Deadly Coins is the second in the Witch in the Woods series by Jenna St. James. It’s another terrific mystery that brings further insight into the some of the otherworldliness of the island and the creatures that live there, and the history of its inhabitants.
In this story, it’s all about a cold case that hit close to home for one of Shayla’s closest friends. There’s an investigation, suspicion that falls on an older group of people, and a dramatic twist.
Another satisfying story and slow burn romance.
I’m here for it. Plus a grumpy magical flying porcupine !
When game warden, Shayla Loci, and her cousin, Serena Spellburn, stumble upon a wounded dragon guarding gold coins, they have no idea it would lead to a clue about how Serena’s dad, Mac, really died nearly thirty years before. But that’s exactly what happened. Now Shayla and Sheriff Alex Stone must determine if Mac died of suspicious causes, and, if so, who caused his death and why. Between digging for thirty-year-old clues among supposed friends and experiencing a near-death fatality, Shayla is sure Mac’s death was planned. But can she prove it? With the help of Needles her flying porcupine, Shayla is unwavering in her pursuit to find Uncle Mac’s killer. But when things come to a head, and innocent people are in the way, will everyone come out unscathed? Or will Shayla have to make the ultimate sacrifice? If you like paranormal cozy mysteries and midlife main characters, then this series is for you!
Morning Glories & Murder is the sixth novel in Winters’ Willowmere Cozy Mysteries series and I find that, in a 17 book series, there’s elements of this that I still love and others that I find less appealing at this point.
Number one is the gorgeous language and the absolute beauty of the words Winters uses to convey a sense of character or atmospheric magic in her work. Succinct, poetic and witty, I love the expression of her voice here.
Her ability to create a mystical, living almost sentience that flows from the dirt and wood in Willowmere is amazing. It’s believable in feeling both ominous and beautifully ancient simultaneously.
The murder mystery each book is occupied with are also good. But each has felt a bit flat because of there’s been so much time spent on a convoluted, investigative work that apprehending the culprit is a rushed affair, concluded all too briefly.
Relationships too are sparsely linked, dryly written about and even more weakly linked. The reader must infer from bits of information where different relationships might be headed, if anywhere. I’m actually ok with that.
But it’s with the main character of Maeve Everhart where I personally have the most problems connecting. She’s been hinting at having considerable power but time and again she’s attacked. Yet Maeve is passive against violent aggressive tactics or undermining maneuvering.
Throughout story after story, she avoids taking evidence to the town’s sheriff, keeping clues to herself ( sometimes losing the key material), waiting and watching for “the soil” and Whim, the familiar to point to a possible motive or culprit.
It’s frustrating to read. Because essentially it’s wandering around as the culprit continues to escalate “evil doings” right until the last few pages. Then it’s boom, it’s whoever. Done.
Here she’s personally attacked in a number of ways, professionally, personally etc. And again, it’s an approach of “ idk, not sure what I can do about it “.
For me, I’m not sure if this type of character is worth the effort. Love the language, not connecting with any but the cat, a snarky wry individual on his best days.
Think I’ll give it a rest for now. Come back later when I need a hit for sentences like this:
“From his perch atop the hanging planter by the window, Whim offered a disdainful yawn and flexed one white-tipped paw. “It’s not the rosemary. It’s the coming crowd. You can feel the potpourri energy swelling already. Too many amateur aromatherapists. Not enough dignity in the ceramics.”
Sigh.
Not a fan of the covers, which doesn’t match up with the tone of the book.
Willowmere’s Summer Artisan Faire was supposed to celebrate beauty, craft, and memory. Instead, it begins with the discovery of a beloved potter’s body beneath her own shattered booth.
Maeve Everhart wasn’t looking for another mystery. But the clay doesn’t lie—and neither does the soil. As whispers of sabotage echo through the town’s sunlit streets, she’s pulled into a web of rivalries, forgeries, and unfinished work that someone was desperate to keep buried.
With her greenhouse rattled by secrets and old friendships tested by fire, Maeve must piece together a broken charm, a fractured legacy, and the truth that lives in what Petra left behind.
Because in Willowmere, every creation carries intention—and some were made to remember what others wanted to forget.
Get ready for a whirlwind mystery and cozy thrill ride in this paranormal cozy mystery. Get under a blanket and be prepared to be immersed!
A New Beginning: A Millie the Miracle Cat Cozy Mystery by Courtney McFarlin has so much potential in the overall series storyline and engaging characters that I wish I actually enjoyed the book more.
Initially, how McFarlin started to develop her character and her initiation into the small town of Timber Falls, Colorado was a terrific setup.
Olivia Sutton is fleeing Portland, a failed marriage, a recently remarried ex, and lots of memories. She’s made arrangements to buy a bookstore in a small town in Colorado she’s never seen from a woman she’s only talked to on the phone.
She’s got a doubting best friend in Portland telling her to return, and all her belongings packed in her car. Right away I’m invested in this woman who desperately wants a new beginning.
She’s met with drama, murder and a mystery. And a town of strangers, some of whom slowly become friends.
Especially a small group of older women, who I just adore. They rank high as some of the best characters and aspects of the story.
Then there’s Millie, the cat she adopts.
This is the element I feel derailed the book for me.
Take Millie away or change certain parts of this cat’s “personality” and we continue to have a really good mystery series set in a believable place, filled with credible characters a reader can connect with.
Add in Millie, the woowoo factor and you’ll find, imo, a story at odds with itself. Both an emotional journey and interesting mystery series or an over the top “woowoo” tale that rides the line of goofy talking cat from outer space or whatever. Honestly, that element gave me a narrative whiplash when it popped up, because it was so unexpected in the way the author introduced it.
Anyway, for me, Millie kept taking me away from the story and developing relationships with the other characters. Just odd. So much that I’m probably not going forward with the rest of the series .
Check it out and decide for yourself if this is something you might enjoy.
A Millie the Miracle Cat Cozy Mystery (5 book series):
Olivia Sutton just moved to Timber Falls, a little town hidden in the mountains of Colorado, with the goal of starting fresh and leaving her past firmly in the rearview mirror. She’s got a plan and some hard-earned savings. How hard could starting over be?
While she’s scouting locations to start a new bookstore, she discovers a bedraggled stray cat, and something far more sinister.
Will the people in her newly claimed hometown believe she’s innocent? Is she losing her grip on reality or is her new cat capable of strange things?
Join Olivia and Millie the Cat as they work together to save Olivia’s reputation, find a killer, and begin living their new lives.
Im binging a number of new paranormal cozy mysteries at the moment and this is one of the better ones.
Jenna St. James’ Witch in the Woods series already has 35 released books ready to read for new readers which is fantastic. And each is a quick and well plotted story at around 170 pages so they just fly by.
James has also delivered engaging characters and an intriguing setup in a “hidden from normal people“ island that is inhabited by those who are paranormal beings or have parents who are.
Shayla Loci, a 45 year old law enforcement agent is returning home after being away for years working with a paranormal federal agency. Her strange parentage is highly unusual and huge part of ongoing narrative of the series.
She’s a terrific central figure here, and meshes well with all the town folk who have reoccurring roles and become important characters in the series. Especially the new sheriff and his preteen daughter.
There’s mystery and murder. And many developing relationships that bring up past issues and historical events.
The story keeps a fast pace and provides enough insight into the town’s history and new characters that my interest never waned.
Career-driven witch, Shayla Loci, is about to turn forty and is ready for a change. When she retires from capturing criminal supernaturals for the government, she figures her days of chasing bad guys are over. Little did she know her new job as the game warden on Enchanted Island would thrust her right back into harm’s way…and she wasn’t even officially on the clock yet! But when Sheriff Stone enlists her help to find out who killed an island resident, Shayla readily agrees.
Between sorting through alibis, gathering clues, and mentoring a wayward teenager on how to be a witch…Shayla’s life is hectic. If only her estranged dad–the King–wouldn’t insist she take her bodyguard, Needles, with her everywhere she goes. Just when Shayla believes she’s identified the killer, a new threat emerges…leaving her to make a snap decision that may cost her her life.
This new paranormal cozy series with a twist on midlife discovery will leave you guessing and hungry for more!
A first book by this author, I thought Leahy did a good job with many aspects of the story and world building.
The plot of a escaped woman soldier ending up on a planet where there’s several other cultures at war , including one that has and continues to systematically obliterate one of planet’s “animals “, the Tigras. Different planetary cultures she comes into contact with approximate earth religions with zealotry and magical rituals associated with them.
Leahy does a excellent job layering each city/tribe with their own individuality, and even with an abundance of characters, it’s not hard to separate out each smaller personality in the supporting role from another one from a different culture.
The battle scenes, the weapons, all well defined and varied. Same for the ship Jeena Garza arrives on.
If you are hearing a “but” here, you are correct.
My main concern or issues are with the two or perhaps, one character here.
🚩Trigger warnings for torture, multiple S.A., child death, which occurs during Jeena Garza’s capture and long imprisonment by the enemy during the prologue.
Jeena has undergone unbearable torture, physically traumatic and emotionally devastating experiences. Ones that are so severe, so damaging that those who have suffered from them along side her didn’t survive. Yet, upon escaping, she’s able to accept touch and have sexual relations months later. She was “hurt, went a little mad “. But she’s fine now.
Absolutely not believable. And establishing the sort of behavior that seems to disavow what happened to Jeena in the prison does an incredible disrespect to the reality of survivors of SA no matter that she’s a fictional character.
Past that, the relationship between Sampson the Tigra and Jeena also felt equally rushed and not well defined. He’s actually absent for a period of time during the story, which leaves a development “hole” for the relationship and plot lines. They are friends until suddenly they aren’t.
Everything works here but the characters themselves. They need better definition and layering.
There’s 2 more books to the series. Read this and those stories if you find it interesting.
Elite soldier Jeena Garza crash-lands on the desert world of Ararat, desperate to escape the trauma of war and her recent imprisonment. She wants solitude. A place to disappear. To forget and to be forgotten.
Instead, she finds Samson — a tiger-like beast feared for its ferocity. But Samson is different. Gentle. Intelligent. Maybe more than just an animal.
As ancient prophecies stir and buried secrets rise, Jeena is thrust into a battle for a world she doesn’t understand — and a destiny she never asked for. To save him, she’ll raise a forgotten people, topple an empire, and awaken something lost for eons.
She was forged as a weapon
He was born a beast.
Together they will change a world and challenge man’s place in the galaxy.
A novella set in the Uncertain Sanctuary universe, it’s a good read with huge potential for future exploration in additional stories if Schwartz gets the chance to return to the series. But the chance to really dive deep into the characters history, magic, and complicated journey into satisfying relationship and new believable start needs a bigger book and narrative.
The sentient House itself, has itself a horrifying powerful tale of redemption that’s not really told here. And it’s unique haunting connection to its Guardian, Tavor, a mysterious cursed being who doesn’t get the attention he’s clearly due here. Especially since he has so many under explored aspects of his fascinating character.
This frustration extends to Zelia herself. A world traveler who is more than she admits, with fantastical world walking birds ( I know I know so many elements that just need more), her appearance and assumed heritage based on her human origin of US western high desert alone cries out for a bit of further history.
This is an author whose detailed novels is fantastic at laying out precision work which makes the holes or lack of detail here more evident.
So it’s a good story but ultimately one that promises more than it delivers.
And the second book revolves around a lesser character from the Uncertain Sanctuary universe trilogy and elevates him into main character status. So it really should be a side story to that series.
Ah well, A sentient house that capable of space travel a great idea and definitely captured my imagination. I really hope the author returns to this world sometime in the future. Literally.
No one suspects Zelia is a sorcerer, and that’s exactly how she likes it. Even better, no one suspects she’s human. Masquerading as a goblin Traveler, she roams Reality in her glittering van pulled by her two trusty world walking birds, Warp and Weft.
But when a storm of cosmic chaos strands her in an outer thread, the only refuge in sight is the legendary Darkhouse of Doom. Goblin legend says it is cursed; that the appearance of the wandering darkhouse foretells the appearance of world-devouring monsters and the death of all who see it.
So, Zelia knocks on the door.
Any House in a Storm is a beauty and the beast tale set in an otherworldly, space-traveling darkhouse where nothing is as it seems and no one who enters remains unchanged.
While evil exists, there will always be those who fight it.
*Any House in a Storm is a standalone novel set in the universe introduced in The House That Walked Between Worlds.
This was a terrific way to binge the series. I was able to read all three novels as though they were one big book, each flowing seamlessly into each other’s narrative.
Charting the journey , through three books,of human sorcerer Dr Kira Aist from a state of deep raging, grieving trauma as she flees Earth and the deaths of those she loved to one of a woman content with her new as one of the few supremely powerful sorcerers and her role in the universe.
While Schwartz has created so many imaginative and fascinating characters and elements here, I have to admit that Kira’s “House” , an enormous sentient black intimidating castle, is one of my favorites. Full of personality, capable of space travel and a “world ender” in offensive combat powers, some of the best scenes and moments occur when the House is involved.
Honestly I could see a cable series with this.
Then there’s a goblin giant war cat (see the cover), and fascinating group of found family of friends that Kira starts to gather around her, and more importantly, a cyborg elf that eventually becomes her partner.
I did have a few notes about the trilogy. The overall theme involves children suffering as well as child deaths. Also brief torture scenes. While the torture scenes aren’t particularly graphic, they’re still emotional scenes. If any of these scenes or elements are triggering, please be warned.
Then finally, Evander, an elf turned into a cyborg without his permission, with devastating consequences, wears “warrior braids “. This is a hairstyle where each braid is one of remembrance, of a fallen brother warrior. That’s an element that is seen by many cultures and traditions.
But Schwartz’ Kira refers to them occasionally as Corn rows, which struck me as odd. Kira’s background is Russian. So this started veering away from warrior braids and into cultural appropriation territory. At least that’s how it felt to me.
Aside from those notes, this is another highly successful and well written trilogy from an author who is an auto-read for me.
No spaceship needed. Kira has a magic, traveling castle.
Pursued by her parents’ killers, Doctor Kira Aist calls on her inheritance as Baba Yaga’s great-granddaughter to create a House and escape Earth.
Plunging into the dangerous mysteries of Reality, she learns what it means to be a rare human sorcerer.
As strangers are drawn to her House, Kira becomes enmeshed in a diabolical plot to destroy Reality.
Who can she trust?
Of her new friends, some seek refuge, others power, and one just wants kitty treats.
In a Reality that includes cyborg elves and goblin space pirates, kobold gossips and dinosaurian scholars, one human doctor must decide the price she’ll pay for justice—and for love.
***
The Uncertain Sanctuary bundle includes three previously published novels:
The House That Walked Between Worlds
House in Hiding
The House That Fought
A high stakes, cozy fantasy that romps across the universe.
I find Casey Blair to be a wildly imaginative writer. She’s incredibly inventive in her ability to craft a variety of detailed magical systems and then have her fantasy characters use those systems their magic. In beautifully plotted scenarios that capture our own imagination and connect us to the universe she’s building.
Liris, the main character and sole voice of the story, is a brilliant desperate woman. She’s been essentially “locked” away for her entire life, trapped into training that’s a literal dead end.
This is the story of her escape. How, by the force of her courage, desperation and self control, moves to change the world. And her magical power.
The other characters, especially the important spellcaster Lord Vhannor, is still a bit of a mystery here. I do wish this had been a two person POV instead. I think that extra character detail and depth of vision would have made this even better.
But there’s so much exploration to lay out and depth of world building to achieve that I could see that a single person perspective would be a good way to achieve that.
The relationship between Liris and Vhannor is fairly quick and straightforward (an example of where the 2-person POV would be helpful) but given Liris’ personality understandable. Also this is a “spicy” book, more so than some of the author’s other works. Yes, there’s sex scenes.
The second story belongs to another character from this book. So this seems to conclude their main romance.
I’m highly recommending this, great plot, fantastic storytelling and a strong woman character.
However, the magical system is a rich mixture of elements that takes time to build up throughout the story and with each character. It’s highly effective but not an aspect that’s rushed.
Looking forward to the next book.
Cover art by Kateryna Vitkovska, 2023.
Cover design by Miblart, 2024.
Hardcase design by Liz Heaven of Raven Pages Design, 2024
Liris has always been too dangerous to be allowed freedom. Now she’s the universe’s only hope.
Liris has been trapped training as an elite spy her whole life. But when her elders try to sacrifice her to further their own interests, she escapes through a secret portal—only to land right in the hands of Lord Vhannor, the most dangerous spellcaster in the universe.
Vhannor has dedicated his life to defending the universe from world-devouring demons, and Liris, with her unique knowledge of an ancient spell language, jeopardizes his mission. But when she uses it to help him close a demonic portal before it can destroy all life in that dimension, he’s forced to acknowledge he needs her by his side.
As they race between dimensions to fight their mutual enemies, they discover a plot that will leave every remaining realm in the universe at the mercy of demons. But to stop it, Liris will have to rely on the man whose icy gaze sees right through her… and when even her own people betrayed her, how can she trust Vhannor to stand by her when she risks the whole universe?
The Sundered Realms is a steamy romantic epic fantasy in a world where being a huge nerd about language makes you incredibly epic at magic. This is an action-packed story about an interdimensional combat ambassador heroine and the most dangerous man in the universe devoting all his attention to making her unstoppable.
The penultimate (so the author says) book in this delightful paranormal romance series, Mae is looking towards tying up several important series storylines by bringing back secondary characters from previous stories. The purpose of which is to connect them together with their soulmate by way of elevating them into main character roles.
Gabriel,the tightly wrapped, overly worked, stressed out Divine Herald, the messenger of the Lord, the Angel of Revelation we’ve known before is now ready for a new path. Mae’s charted a sexy, joyful story for Gabriel here. It’s one of discovery and insight for himself and his afterlife. We feel so happy for him. And his partner.
That’s the demon Leviathan aka Levi , a sea demon/monster who has also made appearances in preceding books. Levi is a sexy tentacled delight of a demon and his development along side his relationship with Gabriel is wonderful to read.
The story also brings in important elements and characters that will help finish off the series in the concluding storylines. I’m really excited to see what this will entail.
Shannon Mae has written a highly entertaining, happy and sexy story. It’s a terrific read and one I’m happy to recommend.
Cover artwork by, Grimm Kat Cover assembly by, Tammy, Aspen Tree E.A.S.
Demonic Disasters and Afterlife Adventures:
Demonic Disasters and Afterlife Adventures: (Paranormal Romance ):
🔷 A Beginner’s Guide to Death, Demons, and Other Afterlife Disasters #1
🔷A Beginner’s Guide to Mistakenly Summoned Demons and Other Misadventures #2
🔷A Beginner’s Guide to Revenge, Chaos, and Other Absurd Escapades #3
🔷A Beginner’s Guide to Ghosts, Fallen Angels, and Other Afterlifers #4
🔷A Beginner’s Guide to Sea Monsters, Messenger Angels, and Other Management Mishaps (Demonic Disasters and Afterlife Adventures #5)
Demonic Disasters and Afterlife Adventures Novellas:
🔷A Beginner’s Guide to Christmas Miracles (A Holiday Novella)
🔷A Beginner’s Guide to the Care and Feeding of Pet Demons
🔷A Beginner’s Guide to Demonic Possessions
Demonic Disasters and
Afterlife Adventures Collections: 🔷Demonic Disasters and Afterlife Adventures Collection 1
Gabriel is the Divine Herald, the messenger of the Lord, the Angel of Revelation… and he’s currently losing ground to social media. (Really, how is he supposed to compete with that ticking app?) When the afterlife’s management team forces him into a “professional development partnership” with a demon, Gabriel is horrified—until he meets Leviathan, a sea monster with tattoos, tentacles, and a knack for helping him connect with mortals.
Levi:
Leviathan has no interest in going back to the underworld. He’d much rather spend his time topside with his octopus sidekick and now, apparently, one very uptight angel. Teaching Gabriel about mortal pleasures—food, coffee, books, and other things (that require less clothes)—is the best adventure Levi’s had in centuries.
But as they both start to enjoy their unexpected partnership, one problem remains: what happens when the leadership team decides the partnership is over? Levi isn’t about to give up his angel, and Gabriel isn’t sure he wants to return to Heaven without his demon.
Tags: Featuring one grumpy angel and one cheery sea monster demon; accidental stroke of genius from the leadership team (very accidental); Mt. Everest is overrated, but mortal coffee is divine; even angels enjoy a good book; Gabriel discovers the joys of food, and other mortal pleasures (wink, wink); Levi has tentacles, and Gabriel definitely approves.
A Pub in the Underworld (The Cozy Abyss #1) by Harmon Cooper was another great find. New terrific author, new entertaining LitRPG adventure story and series to read.
The first book sets up the universe, characters and challenges very quickly. In the beginning of the story Sylas Runewulf , a seasoned warrior, is fighting a losing battle against his kingdom’s old enemy. We’re there on the battlefield, in his mind as it’s all going down. It’s emotional, heartfelt and raw.
It ends with him in the afterlife, in one of the three Realms , and a direct message to head to the town of Ember Hollow and take possession of the town pub.
Sylas meets an Apothecary, Patches a magical pub cat , and starts to form a new life and friends in the afterlife. Even as a threat to his life and new adventures approaches.
It’s well done. For those who aren’t familiar with LitRPG, the game aspect isn’t overly complex or important here. It’s more character driven and storytelling than gameplay oriented.
Those who do enjoy those elements will have plenty to look forward to and appreciate. Characters do level up here.
Absolutely adore Patches. What a fabulous character and all the imagery associated with it makes this story even better. And funnier.
Death is only the beginning for one warrior as he encounters adventure, friendship, and romance in the afterlife in the epic first book of this cozy LitRPG.
There are three levels to the afterlife. The best level is the Celestial Plains at the top. At the bottom is the worst level, known as the Chasm. And in between lies the Underworld. That’s where Sylas Runewulf, a brave soldier who gave all to his kingdom, finds himself after he dies.
Following the guidance of a mysterious blue prompt, Sylas journeys to the town of Ember Hollow to breathe new life into a quaint local pub. Along the way, he meets a clever apothecary named Mira who helps him acclimate to the ins and outs of the realm and Patches, a corpulent cat who’s slightly . . . shall we say, unusual.
Dubbing the pub “The Old Lamplighter,” Sylas hopes it will be a safe haven for other weary souls. Of course, it doesn’t feel that safe when the prompt reappears with a warning: [You have 89 days until the invasion.]
As Sylas works to decipher the troubling message, he faces more challenges, travels far and wide, and befriends wayward demons, magical creatures, and lost warriors. He also builds a community around his humble pub—one that he must soon defend, or they’ll all face a fate much worse than death . . .
Blending fantasy LitRPG with a slice-of-life story about starting over, A Pub in the Underworld is the first adventure in Harmon Cooper’s Cozy Abyss series. Join Sylas and Patches on their charming journey of discovery, friendship, and defense against the unknown in a world where even the smallest decision could shape the fate of a community caught between realms.
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 