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Every Witch Way But Wicked

every witch way but wicked

Every Witch Way But Wicked (A Stacy Justice Mystery #1.75 (Tale of Two Witches)

This was one of the better anthologies I have read. There was not one story that I did not enjoy and want to continue with. It was very cohesive in its theme, which was Halloween and witches, by having some of the best authors writing about the subject. There were several authors whom I already read such as Rose Pressey, Debora Geary, and Camilla Chafer. Then there are the authors I have never read before but will definitely be reading in the future.

Though every story shared a theme each one was quite unique in its delivery and tone. There were stories which were lighthearted in tone, such as “Cats and Dogs” by J.L. Bryan the story of a woman who is having trouble with a dog who is not ill but seems to be sad. Her neighbor gives her cookies and instructs her eat one a day to give her insight into what is wrong with her pet. Before she has a chance to eat them however her pets get into them with the most spectacular effect ever.

Then you have stories which are a little darker like “The Hazards of Desire” by Wren Emerson about a town of witches. In Desire all the women are witches and the men are bargaining chips. Zelda was once the first daughter and leader of the Coven, but now she is just a broken old woman treated as a pariah amongst the town people. She tells a tale to a young second daughter about true love in Desire and what happens when people have powers like they do. A cautionary tale of dark desires, love, and obsession.

There is something here for everyone. Enjoy a short tale from your favorites and find someone new to follow. You cannot go wrong this book.

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I guess he was good-looking if you liked tall, dark, and handsome with a body that would make women unable to form complete sentences in his presence.
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White Knight

white night

White Night (The Dresden Files #9)

by Jim Butcher (Author), James Marsters (Narrator)
This is just another wild ride with the only practicing wizard in Chicago. The writing is always lively and descriptive giving a great look at both the characters and surroundings. The story is tight and flows perfectly. I love to listen because James Marsters is Harry Dresden and pulls me in as soon as he starts talking.

Harry has been drafted by the White Council as a Warden and is actually having to deal with them and look out for his territory. It just so happens that women, witches are being killed and or disappearing and he has no idea until Murphy clues him in. Molly is pushing hard to be included even though she has no experience. And to top it off many people believe he is the killer because a tall man in a grey cloak has been seen with the victims.

Dresden fans will enjoy this!

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I am a super fan of Harry!
“What is the point of having free will if one cannot occasionally spit in the eye of destiny?”
Jim Butcher, White Night
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Witch’s Bell 3

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Witch’s Bell 3 (The Adventures of Ebony Bell #3)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
In this third book things do not change so much from the others. The story is advancing but seems to not be very much different from the previous ones. The characters are well established and though they do not seem to be growing very much they are still consistent. The story flows well and does advance the overall story arc forward.

Once again Ebony stands in the middle of something that she has no idea how to handle. Ebony is having dreams that are so real she cannot tell reality from fantasy anymore. Harry has retained his human form and is continuing to help as much as he can, though he has never actually run into anything like this outside of a book. And our poor knight Nate is being turned all around as Ebony tries to handle things on her own.

The portal is still very important and something is still trying to enter the world but other things are trying to control Ebony so as to help that entity. As usual when Ebony realizes that she is being manipulated she dives headlong into danger without first trying to research what might be happening. Luckily her friends are there for her and she manages to pull off the save as always.

I am coming to like Ebony a little more each time I read about her exploits. In the beginning she seemed to be a self-centered character who was not going to be very interesting and maybe annoying. I am still waiting to see what happens with Nate, he is a bit of a mystery. Worth the time.

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Sudden Backtrack

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Sudden Backtrack (The Hollows #13.1)

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I was under the impression that this was going to be Al’s story, like him having the last word after all was said and done. This was nothing like what I expected. I was actually kind of bored while reading it, something that has never happened with one of Kim Harrison’s books. This just seemed like an after thought more than anything else, not a thought out short. I didn’t mind the length but I did mind that it was not a better short. It gets 3 stars because I love the characters even if I do not particularly like the story being told.

Newt and Gally (Al) have escaped but are trying to spin a curse on the elves which will affect their future children and they have chosen one of their hunters to be the one to spread it.

This was more about Newt than Al and it did give me the reason that she felt so close to Rachel. This I would say to read if you just want one more look at the world of the demons. It is very limited.

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Engaged off Bourbon Street

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Engaged off Bourbon Street (Jade Calhoun Short Story, Book 3.5)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a perfect entry in the Jade Calhoun saga as she moves forward with her new life in New Orleans. This was an intimate look at all the mains as they come together to help Jade and Kane celebrate. Everyone is feeling the holiday spirit and Jade is just happy to be able to share her happiness with those she loves. Even though it is a short story it has the impact of a full length novel in both plot and character development. These characters are true to who they are and even though there are background people, who are never heard from, things move quickly from start to finish.

Jade and Kane are having their engagement/Christmas party at the house in the bayou that he did not really go to until he met Jade. Jade made a promise to Pyper that she would string mistletoe all around the house to make sure she had a chance to kiss Ian, and she has misplaced it. In order to locate it Jade decides to use magic, and we know how that can go for her. The spell is cast, the guests arrive, and the mishaps ensue.

This was a nice quick read that made me smile and shake my head. You would think Jade would learn, but then if she did we would not be so entertained. I would say fans should definitely read this!

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To Have and To Code

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To Have and To Code (A Modern Witch 0.5)

by Debora Geary (Goodreads Author), Martha Harmon Pardee (Narrator)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This was the second book in this series that I read. After reading the first it was kind of hard not to want to go on with series. I love the characters, who make me feel like I am a part of their life from the moment we meet. The world they live in is not perfect but has enough reality added that you feel like you know it or have at least been there before.

The Sullivan’s are a big and boisterous family who just happen to be witches. But even more than that they are a family of coders and mathematical whizzes who have been running games over the net for years. Enchanters Realm is a popular game among humans and witches, but has a special level that only witches are usually able to reach because it requires the use of magic. Enter the Hacker, a guy who codes better than a lot of people, including some of those Sullivan’s. Nell and Jaime are not happy when they realize that they have been hacked but figure that they person is a witch that they simply have not met.

Daniel is a first class coder and does it for a living most of the time. He does like to peek in the backdoor of games once in a while but nothing that would be considered cheating. He finds himself plying against the wizard, but notices that some of the code seems redundant or useless, not understanding that it is magic. He manages to hold off an attack of real magic with nothing but his code, pretty good. Then he decides he wants to work for them, that could be the craziest idea he ever had.

The writing and the story are light, fun, with a sense of romance. Anyone would enjoy this story and series.

 

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Glass Frost

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Glass Frost (First Frost #2)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have always liked a story that has a fun yet dark quality to it. This series is definitely one of those stories and has created an alternate world that our fairy tale characters inhabit but can interact with our world in significant ways. The telling of fairy tales within their new contexts is flawless giving life to them as well as the enchanted realm they come from. The story flows perfectly from incident to incident and makes sense even with the fact that these are considered to be make believe characters who only lived within the imagination of their creators.

Bianca has been home from the Everafter for only two weeks after having rescued her mother from a witch and finding her father, who had been missing for ten years, and is still missing the guy she met there. While in her backyard one night she sees a door appear and through it walks Terrance, the man she thought she would never see again. He has come because he wanted to see her again but also because the Queen has requested she return to the Everafter to do a favor for her. And no one refuses a Queen.

So Bianca goes back to the Everafter where she is seen as a powerful witch to do something her mother would not be happy about. While she is fighting for her life and that of her friends Bianca comes to an important decision that will make some happy and at the same time cause pain to others.

I recommend the two books currently in this series and hope more are to come as they have grabbed my imagination. YA is not a genre that I always enjoy but this is one of those exceptions I am always hoping to find.

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Forever Changed

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Forever Changed (Mystic Wolves #4)

 My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have been a fan of this series since stumbling across Mystic Wolves and falling in love with Mason and Darcy. This book picks up the day after their mating ceremony and brings with it not a great start to their lives together but more revelations that could cause them harm. These two never seem to get a break. The writing is fast paced and engrossing bringing out more about all the characters as it moves to a surprising conclusion. The characters are always well fleshed and give you a feeling of being someone you could get to know and like or someone you would avoid at all costs. I love the descriptions of the place they live and can visualize it so easily that it feels like a place I would like to visit and maybe even stay for a while.

After all the trials that they have had to endure Darcy and Mason finally have their mating ceremony and become husband and wife, the Alpha and his mate only to have their happiness come crashing down as more bad news is given to them. A dark evil is coming for Darcy from out of the past and they have to find a way to stop it or her body and soul could be at stake. Devlin, the vampire who has been her best friend since she was a girl drops another bombshell along with this news which causes tension between him and her new mate and friend also. To find the answers they need they leave their home and travel across the country to try to find some type of solution before the evil finds them.

This was a great installment that had me crying for Darcy and all that she had endured. While she did not seem very strong or assertive when we first met her, she has grown into a strong woman who can take care of herself and those she loves when needed. Mason has always been a strong male figure but we get to see that he has a tender side and that his love for her will have him doing whatever it takes to protect his mate and keep him with her forever. Their story touches my heart and I want them to be together and to be happy. Love this and I think anyone would enjoy their story.