hookedbythatbook's reviews
3219 reviews

Kindred Spirits at Harling Hall by Sharon Booth

3.0

The ghosts at Harling Hall take center stage in this cozy paranormal romance. 

The first chapter drew me in, especially the way the ghosts were revealed to Callie and to us, the readers. I enjoyed the way Callie shook things up a bit and brought a new perspective, even though she made plenty of mistakes along the way. Immi's enthusiasm for the entire project was infectious and I was feeling positive and keen alongside her. 

I quite liked Callie and Brodie and when it looked like they might start something, I was excited. But they had one kiss and many non-romantic interactions that were adversarial at times. That was not enough to build a believable relationship on. The ending would've been phenomenal if the romance between Callie and Brodie had been better established. It felt more like they were at a very good place to start something, but not necessarily declare their undying love for each other. 

Ultimately, this was a story about people, their fears and insecurities, their heartaches, and what made them happy. The ghosts were an interesting way of delivering all of that and they all came with unique personalities. 

The history of Harling Hall was captivating, but I had a lot of questions about the ghosts and how everything worked and that kept taking me out of the story at times. I enjoyed the author's writing style and I can recommend this book if you like ghosts and human nature stories. 

Thank you to Netgalley and Boldwood Books for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

 

A Duke Never Tells by Suzanne Enoch

4.0

Embrace the quirky chaos with this delightful and amusing double romance. 

This story weaved an intricate and entertaining tale of secret and mistaken identities. The four main characters each got their own point-of-view chapters, as well as a few other characters at times, so we had the pleasure of experiencing all their thoughts. The humorous writing style took us through plenty of ridiculous situations and excellent banter. It was easy to keep track of all the pretend roles and how they related to each other. 

James the butler was charming and hilariously insolent (for a pretend servant). He learned a lot about himself, his servants, and his inheritance. Elliott and James came to a new and enlightened understanding of one another, that probably would not have happened without the two ladies' timely interference. It was clear that Clara and Meg were two different women, with some overlapping interests and characteristics. Meg's youth and innocence shined through at times, which was to be expected. 

I was curious and concerned about when and how this house of cards would fall down, and it toppled over beautifully. Apart from the almost constant grin on my face, there were also a few out loud chuckles. I can recommend this no-spice historical romance for the entertainment factor alone. 

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Predator by Rebecca Zanetti

4.0

Two more phenomenal characters in this series. Jackson was the strong, silent alpha, letting his actions speak for him. He didn't take any nonsense from anybody. And he claimed Emily long before anything happened between them, even when she was determined to find him a mate (that was not her). Emily was very stoic about her future fate. She also just did her best to get things done and she was proactive about her situation. They fit together really well. I loved Jackson's pack's efforts to bring them together. It brought some much needed levity in between all the angst and uncertainty. The villain certainly came out of left field, and though I usually appreciate this, in this instant, it was a bit hard to believe. Other than that, I enjoyed the way Jackson and Emily danced around each other and the action that unfolded at a fairly fast pace. It's not necessary to read these books in order, but I think it would be worth it. 

A Demon Faerie Tale: A Rifter Novella by L.R. Braden, L.R. Braden

5.0

Chaos follows in the wake of a deadly curse with Ty, Mira, and her demon working against time to find the source. 

I absolutely adored the way that Ty reacted to the curse. The curse was a very bad thing, believe me, but Ty’s actions and Mira’s attempts to corral him added some levity to a very grim situation. The two of them were growing closer, working well together, and playing a little bit with fire when it came to the unacknowledged attraction between them. 

This magical mystery was engaging and thrilling. I enjoyed the author’s descriptive writing style that led us from clue to clue through some pretty gruesome moments. It packed quite a punch for a novella, giving us a fully formed story filled with unsettling suspense and no stone left unturned.

Blood Skye by Donna Grant

4.0

The ongoing battle to save the Skye Druids gains vital new information in this exciting tale of magic and betrayal. 

Carlysle was a big soft marshmallow. As soon as he heard Song's story, he folded like a cheap suit and gave up his enmity towards her. Song was understandably wary of Carlysle, but he wore her down with the gentle way he took care of her and worked with her. I enjoyed this enemies-to-lovers progression.  

The action and betrayals came fast and furious, leaving the Skye Druids with a marked lack of breathing room. Carlysle and Song's journey to the truth was thrilling and I can't wait to find out what will happen next. 

I feel like I can sum up this series as each book brings a new couple together, and it is fun and interesting to see these characters develop and grow. But the overarching storyline develops very slowly and new twists are introduced around every corner. Our lineup of heroes keeps growing, and they have enemies from multiple sides, all seemingly unrelated to each other. 

This quote from the book encapsulates my feelings on this series perfectly: "There are no answers," he replied and focused his gaze across the landscape. "Just more questions. A never-ending sea of them. Each one more tormenting than the last." Amen, brother. 

All of this is meant to say that Blood Skye is book 6 in the Skye Druids series and I definitely recommend that you read the series in order, otherwise you will miss too much world building. If you can, read some of the other books that all form part of this interconnected Dark World. 

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

 

Mr. Swoony by Piper Rayne

4.0

The whole interrupting the wedding plan did not go as I expected. It was crazy and hilarious and, obviously, the very best thing to happen to Eloise. Conor just took everything in stride and he was very patient and understanding with Eloise. Despite his desperation to have her, he gave her the space she wanted and the friendship she needed. This was a fun read and I can recommend this entire series it if you like a steamy hockey romance. It's not necessary to read the books in order, but it'll be better if you did.

A Whisper and a Curse by Darcy Burke

5.0

Séances and murder make for a captivating and thrilling mystery. 

I was drawn in by the plot. Hadrien was very skeptical of the mediums right off the bat, and Tilda would, every once in a while, remind him to keep an open mind, especially considering Hadrian's own gift. I liked the balanced view that she brought to her investigation. Hadrian and Tilda had an abundance of strings to tug and each one led down an interesting path. The evidence was revealed gradually, at just the right pace, and kept my interest thoroughly piqued. 

Hadrien's slowly evolving ability brought an extra edge, especially when you take into account everything that was revealed about the spiritualists and their organization. Tilda and Hadrian's friendship is firmly back on track and they work extremely well together. So, still not a romance. The ending definitely left me wanting more of these two and their investigative prowess. 

If you like your historical fiction with murder and suspense and a touch of the paranormal, then this is for you. I’ve been enjoying this series a lot so far. This book can be read on its own, but I think it’s worth reading them in order. 

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

A Circle of Uncommon Witches by Paige Crutcher

3.0

A confounding obstacle course of spiritual and emotional ordeals will hopefully bring an end to a horrible curse. 

My very first feelings were sympathy for these witches and this curse that basically left them with two terrible choices as adults. The curse was explained in great detail and very cleverly when we met Doreen and Margot in the first chapter. They are two very likable characters and I was rooting for Doreen to find a solution. 

Ambrose got a raw deal and his selfish motives at the start made complete sense. For some reason, that I'm not entirely sure of, Ambrose made Doreen believe they were going to see someone who could help with breaking the curse. This led them to the trials in the underworld, which were fantastic and intricate and reshaped Doreen's view of her own world and abilities. The complicated plot surrounding Ambrose's curse and Ada's own history was confusing at times and it took a while to unravel all those parts. 

Doreen and Ambrose were clearly attracted to each other from the start, but I wasn't all that convinced about them as a couple. I wanted to be. Ambrose spent most of the story pining for Lenora and denying any connection to Doreen, and then it all suddenly changed (with a good explanation, I should add). But that made it more difficult to believe in Ambrose's feelings for Doreen. 

Overall, it was an interesting and enjoyable read, but there were a lot of things happening that were difficult to piece together. If you like witches, curses, and spending time in alternate realms, then this might be for you. 

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Eternal Magic (Magic for Hire), # 3 by Alexandra Ivy

4.0

A past best forgotten catches up with Maya in this suspenseful, thrilling fantasy romance. 

Maya wasn't a very likable character in the first two books. She came across as quite strict and rigid, and it was a given that she had some trauma from long ago that made her that way. The past was very cleverly woven into the story of the present and gave us a chilling view into Maya's psyche. But this also gave her the determination she needed to figure out the mystery of who wanted her dead. And to face some ghosts from the past as well. 

Ravyer was an indistinguishable part of her painful past. They tiptoed around each other initially, but their fascination with each other from before reignited with a bang. I loved how he just fell for Maya, went all in, and didn't question it at all. They made a great couple and an effective team. 

Tia played an instrumental role in the entire affair. She and Maya shared a history of pain and suffering, and both had reason to feel resentful. Theirs was a difficult reunion, yet they had each other's backs when it mattered most. We did find out more about Joe and, as expected, he played Maya's protector, but I felt that this wasn't all there was to him. 

The plot was a bit convoluted, with lots of players and possible suspects, and our heroes had to chase plenty of dead ends. It all flowed very well, and the resolution was both horrifying and satisfying. I can recommend this series if you like a steamy fantasy romance with vampires, demons, and mages. It is best to read the books in order. 

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Two Can Play by Ali Hazelwood

4.0

I listened to this one and it was a very enjoyable experience. It was difficult to turn it off to concentrate on other things. Viola had mostly only positive thoughts about Jessie, even though he snubbed her at every turn, and that perplexed her immensely. It took a while to reveal the real misunderstanding and up until then, I had a hard time figuring out what could possibly have happened that would redeem Jessie. I loved their passion for the books and the game that they both were desperate to work on. And I think the book ended at exactly the right spot.