Tag: A MelanieM Review

Review: Ghost of Truth (Medium Trouble #2) by Alice Winters

Rating: 2.5

It’s always the second book that seals the deal one way or the other. In this case , it the flag that tells me go no further.

I like Alice Winters. Her books are normally characterized by such great elements like well-developed complicated plots, multi dimensional characters with great chemistry , and snappy intelligent dialogue.

None of which is on display here.

Based on the two books I’ve finished, the series reads like something scribbled off while completing other high priority books. The storylines are plodding. The culprits spotted easily and immediately. And any supposed mystery is so far from some being a surprise that it’s less a revelation, more a eye roll.

But the real issue lies with the main characters.

I had an issue with Hiro in the first story but thought that his lack of communication with his partner and friends had been worked through.

No. Hiro is, apparently, what I term a TSTC character. That’s a To Stupid To Communicate character. A type that’s right up there with the TSTL characters, often they are the same .

Aspects of their personality include a inability to tell anyone around them major plot points that they need to know, often to survive, even though every rational person would do so immediately.

Especially the person closest to them, which proceeds to put that person (and others) at the greatest risk. Duh.

Other elements include running into danger ; for example when you suspect a person , someone who has been acting VERY differently ( like pulling a gun on you) , then asks you to get in the car. You know things like that. Then… not telling or communicating that to anyone!

Yep. TSTC. That’s Hiro. For the entire book.

What does poor Maddox do? Spend the book angry and chasing after him. Plus wondering where he is, because, you know, no communication.

Even the ghosts are irritated with him.

I get that.

At the end, with a miserable sort of pulled together finish to their case which gives no one any satisfaction, the author tries to offer up a hint of a mystery about the final days of a major character. But , to show you how bad this series is, you can already guess the answer and who exactly the bad guys are.

Before that third book is even out! Because everything here is one dimensional, even the mysteries. Nancy Drew would have passed on this one as being too easy.

So if you’re like me and you like this author, I’m not recommending this book or series. There are , imo, far superior series and novels in her library.

Instead head over to her Hitman’s Guide or the fantastic VRC: Vampire Related Crimes series. Her character , Finn, a double amputee, is as engaging and complex as they come.

Medium Trouble series:

✓ Ghost of Lies #1

✓ Ghost of Truth #2

https://www.goodreads.com › showGhost of Truth (Medium Trouble, #2) by Alice Winters – Goodreads

Hiro
When I first realized that I could see the dead, I never imagined that it would allow me to help save the lives of others and pull me into Detective Maddox Booker’s path. Through my ability, ghosts have become some of my greatest friends and allies.

But now, someone’s dead and his ghost is gone. Ghosts have sought my help for my entire life, wanting to be heard, but something is keeping them quiet, almost hostile as our search for the ghost of the dead man leads us to a small village. Even though everything looks normal on the outside, I’m starting to wonder what’s happening on the inside.

Maddox
Life is better than it’s ever been. Hiro’s by my side and has brought my best friend Reggie back into my life—if we can consider Reggie’s harassment (even as a ghost) a positive. And even Hiro’s horde of ghosts won’t keep me from asking him to move in with me. The only issue is that work is never quiet, especially when Hiro is able to dive into a whole new side of a case by speaking to the victims of the dead.

But when someone takes Hiro from me in the middle of the night, I know that I will do absolutely anything to get him back, and I will make them pay for what they’ve done.

Ghost of Truth is full of action, mystery, humor, and romance. Though more is planned for this couple, the mystery is solved and there is a happy ending.

Review: Misfit Mage (Fledgling God #1) by Michael Taggert

Rating: 4.5 🌈

Misfit Mage, the first book in the Fledgling God series by Michael Taggert , is a brutal, vastly entertaining, and imaginative introduction to this new to me author and great universe.

A world where the supernaturals are ruthlessly hunting for power or power sources, with methods brutal, cruel, and often final, those recently awakened to those powers don’t have long to grow into them. Often too weak to survive, they are easy prey , power fodder for those stronger then themselves.

But the mundane world hasn’t a clue such viciousness exists.

Taggert creates one young man about to find out in the worst manner possible, exactly how close the magical world exists to his.

Jason Cole is a survivor. He’s also inventive, amusing, kind, and emotionally a walking soul bruise. His past has left him damaged but scrappy. In short, Jason is someone we can easily connect with.

And we do. Especially as Jason is put through rather a lot. Physically and emotionally. But mostly physically. When I say parts of this book are brutal, I mean it. Jason is attacked and the descriptions are harsh and raw. He takes a real beating. More than once. On the page. So if this is a issue or trigger , be prepared to skip over this section.

What you will delight in? The magic here. Taggert doesn’t just have a character wave a hand … and then there’s magic. Nope!

This author decided to go into the mechanics of his magic, which is fascinating. It’s on a cellular level plus there’s another element that’s tonal. So many outstanding magical threads here. Plus Taggert does so without taking away any of the wonder and awesomeness that makes a urban fantasy so unforgettable.

Taggert gives us matrixes, dancing pink cells, magical flying Grannies with Dustbusters, zooming Red energy Dots with feathers, Miniature Magical Miners, and so much more. It’s incredibly entertaining, vastly amusing, and so inventive that as a reader I’m just waiting to see what Taggert and his characters come up with next!

There’s a found family being established within a sentient House, a foundation of magic and history that’s slowly being rolled out too.

Oh there’s cats and kittens. Kittens are Life. And hugely important as characters. You will adore them, especially one.

It’s almost as though we get a magical cultural smorgasbord in some respects to entertain us. For me it absolutely works. I can envision it and it makes me laugh.

Misfit Mage is primarily concerned with Jason’s intro into his new world and the people that will become his found family. It’s also his first real look at its realities and the enemies he and his friends face.

A harsh new yet amazing world. One that gets steadily better as we advance into the next installment, Melee Mage.

I’m steadfast in my love for this small group of people who are still revealing themselves and growing their powers. So it’s a winner and one I’m definitely recommending!

Fledgling God series:

Misfit Mage #1

Melee Mage #2

https://www.goodreads.com › showFledgling God #1 – Misfit Mage – Goodreads

Synopsis:

He went searching for a fresh start. He didn’t expect to find unusual friends, fierce enemies, and primal powers.

Jason thought that it was the end of his life after being hunted and attacked by a band of ruthless thugs. Instead, he tapped into the source of creation and emerged from his Death Experience with magical powers.

As a new mage, Jason finds himself part of a wonderful – and dangerous – new supernatural world. He also finds himself in the middle of a mage war as he becomes part of an unlikely group of protectors who are defending a mystical mansion from those who want to destroy it.

Jason has little power, and the band of misfits are on the losing side, until he discovers he can see and manipulate magic at a remarkable level. What he detects begins his journey into discovering how his new powers really work, and just might be the edge that they need to survive.

If you like witty dialogue, diverse characters, magic that feels real, and intense action, then you will love this LGBTQ urban fantasy. Buy Misfit Mage today and step into a new enchanted world.

Review: Embers (Scales ‘n’ Spells #5) by A.J. Sherwood and Jocelynn Drake

Rating: 4.5🌈

Embers is the fifth and as far as I can tell, the finale book in the Scales ‘n’ Spells series by A.J. Sherwood and Jocelynn Drake. It’s also my favorite as it’s also the one that feels the most successful In balancing out both sides of the series arc. That of dragons and mages.

Where all the other stories have been mage heavy in their narrative, leaving little space for their dragons to be little other than a story support for the mage it’s focused on, here non-binary mage Nikki and red fire dragon Gunter have equal story time. Gunter’s role in Nikki’s road to trust and healing is well documented as is Nikki’s in Gunter’s re-emergence into dragon society. This partnership and it’s growth, while stated in other novels, is clearly shown in operation here and it makes the book.

In fact, Nikki is one of my favorite characters. I appreciate the care that’s taken by all castle inhabitants to ask what pronouns Nikki wants to use and the hilarious interchange with drunk gender fluid dragon Lir during a party.

That dragons are pansexual and accepting of the spectrum of sexuality is a major theme in the series. The fact that Nikki is non binary and should be treated exactly as everyone else as they see no issues with differences in sexuality or gender is also key. To Nikki’s past ( and other mages treatment from their own clans and families) to the way in which they’ve been valued outside of dragon society.

The authors do a wonderful job with this aspect of their series and this novel. So I was a bit disappointed to see that a line editor missed a crucial error here during the dragon game night scene:

“….dungeon,” called out a familiar voice above the din,

and Nikki had to swallow back his laughter.”

Surely, of all mistakes, something like that should have been caught. When it’s been impressed upon everyone that’s their pronouns are they/them.

There are some very good action scenes, thrilling and suspenseful towards the end where there’s a cinematic fiery battle. But , here’s the thing, do the authors want us to treat this final chapter where there’s multiple injuries, deaths, explosions!

Drama!

But on the flip side … giggling? Some jokes and inconsequential banter. And neither seems to fit particularly well with the other. It’s as though the authors couldn’t decide what atmosphere or overall tone to go for, lighthearted fun or deadly drama, so they did both.

Let’s have sooo many dying…. But I’ll giggle too. Hmmmmm no. If I was the writers, I might have rethought that.

A element I did like? I had wondered previously about the lack of dragon information, background knowledge, including that of the incubators. That bit of knowledge gets filled in here nicely. Babies! And happy endings.

The Scales ‘n’ Spells series was a entertaining urban fantasy series, saving the best til last.

I enjoyed it and will recommend it.

Scales ‘n’ Spells series:

✓ Origins

✓ Breath

✓ Wish: a Novella

✓ Blood

✓ Embers

https://www.goodreads.com › showEmbers (Scales ‘N’ Spells, #4) by A.J. Sherwood – Goodreads

Once upon a time, there was a stunningly gorgeous mage named Nikki.

They were trapped by evil, horrible Jaeggi mages for ten long years until they were rescued by the brave dragon named Gunter.

The grumpy red knight swept in, carrying them off to a fair castle, where they lived happily ever after.

That’s how the story’s supposed to go, anyway. Nikki would really like to have that fairytale ending, please and thank you.

It’s too bad Gunter is oblivious and the Jaeggi are interfering. Nikki may just have to cook up some explosions to help both situations along, because they’re determined to get their happily ever after.

Is there a magic how-to guide on things that go boom?

Tags:
non-binary MC, Grumpy and Sunshine, it’s basically the air we breathe, Gunter needs a hug, Nikki likes to give them, crippling crush at first sight, Nikki has trust issues, for good reason, Nikki’s determined, Gunter is oblivious, mis-used poetry, Alric and Gunter are once again banned from drinking together, ever, schmoop, wall sex, the tongue thing is awesome, all hail Gunter’s tongue, violence, because bad guys, Nikki feels that explosions are an appropriate response to everything, Cameron and Nikki are explosion buddies, Nikki has mixed feelings on high heels, fairytales do come true.

Review: The Enchanter’s Flame (The Ellwood Chronicles #1) by Michele Notaro

Rating: 4.5 🌈

It was a gorgeous cover that drew me to another new fantasy series and new author. It’s glorious colors and outstanding design had me stopping and grabbing the synopsis.

Never underestimate the power of a great cover!

Michele Notaro’s first installment absolutely lives up to that cover! Full of magical characters, a plot full of mystery and murders, and a universe that has a foundation that expands to embrace each new revelation as the story continues.

And it starts so mundanely. With a series of murders and a detective looking for clues to the identity to the serial killer.

That’s our introduction to Det. Sebastian Fitz, ex Special Forces, now a recently transferred Detective who’s been assigned a murder investigation that soon turns into that of multiple murders, with the same weird MO.

Drained blood, tortured victims, and symbolic markings bring Ailin Ellwood, a specialist, into Seb’s case and life.

The story and characters start off slow but as the author builds more of her universe and the characters get more involved in both the investigation and each other, then it starts to come together.

The further I read , the more the characters revealed about themselves, the more I connected with everyone and this story until at parts I was sobbing.

The ending sets up the plots and major conflicts coming for the next story. I’m headed that way.

I’m definitely recommending The Enchanter’s Flame (The Ellwood Chronicles #1) by Michele Notaro. What terrific characters!

The Ellwood Chronicles series:

✓ The Enchanter’s Flame #1

◦ The Witch’s Seal

◦ The Enchanter’s Soul #3

◦ The Witch’s Blood #4

◦ The Enchanter’s Heart #5

◦ The Enchanters New Kids #6

https://www.goodreads.com › showThe Enchanter’s Flame by Michele Notaro – Goodreads

Synopsis:

Strange things are happening all around Brinnswick. Things that remind me of a piece of my past I’d rather forget. Girls are being killed, drained of blood, and left with strange markings on their bodies. When I finally connect the cases together, a specialist is called in—though, what he’s a specialist of is beyond me.

When the chief assigns him as my new partner for the case, I can’t help but groan on the inside. Why of all people would I be assigned to Ailin Ellwood? The man is a disaster waiting to happen and a jerk to boot. A sexy jerk, but a jerk nonetheless.

What will Sebastian think when he discovers Ailin’s specialty? Will he make a run for it or will he stick around and discover a world of magic hidden beneath the city’s surface?

***The Enchanter’s Flame is the first book in the Ellwood Chronicles. It’s a paranormal romance that contains explicit material and is intended for mature adults 18 and over.***

Review: Fluke and the Faultline Fiasco (Fantastic Fluke #3) by Sam Burns

Rating: 5🌈💫

Fluke and the Faultline Fiasco is the penultimate novel in Sam Burns four book Fantastic Fluke series and it’s terrific.

As the author starts to do the arduous task of both ramping up the expectations for the expected magical thrown down and accompanying revelations she also has to start , however slowly, pulling together all the loose plot threads and tidying up her narrative house as it were.

The weight carried by the penultimate story is much like that of the second novel. It’s subtle, often without the shine and glory of the finale, but with huge responsibilities for the characters and plot.

Fluke and the Faultline Fiasco Carrie’s that weight with ease, bringing new information on our main characters magical abilities to light as well as delving deep into the past that created both their ancestry and the dire issues they all face currently.

It does so through action packed scenes, quiet moments of reflection, and quirky communal times spent eating pizza amidst laughter and love. It shows us found family at its most supportive and it’s ability to continue to grow and connect to allow others within its warm embrace.

I’ve come to absolutely love this group of beings, people, familiars, mages, what have you. What a remarkable family of well defined individuals Burns has created for us to love and connect with.

And a plot that seems to want to transcend both time and realities, if the Convergence has anything to say about it.

It’s hard to believe the author has chosen to end this series at four novel. I could easily have spent a shelf of stories here.

The next will be out in February 2022. Until then I absolutely recommend reading this entire series in the order they are written for characters growth and plot development.

That cover like all the rest is astonishing.

The Fantastic Fluke Series -4 of 4:

✓ The Fantastic Fluke #1

✓ Fluke and the Failthless Father #2

✓ Fluke and the Faultline Fiasco #3

◦ Fluke and the Frontier Farce #4 – coming in February 2022

https://www.goodreads.com › showFluke and the Faultline Fiasco by Sam Burns – Goodreads

Synopsis:

When an earthquake shakes up Sage’s night, his instinct is to forget about it. They live in California—quakes happen. But this one sends the consciousness that lives in the ley lines running to him in fear, so he and his gunslinger boyfriend set out to investigate. What they uncover is a century-old plot to destroy not only the ley lines, but the city of Junction itself.

Now, they’re in a race against an unknown adversary who wants to annihilate everything they love, and the only man with the answers is Sage’s long-dead Uncle Jonathon. Good thing they only have to read his journals, not deal with the insufferable jerk in person.

Between a heist to steal a magic artifact, Uncle Jonathon’s bigoted ramblings, and one surprise after another from his allies, can Sage find what he needs to save Junction?

Fluke and the Faultline Fiasco is third in its series, so if you haven’t read a Fluke book before, you should definitely start with book one, The Fantastic Fluke. The Faultline Fiasco is a 65k word novel that follows the continuing adventures of Sage, Fluke, Gideon, and their whole family, as they try to save the world. Or at least Southern California..

Review: Blood(Scales ‘n’ Spells (#4) by A.J. Sherwood and Jocelynn Drake

Rating: 4 🌈✨

Blood, book 4 in A.J. Sherwood and Jocelynn Drake’s Scales ‘n’ Spells series, feels like the first story that brings both sides of the mage/dragon union into the tale as equal partners.

Here we get Sora’s full background and family history that folds in with mages as a whole. It’s interesting and a perspective the reader is well familiar with.

Along side the mage pov, is Ravi, the blue Wind Dragon that was adopted during the War by the Burkhard Clan. In the previous stories, the dragons have had or told less about themselves in each book versus the amount of space given their mates.

In Blood , both Sora and Ravi have equal time, narratively speaking. Probably because Ravi’s unusual past makes him a more noteworthy subject for a bigger share of the story. And he does well by it.

This is also a bigger book dramatically in terms of widening the scope of the themes and arc storytelling. Let’s just say the cast gets much bigger almost overnight!

I adore the impulsive Ravi and find the more responsible Sora a treat as well as a great compliment to him. The chemistry works.

I enjoy this series and story for its entertainment value. Plus dragons!

However, the new big plot elements also left a few equally noticeable plot holes. Ones at least large enough I thought several small dragons could fly through.

It’s hard to explain without giving the entire plot and storyline revelations away but the use of the impulsive (and young) Ravi to go chase after, boo hisss, the bad guys?

It’s something that strikes me as merely the authors ploy to raise the drama quotient from point A to point W, not because it makes any logical sense when looking at all the characters and story components the authors just laid down.

That’s frustrating because surely another way could have been found around all that. Sigh. Plot caverns make me crazy.

What this story does right? A gorgeous bonding ceremony that again was lacking in previous novels. It was moving and magical. Lovely.

I found Blood and Ravi and Sora to be a winner. Might be my favorite yet of the series.

I’m recommending it to all those who enjoy dragons and fantasy.

Scales ‘n’ Spells series:

✓ Origins

✓ Breath

✓ Wish: a Novella

◦ Blood

◦ Embers

https://www.goodreads.com › showBlood (Scales ‘N’ Spells, #3) by A.J. Sherwood | Goodreads

Synopsis:

Secret identities are hard to keep.

Sora finds this to be doubly true after meeting the struggling Burkhard Clan and the mischievous Ravi. The wind dragon has stolen his breath, and heart, away. Sora suspects he might have found his mate. 

But his inability to be truthful with Ravi eats at Sora. When the Jaeggi attack, Sora can’t keep his secrets any longer. Not when Ravi is in the center of the war raging around them.

He has to reveal who he really is. It’s the only way to be with Ravi and give the Burkhards the help they need.

Sora’s secret could tip the scales to save them all. 

Tags: 

There’s tropes, and then there’s this book, Ravi has impulse issues, in Ravi’s defense he was left unsupervised, you’re only in trouble if you get caught, secret identity, only Ravi could have a meet-cute like this, Ravi attempts romance, it’s bad, no its really really bad, thank god for it, bored mages get into stuff, mothers with an agenda, hurt/comfort, somehow the comfort part involves tacos, Ravi is a corruptive influence, Sora is a willing corruptee, chaos incarnate, protective mate, bad guys ramp it up to the next level, Sora has an ace up his sleeve, and is not afraid to use it, Bat-Ravi

Review: Fluke and the Faithless Father (Fantastic Fluke #2) by Sam Burns

Rating: 5 🌈💫

After reading The Fantastic Fluke I had to immediately go to the next in the series to see what happens next. Imagine how surprised I was to find this (and probably all the other books) flow seamlessly from one to another.

The beginning here is exactly the last paragraphs of the ending of the first book so the narrative continues perfectly, picking up where the events left everyone evaluating how to go forward.

All the characters I have gotten to love, and a few I despise, are back. The interpersonal relationships are deepening. And the character growth and magical revelations just connect me even more closely with mage Sage McKinley, and his incredible found family that includes his cowboy mage (former ghost) boyfriend Gideon, his fabulous mage grandmother Iris McKinley and her staff/family as well as Rufus her familiar, Sage’s BFF and store partner Beez, Freddy, and last but never ever least … the amazing familiar Fluke the fox! Unfortunately there’s still Sage’s dads who are both a huge part of this story.

Both of them had enormous roles in damaging and traumatizing Sage, a element that has continued into the present. His biological father has remained in the bookstore Sage inherited, albeit in ghostly form, to taunt him daily, not content to have been just a miserable, horrible father to Sage while living.

The man Sage had loved and thought of as his real father and family, until he watched him murder his mother, is behind bars, convicted of the same murder that almost took Sage’s life too. And left him traumatized.

Both men and Sage’s past return here with real emotional impact.

I love found family stories and Burns is building a remarkable one while crafting a urban fantasy arc full of magic and mystery and quite a few murders.

Throw in how much damage a parent can inflict on a child’s personality by abuse, neglect, or, stunningly, unforeseen betrayal and murder, as Burns gives us a heartbreaking portrait of damaged adolescence and survival. And not just Sage’s.

Fluke and The Faithless Father is such a great story because of perseverance and strength and even grace shown by those under such awful conditions here. And the way in which they all triumph as they head to the next challenges.

It made me want to go back to the beginning and meet them all again, to see what I may have missed, recapture their wonderful spirits, before we head onto the next step.

I can already tell this is a journey I’ll want to take again with this remarkable family.

I’m highly recommending this book and series.

Again, a glorious cover.

The Fantastic Fluke Series:

✓ The Fantastic Fluke #1

✓ Fluke and the Faithless Father #2

◦ Fluke and the Faultline Fiasco #3

◦ Fluke and the Frontier Farce #4 – coming in 2022

https://www.goodreads.com › showFluke and the Faithless Father by Sam Burns – Goodreads

Synopsis:

After escaping a murderer and resurrecting his boyfriend, Sage figures he deserves a little time to recover.

Unfortunately, life is rarely fair.

So instead of a break, he gets to deal with a magical law enforcement rookie asking uncomfortable questions about his brush with death. The quaesitor is acting downright suspicious. Or is it suspiciously?

Things go from awkward to dangerous when the man who murdered Sage’s mother is released from prison, and soon after there’s a break-in at the bookstore. The situation escalates so fast that Sage is afraid he’s going to end up with whiplash. Or worse, end up dead. He wanted a break, but not a permanent one.

Fluke and the Faithless Father is a direct sequel to The Fantastic Fluke, and should not be read first. It is an ~85k word novel that follows the continuing adventures of Sage, Fluke, Gideon, and their whole family, found and otherwise.

Review: The Fantastic Fluke by Sam Burns

Rating: 5🌈💫

The first in a series, The Fantastic Fluke is another one of those magical tales that author Sam Burns writes so beautifully.

From the opening sentence and our introduction to mage Sage McKinley, we have an immediate understanding of this man’s current situation, his thoughts on his past, his present predicament, even his self image. It’s intimate and concise. And it serves as both a foundation and way to connect the reader emotionally to Sage.

How could it not? Then we get thrown further afterwards as it gets more evidenced that this story is firmly bound to the magical world by ghosts, mages, familiars and murders most supernatural!

Not all the great characters are human, some are delightfully foxy! Or ghostly! Burns has built this story around multiple magical murder mysteries (alliteration is not a key), fantastic layered characters, and a romance.

The story is so well plotted that it moves along smoothly, all the elements coming together at the end for a perfect “aha” revelation or two!

I was just captivated the entire story. Whether it was Sage’s ghastly adolescence, the trauma he endured, or his future path that was happening , whether he wanted it or not. Magic was coming for him.

The Fantastic Fluke is just the first of The Fantastic Fluke series by Sam Burns. I can’t wait to read on and see where this journey takes Sage and his companions.

I’m highly recommending this. And the author, Sam Burns.

And btw? That cover is gorgeous! Love it.

The Fantastic Fluke Series:

✓ The Fantastic Fluke #1

◦ Fluke and the Failthless Father #2

◦ Fluke and the Faultline Fiasco #3

◦ Fluke and the Frontier Farce #4 – coming in 2022

https://www.goodreads.com › showThe Fantastic Fluke #1 – Goodreads

Synopsis:

A lost fox. A gorgeous ghost. And an unlikely partnership to stop a murderer.

Since his mother’s murder, Sage McKinley doesn’t live, he exists. His weak magic has made him an outcast, shadowing his life with self-doubt. All that changes when the spirit of a gunslinger appears in his bookstore with a message that will flip Sage’s world upside down. According to the mesmerizing apparition, a powerful magic lies within Sage… if he can find a way to tap into it.

But dastardly threats accompany this untapped power. Bodies are piling high as a killer hunts for the secrets of the mage that now course through Sage’s veins. Can Sage find the confidence to embrace all he’s capable of? Or will the next life snuffed out be his own?

Review: O Hell, All Ye Shoppers by Louisa Masters

Rating: 3.5🌈⛄️

A slightly revamped edition of a short story Louisa Masters released in 2017, O Hell, All Ye Shoppers is a meet cute, sexy holiday romance.

Everything happens quickly, from the “meet cute” to the idea that they are ideal for each other to the ending.

A holiday Bonbon you partake of before settling in with a more fulfilling meal of a novel.

If a cute holiday contemporary Is on your menu, this might just be your choice.

See how Ethan Hall plans to fill Saturday….

http://mmgoodbookreviews.com › o…O Hell, All Ye Shoppers by Louisa Masters – MM Good Book Reviews

Ethan Hall plans to fill Saturday, December 23, with junk food and bad TV, a day just for him amid the holiday chaos… until his baby sister calls and begs him to go collect a present for her. At the biggest shopping center in Australia. On the busiest shopping day of the year. Hell no. Right?
Ethan’s soft heart gets the best of him. He battles through the parking lot, and in the main shopping concourse, he’s trampled, elbowed, and bombarded with terrible holiday music. Then he enters hell itself, a specialty store aimed at women… where he meets Ty. They bond in a sea of estrogen and manic shoppers, fighting together to attain freedom, only to find they’re not quite ready go their separate ways.

This novella was originally published in 2017. Some scenes have been revamped and an epilogue has been added.

Review: The Fix Is In (Torus Intercession #4) by Mary Calmes

Rating: 3.5🌈

The Fix Is In is the fourth book in Mary Calmes’ Torus Investigations series and it’s probably my least favorite of the group to date.

Surprisingly because this one sort of breaks a number of patterns set out in all the previous novels and it includes a circle of friends and support characters that I really got into.

Shaw James, seventh son of a seventh Scottish son and Torus fixer, has been handed a new case from his boss’ idea of helping people who can’t normally afford their expensive services by doing pro bono work on a selective basis.

His new assignment involves rainy Oregon, and a paranormal investigator that someone seems to feel might be in danger.

The character of Shaw James is splendid . He’s not what I term a typical Calmes golden boy but I do love the character traits she gave him and the personality as well as family history that makes Shaw so interesting and attractive. He’s terrific and incredibly likable immediately.

The small town he arrives at feels realistically sodden and uncomfortable (I’d leave). And the towns citizens are what I’d expect of some of the Pacific Northwest small townships…quirky, interesting, a patchwork of humanity. Calmes really does a excellent job here in getting a feel for life as in this area and it’s people.

Even the investigations into the potential “ghostly scares” that the other main character, Benjamin Grace and tiny crew, are inquiring about, are done with equal amounts of respect, seriousness, and a smidge of humor.

So my issue? Sigh. It’s that for the majority of the story, I felt that Benjamin Grace is or was an absolute dunderhead. A twit of the biggest proportions! Honestly, there were so many times I just wanted to smack him myself. The man was as clueless as can be. A kindergartner would have glommed onto the facts around him, seen the lightbulb going off over his head, and not been a total nit about things! And not once did any of the supposedly sane people around him, at any time, ever speak up and announce “Benjamin Grace, you great doofus, that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard or seen anyone ever do or utter outside of a Adam Sandler movie. “!!!!

He withholds important information from everyone all the time!

Outside of Monty Python, when did idiocy become so attractive?

Good thing everyone and everything is so good that I worked overtime to ignore Benny there. He’s not even one of the typical “golden boys” but a cousin. Many, many …… many times removed.

Trust me, Benjamin is a character I feel just didn’t work. Why even write a character this dim?

Calmes does break a pattern here with her formula for the series which makes me think she’s setting up her next novel in the series and it’s couple.

Needed to get them out and away.

I look forward to that one.

I’ve enjoyed this series and if you’re a Mary Calmes fan, I know you have too. I’ve listed the series below in case you’ve missed any. Check them out.

Torus Intercession series:

No Quick Fix #1

In A Fix #2

Fix It Up #3

The Fix Is In #4

https://www.goodreads.com › showThe Fix Is In (Torus Intercession, #4) by Mary Calmes – Goodreads

How can a man who doesn’t believe in things that go bump in the night possibly protect a man who does?

It’s safe to say that Shaw James is a pragmatist who has no patience for anything but the facts. He is good at assessing threats and focusing on a clear objective when he goes out on a job for Torus Intercession. But he hasn’t had to be a detective before, it’s all brand new, so why his boss chose him to figure out who may, or may not, be trying to kill Benjamin Grace is beyond him. Protecting a paranormal investigator from whoever—or whatever—may be trying to kill him is completely out of Shaw’s wheelhouse, and how is he supposed to help find an attacker when the guy he’s sent to protect maintains that the threat is ghostly in origin? It’s insane, and Shaw does not do insane. Benjamin Grace is going to be a problem.

But Benji is nothing at all like Shaw imagined he’d be, and the fixer is spellbound from their first meeting. Benji is kind and can laugh at himself, doesn’t take things too seriously, and, more than anything, he wants to help everyone. The man is inarguably Shaw’s polar opposite, and he brings out every protective instinct in Shaw. Best of all, though, is that Benji seems every bit as enchanted by the man sent to protect him.

Together, Benji and Shaw must work to figure out what’s happening in the small town of Rune, Oregon, and it quickly proves more difficult than it should be to keep Benji alive. When it goes from difficult to seemingly impossible, Shaw packs Benji up and takes him back home to Chicago where the most frightening thing is Shaw’s own big, loud, loving, and overly-invested-in-his-love-life family who can’t seem to resist meddling in his affairs.

Or not. Turns out the scariest thing might just be Benji, the guy who seems perfect for Shaw.