Reviews

Magical Midlife Dating by K.F. Breene

arickman's review against another edition

3.0

I listened to the audiobook and the narrator did a good job.

ohthatmomglow's review against another edition

3.0

I read the first and second in this series because I really thought someone told me there'd be spice....and there isn't. There is one scene that is actually used as an ick factor and not even steamy lead up. This is a magical, campy world full of ridiculous characters and the FMC is pretty great. Its just not what I thought it was.

bavaritonian's review against another edition

2.0

Maybe I wasn't in the mood, but this one didn't click. It was pretty funny in spots, though.

kat76's review against another edition

adventurous challenging funny lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

5.0

lr_nature_nerd's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-paced

3.25

noachoc's review against another edition

2.0

I adored the first in the series, but this one fell flat. The things that made the first one delightful (a non-magical middle aged lady dumped in the middle of a magical adventure) got less sparkly when she actually becomes magical. Honestly it started feeling kinda like any average teen fantasy romance, book two, and the fact that the protagonist is forty didn't really save it.

suziblu's review against another edition

5.0

Loved it

I am loving this series, it's well written, humorous and thrilling with a sexy alpha and a woman who knows her own mind.

wickedcircus's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

tesaelin's review against another edition

5.0

Main Characters: 
Jacinda “Jessie” Evans - (FMC) - recently separated from her husband, she’s took a position as caretaker for Ivy House which granted her a bond and magical powers.

Austin Steele - (MMC) - The “uncrowned alpha” of O’Brien, he runs a dive bar in town and is the reluctant protector of the area. Transforms into a polar bear. Has a history with anger control and being manipulated by his former (almost) mate. #1 on the Council

Side Characters:

Spoiler

Earl, Mister Tom - Older than old, Lurch-wannabe, gargoyle butler to Ivy House. He takes his self-proclaimed protection duties for Jesse a bit too seriously. #9 on the Council.

Niamh Murphy - Rock throwing protector and neighbor of Ivy House. She doesn’t hold her punches and tends to get her kicks making others uncomfortable. Transforms into an puca. #3 on the Council.

Edgar - Resident vampire gardener at Ivy House. Also charged with protecting Ivy House and, consequently, its caretaker. #12 on the Council.

Damarion Stavish - Alpha to the gargoyle pack that accepts Jessie’s summons for help.

Ulric - Another gargoyle who answered the summons. He has bright pink coloring when in his gargoyle form. He's jovial and quickly becomes loyal to Jessie and their group.

Elliot Graves - Magical mob boss whose interest in the town and Ivy House remains worrisome.

Tamara Ivy - Gargoyle queen and the original owner of Ivy House. She was murdered and her powers infused the house which transfer to those it seems worth.

Subpar Summary:

Spoiler

Weeks have passed since we left off in book one. Jessie is trying to acclemate to her new abilities after she accepted her role as the chosen of Ivy House. Between Niamh, "Tom", and Edgar... she's struggling. As they're attempting flying lessons, she unintentionally puts out a call to a summons for help with the endeavor. Unsure who will answer the call, the Ivy House seems to be pulling the strings to help her along. Meanwhile, Austin is doing what he can to avoid any and all correlation with the house, still bitter about having been included when Jessie obtained her powers and solidified the group. He's made it clear he is loyal and a friend to Jessie but doesn't want to be owned by the sentient real estate and keeps his distance, unwilling to accept the role. Knowing how much it affects him, Jessie assures him she will do whatever she can to help release him from their magical group. While trying to accept her new world, she's also trying to maintain her newfound freedom and attempts to go on a online date with no success. Jokes ensue but she gives Niamh full reign to set up the next one after hearing how savvy she is to the lingo since she uses the service to line up meals for Edgar. Just before the next date, two gargoyles arrive with hopes joining the group and pushing for a place as her mate(s). She allows them to stay and heads out to meet with her date but they arrive and manage to scare him off quickly with their overprotectiveness and oddities. Coming to the conclusion that dating a Dick isn't realistic she accepts her lumps and decides to stick with the magical world for any future romantic endeavors. Time passes by and, during another flying lesson, the group is attacked by a group of mages. Just before she hits the ground, an alpha gargoyle swings in and saves her. He and a group of others fight the mages off and she uses the bond to call Austin for help. He arrives and takes off to see if any of the mages managed to escape, finding and killing one after they attack him. They all regroup and the alpha introduces himself as Damarion. He's quick to make very clear advances on her which she isn't quite sure if she is receptive to that or not. It's clear that Ivy House called him to her to help her with her powers. She meets with the other newest members and then resumes training. Damarion invites her on a date where they end up at Austin's bar and the two alphas have it out in a show of dominance. Austin, because Domarion didn't follow the protocol for his town, and Damarion, because he views Austin as a threat to his pursuing a relationship with Jessie. She can't deny the attraction she has to Damarion but it's clear to her that her friendship with Austin is much more important to her. Austin visits the house a few days later and goes a bit feral when he see the signs of physical abuse Jessie is taking while training with the alpha gargoyle. Tempers flare and she ends up freezing them both long enough to separate them. She leaves the house for fresh air with Austin and they go to visit Edgar. While there, they see his lunch lying on the floor still asleep from the bite. They talk for awhile before Austin starts asking questions about how Edgar came across his most recent meal. He explains that the man was hiking alone and willing to go to his home. It pings a few red flags between them given the weather and lack of tourism this time of year. The man wakes just about when they figure out something is wrong and blasts them all with a magic force. It injures and knocks out Austin and Edgar and the man (who is clearly a mage) takes off with Jessie. Knowing she is stronger while on the property, she plays along as victim for him to yap about why he's taking her, but eventually she allows the house to attack and release her from his custody. Austin and the rest of the group reconvene after she heals them an he goes back to his routine at the bar, still not accepting the role the house keeps trying to call him to. After a very awkward encounter with Damarian later on, Jessie clearly has no attraction to the gargoyle anymore and texts Niamh to meet her at the bar to share the funny story. She takes along Tom and two gargoyles for protection, Ulric & Cedric, then heads out. At the bar, they don't find any of the usuals and realize it is a trap. The mages manage to capture her and take off. Meanwhile, Austin is still moping in isolation over whether he wants to take on his protector/Alpha role or not. Niamh shows up to share a heartfelt kick in the ass when she receives Jessie's text to meet her. Both she and Austin feel their bond to Jessie snap before they can go though and everyone meets up to search for her. Jessie wakes up in a cage thats hanging above a floor of spikes and her guard, a basajaun, takes her bribe of acces to flowers to walk away allowing her time to escape. Still unable to access her wings and fly, she can't figure out how to escape in time and feels hopeless. The gang finds her and Austin jumps through a barrier the mages engaged to get to he causing him excrutiating pain. She heals him and he reminds and suports her telling her she needs to save them both by accessing the power she's been given. His absolute confidence and support help snap her back to a "can do" attitude and she transforms into a gargoyle flying them both to freedom. After recouping, they all return to site to confront the mages once and for all. Together, with the unlikely help of the basajaun, they win the battle and return home. Jessie meets with Damarion and releases him from his service. She then asks Austin if he will accept his role in the council. He confesses to her that he was going to say yes the next time she asked and becomes an official member of the council as #1. Jessie gets a letter later on from Elliot Graves implying that the dealio with the mages was at his influence to force her into her powers and that he wouldn't underestimate Austin or his interference again.

Thoughts:
I liked this one better than the last. It's been a mostly fun series with a lot of fun banter and awkwardness. My complaints from book 1 mostly fell away in this one after she stopped dating the Dicks and she embraced her role a little better. I truly love all of the characters and their oddities. The idea that magic can cure age but not sanity has been highly entertaining and each encounter pretty much has been chuckling.

Overall: 4.9/5

iceluca's review against another edition

5.0

These very special geriatric characters are priceless. Love the style of humor. And the cursed dolls are just next level funny.