Review:  Aurora Blazing (The Consortium Rebellion Book 2) by Jessie Mihalik

Rating: 4⭐️

The daughters of the House of High House von Hasenberg fall in the order of Hannah, Bianca, Ada, and youngest daughter Catarina. There are two brothers, the oldest brother and heir, Ferdinand, and Bianca’s twin brother, Benedict.

All the siblings have roles here in Aurora Blazing, the second book in The Consortium Rebellion series.  The main focus is on Bianca con Hasenberg, her traumatic experiences upon her wedding Gerald at the command of her father, and its recuperation afterwords. And her frenemy, Ian Bishop, the director of House von Hasenberg security. 

Through Bianca, we learn, what a horror it is growing up under their father’s absolute control and authority. While the reader has been given a hint of the abuse the siblings have suffered, here through a horrific memory recalled, we get the picture of a cold blooded man who sees only submission or brutal punishment for those who don’t obey. No feeling only fear. 

Then once married, Bianca ended up suffering as a non consenting experimental subject to her own husband’s scientific experiments suffering greatly. Only after his death was she able to return home, permanently changed for life and hiding what he’d done to her. 

The revelations are shocking and constant here. The author is filling in family and characters backgrounds as well as world building with the major Houses. 

And it comes with another heartbreaking crisis for the siblings. Ferdinand is missing. 

Because of their upbringing, they are close to each other, knowing that they are their only source of support and love. That’s beautifully written and illustrated in every aspect of their dynamic.

Bianca is a layered, well defined woman who’s still dealing with the trauma of her marriage and the damage done to her body and spirit. She’s now carries unheard of abilities in her mind, ones only she knows about. But they come at a high physical cost which she must monitor and explain away.  

It’s all folded into a high level suspense filled with, action packed story, one that carries emotional baggage and endless painful moments to fill a starship. 

There’s also a slow burn relationship between Bianca and Ian Bishop, where frisson, lack of trust and their own past makes them work against each other at every step.

 

While I enjoyed Polaris Rising, I feel that Aurora Blazing was the better book. More layers and character development. 

A third sister has the next story. That’s Catarina. Im headed there.

A definite winner and another recommendation!

Oh, and Aoife and Alexander ? Love them both and they are featured in Chaos Reigning! 

The Consortium Rebellion (3 book series)

Polaris Rising #1

Aurora Blazing #2

Chaos Reigning #3

Buy link

        Aurora Blazing: A Space Princess’s Quest for Family and Love in a Sci-Fi Galaxy of Secrets and Intrigue (The Consortium Rebellion Book 2)

    

Blurb 

To save her brother and protect her family’s future, a powerful princess must join forces with a dashing man from her past in this thrilling space adventure, the second novel in the Consortium Rebellion trilogy.

As the dutiful daughter of High House von Hasenberg, Bianca set aside her personal feelings and agreed to a political match arranged by her family, only to end up trapped in a loveless, miserable marriage. When her husband unexpectedly dies, Bianca vows never to wed again. Newly independent, she secretly uses her wealth and influence to save other women stuck in dire circumstances. Information is power and Bianca has a network of allies and spies that would be the envy of the ’verse—if anyone knew about it.

When her family’s House is mysteriously attacked, Bianca’s oldest brother, the heir to House von Hasenberg, disappears. Fearful for her brother’s life, the headstrong Bianca defies her father and leaves Earth to save him. Ian Bishop, the director of House von Hasenberg security—and Bianca’s first love—is ordered to find and retrieve the rebellious woman. 

Ian is the last man Bianca wants to see. To evade capture, she leads him on a merry chase across the universe. But when their paths finally collide, she knows she must persuade him to help her. Bianca will do anything to save her sibling, even if it means spending time alone on a small ship with the handsome, infuriating man who once broke her heart.

As the search takes them deep into rival House Rockhurst territory, Bianca must decide if she can trust Ian with the one piece of information that could destroy her completely . . .

Review: Bound By Fate (Blind Fury Book 1) by Annabel Chase 

Rating: 4.5⭐️

Bound By Fate (Blind Fury Book 1) is a new series by Annabel Chase and the first book is a terrific one.

I absolutely love the premise of a paranormal retirement community, along with the attendant issues of its otherworldly residents in their “later, much much later years “ of existence. Witches, vampires who have lived extremely long and rich lives and now live out their lives together. Some lively souls, enjoying their ancient lives while others exhibit significant signs of dementia. 

It’s a familiar setting and group made fantastical in a complex and intimate story. One that will flow together with a weekly meeting of cardsharp players and fanatical cliques of pickleball teams. All beautifully written and believable. 

Chase treats them with kindness, respect and compassion. These people are layered with degrees of history and poignancy of life at its for some.

The assistant head of their security team is an enigma, Maya August, an intriguing figure herself. She’s in hiding on this retirement island off of Savannah,Georgia. She’s been personally isolating herself from everyone.  And that gives Chase ample room for her to develop Maya’s personality and reveal bits about her background as events happen.

And, wonderfully, Chase does this by bringing Maya into the community. She finally fully acknowledges her role as protector and part of them. We are enveloped by their presence as well as Maya’s ability to make her own choices for herself.

But there’s also mystery, murders, and outside forces of power here. One of those includes a person called Zale, someone who will figure into the series. 

I love everything about this. The many characters, types of beings, the various mythology the author is introducing (she’s excellent at it), but above all, this realistic yet not retirement community of powerful paranormal beings. All who have issues we can identify with but on extraordinary levels. 

I really can’t wait for the next story to arrive. 

Btw, HOA’s are still awful no matter what the setting. FYI. 

A winner and so happy to share with you. 

Cover design by Trif

Blind Fury:

Bound By Fate #1

Bargain With Fate #2 – May 26,2026

Buy link 

 Book 1 of 2: Blind Fury 

Blurb 

 Most people move to a magical retirement island for peace and quiet—and pickleball.

Maya August moved there to disappear.

As the assistant director of security for Evermore Island—a secret community where elderly paranormals fade into obscurity—Maya has built the perfect hiding place. Her days consist of magical mishaps, avoiding the clothing-optional tennis courts, and definitely not getting attached to the island’s strays (feline or otherwise).

Then her boss vanishes. A resident turns up dead. And Maya’s carefully constructed refuge begins to crumble.

She could handle a murder investigation. She’s handled much, much worse. What she can’t handle is the HOA president forcing her back to the mainland after five years in self-imposed exile to meet Vale, the mysterious and powerful figure who’s claimed jurisdiction over her case.

But Maya isn’t interested in playing by his rules or anyone else’s.

Because if Maya can’t solve this case and keep her past buried, there are fates far worse than letting a killer walk free.

Perfect for fans of morally gray heroines, slow-burn tension, and retirement home chaos meets magical noir, Bound By Fate is the first book in the new Blind Fury-urban fantasy series.

Publisher

Red Palm Press LLC

Publication date

February 12, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

276 pages

Book 1 of 2

Blind Fury

Review:  Trades & Treaties: The Glyphwright Chronicles Book 3 by Jeremy Fabiano 

Rating: 4.75⭐️

What a fantastic piece of fantasy storytelling! This is one of my favorite series and Fabiano has become a autobuy based on the superiority of his work on this series.

It’s not often I find myself reading novels that I find just so satisfying on multiple levels that I can recommend to many ages of readers, but this author and series is one of them. 

I mean how often do you hear someone say that a writer has made math, precision, economics, and the basics of trade absolutely gripping and part of a fascinating magical system and storyline? Fabiano does this time and again here and throughout the series.  

He’s building systems and exploring new areas just like his characters, Marcus and Felix, have been building up in skills and abilities for their craft and innovation. 

And as with new areas, new challenges and opportunities for growth and innovation. 

Drama too. With Prince Adrian and his two bodyguards, a mysterious Kingdom and its ruler of a nearby country in need, and a political crisis that needs the help of our two Glyphwrights, this is a quietly mesmerizing tale.

I did think the ending resolution was either exactly right or too quick. I’m thinking about it still. 

I do love how each book ends with every one returning home, watching as their beloved small town comes into view, knowing that each one they love will be waiting for them. And a new future will emerge. 

It’s lovely and warmhearted. Exactly what we want for these characters we’ve come to care for. 

None of these stories are standalone books but build upon the one before. 

I highly recommend reading them all. Excellent work and fantastic storytelling. 

A highly recommended read. Just amazing work by the author. 

Cover design by Jacqueline Sweet Design

The Glyphwright Chronicles (4 book series):

  • Ink & Intent  #1
  • Wards & Measures #2
  • Trades & Treaties #3 
  • Vision & Venture #4 – April 8,2026

Buy link:

        Trades & Treaties: The Glyphwright Chronicles – Book 3

    

Blurb 

Marcus thought infrastructure work was complicated. Then someone made it political.

The Northern Kingdoms ask for help with their failing ward networks. Prince Adrian volunteers Fairwind & Penwright for the job: redesign everything to work with local materials instead of expensive imports. Except the imports aren’t expensive by accident. Someone’s price-gouging essential supplies, and they don’t want competition.

Marcus’s merchant instincts see the pattern: economic sabotage wrapped in a supply chain monopoly. When Prince Adrian gets kidnapped, the technical work becomes the easy part.

One job. Two skill sets. And finally, a payout big enough to buy their own shop.

A cozy fantasy with LitRPG progression, economic intrigue, unexpected rescues, and the discovery that sometimes your merchant skills matter just as much as your magic.

Pour yourself something warm, settle into your favorite reading spot, and discover that sometimes fixing the magic is simpler than fixing the people.

February 8, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

454 pages

Book 3 of 6

The Glyphwright Chronicles

Review:  Kill the Queen (A Crown of Shards Novel Book 1) by Jennifer Estep 

Rating: 4⭐️

I’d heard Jennifer Estep’s novels and series recommended highly and decided that her Crown of Shards would be a good place to start exploring her writing. It’s more recent release than some other series.  It’s a magical fantasy universe. Unlike her earlier contemporary action thriller series that began in 2010 where elements of that social era seep into narratives of the time.

I liked Kill The Queen. It has great drama, with the Queen, the Royal family and court being massacred at the start of the novel. No spoilers. That’s part of the description. 

The surviving royal family member, a former nondescript woman of no magical powers, Evie Blair, fled to the gladiator troop run by a old friend of the betrayed Queen. There she finds herself with a found family, training and the skills she needs to survive and  revenge the massacre of her family. 

It’s a terrific story with lots of action and interesting characters. The gladiator group is very believable and engaging. And their outfits are imaginative. 

But it has its issues. The magical system isn’t really given much of a structure. It’s just “there”. One person can shoot lightning sort of thing. 

And the romance aspect is really flawed. It’s a instalove relationship but without any chemistry or foundation. Estep wants the reader to believe that Evie, who’s been through a traumatic childhood, then an even more devastating loss of family by massacre, then survival by gladiators now finds herself in love with someone she barely knows. She trusts no one really. But this?

It’s not credible and loses much of its appeal for strength of the character. 

She’s also supposed to be driven by a cold rage that dominates her personality, an aspect of her character we rarely see here. 

I did find her and her journey entertaining reading but remained aware of the issues of the narrative. Something that doesn’t happen when I’m fully engaged in the storyline. 

I’ll probably pick up the rest of the series eventually.  For me, this was good but not great. 

Btw, the description say Gladiator meets Game of Thrones which had me laughing. These over the top blurbs really need to stop with this type of thing.  Just describe your story and leave it at that.   Cause no. It’s not.

Yay for Queen Evie. *giggles *

Map designed by Virginia Norey

Title page art © mashakotcur/Shutterstock, Inc.

Cover design by Alicia Tatone

Cover art by Tony Mauro

A Crown of Shards series:

Kill the Queen #1

Protect the Prince #2

Crush the King #3

Buy link

 Book 1 of 3: Crown of Shards 

Blurb 

Gladiator meets Game of Thrones: a royal woman becomes a skilled warrior to destroy her murderous cousin, avenge her family, and save her kingdom in this first entry in a dazzling fantasy epic from the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Elemental Assassin series—an enthralling tale that combines magic, murder, intrigue, adventure, and a hint of romance.

In a realm where one’s magical power determines one’s worth, Lady Everleigh’s lack of obvious ability relegates her to the shadows of the royal court of Bellona, a kingdom steeped in gladiator tradition. Seventeenth in line for the throne, Evie is nothing more than a ceremonial fixture, overlooked and mostly forgotten.

But dark forces are at work inside the palace. When her cousin Vasilia, the crown princess, assassinates her mother the queen and takes the throne by force, Evie is also attacked, along with the rest of the royal family. Luckily for Evie, her secret immunity to magic helps her escape the massacre.

Forced into hiding to survive, she falls in with a gladiator troupe. Though they use their talents to entertain and amuse the masses, the gladiators are actually highly trained warriors skilled in the art of war, especially Lucas Sullivan, a powerful magier with secrets of his own. Uncertain of her future—or if she even has one—Evie begins training with the troupe until she can decide her next move.

But as the bloodthirsty Vasilia exerts her power, pushing Bellona to the brink of war, Evie’s fate becomes clear: she must become a fearsome gladiator herself . . . and kill the queen.

Publisher

Harper Voyager

Publication date

October 2, 2018

Language

‎English

Print length

483 pages

Book 1 of 3

Crown of Shards

The First Crown of Shards Epic Fantasy – A Gladiator’s Reven

Review:  Polaris Rising: Consortium Rebellion Book 1 by Jessie Mihalik 

Rating: 4.25⭐️

Ada von Hasenberg, middle daughter of the powerful main House of Hasenburg, is the best reason to read this book.  Mihalik has created in Ada a main character who’s versatile, highly intelligent, skilled in manipulating people and spacecraft, layered emotionally and physically adaptable. The reader automatically understands and connects with her.  We’re on her side every step of her journey. 

And what a dangerous journey it is. She’s escaping an arranged marriage, typical of the Houses that marriages are political contracts of ownership and exchanges of money and property (this is better explained in book 2).  She’s using every single bit of knowledge and experience to make her escape. Unfortunately, both her father and fiancée have offered a substantial bounty for her return. 

Marcus Loch, a notorious criminal has been arrested and is in chains in his cell in a space ship when he gets a new cell companion, Ada von Hasenberg. She’s a prisoner to be released back into the custody of her family. 

The dramatic story that picks up shortly afterwards is fast paced, action packed with well written suspense filled sequences and high intrigue. 

As Ada and Marcus flee across the galaxy, they fill us in on their own stories and current lives. While hiding truths from each other. No instant love, although they appear to appreciate each other’s physical appearance. All good things. 

And Ada gets better with every event and disaster that passes. Marcus is not as multidimensional as Ada. He’s more formulated along the lines of many other similar MMC without the author expanding on the traits she’s hinting about. Missed opportunity unfortunately. 

And for ADA and her siblings, a big part of the problem with the series is the lack of background and childhood experiences. We get only one memory in Book 2 but with their own respective resources and brilliance, it’s their own House they should be turning on here given how it’s treated them. Such loyalty makes little sense. 

Really, you’d think all the younger people in all the Houses would be training to take their own Houses out given how disposable they are to them.  Where’s that rebellion?

Among the items that struck me as I read were:

Universal Time as a galactic time zone reference for the characters to keep readjusting to just wasn’t credible imo. As though there wasn’t, with all the other future incredible technology available, a way for everyone to have the time adjustment made automatically? Made no sense whatsoever. 

Side characters arm runner Rhys and stolen goods fence Veronica are both interesting people, with Veronica having the most intriguing backstory. However she’s also the one with the most under explored or dropped storylines in her thread. She’s got a small child , an extremely important one. Who disappeared from this book and the next book with no real explanation. SMH 

Earth was depleted of resources (but now looks amazingly good and is the headquarters of the Houses),  so humans took to space. Instead of governments, humans created royal Houses, main and lesser houses of families with similar social structures. The Houses formed a Consortium to rule and regulate their respective countries and planets. 

That’s the basis of the universe building. Three main ‘power is mine’ Houses and a bunch of ‘scrambling for power’ lesser ones. Contracts are everything, including marriage. But other than that? Knowledge is only slowly filled in, in certain circumstances where an absence in the narrative for lack of foundation is felt by the reader. 

The story is a power house of a space opera! It rocks right along, with action, bloodshed, space fights, prison cell battles, and intense conflict between families. 

The science fiction doesn’t always science. There’s holes in the fiction. But the relationship between the main characters works and there’s a resolution at the end that’s satisfying. 

The next story picks up with another sister and a hunt for a missing brother.  It’s an excellent story. 

A definite pleasure to read. If space opera is your thing, here’s a series to connect with. 

The Consortium Rebellion (3 book series)

Polaris Rising #1

Aurora Blazing #2

Chaos Reigning #3

Buy link

 Book 1 of 3: The Consortium Rebellion 

Blurb 

Polaris Rising is space opera at its best, intense and addictive, a story of honor, courage, betrayal, and love. Jessie Mihalik is an author to watch.”–Ilona Andrews, #1 New York Times bestselling author

A space princess on the run and a notorious outlaw soldier become unlikely allies in this imaginative, sexy space opera adventure—the first in an exciting science fiction trilogy.

In the far distant future, the universe is officially ruled by the Royal Consortium, but the High Councillors, the heads of the three High Houses, wield the true power. As the fifth of six children, Ada von Hasenberg has no authority; her only value to her High House is as a pawn in a political marriage. When her father arranges for her to wed a noble from House Rockhurst, a man she neither wants nor loves, Ada seizes control of her own destiny. The spirited princess flees before the betrothal ceremony and disappears among the stars. 

Ada eluded her father’s forces for two years, but now her luck has run out. To ensure she cannot escape again, the fiery princess is thrown into a prison cell with Marcus Loch. Known as the Devil of Fornax Zero, Loch is rumored to have killed his entire chain of command during the Fornax Rebellion, and the Consortium wants his head.

When the ship returning them to Earth is attacked by a battle cruiser from rival House Rockhurst, Ada realizes that if her jilted fiancé captures her, she’ll become a political prisoner and a liability to her House. Her only hope is to strike a deal with the dangerous fugitive: a fortune if he helps her escape.

But when you make a deal with an irresistibly attractive Devil, you may lose more than you bargained for . . .

Harper Voyager

Publication date

February 5, 2019

Language

‎English

Print length

451 pages

Book 1 of 3

The Consortium Rebellion

Review: Not Dead Yet By Jenn Burke

This was a DNF but I read enough to rate it for creativity of premise and the main character’s backstory. 

Rating : 3🌈

I like Jenn Burke as an author which is why I bought this book but immediately the character of Wes Cooper, the “not ghost” who died and was resurrected but in a different state, one where he’s not exactly alive, is the issue. 

What sort of person is Wes? Has Wes used the opportunity for a new life, no matter what form, to progress in his development as a person? Matured or at least, become grateful to those who saved him, given back, or in any way done anything that would make the reader not immediately write him off as a waste of our time? 

Nope.  He’s cowardly, content to do as little as possible to get by and maintain his life, such as it is. 

For me, every interaction with Wes was a constant fight not to just not quit the story right there. He’s that much of a reminder of everything that I avoid in RL atm.

The story is short. Extremely short. There’s no realistic scenario where Wes decides that years of stagnation and avoidance is overcome and he accumulates all the missing assets and pieces in that time period. 

Unfortunately this is a no go for me. 

Burke has other excellent series and characters to explore. This isn’t one of them. Wes and Hudson, his “silver fox” police detective are underwhelming in their dynamic and chiefly the reason it’s a DNF. 

NOT DEAD YET (book one) 

GIVE UP THE GHOST (book two) GRAVEYARD SHIFT (book three)

Buy link

 Book 1 of 3: Not Dead Yet 

Blurb 

Don’t miss this thrilling and suspenseful second chance romance, book one in a fan-favorite supernatural detective series from Jenn Burke.

Dying isn’t what it used to be.Wes Cooper was dead. Then he wasn’t—though he’s not exactly alive, either. As an immortal not-ghost, he can transition between this world and the otherplane, which makes him the perfect thief for hire. For seventy years he’s made a “living” returning items to their rightful owners, seeing his fair share of the bizarre in the process. But he’s never witnessed murder. Until now.

His latest mission brings him more than he bargained for: a very-dead actor who is definitely going to stay that way. It’s just Wes’s luck that his ex-boyfriend, Detective Hudson Rojas, is assigned to the case. Hudson broke Wes’s heart years ago—and could again, given he’s rocking a hot silver-fox look that shouldn’t be legal.

As they work together to track down the murderer before anyone else gets hurt, it becomes clear Wes and Hudson have unfinished business. And when a secret Hudson’s been keeping threatens more than just their happiness, it might mean the end of their not-life together—permanently.

Review: There Be Dragons Here: A Cozy Fantasy Adventure (Tales of Aedrea) by S.L. Rowland

Rating:5⭐️

My reading stars have been aligned lately because There Be Dragons Here by S.L. Rowland is the third stellar book by an undiscovered author in a fantasy genre that I’ve read in a row and I’m just overjoyed to with my reading lucky stars.

This is a side story to the Tales of Aedrea series of four fantasy novels, so I also have an additional world to meander through. I’m so excited.

But let’s start with this book, an amazing emotional journey of friendship, loyalty, and rediscovery of one’s inner fire. 

Hilda Rockfall, 182 years old, grandmother, mother, beloved wife. But once, for 70 years she was renowned throughout the world as a Ranger in the Stone & Splendor adventurer group, a tight found family of four beings, who fought and explored together. Until she retired and married, putting that life behind her. 

Now a funeral calls her away from home and leaves her the last remaining member of her group. 

I love this book and Hilda so much. Her grief in losing her old friend, the journey his last quest takes her on. The stories that she tells, the people who she meets, and the inner person she rediscovers along this tortuous path, so inspiring. 

And yes, there be dragons. 

So many fantastic stories here. Memorable scenes, heartbreaking moments. And there’s war goats. Amazing!

This is one that’s both shiny and beautiful, a gem to treasure.

 I’m highly recommending it. 

Beautiful cover and stunning maps!

 Cover design by Brent Minehan 

Map by CartographyBird Maps

Tales of Aedrea (4 books):

Cursed Cocktails 

Sword & Thistle 

The Halfling’s Harvest

 There Be Dragons Here

Buy link

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.comThere Be Dragons Here: A Cozy Fantasy Adventure (Tales of Aedrea) eBook

Blurb 

At 182 years old, Hilda Rockfall thought her adventuring days were long behind her.

For over seventy years, she roamed the realm as a ranger with the adventuring party Stone & Splendor—taking quests, slaying beasts, and collecting monster teeth like trophies from the boundless sea to the edge of the wilds. But for the past eight decades, she’s traded her sword for slippers, living the quiet life of a proud grandmother nestled in the mountains, telling tales no one quite believes and baking a mean honey crumble.

That peace is shattered when an old friend—and former party member—passes on and leaves Hilda one final quest: scatter his ashes at a secret location marked on a map they looted back in their glory days.

Hilda figures it’ll be a nice little hike. Maybe a nostalgic trip down memory lane.

But then she opens the map.

And scrawled across the bottom in faded ink are four unsettling words:

There be dragons here.

About the Series: Welcome to the enchanting world of Tales of Aedrea, where small-scale stories, low-stakes adventure, and cozy fantasy come to life within an epic, high-fantasy realm. Each tale can be enjoyed as a standalone novel.

There Be Dragons Here is a cozy, low-stakes fantasy of family dynamics, friendship, and proving that it’s never too late to find adventure. Perfect for fans of The Hobbit and Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End.

Publisher

Aethervale Publishing

Publication date

January 20, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

290 pages

Part of series

Tales of Aedrea

Review:  Bubble Gum and Blackmail (Cadie Sharp #1) by S. E. Babin

Rating: 4.5⭐️

Turns out I’m a magpie reader. Find an author that I like and I dive right into their catalog of books and series. 

That’s both a blessing and a curse for certain prolific writers like S.E. Babin, in the middle of writing a terrific urban fantasy thriller. She’s got a couple of series that haven’t seen new releases in a while, fabulous ones. Something I should probably check when picking up a book from her.

But Bubble Gum and Blackmail (Cadie Sharp #1 by S. E. Babin was just too shiny! I absolutely love the premise of a military black op, forced into retirement, who turns candy maker in a small town in Tennessee. 

She’s the antithesis of fitting in, with her pink hair, pink delivery van, and attitude that’s just a bit more than a mere candy shop owner. Especially when a favorite elderly customer’s son is murdered and she’s asked for help. 

The characters are tightly crafted, the town’s spot on for its location, all the residents and the community interactions feel real for that small town dynamic. 

Even that Sheriff with his suspicions, isn’t a one dimensional character. There’s layers to him, some funny. 

It’s a short novel, which had me crying. Because it ended on a surprise note. Which had me checking out the release date. 2021. And no mention of future stories as yet. 

So are you a magpie reader like me? Cause this is so so shiny! I’m not sorry I collected it. Even if there’s nothing more. 

But if not maybe find something else to read that will bring closure to the characters and check on this every now and again. 

Love that cover. 

Buy link

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.comBubble Gum and Blackmail (A Cadie Sharp Mystery Book 1) eBook : Babin, S.E.

Blurb 

Book overview 

Part Stephanie Plum, part Brooklyn Nine-Nine, readers will adore this novella length introduction to Cadie Sharp and her merry band of misfit friends. 

Military vet, former assassin … candy maker?!

All Cadie Sharp wants is a quiet life. After a case gone wrong, she leaves the military and heads to small-town Tennessee, far away from the dangers of her former life, and opens up a gourmet treats shop. 

But just as she begins to settle into her new role as a shop owner, the bodies start dropping. 

During a routine candy delivery, Cadie stumbles over the lifeless form of one of her best customers. She’s trained to handle situations like this, but her former superiors have given her one rule for her new life.

Do not do ANYTHING to draw attention to yourself.

Faced with a moral dilemma, Cadie tries to quietly investigate without blowing her carefully crafted cover. With her newfound friends and a slobbering dog who won’t leave her side, Cadie finds herself drawn into a mystery – one with dire consequences if she fails to discover the murderer before they discover her. 

date

March 4, 2021

Language

‎English

Print length

82 pages

Book 1 of 1

A Cadie Sharp Myster

Check Out the newest release and tour for “Forrest House“ by E.M. Hamill (Other Worlds Ink Tour and excerpt)

Forrest House - E.M. Hamill

E.M. Hamill has a new MM urban fantasy out: Forrest House.

Blood is Stronger Than Magic

Ander Forrest renounced blood magic to become a nurse-healer in his rural hometown, far from the drama of wizardry and espionage his sister Kate craved. When Kate goes missing in action, Ander finds himself the legal guardian of her gifted twins and receives a cryptic warning from Kate’s husband to protect them before he, too, disappears.

Six months later, his former lover crash lands in the kids’ bedroom via a spell only Ander’s sister could have cast. Druid Cai Piper doesn’t remember how he got there, but he knows he never stopped loving Ander, and that he was sent to protect him and the twins. Cai is strangely drawn to Forrest House and the land it stands upon.

With the secrets of a clandestine wizards’ order hanging between them, Cai and Ander must remember how to trust each other as sinister forces move against the Forrest family—magical terrorists who want to exploit their rare sorcery and bring the world to its knees.

Universal Buy Link

Excerpt

Forrest House meme

Cai slept the rest of the afternoon. Ander managed to distract the twins from sneaking into their uncle’s room by helping them make chocolate chip cookies. As snow-blue darkness began to gather in the valley, he peered into the guest room again.

His bloodstained long coat was draped over the footboard. Cai sat on the side of the bed, his drooping head leaning in his hands. It was a disconcerting flashback of the night Ander left their flat. That scene was seared into his conscience like a brand.

“Headache?” Ander asked softly. Cai startled, raised his head quickly, and winced.

“Blinding,” he admitted.

“Here. You need to drink water.” Ander uncapped the bottle and handed it to Cai. “You took a nasty hit to the head. I healed the cut, but it’s a bad bruise. I have some acetaminophen—paracetamol—if you want it.”

“Not yet.” He drank deeply and stood, unfolding his tall frame with caution. “The vertigo is gone.”

“Good.” They stared at each other for a long moment. Ander’s insides still did flip-flops beneath Cai’s golden-brown gaze, bringing warmth to his cheeks.

Cai cleared his throat. “You said I’m in America?”

“Yeah.”

“And if I was sent by a bloodspell, does that mean Remy and Raven are here?”

“Well, of course.” Ander blinked as Cai closed his eyes and sighed. He wasn’t sure if it was relief or defeat. “You didn’t know,” he said.

“No. Edwyn kept it a secret, even from me.” His fingers touched the blood-matted knot at the back of his head in tentative exploration. “I must have been out. I would never have let him send me otherwise. He was bleeding badly.” His hand tapped an area high and to the outside on his left leg. “Shot in the thigh.”

Ander thought of all the major blood vessels there and breathed a plea to the Goddess that none were severed. “I didn’t think the Fellowship used bullets.”

“We don’t. We were on a joint mission with intelligence agents. Someone started lobbing spells at us and our allies turned and shot each other. He was hit in the crossfire.”

“A Judas spell?” Ander frowned.

“I think so.”

“Were you working with British intelligence?”

Cai opened his mouth to answer, then flinched and rubbed both sides of his head. “Some of my memories are missing. It’s painful to think about.”

“I think you might have a concussion.”

“Maybe. But this feels more like it was blocked by a spell.”

“By Edwyn?”

“I don’t think he would have had time. Not surrounded by guns and magic.” His breath became uneven again, and he sat unsteadily on the bed. “The harder I try to think about it, the more it hurts.”

“Don’t try right now.” Ander came closer and put his fingers under Cai’s jaw, forcing him to look up so he could peer into his eyes. Still no signs of a more serious head injury, but he wasn’t satisfied until he ran his fingers under Cai’s clotted hair to cradle the bruised lump beneath his palm, his senses open for new bleeding. He didn’t discover any.

Cai stared at him as he pulled away, his face inches from Ander’s. They both became aware at the same time of how close he was standing, his hands gentle on the back of Cai’s head as if he were going to draw him into a kiss. Ander slowly stepped back.

“I have to find a way to get back to…” Cai frowned. “To…damn it! They took that, too. I don’t know where we were.” He looked to Ander with a desolate gaze. “I don’t even know if Edwyn’s alive.”

“You can’t ask the Fellowship?”

He stiffened. “No, I can’t.”

“I’d feel better if I could get you to a hospital.”

“I’ll be fine. I think it’s clear I’m meant to protect you and the twins.”

“Protect us from what?” He sat on the bed next to him. “What’s going on, Cai? Why wouldn’t Ed tell you where the kids were?”

He didn’t answer, his gaze slipping sideways.

Ander had not missed this infuriating silence. Kate had pushed Ander away with it, Edwyn maintained it, and Cai had used it to shut down questions when they were together.

He’d left Wales and come home because the people he loved most in the world could barely talk to him unless he was inducted into the Fellowship.

Fury rose in scarlet floods with Cai’s refusal to speak. Ander let it crest. “That’s fantastic. Of course you can’t say anything. Then tell me how to protect them and get the fuck out.”

“You don’t—”

“They’re all I have left of Kate! I need to know how to protect them!”

“If you’re going to shout at me, then I will take that paracetamol now.” His voice was soft, defeated. A crease furrowed the skin between his brows, and the tight lines of his body spoke of more pain than a headache. Ander didn’t have to imagine the grief of not knowing if his brother was dead or alive. He knew only too well.

“I’m sorry.” Ander exhaled, forcing himself to calm. “We aren’t done,” he said in a less strident tone. “You will tell me what’s going on. Fuck the Fellowship and your code of secrecy! Those kids are my priority now. They’ve already lost their mother, and now maybe their father. No more.”

To his surprise, Cai nodded. “I promise I will tell you what I know.”

Disconcerted by his unexpected victory, Ander reluctantly let his anger drain away.

“Are you hungry? I’m making dinner.”

“Starving. I can’t recall when I last ate anything.”

“It’ll be ready in half an hour. Make sure you drink the rest of that water.” He turned to go.

“Ander.” Cai’s expression was gentle as Ander looked back over his shoulder. “It’s good to see you.”

“Good to see you, too.” The flutters inside were ridiculous despite the tug of war between Ander’s anger and worry.

Author Bio

E.M. Hamill

Award- winning author Elisabeth “E.M.” Hamill is a nurse by day, unabashed geek, chocoholic, sci fi and fantasy novelist by nights, weekends, and whenever it’s possible to steal quality time with a laptop.

Lisa lives with their family, two dogs, and a cat in the wilds of eastern suburban Kansas, where they fend off flying monkey attacks and prep for the zombie apocalypse.

Author Website: https://emhamill.wordpress.com

Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/lisa.millham

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Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/e.m.hamill/

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Author Liminal Fiction (LimFic.com): https://www.limfic.com/mbm-book-author/e-m-hamill/

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Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00JY0FV8S

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Review:  The Inn Side Shop: A Cozy LitRPG Adventure (The Inn Side Shop Series Book 1) by Gil Hess

Rating: 4.75⭐️

Well, this book is just so outstanding. I’m still thinking about it.

You never know when you pick up a book from an author you’re not familiar with based on the cover (love it) and story description. But what a fabulously magical and compelling journey Gil Hess sent me and his character, Wren Alder,  into for the first book in this series.

What do I deeply love and admire about this book and Hess’s writing? Its subtlety and simplicity of language, beautifully crafted in a way that’s both remarkable, poetic and yet able to convey the essence of the characters and situations. The awe of a magical moment to the sublimely silly scenes of a found family letting of their emotions. We are there with them, especially Wren, as he struggles with his new life and sense of duty. As a very special young man. 

That’s another element here. A feeling of historic accuracy in a magical world. Where teenagers and preteens were already in “adult mode” because that’s how that life drew on people. Grow up fast, used up fast, die faster. So having a character like Stella, as bookkeeper, at the old age of 18? Perfect because she’s been learning that trade since she was much younger. It feels believable and Stella feels real, older than her age, worn, and layered in her knowledge and reliability. All the characters have this same energy, this deep sense of realism that makes them so relatable and emotionally able to relate to the world and story. 

The plot is compelling in itself, has multiple storylines that makes it interesting, emotionally intriguing and suspenseful. Especially when you consider how the author started his story. With a daunting prologue that puts a shadow over the rest of the story. 

Do not let this slow you down! Proceed immediately through!

Categorized, accurately, as a cozy fantasy LitRPG adventure story, the LitRPG aspect of the novel is minimal at best. And that will help for those readers who aren’t familiar with LitRPG stories (Literary Role-Playing Game where a character can level up, see stats, have quests is fused with a fantasy or scify storyline) can happily be engaged in this remarkable narrative and enjoy that aspect without relying too heavily on gamer knowledge. 

What makes The Inn Side Shop a great success, and truly riveting fantasy adventure is Wren, his story, his ability to create a found family among his new community’s struggles and and how he’s stays true to himself and the values that he brings with him. This is an absolute gem. Honestly I found myself in tears in places, so raw in the moment and emotional scenes that I was caught up in the moment.

There is mention of a sequel but I can’t find it anywhere.  Perhaps it in progress.  This was a long book although it doesn’t seem like it. 

Among my top findings this year. One I think should find a place next to the bed if people ask you to read to them. Choose this!

Highly recommended!

Buy link

 Book 1 of 1: The Inn Side Shop Series 

Blurb 

The Inn Side Shop

A Cozy LitRPG Adventure by Gil Hess

Fourteen-year-old Wren Alder never planned to be an adventurer. He just wanted a place to tinker in peace. But when his great-aunt hands him the key to a forgotten supply room at the Crossroads—a sleepy outpost perched between dungeons, cities, and the deep wild—Wren inherits more than a dusty shop.

Because this shop… levels up.

Each sale unlocks new features. Each discovery stirs old magic. A ledger learns to write back. A dungeon wakes beneath the roots. And a boy who thought he wanted quiet finds purpose in the chaos of travelers, quests, and growing friendships.

Heartfelt, clever, and brimming with quiet wonder, The Inn Side Shop blends cozy fantasy with the satisfying progression of a LitRPG—perfect for readers who love slow-burn worldbuilding, endearing characters, and magic that feels just within reach.

Tide Pool Storyworks

Publication date

October 15, 2025

Language

‎English

Print length

762 pages

Book 1 of 1

The Inn Side Shop Series