Category: M/M Supernatural Fiction

Review:  Magic & Mutiny (Starry Hollow Witches Book 19) by Annabel Chase 

Rating: 3.5⭐️

Magic & Mutiny (Starry Hollow Witches Book 19) is the finale book of this series by Annabel Chase.  And while it started out great, I think it ran on a bit too long. 

The characters and themes got repetitive and some of their growth was handled poorly. Or halted altogether. 

It ends happily, and there’s an epilogue where we see the characters a couple of years later, and what’s happened in their lives.  That’s satisfying. 

The ending is fine, with some issues. There’s a murder investigation, which is tied to how will the town of Starry Hollow deal with the return of the very much alive Ivy Rose. 

Ivy is the best element here, she’s a sympathetic character and how her situation is resolved is wonderful. 

But the person and people responsible and their actions aren’t well written. It fluctuates from a stand of firmness of position (she’s evil) to immediate change in opinion (my bad, she’s not) in seconds. There’s no reason or real constructive character or foundation for any of this. And it undermines the entire storyline. 

Then it’s let’s say we understand her motivations. Slap on the wrist. Sigh.  It took how many books and this is how Ivy’s story is resolved? 

Way too long. A wedding and done. 

So it’s nice that each book was a quick read but I’m not sure I’d invest my time reading 19 books again with this outcome. It’s a ok read. 

For fans of Annabel Chase I’m sure you’ll be fine. 

Same cute covers that change ever subtly. 

Starry Hollow Witches series:

Box set 1-10:

Magic & Murder, Book 1

Magic & Mystery, Book 2

Magic & Mischief, Book 3

Magic & Mayhem, Book 4

Magic & Mercy, Book 5

Magic & Madness, Book 6

Magic & Malice, Book 7

Magic & Mythos, Book 8

Magic & Mishaps, Book 9

Magic & Maladies, Book 10

—-

Magic & Misdeeds (Book 11)

Magic & Monsters (Book 12)

Magic & Misfits (Book 13)

Magic & Misfortune (Book 14)

Magic & Marriage (Book 15)

Magic & Midnight (Book 16)

Magic & Mirrors (Book 17)

Magic & Mistletoe (Book 18)

Magic & Mutiny (Book 19) – finale 

Buy link

        Magic & Mutiny (Starry Hollow Witches Book 19)

    

Blurb 

Welcome to Starry Hollow, where spells were made to be broken.

Ever since the moment her trio of magical cousins whisked her away to Starry Hollow, the town has served as a safe haven for Ember Rose, descendant of the One True Witch. Even the bumps in the roads have smoothed—she’s reconciled with her formidable aunt and is about to marry the love of her life, Sheriff Nash.

All the bumps except the Ivy-shaped one, that is.

Now the entire town is under threat because of a mistake Ember made. Granted, she wasn’t the one who mistreated her ancestor centuries ago, but she was the one who resurrected her.

And now Ivy is ready to exact revenge on the coven that wronged her.

Can Ember stop the mutiny and save her beloved hometown, or will the one-witch rebellion destroy Starry Hollow forever?

Magic & Mutiny is the 19th and final book in the Starry Hollow Witches series, so be sure not to miss how it all ends

Review:  Magic & Mistletoe (Starry Hollow Witches Book 18) by Annabel Chase 

Rating:2.75⭐️

Magic & Mistletoe (Starry Hollow Witches Book 18) by Annabel Chase is both the penultimate book in the series and one I almost DNF’d. 

Personally, I think it’s a story that can be skipped over as it’s one that almost had me thinking about just stopping here.  

I’ve enjoyed watching Ember journey from a scrappy widow and single mother from New Jersey, ignorant about her magical roots and powers to one embracing her paranormal town and community, including family and fiancé.  But this story is one of constant lies and withholding important information from all those around her, including her fiancé and family. 

Lack of communication in adult characters is a big issue for me in books and by the 18th novel we should be way past this stage but it’s still an enormous element here. 

Also she’s acting like a teenager in some of the most serious and emotional situations. Smelling her armpits and making a wisecrack when presented with a picture of devastating loss.  It’s not believable not the following scene either. 

She’s either grown past actions like this, given the development by Chase or she’s regressing because it’s something the author wants to hear scene wise. It makes her character and any growth that she’s undergone seem diminished. Or just unreal. 

This whole thing is a mess. Yes let’s have a nice Christmas Carol type story, and then try to tie it up with the ongoing drama of the revived witch. 

Doesn’t work.  Ended up flipping pages to get to the end. 

I’ll finish the series. But this was a big disappointment. 

Such cute covers that change ever subtly. 

Starry Hollow Witches series:

Box set 1-10:

Magic & Murder, Book 1

Magic & Mystery, Book 2

Magic & Mischief, Book 3

Magic & Mayhem, Book 4

Magic & Mercy, Book 5

Magic & Madness, Book 6

Magic & Malice, Book 7

Magic & Mythos, Book 8

Magic & Mishaps, Book 9

Magic & Maladies, Book 10

—-

Magic & Misdeeds (Book 11)

Magic & Monsters (Book 12)

Magic & Misfits (Book 13)

Magic & Misfortune (Book 14)

Magic & Marriage (Book 15)

Magic & Midnight (Book 16)

Magic & Mirrors (Book 17)

Magic & Mistletoe (Book 18)

Magic & Mutiny (Book 19) – finale 

Buy link

        Magic & Mistletoe (Starry Hollow Witches Book 18)

    

Blurb 

Welcome to Starry Hollow, where spells were made to be broken.

It’s Christmastime in Starry Hollow and Ember is not full of good cheer. Instead of indulging in spiked eggnog by a cozy fire, our favorite descendant of the One True Witch is busy helping Aunt Hyacinth contend with three persistent ghosts just like dear Scrooge, along with another, more threatening ghost from the past.

Can Ember save Christmas or will it all go to hell in a one horse open sleigh?

Magic & Mistletoe is the 18th book in the Starry Hollow Witches series.

  • Publisher: Red Palm Press LLC
  • Accessibility: Learn more
  • Publication date: November 9, 2023
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 220 pages
  • Book 18 of 19: Starry Hollow Witches

Review:  Kin of the Wolf (Magnetic Magic #3) by by Lindsay Buroker

Rating: 3.5⭐️

If you’re reading a series and notice certain things or elements of a character(s) or storyline that are starting to become a bit predictable or problematic, then you hope that as the series goes forward, the author has a way to use those things in the narrative or character development. 

At least so it’s not an issue that is highly distracting from the plot or character relationship. 

Unfortunately that’s what is happening with the characters here. 

Spoilers for the preceding book. 

Primarily it’s the character of Duncan and the dynamic between Luna and Duncan. It is absolutely disconnecting me from the character of Luna who I found relatable and interesting in her personality and life story. 

But the dynamic between them, especially with her history with Duncan and her ex-husband, as well as her cousin, it’s just making her out to be either a woman with extremely bad judgment or just a nonsensical storyline.  Duncan, a clone of an ancient powerful werewolf, has betrayed Luna in the past. She forgave him. Then he attacked her, under the control of a mage. One he’s still under the influence of when the mage desires.  The logic is to cut him off.

The author, instead, has Luna repeatedly inviting him,(past, current and future threat) back into her life, the pack’s life and now it looks like her son’s. Yes, this will go as well as expected. 

Just when needed, oh look. He’s running away. Cue up the eye roll. 

Buroker was or is building a picture of a divorced woman trying to handle multiple major events/family crises and struggling with them as she would be. But here’s the thing, Luna has been portrayed as tough, extremely realistic and resilient.   Even with the current state of affairs in her life, with the pack politics, mother’s health, and now the Druid family arriving at the housing units, the relationship dynamics the author has playing out is very counter intuitive to the woman Buroker also wants us to believe in. 

How much of patsy or casualty is Luna expected to be of this relationship and the readers too? It’s getting old fast. 

I’m continuing on but with less enthusiasm than when I began. 

For those who enjoy paranormal werewolf fiction and urban fantasy thrillers, check it out. See what you think. 

“Book cover by Deranged Doctor Design”

Magnetic Magic :

Way of the Wolf #1

Relics of the Wolf #2

Kin of the Wolf #3

Quest of the Wolf #4

Curse of the Wolf-July 11,2025

Buy link

        Kin of the Wolf (Magnetic Magic Book 3)

    

Blurb 

Pack politics, adventure, and romance feature in the third installment of Magnetic Magic. 

Luna has recovered priceless werewolf relics from powerful thieves, but they’re still alive—and they can control her new ally, a lone wolf named Duncan. 

She would be wise to have nothing to do with him, but he’s handsome, charming, and keeps coming to her defense. Further, with certain members of the pack gunning for her, she needs his assistance. Her cousin Augustus is holding a grudge, and she’s going to have to find a way to deal with him—before he deals with her.

Review:  Splintered Magic (Splintered Magic Book 1) by Jillian Dolbeare

Rating: 3⭐️

It’s not a good thing when I think I was being generous with my rating here. My love for The Portlock Paranormal Detective Series by Heather G. Harris and Jilleen Dolbeare prompted me to seek out individual stories by each of these authors as each has a fairly large number of books/series they’ve written. 

So far I haven’t found the same level of depth of world building and characterization in the individual books as I found in their co-authored series. 

Splintered Magic has the worst female main character yet of the ones I’ve read so far, which is highly disappointing. Especially as everything about her, the circumstances she finds herself in, and the premise of the story are incredibly promising. 

It begins so well with the 40ish recently divorced Brigid Donovan pulling up to her family very old crumbling Victorian mansion/house in the middle of the night.  Towing all her belongings in a rental trailer, she’s just arrived at the house, where long overdue renovations are underway. 

The excellent descriptions of the house, the tall Pacific Northwest woods, and the rutted road leading into the shambles of a house full of memories and a family of construction workers, scrambling to get the work done brings the location and people alive. 

And of course, a huge cat shows up, one that is a twin to the cat she grew up with decades ago on the same house. Huh. 

Magical stuff starts to happen immediately to Brigid. And if perhaps, Dolbeare had gone a different route with the character, say extremely young and sheltered rather than older, experienced woman, someone who’s undergone a recent bitter divorce with a cheating spouse, and left everything behind, than I might have felt differently about the novel and this character’s reactions to, well, everything. 

My biggest issue with the character of Brigid is her lack of believability as a woman. Given her age, experiences and current circumstances, how the author has her reacting in much of the scenes and events here just doesn’t make sense.  If she’d come out of a nunnery perhaps, but even a high amount of tweens/grade schoolers have a better sense of caution and self awareness than Dolbeare has equipped her with. 

She’s come home to a place she’s not been in for quite some time and not communicated with any of the people from her childhood. But immediately they, especially a girl she remembers as being a bit of a bully and mean girl, is automatically a “bestie “ on face value, because she seems nice. 

No one does this. Ever.

Then when everyone, and I mean everybody, from her cat to , yes, another instant old boyfriend she’s decided she’s crazy for , tell her that this person and her entire group are bad bad people, does she listen? No.

Because they seem so nice.  

It’s one incredibly stupid character development or decision making element after another. Poor Brigid turned into a TSTL character almost immediately here, making it literally impossible to take her or the entire story seriously. 

Which is a shame because the series is complete but I don’t think I can handle any more of this twaddle. 

There’s several other magical storylines, all of which are familiar plot lines. A person’s history and powerful abilities are stripped and hidden until they have the strength to handle it.  But again, this part is silly as it isn’t well executed and is full of plot holes the more that you think it through. 

Anyway. It ends on a cliffhanger that a reader could easily see coming. How involved you are here will determine if you go ahead with the series. 

I like the covers .

Splintered Magic – complete series:

Splintered Magic #1

Splintered Veil #2

Splintered Fate #3

Splintered Haven #4

Splintered Secret #5

Splintered Destiny #6

Buy link

        Splintered Magic: A Paranormal Women’s Urban Fantasy Novel

    

Blurb 

He left her with a broken heart… and a crumbling mansion full of magical secrets.

Brigid Donovan’s life is in shambles. Her husband ran off with his secretary, her ancestral home is falling apart, and all she wants is a quiet life in the heart of Oregon’s wild, ancient forest. But when her cat starts talking—and drops the bombshell that she’s the great-granddaughter of a fae lord—Brigid’s life goes from wrecked to downright weird.

She’s supposed to have magic. Power. A legacy. So where the hell is it?

As strange happenings ripple through the town of Kilchis, Brigid discovers her renovation team is a pack of werewolves, her new best friend is a witch, and her family history is a magical mystery wrapped in secrets. To survive, Brigid must reclaim her magic—before it claims her.

Welcome to Splintered Magic—a paranormal women’s urban fantasy full of wit, wolves, and wicked twists

  • Publisher: Vinci Books (February 14, 2023)
  • Publication date: February 14, 2023
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 206 pages

Werewolf shifter fantasy thriller, witch and wizard romance thrillers, 

Brigid Donovan is divorced, adrift, and might be going nuts. Her desire to restore her family’s decaying Victorian Mansion isn’t going well. Mainly because her werewolf contractor is murdered on the job. And the only other choice to take over is the hot, if sketchy, cousin to the local coven’s head witch.

On top of these problems, her fluffy Ragdoll cat is now speaking to her—that can’t be normal, right? He tells her she’s the great-granddaughter of a fae lord, and very powerful. That’s all fine and dandy, but where is her magic?

Her search leads her to discover that her magic was taken from her at an early age and splintered into thirteen pieces of jewelry that she must find, reintegrate, and learn to use all before the local witch coven finds it first—and they play for keeps. 

Luckily, she has a best friend, a Splintercat, a griffin, a teenaged dragon, and an angry werewolf pack to help. Everything should go smoothly…shouldn’t it?

Review:  Green Gryphon (Mackenzie Green, #1) by J.S. Kennedy 

Rating:  4.5⭐️

Kennedy is another new to me author on my search for new writers of strong female characters and great stories.  

Green Gryphon is the first book in Kennedy’s Mackenzie Green series, a novel set 50 years after magic drastically reappeared in the world, resulting in the death of billions, loss of the then governments of countries and chaos. Cities crumbled, anything created of plastic or non natural materials dissolved, leaving destruction and disaster behind. And magical beings that formed from some of those who were left.

Several aspects of this book surprised me. Not the foundation whereby a reappearance of magic destroys the world’s technology as well as its current countries structures, that’s a well established concept. 

What caught me was the main character of MacKenzie Green and her small family. In a world of fantasy characters, dragons, gryphons, vampires, werewolves, and other mythical beings that this magical shift created, the book adds another element with her. 

This is actually a darker story than I expected. Far from the sort of light tone that we get from the book’s blurb.

It’s far better than that. 

It’s got a tinge of horror, that riding the edge of terrifying science fiction mixed with a fantasy vibe that makes this a fascinating and exciting story.

Plus dragon shifters and found family. 

However, I’m thinking this novel should have trigger warnings as there’s plenty of bodies, bloodshed, and in the future stories, torture. 

Mackenzie is a plant mage who’s hiding plenty of secrets. Those are slowly revealed towards the end of this book. 

The world building is slowly coming together, as the author gives us the new structure as it pertains to this city and how humans and the otherworldly beings are governed. And the newly formed purity rights group that has formed within certain communities. 

It’s highly suspenseful, action packed, and full of character driven storytelling.

I’m so invested in this character and series. Also thrilled it’s a complete one so I can binge through.

Another winner and recommendation. 

Cover art by : Original Book Cover Design

Mackenzie Green Series: complete 

Catch and Release – A prequel novella 

Green Gryphon #1

Green Mage #2

Green Shadow #3

Green Vampire #4

Green Dragon #5

Buy link

        Green Gryphon: Mackenzie Green Book 1 (Mackenzie Green Series)

    

Blurb 

The Dragon Protector asking Mackenzie for a favor—Maybe the sky truly has fallen…

Mackenzie works for Catch and Release, a bounty-hunting guild, and she loves her job.

She goes after the usual suspects: Rogue vampires, feral shifters, and crazed mages. Nightmare stuff.

The last thing she ever imagined was Lucan, an infuriating and high-ranking dragon shifter, hiring her to find a child kidnapped from his Tribe.

Even though her magical talents lean more towards bodyguarding and hunting dangerous beings, condemning a kid to death isn’t who she is.

But as Mackenzie gets deeper into her hunt, she uncovers deadly secrets surrounding the child, the kidnapper, and Lucan himself…

One thing’s for sure; when the going gets tough, Mackenzie gets dangerous!

  • Publication date: June 16, 2021
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 309 pages
  • Book 1 of 5: Mackenzie Green Series

Review:  Relics of the Wolf (Magnetic Magic Book 2) by Lindsay Buroker

Rating: 4⭐️

Mystery, magic, and more hidden secrets. That’s what Relics of the Wolf is focused upon. 

Luna has, with all the betrayals, attacks, and bad news about her mother arriving together, decided to go full force with her wolf.  It being the best way to ensure her safety and others survival. 

 The complex dynamics within Luna’s mother’s pack is one that is more feral, and less humanized than many other stories I’ve read.  I appreciate this aspect even more because the Alpha is female, ruthless in running the pack as she works towards its future. 

 The story lines that Buroker is building, ones that include Luna and her pack, are among the strongest in the series. From the pack dynamics to the werewolves and their own history, the author is developing this element with each character and book.  She’s revealing more about their mythology, genetics, and connections to other paranormal beings. 

Luna is still a strong character, evolving her story and her wolf into a powerful role and magical being. I can’t wait to see more. 

Duncan just continues to be an issue. He’s not a consistently well defined character, and I need that to be invested in him. For his part in Luna’s journey and me as a reader. The author does supply him with a newly revealed history but oddly, it didn’t make him any more believable here. It’s not a well constructed element.  I’m just not connecting with him. Or this part of the story. It’s all too apparent. 

Bolin remains outstanding. More of Bolin. Maybe let us in on his parents, too. 

The shifter elements are exciting, Luna is fabulous, the Pack itself is full of complicated characters and  hidden inter-pack political elements that add suspense and depth to the scenario.

Moving swiftly to the next book to see how the story develops.

Another winner for lovers of paranormal werewolf fiction and urban fantasy thrillers. 

“Book cover by Deranged Doctor Design”

Magnetic Magic :

Way of the Wolf #1

Relics of the Wolf #2

Kin of the Wolf #3

Quest of the Wolf #4

Curse of the Wolf-July 11,2025

Buy link

        Relics of the Wolf (Magnetic Magic Book 2)

    

Blurb 

When Luna decided to reclaim her werewolf heritage, she had no idea what she was in for.

Frustrated, angry, and betrayed, she must find the mysterious artifact she lost, unravel the politics of the pack, and defend against attempts on her life.

With everything intertwined, she has a daunting road ahead, and her conflicting feelings about the lone werewolf, Duncan, aren’t helping anything. She doubts she can trust him, no matter how charming he is, but she may need to if she wants to get to the bottom of her troubles—and survive the week.

  • Publisher: Lindsay Buroker
  • Publication date: January 31, 2025
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 248 pages
  • Book 2 of 5: Magnetic Magic

Review:  Way of the Wolf (Magnetic Magic Book 1) by Lindsay Buroker

Rating: 4.25⭐️

I’m constantly on the lookout for a strong FMC and storylines that are outside of the popular types and novel trends I’m seeing everywhere these days. 

Lindsay Buroker is among those authors (ones I’m just now discovering) who are writing about older female characters that have been through challenges in their lives, divorces, losses, dysfunctional families and relationships. Lost jobs or in situations where they’re often making do with the economy , their skill sets, and getting by as best they can.  Some have kids , young or in the case of the FMC here, two older sons who are living elsewhere. 

In other words, female characters who are extremely relatable and relevant for many readers. 

Luna Valens is a 45 yrs old divorced woman, with 2 grown children ,who’s been the Property Manager of the Sylvan Serenity Housing in Seattle, Washington for over 20 years. She’s also a werewolf who hasn’t shifted for 25 years. On purpose. 

The novel opens with Luna carrying a toilet across the parking lot of the building complex where she’s getting ready to replace a renter’s toilet herself. The scene immediately gives the reader a full picture of who Luna is, tough, aware, dry observations about her own life and the way she is aging. Even the dull senses she’s has due to the fact she’s been drugging the shifter aspect of herself into non existence. 

Buroker lends the character authenticity even as she’s giving us a mystery about the woman lugging the heavy weight around the parking lot with a lot more ease than any human can handle.  It brought me instantly into the story and Luna Valen’s character. 

 For me the female characters are the best part of the story. Luna, her mother, who’s absolutely fierce, the idea of packs as a matriarchal line, are all amazing storylines. 

Duncan, the werewolf treasure hunter, is a little more problematic as a character. His continued use of “My Lady” , while explained later, is something I find annoying.  He just doesn’t have the same energy as Luna does.

But Bolin the intern does, he’s amazing. I’d love to see him as a full non romantic player here . From his intriguing history to his personality, he’s fantastic. 

Definitely moving forward with the series and this terrific character. 

A winner.

“Book cover by Deranged Doctor Design”

Magnetic Magic :

Way of the Wolf #1

Relics of the Wolf #2

Kin of the Wolf #3

Quest of the Wolf #4

Curse of the Wolf-July 11,2025

Buy link

 Book 1 of 5: Magnetic Magic 

Blurb 

You can only escape your destiny for so long…

It’s been more than twenty years since tragedy prompted Luna Valens to walk away from her pack. 

Scarred by her past, she’s done her best to lead a normal human life. Thanks to a potion that suppresses her magic, nobody around her has a clue that she’s a werewolf.

Until…

Her potion supplier disappears, her family reestablishes contact, and a mysterious werewolf with a metal detector and a penchant for calling her my lady saunters into her life.

As if all that weren’t enough, someone from her past is trying to kill her. Someone dangerous. 

To survive and figure out what’s going on, Luna will have to once again embrace her power. But, after so long, will she be able to summon the wolf? 

~

A contemporary fantasy series for those enjoy second-chance stories, slow-burn romance, and werewolves with a sense of humor. Pick up Way of the Wolf today!

  • Publisher: Lindsay Buroker
  • Accessibility: Learn more
  • Publication date: January 3, 2025
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 228 pages
  • Book 1 of 5: Magnetic Magic

Shifters and werewolves suspense, shifters and werewolves thrillers, paranormal romance thriller, urban fantasy suspense, 

Review:  Wicked Witch of the Wolf: The Smokethorn Paranormals Series Book 3 by C.P. Rider

Rating: 4.75⭐️

Wicked Witch of the Wolf: The Smokethorn Paranormals Series Book 3 by C.P. Rider is absolutely my favorite and most satisfying read of this terrific series. 

When Betty’s friend, Bronwyn, asks her to investigate why Maya, a woman and close friend who had been seeking a divorce now has an odd personality and is content in her marriage.  Marriage to a male witch known to be problematic and in Bronwyn’s coven. 

Wicked Witch of the Wolf resolves a number of complex conflicts and character issues that have been long standing elements within the series. And it makes the book so compelling, satisfying and fascinating as it moves so many relationships forward.

The personal growth that Betty undergoes is enormous. That’s aligning with the magical power that comes from the knowledge and acceptance that she achieves here.  Betty’s stubbornness or resistance to acknowledge certain truths, a trait she’s been slowly working through, is a main element of her storyline. 

And the characters who have impacted her life in the past , here are the ones who will help her finally move forward. 

There’s so many layers to this book . So many threads, great characters, new and old, fantastic developments, and one or two where I just want to thump Ronan, as he’s still too much “controlling, save the weak women” figure.   Luckily, the women here are quick to tell him to knock it off, and they don’t need saving, and btw, they just saved him.   He, however, is in need of much change or growth. 

That may be coming next book. 

As always the mysterious omnipresent DJ with their on point selection of 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s rock music is fabulous. 

I need to know if each book has a complete set list. Awesome. 

Highly recommended and wish I had the next book now. 

Cover design by The Book Brander”

The Smokethorn Paranormals Series :

Strike It Witch #1

Any Which Wolf #2

Wicked Witch of the Wolf #3

The Wolfing Hour #4 – Nov 30,2025

Buy link

        Wicked Witch of the Wolf: The Smokethorn Paranormals Series Book 3

    

Blurb 

“One thing, though. What was the last straw that made Maya file for divorce?”
“She told me Desmond said he was going to kill her.”

Betty Lennox, earth witch and paranormal investigator, has a whole slew of problems. Her magic is as finicky as a jackrabbit in the desert; the local werewolf alpha lurks around every corner, giving her death threats; and a certain sexy werewolf isn’t returning her calls.

What’s a witch to do? Focus on work.

Betty is hired to investigate a one-eighty personality change in a woman who was going to divorce her husband but suddenly loves him again. That’s suspicious by itself, but the fact that he’s a member of the local coven puts Betty on high alert.

With her team of allies—Ida, her BFF and a retired necromancer; Fennel, a magical cat, and Cecil, a homicidal garden gnome with a penchant for explosives—Betty digs deeper into the case and quickly realizes this deadly plan goes far beyond Maya’s marriage. She finds herself facing off with witches, shifters, and dark, arcane magic.

The good news? Betty finds unexpected new allies to join her crew and help her solve the case. The bad news? Some of them start disappearing. It’s up to Betty and her unreliable magic to find her friends, protect her client, and save Smokethorn as something wicked this way comes…

For fans of urban fantasy with a side of slow-burn romance.

  • Publisher: VC Group, LLC
  • Accessibility: Learn more
  • Publication date: May 31, 2025
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 302 pages
  • Book 3 of 4: The Smokethorn Paranormals Series

Review:  Cosmic Catalyst (Shamans & Shifters Space Opera Book 2) by Jenny Schwartz 

Rating: 4.5✨

Cosmic Catalyst is an excellent sequel to Her Robot Wolf, picking up after the highly dramatic events in that story that saw Jaya saving the galactic empire, along with her mate Vulf and companions. 

Cosmic Catalyst deals with the ramifications from that event, the reveal of previously unknown powers that Jaya has and the hope that Vulf’s robot wolf represents for the shifter worlds. 

As they say no good deed goes unpunished. And so those who want to profit from this event and her powers circle around them. 

It’s an exceedingly wild, exciting, and amazing read. It moves all the relationships and overall dynamics forward and develops the world building even better by giving the reader more information about the Meitj, the other races, and the processes behind what drove saving certain species. 

And the romance between Jaya and Vulf enables the author to explore the shifter society and interlock it into an expanded family for Jaya.

Another fabulous story and it’s onto the next!

Loving the covers.  Highly recommended. 

Shamans & Shifters Space Opera series: 

Her Robot Wolf 

Cosmic Catalyst 

Shattered Earth 

Jingle Stars 

The Ceph Sector 

Buy link 

        Cosmic Catalyst (Shamans & Shifters Space Opera Book 2)

    

Blurb 

When starship shaman Jaya Romanov and her new mate partner, galactic bounty hunter and robot wolf shifter, Vulf Trent, saved the galaxy from the deadly actions of a determined geriatric terrorist, they forgot that old Earth truism: no good deed goes unpunished.

Now, the galaxy is exploding with unexpected aliens, greedy politicians—well, that’s normal enough, it’s what the politicians will attempt that is worrying—and a radically new aspect to sha energy that has the potential to change everything.

And then there’s the mystery of Jaya’s father…who is he?

Some big secrets are lurking in Jaya’s past, and to save those she loves, she’ll be forced to risk the galaxy in a shoot ’em up, take-no-prisoners rescue because sometimes there’s no fighting your destiny. Fortunately, Vulf is always ready for a fight!

  • Publication date: October 22, 2017
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 229 pages

Review:  Her Robot Wolf (Shamans & Shifters Space Opera Book 1) by Jenny Schwartz

Rating:  4.5⭐️

Well here’s another series I’m totally addicted to and binging right through. After finding author Jenny Schwartz through her Stars Die novel, I started diving into her other books and found this series. 

Shamans and Shifters is such an unusual and amazing series. A complete science fiction adventure series that deals with scientific based magic, paranormal creatures, fated mates, fantastical alien worlds and societies, found families and galactic political intrigue. And romance. 

It’s well written, highly imaginative, fast paced, and has a character that has grabbed at  my heart and mind is the ship Orion’s IA Ahab. The ship belongs to a bounty hunter wolf shifter Vulf Trent who’s on a collision course with Jaya Romanov, a star ship shaman.

The storyline, which revolves around the hunt for a man named Evan, introduces the universe of the series, the background of the races and the science behind the magic involved. Or the beginning of the science.  More will be explored as the series expands into deeper details and greater understanding of the political landscape and mysteries happening.

It’s a fast paced , exciting story and leaves you immediately gravitating towards the next book. Which I did. 

Loved everything about this. 

Including the covers.  Highly recommended. 

Shamans & Shifters Space Opera series: 

Her Robot Wolf 

Cosmic Catalyst 

Shattered Earth 

Jingle Stars 

The Ceph Sector 

Buy link 

        Her Robot Wolf (Shamans & Shifters Space Opera Book 1)

    

Blurb 

Jaya Romanov is an independent star ship shaman. She studies the energy flows of the universe and—for a price—will harness them to her employer’s purpose. Wormholes are a whole lot safer to travel when a shaman guides the jump.

Vulf Trent is a bounty hunter. It was that or join the family business, piracy, and Vulf is too much the lone wolf to tolerate the demands of a large pirate crew. Where his family enjoys the bonds of pack, he prefers the freedom of ranging the universe, alone. Seven generations ago, humanity evacuated Earth and the shifter clans’ ability to transform into their animal forms was one of the most terrible losses of that time. Now, the werewolves, werebears and other shifters are trapped in their human bodies and slowly losing the essence of their primal souls.

Jaya is determined to heal their torn transformational abilities, but Vulf doesn’t believe her. He didn’t kidnap her for her healing abilities.

Her Robot Wolf is a fabulous adventure in which rare, mystical science replaces magic, pirates are taught to respect lone women, the galaxy is imperiled —and perhaps, rescued—and a fated mate pair contemplate kicking Fate in the teeth. Have fun! Don’t forget to buy Galactic Insurance before leaving Earth! Space opera, paranormal romance and a galactic array of aliens, mysteries, startling revelations and breath-taking heroics.

  • Publication date: May 30, 2017
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 212 pages