First Place Witch by Danielle Garrett

The day she's hoped for is finally here; Holly is opening her shop! But it's even better, she's been asked to join the reality show for cauldron witches. Of course, one of the contestants just has to be an entitled jerk who runs his assistants off their feet and treats women as if he is God's gift and they can't resist.

Three stars

This book came out July 1, 2021

Follows A Royal Witch

Followed by Sassy Witch

Borrowed as audiobook

A Royal Witch by Danielle Garrett

New roommate=new troubles. This time, a princess who is under threat is brought to the Beechwood Manor in an attempt to hide her from the unrest in her own kingdom. But someone manages to kidnap her and spirit her away so that even Adam can't smell where she went. 

A little bit of movement on the Holly/Adam front otherwise not much to further the overall arc but I think regular readers will enjoy the book.

Three stars

This book came out June 28, 2019

Follows One Bad Witch

Followed by First Place Witch

Borrowed as audiobook

Opinions are my own

One Bad Witch by Danielle Garrett

Still trying to replace Lacey (who left to be in her own series), Holly, Adam, and Evangeline are getting a new roommate. Again. We haven't seen all of them but we do get to meet Narissa. Narissa is a reporter who may or may not be involved with a series of werewolf deaths and is getting closer to their friend Nick.

Three stars

This book came out December 28, 2018

Follows Lucky Witch

Followed by A Royal Witch

Borrowed as audiobook

Opinions are my own

The Dragon Who Loved Me by G. A. Aiken

 Rhona the Fearless has been fighting in the dragon war for five years along with everyone else in the series. And even after all this time, the Northern dragons still don't understand that females are just as capable as the males at fighting. And when Vigholf breaks her favorite spear... she is beyond peeved. So when she learns that she is going to be traveling with Vigholf to protect some of the royal family, she's not exactly ecstatic. But traveling together means that they're going to get to know each other better and she might discover that Vigholf doesn't want to protect all females so much as he wants to protect her.

This book does a lot to move the overall storyline forward (lots of battle descriptions and catching up with other characters) but there isn't a lot about Rhona and Vigholf.

Three and a half stars

This book came out September 1st, 2011
Follows Last Dragon Standing
Followed by How to Drive a Dragon Crazy
Opinions are my own
Audiobook from library

Last Dragon Standing by G. A. Aiken

Keita has been described in previous books as something of a "slag." Like, girl got around. But there have been shades that she is going to be something more, especially since her mother, the Dragon Queen, hates her so much. 

Ragnar has also been in previous books. He's a little full of himself and thinks very little of Keita. Well, he thinks about her a lot but doesn't actually think she's good for anything. Even so, he is really good at apologizing when he makes a mistake. Like, none of that, "I'm sorry your feelings were hurt" BS.

Together, the two will work to keep Keita's mother on the throne.

The story doesn't hang together well and doesn't make sense toward the end but is so fun it's hard to care.

Three stars
This book came out September 7th, 2010
Follows What a Dragon Should Know
Followed by The Dragon Who Loved Me
Audiobook from library
Opinions are my own

A Touch of Magic by Annabel Chase

The mystery takes a back seat to building Emma's story in this book. She is working 

hard to help make sure that her friend Lucy is elected mayor but it's hard when one of the candidates, a vampire, is killed before he can make his speech. The former sheriff Hugo, now one of the other candidates, takes this chance to accuse Lucy of the murder. It doesn't help that it's one of Emma's handmade signs that was used as the murder weapon.

Emma always has one case per book and this is no different. Now, she has a young nymph who is accused of animal cruelty. But that makes no sense since nymphs are closely connected to nature.

Her friends at the ASS academy are in the story as well. Lady Weatherby is giving Emma her own spell lessons but she is still attending the remedial magic classes as well. This time, the head of the coven goes off the books and lets the students create their own spells to show what they can do. They are all successful but it does take some work.
A nice addition to the series. I wish there had been more to the mystery, it was fairly underdeveloped. And I could do without the overblown gushing about Daniel but overall a nice addition to the series.

Three stars
Follows Cast Away
Followed by A Drop in the Potion
This book came out June 28h, 2017
Borrowed as an audiobook from the library
Opinions are my own

Cast Away by Annabel Chase

Emma and her friends are working on an advanced spell that may help show that Emma's suspicions about Daniel's relationship are correct. On her way back from that mission, Emma stumbles across the body of a dead troll who seems frozen to death. She also has to defend a shifter who accidentally, um, showed his wares when he shifted on Allison's (Gareth's fiancee) lawn.
But the person she thought was her ally turns out not to be and all of her plans fall apart. Then her deeply held secret is exposed in front of the town and they react in the worst way.
Emma is very much becoming a Mary Sue. There is looking at the world through rose-colored glasses and then there is willful ignorance. This is the latter.

Three stars
Follows Better than Hex
Followed by A Touch of Magic
This book came out May 24th, 2017
Borrowed as an audiobook from the library
Opinions are my own

Better than Hex by Annabel Chase

 Emma Hart is already struggling with her emotions. The love of her life is engaged to a fairy who is more spice than sugar. She's trying to move on. But that doesn't mean that Markos, the centaur who is interested in Emma, is someone she wants to date. She will, however, have a friendly meal between friends in his new building with a moving labyrinth. Too bad the body of the town's building inspector is found dead. But everyone loved Ed, a satyr, so why is he now dead?

A fun story that advances many story lines.

Three stars
Follows Spell's Bells
Followed by Cast Away
This book came out April 18th, 2017
Borrowed as an audiobook from the library
Opinions are my own

Psych-Out (Eastwind Witches #5) by Nova Nelson

Nora is swearing to all and sundry that she is no longer in the mystery solving business. But, when witches start doing things completely outside their own nature, Nora can't help but get involved. She is trying to concentrate on her witch-y studies, especially now that she suspects that she might be a truly powerful witch. Past lives and nightmares might lead to even more about her current life.

Three stars
Follows Quesos de los Muertos
This book came out May 7th 2018
Borrowed as an audiobook from the library
Opinions are my own

Spell's Bells by Annabel Chase

When a dwarf is discovered in a glass coffin, Emma's friend is the one accused of putting him there. Emma is going to make sure that she isn't put in jail for a crime she didn't commit. Proving her friend's innocence is going to mean that Emma has to go on dates, attend speed dating, and even visit a matchmaker. At the same time, she's finding out more about her own past.
I do like that there is not a love triangle in this series but I am getting a little frustrated with Emma and Daniel's relationship. Talk about a slow burn. This is practically glacial.

Three stars
Follows Doom and Broom
Followed by Better than Hex
This book came out February 14th, 2017
Borrowed as an audiobook from the library
Opinions are my own

Lucky Charm (Spellbound #4) by Annabel Chase

Emma is ready to talk to the town council about how harsh the current punishments for breaking laws are. But the day she shows up to talk them, they are all acting like children. They've all been put under a spell. While Emma works to discover who it is, she enlists the help of friends (since the centaur Sheriff doesn't seem interested.) The person who cast the spell knows that she's on the case and throws roadblocks in her way but that's not even as hard as the things that are happening in her less-than-existant love life.
I think regular readers will enjoy the story. Maybe not the best book to start with for new readers though.

Three stars
This book came out March 7th, 2017
Borrowed as an audiobook from the library
Opinions are my own

Queso de los Muertos by Nova Nelson

Eastwind, still reeling from the disappearance from the town gold, is still holding the annual Lunasa Fest. And Nora is ready. She plans on introducing chips and queso to the food contest. But something happens, right after the judges eat her food, a chill wind blows in leaving a host of ghosts behind. Was it something in her food?
Still struggling with her feelings for Tanner's best friend, Nora is conflicted. And, ugh. I really dislike romantic triangles and it seems like Nelson is going to draw that trope out throughout multiple books. Also, Nora is starting to be more reckless which is another trope I dislike. She purposely puts herself in dangerous situations that aren't really needed to further the story.

Three stars
Follows Third Knocks the Charm
Followed by Psych-Out
This book came out April 10th, 2018

Borrowed as an audiobook from the library

Opinions are my own

Doom and Broom by Annabel Chase

Jolene, a werewolf, has been found dead. The immediate ruling is suicide but Daniel, the angel Emma adores, is also a suspect. She immediately helps him hide and starts investigating. All while taking classes to learn more about witchcraft.
The mystery is short but characters are starting to be fleshed out including Emma's classmates and a smattering of women who will be friends. We also get a bit more about the town's history as well as the mythology.

Three stars
Follows Curse the Day
Followed by Spell's Bells
This book came out January 21st, 2017
Borrowed as an audiobook from the library
Opinions are my own

Third Knock the Charm by Nova Nelson

Nora is still working on becoming a trained witch. Well, at least working with Ruby. But it seems more and more like she might need to take classes at the local academy as well. Especially since there seems to be a demon loose in town. But figuring out how to solve the problem means doing something that Nora really, really would rather not do.
I was so charmed by this series for the lack of a love triangle. It seems like every witch-cozy-mystery series has one and they are one of my least favorite plot points. Now... sigh. I will keep reading the series for at least another book but I'm really hoping it will be cleared up quickly.

Three stars
Follows Death Metal
Followed by Queso de los Muertos

This book came out March 13th, 2018

Borrowed as an audiobook from the library

Opinions are my own

Death Metal by Nova Nelson

Nora is still figuring out what it means to be a Fifth Wind witch. While hanging on the porch with her crush, a possible romantic moment is interrupted by a ghost who's death has been called a suicide but she knows she was murdered. And now Nora thinks so too. So she's off on another mystery.

It seemed like there was an equal amount of time spent on the mystery and the will they/won't they with Tanner and Nora. Dear God there was so much back and forth in Nora's mind about Tanner. I'm going to read the next book in the series but I'm really hoping that it's not going to be more of that because it just makes Nora seem supremely wishy-washy and that is not the character we're seeing in the rest of the book.

Three stars
Follows Crossing Over Easy
Followed by Third Knock the Charm

This book came out June 19th, 2018

Borrowed as an audiobook from the library

Opinions are my own

A Royal Christmas Cruise by Max Walker

A Spanish prince is not supposed to be gay. But Nick is tired of living a lie. Especially in this day and age. So he breaks up with his girlfriend and heads on a cruise. He doesn't expect to see a hot guy wearing nothing but some brief banana-printed underwear fall out of the security booth.
Shiro Brooks is traveling with a group of friends that he hasn't seen for four years. He hasn't yet told them that he and his boyfriend (another from the friend group) have broken up. But a hot makeout session in a bookstore gives him an idea. Maybe this man would like to pretend to be his boyfriend... Nick turns him down but they end up hanging out anyway. And close proximity in a romance novel usually leads to an HEA. If only they can figure out who is taking pictures of them, outing Nick before he's ready.
If you like Max Walker, you'll enjoy this book. As usual, the plot is not real deep and most of the joy of reading can be found in the relationship building (and the hot sex scenes.)

Three stars
This book came out November 23rd, 2019
Borrowed as an audiobook from the library
Opinions are my own

Royal Charmer (The Rourkes #4) by Kylie Gilmore

I don't like all of the books in the series but this one was fairly charming with a romance author who meets a prince. He helps her get her mojo back and she poses as his fiancee to help him look more stable. That... is about the crux of the story. I feel like a review of a book I liked should be longer but I just enjoyed getting to see Alice and Lucas's relationship grow.

Four stars
This book came out June 11th, 2019
Borrowed this as a library book
Opinions are my own

Cinders by Cara Malone

Cynthia “Cyn” Robinson, firefighter,  has loved Marigold "Mari" Grimm, the princess of Grimm Falls, since Cyn moved into town. But her stepbrother, Drew, told Cyn that she was bothering Mari so she backed off. In the present day, Cyn is called to Mari's house when a firebug sets the gardens of the Grimm Estate on fire. Unfortunately, this is the third instance of fire that we read about in this book so that means there is an arsonist running around. This is the weakest part of the story but I did like that we learned who the firebug was early in the book. When the person was revealed, I thought it couldn't be that person because almost any other book would have saved the identity until the end. I also really liked that Cyn talked to Mari; there was no Big Misunderstanding.
There definitely could have been more development of the relationship between the two women but it was an okay start to the series (but it's actually the second book...? still okay).

Three stars
This book came out Setember 10th, 2018
Borrowed as an audiobook from the library
Opinions are my own

Murder at the Car Rally by Sonia Parin

We all have them. That one person from our past that we can't stand but they somehow want to glom on to you. For Evie Parker, whose life has been pretty darn good lately, it's Isabel Fitzpatrick. They were school girls together and Isabel spent most of the time putting down everyone around her with insults disguised as compliments. And now she's back along with her racecar driver husband. She's invited herself to Evie's house. In defense, Evie decides to join a car rally which her young friend Phillipa is participating in. But, on the road with a flat tire, Evie and her chauffer/body guard/sweetheart (?) look up to see Isabel and her husband hurtling down the road with a car that's apparently out of control. But was Isabel's husband dead before the crash? And what does it have to do with the rash of drugs in the area?
This book didn't amuse me as much as the first two (was it less madcap? Maybe) but I am admiring how far ahead Parin starts building each story into previous books in the series.

Three and a half stars
Follows Murder at the Tea Party
Followed by Murder in the Cards
This book came out January 28th, 2019
Borrowed as audiobook from the library
Opinions are my own

Curse the Day by Annabel Chase

Trying to find a client's house, Emma Hart accidentally goes into a lake. She's saved by a man with ... Wings? She discovers that Daniel is actually an angel. One who can't return her to the world she knew. Because of a ages old curse, only certain people can leave the town. And Emma isn't one of them. She adapts to that fact pretty quickly (which threw me off at first but then I was impressed because that's not the normal trope.) Emma is also assigned a job, a house, and some learning about her new town. When the town council found out Emma was a lawyer, they immediately assign her to take over for the last public defender who was murdered.
From there, it's a pretty standard cozy mystery with paranormal elements. Emma is engaging and shows signs of intelligence. She's (so far) not putting herself in dangerous situations because, why not. There are definitely signs of a romantic triangle (my least favorite trope) and some of the world building was a teeny bit forced but overall a nice start to a new-to-me series.

Three and a half stars
Followed by Doom and Broom
This book came out January 7th, 2017
Borrowed as an audiobook from the library
Opinions are my own