Just Like Magic - Tara Wyatt

 Adam Shephard is not in a rut.

So what if he’s forty, single, and still running his family’s Inn? So what if he’s still grieving his father’s death and mourning the spectacular failure of his writing career? His life is perfectly fine, thank you very much. He’s not looking for love or a relationship, no matter what his nosy family thinks. Especially not with a writer from out of town.

Which is fine, because bestselling author Hazel Woodward isn’t looking for love either. She’s just looking for an escape, which is how she winds up in Gossamer Falls, a town where magic feels more than just make believe.

With her deadline looming, Hazel has only a few weeks to submit the first hundred pages of her manuscript or forfeit her hefty advance—which might be a problem, because she’s been living off of it for the past two years. While getting divorced, losing her best friend to a heartbreaking betrayal, and dealing with the worst case of writers block ever known to man. Now, in the picturesque town of Gossamer Falls, while staying at the Shephard Inn, she's hoping she can put the past behind her and focus on her career.

There’s a reason Adam doesn’t get involved with his guests, even ones with the most amazing brown eyes he’s ever seen. Even ones as gorgeous, smart, and talented as Hazel. Because in the end, they all leave.

But there’s magic in the air, and he can’t watch Hazel struggle. Especially when he just might have the solution to her writer’s block.

Too bad it might cost him his heart.

My Review

Just Like Magic by Tara Wyatt
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I didn't know what to expect with this new series from Tara Wyatt. I've read and enjoyed quite a few of her other books and series, so I was excited to try something new. I think that this would fall under the genre of small-town romance, but don't worry, there's plenty of heat here too.
Gossamer Falls is a town with magic in the air. Not only is there a shop selling spell and other magical items, but the waterfalls, after which the town is named is also credited with magic of its own. A visit at a special time in moonlight and you'll meet your true love soon. After her visit, things certainly seem to be happening for Hazel.
I really enjoyed this read. There's not a lot of angst, instead, we have a couple who seem made for each other and only need a little bit of magic to get things moving along. I really liked that they were a bit older than many couples in similar books and yet were of a similar age. Adam and Hazel make a really cute couple and I really enjoyed their story.
There are a lot of other people in the town, particularly in Adam's family, who I think could use a story themselves and I suspect that's what we're going to get in the following books in this series. I can't wait!

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Queen of Ashes and Scars - Anya J Cosgrove

A grumpy human servant.

An arrogant bodyguard.

The scoundrel that broke my heart…

I'm queen of the ashes... Now what?My kingdom is in ruins, and I have to find my way back to my throne and my people.To take back control of the night court, I need my men by my side. All three of them, though they're not exactly on board...yet.The crown of shadows doesn't care for love, only blood.Love...is dangerous.Queen of Ashes and Scars is the second and final book in the Throne of Shadows series. It's a fast-paced, sizzling romance duet set in the deadly Delacroix night court. You’ll love this story if you like sexy vampire bites, enemies-to-lovers relationships, and heroes who love to share.This duet is set in the same world as Magnetic and Shadow Witch, but it stands alone. Pick up your steaming-hot copy now!

My Review

I do love Anya J Cosgrove's books and this one is no exception. I was dying to find out what was going to happen to Arielle after the last book Princess of Thorns and Ruin: A Dark Fantasy Romance (Completed Series) and this book certainly delivered.
There was also a little glimpse of characters from a previous series, although I would have liked to see both of the main characters from there, it being one of my favourite books. Little things still make me smile though!
I loved Arielle's character, she grew both in confidence and ability through the course of these two books. I enjoyed her relationships with Alec, Sebastian and Leo. The only downside was that I felt that this was too short. I didn't want to leave this world behind and I felt that there was much of the story still to be told. What will happen with Leo? Will she be accepted properly now? How does Keenan fit into it all? I only hope that there's more to come because I really want to know.
Overall another great read and one that I really enjoyed.

Princess of Thorns and Ruin - Anya J. Cosgrove

 A grumpy human servant.

An arrogant bodyguard.

The scoundrel that broke my heart…

Betrayals and secrets rule the deadly and hypnotic court of night.

The pleasure bite is an art that a proper vampire princess shouldn’t think so much about, but how can I resist the pull of Leo’s blood or the warmth of his tanned skin? My new servant has sworn his life to me, body and soul, but he’s quiet and full of secrets.

Alec Beaumont simply boils my blood every time he opens his damn beautiful mouth, and Sebastian Chastain is as cruel and calculating as the day he set fire to my dress.

I can’t fall for any of them, forced to marry whoever my brother will choose for me, but is duty reason enough to betray my own heart?

I’m a Delacroix. We rule or die. There’s nothing to compromise.

Princess of Thorns and Ruin is book 1 in a fast-paced, sizzling romance duet set in the deadly Delacroix night court. You’ll love this story if you like sexy vampire bites, enemies-to-lovers relationships, and heroes who love to share.

This duet is set in the same world as Magnetic, but it stands alone. Downton Abbey meets House of Dragons. Mature themes.

My Review

When it comes to dark, paranormal romances, you don't get much better than Anya J. Cosgrove. It's been a while, but I was really excited to find out that there was a new duet on the way. Although this is linked to Magnetic it is a standalone story. Do you need to read Magnetic first? No. Should you read it anyway because it's great? Obviously.

Arielle has just come into her 'powers' her human servant who gave her the first drink of blood that turned her into a vampire doesn't really want anything to do with her. Then there's her bodyguard, an old crush and even the hint of an angel towards the end of the book.

In many ways, this first part of the duet is just to set everything up for the conclusion and I have to be honest, I'm not really sure yet where it's going to go. I know where I might like it to go, but I'll have to wait and see.

I don't ant to give any spoilers, so I'm being quite vague. This was a brilliant read and I can't wait for the next book. Fortunately, I don't have to wait too much longer!

Acing the Game - Carey PW

Acing the Game
Carey PW
Publication date: February 10th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, LGBTQ+, Romance

Is food really the way into a person’s heart?

Shep Lee thought he had it all. A successful restaurant, a loving husband who understood his asexuality, and most of all, the ability to be himself, a popular chef in the small town of Cloverleaf, Montana. That is, until his husband, Elmer Eshler, began pushing Shep more on sex.

Elmer doesn’t understand why he can’t turn his partner on—aren’t they perfect for each other? And Shep loves him, right? Shep, meanwhile, while confident with his body, is and forever will be sex indifferent. Why has Elmer suddenly changed his tune? But he doesn’t want to lose the man he loves so much. What can they do?

Shep convinces Elmer to try a polyamorous relationship. Elmer gets to have Shep and the sex life he’s always wanted. Shep gets a cooking buddy and a chance to experience a relationship and even try sex with a woman as his authentic gender. At first, Shep isn’t sure, but finds himself coming around—this feels safer than opening up the relationship. All three of them will be romantically involved, so that should ease any jealousy, right?

But when Willow Saint, a free-spirited, boisterous, and saucy young woman, comes into their lives, neither are prepared for the emotional and sexual rollercoaster that follows. Enthralled by Willow’s charm and kindness, Elmer and Shep struggle to understand what this means for their own bond. Can they become one happy family? Or will this ruin everything?

Goodreads / Amazon

Author Bio:

Carey PW (he/they) is an author, college instructor, and mental health counselor.

Carey currently lives in Montana, and identifies as nonbinary, transmasculine (AFAB) and panromantic asexual. Carey has discovered that writing about his lived experiences is a therapeutic outlet for him and hopes that his readers relate to his own personal struggles and triumphs shared through his characters’ narratives. He has also worked as a high school and college writing instructor, earning a B.A. in English Literature, a M.Ed. in English Education, and Ph.D. in Social Foundations of Education all from the University of Georgia. In 2020, Carey earned his second M.Ed. in Counselor Education and works as a licensed clinical professional counselor, LCPC.

Readers can learn more about Carey from his blog, www.careypw.com. When he is not writing, Carey is busy training for marathons, parenting his six cats, sharing his culinary talents on social media, and serving on the board for the nonprofit Center for Studies of the Person (CSP).

Carey PW loves to hear from readers. You can find his contact information, website and author biography at www.extasybooks.com.

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / TikTok

My Review

This book was not at all what I was expecting. It tells the story of a couple; Shep and Elmer who are having some difficulties with their relationship. Shep is asexual, while Elmer wants a more regular sex life. They decide to address this issue by adding a third person to their relationship, younger woman Willow.
The book tackles a number of quite weighty and challenging concepts. How can they make a relationship work when they are so incompatible sexually, even though everything else works? How important is it to be on the same page when it comes to sex and what might be the fallout if they do decide to take this step?
I thought that for the most part, this was all handled well and sensatively. Unfortunately, there is a great deal of backstory to understand with these two characters, there's no real way around this as what follows in the 'main' part of the story simply wouldn't make sense without it. The problem is that we then end up with rather a lot of telling rather than showing and that slows the whole narrative down. It also made it difficult to fully connect with the characters. It's a shame because it does detract from the story somewhat.
I did enjoy this read despite this slight disconnect and it was a really thought-provoking read. I did feel that the end of the book was slightly less satisfying than it might have been. This is probably due to the nature of the storyline, but I was left feeling a little let down by the end.

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A Body in a Cornish Village - Dee MacDonald

Cornish cream teas in the sun, dog walks on the beach and… a murder investigation? Can Kate Palmer – part-time nurse and cake-loving sleuth – solve her most baffling case yet?

Kate Palmer is delighted when she learns that her home, the beautiful seaside village of Tinworthy, is the setting for a new TV show. She’s even more excited when she, her handsome husband Woody and her drama queen sister Angie are all invited to be extras. But when the cameras start rolling, the trio are in for a nasty surprise when the film’s writer and producer, Crispin Wyngarde, drops dead…

Before long, rumours start flying and Angie is in the spotlight for murder. Kate knows her sister had a brief, stormy fling with Crispin during her younger days as an actress, but surely Angie couldn’t have hated him that much, could she?

Kate is certain of her sister’s innocence, and is determined to prove it. But who would want to kill Crispin and set the stage for Angie to take the fall? Could it be Fergal, Angie’s jealous boyfriend? Sonja, the eccentric director, who had a love-hate relationship with Crispin? Or gorgeous Guy, the hairdresser who’s held a grudge against the problematic producer for years?

Armed with a list of possible culprits, Kate sets out to interview everyone she can. Over cups of tea, secrets start to spill out about overheard conversations and mysterious money transfers. But just as Kate thinks she’s finally on the right track, her main suspect is found dead after a party in the village. To make matters worse, he’s one of Angie’s old flames too…

Kate needs to solve the crime – and quick – to save her feisty sister. Can she untangle the clues and get to the truth, before it’s curtains down for Angie?

If you love murder mysteries with a brilliant cast of characters, twisty plots and plenty of tea and cake, A Body in a Cornish Village will have you hooked until the very last page! Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Faith Martin and Joy Ellis.

Author Bio:

Aged 18, Dee arrived in London from Scotland and typed her way round the West End for a couple of years before joining BOAC (forerunner of British Airways) in Passenger Services for 2 years and then as a stewardess for 8 years.

She has worked in Market Research, Sales and at the Thames TV Studios when they had the franchise.

Dee has since relocated to Cornwall, where she spent 10 years running B&Bs, and only began writing when she was over 70!

Married twice, she has one son and two grandsons.

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDeeMacDonald
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My Review

I do enjoy these Kate Palmer books. Since the first one we've followed the adventures of her and her sister Angie, seen her fall in love with Woody and get married. We've also seen her stumble across a shockingly large amount of murder victims and stick her nose into trying to solve them. This book is no different.
In A Body in a Cornish Village, we find Kate and Woody working as extras for a TV movie. Her sister, with her background in acting, has managed to get herself a bigger role, but the drama really ramps up when someone is murdered on set.
I love these classic-style mysteries with their array of potential suspects and clues and red herrings dotted throughout the pages. The scenic, cornish setting really adds something too. I mostly managed to solve this one, with a little help from Kate, although I think I managed to put it all together a little faster than she did.
Overall another great read and I'm looking forward to returning to see more of what Kate, Woody, Angie and Fergal have been up to soon.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

Murder at the Inn - Katie Gayle

 Julia Bird loves the village pub quiz, but it seems one of her team won’t make it to the next round alive…

On the first Tuesday of each month, Julia Bird and her Agatha Quizteam teammates take part in Berrywick’s village pub quiz. They take it seriously – what’s the point of playing, after all, if you aren’t in it to win it? But it seems someone connected with the quiz night has taken the competition to a whole new level when Lilian, the local police constable and all-round general knowledge expert, is found fatally stabbed after the evening’s final round.

With local DI Hayley Gibson stuck home with a broken leg and an incompetent Superintendent brought in from the nearby town, it’s up to Julia to make sure the investigation stays focused – whether they like it or not! While the police are convinced that the murderer is linked to Lilian’s professional life, Julia turns her amateur sleuthing eye to suspects much closer to home. Perhaps Lilian’s personal life could have something to do with the dreadful crime?

When another quiz team member is attacked, Julia is finally put on the right track. But what could possibly be important – or dangerous – enough for two attendees of the pub quiz night to meet such foul ends over? Could the culprit really be among them on that busy Tuesday night? As Julia’s race to identify the killer ramps up to desperate heights, she wonders, where will the murderous spree end?

Perfect for fans of M.C. Beaton, Faith Martin and Betty Rowlands, Murder at the Inn is a brilliantly compelling English cosy mystery.

My Review

Julia Bird seems to find herself caught up in murder after murder. She moved to the country for a quiet life, but the murder rate there seems to be sky-high! This time someone seems to be targeting members of a local pub quiz team.
I do enjoy these mysteries, the combination of a murder to solve and the humour that comes through really works well. This time, Julia's rather naughty dog Jake found himself a new best friend; a chicken!
I didn't manage to solve this one until nearly the very end when I had guessed who had done it, but it was more of a guess than any cleaver deducing on my part. Still, it was a fun read and I'm looking forward to more in this series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

Author Bio:

Katie Gayle is the writing partnership of best-selling South African writers, Kate Sidley and Gail Schimmel. Kate and Gail have, between them, written over ten books of various genres, but with Katie Gayle, they both make their debut in the cozy mystery genre. Both Gail and Kate live in Johannesburg, with husbands, children, dogs and cats. Unlike their sleuth Epiphany Bloom, neither of them have ever stolen a cat from the vet.

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The Hate Date - Kaylene Winter

The Hate Date
Kaylene Winter
Publication date: July 24th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

When a man who has everything & will do anything—including pole dancing—to redeem himself to the feisty woman who could care less about power or money.

Clover Callahan took my client’s money and I’m not going to stand for it.
I’m taking her down, and if I play my cards right, she won’t even see me coming.
Everything’s going exactly to plan…
Until an elevator malfunction has us trapped for an entire night. Alone.

I mean, she’s hot. I’m hot.
What did you expect was going to happen?

Yeah. It did. And it was spectacular.

I can admit, I was wrong about Clover—she’s all I think about.
Unfortunately, after what I did, she hates me and everything I stand for.
But I’m no quitter…I’ll wear her down.
With a proposition even she won’t refuse:

One night.
One date.
Don’t be late!!

The Hate Date is a sweltering, standalone, billionaire, enemies to lovers, age gap, forced proximity, workplace, HEA romance.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Author Bio:

When she was only 15, Kaylene Winter wrote her first rocker romance novel starring a fictionalized version of herself, her friends and their gorgeous rocker boyfriends. After living her own rockstar life as a band manager, music promoter and mover and shaker in Seattle during the early 1990’s, Kaylene became a digital media legal strategist helping bring movies, television and music online. Throughout her busy career, Kaylene lost herself in romance novels across all genres inspiring her to realize her life-long dream to be a published author. She lives in Seattle with her amazing husband and dog. She loves to travel, throw lavish dinner parties and support charitable causes supporting arts and animals.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

My Review

Having followed and loved the Less Than Zero series by Kaylene Winter, I was excited to see what she would come up with how. The Hate Date is a sort of spin-off from her previous series. The Hate Date features Clover Calahan who appeared very briefly as the lead in Ronnie's new TV series. I sort of remember it, but couldn't have told you what her name was or much about her until this book.
After being completely screwed over by her now ex-husband, Clover is determined that any future relationship she has will be with someone completely different. Unfortunately, the man she finds herself unable to resist is very much like her ex. Joar is determined that they will be together, never having felt a connection to a woman like this before, but if he wants Clover than he has to prove that in the things that count, her really is different.
I liked Clover and Joar as a couple. They worked well and there was certainly plenty of heat, spice and chemistry. I rolled my eyes a little at their names to begin with, but got over that pretty quickly as the story progressed. This was a fun and fairly quick read and while it didn't have the depth of the LTZ books, it didn't need it and certainly hit the mark for me. I'm looking forward to the next already.

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