Witchful Thinking (The Happily Everlasting Series #4) by Kristen Painter

Witchful Thinking by Kristen Painter

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I’ve read two works since I read this one, and no review (not that I’ve written any reviews since July 7th). I mention that only to note that it will be more difficult for me to say what I think about this specific book now.

This is the fourth book in a series, a series I’ve only read this specific book in. I was given the understanding that the books were stand-alones so . . . I entered with that in mind. Mostly because this would be the 15th book I’ve read by this author and all the other books were by different authors, none of whom I’d ever read before.

So, what’s going on here in this book? A novice witch, Charlotte Fenchurch, is working in the library when two events occur at near-about the same time that change her life course -> 1) the head librarian grunts at finding a donation in the book return slot, says the book looks like crap, and throws it away – Charlotte loves books to the point she’d rather see one be used to form the base of a table than to see one tossed in the garbage, so she takes the book and brings it home with her; 2) a super-hot man, and I mean, really gaggingly gorgeous man (is gaggingly a word? I think that might not be a word, it should be) begins to outrageously flirt with her – which tells her two things: a) the man is up to no good because no man that looks like him would spend to seconds with a woman like her; b) he’s hot, let’s play with him anyway.

The book, the one the main female character saved, turns out to be ‘a very special book of magic’, ‘a grimoire’ – an ancient book of spells. The type of book that bonds to a witch and then will be . . . something something evil . . something something… whatever.

The man turns out to be a leopard. Heh. Okay, a leopard shifter who works for the ladies of light. No wait, the lords of leaping. Hmm, WTF was the organization again? Oh, something involving FoL, friends of light? Well the L is light. Oh, it’s also in the book description: ‘Freaking Orange Lizards’ (hmm, no that’s not it, dang I’m not funny, it’s ‘Fraternal Order of Light’). Basically the FOL’s mission in life is to be, at least based on this book, to hunt down and kill bad witches (or put them into prison) and take magic items (I think the bad kind not just all kinds) into storage to save the world. More on that . . .

Now. Bloody freaking hell that got annoying. Every other thing out of that male lead character was about how something or other was bound to ‘destroy all mankind’ or some shit like that if the FOL didn’t step in front and save everyone. And, sure, there’s probably some truth about it but you can only read about yet another apocalyptic level event being blocked before you fall asleep at the mere words.

Right, sorry.

So, right, the other thing that impacted Charlotte’s life was this dude, Walker Black. Who says he is into antiquing, which he is in a minor way – as a side kind of cover way, while mostly being an agent of FOL . .. since birth (seriously).

Walker spends the majority of the book finding Charlotte gorgeous, wanting to be with her, doubting himself and assuming she’s the most powerful witch he’s ever, and I mean ever, encountered because . . . he lusts for her and obviously that means that she put a spell on him. (seriously, this is one fucked up book). Right, so Walker is there in town to find and store, or I mean put into storage, that same book previously mentioned as being found by Charlotte.

The two leads flirt and stuff. Everyone and the cat turn out to have a secret identity (the cat is also secretly able to shed really well, okay, I could have gone with ‘witch familiar’ but that was only assumed without being confirmed). And the book ends. Yay. Book ended.

The man was a condescending jackass with a few redeeming qualities. The woman was borderline TSTL, though mostly due to circumstances out of her control and not her actual normal personality.

Rating: 2.88

July 10 2018



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Shadow of the Phoenix (Storm's Quarry, #3) by Rebecca Harwell

Shadow of the Phoenix by Rebecca Harwell

My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars


I received an ARC of this book from Bold Strokes Books and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

When a book is released as part of a series (or, for that matter, released without mention of a series, but an unofficial series connects other books to that book . . . but that’s not what is occurring here so I’ll move on), it is important to ask and answer one simple question. How important is it to read the prior works in the series? It is prudent to ask a question like that – there are books that are officially part of a series, but there is no real connection between the books (and, sometimes, between the authors); then there are series like this one here. That builds on each additional novel. How important is it to read this series in order? Very.

Right, so, assuming you haven’t read the first book in this series – go and do that now. I’ll patiently wait here. Now read the second book, as this here is the third.

I’m both joking and serious in the last paragraph. Serious in that you need to read this series in order, joking that you need to do it immediately.

Right, so, what’s this third book about? Well, see . . . *insert here spoiler for the series* . . . and we enter the realm of ‘how do you talk about the third book in an interconnect series that builds on itself without spoiling prior books’?

Well, let’s look at the book description. ‘Nadya and Shay have built a quiet life together away from the island city-state of Storm’s Quarry and their outlaw vigilante identities, the Iron Phoenix and the Shadow Dragon.’ Well, that’s wrong on two levels. Nadya is constantly in a state of depression and guilt at the actions of the past. Shay keeps having jealous flashes, though she keeps getting reminded that ‘I choose you’. Quiet life? Built? They live in a tent and are caravanning around with Shay’s adoptive mother, the Forgemaster. And that ‘life away from . . . Iron Phoenix and the Shadow Dragon’ is just . . . wrong. They still put on the costumes and help those around them. Heck, the book opens (at least the Nadya & Shay part) with Nadya tentatively approaching the Forgemaster to ask to have her armor dinks un-dinked. Because it got damaged. From being used, by Nadya, as the Iron Phoenix.

The only thing ‘correct’ in the part I quoted from the book description would be the ‘away from . . . Storm’s Quarry’.

Okkkay, I was going to say the second paragraph in the book description is accurate, until I read it again and . . . just don’t read that, m’okay? The paragraph. It’s too spoiler-y. Mentions stuff that occurs later in the book, and is kind of spoilery.

Right, so, the two women who, over time, have developed a relationship – Shay and Nadya, continue their relationship. Though their bonds are tested when news reaches them that call Nadya back to the city-state. Not specifically that the city is/was under invasion/attack, but there are coded parts in the message that lead Nadya to suspect something like that. So they return and do what they can to help.

A good solid book. Enjoyable. There’s both a feeling, as another review (the only other review at the moment) indicated, that the series has reached its conclusion, while at the same time there’s a tantalizing bit that could be followed in another book that’s left open by how the book ended ((view spoiler)[you know, the Lode story (hide spoiler)]).

Rating: 4.44 (of note: I rated the first book ~4.25 stars, second 4.45, and now rate the third 4.44)

July 5 2018




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The Road Ahead by A.E. Radley

The Road Ahead by A.E. Radley

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This was a quick easy read, though it falls inside my ‘novel’ length shelf … by two pages (works of 260 to 519 pages).

There are several things happening in this book – the first half is a road trip, the second half is something of a . . . recovery from that road trip.

The book opens with twenty-something Rebecca Edwards arriving, late, at an airport in Portugal. It’s the day before the day before Christmas. Or Christmas Eve Eve – the eve of Christmas Eve. It’s the 23rd of December. Rebecca is rushing to get back to her mum, but finds the airport packed with wandering confused humans. Luckily they are not muttering things about ‘brains’ and attempting to bite people, no that isn’t this type of book. No, see, ‘there’s something wrong with the computers’ and no flight can land or leave Portugal or Spain. It’s been that way for about 2 hours now.

One thing leads to another, and Rebecca arrives at a car rental desk. But they want a fortune to rent her a car. A fortune she doesn’t have. It’s the last car they have, she’s put down a 100 pounds to hold it to see if she could get money from others.

While frantically sending text messages to her poor financially impoverished friends, another woman appears and demands a car. She’s dressed like the kind of woman who has money. Loads of it. As opposed to Rebecca who looks like she . . . well, the 100 pounds appearing surprised me considering how she is described. She looks dirty and dirt poor.

That other woman, Arabella Henley has a few ice queen like traits. Don’t be fooled, she’s more of a selfish bitch (and yes, there is a difference). Arabella is moments away from handing over her credit card and getting the keys to the ‘one remaining car’ when Rebecca puts a stop to it. She mentions several things – the part where she points out that Arabella is stumbling around on a crutch and has a foot in a cast finally works. So now neither of them have the car. Rebecca doesn’t have the money, while Arabella’s injury has insurance coverage issues that keep her from the car.

Naturally . . . well, it takes a while, mostly the arrival of more desperate looking people, but they agree to drive together. From Portugal to London (well, near London, Putney and Croydon, wherever the heck that is; I know Croydon has been ‘absorbed’ into London suburbs, while Putney is an hour away from Croydon).

Its 22 hours and 46 minutes driving between Faro Airport (the airport I think they are at in Portugal) and Croydon UK (1,478 miles). 23 hours and 23 minutes between Faro Airport and Putney UK. 1,491 miles. A roadtrip that includes the countries: Portugal, Spain, France, and England.

I fluctuated in how much I liked or not liked the main characters, but in the end I tended to like them well enough. There was a good mix of humor to help matters along. I suppose if I was to point to one thing I disliked, I’d point to how often Arabella referred to Rebecca as ‘the girl’.

For those who care about such things: there was no graphic depictions of a sexual nature in this work.

Enjoyable book.

Rating: 4.88

July 4 2018




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The Lady and the Thief (Deceived, #5) by Megan Derr

The Lady and the Thief by Megan Derr

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I received an ARC of this book from Less Than Three Press and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ever read a story where fun and exciting mysteries and adventures and stuff are going on? Daring do, and all that? Like a James Bond novel or film, or even an Austen Powers film? There is a specific individual that comes to mind I wish to mention – he’s a fella that appeared in several Bond films, if I recall correctly he was a fatter man who may or may not be from either Texas or Louisiana, and may or may not be involved in law enforcement. I’m taking the time to mention him so I can note: in the films James Bond is doing these exciting things, speeding past in a boat, in a car, on a train. Texas dude watches with his mouth open clueless to what all is going on. Ah, there we go – Louisiana Sheriff J.W. Pepper, appeared in ‘Live and Let Die’ and ‘The Man with the Golden Gun’.

Adeline is the lead character in this short work, and the only one whose point of view is shown. Adeline is like Pepper in Bond. Exciting stuff is happening, but Adeline is just getting whiplash from it occurring around her, and occasionally to her, but without her knowing why.

This specific story open with Adeline seducing James Bond, saving money, and letting the individual know of her plans to run away together to ‘have a life’. The next morning Adeline wakes up to wails – ‘my jewelry!’ – the person she had expressed her love to, James Bond, had left the premise with Adeline’s money and jewels (as well as her aunt/uncles stuff). James Bond is, of course, not James Bond, but the chamber maid Lissette. Think a moment as to why I’d mention Bond here in this way. I do not wish to be too specific.

Two years later, 21 year old Adeline is finally ‘out for a season’ (and yes, this book reads like a vaguely English Regency period romance, but it is close enough to give that vibe, while also be irritating at the obvious differences between the 800,000 Regency romances I’ve read, and this story here – which, and this should be or should have been obvious, is not a Regency romance). While at a ball, Adeline spots a newcomer pop in. It’s Lizette! In a ball gown! And . . . calling herself Lady something or other!

One thing leads to another and . . . the reader follows Adeline mostly locked in her room ‘grounded’ while stuff happens. Since we, the readers, are following Adeline, ‘we’ know nothing, since Adeline knows nothing. Well, we and Adeline do know ‘something’ is going on. But not much more than ‘something’. Meanwhile, as far as the reader knows, an intricate chess match between rival spies could be occurring, or a game of poker, or high-speed . . . horse races . . . or nothing at all. That’s all the information we and Adeline have of the activities. Nothing at all.

Picture reading ‘North by Northwest’, and we are the Hitchcock character (not the director, the character – Hitchcock popped up on screen as someone at Mount Rushmore, sees ‘weird things occur’ but has no clue what’s going on). That’s us and Adeline. We are Hitchcock, or Pepper, or . . . any of a million other people who are near action, can sense something is occurring, but has no inside knowledge and is only involved indirectly (well, Adeline is involved directly, in a way, but she doesn’t know it).

Because of all of that – this is one of the most frustrating stories I’ve read. Borderline boring. Maybe more than borderline.

Adeline is a skilled and trained swords-person (fencer). Isn’t stupid. Etc. etc. But spends the majority of the story, as noted, locked in her room, or without agency – having people do things to her. Either for or against her. Sure, occasionally she gets to stab someone, but super rarely. Mostly she’s locked in a room.

I do not really like reading stories where the character has no agency, and stuff just happens to them. Especially if most of the stuff is off screen and sometime near the end the character has to be sat down and have things explained to them because . . . they both had no agency to act, and had no opportunity to observe anything.

Adeline remained true to her first love, but this is not, by any means, a romance. I can’t even call it a spy story, even though everything that occurs is spy related – Adeline just isn’t involved in it. It’s like a Sherlock Holmes story, and we the reader are following . . . the person off to the side, who is both blind and deaf, who shines shoes for a living. Hears and sees nothing. Feels only shoes and shoe cleaning stuff. Yay?

Oh, and the main character is also overly emotional and angsty. Hehehe, gah.

Rating: …. I really have no idea. 2.75

July 3 2018




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Heart of Chaos by Avery Stiles

Heart of Chaos by Avery Stiles

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I received an ARC of this book from Less Than Three Press and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

First off: This is the first story I’ve read by this author. What did I know going in? Not much – something about a business partner proposing marriage to Rin, Rin not wanting to marry, turns to a Goddess for help, who tells her to marry her instead. Or . . I think that last part was something I read somewhere the story was about. Sounded interesting enough. Oh, and the cover indicated an interracial relationship of some kind.

What did I find? Well, I immediately knew my impression was off. From the ‘this is what the story is about’ I pictured some Middle Ages (knights and castles level) level fantasy world. And the story opens with Rin turning off a computer. Soooo… Oh, and the people in this world are super focused on business matters (’the Empire of Alhira was a corporate country through and through. Business was expected to be her first love’).

Oh, and that business partner who proposed marriage is male (with Rin 2being female).

So this is a ‘modern’ world with computers, technology, people living for their jobs, etc. etc., mixed with an active polytheistic religion with multiple Gods and Goddesses – who can be seen in person (‘the goddess walked the earth just as all gods did’ – so said after seeing the goddess Hina walking around picking up pastries to eat late at night).

….

Forgot to mention the Goddesses name (God/Goddess, whatever, they are/can be both, heck when first meet, they were a cat licking up milk) – that name being Vistri.

Not sure I particularly like either main character. Rather than saying no to Jarrod, the man who proposed marriage, Rin went to the Gods for help. Um, eh? Saying no is harder than making a plea for help from a trickster god? And the other, Vistri, appears to be a pompous asshole. Eh, whatever.

…

Vistri uses terms of endearment, like ‘dear’ way too much.
…
Right, so, short story read. Unfortunately I never really got into it as much as I thought I would. I was a little too detached from what was going on.

Rating: 3.44

July 2 2018



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