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Hazel Raises the Stakes by M.Z. Andrews

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


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I completed the ebook Hazel Raises the Stakes last night. It’s the second in author MZ Andrews’ “Coffee Coven” series.

Gwynnie is excited to be invited to Las Vegas to accept an award honoring her for her hard work. She knows she can’t take her elderly mother, Hazel, with her, because Hazel has a habit of going off on her own. Therefore, Gwynnie parks Hazel with their crazy friend, Loni. Hazel is outraged to be left behind. The World Championship of Poker is taking place in Vegas at the same time, and Gwynnie knows how much Hazel loves to play poker. No sooner does Loni take her eyes off of her than Hazel pulls a runner. By the time Loni catches up to her, Hazel is at the airport. She convinces Loni to go to Vegas with her, where the two of them get in more trouble than any two women should. So long as Gwynnie doesn’t catch them, however, it’s all good.

Well now. The story didn’t really seem to have a point. There was no mystery, no romance, and not much of a plot. It basically consisted of an old woman acting like a tantrum-throwing toddler because she wasn’t getting her way. Was this meant to be funny? It just made me want to smack the dentures out of Hazel’s mouth. Hazel is so selfish that she can’t allow her daughter a moment to shine, because it’s all about her and what she wants.

Favorite line: “I’ve got twenty-eight cats running around this place and I can account for each and every one of them by the end of the day.”

This was 10% amusing, 90% annoying. Two stars, and one of them is for Loni’s house full of cats.

Harvest and Haunt ( by Eva Belle

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



Last night I finished Harvest and Haunt, which is the first book in Eva Belle's "Autumn cozy paranormal" mystery series. The main character is Nova Powers, who owns an antique shop, enjoys coffee and sweets, and conducts paranormal investigations with the MPS team.

As October begins, the days and nights grow cooler, Nova begins wearing her own hand knitted sweaters, and paranormal activity seems to ramp up around the town of Cape Mystic. There's a murder or two to investigate, along with a haunted lighthouse and a haunted school. When several people in town find witch bottles on their property, Nova isn't sure if it's a prank or a warning. She may soon find out, however, when a witch bottle appears on her own doorstep.

The story was okay, but it was all over the place. There was absolutely no continuity. It read like three short novellas instead of one cohesive book. Worst of all, it ended on a cliffhanger. Second worst of all is that the cover depicted here is not the beautiful cover of the ebook I downloaded onto my Kindle. I don't know why that version wasn't available on GoodReads, but I'm salty about it. Characterizations were fair to middling. I liked that Nova is a mature woman, although we have no idea if she's divorced, widowed, or has never been married. No mention was made of any children. Editing needed work. A lot of work. This sentence in particular stood out: "Thank you," Ann murdered as she poured the coffee. WTF, Ann? LOL! I'm 99% sure the author meant murmured, which should have been caught in editing. Another thing that irritated me was the author's overuse of Nova's name. When the woman is by herself, we don't need to keep reading that Nova did this then Nova did that. It would have been smoother to read that Nova did this then she did that. Also, any time her cat was mentioned, it was "her cat Clove". Once the cat has been introduced by name, the fact that she's a cat shouldn't be mentioned over and over. Narrative was very choppy and lacked any smooth transitions.

Favorite line: It seemed that hate and vengeance went hand-in-hand.

This book was perfect for the season and featured lovely descriptions that really set the mood. It would have benefitted greatly with competent editing. I wish I could give it 2.5 stars, but since I can't it's getting 2. I can't condone awarding this even an average score.

ADVENTURES OF A PSYCHIC MEDIUM WEDDING PLANNER: Book 1: Connecting with Ghosts & Sexy Blake Rhodes by Lori Francis Butcher

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



I completed an ebook last night--Connecting with Ghosts & Sexy Blake Rhodes by Lori Francis Butcher. It's the first in the "Adventures of a Psychic Medium Wedding Planner" series. The main character is Staci Drake, who works with her family's event business and has also just learned she's a medium.

On her 29th birthday, Staci is visited by the spirit of her departed Aunt Mamie, who tells her she can choose to train as a medium or keep on keepin' on with her life as is. Staci is up for a change, but first she must pass the test as well as complete two challenges. She's thrown into the deep end of mediumship on her first day when she witnesses two masked figures sabotage a bicycle race, resulting in casualties. Fortunately her brother, Charlie, is there to assist her as they help spirits cross over. However, Staci is now in the crosshairs of an evil spirit who has been pulling the strings on a series of mass casualty events. Staci will need to harness her new abilities quickly to not only pass her challenges, but also to survive.

Oof. The idea behind this was interesting, but the story itself left a lot to be desired. There was precious little world building (it was mostly info dump), and characters were not portrayed very well. The narrative lacked cohesion and continuity and seemed more of a series of 'this happened, that happened' than a smoothly flowing plot. Other issues that bothered me ( SPOILERS )

Favorite line: A little retail therapy always helps.

I didn't see any other reviews for this book, and I hate to be a Debbie Downer right out of the gate, but this doesn't deserve more than two stars. It wasn't awful, but it was far from being good. It was lite and uncomplicated for the most part, so if that appeals to you, give it a read.

Relatively Dead by Sheila Connolly

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I finished reading Relatively Dead by Sheila Connolly last night. It's the first in her "Relatively Dead" series, featuring Abigail "Abby" Kimball. I am having a tough time pinning a genre on this. It wasn't really a mystery, nor was it a romance. Paranormal lite, perhaps?

Abby has recently moved to New England with her boyfriend, Brad, and is trying to settle in. While on a tour of local, historic homes, Abby experiences a vision of the family who lived there a century ago. The only thing keeping her from completely freaking out is the calm presence of the docent, Ned Newhall. Rather than think that Abby is crazy, Ned helps her try to explain the odd occurrence and suggests she look into her own past for answers. Abby finds she has plenty of time, since Brad is always either at work or haring off to play golf or watch football with the guys. Although he encouraged her to seek a job, once Abby lands a position at a local museum, Brad seems dismissive of her employment. In the meantime, Abby has other visions and continues to share her experiences with Ned. It's not until after things come to a head with Brad that Abby feels free to delve fully into her new, confusing ability.

I enjoyed this story, but nothing was really resolved by the end of it. I had thought it was a mystery, but...it wasn't. Abby is a likable character, as is Ned. Brad was a self-absorbed jerk, but the author portrayed him well. There was a surprising twist towards the end that livened things up.

Favorite lines:
♦ "I never turn down a good cemetery."
♦ That was the problem with having a real job: no time to do all the other interesting things in the world.

The dreaded 'holding my breath' line:
Abby hadn't realized that she'd been holding her breath, but she let it out now with a sigh.

An interesting story with a unique premise and relatable characters. Four stars.

Crazy For Brew by Annabel Chase

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I completed the ebook Crazy For Brew last night. It's the first book in Annabel Chase's Spellbound Ever After" series, starring sorceress Emma Hart.

The curse on Spellbound has been broken, allowing residents to come and go as they please, as well as allowing an influx of new paranormal citizens to visit. In honor of the occasion, and to thank Emma for her part in breaking the curse, the town is holding its first annual Spellbound Day. But not all is rainbows and unicorns; some of the residents of Spellbound are acting wildly out of character. Emma is convinced that they've been hexed or victimized by a potion. The odd behavior is straining friendships and relationships, and Emma is determined to find the root cause and fix it.

To begin with, I did not realize that this is a spin-off of an earlier series by the author. I've read the first book in that series, then read this one, and I've unfortunately spoiled quite a bit of the original. Boo. My bad. Nevertheless, this was enjoyable, and I liked that the mystery didn't involve a murder, but rather a different sort of crime. Characters were fun and relatable (most of them, at any rate!), and the narrative was quick and straight forward. I would have liked to see more of Emma engaged in activities other than her investigating.

Favorite lines:
♦ I was a stickler for routine. It was the only way I could get everything done without descending into madness.
♦ "You drive like a grandmother on her way to a rheumatology appointment."
♦ "That group is ridiculously paranoid about immigrants. I don't get it. We all came here from other places originally." Truth
♦ They made Lord Voldemort look like your jocular uncle.

I'd love to award this 3.5 stars. Since I can't, I'll kindly bump it up to four.

Pumpkin Spice and All Things Nice by Laura Greenwood

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Knocked back the rest of an ebook last night. It was Pumpkin Spice and All Things Nice by Laura Greenwood, and it's the first in the "Cauldron Coffee Shop" series. I confess I'm not entirely certain if it was meant to be a romance or a mystery. We'll call it paranormal lite.

Willow is a witch who owns and operates the Cauldron Coffee Shop. She enjoys her job, but it's becoming too much for one person to handle. Willow is also stymied by the calico cat, which she calls Spooky, that keeps appearing in her shop. Her life is further complicated when her best friend, Sabine, sends her an odd teapot from an archeological dig. Willow soon learns that a wizard has been bound to the teapot, but he can materialize in the real world. Now she has a new employee to train, a random cat to sort out, and an ancient wizard hanging around. At least life is never dull at the coffee shop.

I was enjoying this story, rocking through it, and then it just ended. I can't even say it ended on a cliffhanger. It simply ended. What the...? I am not pleased by this. Things were making sense, I was learning more as the story went on, and I was eager to see how it played out. Instead it petered out. In addition, the author seems to have forgotten all about the cat, as no mention was made of her in the second half of the book.

Favorite line: "Cats will do what cats are going to do."

I would have given this a rating of four stars, but it loses one point for that aggravating ending. Three stars.

Stakes & Stilettos by Michelle Rowen

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I was on a roll last night, and I also finished reading Stakes & Stilettos by Michelle Rowen. It's the 4th book in her "Immortality Bites" series of lite paranormal, featuring newly-turned vampire Sarah Dearly.

Sarah is still mourning the loss of her normal life, which makes her determined to attend her class reunion. There, she encounters a powerful witch, who curses Sarah for being a mean girl to her back in high school. Sarah is now a nightwalker--the worst kind of vampire there is. Her new incarnation makes her a danger to everyone, even those she loves. Sarah is determined to break the curse, no matter the cost. In the meantime, she has more than one encounter with the Red Devil, a legendary, masked vampire thought dead more than a century ago. Sarah's love interest, Thierry, thinks the Red Devil is an imposter, but Sarah isn't so sure. Nor is she sure what a future with Thierry may look like. He's still married to Veronique, and while Thierry would like to annul the marriage, Veronique is being stubborn. It's all enough to make a fledgling vampire cry.

While I enjoyed this book for the most part, it ended without any resolution. None whatsoever. Absolutely nothing was resolved. Douse me with lemon juice and call me bitter. At least I warmed up a bit to Thierry in this one, and I knew who the Red Devil was all along. Called it!

Favorite lines:
♦ They always talk about love at first sight. They never mention seething dislike at first sight.
♦ "We're still together. Even though everybody and their pet rabbit thinks we're doomed." // "Who thinks we're doomed?" // "Everybody. And their pet rabbit."

Once again, what would have been a rating of four stars is getting knocked down to three for that shoddy ending.

Better Homes and Hauntings by Molly Harper

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I was thinking the other day about the books I take to work to read on lunch breaks and how I wouldn't be able to do that once I retire. Then I thought, 'Well, you could still choose a book you might not be all that eager to pick up, yet reluctant to purge, and read a chapter a day.' Then I thought, 'Why not do that now?' Therefore, I selected a paranormal lite book, Better Homes and Hauntings by Molly Harper, and poked away at it until I finished it yesterday evening. Main characters were landscape artist Nina Linden and wealthy tech mogul Deacon Whitney.

Due to the unscrupulous actions of a former-partner-turned-bitter-rival, Nina's landscaping business is floundering. When she wins the bid to work on the gardens of the crumbling island home called Crane's Nest, Nina knows it's the last chance to save her reputation. The owner has stipulated that his workers must stay on the island, as he's had too many people walk off the job and never return. Joining Nina on the choppy boat ride to the Crane's Nest is Jake, an architect, and Cindy, who runs a cleaning business. Deacon is determined to restore his ancestors' mansion, no matter the cost. He's a confirmed skeptic, but when even he begins experiencing odd phenomena on the island, he is forced to admit that maybe the house is haunted. While working closely together to restore the Crane's Nest, Nina and Deacon find themselves falling for one another. However, something on the island seems intent on keeping them apart. It's up to Deacon and Nina, along with Jake and Cindy and Deacon's dotty cousin Dotty to lay these spirits to rest.

This was a fun and pleasing story, combining humor, romance, and plenty of creepiness. Although Nina and Deacon were the main protagonists, Jake and Cindy's budding romance was an enjoyable side-plot. I also loved Dotty, who was as charming as she was eccentric. The author created some odious antagonists in Regina, who had her cap set for Deacon, and Nina's former partner, Rick.

Favorite lines:
♦ Beware all enterprises that start with the purchase of Crocs.
♦ She acted as if she was about to file a restraining order against her shadow.
♦ "I never joke about my snickerdoodles."
♦ "Suddenly, my Scooby-Doo jokes don't seem so lame."
♦ She would run around in pajama pants most days if it didn't mean getting funny looks at the grocery store.
♦ There they would defend their stash of shrimp balls to the death.
♦ "Surviving the terrors of a haunted house together is a bonding experience every potential couple should go through."
♦ "What do you girls even do over there at night?" // "Oh, you know, lounge around in our undies, feed each other grapes. We have tickle fights on Tuesdays."
♦ "You're proposing to me with a cell phone?" // "If you think about it, they're both long-term contracts."

A charming story over all. A few minor things aggravated me, but nothing too egregious. Four stars.

Halloween Magic & Mayhem by Stella Wilkinson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I began an ebook novella last night and finished it this morning. It was Halloween Magic & Mayhem by Stella Wilkinson, and it's the first in the "Magical Misadventures of Emily Rand" series.

It's an exciting time for Emily. Halloween is nigh, she's on the verge of turning 16, and she's invited to a party that will also be attended by her crush, Sean. On the eve of Halloween, Emily's Aunt Iris tells her she is a witch and will come into her power once she turns 16. Emily is skeptical at first, but Iris bequeaths her a wand and a Grimoire that belonged to Emily's mother.

Fascinated, Emily takes the items home and begins reading the grimoire. At midnight, a ghost appears in her room. She learns that Peter has always been there, but only now can she see him. By the time the Halloween is over, Emily will have inadvertently raised zombies, met Iris' coven, and danced naked with them under the full moon in an attempt to undo her out of control spell. All Emily wanted was to go to the party in hopes of kissing Sean.

As this was intended for young adults, there wasn't much substance to it, but it was a light, entertaining read. Emily is relatable as a teenage protagonist, and her familiar, a crow named Bob, was a fun side-kick.

Favorite line: I rolled my eyes. "Yeah , right, and monkeys might fly out of my butt."

Giving it 4 stars.

A Curse, A Key, & A Corkscrew by Anna McCluskey

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



I finished reading A Curse, a Key, & a Corkscrew by Anna McCluskey on Wednesday night. It's the first part of the "Rhymes with Witch" series.

As a young child, Joan and the rest of her first-grade classmates were cursed by their teacher, Mrs Olsen. Most of the students were struck blind and dumb, some worse than others. Officials chalked it up to a mass hallucination, but Joan and her friends know the truth: Mrs Olsen cursed them, and the curse is scheduled to re-set the year they turn 30. All of this gives the classmates approximately five months to prevent it. Several of them have devoted their lives to breaking the curse. Joan became a physicist, Ed a ghost-hunter, Derek a doctor, and Veronica a yogi. When Joan happens upon an odd key in an antique store and gets the same jolt from it that she remembers getting from the curse, she believes the key may hold the key to breaking the curse. Summoning the others, Joan and her friends launch a desperate attempt to thwart the curse before they are all rendered blind and deaf for life...or worse.

Despite how dire the synopsis sounds, this book was lighthearted and amazingly funny. I enjoyed Joan's interactions with her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Brandon, as well as the antics of Veronica (naked yoga, anyone?) and Ed, the stoner. There was some friction between the classmates, but they ultimately pulled together in an effort to break the curse.

Favorite lines:
♦ "I feel like we've done this experiment before," he said, accepting the drink. "If memory serves correctly, and I'm sure it doesn't, it takes about three to get me into bed."
♦ "What was that?" // "What?" // "That hesitation. You dithered." // "I did not." // "You absolutely did."
♦ "Are you planning to come in? Or are you a vampire and need an invitation?"
♦ Really just a caper and not a shenanigan at all. Barely more than an antic.
♦ They were ready for it this time, though, and she hardly died at all.
♦ "We already know how this is going to go. Let's spare the poor bastard his death."
♦ "This is like an episode of Scooby-Doo. Fine. You, you, and you go rescue Brandon from the witch, who will undoubtedly turn out to be a fat man in a witch costume."
♦ "You can do quantum physics, but not cheerleading? You're blonde and have big tits. This is what you were designed for."

Lots of funny lines/quotes! Sort of waffling here between a four and a five. Affecting the score ( Spoilers ) Five stars!