mate.

That they’re sworn to protect me.

That they’ll do anything to keep me safe.

And if I agree to become theirs?

They’ll spend every night anticipating my every wish and making sure every single one of them come true.

Including the ones I don’t dare admit, even to myself.

But if the gargoyles can perform miracles for me, they can do that for others,

And that puts a target on all of our backs.

People have been trying to harness the power of the gargoyles for centuries,

And now that I’ve awakened them, our enemies won’t stop until all of us fall under their control.

I really enjoyed this one but was left wanting more at the end of the book. It felt unfinished. I want more in this world and more with the gargoyles. Plus all the magical beings need their due. I also figured out the bad guy well before the ending but it was still a good read to get to the end.

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Pirate Witch by Marie Mistry

4 Stars

My name is Nilsa.

I am the last living Shadow.

Mate to six broken immortal pirates.

And now the world knows.

For centuries, the Eagle of Galmere has been butchering the other races to create the Mortal Cure, an elixir that gives her the illusion of immortality. The human queen’s obsession with living forever has crippled empires, maimed countless innocents, and enslaved hundreds more—including my men.

I'm the only one capable of ending her blood soaked reign, but what if the cost is far worse than we'd ever imagined?

This is one of the best series I’ve read lately. It flowed nicely and the characters were well written. I loved the give and take between FMC and her men. The solution for taking out the evil queen was amazing but one scene broke my heart but it was needed for reasons. Would love to see some of the secondary characters stories.

Book 3 Deadwood

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Liar Witch by Marie Mistry

4 Stars

My name is Nilsa.

I am the Shadow of the Moon.

Born to end the life of the Eagle of Galmere.

And I have failed.

Ever since I left my pirates, things have gone from bad to worse. Now, stuck in the darkest part of the Claw—the mine that serves as a prison for supernaturals and humans alike—there's no way to return the sea and the men I've slowly begun to trust.

Instead I'm forced down into the depths of the earth, where ancient things lurk in dark, forgotten places. The key to my freedom is in dubious alliances with dangerous creatures. The only thing we have in common; we want to kill the Queen.

When I'm finally reunited with my pirates, will we be able to find my final mate and end the Queen's vile reign? Or will their vow to her and my secrets ruin everything?

Starts right where book 1 ended. You get way more information on everyone and why they are the way they are. There is so much movement in the story. It was a good read and I loved how things played out. Again, it ends with a complete story but more to come with the conclusion.

Book 2 Deadwood

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Traitor Witch by Marie Mistry

4 Stars

My name is Nilsa.

I am the Shadow of the Moon.

A lunar witch.

A divine assassin.

And they will tell you that I am a traitor.

Framed for the murder of my own high priestess and with nowhere else to go, I'm forced to seek refuge amongst pirates. This mismatched crew of immortal males thinks I'm a solar witch; a harmless, goody-two-shoes, celibate priestess of life.

But it's hard to keep up the charade with a cursed fae, two broken shifters and an overprotective vampire tempting me at every turn.

It's even harder when I have to constantly restrain the urge to murder their asshole captain.

All I need to do is live long enough to exact vengeance and reclaim my place in my coven. There's no place for men in my life. Not even the siren haunting my dreams who claims I'm his mate.

Holy crap this was such a good book.  I loved Nilsa and how much shit she gave the guys throughout this book. I loved all the secrets they were keeping from each other and how they slowly started coming out. Even though the overarching story isn’t completed by the end of the book it still had a pretty good ending. Can’t wait to see how things play out in the next two books.

Book 1 Deadwood

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Big Witch Energy by Molly Harper

4 Stars

The lost love that’s always haunted her is about to make an unexpected return....

Caroline Wilton has no time for romance. She’s too busy running her family’s bar to even think about dating. She’s also one of Starfall Point’s resident witches, responsible for keeping the local ghost population in check.

But even the most magical of witches can use a shoulder to lean on, which is what happens when Ben Hoult, the handsome doctor she never quite got over, walks back into her life. Ben is a single dad now, and as he and Caroline reconnect, they discover that they both have a knack for helping and protecting the people near and dear to them.

Soon they’re working together to unravel a centuries-old murder, and Caroline has to face the wrath of angry ghosts...and the uncertainty of opening her heart back up to love. She’s not sure which one is worse. All she knows is that keeping her heart safe will take every ounce of magic she’s got.

I love it when Molly Harper comes out with a new audiobook. Her narrators are always fabulous and make the book that much better. This one was no different. They brought the characters to life and made me want to make time for me to listen. The story was also engaging. It picks up where the first left off but with the focus on Caroline and Ben. This is a second chance at love for them. Ben teens are adorable, and they made me laugh so many times in this book. Caroline has a backbone and isn’t willing to put up with much. I really really want her brothers to get their asses handed to them because of how they were in this book. Beyond that the story progressed and I am dying to find out who the big bad guy is.

Book 2 Starfall Point

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Midnight with the Hexed by L. R. Friedman

4 Stars

There’s a new witch on the block.

For Oakley Brooks, Celestial Haven’s newest resident can only spell one thing: disaster.

With her magic replenished and gift reclaimed, she shifts her focus to relaunching her business and preparing for the coven’s highly anticipated Moonlit Masquerade.

But another disappearance threatens to ruin Starry Night Lane’s stellar reputation, putting pressure on the supernatural government and its Archons to unearth more answers surrounding the missing witches in the seemingly safe suburb. With the neighborhood under more scrutiny than ever, Lynx and Saros get caught in the crossfire, forcing the pair to keep their relationship with Oakley a secret.

As her past and present collide, she must decide if she’ll follow her heart’s desire or risk living with an eternity of regret.

 

We get all the answers and then some. Loved how it ended and how everything worked out between the Oakley and her men. I loved how they worked around the curse and got to their HEA. I so want some of the secondary characters HEA so I will be reading more books by this author.

Book 2 Celestial Haven

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Wicked in the Pines by L.R. Friedman

4 Stars

Any witch would be lucky to live in Celestial Haven.

At least that’s what new mom Oakley Brooks tells herself when she moves to the idyllic supernatural suburb with her sister. If raising a witchling and adjusting to a new neighborhood wasn’t hard enough, Oakley has a sinful secret.

Her magic is running out.

And if the truth about her dry spell is uncovered by the tight-knit coven’s rumor mill, she’ll be sent packing.

After her sister doesn’t return home from a night on the town, Oakley begins to worry and enlists the help of two of her neighbors: a charming personal trainer who conjures up once-forgotten feelings and the coffee truck’s resident brewista who’s as broody as he is enigmatic.

Could her magic be playing tricks on her or are these two tasty treats actually interested in the hot mess mom down the street?

The full moon closes in—the perfect opportunity to recharge her magic. Oakley must decide if she can accept the consequences of her gift or if she’ll let her magic disappear forever.

As they continue to search for answers about her sister, two things become clear: Secrets never stay hidden and something wicked is brewing on Starry Night Lane.

Surprise read for me. I enjoyed it a lot. It was a different take on witches and magic. It ends up being a steamy cozy mystery which was a weird but good type of crossover I didn’t know I was looking for. It ends on a cliffhanger ending but you do get a lot of answers before it ends. Book 2 is out, and I am interested in the answers not given in this book.

Book 1 Celestial Haven

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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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Anchor of Secrets by Tessa Hale

4 Stars

After being kidnapped Lee is struggling to find her balance know she probably has magic she just needs to find a way to pull her magic out while navigating the politics of the magical world. Secrets are revealed with each of her mates but will they survive all the upheaval?

CLIFF HANGER ENDING

Many secrets are revealed in this book which was so good because the last book just had more secrets than answers. This built from book 1 and you do have to read it to understand this one. I liked all the twist and turns this book takes. The guys are less dickish in this book but Lee is still a runner. Hale does like to end her books the same way. Once again Lee has been kidnapped. Worth reading but wait for book 3 to be out.

Book 2 Supernaturals of Castle Academy

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Legacy of Shadows by Tessa Hale

 

4 Stars

Leighton has not had an easy life and she just wants to hit 18 and get away from her mother. Before she can she’s rescued by her childhood friend she thought to never see again. What she wasn’t expecting was the knowledge that the world is full of magic and she is his fated mate but never came into her magic so they couldn’t be together. Will they find a way to make it work along with her other fated mates?

WARNING CLIFFHANGER ENDING

I enjoyed this book. There are times Lee Frustrated me. She would get upset with something the guys did and would run. Which would then put her in danger. She had every right to be mad as her mates were dicks. They opted out of a relationship with her so many times. They kept so many secrets that put her in more danger. The guys couldn’t get why she was angry and kept running. So many eye rolls with that. Overall, I enjoyed all the drama and the academy aspect of the book. Interested in seeing out this all plays out.

Book 1 Supernaturals of Castle Academy

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Coven by Harper L Woods

2 Stars

Raised to be her father’s weapon, Willow will do anything she can to protect her younger brother. Forced to go to school to learn magic with other promising students, Willow will learn things she’s not sure she wants to know. Will she survive?

I really gotta stop taking book recommendations from Instagram. This should have been an amazing book, but it just fell flat for me. It had an interesting plot but was never fleshed out into a good book. There is no backstory for any of the characters or world building. The book is starting to get interesting when it ends on a cliffhanger. I didn’t learn anything about anyone which makes it hard to invest in more books with these characters. I’m skipping.

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No More Black Magic by A.L. Kessler

 

3 Stars

Abigail works for the Paranormal Investigation Bureau Agent. She’s seen a lot in her time with them but she’s about to take a case that hits too close to home. She’s looking for people that are linked with the murder of her parents. This might be over her head. Will she make it out alive?

This one started and ended nicely but the middle needed work. I still have so many questions about the Abigail and the world they live in. The book got bogged down in the middle with too much going on that wasn’t helping the story. This led to a bit of skimming. The ending was interesting, and I am curious to see where the author is taking the characters and the world itself. I will be giving her one more chance.

Book 1 Here Witchy Witchy

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Bewitching her Monsters by Yve Vale

4 Stars

Jade writes romance books for a living. She doesn’t know where she gets the inspiration from, but she loves writing steamy paranormal books. When she needs a break, she heads to the local bar and is inspired by 4 men. They catch her staring, but she doesn’t think anything of it. They think she’s a witch and out to get them, but she doesn’t know what they are talking about. The more she interacts with them the weirder things get. Are they correct and she’s a witch or are they just making fun of her writing?

This book was pretty good. It was slow going on the spicy bit but there was some really good world and character building. I liked the men that will end up being Jade’s partners. It will be interesting to see where this is going. It does end on a massive cliffhanger. This frustrated me and makes me impatient for the next book. Definitely looking forward to the next book.  

Book 1 Bewitching Monsters

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Darkest Night by Alessa Thorn

 

3 Star

Athena Edgeworth is not someone you want to cross. She was found as a child covered in blood in the forest and was raised to be a ruthless mercenary. When she is seduced by ex-assassin, Kon so he could steal a magical manuscript she is determined to get him back and then some. She steals one too many relics out from under him that Kon’s boss decides to take them both out. They will have to work together to get out of it alive.

This book started off so slowly for me. It did pick up and I ended up falling into the story and loved Athena and Kon. I also felt like we started a couple chapters into the story which might have been why the story was slow. I kept trying to figure out what was going on. Once I sorted everything I enjoyed the story and seeing how Athena and Kon get their HEA. I loved Alessa Thorn’s writing so I will be checking out book 2.

Book 1 Mercenaries and Magic

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