Book Review: Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano

 

From the publisher:

FINLAY DONOVAN IS KILLING IT . . . except, she’s really not. The new book she promised her literary agent isn’t written, her ex-husband fired the nanny without telling her, and this morning she had to send her four-year-old to school with hair duct-taped to her head.

When Finlay’s overheard discussing the plot of her new novel with her agent over lunch, she’s mistaken for a contract killer and inadvertently accepts an offer to dispose of a problem husband in order to make ends meet . . . and she soon discovers that crime in real life is a lot more difficult than its fictional counterpart.

Finlay Donovan is Killing It by Elle Cosimano was released February 2, 2021 from Minotaur Books. It is the first in the Finlay Donovan series. There are currently 3 books in the series with a fourth planned for release in March of 2024.

My Thoughts:

Finlay Donovan is stretched thin trying to care for her children and write a book. And she's not making ends meet. Her soon to be ex-husband Steven pays the electric only because his children are living there. In the middle of a contentious divorce, they are barely civil to each other while arguing custody issues. Finlay Donovan is a sympathetic character. Even more so after the morning she has at the beginning of the book. Duct tape doesn't fasten hair back on a child very well.

I enjoyed the outrageousness of the plot. I could see that possibly happening in real life. The whole thing is a humorous mystery. There is banter between parents, conversations with the nanny, and words out of the mouths of babes (Are you dating him, Mommy?)

I liked the twisted plot lines from the beginning to the somewhat unexpected ending. The book moved along at a good pace. The ending was satisfying. I look forward to seeing what happens next for Finlay and Vero.

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars. I would recommend it to people who enjoy humorous mysteries with female main characters.

This book is currently available on Kindle Unlimited.

Teaser Tuesday: Forever and Never by Alex A. King

 

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purplebooker.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

From her third-floor perch, Soula spots a problem in the vicinity. The owner of the village’s biggest mouth is visiting a neighbor. Kyria Dora’s ears are swiveling at this very moment, tuning in to the gossip channel. She’s quivering inside her black, cotton dress, her steel gray sausage curls jumping as she contemplates the delicious potential. A woman of a certain age—certainly a lot older than the thirty-five years she’ll confess to—Kyria Dora is a lot of woman, and all of it is straining against her buttons as she wobbles closer. (4% through on my Kindle)

Would you keep reading? What's your teaser this week? Share it or a link in the comments. Are you enjoying your book? Let us know! Happy Reading!

Book Review: The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman

 

Magic happens whether you want it to or not. Sally doesn't want anything to do with magic and especially the family curse. She raised her daughters this way. They had no idea what was going on when the curse activated. And that opened a Pandora's box of events. 

I looked forward to visiting with these characters. I was not disappointed. I pretty much loved them all. I liked that many, if not all of them, experienced growth in this book. 

Parts of the book were slower than others, but it suited the story. By the time you get to the end it was flying. 

I liked the continuation of the difference between the Owens natural magic and the darker magic that was found in the book. And I liked the way the author tied up all the loose ends in the series in this finale.

I gave this book 5 stars. I enjoyed reading it and will miss the characters. If you have read other books in the series and enjoyed them, this one is a must read. If this is your first book in the series: it could be read as a standalone, but reading the other books first will make it a richer experience. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

Teaser Tuesday: The Book of Magic by Alice Hoffman

 

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purplebooker.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Though Jet didn't work in the library officially, she was a great favorite with the young patrons. She had the ability to know what people were thinking, and therefore understood that boys who were rude were usually fearful and that quiet girls often had a lot to say. She frequently stopped by to help young people choose books, guiding them to stories that contained magic of the best sort, practical magic that was folded into the everyday world, tales in which people stumbled into enchantments, often while walking down the street in their own hometown, or when they stepped into closets that contained other worlds, or waited for a train that would take them to a place they'd never before imagined.

Would you keep reading? What's your teaser this week? Share it or a link in the comments. Are you enjoying your book? Let us know! Happy Reading!

Book Review: Grave Reservations by Cherie Priest

 

From the publisher: 

Meet Leda Foley: devoted friend, struggling travel agent, and inconsistent psychic. When Leda, sole proprietor of Foley's Flights of Fancy, impulsively re-books Seattle PD detective Grady Merritt’s flight, her life changes in ways she couldn’t have predicted.

After watching his original plane blow up from the safety of the airport, Grady realizes that Leda’s special abilities could help him with a cold case he just can’t crack.

Despite her scattershot premonitions, she agrees for a secret reason: her fiancé’s murder remains unsolved. Leda’s psychic abilities couldn’t help the case several years before, but she’s been honing her skills and drawing a crowd at her favorite bar’s open-mic nights, where she performs Klairvoyant Karaoke—singing whatever song comes to mind when she holds people’s personal effects. Now joined by a rag-tag group of bar patrons and pals alike, Leda and Grady set out to catch a killer—and learn how the two cases that haunt them have more in common than they ever suspected.

My Thoughts: 

I like the characters in the book, especially Leda and Grady. I like that they have a platonic working relationship. Leda also has good chemistry with her BFF Niki. The two women share a good sense of humor and nice banter. 

I also like that while Leda gets psychic clues, she isn't handed all the answers on a plate. She and Grady have to figure out what things mean. The Klairvoyant Karaoke is a cute way to show off her abilities.

The investigation moves along nicely. It follows a natural progression. There is an action sequence at one point that's nicely done.

Overall, I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. It's well written. If you like your mysteries with a touch of the paranormal, it's worth reading. It's a good first book in a new series.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Teaser Tuesday: Grave Reservations by Cherie Priest

 

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purplebooker.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

It had unnerved him, seeing what living alone could do to a man. He could wind up in a split level, surrounded by tiny, yippy dogs who were constantly trying to tunnel out to freedom like fuzzy little prisoners of war. If it’d happened to Jim after his wife had died, it could happen to anybody. (44% through on my Kindle)

Grave Reservations by Cherie Priest was published October 26th, 2021 by Atria Books.

Would you keep reading? What's your teaser this week? Share it or a link in the comments. Are you enjoying your book? Let us know! Happy Reading!

Book Review: Not Your Average Hot Guy by Gwenda Bond

 

From the publisher:

A paranormal romantic comedy at the (possible) end of the world.

From New York Times bestselling author Gwenda Bond, Not Your Average Hot Guy is a hilarious romantic comedy about two people falling in love, while the fate of the world rests on their shoulders.

All Callie wanted was a quiet weekend with her best friend. She promised her mom she could handle running her family’s escape room business while her mom is out of town. Instead a Satanic cult shows up, claiming that the prop spell book in one of the rooms is the real deal, and they need it to summon the right hand of the devil. Naturally they take Callie and her friend, Mag, along with them. But when the summoning reveals a handsome demon in a leather jacket named Luke who offers to help Callie stop the cult from destroying the world, her night goes from weird to completely strange.

As the group tries to stay one step ahead of the cult, Callie finds herself drawn to the annoying (and annoyingly handsome) Luke. But what Callie doesn’t know is that Luke is none other than Luke Morningstar, Prince of Hell and son of the Devil himself. Callie never had time for love, and with the apocalypse coming closer, is there room for romance when all hell’s about to break loose?

My Thoughts:

This would make a great beach read as Alix Harrow suggests. It's a light romantic comedy that happens to be set against the backdrop of the possible end of the world. It's told in alternating points of view. One chapter by Callie, the next from Luke and so on. It's easy to follow the change. It's well labelled, plus they each have their own voice. My only complaint is that they read a little younger than they're supposed to be. Still, it qualifies as a New Adult paranormal romance. 

Gwenda Bond manages to maintain a light atmosphere throughout what could have been heavy moments such as when Callie and Luke journey through Hell. And both characters have opportunities to be clever and experience personal growth. There's an interesting personification of Styx in Hell. And they wouldn't be able to accomplish everything without allies both above and below. 

I gave the book 4 out of 5 stars. It's a fun read. It's well written and fast moving. And I liked the characters. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. Not Your Average Hot Guy by Gwenda Bond was published October 5th, 2021 by St. Martin's Griffin.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Teaser Tuesday: No Gods, No Monsters by Cadwell Turnbull

 

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purplebooker.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Upon witnessing the complete lack of fucks given by the quantum world, physicists collectively lose their minds. How can they reconcile reality with what they are seeing? In desperation, many of them entertain solipsistic ideas. If the world of tiny objects can disregard Newtonian physics, then how can we tell for sure that reality isn’t just a product of our imagination?

(p. 202)

No Gods, No Monsters by Cadwell Turnbull was published September 7th, 2021 by Blackstone Publishing.

Would you keep reading? What's your teaser this week? Share it or a link in the comments. Are you enjoying your book? Let us know! Happy Reading!

Book Review: Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune

 

From the publisher:

Welcome to Charon's Crossing.
The tea is hot, the scones are fresh, and the dead are just passing through.

When a reaper comes to collect Wallace from his own funeral, Wallace begins to suspect he might be dead.

And when Hugo, the owner of a peculiar tea shop, promises to help him cross over, Wallace decides he’s definitely dead.

But even in death he’s not ready to abandon the life he barely lived, so when Wallace is given one week to cross over, he sets about living a lifetime in seven days.

Hilarious, haunting, and kind, Under the Whispering Door is an uplifting story about a life spent at the office and a death spent building a home.

Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune was published September 21st, 2021 by Tor Books.

My Thoughts:

Wallace is a very busy man. Work is his life. Imagine his surprise and consternation when a reaper comes for him as he's watching his own funeral. She brings him to a tea shop where the ferryman is. Wallace is quite upset. At one point he even stomps his foot and demands to be returned to the living. Hugo, the ferryman, informs him this is impossible. Wallace sulks. This is how he begins his transformative journey with the help of Hugo, Hugo's grandfather, the reaper, and a ghost dog.

The characters are all interesting. Wallace undergoes the biggest and most obvious change. But the others experience growth as well. I enjoyed the characters and rooted for them. I especially liked the bits between Wallace and Hugo's grandfather. And I enjoyed reading about Wallace and Hugo as they grow closer.

The novel has a quiet sort of tone to it. Almost all of the action takes place in the tea shop. The calmness is the perfect background for the story. 

There are a few scenes that are full of action. And there is a certain amount of sarcasm in the story as well. There's also some humor. I wasn't crazy about the ending, but it does follow the experiences logically.

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars. It's well written. The characters are endearing for the most part. I really wanted to know what was going to happen to them. If you enjoy fantasy titles , you might enjoy this one. I really looked forward to this book and it did not disappoint.. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Book Review: True Dead by Faith Hunter

 

From the publisher:

Jane Yellowrock goes back to the city where it all began in the newest installment of this thrilling New York Times bestselling series.

Jane used to hunt vampires, but now she’s their queen. She’s holed up in the mountains with the Yellowrock Clan, enjoying a little peace, when a surprise attack on her people proves that trouble is brewing. Someone is using very old magic to launch a bid for power, and it’s all tied to the place where Jane was first drawn into the world of Leo Pellissier—the city of New Orleans.

Jane is compelled to return to NOLA because someone is trying to destabilize the paranormal world order. And because she now sits near the top of the vampire world, the assault is her problem. She will do what she must to protect what’s hers. Her city. Her people. Her power. Her crown.

True Dead by Faith Hunter was published September 14th, 2021 by Ace.

My thoughts:

This is the fourteenth book in the Jane Yellowrock series and the second to last novel in the series. That it's been so long running shows that there are readers who enjoy it as well as a talented author.

The world building is detailed and complex. There are many cultures and magic systems. For Jane, the center of it all is New Orleans. It's where things started and where things may end. As the Dark Queen, Jane is responsible for many different people and beings. And because she is the Dark Queen she will be challenged. It's hard to keep the many cultures straight. Lucky for her she has people to help with that.

Jane herself is not just Jane. Beast also resides within her. The relationship between the two has changed over the years and is complex. Both of them continue to grow as more responsibility is thrust upon them. It's interesting to watch how they view the same situations differently.

There's plenty of action in the book. It seems a little slow at first, but it picks up soon enough. With each action scene, the stakes seem to get higher. 

This book should not be read as a standalone. There are plot points that refer to previous occurrences in the series. While some explanation is given, there's so much more richness to be gotten from reading other books in the series first.

Overall I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars. It's a well written, complex piece of urban fantasy. If you have read other books in the series, this is a must -read. If you like urban fantasy, you will probably enjoy this series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Teaser Tuesday: Not Your Average Hot Guy by Gwenda Bond

 

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purplebooker.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

 "You don't think they'd, you know, sacrifice us, do you?"

 Thanks for that idea, Mag. I hadn't gotten there yet.

 "I'm sure I'm chewy. All that sitting," I say. "Not good for the ritual cannibalism." (11% through on my Kindle)

Not Your Average Hot Guy by Gwenda Bond was published by St. Martin's Griffin on October 5th, 2021.

Would you keep reading? What's your teaser this week? Share it or a link in the comments. Are you enjoying your book? Let us know! Happy Reading!

Book Review: The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova

 

From the publisher: 

The Montoyas are used to a life without explanations. They know better than to ask why the pantry never seems to run low, or why their matriarch won’t ever leave their home in Four Rivers—not for graduations, weddings, or baptisms. But when Orquídea Divina invites them to her funeral and to collect their inheritance, they hope to learn the secrets that she has held onto so tightly their whole lives. Instead, Orquídea is transformed into a ceiba tree, leaving them with more questions than answers.

Seven years later, her gifts have manifested in different ways for Marimar, Rey, and Rhiannon, granting them unexpected blessings and powers. But soon, a hidden figure begins to tear through their family tree, picking them off one by one as it seeks to destroy Orquídea’s line. Determined to save what’s left of their family and uncover the truth behind their inheritance, her descendants travel to Ecuador—to the place where Orquídea buried her secrets and broken promises and never looked back.

The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Cordóva was published September 7th, 2021 by Atria Books.

My thoughts: 

This book is a wonderful piece of magical realism. Magic happens in the characters lives and they accept it as normal. It starts with how they receive their invitations to receive their inheritances and grows from there. It's very well done.

The point of view switches among characters. In the case of Orquídea, it also alternates between her past and present. I had no problem following whose eyes we were looking through at any particular time. 

The characters themselves are intriguing. And it was interesting to watch how they dealt with their inheritances and the danger when it presented itself. For some there is an outward sign of the inheritance. And I think all of them undergo some kind of transformation even if it only affects their world view.

The story is beautifully told. Overall I give this book 5 out of 5 stars. If you enjoy magical realism, you will probably enjoy this book. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 

Teaser Tuesday: Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune

 

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purplebooker.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Hugo knocked his head back against the railing softly. "But isn't that life? We second guess everything because it's in our nature. People with anxiety and depression just tend to do it more."  ( 67% through on my Kindle)

Under the Whispering Door by T. J. Klune was released September 21st, 2021 by Tor Books.

Would you keep reading? What's your teaser this week? Share it or a link in the comments. Are you enjoying your book? Let us know! Happy Reading!

Book Review: The Orphan Witch by Paige Crutcher

 

From the publisher: 

A deeper magic. A stronger curse. A family lost...and found.

Persephone May has been alone her entire life. Abandoned as an infant and dragged through the foster care system, she wants nothing more than to belong somewhere. To someone. However, Persephone is as strange as she is lonely. Unexplainable things happen when she’s around—changes in weather, inanimate objects taking flight—and those who seek to bring her into their family quickly cast her out. To cope, she never gets attached, never makes friends. And she certainly never dates. Working odd jobs and always keeping her suitcases half-packed, Persephone is used to moving around, leaving one town for another when curiosity over her eccentric behavior inevitably draws unwanted attention.

After an accidental and very public display of power, Persephone knows it’s time to move on once again. It’s lucky, then, when she receives an email from the one friend she’s managed to keep, inviting her to the elusive Wile Isle. The timing couldn’t be more perfect. However, upon arrival, Persephone quickly discovers that Wile is no ordinary island. In fact, it just might hold the very things she’s been searching for her entire life.

Answers. Family. Home.

And some things she did not want. Like 100-year-old curses and an even older family feud. With the clock running out, love might be the magic that saves them all.

The Orphan Witch by Paige Crutcher was published September 28th, 2021 by St. Martin's Griffin.

My thoughts: I almost DNF'd this book. But, I did finish it. I found it confusing in places. And the number of descriptions of smiles dragged me away from the story. I had to re-read the ending twice. And I had trouble getting invested in the characters.

On the plus side, the cover draws the eye. And the notion of Persephone May having magical reasons for not making eye contact is interesting. I liked the Library. It was like a character itself. And it was interesting how the magic worked. "There's always a cost."

Overall, I give The Orphan Witch 3/5 stars. It's an interesting book. If you enjoy witchy stories, you might enjoy this one.  

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This review is my unbiased opinion.

Teaser Tuesday: Under the Whispering Door by T.J. Klune

 

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purplebooker.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

She relaxed. "I won't pretend to say I understand what you're going through. How can I? And even if I thought I knew what it's like, I'd probably still be wrong. It's different for everyone, man. What the people went through before you and those who will come after you, it's never going to be the same thing twice. But that doesn't mean I don't know what I'm doing." ( 31% through on my Kindle)

Under the Whispering Door by T. J. Klune was released September 21st, 2021 by Tor Books.

Would you keep reading? What's your teaser this week? Share it or a link in the comments. Are you enjoying your book? Let us know! Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday: So Much Bull by Alex A. King

 

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purplebooker.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

 

Androniki Remi, Luke’s grandmother, possessed the local Greek community’s largest, sharpest beak. Can opener nose. Hide-piercing tongue. Bodies of countless opponents littering her past. Sticks and stones could break bones, but Luke’s grandmother could shred a human soul with a few well-placed words. If given the choice, I’d rather shove my arm in the wrong end of a crocodile than ring the doorbell of her colonial-style home. Sadly, crocodiles didn’t prowl the streets of Salem, so I was left with the more terrifying option. (p. 18 on my Kindle)

So Much Bull by Alex A. King was published October 23rd, 2021.

Would you keep reading? What's your teaser this week? Share it or a link in the comments. Are you enjoying your book? Let us know! Happy Reading!

Teaser Tuesday: The Orphan Witch by Paige Crutcher

 

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme hosted by The Purplebooker.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read

• Open to a random page

• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

• Share the title and author so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Mary Miller, the foster mother who almost adopted Persephone, once told her expectations were the road to resentment, and Persephone couldn't have agreed more. However, Mary Miller wasn't under a time crunch to break a curse. (20% through on my Kindle)

The Orphan Witch by Paige Crutcher was published September 28th, 2021 by St. Martin's Griffin.

Would you keep reading? What's your teaser this week? Share it or a link in the comments. Are you enjoying your book? Let us know! Happy Reading!