Phantasma by Kaylie Smith - Book Review

Series: Wicked Games #1 

Publication Date: 03rd Sep 2024 

Genre: Horror, Romance (Historical) 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: Dark but light; an entertainer 

New Orleans 

Ophelia has just taken over the family role as a Necromancer after her mother’s death. Less than a few hours later, she realizes their ancestral home is under debt and at risk of being taken from her. Her younger sister, Genevieve, decides to participate in the dangerous Phantasma challenge by entering the Devil Manor. The one who clears the nine levels gets huge prize money. 

Ophelia follows her sister into the manor intending to take her back home. However, there are rules to follow and deals to make before it can happen. When Blackwell, a long-lasting resident of the manor offers help (for a bargain, of course), Ophelia wonders what it would cost her. With the attraction between them getting stronger, there’s a lot more at stake for Ophelia. 

The story comes in Ophelia’s third-person POV. 

My Thoughts: 

Well, I don’t often take big books (anything over 400 pages is a big book). This one combines horror, gothic house, and romance, so I thought, why not? 

I don’t bother with the tags and comparison, so can’t say if this is like the other books or not. I prefer to read a book for what it is. 

This is historical fiction set sometime when women still wore cumbersome corsets while the mode of transport included horse carriages and automobiles. A mention of the timeline would have helped. 

The premise is highly intriguing. The book starts on a high, establishing that this will be a dark read. Not for the squeamish! The main characters seem interesting too. 

Ophelia takes time to get used to. TBH, it’s a miracle she managed to survive so far. Since this is openly discussed by the characters, I can see it is a deliberate character arc (can’t complain). Let’s just say there is a loooot of blood. 

Blackwell is your typical handsome and quirky hero with enough darkness inside. However, he manages to endear himself (faster than the FMC). 

The banter between the two is fun, despite the deadpanning (more on this next). Though the love story is on a fast track, it doesn’t feel that way due to the page count and the multiple interactions between the couple. 

Now, the steam is high here. 4.5+ (or more) and a fully open door. That means we have more than a handful of such scenes, with many in the middle of the book. It messes with the pacing. 

While the beginning is not fast, it is not slow either. The middle, however, drags. The % doesn’t just move between 40 and 70%. After that, it picks up a steady momentum until the end. I wouldn’t mind if a couple of steamy scenes were edited out to tighten the middle. 

I know some dialogue tags have to be reused but some tend to grab my attention more than others and it becomes a nuisance. The characters deadpanned seven times, which even in a 460-page book feels excessive. Unfortunately, the word caught my eye the second time, so I noticed it every damn time after that. The same with insidious which was used seventeen times (yeah, I checked). It’s not a problem if my brain misses the recurring words but it does become an issue when I spot things. Since my book is an uncorrected proof, I hope the final copy is better. 

There’s a bit of mystery but the focus is mainly on steam and the horror house game. Some levels were cool! 

There is an array of characters (other participants and Devils). They do their job to advance the plot and bring a change in the FMC’s arc. 

The FMC’s character development is a bit wobbly but still aligns with the plot. I wish we got to see her in her actual role as a Necromancer. The MMC’s arc doesn’t have much, TBH. Once we feel who he is, nothing really changes (not even the big reveal). 

Anyway, this isn’t a book to read if you want proper character development or an intricate plot. It’s what I call a masala read but with an extra dose of chili. 

Did I enjoy it? Oh, yes! And don’t forget to read the author’s note. 

To summarize, Phantasma is a steamy romance-filled set in a gothic house. It had quite a few triggers and descriptions of gore. However, it is not an intense read or even scary (at least for me). I intend to read the next book in the series. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), for a copy of the book.  

#NetGalley #Phantasma

A Murder is Fixed by Madhav Nayak - Book Review

Publication Date: 31st July 2024

Genre: Sports Cozy Mystery (Indian – Cricket)

3.5 Stars

One Liner: A good debut

Shreya Ved, an investigator in the commission probing on match-fixing in the MCL (Mega Cricket League) is found dead with her head bashed. The commission was almost done with the investigation which would put many top names in hot water.

With an increasing number of suspects each passing hour, Inspector Vichare and Constable Lobo need to find the killer. Russi Batliwala is a one-eyed retired umpire with years of experience on the cricket field. Detection is his latest obsession and thankfully, he has the brain for it. Russi offers his help to the police to find the killer.

Soon, it’s a game off the field where the stakes are too high and the players are not limited to cricketers. Can the trio of investigators solve the crime?

The story comes in the third-person omnipresent POV.

My Thoughts:

I’m a crazy fan of cozy mysteries, though most of the books I read and read (past and present) are set in other countries. Needless to say, I was excited to see this available.

Cricket is a huge thing in India (yet another colonial hangover but at least it makes money), so for a mystery set around the game was bound it to be entertaining.

What I love is the lack of caste and religion nonsense in this one. We have a diverse cast with characters from different backgrounds. However, there’s no drama about their identity. The focus is on what they do. Such a relief!

The book starts slowly and takes a few pages to establish the characters and the premise. Then, it picks up a steady pace until the end (somehow the last chapter felt a bit stretchy).

Set in Mumbai, it uses the local lingo and a liberal dose of Hindi terms/ phrases/ idioms/ etc. Some of them went over my head since I’m not that familiar with it (been a while since I watched CID so lost touch with the language). No idea if the local details (places and distances) are 100% accurate. The author lived in Mumbai for many years, so that’s there.

The mystery offers enough twists to keep the reader engaged. However, it does follow a known template which made it easy to guess the culprit. Also, the last reveal is typical of the genre (thankfully with dialogues to break the monologue). You will enjoy the book more if you are new to this genre.

The conversations could have been better though. As I said, the dialogue aims for a quirky and light tone, which is common in cozies. However, on the whole, nothing stands out and makes an impact. There’s an attempt in the last chapter to give some social commentary which also doesn’t make a mark. (Thankfully, it’s a short chapter, so I wasn’t bored)

The main characters – Russi, Vichare, and Lobo were quite entertaining. Each of them has a distinct yet stereotypical personality. Still, it works in a standalone. (Now, if this would become a series, there needs to be more character development)

Another plus point is that the police duo is easy to like. It’s actually refreshing to read about an average but honest overweight police officer wanting to do his duty and admitting that he needs help.

To summarize, A Murder is Fixed is a worthy debut mystery blending cricket, politics, drama, murder, and a bunch of suspects who stand to gain from the murder. It’s an easy read though not a memorable one.

Thank you, Blogchatter and HarperCollins India, for a copy of the book. This review is powered by the Blogchatter Book Review Program and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

You can buy the paperback of A Murder is Fixed on Amazon.

Murder on a Country Walk by Katie Gayle - Book Review - Blog Tour

Series: Julia Bird Mysteries #6 (Standalone)

Publication Date: 11th Sep 2024

Purchase Link: https://geni.us/B0CY6BCMFNsocial

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/209998731-murder-on-a-country-walk

Genre: Small Town Cozy Mystery

4 Stars

One Liner: A short and quick mystery

Book Blurb:

Julia Bird loves a walk in the countryside. There’s nothing quite like the fresh air and green rolling hills of the Cotswolds to clear your head. Unless you come across a dead body, that is…

When the local Berrywick vet, Dr Eve Davies, is found dead at the bottom of a cliff, the police believe it’s nothing more than a tragic accident, but Julia isn’t so sure. Just a few days earlier when she took her dog, Jake, to the vet, Dr Eve said she believed something awful was about to happen. It turns out she was right…

But who would want the beloved village vet dead? Was it her mother Kay, a down-and-out gambler who stands to inherit her unwedded daughter’s home? Was it her assistant Olga, who was close to getting fired? Or was it her cut-throat tennis partner Will, with whom Dr Eve had an argument shortly before she took a tumble? And who is the stranger skulking around Berrywick peering into people’s windows?

When a second body appears in the exact spot where Dr Eve was found, Julia knows it can’t be a coincidence. Both victims were pushed off the cliff, but why? Should Julia let sleeping dogs lie, or will she be like a dog with a bone to find the murderer?

A totally gripping and charming cozy mystery set in the English countryside. Fans of M.C. Beaton, Faith Martin, and Betty Rowlands will love the Julia Bird Mysteries.

***

My Thoughts:

The story comes in Julia’s third-person POV.

My favorite Jake is back again! The book starts with our chocolate lab participating in the dog talent show and winning an award in a category (guess which one?), much to Julia’s delight.

The MC knows the victim and is naturally sad to see her dead near the cliffs. It is never easy when she is the one to find the body.

The mystery has quite a few elements, some of which are solved pretty quickly. However, we don’t know if there’s more to be discovered! I connected the dots way before our MC did but that’s not new either.

The book deals with a few themes like conservation vs. development (hot topic), competitive spirit, addiction, shady activities, puppy farms, etc. Each of these gets different weightage based on the plot requirements.

The MC is, as usual, trying to gather more information. She isn’t the one to let something go when she knows the details don’t add up.

The side characters do their bit to provide information and entertainment. Little Sebastian makes an entry early in the book for a teeny while and manages to get into trouble.

The best thing is that I learned three new things by reading this book:

• Do you know there’s something called happy tail syndrome where the dog’s tail sprains from too much wagging? It could even cause a mild fracture if the tail hits hard objects when wagging.
• I had no idea cross-breeding dogs was a lucrative (shady) business with loads of income. There’s an increase in demand for customized crossbreeds, and the pups can cost a thousand pounds or two, depending on the breeds. Whoa!
• There’s a game called Padel (tennis) which seems to be a cross between tennis, table tennis, and maybe even a little badminton. It’s played in teams of twos (so like doubles in tennis). It is easier than tennis and hence becoming popular (as older people can also play and get good exercise).

To summarize, Murder on a Country Walk is a good continuation of the series and should work well as a standalone. There is enough detail to get an idea about the character’s backstories without weighing down the plot.

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley #MurderOnACountryWalk

***

About the Authors – Katie Gayle

Katie Gayle is the writing partnership of best-selling South African writers, Kate Sidley and Gail Schimmel. Kate and Gail have, between them, written over ten books of various genres, but with Katie Gayle, they both make their debut in the cozy mystery genre. Both Gail and Kate live in Johannesburg, with their husbands, children, dogs, and cats. 

Follow the Authors –

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KatieGayleWriter

X: https://twitter.com/KatieGayleBooks

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Katie Gayle here: https://www.bookouture.com/katie-gayle

***

This has been a pitstop on the blog tour by Bookouture (@bookouture). Thank you for stopping by! 

Sign up for all the best Bookouture deals: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo 

Hate Hex by Gina LaManna - Book Review

Publication Date: 01st September 2024 

Genre: Paranormal Romance 

3.5 Stars (rounded up) 

One Liner: A light timepass read 

Trixie Gardens is a taxi driver in the paranormal section of NY. She is twenty-nine and struggling with her finances. She is also determined not to use her magic, which could cause trouble soon. 

Dominic Kent is a multi-billionaire vampire who owns many businesses, including the building Trixie lives in. Their interactions are heated, and Trixie decides to hate-hex him for making her life hard. Soon, there’s more than hate between them as the two cannot seem to avoid each other.

However, they have a lot more to deal with as Dominic’s brother, Sebastian, returns, determined to create a mess. Can Tix and Dom fight Sebastian and have their happy ever after? 

The story comes in the first-person POVs for Trixie and Dominic. 

My Thoughts: 

I wanted a light and easy read and got it. This is a quick paranormal romance with some fun banter. It’s pretty much insta-love but works since the book is short and has a steady pace. There are enemies-to-lovers and fated-mates tropes as well. 

The dual POVs give us both backstories and make it easy to understand the characters. Dom’s first-person POV is quite good. There were times I liked it more in the first half. 

The FMC has a strong reason to suppress her magic. However, we don’t get the reason until the halfway point. By then I was starting to grow weary of her. Maybe the reveal could have come 5-10% earlier and used for further character development afterward. 

Though there is no world-building, it is easy to get into the plot without wondering about what’s and why’s. However, if you are new to this genre, you may need more than what’s provided. Turns out, the book is set in the same world as an established series (Magic & Mixology Mystery) with eight existing books. I got to know only when I read the author’s note. 

I quite like the descriptions of the apartments, though. Emmy’s lab sounds like a fun and explosive place to be. The friendship between the FMC and Emmy is also sweet and cute. 

Grandma Betty, though in a minor role, is charming and delightful. I wish she had more space, though given the book’s length I can’t ask for much. While Vix is almost uni-dimensional, Belinda (a pixie) is a fun character to meet. 

Apart from the Sebastian track, there’s another subplot about the Circle and nominations for the wildcard seat. Though this acts as a catalyst for the plot to move, it could have been better woven into the plot. I wouldn’t mind reading a few pages extra to know more about this. 

There is a third-act breakup of sorts which made me groan. However, the way it was used in the climax surprised me. Such a cool idea! 

To summarize, Hate Hex is a lighthearted and quick romance (pretty clean too!) with interesting themes like forgiveness, healing, acceptance, etc. Since I wanted a fluffy romance and got one, I cannot complain (hence rounding the rating up to 4 stars). 

Thank you, NetGalley, LaManna Books, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #HateHex 

Christmas Ever After by Jaimie Admans - Book Review - Blog Tour

Series: The Ever After Street #4 (Standalone)

Publication Date: 02nd Sep 2024

Purchase Link: https://mybook.to/christmasaftersocial

Goodreads Book Page: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/212346662-christmas-ever-after

Genre: Small Town Christmas Romance

4 Stars

One Liner: A sweet Christmassy read

Book Blurb:

A picture-perfect town, a place where dreams come true. Welcome to Ever After Street...

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but Franca Andrews has never felt more miserable. With business far from bustling, she needs a Christmas miracle to keep her beloved nutcracker shop open... But there’s one man standing in her way - expert snow globe maker Raff Dardenne.

Dardenne Snow Globes have a magical reputation for bringing lovers together, a myth that Raff continues to exploit, much to Franca’s annoyance! But this Christmas their shops are pitted against each other and only one gets to stay on Ever After Street. Franca doesn't know how her handmade nutcrackers are ever going to compete with Raff's magical snow globes, especially at the most magical time of the year!

Franca is determined to prove Raff’s business is built on lies. But when disaster strikes, and she’s left unable to make anything, she needs help. It’s just very frustrating that the only person offering is her gorgeous, annoying, nemesis himself!

As these two enemies get to know each other, Franca discovers another side to Raff – kind, caring, and funny. But unless she can prove that his magical snow globes can’t really match true lovers together, she’s going to lose everything…

But maybe it's not too late for them to put aside their differences and find some Christmas magic of their own?

***

My Thoughts:

The story comes in Franc’s first-person POV.

The fourth book in the series can be read as a standalone. It has an enemies-to-lovers trope where two business owners and artisans fight to retain their spot on Ever After Street.

As always, the characters are layered and flawed, making it easy to empathize with them or want to cheer for them. They are in their late 30s, with enough issues in the past.

I love how the author creates such perfect book boyfriends. Raff is warm, kind-hearted, compassionate, talented, and cheerful. His relationship with his family is beautiful but not perfect. He has an unwanted burden on his shoulders and doesn’t know how to deal with it.

Franc is a disillusioned and cynical character who slowly reconnects with her soft side. Her argument does feel immature but not unrealistic (it makes sense given her childhood). She is a good person and willing to admit her mistakes. Her arc is encouraging and reassuring.

The ‘enmity’ doesn’t last long. Things start to thaw rather early in the book but I like it since we see the natural progress of their relationship (something the author excels in writing). I absolutely love how their interactions change both of them for the better but gradually.

Do I have to repeat how the author writes the best hugs? Makes me go awww every single time!

There is a sort of third-act breakup but more of a resigned move than due to miscommunication or a fight). Think of it as a short lull where they take a deep breath and resume the story. The ending is, of course, hopeful and heartwarming.

We also get the background details about the processing of making a wooden nutcracker. The details are woven into the plot and presented in different scenes to enhance the narrative. The ideas for future projects (nutcrackers and snowglobes) are so cool!

Ever After Street is a magical place, but with some ‘strict’ owners who tend to cause some or other issues for the shop owners. Well, we need conflict and some of their concerns are legit, so no complaints.

The side characters this time are mainly Raff’s family and a couple of shop owners. Sofia (7yo) is such a doll! Adorable.

To summarize, Christmas Ever After is a heartwarming and festive addition to the series. The pacing is slow (there’s some repetition in the first half). Settle down with the book and a cup of hot chocolate to enjoy the story of finding love and rediscovering the magic of Christmas.

Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book. 

#NetGalley

***

About the Author – Jaimie Admans

Jaimie Admans is the bestselling author of several romantic comedies – including The Little Christmas Shop on Nutcracker Lane and The Chateau of Happily-Ever-Afters. Her new series for Boldwood, The Ever After Street Series, is based on the magical world of fairytales.

Follow the Author –

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jaimieadmansbooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/be_the_spark

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jaimieadmans1/

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/JaimieAdmansNews

Bookbub Profile: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jaimie-admans

***

This has been a stop on the #ChristmasEverAfter blog tour conducted by Rachel's Random Resources. (@rararesources) Thanks for stopping by!

Good Duke Gone Wild by Bethany Bennett - Book Review

Series: Bluestocking Booksellers #1

Publication Date: 20th August 2024 

Genre: Historical Romance (Regency) 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: An easy read  

Caroline Danvers writes erotic novels under a pen name. She knows she can’t afford to let this secret come out. Dorian Whitaker, Duke of Holland, needs to remarry for an heir after the death of his wife five years ago. 

Their paths cross more than once but neither can want to get close to the other for obvious reasons. Caroline can’t risk the future of the bookshop or her career. Dorian cannot marry a commoner. But when did love bother with such trivialities? 

The story comes in the third-person POVs of Caroline and Dorian. 

My Thoughts: 

Firstly, this is a contemporary Regency Romance; meaning it has only a few aspects of the period and the content has a modern flair. If you want something that strictly fits the early 19th century, this book is not for you. If you want a spicy romance with some old-style class conflict and balls, grab this one. 

Caro and Dorian are well-etched. The FMC has a spine and can take a stand. I love how she handled an important scene towards the end. Assured and confident but also heartbroken. 

Dorian starts as a regular Duke (handsome, bored expression, hidden side, blah blah). However, he grows as the story progresses. I loved reading about his vulnerable side and his determination to learn from his mistakes and become a better person. 

Given the FMC’s secret identity, the book is easily 3+ on the spice scale. It’s fun though. There are bits of humor sprinkled here, there, and everywhere. 

Since this is the first book in the series, we are introduced to two other booksellers early on. Connie and Hattie are the FMC’s cousins, different in temperaments but equally loving and loyal. The trio of cousins makes a formidable team. 

There’s a bit of mystery and a couple of nasty characters. While I like the take on physical appearances, I which subplot was a bit stronger. It doesn’t really satisfy the reader (though you should read this as a romance). 

Though there is a third-act breakup, it is handled in style. I loved one of the FMC’s dialogues. No miscommunication, though. In fact, they ask each to speak about what’s on their mind (let me in the pause) which I appreciate. A mature act. 

I like the epilogue but would have enjoyed an extended version of it. A couple of things are told and I want to know about the how and when. 

There are enough clues to guess who would pair up in the next book, and I know I will read it. That girl made me laugh and worry a few times, so I’m in! 

To summarize, Good Duke Gone Wild is an enjoyable read as long as you are not too particular about the historical aspects. I’m used to modern elements in these books so I had a good time with the book. 

Thank you, NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing), for eARC. 

#NetGalley #GoodDukeGoneWild