Happy Book Birthday to If I stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens and The Busybodies Collection

 

Through Raspberry Colored Glasses wishes a Happy Book Birthday to If I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens and to The Busybodies Collection. 

From the publisher: 

An enemies to lovers romance with a spooky twist where two feuding writers end up on a writers retreat together at a haunted castle in Scotland

It's been months since horror author Penelope Skinner threw a book at Neil Storm. But he was so infuriating, with his sparkling green eyes and his bestselling horror novels that claimed to break Native stereotypes. And now she’s a publishing pariah and hasn’t been able to write a word since. So when her friend invites her on a too-good-to-be-true writers retreat in a supposedly haunted Scottish castle, she seizes the opportunity. Of course, some things really are too good to be true.

Neil wants nothing less than to be trapped in a castle with the frustratingly adorable woman who threw a book at him. She drew blood! Worse still, she unleashed a serious case of self-doubt! Neil is terrified to write another bestselling “book without a soul,” as Pen called it. All Neil wants is to find inspiration, while completely avoiding her.

But as the retreat begins, Pen and Neil are stunned to find themselves trapped in a real-life ghost story. Even more horrifying, they’re stuck together and a truly shocking (extremely hot) almost-kiss has left them rethinking their feelings, and… maybe they shouldn’t have been enemies at all? But if they can’t stop the ghosts pursuing them, they may never have the chance to find out.

Full of spooky chills and even more sexy thrills, If I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens is the funny, fast-paced romp romance readers have been waiting for!

If I Stopped Haunting You by Colby Wilkens is being released today by St. Martin's Griffin.

I've just recently started this book. I don't read much romance. I am finding this one appealing so far and looking forward to getting into the paranormal aspects and seeing how that affects the main characters. Review to come.

From the publisher:

Every nosy neighbor, gossipy friend, and meddling relative is just one good mystery away from becoming a detective. From behind locked doors or out in broad daylight, driven by chance or curiosity, amateur sleuths get in over their heads in these six hair-raising, hilarious stories.

Busybodies is being released today as a collection of six stories from Amazon Original Stories.

I've read books previously by 2 of the authors - Elle Cosimano and Jesse Q. Sutanto. Both of them write top notch humorous mysteries. I am looking forward to reading the selections by the other authors as well. I am thinking I might find some new favorites. Review to come.

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: 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 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: 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!

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!

So even as she remained steadfast in her search for answers, Persephone May stayed lost.

And a lost thing is always waiting to be found. (2% 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!