Tag: no spice romance

Review: A Tale of Secrets and Sorcery by Vanessa Nelson 

Rating: 3.75⭐️

I enjoyed this new fantasy adventure novel by Vanessa Nelson and feel it’s got some wonderful elements to it. 

But after reading it, it feels very much like a prequel or half of a story for a larger version. The characters, the concept and overall powers here as laid out are intriguing. But in the scenes where,especially Evie’s magic is revealed in marvelous detail, the promise of increasing potential for her as “the most powerful sorceress” that he’s known to have any impact here never happens. 

Even those gremlins, a fantastic asset to Evie and a element that I wanted to know more about, from their magical abilities to their backgrounds, their futures were left unanswered by the ending, a rushed finale that begged for a sequel. 

But back to the main characters, Evie the magical librarian and Lord Fentemann, Barnaby, on a secret mission from his Queen. Evie’s got a great backstory and she’s totally believable in this fantasy. My issue here is that we get constant scenes where we’re watching Evie, along with the gremlins, bring alive fantastical legendary landscapes from descriptions in ancient tomes she and Barnaby are researching from . Where’s more of this in the story? More of her powers and her abilities here? This is what I want as a reader. 

Even Barnaby, who is supposed to be a high level magician, isn’t shown any of the scenes to be that powerful. The characters are interesting enough but not entirely credible. Except for Evie and the gremlins. 

The plot is very good. And its elements of an ancient earth based religion that’s been upended holds more promise than was satisfied by the storyline’s ending. Again, no real finish to the multi plots and characters. 

It just ends with everyone just leaving to different paths with no resolution to the many different journeys of this novel. What happened to the Druids? The gremlins? The enemy? 

And spoiler, that rushed romance and instant marriage felt less like a real believable event between two people and more like a plot device needed to bring the story to a close. 

That is a shame. Because the beginning of this book is very different, layered and well done. Unlike the ending which feels rushed, unbalanced and unsatisfying. 

So much potential for a sequel to set this right. 

Interesting though. 

Buy link

Amazon.comhttps://www.amazon.comA Tale of Secrets and Sorcery eBook : Nelson, Vanessa

Blurb 

One librarian, one sorcerer, and a whole lot of trouble.

Evie has been doing her best to lead a quiet, unremarkable life, working her job as a librarian at one of the largest libraries in the world amid a collection of magical books and magical creatures that delight in causing mischief. She dreams of adventure even as she struggles to hide her magical abilities in a kingdom that executes rogue sorcerers. When a chance encounter leads to her secret being uncovered, Evie finds herself in the middle of a greater adventure than she could ever have imagined.

Lord Fentemann – Barnaby to his few friends – has been charged by his Queen with a special, dangerous and vital task. Already annoyed at having to travel to the kingdom to carry out research in the library, worse is to come when he is forced to go on the run. Someone doesn’t want Barnaby to succeed in his mission.

Thrown together, Evie and Barnaby realise that their best chance of survival is working together.

Can Evie and Barnaby work together to stay ahead of the Queen’s enemies and complete the mission not just for the Queen but possibly the whole world?

Review: Veil of Doom (Wicked Witches of Cauldron Hollow #7) by Sara Bourgeois 

Rating: 4⭐️

Veil of Doom was good but left too many questions about the plot and characters to be a really fully executed story. It just feels rushed.

It starts with everyone getting ready for Blythe to be walked down the aisle at her wedding.  Last minute preparations are getting underway, everyone is there. Blythe’s best friend, Paine’s family is there and Adelma Stonehart, matriarch and head witch is acting uncharacteristically giving and gentle. 

But soon there’s screaming and someone has been murdered. Adelma Stoneheart herself. And the wedding is over before it’s begun. 

Trust the author to throw a twist right at the beginning. Adelma started the series as a sort of enemy/frenemy to Blythe or at least to her previous family members. But Adelma has slowly become more welcoming and supportive towards Blythe, especially after Blythe has become a close friend to her granddaughter.  So to see Adelma murdered at the beginning was a shocker.

And then comes even more twists of events. One right after another. 

No spoilers but there’s new characters. A resolution, of sorts, to an ongoing question about the house. And frankly, more questions raised than are answered here by the storylines. 

It’s too fast paced to make sense and feel satisfying. It feels rushed, especially at the end. 

It left me feeling like ok that happened, now where’s the rest of it? 

And I didn’t get it.  And we usually do .

So it’s a good or interesting storyline but not the best. 

I’m looking forward to the next one to see what happens and if we get our questions answered. 

A wild ride to be sure. 

Wicked Witches of Cauldron Hollow (4 book series)

If the Hat Fits #1

Under The Hat #2

Hat Out of Spell #3

Hat Trick #4 

Bear Many Hats #5

Drop of a Hat #6 

Veil of Doom #7 

Hats off To Boo #8 – Oct 31,2026

The Hat Before Christmas #9 – Dec 23,2026

Buy link

Review: Veil of Doom (Wicked Witches of Cauldron Hollow #7) by Sara Bourgeois 

Rating: 4⭐️

Veil of Doom was good but left too many questions about the plot and characters to be a really fully executed story. It just feels rushed.

It starts with everyone getting ready for Blythe to be walked down the aisle at her wedding.  Last minute preparations are getting underway, everyone is there. Blythe’s best friend, Paine’s family is there and Adelma Stonehart, matriarch and head witch is acting uncharacteristically giving and gentle. 

But soon there’s screaming and someone has been murdered. Adelma Stoneheart herself. And the wedding is over before it’s begun. 

Trust the author to throw a twist right at the beginning. Adelma started the series as a sort of enemy/frenemy to Blythe or at least to her previous family members. But Adelma has slowly become more welcoming and supportive towards Blythe, especially after Blythe has become a close friend to her granddaughter.  So to see Adelma murdered at the beginning was a shocker.

And then comes even more twists of events. One right after another. 

No spoilers but there’s new characters. A resolution, of sorts, to an ongoing question about the house. And frankly, more questions raised than are answered here by the storylines. 

It’s too fast paced to make sense and feel satisfying. It feels rushed, especially at the end. 

It left me feeling like ok that happened, now where’s the rest of it? 

And I didn’t get it.  And we usually do .

So it’s a good or interesting storyline but not the best. 

I’m looking forward to the next one to see what happens and if we get our questions answered. 

A wild ride to be sure. 

Wicked Witches of Cauldron Hollow (4 book series)

If the Hat Fits #1

Under The Hat #2

Hat Out of Spell #3

Hat Trick #4 

Bear Many Hats #5

Drop of a Hat #6 

Veil of Doom #7 

Hats off To Boo #8 – Oct 31,2026

The Hat Before Christmas #9 – Dec 23,2026

Buy link

Blurb 

You didn’t think there would be a wedding without a murder, did you?

Blythe Fairfield is finally getting her happy ending.

The dress fits. There’s a groom waiting. Even the cat is wearing a bow tie.

Then someone dies at her wedding.

Adelma Stonehart, matriarch of one of Cauldron Hollow’s oldest witch families, is found murdered before Blythe can complete her vows. By morning, most of the town has forgotten. Blythe can’t.

Nobody said “I do” yet. But somebody’s going to answer for this.

September 8, 2026

Language

‎English

Book 7 of 9

Wicked Witches of Cauldron Hollow

Blurb 

You didn’t think there would be a wedding without a murder, did you?

Blythe Fairfield is finally getting her happy ending.

The dress fits. There’s a groom waiting. Even the cat is wearing a bow tie.

Then someone dies at her wedding.

Adelma Stonehart, matriarch of one of Cauldron Hollow’s oldest witch families, is found murdered before Blythe can complete her vows. By morning, most of the town has forgotten. Blythe can’t.

Nobody said “I do” yet. But somebody’s going to answer for this.

September 8, 2026

Language

‎English

Book 7 of 9

Wicked Witches of Cauldron Hollow

Review: Appraised for Murder: A Humorous Small Town Cozy Mystery (The Antiquated Alibi Mysteries Book 1) by Beatrix Penrose 

Rating: 4⭐️

This is the beginning of a new small town cozy mystery series by Beatrix Penrose and I think it’s off to a good start.

Appraised For Murder’s central character is a somewhat recently widowed woman, Maggie Callahan,  (it’s been two years), whose children are in college. Maggie returns to the small town of Black Walnut Cove, buys a big barn and opens an antique store/estate liquidators shop with her best friend, Birdie in the Blue Ridge Mountains, called Callahan & Co.

In Black Walnut Cove,  Maggie Callahan, along with Birdie Jenkins, the v neighbor shop owner Luke Sterling, and her golden retriever, Buster take on daily challenges and the occasional murder mystery. It’s a cozy, with a non spicy romance , small town murder mystery story. 

I enjoyed so much about this. The community was captured by the author so well, that of an Appalachia Mountain town and culture, layered over with antiques and other knowledge about its citizens and history.  All woven together in a story both about Maggie, a widow in her 50’s starting over in a town where she raised her children, old memories and a new future. 

Birdie, her best friend and co-owner of  Callahan & Co is absolutely one of my favorite characters. She’s real, hilarious, intelligent and one of the best things about the story. The murder mystery is also a good one, although I thought it was a little muddled towards the end. 

The romance between Maggie and Luke is almost nonexistent, he brings her pie, or coffee. There’s a kiss. That’s it. I didn’t see any chemistry between them. For me, it could have been left out and it wouldn’t have mattered. 

Buster the golden retriever is a cute element to the story and characters. 

One last thing, Maggie, Birdie and Luke do a lot of investigating here and the Sheriff’s department is mentioned. But when do they actually interact with each other? Turn over actual evidence? That whole thread or aspect to the narrative is missing and it doesn’t make sense to leave it out.

Appraised for Murder is a good start to Beatrix Penrose’s new series and I’m excited to see what the next book takes it. 

Cover Design is exactly what I expect from this author. Terrific. 

The Antiquated Alibi Mysteries:

Appraised for Murder #1

Poisoned by Provenance #2 

Buy link

 Book 1 of 2: The Antiquated Alibi Mysteries 

Blurb 

A picturesque Blue Ridge mountain town, an empty-nester starting over, and an antique appraiser who just valued his last settee…

Fifty-two-year-old widow Maggie Callahan thought she had her second act figured out. Running Callahan & Company Estate Liquidations out of a restored apple warehouse gave her purpose, steady work, and just enough room to keep her grief at bay. 

With her sharp-tongued best friend Birdie running client relations and her affable, treat-obsessed golden retriever Buster greeting customers, life in Black Walnut Cove was peaceful.

Then came the estate sale of the century.

Blackwood Manor is an eighty-room Victorian stone estate overflowing with three generations of hoarded family heirlooms. But before Maggie can even catalog the parlor furniture, an arrogant high-profile appraiser from Atlanta storms in, loudly threatens her business, and attempts to declare a rare 1820s Moravian cherrywood secretary worthless junk.

Hours later, the appraiser is found dead in the carriage house—bludgeoned with an antique brass balance scale.

With the sheriff eyeing her as a prime person of interest and two predatory out-of-town heirs circling like vultures, Maggie must team up with handsome salvage carpenter Luke Sterling to uncover what the victim was really hunting. When Buster sniffs out clues to a hidden 1845 mountain covenant, Maggie realizes someone is willing to kill to keep a century of land swindles buried in the dust.

Can Maggie decode the clues and unmask the killer before Blackwood Manor is sealed for good—or will Callahan & Company become the next liquidated asset?

Appraised for Murder is the first full-length novel in the charming Antiquated Alibi Mysteries series. If you love witty banter, small-town mountain secrets, lovable canine sidekicks, and clever mature sleuths, you’ll feel right at home in Black Walnut Cove!

Includes clean romance, no graphic gore, and no profanity. Grab your copy and start reading today!

September 5, 2026

Language

‎English

Print length

225 pages

Book 1 of 2

The Antiquated Alibi Mysteries

Review: Virtual Games (The Digital Detective Mystery Series Book 5) by P.L. Matthews 

Rating: 4.5⭐️

Although it’s not specifically mentioned, Virtual Games brings The Digital Detective Mystery Series to a happy ending where all the characters have moved forward in their lives, growing up in some ways and developing new relationships and friendships, finding new powers and potential partners. 

And it happens in a very surprising way. With Vampire Games and visits from characters from an another Matthews series, the Green Witch. Those who have read this series will love this crossover element. I haven’t and it will likely send me there to see what it is about. 

But the story here has more than enough to keep a reader engaged. Several plots, an interesting murder mystery included that brings back part of Skye’s past and an old college painful memory. 

Matthews balances the needs of Skye and Seb’s relationship to move forward along with those of the other characters, as well as the individual characters whose personalities and powers continue to be developed by the events and storyline.

It’s a dynamic narrative, one that’s so powerful and jammed with interesting elements and characters that it leaves room for additional drama and stories even though it’s a satisfying finale as well. We want more but are happy with this too. 

Perhaps Matthews will pick up this universe with the sister, Zephyra’s story. That would make sense and for great storytelling.

Very entertaining and engaging. I even liked Bob finally!

The Digital Detective Mystery Series (5 book series):

Murder By Code #1

Fatal Error #2

Kill Switch #3

Storm Signal #4

Virtual Games #5

Buy link

        Virtual Games: A Digital Detective Mystery (The Digital Detective Mystery Series Book 5)

    

Blurb 

Level up… or get eliminated. Permanently.

Skye Sanders, tech mage extraordinaire, is on the trail of a hit-and-run—only to discover it’s tangled up with the infamous Vampire Games.

Her boyfriend Seb’s invitation to “help from the sidelines” quickly becomes a front-row seat to sabotage. The Games test skill, strength, and cunning. Physical gauntlets, brain-bending riddles, and the occasional death-defying stunt are fair play.

With rival teams closing in and tensions simmering hotter than Sydney in January, Skye must unravel a sabotage trail before it claims its next victim. But in a contest where every competitor guards secrets like treasure and alliances shift faster than a server crash, even her sharpest code might not be enough to keep everyone alive—least of all Seb, who’s squarely in the crosshairs.

The stakes are literal. And losing? Not an option.

If you enjoy urban-fantasy mysteries with magic, humour, and a clever heroine—think books by Patricia Briggs, Hailey Edwards, Heather G. Harris, Annette Marie, or Kim Harrison—Virtual Games should be right up your alley.

Publication date

December 17, 2025

Language

‎English

Print length

358 pages

Book 5 of 5

The Digital Detective Mystery Series

Review: Storm Signal (The Digital Detective Mystery Series Book 4) by P.L. Matthews 

Rating: 4.5⭐️

Storm Signal is the book where it all starts to come together. Characters that I wasn’t crazy about get their redemption, main characters get deeper background information and more importantly, they are more detailed in their powers and emotional development.

A growth for the series and characters that will continue through the next novel. 

As with all the novels of this series, Storm Signal picks up on the cliffhanger of the last story with the entrance of Skye’s older sister, Zephyra, back into her life and city of Sydney. Of course, bringing with her chaos, mystery, murder, and old family painful memories for Skye.

Storm Signal weaves multiple storylines with great success. Matthews gives us insight into the Fae political system along with some very important revelations about main characters. By the end of the book, several characters have made progress in their respective relationships, like Seb and Skye whose journey together is a major part of the book.  New ones are also being established also alongside others already underway.

I throughly enjoyed this book. The plots were highly entertaining, the characters were great and the relationships between each other engaging and believable.

A real winner. 

The Digital Detective Mystery:

Murder By Code #1

Fatal Error #2

Kill Switch #3

Storm Signal #4

Virtual Games #5

Buy link

        Storm Signal: A Digital Detective Mystery (The Digital Detective Mystery Series Book 4)

    

Blurb 

Trouble runs in the family

Skye hasn’t seen her sister Zephyra since she left Fairyland to live on Earth with Grandma and Grandpa. But now Zephyra’s back—blowing into town like a cyclone on a mission. Literally.

The police are on her trail, there’s a murder, and sibling rivalry? Yeah, that’s about to reach new heights. 

Skye’s tech magic and Zephyra’s wild air magic don’t exactly blend.

Enter Skye’s vampire boyfriend, Seb—brooding, mysterious—and Fred, her charming, sarcastic best friend with a knack for trouble. The two don’t see eye to eye. Not that they’re jealous of each other over Skye… right?

With the storm building—both magical and emotional—the sisters will have to figure out how to work together to clear Zephyra’s name. But as tech and air collide in a whirlwind of trouble, the real question is: can they solve the case before they throttle each other first?

date

September 9, 2025

Language

‎English

Print length

368 pages

Book 4 of 5

The Digital Detective Mystery Series

Humorous fantasy, amateur sleuth mystery, urban fantasy mystery , women sleuths, no spi

Review: Kill Switch (The Digital Detective Mystery Series Book 3) by P.L. Matthews

 

Rating: 4.25⭐️

Kill Switch brings in new players and adds depth of knowledge to those who are already familiar to the reader. In this case, the focus is on Dina. 

From the formula Matthews has set up for her series, each novel ends with a cliffhanger that starts off the following storyline. We know from Fatal Error that Dina’s gone missing when her younger sister shows up at Skye’s townhouse asking for help. 

This event sets up multiple scenarios and plots, several interesting investigations, new characters are introduced and reveals of potential relationships as well.

Matthews packs a lot into the book. 

I wish she’d give us more details about the social structure and hierarchies of naiad culture because that’s pertinent information here. It feels glossed over. 

Other things that take away from a higher rating are discussion of the power of the mages. Whether it’s a tech mage or metal mage, what Skye or Jimmy are capable of or where they pull their power from isn’t entirely clear. That’s frustrating. 

The circle of found friends is an engaging group, however one like Fred keeps being a red flag with his jealousy, unexplained bigotry towards vampires and overall “smarmy” behavior. Perhaps the author has some sort of storyline in mind for this. Next to Bob, he remains the least connectable personality here. 

Kill Switch is a terrific urban fantasy mystery, one that is suspense filled and packed with action and great characters. 

Easy to binge read too. 

No spice romance.

I really like the changeup in cover. Terrific work. More suitable for the character in every aspect of her life.

The Digital Detective Mystery:

Murder By Code #1

Fatal Error #2

Kill Switch #3

Storm Signal #4

Virtual Games #5

Buy link

        Kill Switch: A Digital Detective Mystery (The Digital Detective Mystery Series Book 3)

    

Blurb 

72 Hours. Time is running out.

Skye Sanders, tech mage extraordinaire, can debug a corrupted hard drive in her sleep, but flipping pancakes? Total catastrophe. And as for people stuff? Let’s not even go there.

When her friend’s sister turns up announcing Dina’s missing, Skye drops everything to help.

Something’s not right at the hospital where Dina works, and the clues are as scarce as a working printer when you need one. Armed with two bickering teens, a sarcastic magpie and her parkour crew, Skye is determined to find Dina before it’s too late.

But when her vampire boyfriend (or beau, as Seb insists) shows up, tensions rise—especially with her best friend Fred.

Skye needs a mediator and a dose of luck. The clock is ticking.

Note: While part of a series, Kill Switch can be read as a standalone mystery — written in Australian English and set in the magic city of Sydney.

If you enjoy books by K M Shea, Heather G. Harris and Kim Harrison, then you’ll love this riveting urban fantasy story with a touch of humour and romance.

date

June 11, 2025

Language

‎English

Print length

356 pages

Book 3 of 5

The Digital Detective Mystery Series

Review: Fatal Error (The Digital Detective Mystery Series Book 2) by P.L. Matthews

 

Rating: 4.25⭐️

Fatal Error, the second in The Digital Detective Mystery series about a neurodivergent fae tech mage and her magpie familiar, filled in more of Skye Sanders back history and her family dysfunction.

And how she and magpie Bob ended up together. 

Fatal Error picks up after the cliffhanger of the first book, where it was announced that their friend,Fred, was in jail, suspected of murder. 

This will bring the burgeoning “Scooby squad “ of new friends together to solve the mystery and clear Fred’s reputation. 

Matthews lets the reader start to know each of the small group better, Luna the introverted werewolf, Dina the nurse and hiding the fact she’s a naiad, Josh the young street savvy intern from Seb’ Bellmont House, Jimmy the mechanic and metal mage,with Fred being the successful trader and only human of the group. 

Most are still character outlines at best but each story fills in a little more detail on each of them.

The mystery created along with the suspense is excellent. Following the investigation right to the aha moment is highly satisfying. 

Bob remains annoying and Fred is creeping up there as an irritating personality with his jealousy, and actions. 

The rest are really entertaining and I’m loving where the series is going.

The Digital Detective Mystery:

Murder By Code #1

Fatal Error #2

Kill Switch #3

Storm Signal #4

Virtual Games #5

Buy link

        Fatal Error: A Digital Detective Mystery (The Digital Detective Mystery Series Book 2)

    

Blurb 

Sometimes the rules can take a hike.

Tech mage Skye Sanders is a stickler for the truth—and for rules. That is, until her friend Fred is accused of murder.

Skye’s 98.5% sure Fred didn’t do it, though his public blowout with the victim doesn’t look great. With the only other suspect boasting an airtight alibi, the police seem all too eager to pin it on Fred.

Enter Seb, a vampire with beautiful brown eyes, and secrets of his own. Skye isn’t sure she can trust him, but with sparks flying and time running out, she may have to risk letting him get closer… even if it means diving into dangerous vampire politics.

Can Skye uncover the truth before she lands in the crosshairs herself?

★★★
If you enjoy books by K M Shea, Heather G. Harris and Kim Harrison, then you’ll love this riveting urban fantasy story with a touch of humour and romance.

Publication date

March 11, 2025

Language

‎English

Print length

344 pages

Review:    Mech and Magic: An Epic Fantasy Steampunk Adventure (The Knack Book 2) by Kim McDougall 

Rating: 4.5⭐️

“Magic runs the machines. Secrets run the city. And Squad 54 stands between order and chaos.”

Another excellent story in The Knack series, albeit really different from the previous book. In A Knack for Metal and Bone we saw the characters come together for an impossible mission. Squad 54 survived, but not without losses, learning some devastating truths about their own lives and setting them up for a new journey upon their return to New Torwood City.  And Princess Rowan Andula, who was the mission’s tech has to stay in the City, looking for answers about the traumatic event that left her an amputee, her brother the heir in a coma, and her father the King dead. That means that her love, 

Conall, werewolf Commander has to leave her and the City on his own mission to find out what happened to his brother, and the rest of the mages they were fighting. 

This story divides into two journeys and sustainably different tales of high suspense and action. One is Conall’s as he’s dangerously crosses the Meadows and wastelands in search of knowledge about his family and brother. His journey continuously ties into the ongoing struggles back in the City and Princess Rowan’s story against hidden and not so hidden enemies of the court and her past. She’s surrounded by those who would see her not just fail but perish. And her part of the story is emotional and fraught with anger. 

They are ties together by multiple sources, elements and somethings I won’t give away. 

Each relationship, each person is beautifully rendered by their own words, cultures, clothing and even religion. Defined by their details and their deep of connections, to the land and each other. 

I will warn the reader, much like the first story, a character dies here. One we’ve come to know and care about. Such is the nature of this world. I expect this to happen again as the series continues. 

There’s a strong cliffhanger type of ending as there is no resolution to part of one major conflict and storyline. But the author has no information as to any further series book release. 

 

It’s a wait and see status.  This is a long book but it flew by fast for me. It’s that excellent. 

I’ll be happy to wait for the next however long it takes. 

This series is a must read. Highly recommended. 

Published by Wrongtree Press. 

Cover art and design by Christian Bentulan

The Knack (2 book series to date)

A Knack for Metal and Bone #1

Mech and Magic #2

Buy link:

        Mech and Magic: An Epic Fantasy Steampunk Adventure (The Knack Book 2)

    

Blurb 

Magic runs the machines. Secrets run the city. And Squad 54 stands between order and chaos.

Conall thought he’d buried the past with his brother. But when a cryptic summons surfaces—tied to a long-vanished village and a wolf who should be dead—he’s forced to retrace the path of the disbanded Squad 54. What he finds in the shadows could unravel not only their fate, but the fragile balance between elf and human kind.

Back in New Torwood City, Princess Rowan Andula is done playing the figurehead. With a seat on the ruling council, she’s ready to fight for her family’s legacy—until the city’s giant mech guardian begins to fail. Talos isn’t just a machine. He’s the heart of the city. His collapse could bring down everything her ancestors fought to preserve.

As enemies close in and new treacheries are revealed, Conall and Rowan must face the same question: How far will you go to protect what you love?

Mech and Magic is the second thrilling installment of The Knack Series—where ancient tech, dangerous politics, and fierce loyalties collide.

December 5, 2025

Language

‎English

Print length

494 pages

Book 2 of 2

The Knack

Review: Any House in a Storm (Hidden Sanctuary #1) by Jenny Schwartz 

Rating: 3.75⭐️

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.

Buy link

        Any House in a Storm (Hidden Sanctuary Book 1)

    

Blurb 

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.

Review: A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic (Adenashire, #1) by J. Penner 

Rating: 4⭐️

“A human, a dwarf and an elf walk into a bake-off…”

It had me at the tag line. 

A sweet, no spice fated soulmate fantasy romance, A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic 

follows the journey of orphaned human baker, Arleta Starstone who lives in a small village called Adenashire next door to the two orcs who raised her after her parents died. Her passion is baking, it’s how she supports herself and she’s fantastic at it. But she’s insecure because she’s human and without magic.

The Langheim Baking Battle, a famous baking contest, is the path that sees Arleta on her way to becoming a person of confidence in her abilities as a baker and as a strong kind woman. One able to make friends, achieve her goals and accept a HEA. 

Penner’s storyline brings in several characters that turn into important figures in Arleta’s life and the series. They’re characters who have strong back histories relayed here and future books in the series. I look forward to each one.

I found A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic (Adenashire, #1) by J. Penner very entertaining, the characters are engaging and fun.  

There’s issues with this that stick out. One is an element that bugs me whenever I see it. That of the “disappearing animal character “, the one character where the author has made a point about in the narrative, pages and descriptions. And it’s importance to one of the main characters. Then it vanishes from the story. Gone. 

As it does here. 

What happened to Theo’s magical Forest  Lynx cat with horns , one he rescued btw and needs to be fed? Did it go with Theo? What happened to it? No mention about it. Authors need to include the necessary details to wrap it up into the finished piece. 

And what about the difference in lifespan? That’s never addressed either.  

Those are major holes in the story.

But I will end up with huge positives. All the recipes at the end.  Some of the contest recipes are included there.  Be prepared to drool and bake, of course. 

Gorgeous Book Cover by Clara Fang

Adenashire (5 book series)

A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic #1 

A Fellowship of Librarians & Dragons #2

A Fellowship of Games & Fables #3

A Fellowship of Curses & Cats #4

A Fellowship of Academics & Arts #5

Buy link

        A Fellowship of Bakers & Magic: Adenashire, A Cozy Fantasy Book Series

    

Blurb 

A human, a dwarf and an elf walk into a bake-off…

In the heart of Adenashire, where elvish enchantments and dwarven delights rule, human baker Arleta Starstone works twice as hard at perfecting her unique blend of baking with apothecary herbs. So, when her orc neighbor (and biggest fan) secretly enters her creations into the prestigious Langheim Baking Battle, Arleta faces a dilemma. Being magicless, her participation in the competition could draw more scowls than smiles. And if Arleta wants to prove her talent and establish her culinary reputation, she’ll need more than just her pastry craft to sweeten the odds.

Though Arleta may not yet believe in herself, she makes her way to Langheim―with the help of a very attractive woodland elf―and competes. While on a journey of mouthwatering pastries, self-discovery, heartwarming friendships, and potential romance, Arleta will have to decide whether winning the Baking Battle is the true prize after all. But win or lose, her adventure is only beginning…

Although this book is part of a series it can only be read as a standalone. Escape to Adenashire for a delightful cozy fantasy where every twist is a treat and every turn a step closer to home.