Category: YA Fiction

Review:  Of Owls and Oolong (Owls, Tea Shops, and Other Magical Nuisances, Book One) by Shari L. Tapscott

Rating: 3.5⭐️

Of Owls and Oolong, the first in the Owls, Tea Shops, and Other Magical Nuisances series by Shari L. Tapscott, is an enjoyable fantasy tale.  Tapscott’s story encapsulates everything from cozy mysteries, fantastical creatures and mythical places, to slow burn romances with elements of magic and darkness. 

I be honest, I don’t understand book descriptions that I feel misrepresent the story. Nothing about this story reads “rom-com”.  Sad, poignant, hopeful, and new beginnings. But rom-com? I don’t see it. 

Kit is a summer Pixie who inherited her great aunt’s old cottage and tea shop in a magical tourist town across the country from her home and family in Washington state. 

Moss Hollow, Vermont caters to the human tourist industry while hiding the fact that it’s a paranormal community that exists along side them.  No cars inside the township, just carriages and buggies pulled by animals. Part of the charm during the many festivals. 

The author builds a believable small town dynamic with all the various kinds of shops and shopkeepers of differing species, each with their own backstories. 

It’s Kit, Rowan the Owl who’s not an owl she inherits along with the house and shop, along with Ash, her reserved neighbor and Council member, that’s the most of the main focus here. 

I appreciate the world building, and the way Tapscott wove some of the darker elements of Kit’s background into the story. But that also works against it as well, because it’s so tragic and threatening that to have that aspect of the story be a part of the bigger plot at this point feels like it doesn’t have any foundation laid out for it. 

The relationships between Kit and Ash, or Kit and Rowen aren’t really there yet. It’s a beginning but not established. So the ending feels rushed. 

I’m looking forward to seeing more of the characters and series to see how the author develops them. 

No spice, mystery, and fantasy. 

Entertaining and very enjoyable. 

Love that cover!

Cover Design by Covers by Juan

Owls, Tea Shops, and Other Magical Nuisances:

Of Owls and Oolong #1

Of Pixies and Pekoe #2 – Jan 2,2026

Buy link

 Book 1 of 2: Owls, Tea Shops, and Other Magical Nuisances 

Blurb 

The author of A Vampire’s Guide to Gardening and Obsidian Queen brings you a lighthearted fantasy full of humor and romance, set in a cozy contemporary fae town. Welcome to Moss Hollow.

There are three things you need to know about my great aunt—she’s eccentric, she’s rich, and she’s dead. No, make that four things. She also named me as the sole beneficiary of her fortune. There are, however, a few stipulations.

1. I must move into her cottage in Moss Hollow, Vermont—a magical community that values tradition and tourists.

2. I must keep her beloved tea shop open and running for at least three years.

3. I must take care of her tiny owl, a prickly creature by the name of Rowan. He’s moody, opinionated, and he used to be a mage.

He doesn’t like me, he doesn’t like my dog, and he really doesn’t like the handsome fae councilman who starts hanging around as soon as I arrive in town.

But for a small fortune, Rowan and I are going to learn to coexist long enough for me to figure out how to turn him back into his normal self with my “cute and worthless” pixie magic—preferably before he ruins my dating life or drives me insane.

Owls, Tea Shops, and Other Magical Nuisances is a rom-com style contemporary fantasy. The perfect lighthearted escape, this story is sure to delight readers who enjoy cozy magic and humor.

The books in this series feature smoldering-but-sweet, closed-door romance. (Passionate kisses and some innuendo, but no spicy scenes.)

Review: THE SNOW QUEEN: THE COMPLETE SAGA by K. M. Shea 

Rating: 4.5✨⭐️

I love being able to read completely through an entire series without stopping, binging to my heart’s content, in these series collections. 

K.M. Shea is a must read author for me, especially any series in her Magiford Supernatural City Universe. Those are favorites of mine.

The Snow Queen is a wonderful series, one that is considered YA in its appeal and approach to storytelling. It’s sweeping, epic fantasy reading, the heroine is a magical snow princess who’s been locked away in a tower for most of her life, regarded as a monster simply because of her powers. 

Yet, she finds a way to forgive, learn to accept and love her people as well as her powers. And she ends up saving them all. While fighting and finding a HEA love. 

No spice. A kiss on the cheek or forehead. Terrific battle scenes with magical powers. It’s also found family and an absolutely wonderful enemies to lovers innocent relationship. 

As an adult, it’s harder for me to accept the premise that the years of isolation and lack of contact, let alone the constant abuse and hostility didn’t make more of a emotional impact on her. That seems unlikely. 

But as YA fantasy fiction? Its great because Shea doesn’t craft a character that’s one dimensional. She’s lacking in the ability to read social interactions and is reserved around others. That gives her credibility. And makes her relatable. 

There’s times when I wish it read less “told to” and more direct interactions.  But it’s a wonderful story and I read it right through. 

A younger reader will be captivated. And it’s a great introduction to this marvelous writer. A real winner. 

Contains the following stories:

👁️‍🗨️Heart of Ice 

👁️‍🗨️Sacrifice 

👁️‍🗨️Snowflakes: A collection of Snow Queen short stories

Cover Art by Deranged Doctor Design

Buy link

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.comThe Snow Queen: The Complete Saga: Books 1-3: Heart of Ice, Sacrifice, Snowflakes eBook

Blurb 

Rakel is a princess who should have been queen.

Instead, as a despised magic user she has spent most of her life exiled on a barren mountain, alone in her ice-castle. But her empty life is shattered when an army of magic users invades her home country, bringing cruelty and darkness in their wake.

Rakel refuses to watch as the people who’ve scorned her are attacked, imprisoned, and even killed by the invading army. Swallowing her fear, she joins forces with her jailers and uses her magic in a way she never anticipated: on the battlefield.

But one of the invading colonels is different.

When enemy Colonel Farrin Graydim meets Rakel he is immediately intrigued by her. Her harsh rejection of an offer to join their cause only deepens his interest. He admires her unflinching strength, but his bloody past makes him utterly unworthy to stand beside the purity of her ice and snow.

Can Rakel defeat the invasion and free not only her people, but Farrin as well? For if her magic cannot defend her homeland, all is lost.

THE SNOW QUEEN series is an Epic Fantasy Romance filled with magic, unexpected friendships, and fights for survival. If you love strong female leads, captivating magic, and humorous stories, you’ll love The Snow Queen series. Buy the complete series today in this special collection!

  • Publication date: November 18, 2018
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 660 pages
  • Grade level: 7 – 12
  • Reading age: 13 – 18 years

Review: The Magical Beings’ Rehabilitation Center: The Complete Series by  K. M. Shea

Rating: 4⭐️

The Magical Beings’ Rehabilitation Center: The Complete Series is a YA urban fantasy adventure series by K. M. Shea that totally entertaining and full of engaging young fantasy characters from all types of mythology and fantasy worlds. 

Comprised of 5 stories that follows a young human high school student, Morgan L. Fae, who stumbles upon the fact that paranormal beings are real, and some even go to school with her. 

One is her substitute teacher, others her fellow students. Subsequently, she finds out about the MBRC, Magical Beings’ Rehabilitation Center where the fantasy world works towards getting their people integrated into the normal human world and everyday society. 

Morgan’s journey to navigate both her sophomore year in high school, along with her crushes, and her new adventures in her first job as a human tutor in the MBRC is humorous, creative, and engaging. 

It’s funny, because she has the ability to make her situations seem realistic and stressful no matter who she is dealing with and what world she’s currently in. 

What romantic relationships here is limited to a hurried kiss and nothing more. 

Adventure, action, fantasy and high school.  Just wonderful. 

 

A another winner from this author who’s become an auto-read. 

Cover design by Natasha Snow

Buy link

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.comThe Magical Beings’ Rehabilitation Center: The Complete Series: Vampires Drink …

Blurb 

Werewolves have fleas. Cyclops need glasses. Dark Elves give villain monologues.

Maybe the magical paranormal world isn’t quite what we expect? 

This special boxset contains the complete urban fantasy series the Magical Beings’ Rehabilitation Center: Vampires Drink Tomato Juice, Goblins Wear Suits, and The Lost Files of the MBRC.

Book 1: Vampires Drink Tomato Juice

Morgan might be losing her sanity. She thought it was a normal day but after witnessing an incident involving a werewolf, a substitute teacher/possible vampire, and a thermos of tomato juice, things get weird. 

A quick train ride later she finds herself at the Chicago headquarters of all things fantastical: the Magical Beings’ Rehabilitation Center. 

At the MBRC Morgan encounters dragons, vampires, elves, centaurs and even the Pooka, a shape-shifter who is too handsome for his own good. 

The MBRC strives to rehabilitate and integrate magical beings into human society. It’s also supposed to be a secret, and Morgan’s accidental initiation breaks every rule the place has. 

Book 2: Goblins Wear Suits

Morgan has settled into a balance between her school work and teaching at the MBRC. But she doesn’t know what she wants after this. 

Her family and friends, including a certain flirtatious Pooka, all have colleges and future career paths for her to consider. Her choices are made even more difficult when terrorist threats are issued by an anti-human, magic-based organization. 

And their main target is Morgan.

Book 3: The Lost Files of the MBRC 

When Morgan decided to stay employed at the Magical Beings’ Rehabilitation Center, she thought her life would quiet down as she started college and developed her career. 

She thought wrong.

The Lost Files of the MBRC is an anthology of five short stories set in the world of the Magical Beings’ Rehabilitation Center series.

  • Publication date: July 4, 2018
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 646 pages

Release Blitz for My Crunchy Life by Mia Kerick (excerpt and giveaway)

Title: My Crunchy Life

Author: Mia Kerick

Release Date: 26th June 2018

Genre: LGBT, Young Adult

BLURB

John Lennon fought for world peace, but sixteen-year-old hippie hopeful Kale Oswald’s only made it as far as tie-dying his T-shirts with organic grape juice. Now he’s ready to cement his new hippie identity by joining a local human rights organization, but he doesn’t fit in as well as he’d hoped.

After landing himself in the hospital by washing down a Ziploc bag of pills with a bottle of Gatorade, Julian Mendez came clean to his mother: he is a girl stuck in a boy’s body. Puberty blockers have stopped the maturing of the body he feels has betrayed him. They’re also supposed to give him time to be sure he wants to make a more permanent decision, but he’s already Julia in his heart. What he’s not sure he’s ready to face is the post-transition name-calling and bathroom wars awaiting him at school.

When Kale and Julian come face-to-face at the human rights organization, attraction, teenage awkwardness, and reluctant empathy collide. They are forced to examine who they are and who they want to become. But until Kale can come to terms with his confusion about his own sexuality and Julian can be honest with Kale, they cannot move forward in friendship, or anything more.

Find My Crunchy Life at Goodreads

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Harmony Ink

EXCERPT

“So, Kale, you say you’re a champion of human rights, hmm?” It’s clear to me that Julian detects my discomfort. When he steps up close, his voice emits from directly beneath my left ear. “That means you’re here to protect my human rights, even if it takes you to a place you never figured you’d go— not even in your wildest, but most certainly unoriginal, dreams.”

His breath tickles my neck— or maybe I just imagine it— and I shiver. “Yeah… that’s why I came here tonight.” My urge is to add “dude” to the end of my sentence, but I don’t want to make an assumption.

“Really.” It isn’t a question or a statement. It’s just a word. But the way he says it is sharp enough to cut glass.

I nod for the zillionth time tonight, and about ten thousand prickles of dread pop up in my armpits, which might sound strange, but I hear it’s a common response to stress.

“Really.” He says it again in exactly the same way, then steps in front of me so we’re standing face-to-face. I don’t want to look him in the eye. I’m not sure why I feel this way, because I’ve got balls. So I force myself to be a man and drag my gaze up his body from the badass combat boots, to the tights, to the oversized purple plaid flannel shirt that would make even a lumberjack look like he’s going dancing. And finally I focus on the important stuff: long, dark hair, freshly brushed and falling over his shoulders, even darker eyes that lift a little bit at the corners, and an “I dare you to mess with me” smirk on shiny red lips.

His lips… well, they’re moving again, but I don’t have a clue what he’s saying because I’m too busy staring.

At. His. Lips.

Are hippie dudes supposed to get captivated by other dudes’ lips?

Because this is a first for me, and not just in my brief life as a hippie. I’ve never been one to suffer with debilitating crushes on movie stars or pop singers or the high school’s most popular girls. And here I am totally caught up in the lips of a dude I don’t even know. Weird.

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About the Author

Mia Kerick is the mother of four exceptional children—a daughter in law school, another in dance school, a third studying at Mia’s alma mater, Boston College, and her lone son still in high school. She writes LGBTQ romance when not editing National Honor Society essays, offering opinions on college and law school applications, helping to create dance bios, and reviewing English papers. Her husband of twenty-four years has been told by many that he has the patience of Job, but don’t ask Mia about this, as it is a sensitive subject.

Mia focuses her stories on emotional growth in turbulent relationships. As she has a great affinity for the tortured hero, there is, at minimum, one in each book. As a teen, Mia filled spiral-bound notebooks with tales of said tortured heroes (most of whom happened to strongly resemble lead vocalists of 1980s big-hair bands) and stuffed them under her mattress for safekeeping. She is thankful to Dreamspinner Press and Harmony Ink Press for providing alternate places to stash her stories.

Her books have won a Best YA Lesbian Rainbow Award, a Reader Views’ Book by Book Publicity Literary Award, the Jack Eadon Award for Best Book in Contemporary Drama, an Indie Fab Award, and a Royal Dragonfly Award for Cultural Diversity, among other awards.

Mia is a Progressive, a little bit too obsessed by politics, and cheers for each and every victory in the name of human rights. Her only major regret: never having taken typing or computer class in school, destining her to a life consumed with two-fingered pecking and constant prayer to the Gods of Technology.

Contact Mia at miakerick@gmail.com. Visit her website for updates on what is going on in Mia’s world, rants, music, parties, and pictures, and maybe even a little bit of inspiration.

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