Book Review: Magic Touch by AS Fenichel

Author: A.S. Fenichel

Title: Magic Touch

Series: Witches of Windsor #1

Genre:  Paranormal Romance, Historical Fiction

Format: ebook

Pages: 301

Published: July 1, 2024

Where I got It: Kindle Unlimited

Summary: 

ESME

I never dreamed my small curatives shop in Windsor, England would attract the attention of war hero Sir William Meriwether. My feminine heart is aflutter when he enters. But I'm a witch and a healer, and he's a man in pain, so I heal him. Desperate to do him a good service, I stretch my powers to the limit—or perhaps beyond. Somehow, in curing his ailing leg, I unleash powers inside William. At a loss to stop what's begun, I'm forced to seek assistance from the coven I've sworn never to join. I dread the encounter, but for William's sake, I put my family's hatred aside. Getting to spend more time with William is an added enticement.

WILLIAM

I'm mesmerized by Esme O'Dwyer from the moment I lay eyes on her. Despite our different stations in society, I want something more personal than any restorative tea she might offer. As a gentleman, I contain those baser needs, and accept her assistance to ease the pain in my leg. When the alluring witch's touch bestows me with magic of my own, I want no part of it. But the coven's leaders insist magic never make mistakes, and for this to have happened, I must be needed. I've never been one to shy away from duty, and being secluded for training with Esme is magical in more ways than one.

ESME

Trouble is coming to Windsor. The signs are all there. The race is on to train William as a witch before his power is needed, but our growing attraction is as undeniable as the battle that lies ahead.

Review:

Randomly came upon this little guy, so I decided to give it a chance! It sounded pretty good, and I do love witches. ;) Plus, look at that kitty!!!!!!!!!!

Here we have Esme and William. Esme is the local healer and witch. William comes in, and he needs to be healed. However, there is something between them that resonates. When she heals him, she helps unlock powers he never knew he had. There is an attraction, but there is an evil coming to Windsor, and she has to help train him for the upcoming battle. 

This was a nice read. I enjoyed our journey and our little lovebirds. They were very sweet, and the drama was to a minimum. Some internal stuff and the looming battle, of course. 

I liked both our characters, and there was a nice collection of side characters. I am curious about Minerva. I think her book is next. 

Some elements of the plot seemed....weak. Not sure if that is the right word. I don't feel like I understand the world or these powers. Maybe things will be better explained in the next book? Everything felt flowy and loosey goosey...a bit too flowy and loosey goosey for my liking.

Even with that, I still enjoyed the journey and our romance. With the ending....I am curious to see what is next, but I'm not rushing to read it. Maybe if it is free or on Kindle Unlimited. Maybe there is an audio I would enjoy a touch more. 

I'll give this 3 stars.  

Reading Challenges:

- Reading Romance Challenge #18 (Cat on the cover)

Audiobook Review: The Mistake by Elle Kennedy

 

Author: Elle Kennedy

Narrator: Lorelei Avalon & Lee Samuels

Title: The Mistake

Series: Off-Campus #2

Genre: Sports Romance, Contemporary Romance

Format: Audiobook 

Published: April 28, 2015

Where I Got It: Audible

Summary: 

He's a player in more ways than one… College junior John Logan can get any girl he wants. For this hockey star, life is a parade of parties and hook-ups, but behind his killer grins and easygoing charm, he hides growing despair about the dead-end road he'll be forced to walk after graduation. A sexy encounter with freshman Grace Ivers is just the distraction he needs, but when a thoughtless mistake pushes her away, Logan plans to spend his final year proving to her that he's worth a second chance. Now he's going to need to up his game… After a less than stellar freshman year, Grace is back at Briar University, older, wiser, and so over the arrogant hockey player she nearly handed her V-card to. She's not a charity case, and she's not the quiet butterfly she was when they first hooked up. If Logan expects her to roll over and beg like all his other puck bunnies, he can think again. He wants her back? He'll have to work for it. This time around, she'll be the one in the driver's seat…and she plans on driving him wild.

Review:

Been itching to get to book 2. Originally I was waiting for it to arrive from the library, but I couldn't wait, so I used an Audible credit to get a copy asap. The wait at the library was willllllllllllllld.

We are back at Briar. This time we are with Logan, who is trying to get over his crush anyway he can. Enter in Grace. There is more than a spark between them, and Logan messes up by saying something dumb. He realizes Grace is everything he has ever wanted, so he has to get her back. 

Oh sweet, sweet Logan. You are so sweet but yet so dumb. Bless his lil heart. I'm so glad Grace made him work really hard to get her back, because she deserves the best of the best. Logan IS the best for her, but that work was good for him lolll. 

Ugh Logan's backstory kills me. I feel so bad for him and his brother. :/

That ending scene before the epilogue! Oh, my heart!

I ended up doing the audio this time around. Our male voice was great. The female voice? Ehhhhhhh not so much. I did warm up to it, but it took a while

Overall, I really, really enjoyed this one. I liked Grace, and I liked Logan. It was very sweet watching them go from just hooking up to more. I liked watching them grow and learn. I can't WAIT for Dean's story!!!!! 4 stars from me. 

Reading Challenges

- Audiobook #30

 

Blodeuedd's Monday: The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic

Format: 322 pages, Paperback

Published: September 19, 2023 by Alcove Press

Paranormal/borrowed

The person I borrowed it from dnfed it, people on my friend list had dnfed it, and it was meh, but I wanted to see if the romance would pay out. BOOM! I got hit in the face, wtf happened? The romance part suddenly imploded. Was this not a cozy paranormal romance? Eh..ok?

Nope, now we are all about the curse because this is a family of witches. And oh no, grandma is dying and we are all doomed!

Boom! Bloody hell, that effing romance is back. I hate this romance. It sucked! What the heck was that?!

I honestly do not know what this book was meant to be. Paranormal cozy? Nope changed. Romance? Nope, changed. It was messy and it made me mad at the end.

Yes yes I should have given up, but I wanted to know.

Sadie Revelare has always believed that the curse of four heartbreaks that accompanies her magic would be worth the price. But when her grandmother is diagnosed with cancer with only weeks to live, and her first heartbreak, Jake McNealy, returns to town after a decade, her carefully structured life begins to unravel.

With the news of their grandmother's impending death, Sadie's estranged twin brother Seth returns to town, bringing with him deeply buried family secrets that threaten to tear Sadie's world apart. Their grandmother has been the backbone of the family for generations, and with her death, Sadie isn't sure she'll have the strength to keep the family, and her magic, together.

As feelings for Jake begin to rekindle, and her grandmother growing sicker by the day, Sadie faces the last of her heartbreaks, and she has to decide: is love more important than magic?

Book Review: Ink Trails by Dave and Jack Depmsey

Author: Dave Dempsey & Jack Dempsey

Title: Ink Trails: Michigan's Famous and Forgotten Authors

Genre:  Nonfiction, Biography

Format: Paperback

Pages: 199

Published: August 1, 2012

Where I got It: My shelf (Gift)

Summary: 

Long revered as the birthplace of many of the nation’s best-known authors, Michigan has also served as inspiration to countless others. In this entertaining and well-researched book—the first of its kind—the secrets, legends, and myths surrounding some of Michigan’s literary luminaries are explored. Which Michigan poet inspired a state law requiring teachers to assign at least one of his compositions to all students? Which young author emerged from the University of Michigan with a bestselling novel derided by some critics as “vulgar”? And from what Michigan city did Arthur Miller, Robert Frost, and Jane Kenyon draw vital inspiration? The answers to these questions and more are revealed in this rich literary history that highlights the diversity of those whose impact on letters has been indelible and distinctly Michiganian.

Review:

I was given this as a gift, and I was excited! You know I love a good nonfiction once in a while. Helps freshen the palate. 

In this little guy, we go over the histories of some authors who have ties to Michigan. Some born here, some raised here, and some worked here. Some...all three. 

Such a diversity of authors! It was a nice variety.

I learned a lot! There were some familiar names I had zero idea were connected to my home state. There were some names I never even heard of! 

It was a quick read, and it was refreshing for sure. 

The author(s) did a good job not weighing the reader down with dates and too much information. We got enough to get a gist of the author they were talking about. 

But yes. This was a nice and quick read. 

I'll give this 4 stars.