Reality tv comes to Starry Hollow and it doesn’t go well. Naturally.
The paranormal version of The Bachelorette’s show, Natural Selection, arrives in Starry Hollow and immediately becomes a nightmare.
Especially as Ember’s hired by the contestant’s grandmother to sabotage the contest. The story turns into a mirror of family images, tightly wrapped expectations, and ridiculously rigid boundaries.
Again it’s also the lovely side characters and moments that make the story, the small important reflections and conversations that allow Ember to become more self aware and able to make better choices.
Welcome to Starry Hollow where spells were made to be broken.
When a television show called Natural Selection decides to film in Starry Hollow, the whole town is abuzz. The paranormal version of The Bachelor is the talk of the nation and the ideal vehicle to show off the town’s charm. Everyone is excited—except the chosen bachelor’s grandmother. The wily old woman doesn’t want him to marry any of those gold-digging floozies and hires Ember to join as a bachelorette and disrupt the competition. Ember’s uneasy about the job—and her unease only grows when one of the bachelorettes ends up dead.
With a television show capturing every move, Sheriff Nash has his work cut out for him, but luckily he has Ember on the inside.
Can Ember and the sheriff find the killer before another bachelorette is eliminated—permanently?
Magic & Marriage is the 15th book in the Starry Hollow Witches humorous paranormal cozy mystery series.
It’s been a while since I’ve read this series, but quickly became reacquainted with the universe and characters and where we left off with their stories and the drama that was going on.
Mads, the UK council member with a mysterious backstory, and Ender ,the damaged vampire who has a deadly mission yet a responsibility for a younger vampire, Rylee, he clearly adores, is a very interesting couple.
This story and their roles has so many layers to it that their relationship develops really quickly, far too easily, given each man’s trauma and pasts to fully reach the levels of trust it goes into here. I wish their timelines and story length had more longer so they could have better chemistry and development.
All the other couples are present. Claude is hilarious as always. Rylee the young vampire ward of Ender’s is amazing, as is her dynamic with him and those around her. Like Orin and Finn.
Things go explosive. Fight scenes and fast paced moments of suspense. And , in a wonderful ending, Winters goes for a more believable HFN ending rather than HEA. There’s still too many loose ends still to be pulled together for this to happen.
How to Entice a Fiend (VRC: Vampire Related Crimes Book 6) by Alice Winters is another exciting book in an excellent paranormal series from an auto buy author.
As a member of the vampire council, being tasked with keeping an eye on a few people shouldn’t be too hard, right?
Wrong.
The moment I meet the VRC, I realize how very wrong I am. It’s fascinating how in a group filled with ancient beings, the only reasonable one is the human. Definitely not the grumpy vampire… or the other grumpy vampire… and don’t get me started on the eye-searing clothes the bubbly one wears.
And that’s when I run into Ender.
Well… run is probably the wrong word. It’s more like he accidentally saves my life, joins me for a fun torture fest from some guy who woke up on the wrong side of the bed, and then ends up fleeing through unknown territory with my naked body slung over his shoulder.
Is there a better meet-cute than all of that?
Probably not, as long as we ignore the real reason I’m here.
Ender
Keeping Rylee safe is the only thing I should care about. So then how is it that I find myself being pulled along by Mads, a member of the council that I’ve sworn to get rid of? He’s charismatic, charming, and really far too suspicious, but our paths merge as I fight to end an injustice that started hundreds of years ago.
Mads is making me realize that maybe there is more to my life than becoming a martyr for people who seem to think I’m the bad guy. While others see me as a monster, he sees who I really am.
And I will do anything to keep him from the danger he’s been drawn into.
This was a really terrific story, a more emotional one, using the missing ring to move Ember’s narrative forward through this harrowing time in her life.
Aunt Hyacinth is still using Ember’s decision to make Ember and Marley’s life miserable, as Hyacinth’s vendetta against her continues. Now jobless, Ember turns to becoming her own boss and starts a private investigator business with Raoul. And the missing ring investigation becomes a case of theirs.
Ember’s breakup with Alec, who fired her, sees her reconnecting with Granger, but as friends, as she tries to find her way through her romantic relationships.
It’s multiple threads but all will eventually have a common theme and emotional connection. It takes time and some wonderful moments but Chase never fails to amaze me with how thoughtfully and consistently these stories pull together. And how Ember and her found family grows stronger and develops deeper than when they start.
It sends me happily through to the next book and stage in the series.
Ember’s life is magically transforming as is Marley’s. The Rose family itself is undergoing a new phase.
It makes for great storytelling and memorable characters. Love this!
Welcome to Starry Hollow, where spells were made to be broken.
Misfortunes never come alone. When a valuable jewel goes missing, Ember Rose is tasked with tracking it down. She quickly learns that the jewel wasn’t hidden away for its monetary worth but for safety because the jewel has the power to bring misfortune to its possessor. When the negative consequences start piling up, throwing one obstacle after another in her way, Ember turns to magic to find the jewel before it can wreak havoc on the entire town of Starry Hollow.
Will Ember locate the jewel in time or will the wheel of misfortune roll through town and crush the hopes and dreams of everyone she holds dear—including her own?
Magic & Misfortune is the fourteenth book in the Starry Hollow Witches humorous paranormal cozy mystery series.
What inspired, insane fiction! Dungeon Crawler Carl: Dungeon Crawler Carl Book 1 by Matt Dinniman just about defies being categorized into a trope. It’s too wild, too murderously funny, thrilling, outrageous, and alien to be put into a box.
Coast Guard veteran, Carl, is living in an apartment with his ex-girlfriend’s Champion Persian cat, Princess Donut, when she takes a runner out his window. It’s late, so he follows in only his boxers, pink crocs, and a coat to capture her from the tree.
Then the aliens arrive.
What happens next is bedlam. Death, destruction, and alien gamers galore as a galactic corporation sets up a massive network game called Dungeon Crawler on what is left of Earth.
If you have played any type of game, then you will be familiar with the main elements of the story. Leveling up, winning points, getting gift boxes, fighting bosses etc, that you would in most games. If you haven’t, you can pick it up.
But the characters, the monsters, the interactions and sheer intensity of the game and situations are believable and gripping. It’s fast paced and over the top murderous lunacy at times. And just when it’s veering off into the ultimate craziness, author Dinniman brings us and Carl back into the terrifying, devastating reality of what happened to the world Carl knew. Everything’s occurring so quickly, he’s having to react to survive, crisis after crisis, that he’s not been able to properly process his emotions or the reality of his own situation. Or Princess Donut’s.
The shattering heartbreak of the callousness of this situation will fleetingly make it known but, at least in this story, they can’t stop and reflect on what happened. They must keep moving.
There’s so many great moments and inventive characters. Carl and Donut, who both acts like a cat and a highly intelligent leader, are incredibly believable and relatable personalities.
I’m quickly headed to the next book, there’s seven released at the moment, and it’s not completely finished yet.
Can’t imagine not wanting to read such a well written, highly entertaining, imaginative novel. Yes, it’s extremely violent, tons of deaths, heartbreaking but also funny. Fascinating, and thoughtful. Great for those who like to game and those who don’t.
A urban fantasy adventure/science fiction alien crossover? Either way, highly recommended.
These are, book by book, the most incredible, on point illustrations for covers. Colors are popping, the characters are spot on! Amazing artwork!
You know what’s worse than breaking up with your girlfriend? Being stuck with her prize-winning show cat. And you know what’s worse than that? An alien invasion, the destruction of all man-made structures on Earth, and the systematic exploitation of all the survivors for a sadistic intergalactic game show. That’s what.
Join Coast Guard vet Carl and his ex-girlfriend’s cat, Princess Donut, as they try to survive the end of the world—or just get to the next level—in a video game–like, trap-filled fantasy dungeon. A dungeon that’s actually the set of a reality television show with countless viewers across the galaxy. Exploding goblins. Magical potions. Deadly, drug-dealing llamas. This ain’t your ordinary game show.
Welcome, Crawler. Welcome to the Dungeon. Survival is optional. Keeping the viewers entertained is not.
Magic & Misfits (Starry Hollow Witches Book 13) hits close to home with Bentley continuing to investigate the cold case murder of Sheriff
There’s so much to Magic & Misfits, it’s hard to imagine which part is actually more heartwarming or compelling. As Ember and Marley deal with the aftermath of Aunt Hyacinth’s rigid rejection of their relationship due to Ember’s refusal to give up Ivy’s magic, we see the multiple ways this has consequences on their lives. From bullying at school to Ember’s loss of her job, and much more.
But it allows for the author to demonstrate that Ember and those around her have the ability to make a new path and find new opportunities. Ones that bring Arnold Palmer, the pink fairy armadillo into their lives, sees a change in her romantic relationships, and gives a cold case a fresh perspective and the chance to be solved.
This is definitely one of my favorite stories in the series. Every storyline is beautifully crafted, every character and their role so well written and the narrative flows from humor to real raw pain , through the gamut of emotions scene by scene.
It makes for great storytelling and memorable characters. Love this!
Welcome to Starry Hollow, where spells were made to be broken.
Bentley Smith is tired of being the red-headed stepchild in the office of Vox Populi and is determined to prove his mettle by warming up the cold case involving Sheriff Nash’s murdered father. The deeper he digs, however, the more uncomfortable he becomes when the information he unearths implicates one of Starry Hollow’s very own. Meanwhile, Ember is dealing with the fallout from her refusal to give Aunt Hyacinth the power she craves, which has greater consequences than she anticipated.
Will Ember be able to sustain the fairytale life she’s built in Starry Hollow or will it all finally crumble to dust?
Magic & Misfits is the thirteenth book in the Starry Hollow Witches paranormal cozy mystery series.
As author Hailey Turner says, this is an absolute treasure of a gift to her fans, those who love and have followed the long journey Patrick Collins and Jonothon de Vere from their original book and meeting to this their final chapter where they get married, their happy epilogue.
Many of the favorites are also in attendance and we get a quick drama before the ending.
It’s been incredible and for me it’s a series I’ll be rereading.
Patrick Collins earned the peace he’s found in New York City with his pack through sacrifice. Six years out from the end of the world, he’s satisfied with the life he’s built and doesn’t think about what else the future might hold until he stumbles his way into a hostage situation he didn’t ask to be part of.
Jonothon de Vere would like nothing more than to wake up each morning with the love of his life and never deal with trouble again. Except Patrick has always been a magnet for such crises, and Jono isn’t one to stand idly by when his lover could use some help.
It feels just like old times when that’s the last thing they want, but maybe it’s also the reminder they need that the future isn’t set in stone. Maybe, just maybe, Patrick and Jono are finally ready to take the next step and walk down the aisle together.
Born to be Legends is what fans of Hailey Turner’s best-selling Soulbound series have been waiting for.
Another excellent book, another unusual mystery and murder investigation!
This murder investigation finds Ember assigned to cover the reemergence of retired Creature Hunter Winston York who comes to Starry Hollow to discover an elusive creature who’s there to lay her egg and then disappear into the ocean.
Things immediately turn dark when York is found murdered and his fame hunters are all in town seeking the same creature.
There’s plenty of storylines here to dive into, from the creature herself and the nature vs exploitation angle, to Ember’s self confidence and the Ivy Rose history/magic aspect of the series that’s getting ever stronger and darker.
Plus the romantic element of Ember’s life is getting more interesting, and coming under a more realistic scrutiny than previously dealt with by Ember.
All done with great dialogue, full on action and lots of magical moments.
Fabulous series and storytelling.
A highly recommended book and series to be read in the order they are written in.
Welcome to Starry Hollow, where spells were made to be broken.
Starry Hollow is abuzz when the famously reclusive Creature Hunter, Winston York, emerges from retirement after a rare sighting of an endangered magical creature and Ember Rose is assigned to cover the story. Florian and Aster are thrilled with this development because a new documentary by York would mean an influx of tourists to the magical seaside town. Excitement quickly turns to horror, however, when York dies during filming. What seems like an unfortunate accident starts to look more like murder to intrepid reporter Ember.
Can Ember solve the crime before the killer renders her extinct?
Magic & Monsters is the twelfth book in the Starry Hollow Witches paranormal cozy mystery series.
Direbound is the debut fantasy novel by Sable Sorensen, a pen name of two co-authors and friends creating their first fantasy/paranormal series.
Direbound is, for the most part, a very successful romance fantasy thriller. Direbounds narrative is full of giant dire wolves, a horrific physically demanding mountain trial the main characters have to undergo. And for those that survive? They become part of a terrifying murderous academy of bonded pairs ,in a story that includes an enemies to lovers potential love story, missing children, and terror everywhere.
There are many elements I found absolutely fascinating, things that held my attention and kept me riveted to this world and ongoing drama.
I found I was totally involved in the main character of Meryn Cooper, alley cat street fighter of the Eastern Quarter who turns to the army when a family tragedy strikes. Her unexpected journey into a new path than the one she envisioned for herself. She’s tough, well rounded, and credible in every aspect of her journey. Well, except one.
Her character, that of the twins, Isabel and Venna, one of the sisters is hearing impaired being a factor and the use of sign language in their stories, and the Rawbonded brutality of this story is a very well written aspect of Direbound.
Another important aspect of the story is the bonding between the wolves and their human bondmates. It’s unlike other stories, it’s far more complex, pack like and brutal than other similar tales. The raw energy, high emotional intelligence of the wolves and constant tension and conflict between them is a great way to keep the reader engaged and guessing here.
Survival isn’t guaranteed, and some of the characters are more relatable than others.
There’s plenty of mystery and chaos and drama mixed in with the murderous conflicts and bonding events.
The relationships between characters make and break the story for me. Yes to all the wolf/human dynamics. And those relationships between the humans fighting for survival and final bond rights. Those are believable.
But outside of those? It’s that boyfriend aspect that drags everything down.
Things that absolutely irritates me as a reader? A nickname of endearment like Kitten. One it’s has a displaced terminology aspect associated with it for the type of the locations and world foundation the author is creating here. However, more importantly, its usage indicates a different issue for the character, one I believe is telegraphed too soon. See boyfriend that bothers me above. That entire element just isn’t as well written.
But the story is a gripping tale and it keeps me invested in its journey. Especially when the ending is so dramatically shocking.
That’s a great way to end.
Now quickly let’s talk about why I think this book deserves a better reading. The PR should let it stand on its own merits.
What this isn’t is what the PR releases desperately wants it to be “Fourth Wing meets The Hunger Games in dark action-packed fantasy series!” No, and I wish every heavy handed PR group would stop this kind of release approach. It does a disservice to the authors, readers and actually the book by not letting them see it on its own without a preconceived notion.
Direbound: A Dark Romantasy (The Wolves of Ruin Book 1) by Sable Sorensen is a terrific debut novel. It has some fantastic elements that make it stand out on its own right as a paranormal/fantasy thriller. This includes that great wolf bond aspect of the book.
And a woman character that is strong and well developed in Meryn Cooper.
I’m definitely recommending this book and looking forward to reading more in the series.
Only the worthy survive the Bonding Trials. She’ll risk her life—and her heart—to be one of them…
Meryn Cooper has never dreamed of being one of the Bonded, the King’s elite warriors who form mental links with massive, vicious direwolves. She’s made peace with her life scraping by in poverty in the shadows of the castle. But then her younger sister Saela is kidnapped, stolen across the border by the immortal monsters her country has spent centuries fighting.
And Meryn’s world falls apart.
Desperate to cross the front and save her sister, Meryn enlists in the army—only to discover that there are Bonding Trials this year, where all soldiers are forced to risk their lives in an attempt to connect with a direwolf. It’s too late to turn back; Meryn is thrown into the deadly competition against her will.
Now, she’ll need to survive the next four months of training at the castle if she wants a chance of finding Saela. Everything here is a test, from the brutal classes where one mistake means death, to the glittering court parties where every smile hides a knife.
To make things worse, Meryn is bound to a feral direwolf who refuses to communicate. The other trainees would love to spill her common blood. And her gorgeous instructor, Stark Therion, is as malicious as the wolves himself.
Everyone is out to get her—everyone but the dangerously handsome crown prince, Killian Valtiere. But if she loses her heart to him, she may also lose her life.
And the castle is hiding dark secrets…
— Direbound: A Dark Romantasy (The Wolves of Ruin Book 1) by Sable Sorensen
Direbound is set in a dark fantasy world and contains dark subject matter and adult romance. Content warnings for this book include gruesome, explicit on-page violence; self harm; mental health issues including anxiety, depression and psychosis; domestic abuse; parental death; and explicit sexual content including elements of dubcon.
I dearly love this series and wish the last 9 books came in a box set much like the first 10 books did, as it makes binging them so much easier.
Each novel is approximately 19 chapters or give or take, so it’s easy to read one or two books a day. And they blend together beautifully, with each one picking up from the events of the previous story.
What I love about this is that they can be enjoyed on multiple levels. Chase has crafted terrific murder mysteries that Ember gets involved with , and the investigations are intriguing and often lead to a conclusion that’s surprising and satisfying.
But it’s the personal relationships and dynamics that drive the series and make the characters so strong and compelling. Each story and book reveals more about Ember, the Rose family and including the seemingly rigid Aunt Hyacinth.
Even the familiar dynamics, like those between Ember and Raoul, aren’t the same as those I’ve come to expect from other writers and fantasy universes. It’s just different and that makes me take even closer note on everything else in this series.
Love it. And binge reading it way too quickly.
A highly recommended book and series to be read in the order they are written in.
Welcome to Starry Hollow, where spells were made to be broken.
When a gaming tournament comes to Starry Hollow, everyone is thrilled with the influx of tourists–until a player ends up dead. Meanwhile, Ember makes an important discovery in connection with her mysterious ancestor and the Rose family deals with a visit from an old relative who gets under Aunt Hyacinth’s skin, which means everybody’s tip-toeing on eggshells to avoid her wrath. Thanks to the many distractions, Ember fails to notice that Raoul is involved in something over his furry head.
Can Ember stop the madness and identify the killer before the end of the tournament or will it be game over?
Magic & Misdeeds is the eleventh book in the Starry Hollow Witches paranormal cozy mystery series.
The Paternity Puzzle, the third series and another important evolutionary step in Sawyer Keys and Royce Locke’s relationship and marriage.
This well written book is about families, from many emotional aspects and from different perspectives. It’s Sawyer and Royce embarking on their own journey through prospective fatherhood, a murder case involving a fertility doctor that hits home for them, and Royce’s strained dynamic with his father gets a thoughtful storyline that’s moving and realistic.
While this investigation is complete, the story sets up a larger narrative with a different darker story going forward.
Excellent character development, and it’s wonderful to see all my favorites here, including those podcasters from Sinister in Savannah.
Really looking forward to seeing the next in the series.
Royce Locke and Sawyer Key are back and better than ever with new mysteries and hilarious shenanigans as they tackle their greatest challenge yet: fatherhood.
A perfect holiday weekend takes a twisted turn when Royce investigates a suspicious death involving Dr. Jean Claude Matisse, a retired pioneer in fertility medicine. What first looks like an accidental overdose quickly turns into something more sinister when explosive allegations reveal hundreds of reasons why someone would want the doctor dead.
This investigation hits close to home, exposing the vulnerabilities of relying on science and a doctor’s ethics to have a family, especially when the hopeful husbands are only a positive pregnancy test away from parenthood.
The Paternity Puzzle is book one in the Felonies and Fatherhood trilogy, the third story arc for Royce Locke and Sawyer Key. ** New readers should start with the Zero Hour and Matrimony and Mayhem trilogies before reading Felonies and Fatherhood. ** The Paternity Puzzle continues Royce and Sawyer’s happily ever after as they move into the most anticipated phase of their lives. Though some storylines span the trilogy, this book does not end in a cliffhanger. Heat, humor, heart, and homicide abound. You have been warned. 18+
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 