Walking in a Witchy Wonderland by Juliette Cross

Short stories in between the books published so far in the Stay a Spell series. If you haven't read the books in the series, I would start with them first. 

Bewitch You A Merry Christmas

Evie is trying to help a man who has been hexed by a witch with a sense of humor but Matteo and Alpha are resenting the time she's spending "not with them." 

Rockin’ Around The Hexmas Tree

The sisters and their beaus are doing a Yankee Swap for Christmas but Isabel and Devraj end up with an ornament that is more than it appears. 

Jingle Bell Jock

JJ and Charlie are friends. Nothing more. But when it looks like Charlie is hooking up with another man, JJ finally makes his move. 

You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grim

Lavinia meets Gareth, a Grim. They inspire strong feelings in each other that will be resolved in the next book of the series.

Jingle Spells

Nico and Violet sit for Evie and Matteo's triplets. Getting through the night may just prove to them they are ready for some pups of their own.

Three stars

This book came out October 5, 2021

Follows Witches Get Stitches

Followed by Always Practice Safe Hex

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Rocket to the Morgue by Anthony Boucher

A take on the science fiction writers of the time (1941), this book has many thinly veiled references to writers in that genre. They are all working hard to make money by writing as many words as possible and all of them have a great dislike for Hilary Foulkes. Hilary isn't even a writer, he's just the executor of his father's estate. But that estate is vast and Hilary has the power to stop many projects. So it's not, perhaps, surprising to mystery readers that he is getting threats against his life. But Inspector Marshall is not amused as the clues seem to be pointing to his friend, Matt Duncan.

I had heard about this book on the Classic Mysteries podcast. The author was more complimentary than I was but he also knows more about the authors of that time.

Three stars

This book came out 1942

Follows Nine Times Nine

Borrowed as ebook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys: The Big Lie by Anthony Del Col, Werther Dell'edera

This was... dark. Especially for anyone who grew up with Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys (and their parents) being beacons of good in the world. This series upends a lot of things you would've read while retaining some spirit of the original creations.

The Hardy Boys are at odds with each other. It seems that their father is a dirty cop. But now he's dead and can't defend himself. And Frank and Joe are turning against each other. There's someone that is willing to help them out though, an old friend. She's even willing to help when the evidence looks like her own father might be involved in something shady.

Three stars

This book came out November 28, 2017

Borrowed as ebook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks

I had heard about this book on an episode of Fated Mates. It sounded like a fun and fluffy read so I thought I'd try it out. It was, indeed, fun and fluffy but it wasn't a book for me, just too much going on.

Shanna Whelan witnessed a murder so she's now in the Witness Protection Program. So now she's a night dentist. Except that she's afraid of blood so she's REALLY hoping that no one comes in. Too bad. Roman Draganesti is in and he wants a weird wolf's tooth implanted in his mouth.

Except that Roman is actually a millionaire. His seethe invented synthetic blood and now they're trying to create better ways to get it to vampires, especially the ones that would rather stick with the old ways. It's just his bad luck to test drive the mannequin (sex doll?) and accidentally stick his tooth where it shouldn't have gone.

Now they're off on a madcap, whirlwind adventure that just might end in a vampire war.

Three stars

This book came out July 26, 2005

Followed by Vamps and the City

Borrowed as ebook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Pushing Up Daisies by Katherine Hayton

This was a very short story about Willow Foxglove and her "gentleman caller." So far, they had just met and sipped tea but Willow did enjoy his company. "Did" because the man has just been found dead in her garden. 

Willow is not considered a suspect though the police do look at her for a little while. It was only a short while but she is also concerned that the man's secretary is a suspect as well. The town gossip has it that the secretary and the man were involved but Willow bonds with her over their shared love of a TV show.

Three stars

This book came out May 25, 2018

Followed by Berry Murderous

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Southern Magic by Amy Boyles

Pepper Dunn's mother died when she was very young and her father more recently. That means she has no family when she gets fired from her day job as a waitress and then her roommate kicks her out. Peppers new-ish boyfriend didn't deposit the cash she paid him for her rent, the check bounced, and he's too busy watching football to help her mourn the way her life is going. 

To add icing to the suck-cake, there is a goth-looking guy hanging out around her car who seems to want to kidnap her. But the talking cat whose come to tell her about her inheritance helps her get away. And yes, that last bit is completely weird. But the cat does get her to town. And it does seem that Pepper finally has some family. Ones that believe that they are witches - in a witch town. 

That, along with learning that the highly-allergic to animals Pepper has inherited a pet shop. The man down the street offers to buy it off her but he is murdered before she can take him up on the offer. 

There was a LOT of world building and not much mystery. A little on the sweet side for me but an okay book.

Three stars

This book came out April 15, 2018

Followed by Southern Spells

Borrowed as audiobook from Hoopla

Opinions are my own

Meant to Be Mine by Hannah Orenstein

Ever since she was young, Edie Meyer knew the day that she would fall in love. Her grandmother, Gloria, has a gift and it lets her know when people will fall in love. Today is Edie's day June 24, 2022.  She is heading out to watch her sister get engaged to the man she met on the day their grandmother predicted. Dressed to the nines, Edie is ready. When she sits down next to Theo, a rising band member and songwriter. 

As she starts to coordinate her sister's bachelorette party and leading into the wedding, Edie will have to examine whether she believes more in fate or herself.

Four stars

This book came out 

Hard copy borrowed from library

Opinions are my own