Witches Get Stuff Done by Molly Harper

Riley Everett never even knew her mother had a sister and now she's going to a small island in Michigan to meet the woman. But she is unexpectedly sick on the trip over and has no luck being able to use the toilet as Edison Held is hogging it. When he finally comes out, they quarrel but then she pukes on his shoes.

Both regret the interaction and are willing to get to know each other a little better. Which is good because Riley is dealing with some big changes in her life. Her aunt actually died right before Riley got to the island so she's alone in the big house. Well, except for the ghosts. Because there are ghosts. But we really only get to see a couple. 

Soon Riley is getting to hang out with Edison, is learning more about her own powers, and is making friends who are also working with her.

There are a lot of parts missing in this story that I wish we had seen. More of Riley and Edison's growing relationship, more of Riley and her friends learning to use their powers, more time with Riley and her mom. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out September 5, 2023

ARC kindly provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Extra Witchy by Ann Aguirre

I've been curious about how Leanne and Trevor ended up married and this book explores their story and it is lovely. It is not really a fake relationship because they are definitely involved even though they get married so Leanne will be taken more seriously for the city council. There were some points that I wish had been a little smoother but I loved the end when the magic users out themselves to the world but there is so much other news going on that no one really notices. That makes a LOT of sense to me.

Leanne Vanderpol grew up with a mother who was more concerned with finding love (in all the wrong places) than in raising her daughter. She wanted to be different but she already has two divorces under her belt. At least she didn't have children with either of her ex-husbands. Now she just works in a sausage party where the men treat her as lesser than because she's a woman. But she's going to change that by running for city council and working from the inside.

Trevor Montgomery got out of a bad relationship and just sort of... collapsed. Now he spends his days doing odd jobs, smoking weed, and hanging out with his friend and his friend's friends (he doesn't think they like him for himself.) Sure, Leanne is hot and hooking up with her in a bathroom during a party at their friend's house seems like a good idea at the time. But getting married? And being her househusband? Well, at least it's a direction in life.

Of course, this is a romance so it might just be that this relationship that starts off so tentatively might just make them both a little stronger. 

Four stars

This book comes out October 4, 2022

Follows Boss Witch 

ARC kindly provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

A Duke at the Door by Susanna Allen

Tabitha Barrington and her twin brother Timothy have been traveling the continent for some time escaping some trouble at home. She is chafing being back in England but she is excited to have the chance to practice her poultices and concoctions at the Duke of Lowell's estate. Especially once she learns that the estate has a number of shapeshifters, one in particular that needs her help.

Alwyn Ap Lewin, Duke of Llewelyn, was held captive in his lion form for a number of years. It became bad enough that, when he was finally freed, he no longer wanted to be a part of the world. But Tabitha intrigues him. 

This series is filled with drama and this book is no different. It mirrors the Gothic novels written by one of the characters in the book. Is it silly? Oh yeah. Is it enjoyable in the right mood? Yes. Lots more world building in this one and setups for any number of following books in the series.

Four stars

This book comes out August 23, 2022

Follows A Most Unusual Duke

ARC kindly provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Boss Witch by Ann Aguirre

Clem knows there's a witch hunter in town. He's not exactly subtle about it. She wants to protect her friends and family because, if caught, the hunter will take away not only her magic, but her memories.

Gavin Rhys doesn't exactly enjoy being a witch hunter but he wants to make his father proud. He's okay with letting go of some of his responsibilities to spend more time with the gorgeous woman he's met at the bar. He is still looking for the witches in town but maybe he has something better to focus on. 

I didn't enjoy this book as much as the last because the two are inherently lying to each other the whole time they are in a relationship. I did like how Aguirre sort of dealt with that at the end though. 

Three stars

This book comes out April 5, 2022

Follows Witch Please

ARC kindly provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Ride the Tide by Julie Ann Walker

I've been enjoying the Deep Six stories and this is one is no different. We've seen glimpses of the romance between historian Alexandra "Alex" Merriweather and former SEAL Mason McCarthy. She's  a twenty-seven-year-old virgin who has made it plain that she'd like her first to be with Mason. Petite and red-headed, she fascinated Mason but his first marriage burned him to the point where he is not going to be good for any woman. Or so that is his overriding belief. But he also knows that, if he has even just one taste of Alex, he'll never be able to let her go.

And that is very similar to other romances but the Deep Six series also has the search for sunken treasure and baddies that persist in trying to kill one or all of the team. There was a b-plot romance as well that is set up to be the next book but it did take away some from Alex and Mason.

 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out November 24th

Follows Devil and the Deep

Followed by Deeper than the Ocean

ARC kindly provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

The Kissing Game by Marie Harte

Rena Jackson has saved up enough money to open her own beauty salon so she's leaving her  job at, well, a dive bar. Of course, that means that she's going to be leaving behind the Viking hunk, Axel Heller. It's just too bad she never could connect with him.
Axel is ready to step up and finally ask Rena out. Eventually. There is a LOT of thinking about it. But the two finally get together but still have obstacles to overcome, including Rena's dreams going up in smoke.
Oh man. I usually like Marie Harte but the pacing in this book was just... weird. Scenes didn't follow each other well and it just got choppy.  I didn't mind the German insertions at first but, wow, they got to be a lot. Harte is a good author but this book does not prove it.

Two stars
This book came out February 4th
ARC kindly provided by Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley
Opinions are my own