Everybody Wants to Rule the World Except Me by Django Wexler

Davi and her team are back. They are trying to have the humans and the wilders join forces. To do that, she and Tsav have donned disguises. Davi isn't sure how she's going to convince her erstwhile lover (not in this time loop) to join her cause, but she knows him inside and out. Or does she?

This Prince Johann is not only married, he seems to be in love. And the running of the kingdom is being left up to Duke Aster who is... less than receptive to Davi's overtures. Even though she has the super-good plan of pretending to be the new oracle. 

Everything is in shambles and there are enemies not only surrounding her, but coming from inside the camp. And an ancient evil is rising once again. 

A fun story that lagged a little in parts but was overall an enjoyable read. 

Four stars

Dark Lord Davi #2

This book comes out May 27, 2025

Follows How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying

ARC kindly provided by Orbit Books and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore by Emily Krempholtz

Growing up as the ward of an evil lord, it's not like Violet could any way to be other than just evil. However, when Guy Shadowfade is killed, the hero gives Violet a chance to change her life. And she's trying. She's opening up a flower shop in the nearby town, starting to make friends. Then, the blight starts. Plants and crops are dying. Even worse, one of the other wizard's from Guy's parcel has returned to town, and he is hell-bent on... well, something nefarious. 

A cute story that moved along pretty quickly while still developing the characters. 

Four stars

This book came out November 18, 2025

Borrowed as ebook from Libby

Opinions are my own

The Seven Rings by Nora Roberts

Closing out the trilogy, Sonya and her friends defeat the evil ghost of Hester who was disappointed in love and took it out on generations of Pooles (Sonya being the latest in line.) We get to visit some of the brides on whom Hester inflicted her revenge when Sonya walks through mirrors to view the past. There is also a lot of time devoted to Sonya turning the grand manor she inherited from her uncle into her own. This is done with the help of several helpful ghosts as well.

This was a fine story and has many hallmarks of Roberts writing but would have better been served as a duology. The second book felt like so much filler and the third book retread a lot of what the second laid out. They are a little dated at this point but the Key books felt similar in tone but served as a better example of how a trilogy should move a story in every book. 

Three stars

Lost Bride Trilogy #3

This book came out November 18, 2025

Follows The Mirror

Hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Murder, Mess, and the Tangerine Dress by Lynn Rankin-Esquer

This book reminds me of the Stephanie Plum series. The main character, Izzy Bishop, is a chatoic mess, getting food on her clothse and feeding one of her clients a weed cookie. She even has a best friend who is somehow even brasher than her and trying to lose weight. But Izzy has something that Stephanie doesn't - extrasensory powers. They grew after she had a near-death experience in the previous year. That is the the experience that threw off her plan to open an organizing business with her sister so now, rather than being a true partner, Izzy is actually working for her sister. Her younger sister. Her younger  sister who clearly doesn't trust her. Which, to be fair, Izzy is on the manic pixie dream girl end of the spectrum so she tends to have a dirty car and stained clothes (no shame, just not her sister is expecting.)

So, Izzy is late to her appointment for an older widow who is cleaning out her closet. While there, a death occurs and Izzy and the woman nearly die as well. The only reason that they're saved is the woman's dead husband tells Izzy that they need to leave. 

An interesting story that I mainly read because I had also gotten the second book and didn't realize it wasn't the first in a series and I really like to start with the first book in a series. 

Three stars

Order Out of Chaos Mystery, #1

This book came out February 2, 2025

Followed by Murder, Hijinks, and Peridot Cufflinks

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Murder, Hijinks, and the Peridot Cufflinks by Lynn Rankin-Esquer

A year ago, Izzy Bishop had a near-death experience that super charged her already average sense of others. In the last book, she finally accepted that she might have some psychic abilities. Now, she's fully embraced the idea but is trying to figure out how to wield it well. Her first sense  of the book almost breaks a couple up. Then she senses something mysterious about one of the organizing client's significant other. This particular client was a sports star who has a LOT of money. When she touches a pair of cufflinks in his closet, she gets a vision of violent death. The person who died? Her archenemy Shania's elderly husband. Ufda. Is Izzy somehow going to be accused of his murder? Yes. Is she going to get another love interest thus cementing my feelings about how similar this series is to reading Stephanie Plum? Yes. Did I still finish the book? Yes.  

Three stars

Order Out of Chaos #2

Follows Murder, Mess, and the Tangerine Dress

ARC kindly provided as ebook by XandL Press and Netgalley

Opinions are my own

Experimental Magic by Iris Beaglehole, Lorna Bennett (Narrator)

In the first book of the series, Rosemary and Athena discovered they are witches and are now trying to navigate their new normal. Athena is about to start school and Rosemary is just trying to figure out her powers. And money. For now, she's working in the bakery. 

Athena is trying to figure out how school is going to work. She missed all of the basics and isn't even exactly sure what her power is or if she has power. 

Both Athena and Rosemary have some learning to do in this book. When Athena follows the boy she met in the first book into another realm, it's up to Rosemary and Athena's new friends to help her figure out a way home. Although, Athena does do a lot to help herself (and her father) as well. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out September 5, 2023

Myrtlewood Mysteries #2

Follows Accidental Magic

Followed by Combustible Magic

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Accidental Magic by Iris Beaglehole, Lorna Bennett (Narrator)

Rosemary hasn't seen her grandmother in a long time. That's what makes it so surprising that she's been left her grandmother's whole estate. She's careful not to get her hopes up though anything will help. Her daughter's father has left them in a mountain of debt and Rosemary is drowning. 

Going to the small town to see what her inheritance is, Rosemary is also trying not to get her hopes up. She hasn't spoken to her grandmother in years and the house probably isn't much anyway. Once she's in town, however, she becomes a suspect in her grandmother's murder and isn't allowed to leave. 

The shocks don't stop coming when Rosemary discovers the other family legacy and has to figure out how to save them all.

Three and a half stars

This book came out July 25, 2023

Myrtlewood Mysteries #1

Followed by Experimental Magic

Borrowed as audiobook from Audible Plus

Opinions are my own

The Witching Moon Manor by Stacy Sivinski

It's been a little over a year since the events of the first book. Anne, Violet, and Beatrix have missed their birthday together but the three are reuniting in their Chicago home. Violet is haunted by a mistake she made during her and her husband's acrobatic act. Beatrix no longer seems to have any words. And Anne has to prevent an apocalypse. 

I actually liked this one a bit better than the first because we are getting more character and world building. 

Three and a half stars

The Spellbound Sisters #2

This book came out October 1, 2024

Follows The Crescent Moon Tearoom

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

The Crescent Moon Tearoom by Stacy Sivinski

This book is the equivalent of a warm cup of tea. Just nice. Maybe not super exciting, but an even read. 

Three sisters run a teahouse where they read the futures of the witches of Chicago. They have always been in lock step but that is starting to falter. Violet is entranced by an acrobat at a visiting circus. Beatrix's recent manuscript submission is about to take the literary world by storm, and Anne's powers are growing at a pace she is reluctant to reveal to her sisters. 

They are further thrown off balance when one of their regulars reveals that she sees a curse behind their eyes. Suddenly, their whole world is upside down. And it's not helped by the fact that the Council has decided that the three of them must help three witches complete their "Tasks" before the other three die. 

Three and a half stars

The Spellbound Sisters #1  

This book came out October 1, 2024

Followed by The Witching Moon Manor

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Witch and Tell by Angela M. Sanders

Josie Way hasn't been enjoying life lately. Her love life is in the dumps and someone is siphoning off her magic. Now, her friend's boyfriend seems to have disappeared and there is a townsperson who has started a crusade against cats. And not just cats in real life, but book cats as well.

There was a lot and yet nothing going on in this book. The pacing of these books seems to be slow, slow, A LOT IS HAPPENING, slow. It can make it reading the books a bit of a slog, sometimes. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out October 28, 2025

Witch Way Librarians #7

Follows The Witch is Back

ARC kindly provided by Kensington Publishing and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

A Ghost Hunter's Guide to Solving a Murder by F.H. Petford

World War II is in full force when Alma Timperly is informed that her aunt has died and left her a hotel in Cornwall. Alma is initially confused because she had no idea that she even had an aunt. But the lawyer seems nice and Alma's intuition is telling her that he is trustworthy. So she is off to take over the Timperly Spiritualist Hotel. 

There, Alma is surprised to learn that her aunt actually had the gift of talking to the dead. Even more surprisingly, Alma seems to have the gift as well. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem as if either of the two other spiritualists actually have the gift. That doesn't dissuade people from coming to see them at the hotel.
The hotel is fairly well run and Alma is pretty much able to step in. She also has a couple of suitors and seems to move quickly. However, they are in a war and life just moves quickly then. She'll also have to move fast to uncover the German spy that is operating out of her place.

There was a little much going on in this story but I enjoyed it overall. 

Four stars

This book comes out October 2, 2025

ARC kindly provided by Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Dragon Bound Elder by Thea Harrison, Sophie Eastlake (Narrator)

Dragos Cuelebre is bemused. Not only did someone steal from him, a dragon, they had the temerity to leave a note. His displeasure literally shakes the city.

Pia Giovanni knows that what she did was incredibly stupid and life-threatening but her ex-boyfriend is threatening to reveal her secrets to the world if she doesn't do this for him. Apparently, he needs to wipe out some gambling debts. She runs as fast as she can but Dragos finds her quickly. Unexpectedly, he doesn't immediately rend her limb from limb. Instead, over the course of a very fast week, the two fall in love. And deal with the enmity of a fey king, several kidnappings, and opening their hearts to each other.

What a great start to a series. I don't love one of the tropes used but though Harrison did it about as well as it can be done and the romance was a little too whirlwind but I am excited to listen to the next book in the series.

Three and a half stars

This book came out 

Elder Races #1

Borrowed as audiobook from Audible Premium Plus

Opinions are my own

Face the Fire by Nora Roberts

Four stars

This book came out 

Three Sisters Island, #3

Follows by Heaven and Earth

Hard copy I own

Opinions are my own

Heaven and Earth by Nora Roberts

Ripley Todd has an okay life. Yeah, she's living with her brother and his new wife and, sure, she's having sort of a dry spell with her own sexual escapades and, well, she's a witch which she's not really enjoying but life is still okay. Then MacAllister Brooke comes to Three Sisters Island. Dr. Brooke is there to study the legend of the Three Sisters. He's very interested in mystical forces and UFOs and then becomes
very interested in Ripley Todd. 

She's not indifferent to him but they have two very different attitudes toward her powers. Of course, Ripley's going to have to learn to trust both Mac and her own powers in order to save her own life as well as those of her "sisters."

Four stars

This book came out 

Three Sisters Island, #2

Follows Dance Upon the Air

Followed by Face the Fire

Hard copy I own

Opinions are my own

Love At First Fright by Nadia El-Fassi

Rosemary Shaw is a horror author whose book has been optioned into a movie. Too bad the actor they've picked as the lead is a) not what she imagined for that character and b) a total jerk. She's not sure how she's going to make it through this shoot. 

Ellis Finch is a certified Hollywood hunk. He normally does action movies but he's decided that this horror film would make for an exciting change. Too bad the writer thinks that he's all wrong for the part. 

Add in the fact that Rosemary can see ghosts and there's a love spat to figure out on locaiton and there's a lot going on in this book. I generally liked Rosemary and Ellis's story but I was not expecting the dom/sub portion of this book. Nor the age gap (not one of my favorite tropes though El-Fassi does more than most to balance the relationship.)

Three and a half stars

This book came out September 16, 2025

ARC kindly provided by Ballantine and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Dance Upon the Air by Nora Roberts

Nell Channing is on the run. She's come to Three Sisters Island hoping that she can stay hidden in this small community. What she finds is more than safety. While in Mia Devlin's cafe, Nell notices the cook quitting. She harnesses up all of her courage and offers to try out for the job. Soon, she's part of the community, even to the point of seeing one of the locals, Sheriff Todd. Luckily, Zack grew up on the island, so when it turns out Nell is a descendant of one of the sisters and has to help break the cycle started hundreds of years ago. She'll have to harness her destiny to defeat evil. Yep, I said it.

Four stars

This book came out June 5, 2001

Three Sisters Island, #1

Followed by Heaven and Earth

Hard copy I own

Opinions are my own

The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley with Thomas Judd (Narrator), Heather Long (Narrator)

I listened to this as an audiobook and it took some time to get into the worldbuilding. There was a glossary to start off with but I didn't really retain that information. However, as the story kept moving along I was able to pick up more of the language and understand the world that Osric and Aurienne inhabited. 

Going in, I knew this was a duology so I was expecting a cliffhanger... but there wasn't one which was so refreshing. Also refreshing? The banter between the two main characters. 

Then general set up is that Osric is a bad guy. But he's a bad guy whose life force is failing him and soon he won't be able to do "bad guy stuff" any more. When that happens, his crew will kill him. So he needs a way out. Unfortunately, the only person who can help him is a certified do-gooder meaning she will in no way want to help him. So, he decides to bribe her. It doesn't work on her, but it works on her mentor. The children in their area have a pox that they've been unable to create a vaccine for. He has the money, she has the talent. Together, nothing will be resolvedin this book but it's a wonderful start. 

Four stars

Dearly Beloathed #1

This book came out July 8, 2025

Followed by The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinons are my own

The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong

Tao left her homeland when she was a child. She predicted her father's death and, when it came true, her whole world came crashing down. Now, she roams the countryside of her new home, telling small fortunes. Those are easier than life changing fortunes and allow her to make some money. Right now, she's just trying to stay one step ahead of the guild. Her life is better than it was before she left, but she's lonely. 

In this story, she starts to meet people (and animals) who are going to make it so that she has a core group of friends who can help her to continue to lead her life the way she wants.

This was a cute story. It dragged in a couple of places and I'm not sure that everything wrapped up cleanly but I generally enjoyed the story. 

Three and a half stars

This book came out November 5, 2024

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

Accomplice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer, narrator Em Eldridge

Definitely read the first two books before you read this one. You don't have to in order to enjoy the action, but the knowing the characters and the previous plot points really help add to the joy of this story.

Evie and the Villain are still trying to figure out how to bring magic back to the land. They are able to uncover another rhyme... although it's not really a poem so much as instructions that sometimes rhyme. They can tell that they are close though. Many of the components are in place. There's a lot going on and it was hard to keep track of people's histories sometimes but still a fun story. 

While Tristan and Evie are finding people who can help them like one who mentions that there's a curse on the Villain and one who may be able to return Kingsley to his human self. And that won't be a minute too late because he is becoming more and more like a frog every day.

Four and a half stars

This book came out August 5, 2025

Follows Apprentice to the Villain

Followed by ????

Borrowed as audiobook from Libby

Opinions are my own

A Most Puzzling Murder by Bianca Marais

This was an interesting story that I probably would have enjoyed more as an ebook or hard copy. There are a number of puzzles in this book that would have been good to see. There is a website but my library book was returned before I could combine the two.

I also was not expecting the fantasy elements that came into the book. There are a lot of moving parts and the chapters switch around points of view so it's a lot to keep up with. The base story is that Destiny Whipp is invited to an island to become an archivist for a reclusive family who are actually wizards fighting for power.

Three stars

This book came out June 10, 2025

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own