Tag: slow burn romance

Review:  Rogues Lie (Caldryn Parliament Book 3) by Jenny Schwartz 

Rating: 5 ⭐️✨

Jenny Schwartz’s Caldryn Parliament series is one of those series where the books just get more brilliant and more highly complex as the series progresses.  The writing, the incredible characters, and this labyrinthine storytelling is beyond amazing. 

The formidable character of Vanda Kavanagh, Warden of Caldryn Parliament, is one of the most compelling, powerful portraits of a woman who is secure with herself, her intelligence, integrity and her ability to navigate the intricacies of intergalactic politics, hundreds of years of internalized/weaponized familial legacies and the current cultural environment.  All to further the ideals and hidden plans she’s been formulating all along. 

Vanda isn’t flashy or dramatic. She’s controlled, a knife of a woman, in flawless grey colors, forming alliances and brilliantly devising scenarios to forward her ideas and plans for progress and protection of the Realm. Schwartz , with incredible craft,builds this magnificent character and then allows the reader to watch , in intriguing detail, as she continues her labyrinthine path towards her goals and own individual development. It’s a journey that is impossible to begin and then stop without seeing it through. The twists and unexpected changes in plot are fabulous. And  continue to the end. 

What a character and series!

There’s a no spice romance that’s evolving from friendship into a something more. Just a fantastic science fiction thriller, multiple magical mysteries, a cast of incredibly powerful multidimensional characters, and enough hidden political agents and agendas for a number of galaxies. 

Vanda Kavanagh, the Warden of Caldryn Parliament, has fast become one of my all time favorite characters. 

There’s no way to go about describing the complexities and depths of world politics here that Schwartz has and continues to craft. Utterly brilliant. Contains science fiction, magical systems, mythology and more. And it all works perfectly alongside political and military power dynamics. 

To follow this character of Vanda in her increasingly complex journey, the reader must absolutely start with the first book and continue reading forward. But the path is full of action, mental agility, politics and scheming but never at the expense of forgetting about the human factor. A fantastic series on every level. 

The only drawback? Waiting until the next book is released. 

  

Cover by Jenny Schwartz . I adore these covers!

Caldryn Parliament:

Stars Die #1

Hexes Fly #2

Rogues Lie #3 

Ghosts Cry #4 – June 30,2026

Buy link

 Book 3 of 4: Caldryn Parliament 

Blurb 

A whisper campaign threatens Vanda Kavanagh’s hard-won position as Warden of Caldryn Parliament, but are the malicious rumors a personal attack or do they mask an uglier plot?

As Vanda investigates, long-hidden truths are revealed leading her to question everything she believed about herself.

In a city steeped in magic and political intrigue who can Vanda trust?

November 29, 2025

Language

‎English

Print length

318 pages

Book 3 of 4

Caldryn Parliament

Review:  All Fun and Games (The Case Files of Henri Davenforth Book 11) by Honor Raconteur 

Rating:  5✨⭐️

All Fun and Games is the penultimate book and it’s a fantastic read. As Honor Raconteur gets closer to the series finale next year, the characters are more settled in their respective roles and relationships. That’s never been more satisfying and clear than seeing Jamie and Henri finally engaged and preparing for their wedding and future plans. 

Jamie’s Queen’s Own are functional and adding to their numbers and the core group we’ve gotten to know so well.   And that brings us to this complicated series of murders that Jamie, Henri and the Queen’s Own must investigate.

Cruel, seemingly unrelated, and yet Jamie can feel there’s something tying these horrifying acts together. 

Alongside the investigations, the couple are moving forward with their new life together. Looking for new housing, and oncoming nuptials. 

There’s wonderful twists and heartbreaking turns. And a lovely little end. 

The last book in the series will be published next year and I look forward to seeing how Jamie and Henri‘s remarkable journey comes to a close. 

Highly recommended. 

No sexual content. A sweet kiss, nothing more. Magical energy, crime investigation and science fiction. Terrific work. 

This is Honor Raconteur also known as AJ. Sherwood.  A must read no matter what name she’s writing under. 

Cover by Katie Griffin

The Case Files of Henri Davenforth (11 book series to date):

Magic and the Shinigami Detective #1

Charms and Death and Explosions (oh my!) #2

Magic Outside the Box #3

Breaking and Entering 101 #4

Three Charms for Murder #5

Grimoires and Where to Find Them #6

Death Over the Garden Wall #7

This Potion is da Bomb #8

All In A Name #9

A Matter of Secrets and Spies #10

All Fun and Games #11

Buy link

        All Fun and Games (The Case Files of Henri Davenforth Book 11)

    

Blurb 

It’s all fun and games until someone gets murdered.

Well, the Queen’s Own certainly isn’t having fun, because what’s worse than one case? Two, of course. And what’s worse than two? Whatever madness Jamie’s currently in.

The body count is rising, all the MO’s are different, and cleaning charms have wiped the murder scenes of clues. It’s hard to link the cases beyond the use of the charms, yet Jamie is sure there’s a connection. But what is it?

They need to figure out the answer fast, because the clues suggest one of their own might be next.

  • Publisher: Raconteur House
  • Accessibility: Learn more
  • Publication date: August 1, 2025
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 422 pages
  • Book 11 of 11: The Case Files of Henri Davenforth

Review:  All In A Name (The Case Files of Henri Davenforth Book 9) by Honor Raconteur 

Rating:  5✨⭐️

In a series full of just outstanding books and incredible writing, this ranks among the top.  There’s several reasons but high among them are the way that Raconteur has handled Jamie’s PTSD and reoccurring trauma from her past torture and kidnapping at the hands of the dark witch Belladonna. 

That’s a huge element of this book as murder victims are delivered directly to Jamie’s door and the villain seems to have direct ties to the deceased Belladonna. 

Great suspense, high magical energy and action! We get a new fantastic character in Chanty! New “old “ inventions. And waiting for Henri to still pop the question. More suspense. 

No spice at all. Just mild kisses and on to more action. Fantastic characters and mysteries, some of which are built around actual obscure real cases. 

Highly recommended. Highly addictive. 

Love the covers. 

Cover by Katie Griffin

The Case Files of Henri Davenforth (11 book series to date):

Magic and the Shinigami Detective #1

Charms and Death and Explosions (oh my!) #2

Magic Outside the Box #3

Breaking and Entering 101 #4

Three Charms for Murder #5

Grimoires and Where to Find Them #6

Death Over the Garden Wall #7

This Potion is da Bomb #8

All In A Name #9

A Matter of Secrets and Spies #10

All Fun and Games #11

Buy link

        All In A Name (The Case Files of Henri Davenforth Book 9)

    

Blurb 

Someone left Jamie a prezzie and she would like to return it with a no thank you.

It all starts with a dead Robert Martin, the man who killed RM Burtchell. Jamie doesn’t know how, but it’s obvious he was yanked out of high security prison, murdered, and dumped on her front doorsteps.

Now the situation is entirely out of control. Someone obviously wants her attention–her people are being targeted and hurt, they can’t catch a lead, and it’s bringing up Belladonna vibes.

Jamie would like to request a new plot device.

Review:  One Fell Sweep (Innkeeper Chronicles Book 3) by Ilona Andrews 

Rating: 5⭐️

This is absolutely one of my favorite series and yes, I’ve finished the what books have been released in this series to date. I’m just trying to get caught up on my reviews. 

This is just one more fabulous binge read series by the prolific (and truly amazing) husband and wife team known as Ilona Andrews.  One of three their series that have me hooked, including one that was just recently released. 

Special elements that really struck me and made this book so much more memorable is how the authors both managed to explore further into the universe and new planets as well as introduce the readers to Dina’s family members we haven’t met yet but have heard about. And have it happen in truly dramatic and exciting scenes. 

And it will set up a new couple and their own important storyline for a future book/series. 

And that’s not even the main plot line here. That’s one that focuses on a species that’s been hunted to the brink of extinction and it’s up to the Innkeepers and the Gertrude Hunt to save them all from those aliens hunting them. 

That’s the powerhouse of narrative themes and one that’s written beautifully here. It’s moving, poignant and compelling storytelling . 

Books and series like this is why I’m so reader focused on this writing couple.  I haven’t even finished their published books yet and they released another one I can’t stop thinking about. 

Yes, to this. Yes to all of this series. And finally, to all Ilona Andrews has written to date. Just go with it. 

Highly recommended. 

Note: love Doris Mantair for the fantastic cover and fantastic interior art.

Innkeeper Chronicles:

  • Clean Sweep #1
  • Sweep in Peace #2
  • One Fell Sweep #3
  • Sweep of the Blade #4
  • Sweep with Me #5
  • Sweep of the Heart #6

Buy link

        One Fell Sweep (Innkeeper Chronicles Book 3)

    

Blurb 

Dina Demille may run the nicest Bed and Breakfast in Red Deer, Texas, but she caters to a very particular kind of guest… the kind that no one on Earth is supposed to know about. Guests like a former intergalactic tyrant with an impressive bounty on her head, the Lord Marshal of a powerful vampire clan, and a displaced-and-superhot werewolf; so don’t stand too close, or you may be collateral damage. 

But what passes for Dina’s normal life is about to be thrown into chaos. First, she must rescue her long-distant older sister, Maud, who’s been exiled with her family to a planet that functions as the most lawless penal colony since Botany Bay. Then she agrees to help a guest whose last chance at saving his civilization could bring death and disaster to all Dina holds dear. Now Gertrude Hunt is under siege by a clan of assassins. To keep her guests safe and to find her missing parents, Dina will risk everything, even if she has to pay the ultimate price. Though Sean may have something to say about that!

  • Publisher: NYLA
  • Publication date: December 20, 2016
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 352 pages
  • Book 3 of 6: Innkeeper Chronicles

Review:  This Potion is da Bomb (The Case Files of Henri Davenforth Book 8) by Honor Raconteur 

Rating:  4.75✨⭐️

This was a highly entertaining and a grand new book in the series. As the first case for Jamie’s Queen’s Own agency, it’s an intriguing mystery.  It will take Jamie, Henri, and her crew of investigators that are quickly forming a core of friends as well, to new lands and new magical powers to explore. 

It expands into the growing relationships between Jamie and Henri, Sherold, and others around them both. And the adorable Felixes are in the mix too. 

The format of Henri’s notes, with different colored handwritten notations by others (Jamie, Sherold, Henri) are often funny, full of references and tiny emojis. I love it. 

Don’t miss Jamie’s ever growing list of new additions to this universe of “inventions” from her world, new discoveries. It expands from book to book. 

Highly recommended. Highly addictive. 

Love the covers. 

Cover by Katie Griffin

The Case Files of Henri Davenforth (11 book series to date):

Magic and the Shinigami Detective #1

Charms and Death and Explosions (oh my!) #2

Magic Outside the Box #3

Breaking and Entering 101 #4

Three Charms for Murder #5

Grimoires and Where to Find Them #6

Death Over the Garden Wall #7

This Potion is da Bomb #8

All In A Name #9

A Matter of Secrets and Spies #10

All Fun and Games #11

Buy link

        This Potion is da Bomb (The Case Files of Henri Davenforth Book 8)

    

Blurb 

Yay first Queen’s Own case! Yay first international case! Blowing people up with bombs, not so yay.

This is supposed to be a murder-suicide but the case smells. And not just because the dead potion maker lacks knowledge about the cure he supposedly created. Jamie’s got a smoking crater of an office (and body), a queen breathing down her neck, a witness clinging to life, and no answers.

One thing she knows for certain, however–this potion is a cure to die for.

Review: Death Over the Garden Wall (The Case Files of Henri Davenforth Book 7) by Honor Raconteur 

Rating:  4.75✨⭐️

I love Death Over the Garden Wall because it’s a bit different from the other cases Jamie and Henri have investigated. And it goes in a different direction than what I had originally imagined. 

There’s peril, plenty of magic, suspense and suspects to explore when the body of an old friend of Queen Regina’s is found washed up on shore after a tumultuous night with angry guests. At her cliffhanger of a house.

Jamie, Henri, some of her Kingsmen “ducklings “ and the Felix trio along with her other close associates/friends are there to help them investigate and solve the mystery. 

The chapter titles and handwritten “note” by different characters never fail to entertain me. I love how this is framed out by the author.

While this might not be the most compelling or difficult mystery to figure out, it’s engaging and totally one I was invested in. 

Another winner in a series full of outstanding writing. 

Highly recommended. Highly addictive. 

Love the covers. 

Cover by Katie Griffin

The Case Files of Henri Davenforth (11 book series to date):

Magic and the Shinigami Detective #1

Charms and Death and Explosions (oh my!) #2

Magic Outside the Box #3

Breaking and Entering 101 #4

Three Charms for Murder #5

Grimoires and Where to Find Them #6

Death Over the Garden Wall #7

This Potion is da Bomb #8

All In A Name #9

A Matter of Secrets and Spies #10

All Fun and Games #11

Buy link

        Death Over the Garden Wall (The Case Files of Henri Davenforth Book 7)

    

Blurb 

Three modus operandi to die. Four employees, six house guests, and not a single witness.

Confusing clues and no helpful leads cloud the death of Countess Giada Barese, who washed up on shore two weeks after her mysterious disappearance. Henri and Jamie have no idea if her death is a homicide, suicide, or accidental death, for nothing adds up.

There is something strange going on, though, Jamie’s sure of that. The countess was found wearing mismatched slippers, her lover disappeared the next day, and everyone is acting shifty.

Jamie feels like she’s playing a game of Clue, one she’s determined to win. Where’s a candlestick when you need one?

Review:  Grimoires and Where to Find Them (The Case Files of Henri Davenforth Book 6) by Honor Raconteur 

Rating: 5⭐️✨

Talk about catastrophe magic! And it starts at a book faire! I loved the mystery and layers of Grimoires and Where to Find Them. 

It’s got books thefts galore, book lovers and collectors everywhere, Reaper grimoires going missing, and Henri has friends we didn’t know about!

This has moved further into the future with Jamie being here several years later her kidnapping and more than settled down in her own life and relationships. She can, through the efforts of Henri and Seaton, at least communicate with her family, and she’s happy.  

So is Henri, enough that he’s ready for another step in his life and career. It’s an exciting and very wonderful element here. 

The three Felix’s are very much a part of this story and the group. And new characters are introduced as their roles are integral elements of the story and mystery. 

We see new “inventions” that Jamie with Ellie’s manufacturing magic and creativity has introduced to the world and the lists at the end continue to grow. 

A fabulous addition to a fantastic series. It’s slow burn, no sex, all delightful G content. Creative, well written, beautifully plotted and executed. 

A must read for me to share.  I’ll be so sad whenever this series ends. 

Highly recommended. Highly addictive. 

Love the covers. 

Cover by Katie Griffin

The Case Files of Henri Davenforth (11 book series to date):

Magic and the Shinigami Detective #1

Charms and Death and Explosions (oh my!) #2

Magic Outside the Box #3

Breaking and Entering 101 #4

Three Charms for Murder #5

Grimoires and Where to Find Them #6

Death Over the Garden Wall #7

This Potion is da Bomb #8

All In A Name #9

A Matter of Secrets and Spies #10

All Fun and Games #11

Buy link

        Grimoires and Where to Find Them (The Case Files of Henri Davenforth Book 6)

    

Blurb 

How do you catch an elusive thief?

There is nothing more delightful than a bookfaire with his lady love. At least, until Henri learns that a grimoire belonging to the dangerous Reaper’s Set has been stolen without its protective box. When Henri and Jamie go looking for answers, they are horrified to discover more than one volume has been stolen without its protective box.

Jamie has never seen Henri so livid or frightened. The spells in the grimoires, unchecked, are powerful enough to make a building melt. Literally. Melt. They need to find them quickly, for the war-era grimoires could tear the city apart–and have already gotten a head start. 

With the thief nowhere to be found and still stealing grimoires, Jamie, Henri, and Seaton are more than ready to catch him. 

Please. 

And thank you. 

Review:  Smokescreen (Knight & Daywalker Book 1) by Sam Burns 

Rating: 4.5🌈

Set in the same universe as the marvelous Fantastic Fluke series, Sam Burns has a new fantastic paranormal series out, Knight and Daywalker. 

The first book, Smokescreen, which ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, is an excellent read and start up. 

It’s got murder mysteries, a paranormal universe with magical characters, including two main characters who are somewhat enigmatic in their precise nature and history as well as a black kitten with a bottomless appetite. It’s also just as intriguing as the other main characters. 

Flynn Knight, has a very scary ,Morticia coded in looks, mother who rules the vampires of their city. Is Flynn a vampire? No, he talks to animals. That’s one of the puzzles in the story. What is Flynn? Other than absolutely engaging.

Then there’s Davin, the Irish vampire who, courtesy of Flynn’s mother, ends up being Flynn’s business partner. But the idea of another agenda seems possible. He’s got his own troubles and backstory to revealed. 

The pace is quick. We meet many new and exciting characters. All incredible and with their own stories to explore. 

And Smokescreen finishes with a startling dramatic flourish and cliffhanger.  Which I’m not unhappy about. 

I’m excited about the next story, even if it’s months away from release.

Sam Burns is an auto buy for this very reason. Definitely recommend this book.

Cover art © 2025 by Natasha Snow 

Knight and Daywalker – a planned trilogy:

Smokescreen #1

Façade #2 –  Jan 1,2026

Masquerade #3 – TBD

Same universe as 

THE FANTASTIC FLUKE-complete ❤️

The Fantastic Fluke 

Fluke and the Faithless Father

 Fluke and the Faultline Fiasco

 Fluke and the Frontier Farce 

Fluke and the Fantastic Finale

Buy link

 Book 1 of 2: Knight & Daywalker 

Blurb 

Flynn Knight is the only (and frankly, impossible) child of the leader of the vampires in Los Angeles. He’s also a bit of a scatterbrain, a thirty-something manchild, and a private investigator. When one of his mother’s political frenemies gets killed and she asks him to investigate, he’s put between a rock—her—and a hard place—the fact that not a single vampire in the city will believe the answers he finds without impressive proof to back him up.

Combine that with an eighty-thousand-dollar bill he has no idea how he’s going to pay, a hit and run that has landed him a victim of the cat distribution system, and his mother trying to foist a new business partner off on him, and his life is way more complicated than he likes.

At least his new partner is nice to look at, even if he’s the weirdest vampire ever, who doesn’t seem to follow any of the usual vampire rules.

Also, why won’t this kitten stop eating?

Smokescreen is set in the Fantastic Fluke universe, starring never before seen characters and a new setting. It begins to explore Flynn Knight’s relationships, and while it contains a complete story, it does not reach the slow burn romance plot, and the main overarching plot will continue in book two, Façade.

  • Publication date: September 4, 2025
  • Language: English
  • Print length: 259 pages
  • Book 1 of 2: Knight & Daywalker

Content Warning: multiple gruesome deaths described in detail, injured (but NEVER killed) animals, ableist attitudes from non-MCs, violence, fraught parental relationships.

Review:  Three Charms for Murder (The Case Files of Henri Davenforth Book 5) by Honor Raconteur 

Rating: 5⭐️✨

Intriguing murder mystery, new adorable Felix’s, and a terrific insight into Henri’s thoughts and emotions on why he has been so thoughtful and slow in his courtship of Jamie.  And hers in return on why it was important for her to have the time to establish herself and continue to work on her trauma and transition before anything personal could occur. 

Depth of evolution of the characters and a highly intelligent investigation of this unusual, and for Henri, emotional case, make Three Charms for Murder  a fantastic read and engaging narrative full of action, magic, and fast paced storytelling. 

I love this so much!

Highly recommended. Highly addictive. 

Love the covers. 

Cover by Katie Griffin

The Case Files of Henri Davenforth (11 book series to date):

Magic and the Shinigami Detective #1

Charms and Death and Explosions (oh my!) #2

Magic Outside the Box #3

Breaking and Entering 101 #4

Three Charms for Murder #5

Grimoires and Where to Find Them #6

Death Over the Garden Wall #7

This Potion is da Bomb #8

All In A Name #9

A Matter of Secrets and Spies #10

All Fun and Games #11

Buy link

        Three Charms for Murder (The Case Files of Henri Davenforth Book 5)

    

Blurb 

It takes more than three charms to commit murder.

When an old childhood friend comes to Henri asking for help in solving his parents’ murders, Henri agrees immediately. He knows this case is not going to be easy. Mr. and Mrs. Atwood’s bodies had been found magically posed to mimic a statue, and the investigator in charge ruled it a murder-suicide. Which is simply not feasible according to the Atwood children.

Aware this is a high society case and all attention will be on them, the team makes their way out to the Atwoods’ vacation home. Upon arrival, Jamie and Henri are horrified to find most of the trace evidence destroyed by incompetence, the bodies unpreserved, and the case file a single page of notes. To top it all off, the local police force wants nothing more than to see them fail.

Add in a string of suspicious burglaries, compromised wards, arson, and a suspect who will do anything to keep the truth under wraps, and Jamie and Henri are ready to commit murder themselves.

Review:  Breaking and Entering 101 (The Case Files of Henri Davenforth Book 4) by Honor Raconteur 

Rating: 5⭐️✨

I really enjoyed Breaking and Entering 101 for a number of reasons. Obviously because I love the characters and series, they continue to develop and evolve in their respective roles, professionally as we see here as Kingsmen consultants, and personally as Jamie has consistently shown that she’s dedicated to her new world and found family. And they to her. 

There’s two distinct mysteries to solve here, both extremely important to undertake and each has its own unique quirks and skills required to succeed in understanding and investigating it. 

One is the theft of heavy gold ingots from a train car that’s locked and warded. Another, which introduces a favorite new character of mine, is a mystery of how the Royal palace (and its many incredible wards) is being constantly being surpassed by a trespasser who doesn’t do anything much but look around, sampling food and drinks. 

This brings in the wonderfully crafted Queen, the many Kingsmen familiar with Jamie, and those slowly becoming a part of Jamie and Henri’s (and RM Seaton as well as Felix Clint) inner circle.   

The time frame has moved by 2 years. That includes new “discoveries and inventions” Jamie has introduced via Ellie to this world. 

Don’t miss out on the additions by Jamie of her knowledge and comparisons at the end. It grows by each novel. 

Another must read in a must have series. 

Highly recommended. Highly addictive. 

Love the covers. 

Cover by Katie Griffin

The Case Files of Henri Davenforth (11 book series to date):

Magic and the Shinigami Detective #1

Charms and Death and Explosions (oh my!) #2

Magic Outside the Box #3

Breaking and Entering 101 #4

Three Charms for Murder #5

Grimoires and Where to Find Them #6

Death Over the Garden Wall #7

This Potion is da Bomb #8

All In A Name #9

A Matter of Secrets and Spies #10

All Fun and Games #11

Buy link

        Breaking and Entering 101 (The Case Files of Henri Davenforth Book 4)

    

Blurb 

Since Jamie and Henri agreed to be Kingsmen consultants, they’d not had much call to actually consult. Which is a fortuitous thing, as Henri is up to his neck in labwork and interviews for a new Magical Examiner due to Sanderson’s departing. He is hardly in any position to add more tasks onto his shoulders. 

Which, naturally, means two disasters strike at once. 

In a brilliant coup, a group of thieves have struck the railroad and stolen a breathtaking three hundred thousand crowns in gold. No one has any idea how, who, or where the ingots have gotten to. The Kingsmen on the case are baffled, as this is hardly their normal purview. They naturally reach out to their Kingsmen consultants, which mean Jamie and Henri are now on the week-old case. 

To spice things up further, someone is routinely sneaking through the palace wards and lurking about the grounds, and no one has any idea how the breach is occurring. Seaton’s beside himself trying to figure it out and Henri has been drawn in to assist him. 

As Jamie would say: When it rains, it pours.