Review: The Keeper of Magical Things by Julie Leong

The Keeper of Magical Things by Julie Leong
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This was a delightful follow up to [book:The Teller of Small Fortunes|207611551], and can be read as a complete standalone.  Originally I thought the books were related, however they are not, which is why I make that statement.  It isn't a series, but if you have read and loved The Teller of Small Fortunes and loved it as I did, you are sure to love this one as well.  This has the same cozy vibe, a sweet romance, magical hijinks, and two witches who discover their true path and purpose along the way.

Certainty is a novice who desperately wants to rise to the ranks of Mage.  She showed promise when she entered the Guild for training, but she hasn't been able to pass the exams to become a full blown Mage.  Her magic allows her to speak with inanimate objects and determine their purpose, which isn't very useful to the Guild.  She is wearing out her welcome unless she can finish a task and be granted the title of Mage.  She will be assisted by a somewhat prickly Mage who is known for being unliked and icy toward her peers.  Mage Aurelia is all business as they set out to the small town of Shpelling to store unwanted magical artifacts in the unmagical town.  Upon their arrival the townsfolk are wary of those with magic and for good reason.  As Aurelia and Certainty work to make their lodgings livable and catalog the artifacts in their care, they learn why the people of Shpelling dislike magic and those who wield it.  Certainty is determined to sway them to her cause and uses her abilities and the slightly magical artifacts at her disposal to help instead of harm and bring the town back to life.  Aurelia is not onboard at first, but she quickly sees the good that can be done and her frosty demeanor quickly thaws and the two work hard to bring joy to the people of Shpelling and help wherever they can.

I loved the interactions between Certainty and Aurelia as they grew from prickly to friends to more.  The farmer and the aristocrat made for a nice balance as they learned from each other and Certainty gave Aurelia reality checks often but with kindness.  Their interactions with the people of Shpelling were humorous as were the conversations Certainty had with the artifacts.  I really loved watching the town bloom as the "lady mages" did their work.  I also appreciated that we get to see both girls interact with their parents and deal with their sense of self worth as part of the conflict resolution arc.  While they both had very different upbringings they both felt failure in different ways and their interactions with their families brought that to light.  

This was full of hope, garlic, magic, and all the cozy things.  There is a bit of romance but it doesn't overtake the book.  This is the perfect book for fall to curl up in a warm blanket with a warm drink and a snack.  I loved my time with Certainty and Aurelia and can't wait to read what Julie Leong comes up with next!

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Blog Tour: Rebel Without a Claus by Katana Collins

 

She’s all sparkle and Christmas spirit. 

He’s one grinchy cowboy.

Rebel Without a Claus, an all-new grumpy/sunshine, second chance, small town romance novella from USA Today bestselling author Katana Collins is now available!

Eve Winters lives for Christmas—the twinkling lights, the festive music, the over-the-top holiday magic. So when her parents need help running their Christmas-themed inn, she’s all in. The only problem? Luke Dawson—the town’s broody, flannel-wearing reindeer farmer who hates everything merry and bright. Unfortunately, he’s also the one providing the reindeer for the town’s biggest holiday festival, which means Eve is stuck working with Mr. Bah Humbug himself.

Luke has no patience for Christmas or the chaos that comes with it—especially when it involves Eve, the walking, talking embodiment of holiday cheer. He spent years trying to forget her, but now that she’s moved back to town—with her sharp tongue, city-girl attitude, and an unfortunate talent for getting stuck under mistletoe—forgetting her is impossible.

But between meddling townsfolk, mischievous reindeer, and a snowstorm that leaves them stranded together, Luke is starting to wonder if maybe Christmas—and Eve Winters—aren’t so bad after all.

She’s all sparkle and Christmas spirit. He’s one grinchy cowboy. But when the festive sparks turn into a full-blown holiday inferno, will this rebel without a claus surrender to the season’s greatest surprise—falling head over boots in love?

 

Start reading today!

FREE in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ZU5GjY 

Add Rebel Without a Claus to Goodreads: https://tinyurl.com/rwacgr    

For more information about Katana Collins and her books, visit her website: 

https://katanacollins.com 

Release Blitz: Rebel Without a Claus by Katana Collins

 

She’s all sparkle and Christmas spirit. 

He’s one grinchy cowboy.

Rebel Without a Claus, an all-new grumpy/sunshine, second chance, small town romance novella from USA Today bestselling author Katana Collins is now available!

Eve Winters lives for Christmas—the twinkling lights, the festive music, the over-the-top holiday magic. So when her parents need help running their Christmas-themed inn, she’s all in. The only problem? Luke Dawson—the town’s broody, flannel-wearing reindeer farmer who hates everything merry and bright. Unfortunately, he’s also the one providing the reindeer for the town’s biggest holiday festival, which means Eve is stuck working with Mr. Bah Humbug himself.

Luke has no patience for Christmas or the chaos that comes with it—especially when it involves Eve, the walking, talking embodiment of holiday cheer. He spent years trying to forget her, but now that she’s moved back to town—with her sharp tongue, city-girl attitude, and an unfortunate talent for getting stuck under mistletoe—forgetting her is impossible.

But between meddling townsfolk, mischievous reindeer, and a snowstorm that leaves them stranded together, Luke is starting to wonder if maybe Christmas—and Eve Winters—aren’t so bad after all.

She’s all sparkle and Christmas spirit. He’s one grinchy cowboy. But when the festive sparks turn into a full-blown holiday inferno, will this rebel without a claus surrender to the season’s greatest surprise—falling head over boots in love?

 

Start reading today!

FREE in Kindle Unlimited

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ZU5GjY 

Add Rebel Without a Claus to Goodreads: https://tinyurl.com/rwacgr   

For more information about Katana Collins and her books, visit her website: 

https://katanacollins.com 

Review: Red City by Marie Lu

Red City by Marie Lu
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was provided an ALC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

I've been a long time fan of Marie Lu's YA works and was excited to see that she was writing an adult fantasy series. I loved this from beginning to end! It is dark and violent and has adult situations which is to be expected, though the spice is fairly tame compared to today's romantasy standards. There is romance, but it takes a back seat to the alchemical underworld that our main characters are a part of.

Sam and Ari are both alchemists, at a young age they were both taken into warring houses to train and hone their talents. They became fast friends in school, but neither of them knew the other was a member of the enemy house until they were adults. Each of their syndicates rule with violence in an alternate Los Angeles where they controlling politics, the wealthy, and most of all the trade of an alchemical drug that each syndicate produces.

We get to see Sam and Ari grow up together and separately as their paths connect and diverge over the years. They always had a connection, but there were always secrets between them. Now that they are rising stars in enemy houses their loyalties are tested as the conflict between their houses escalate and become more and more violent. I really enjoyed getting to know each character as they learned alchemy and dealt with different relationships as they rose the ranks. This is filled with action, lies, betrayals, and it kept me on my toes the entire time. It is hard to for me to review without giving too many details. I can't wait for the next book in the series. I appreciated that while this has an open ending, it doesn't end on a cliffhanger. Things are sent in motion for the next book, but it ends with a sense of closure.

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Review: The Genius Bat: The Secret Life of the Only Flying Mammal by Yossi Yovel

The Genius Bat: The Secret Life of the Only Flying Mammal by Yossi Yovel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was provided an ALC and ARC of this book via Netgalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

I had no idea there were so many different types of bats.  While not a bat enthusiast myself, this was such a well crafted and detailed book about the creatures, their habits, habitats, and interactions.  The author is clearly passionate about their work and research and that shows through in the book.  I enjoyed learning about the various types of bats and how they are all very different.  I especially enjoyed learning about echolocation

At no point did I feel that the subject matter was too hard to understand or too academic.  I felt it was very well written to explain the science behind the research and any one could pick this up and learn about bats without needing a high level of understanding in science.  The author did a great job keeping the science content readable and interesting which I find is not always the case with non-fiction.

If you are interested in bats, or a very well written non-fiction about a topic you know nothing about this is a good one the pick up.  I certainly learned quite a bit of new information.  The audio is very well narrated.

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Review: The Witching Moon Manor by Stacy Sivinski

The Witching Moon Manor by Stacy Sivinski
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This was such a cozy return to the Quigley house!  I loved the first book when my book club read it several months ago, and I was very excited to see that there was a second book coming out to expand the sister's world.  I would recommend reading the first book before diving in as it explains the magic system and the talents each of the sisters possess.

This book finds the sisters reunited after having split up to pursue their own talents.  Violet is back from flying high at the circus, though an accident has shaken her.  Beatrix is back from her latest book tour, but she is struggling to write despite having a talent for words.  Anne as usual has mounting responsibilities, but she is struggling with running the tea shop and working for the council.  Now back together the sisters can lean on each other, but they are all a bit ashamed of their faults and hesitant to talk about what is bothering them.  Anne must enlist the help of her sisters if she is going to save the city, as they helped her with her last mission and it is only when they work as a team and embrace their talents that they find success.

I really enjoyed this cozy magical mystery.  I love the character development we get from each of the sisters as they work together and independently to solve the mystery.  I also liked that the author brought back Mr. Crowley and his unfinished task back into play.  We learn more about his story and relationship with Philip as well as learn more about their families.  Each sister has to go on a self-discovery journey, but their paths all circle back to the same central place.  It really brought things full circle and I really enjoyed being back in the manor with them.

I really loved this book and the series as a whole.  It was perfectly cozy and magical!

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Review: The Hitchhikers by Chevy Stevens

The Hitchhikers by Chevy Stevens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ALC and ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

Set in the 70s, Tom and Alice set out on a road trip to visit the beauty of Canada's wilderness on their way to the Olympics in an effort to reconnect and heal after a tragic loss.  They Americans have planned their stops and activities at various RV parks and campgrounds and National Parks, purchased an RV, and have their tickets for the Olympics secured.  During their first stop they run into a young couple who appear to be hitchhiking, and in a kind gesture invite them to dinner and use of their spare tent for the night.  Tom being hospitable offers to give the couple a lift to their next stop.  Alice doesn't get a great feeling from the teens, but she decides to let it go for now as she's been trapped in a state of depression for a long time.  At a quick stop for gas Alice discovers that their passengers are on the run from the law and not who they claimed to be.  This puts Tom and Alice in danger and instead of a fun sightseeing vacation sets them on a dangerous flight from authorities with two very unstable teenagers.

This is told mainly from Alice's perspective, but we also get insights from Jenny, the pregnant teen who's boyfriend is holding Tom and Alice prisoner in their RV.  From Jenny we learn how she and Simon met and why they are on the run together.  We learn why she is so loyal to him and about her messed up home life, and her lack of knowledge about the world.  From Alice we get all of the tension about being held at gunpoint while her husband is injured and constantly threatened by a crazy teenager who is scared of being caught, but also has also unlocked his violent side and wants to protect Jenny in his own irrational way.  This is action packed, violent and gruesome at times, and the tension remains high throughout the book.  Alice plays her part to keep herself and Tom alive, but she is always looking for a way to escape, while trying to convince Jenny that Simon is not a good person.  The ending was unexpected.

This is my first book by the author and I very much enjoyed it,  I'm looking forward to reading more from the author!

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