Save a Vamp, Take a Crown

Save A Vamp, Take A Crown by Sedona Ashe
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book (which is maybe the last?) felt very rushed in a not-so-great way. While I’m OK with the monster (haha) amount of smut jammed into this short book, we ended up skipping over a lot of relationship building and friendships along the way.

We join Journee and Zyon as they are forced to endure the whole matchmaking thing that the queen set up. It obviously goes horribly and, surprise, the stalker we thought was dead is not dead because Hunters are magical. We learn a bit more about Hunters in this one as it becomes clear that Journee is one and the endeavor to keep it a secret from everyone else. Things around that end up going catastrophically bad. I guess we count this as a HEA since there is the whole wedding thing, but jeez, the forced plot twist at the end really made me mad. Really? Ugh - I guess if we left it where it ended that’s OK but it felt like this book spent a lot of time repeating things and not giving us new explanation or world building.

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Save a Life, Tell a Lie

Save A Life, Tell A Lie by Sedona Ashe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I blindly picked this book up because it was included in my audible membership and I was out of credits. It had good reviews and was in paranormal romance, so I figured what’s the harm. It has a few interesting twists on what you’d expect, so I think it exceeded my expectations here.

Journee (did not realize that’s how you spell it because I audiobooked) is being stalked. This new world exists where vampires rule over humans from castles but somehow crime is not obliterated. She doesn’t want to go to the cops or alert anyone to her increasingly creepy stalker who has been breaking into her place and leaving gifts. When she sees him waiting at her car, she bolts and ends up making some terrible decisions that end up with her forcing Zyon to pretend to be her fiancé.

Zyon is prince of the vampires, but Journee appears to be unaware of that fact. She knows he’s a vampire and somehow knows he will protect her from her stalker. He does, but her throwing herself into his arms triggers some sort of vampire mate instinct that has him officially claiming her as his. Not official enough to put his grandmother off a big matchmaking thing later, but still binding.

These two have sizzle and we eventually get to big bad monster stuff, but there is a lot of awkward before then. Journee appears terrified and hiccup-ridden when around vampires, which makes her new situation pretty terrible. Zyon has also already committed to this matchmaker thing which will come to bite them (haha) in the next book. The way this book ends is silly and sexy and also kind of obvious. I don’t love being in bad guy POV, but it was probably necessary for storytelling in this one.

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Hex Around and Find Out

Hex Around and Find Out by Molly Harper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

These books are so enjoyable - filled with magic and romance, but also a wonderful family element. Oh, and sea monsters. Or maybe just one sea monster.

Coming out of the events of the last book, Cora is enjoying her newfound freedom in town when she is bum rushed by a dog. Owner of said dog, Iggy, has been a background character in a bunch of these books so it was nice to see him get a starring role here. At first, I was really on team “Iggy is the worst.” While it seems like the intention is there, he came across as flakey and unreliable. That did not seem like a good match for Cora at first, either. I should also probably warn you that if you dove in here, you might appreciate the character growth in this one more if you started from the beginning of the series, at least.

This book was like one big redemption arc for Iggy. He is such a bright spot in the ugly business that Cora and her family are going through with the whole society oversight and never ending war with the rival family. The way he is with Cora really turned me around on the whole Iggy thing. I would also be remiss if I didn’t mention that I am slowly coming on board with our favorite stuffy character being the love interest for the eldest sibling here. We shall see. So - back to the story - we get some really big reveals and twists in this one, especially with the egg. The stakes felt sufficiently high here’s too, so I was unnecessarily worried for the sisters and Iggy. Oh, and I am here for all the ghost and maybe god-dog relationship building, too.

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Wicching Hour

Wicching Hour by Seana Kelly
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was so worried with the way this book wrapped up that it would be the last in the series, but happily it continues! We get big resolution here, so buckle up, because there is a lot for Arwyn to do here.

First up - her studio finally opens! After all the hard work, it was very satisfying to see her succeed and be able to “own” that part of her life. Don’t worry, though, because there’s more than enough other stuff she needs to deal with to various degrees of success. First, she’s working on a relationship with her father. She’s also trying to convince him that killing people that threaten her is not OK - not sure she was really successful here. Then there’s the growing rumblings in the pack which is likely related to the evil lurking nearby still. Declan is strung out trying to pull the troubled pack back together while still being the excellent boyfriend AND do renovation work on his place.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, we still have the lurking sorcerer threat that they have been trying to track down for the last few books. We get major breakthroughs here but not without some losses along the way. Throughout all this, we still get Arwyn’s visions saving the day in random ways, sometimes with the police and sometimes just during her regular chaotic life. All in all, this book found a way to take a story about so many paranormal elements and boil it down to family.

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Dirty Lying Sirens

Dirty Lying Sirens by Sabrina Blackburry
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book took me on a whirlwind adventure from start to finish - I didn’t know what to expect but this was a wild and crazy ride.

Maddie grew up with her adopted parents until she was old enough to head towards the ocean. She had always been drawn there, but, unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of financial stability she can find near said ocean. As she slowly loses her job, her apartment, and finally her car, she finds herself drawn to a mysterious stranger, Caspian. She literally runs into him at her favorite coffee shop and again when she needed a friend most. Caspian immediately recognizes her as a siren from his home - Atlantis. Yes, that Atlantis.

If you can get over the fact that Atlantis plays a big role in this book, you are in for a true adventure. There’s mystery, sexy romantic goodness, and a very good resolution. I loved this new spin on Atlantis tales and especially all the siren lore. This book was a delight and I’m glad we got to spend time with Maddie and Caspian!

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Witch of the Wolves

Witch of the Wolves by Kaylee Archer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I’m not usually a huge fan of historical romance novels (with all the layers and corsets and whatnot), but this book did grab me with the focus less on the time period and more on the paranormal romance.

Cordelia is an independent woman who is used to being the baddest witch around - though in secret. She lives with her aunt until the night a random guy stops her on the street. Her life changes dramatically when she is essentially kidnapped, then told her dad is a werewolf and wants her in his life. What should have been a loving family reunion ends up filled with betrayal, murder, and violence.

Bishop is a somewhat new pack member, navigating the politics that fills their pack home. Cordelia’s father, the alpha, is a force to be reckoned with, but Bishop has been slowly swaying the pack to his side. He just needs to survive all of the drama to finally get control. That really doesn’t end up happening, with a forced arrangement with Cordelia to pair them up to produce strong heirs. I will say, though, their attraction and connection didn’t seem as forced as other types of werewolf romance books. I was rooting for them until the end.

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Witch You Would

Witch You Would by Lia Amador
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I loved loved loved this book! It was cute, sweet, and filled with magic!

Penelope is a shop clerk in a world where magic is “normal.” She is under appreciated, broke, and crushing on the guy she’s been emailing who came in one day for supplies. Said guy is named Gil, but he’s got his own secrets. Turns out, he has made it big, but as a derpy caricature of a magician, complete with “Presto” in the name. When Penelope shows up at one of his street shows, it is very clear that she is not a fan. This all comes to a head when they are both cast on a magical competition - think a baking competition tv show but for magic. For Penelope, the prize would be life changing and for Gil, it could save his family’s charity.

Gil, unfortunately was not cast on the show - but his alter ego was. This forces him to hide who is from Penelope until the sizzle, the show, some sort of sabotage, and playful nudges from the crew make it impossible. These two were adorable and awesome, both as magic users and as just super cute human beings. I started the book a little reluctant to watch some weird Clark Kent thing play out, but this story was so much deeper than that. Just perfect!

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