Audiobook Review: Payback's a Witch by Lana Harper

Author: Lana Harper
Narrator: Jeremy Carlisle Parker

Title: Payback's a Witch

Series: The Witches of Thistle Grove #1

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Fantasy, LGBT
Format: Audiobook

Published: October 5, 2021
Where I Got It: Library


Summary: 

Emmy Harlow is a witch but not a very powerful one—in part because she hasn't been home to the magical town of Thistle Grove in years. Her self-imposed exile has a lot to do with a complicated family history and a desire to forge her own way in the world, and only the very tiniest bit to do with Gareth Blackmoore, heir to the most powerful magical family in town and casual breaker of hearts and destroyer of dreams.

But when a spellcasting tournament that her family serves as arbiters for approaches, it turns out the pull of tradition (or the truly impressive parental guilt trip that comes with it) is strong enough to bring Emmy back. She's determined to do her familial duty; spend some quality time with her best friend, Linden Thorn; and get back to her real life in Chicago.

On her first night home, Emmy runs into Talia Avramov—an all-around badass adept in the darker magical arts—who is fresh off a bad breakup . . . with Gareth Blackmoore. Talia had let herself be charmed, only to discover that Gareth was also seeing Linden—unbeknownst to either of them. And now she and Linden want revenge. Only one question stands: Is Emmy in?

But most concerning of all: Why can't she stop thinking about the terrifyingly competent, devastatingly gorgeous, wickedly charming Talia Avramov?

Review:

Thanks to Libby (my library app), I found this little gem. I was digging and looking for a paranormal romance with an LGBTQ+ couple. I felt like it would be a good way to end the spooky season! Witches and love...oh my. 

Here we follow Emmy, who is back home in Thistle Grove. She has been gone for a long time, but with reason. She wants to forge her own life and leave behind the town she grew up in. However, she has to come back for the spellcasting tournament that her family serves as arbiters for. Through tradition and rules....it is her turn to take the lead. She plans to do her duty and spend time with her family and friends. Nothing more. Her life in Chicago is waiting for her. However, on her first night back, she runs into Talia. It comes out that they all have had their hearts broken by Gareth. What is the best way to get revenge? Work together so his family doesn't win the Thistle Grove tournament. 

This was a pure delight. I loved this whole Tucker Must Die meets magic was so fun.

I loved the town. How fun! 

The tournament was a lovely touch. 

I liked Emmy, but I didn't fully understand her not wanting to come back to town, especially because their magic pretty much disappears if they don't stay in town. Sure, I get going away for college and away from the asshole who broke her heart....but it felt....overdramatic to punish the whole town, her family, and her best friend. I feel like Emmy was kinda cruel for this. Don't get me wrong. I did like Emmy, but her decisions had rubbed me the wrong way.

Talia was very sweet in a dark way. Emmy and her balanced each other well. 

Spoiler, not spoiler, there is a fight between the two of them, and they make up. I felt like....it needed more time for them to talk it out. There were a LOT of hurtful things said. 

But I loved the ending. It was lovely. I love this town, and this couple was cute. I might check out book 2 if it is at the library. 

In the end, I'll give this 3 stars.  

 

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #47

- Library Love #30

- Reading Romance Challenge #23 (LGBTQ+)

Book Review: A Christmas Abduction by Madeline Hunter

Author: Madeline Hunter

Title: A Christmas Abduction

Genre: Historical Romance, Novella

Format: ebook

Pages: 123

Published: September 26, 2023

Where I got It: Borrowed from library

Summary: 

Caroline Dunham has a bone to pick with notorious rake Adam Prescott, Baron Thornhill—and a creative plan to insure his undivided attention. It involves an ambush of sorts, and a pistol. Yet even the best laid plans have a way of backfiring . . .

 

Once in close quarters, face to face with Adam’s unexpected chivalry, Caroline is taken aback by her own susceptibility to his charms. Yet the more determined she is to avoid falling under his spell, the less of a devil he appears to be. And fate has another surprise in store—one that may leave both their hearts captive for a long time to come 

Review:

Hehehehe. I know Spooky Season is still in session, but this caught my eye, and I wanted to read it. Oopsies Poopsies. 

Here we follow Caroline and Adam. Caroline has a bone to pick with Adam the RAKE. She has a creative plan to ensure his undivided attention. However, the best laid plans sometimes can go awry. Adam is actually nice and a gentleman....she is taken aback by how charming he is. She will deny herself falling for him until Fate has one more surprise in store. 

This was a charming little number. The banter was fun. The situations had me chuckling even though it was unbelievable.  

The big reveal was....meh. 

But overall, this was a cute little number that would be perfect for the holidays. 

I'll give this 3 stars. 

Reading Challenges

- Library Love #29

Book Review: Threshing Day by Rebecca Yarros

Author: Rebecca Yarros

Title: Threshing Day

Series: The Empyrean #3.5

Genre: Fantasy, Novella, Short Stories

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 204

Published: September 29, 2026

Where I got It: My shelf (Barnes and Noble)

Summary: 

Welcome to Threshing Day, the brutal, high-stakes trial where would-be riders at Basgiath War College fight to earn the bond of a dragon or die trying. Amid ruthless competition and dragon fire, these thirteen cadets must survive a battlefield where desperate rivals will do anything to gain an advantage and dragons decide one’s ultimate fate―and where a single choice can forge a rider…or destroy them.

Xaden Riorson, the powerful leader. Rhiannon Matthias, the clever friend. Dain Aetos, the dutiful rule-follower. Liam Mairi, the kindhearted protector. Ridoc Gamlyn, the jokester. Sawyer Henrick, the underdog. Garrick Tavis, the dependable aide. Imogen Cardulo, the impulsive fighter. Bodhi Durran, the second-in-command. Mira Sorrengail, the fearless rider. Brennan Sorrengail, the brilliant tactician. Aaric Graycastle, the restless royal. Sloane Mairi, the determined sister.

On Threshing Day, there’s only one rule: don’t die.

Review:

I've been delaying this one a bit. Trying to save it for when I really need it. When is the next full book coming out? Goodness knows. I'm itching for it! This one really helped the itch. 

Here we have a collection of Threshing Day stories from some of our favorite characters. 

This was so fun. I loved watching a lot of faves meet and connect with their dragons. It was lovely. 

Sadly, the ending left me itching. What a good way to end this with that last story!! I want more. 

So good. So fun. Loved getting that one-on-one time with some other characters. 

5 stars. 

Book Review: One Last Job by Anise Starre

Author: Anise Starre

Title: One Last Job

Series: Flights and Feelings

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Format: Ebook

Pages: 382

Published: July 7, 2023

Where I got It: Kindle Unlimited

Summary: 

Working late never felt so good.

When Amber Wyatt gets the opportunity to project manage a lucrative contract with The August Room, an exclusive and glamorous private members’ club, she can’t wait to get started. That is until she meets handsome managing director. Finn Hawthorne seemingly has no respect for her work, continuously undermines her and, worst of all, has the uncanny ability to charm everyone else he meets.

But launching The August Room is Finn's baby and he needs it to go well. With whispers of nepotism he needs to prove himself. Which explains why he can’t stand Amber. Not only is she charging him a small fortune, she keeps dismissing his ideas and, worst of all, she’s drop-dead gorgeous and seemingly immune to his charms.

Forced to work together to meet the tight launch day deadline, sparks begin to fly, and the fine line between business and pleasure starts to blur.

What was supposed to be a career-defining project leaves them both wanting more, but will they take it, or will this one last job destroy everything they've built?

Review:

Randomly stumbled upon this one while looking for something else and this seemed fabulous. 

Here we have Finn and Amber. They are forced to work together to meet a tight launch date. When together...it seems they are too different, but they will soon learn they are perfect for each other. 

I'm going to do a divide and conquer review again. My poor brain hurts today. 

The Good

- Loved these two! Finn and Amber were great. Loved their banter

- I liked how this naturally happened. Yes, they were forced together but it took time and it felt right. 

- This is part of a series, but it didn't feel like it. It felt like a nice standalone. Sure, there might've been cameos, but I didn't notice

- The ending was lovely and was perfect. 

The Bad and the Ugly

- I don't really have any issues. ;)

Conclusion

Great read. I would def read more by this author and maybe more in this series. 5 stars from me. 

Blodeuedd's Monday: The Shuddering by Ania Ahlborn

Format: 283 pages, Paperback

Published: June 18, 2013 by 47North

Horror/borrowed

It started sort of slow. A group of friends heading to a remote luxury cabin. Lots of talking. Two siblings, their friend, his new girlfriend. Blah blah. BOOOM!!!!

Then it got scary, It started to build. See it was not scary as others on that mountain died, but then it got close, and then it was too late. Wtf was out there! First shadows, then showing to be creepy humanlike beings that hunt the house that they now can not leave.

And it gets bloodier, and gore, and omg I am not going up a mountain or into the woods in winter. That is some scary stuff out there!

Also the end, omg, omg, omg.

SO yeah ended up liking it.

They only come when it snows, and nobody ever gets away.

A group of close friends gathers at a secluded cabin in the wintry mountains of Colorado for a final holiday hurrah. Instead, it may be their last stand. First a massive blizzard leaves them marooned. Then the more chilling realization: something is lurking in the woods, watching them, waiting...

Now a weekend of family, friends, and fun has turned into a test of love and loyalty in the face of inhuman horrors. The only hope for those huddled inside is to fight—tooth and nail, bullet and blade—for their lives. Otherwise, they'll end up like the monsters' other victims: bright pools of blood on glittering snow, screams lost in the vast mountains.

Audiobook Review: Mate by Ali Hazelwood

Author: Ali Hazelwood
Narrator: Ellie Gossage & Teddy Hamilton

Title: Mate

Series: Bride #2

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Fantasy
Format: Audiobook

Published: October 7, 2025
Where I Got It: Library


Summary: 

Serena Paris is orphaned, pack-less, and one of a kind. Coming forward as the first Human-Were hybrid was supposed to heal a centuries-long rift between species. Instead, it made her a target, prey for the ruthless political machinations between Weres, Vampyres, and Humans. With her enemies closing in on her, she has only one option left if he'll have her.

As Alpha of the Northwest pack, Koen Alexander commands obedience. His authority is so absolute, only a fool would threaten his mate. It doesn't matter if Serena doesn't reciprocate his feelings, nothing will stop him from keeping her safe.

But power-hungry Vampyres and Weres are not the only threats chasing Serena. Sooner or later, her past is bound to catch up with her and Koen might be the only thing standing between her and total annihilation…

Review:

Been meaning to read book 2 for a while now. I enjoyed book 1 so much. But you know how it goes...things get...well...forgotten and put on the back burner. 

Okaaaayyyyy. Here we pick up around-ish where we left off, but now we are following Serena. She is a half-human, half-were. She didn't know it until now. She is the first of her kind, and people either see her as a threat or a way for relations to heal between the species. She wants to be left alone in her cabin, but with her enemies closing in around her...Koen brings her to his pack. 

Awwww I adore Serena sooooo much. I feel so bad for her. She has not had a good time of it in her life, but she is so kind and loving. 

OooooOooo Koen is a rough one, but he will worm his way into your heart, especially after....a certain scene LOL. 

This world is sooo fun. I want to learn more, but it sounds like we are only getting these two books....not even a spin-off! WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTT!? AUTHOR NOOOOO! I want more. There are some friends I want to see find love. Find happiness. GAH. 

I loved watching the progression of this love story. It is a super, duper slow burn because Koen can't and won't allow her to get close. Rules are rules, baby. No further explanation/spoilers coming from these lips...aka fingers....

The narration was fine. I wasn't crazy about the formatting. It is all in Serena's POVs, but we get like a sentence or two of Koen's POV at the beginning of each chapter. And the male voice reads all the male dialogue. Mmm. Not crazy about it for sure. MORE KOEN PLEASEEEE.

But yes, I enjoyed this, and I want more of this world and these groups of people. I feel like there are sooooooo many stories that could be told. Sadly, there isn't a Book 3 anytime soon or at all. Maybe the author will hear my prayers. 

4 stars from me. It would be 5, but the narration format didn't sit well with me. I read a physical book for book 1, so I have zero idea what they did with that. 

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #46

- Library Love #28

Book Review: When the Dead Speak by Clay Wise

Author: Clay Wise

Title: When the Dead Speak

Genre: Mystery, Horror

Format: Ebook

Pages: 302

Published: August 9, 2025

Where I got It: Kindle Unlimited

Summary: 

When Ally Hawkins sees her late husband’s ghost, she’s drawn into a deadly conspiracy behind his death. Hunted by dangerous enemies both living and dead, she must uncover the truth before she becomes the next target.

Review:

While looking for scary books for October, I found this one, and it was freeeee then. Love a freebie. 

Here we follow Ally and her crew. When Ally sees her late husband's ghost, she is drawn into a deadly conspiracy behind his death. They are hunted by the living and dead as she uncovers the truth to help her husband's ghost find peace. 

Whelp. I guess this is technically part of a series even though it wasn't made clear on Goodreads. I realized this after I felt like I was missing something. I read a few reviews and WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLL. Yeah. I mean - it did find as a standalone, but there were moments that I felt like a new person at the party. 

I was entertained by this and was curious about what was going to happen. I wasn't sure what was going to happen next and how they were going to find the truth. Lots of bad people covering stuff up, for sure. 

I feel for Ally...I wouldn't want that power, especially seeing a dead loved one. EEEE.

But yes, I enjoyed this, but I did feel like I was missing some stuff. It did well enough as a standalone, but I think going back and reading previous stories might have helped me like this a touch more. 

I'm going to stamp this with a 3. 

Audiobook Review: A Very Good Bad Idea by Emma Chase

Author: Emma Chase
Narrator: Sean Masters & Brooke Bloomingdale

Title: A Very Good Bad Idea

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Rom Com
Format: Audiobook

Published: October 13, 2026
Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)


Summary: 

No loopholes. No backing out. No leaving for four months.

Damon Burke is intense, handsome and vengefully calculating—he's also certain he'll outlast his competitor.

Jade Buchanan is brilliant, ruthless, and absolutely not losing to him.

But the house seems to have a mind of its own. With faulty wiring, a leaking roof, drafty windows and the occasional wild-life infestation, it just might be trying to kill them. And the more Damon and Jade try to oust each other from the property, the more it brings them together.

Sparks fly, tempers clash—but eventually, all their walls come crumbling down.

It's a bad idea to get too close to your enemy. To care about them, need them, want them more than you've ever wanted anything.

But when rivalry becomes something more than they ever expected, Damon and Jade discover love can be a very good bad idea.

Review:

This randomly popped up as a recommendation while I was looking for something to turn on for one part of my road trip. SOOOoooOOoooo why not?

Man, I should've written this right away. EEEE.

Okay...Jade and Damon are enemies. They both want this house for their companies. The previous owner couldn't decide who should get it, so they made a clause in the will.....both need to stay in the house for 4 months. No phones and people bring food and other essentials every couple of weeks. They are alone with their thoughts and...each other. First to leave wins. 

I'll divide and conquer this review:

The Good

- I thought this was funny. I know some people didn't like the pranks, but I thought they were funny until they went to far. 

- The banter was great. 

- The smexy parts were lovely

- The ending was lovely. 

- I loved the side characters. They were adorable

- The narration was great! Both did well. 

The Bad and the Ugly

- I hated our two mains. They were assholes. Sure, it made for entertainment, but they need therapyyyyyyyyyy bad. 

- This felt unrealistic at times. Like...sure people are bad...but how is Jade's Dad NOT in prison?

- Jade forgave Damon for what he said about her mom WAY too quickly. 

Conclusion

This was a mixed bag for me. Loved some parts, hated some. And these two are hard to like. They are rough. Sure, they get better and the rough edges are smoothed down, but I would never want to meet these people in real life. 

I'll give this 3 stars. 

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #45

Blodeuedd's Monday: Snake-Eater by T. Kingfisher

Narrated by: Elena Rey

Length: 10 hrs and 56 mins

Release date: 12-01-25

Publisher: Brilliance Audio

Paranormal

I did not know what to expect from this one, and this was not it. Ha, it was fun.

Selena is running from a relationship. She has anxiety issues, and he is holding her down. So she runs to an aunt in the desert. An aunt who is dead and now she has her house. But there are gods and spirits in the desert. And her aunt seems to have hooked up with one.

To help her she has her dog Copper, her neighbor Grandma, oh she was a hoot. And slowly gaining friendships she did not think she was capable of. Which is what you get from years of trauma by her mother and boyfriend.

There are scary roadrunners and a god called Snake-Eater. Selena is in for more than she bargained for.

I liked it. It took me somewhere I did not know I was going. The narration was great too. A good experience

With only a few dollars to her name and her beloved dog Copper by her side, Selena flees her past in the city to claim her late aunt’s house in the desert town of Quartz Creek. The scorpions and spiders are better than what she left behind.

Because in Quartz Creek, there’s a strange beauty to everything, from the landscape to new friends, and more blue sky than Selena’s ever seen. But something lurks beneath the surface. Like the desert gods and spirits lingering outside Selena’s house at night, keeping watch. Mostly benevolent, says her neighbor Grandma Billy. That doesn’t ease the prickly sense that one of them watches too closely and wants something from Selena she can’t begin to imagine. And when Selena’s search for answers leads her to journal entries that her aunt left behind, she discovers a sinister truth about her new It’s the haunting grounds of an ancient god known simply as “Snake-Eater,” who her late aunt made a promise to that remains unfulfilled.

Snake-Eater has taken a liking to Selena, an obsession of sorts that turns sinister. And now that Selena is the new owner of his home, he’s hell-bent on collecting everything he’s owed.

Audiobook Review: Earls Trip by Jenny Holiday

Author: Jenny Holiday
Narrator: Harry Frost

Title: Earls Trip

Series: Earls Trip #1

Genre: Historical Romance
Format: Audiobook

Published: April 23, 2024
Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)


Summary: 

Even an earl needs his ride-or-dies, and Archibald Fielding-Burton, the Earl of Harcourt, counts himself lucky to have two. Archie (the jock), Simon (the nerd), and Effie (the goth) have been BFFs since their school days, and their annual trip holds a sacred spot in their calendars. This year, Archie is especially eager to get away—until an urgent letter arrives from an old family friend, begging him to help prevent a ruinous scandal. Archie’s childhood pal Olive Morgan must be rescued from an ill-fated elopement—and her sister Clementine must be rescued from rescuing Olive. Suddenly the trip has become earls-plus-girls.

This . . . complicates matters. The fully grown Clementine, while as frank and refreshing as Archie remembers, is also different to the wild, windswept girl he knew. This Clem is complex and surprising—and adamantly opposed to marriage. Which, for reasons Archie dare not examine too closely, he finds increasingly vexing.

Then Clem makes him an indecent and quite delightful proposal, asking him to show her the pleasures of the marriage bed before she settles into spinsterhood. And what kind of gentleman would he be to refuse a lady?

Review:

A few people I know have read this, and they all had vastly different experiences with it, so I was a hair hesitant to finally listen. Weeellllllllllll, a road trip is the perfect time to just do it. 

Archie and his friends go on a yearly "earls trip" to get away from it all. This year, Archie is eager to get away. His mother's health and mind are slipping faster and faster. However, an urgent letter arrives from an old family friend. It begs him to help prevent a ruinous scandal. His childhood friends, Olive and Clem, have both run away. Olive is with a man, and Clem is trying to stop this marriage. Suddenly, this trip will have the two ladies with them. What complicates matters more is that Clem is now a fully grown woman and is complex and delightful. Uhoh. 

I do have some mixed feelings about this. I honestly felt like I was on a roller coaster. 

One minute I'm IN LOVE with the story. The next minute I was yawning. A page later I was right back in it and wanted the narration to go faster! Theeeennnnnn I was just wanting it to be over. And yeah...so on and so forth. 

I liked Clem. Archie was...okay. He def got better near the end. 

The romance was alright. This felt more like a historical fiction with a sprinkle of romance. It took FOREVER for them to even admit they kinda, sorta like each other. Love a slow burn, but this was like rubbing two sticks together in the rain. Eventually the flames happen, but it takes a while. I think I liked everyone better as friends. It was a fun story watching them all interact! It was charming. 

The narrator did a fine job. His girl voices felt too similar.

But yes, mixed feelings for sure. 

Loved some bits. Some bits...meh. 

I'll give this 3 stars. 

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #44

Audiobook Review: Bram Stoker's Dracula

Author: Bram Stoker
Narrator: Ella Purnell, Jonathan Bailey, & full cast

Title: Dracula

Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Paranormal, Classic
Format: Audiobook

Published: October 1, 2026 (this rendition)
Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)


Summary: 

When her fiancé vanishes in Transylvania, Mina pieces together letters, diary entries and chilling testimony to hunt the predator stalking those she loves — only to discover he's already hunting her. Dracula lurks in shadow, slips into dreams, and casts no reflection. To nearly all, he defies beyond what the eye can see, and what the mind can comprehend. When her closest friend Lucy succumbs to his thrall, the enigmatic Professor Van Helsing is summoned to wage war on this unfathomable threat. But it is Mina; her intellect, her resolve, her gift for drawing the unseen lines between clues, who may hold the key to stopping this ancient scourge. If he hasn't already found his way inside her mind…

Review:

Love me some Dracula. Esp Dracula remakes. And when I heard the cast of this one, I couldn't resist checking it out!

Mina's fiancé vanishes, and she is trying to piece together the letters, diary entries, and chilling testimony to figure out what happened. He returns, but he isn't the same. At the same time, her childhood friend is dying, and they do not know why. They bring in Professor Van Helsing to combat the threat. However, it is Mina who will connect all the dots and figure out that they are being hunted by an ancient scourge. 

The original story is good, but man, was this cast amazing. They really did a wonderful job breathing fresh air into this story. Fabulous. I was so invested. I listened to this during a long drive down to Florida, and I was in Tennessee by the time I finished it. I was surrounded by trees and darkness. Such a great way to listen to this. I was so scared by the end. I ran to the hotel to check in. 

I would listen to this rendition again. It really just flushed out the story and made me love the story all over again. I haven't read the original since 2012, and I remember it seemed to drag on and on. I didn't feel this way with this narration. They just brought this to life so well. 

5 stars, 100%. 

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #43

Book Review: The Last Seance by Agatha Christie

Author: Agatha Christie

Title: The Last Séance

Genre: Thriller, Anthology, Paranormal, Mystery, Classics

Format: Ebook

Pages: 353

Published: September 24, 2019

Where I got It: Library

Summary: 

For lovers of the supernatural and the macabre comes this collection of ghostly and chilling stories from legendary mystery writer Agatha Christie. Fantastic psychic visions, specters looming in the shadows, encounters with deities, a man who switches bodies with a cat—be sure to keep the light on whilst reading these tales.

The Last Séance gathers twenty stories, some featuring Christie’s beloved detectives Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple, in one haunting compendium that explores all things occult and paranormal, and is an essential omnibus for Christie fans.

Review:

Yayyyy more Agatha Christie! She really is a great read for the Spooky season!

Here we have twenty shorts. There were a couple I have read in the past, but a lot I have never read before so it was nice to check them out!

The Last Séance

This one was spooky! A nice way to start off the collection. 5/5

In a Glass Darkly

Another spooky one. I liked this one a lot. 5/5

S.O.S.

Loved the atmosphere. This was a nice one. Not sure about that ending. 4/5

The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb

Such a good one! I've read this one before. Nice! 5/5

The Fourth Man

Oof. This was a rough one to read for a few reasons...still a good read but man. 3/5

The Idol House of Astarte

Miss Marple!!!!! This was entertaining! I want more Marple. 5/5

The Gipsy

I wasn't sure how this was going to end! EEE! 5/5

Philomel Cottage

I was meh about this one. 2/5

The Lamp

Sooo bittersweet. So nice though. 4/5

The Dream

I feel like I read this one before....maybe not. Maybe it was something similar. But still enjoyable. 4/5

Wireless

I LOVED this one. I think this was on my top 3 of this list. 5/5

The Wife of the Kenite

Ooooo this was a good one. I had no idea what was going to happen. 5/5

The Mystery of the Blue Jar

Mmmmm. It was okay. Not sure how I feel about the ending. 3/5

The Strange Case of Sir Arthur Carmichael

This was weird but entertaining!! 4/5

The Blue Gernaium

I...barely remember this one. Whoops. 2/5

The Call of Wings

Awww I liked this one. It was good. 4/5

The Flock of Geryon

Another goodie. I really liked this one. 5/5

The Red Signal

Oooooooooo. Such a good one. Top 5 for sure. 5/5

The Dressmaker's Doll

Super horror with this one. Spooky. Creepy. Fun. 4/5

The Hound of Death

I wish I had liked this one more. It just didn't get me as much as I wanted. Still a nice read. 3/5 

Overall! I liked this collection. Lots of wins. Lots of good reads. A couple I was meh about or honestly....couldn't even remember it. I consider this a win! It would be a fun Netflix collection to make hehehe *wink*

Doing complicated and Harvard level math...............................4 stars. 

Reading Challenges

- Library Love #27

Book Review: The Seduction of the Crimson Rose by Lauren Willig

Author: Lauren Willig

Title: The Seduction of the Crimson Rose

Series: Pink Carnation #4

Genre: Historical Romance, Contemporary Romance, Mystery, Chick Lit
Format: Paperback

Pages: 385
Published: January 6, 2008
Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)


Summary: 

A continuation of the series that began with The Masque of the Black Tulip and The Deception of the Emerald Ring finds Mary accepting a secret assignment from spy Lord Vaughn to infiltrate the Black Tulip's operation in order to prevent an invasion of England

Review:

I started this and then stopped for a while. September was a wild month. Buuuuuut this was set to the side and not forgotten. I love this series, and I wanted to keep going. I finally picked back up to finish. 

Here we are with Eloise continuing her research on the Pink Carnation and other fellow spies. This time we will step back and see Mary's and Lord Vaughn's story. Mary accepts a secret assignment to infiltrate the Black Tulip's operation to prevent plans for an invasion of England. 

Mary is a rough character to like, but she is one you can't stop being curious about. There is a lot more deep down. Same with Lord Vaughn. The two are a match made in snarky Heaven.

It was nice going back to this! It's been so long. I had forgotten sooo many things.

Eloise is adorable. I remember being not her biggest fan in my very first read-through of this series, but I've grown to adore her. 

Such a fun series. This isn't my favorite mainly because Mary is rough to like, but it's still an enjoyable read. Love the world. Love the characters. I can't wait to start the next one soon-ish.  

I'll give this a 4.

Audiobook Review: A Taste of Magic by Tricia O'Malley

Author: Tricia O'Malley
Narrator: Siobhan Waring & John Hartley

Title: A Taste of Magic

Series: The Scottish Charms #2

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal Romance
Format: Audiobook

Published: August 25, 2026
Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)


Summary: 

She’s hexed. He’s her ex. And if they can’t bake in harmony, Briarhaven’s big cooking competition might just go up in smoke.

Lyra MacGregor’s magic is as unpredictable as her love life—especially when her spellwork starts misfiring during the filming of Briarhaven’s favorite reality TV Bewitching Bake-Off. Even worse? She’s paired with Rabbie Campbell, her high school sweetheart turned heartbreak.

He’s never baked a thing in his life. She turns spoons into hedgehogs when he’s nearby. But with the cameras rolling, the curse deepening, and old sparks reigniting, they’ll have to cook up more than just a winning cake to survive. Because in Briarhaven, baking is spellwork, and love is the trickiest recipe of all.

Review:

I finished book 1, and I had to get my hands on book 2. I'm loving this town and this family. Plus...I had to know what the heck is up with Rabbie and Lyra. What happened between them the last time they were in town?

Lyra and her family have been back in town for about a year now. It is her turn to finally get her powers and lift her part of the curse. However, things are interrupted when a Baking Show picks Briarhaven to host the Christmas special. This is the chance Lyra has been dreaming about! She finally got a job at the bakery, but maybe this competition will help blast her Baking show to new heights. However, she is having issues with her magic, and now she's being partnered with her ex....

I really loved this one. I loved watching them go from enemies to baking partners to friends to being in love. It felt real. They finally are forced to TALK and hear each other out. *chef kiss*

Lyra is adorable. 

Rabbie is cranky and cute. 

Gimme all the hedgehogs. 

I just wanted to eat all the yummy desserts mentioned. 

This is a second chance, and I get scared of them, but the reason why they broke up was an easy fix once they matured, especially when they realized it was all a misunderstanding. 

The ending was lovely. 

The narrators were perfect. 

I loved this. So much fun. I want book 3!!!!

5 stars. 

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #42

- Reading Romance Challenge #20 (MC Works in the Food Industry)