MIDLIFE MOUNTAIN MAGIC by Renee Brume
Fiction, Contemporary Fantasy
4****
Blurb: It all started with a cheating husband and accidental magic. Now, she is on a one-way trip to hell. Beth Potentia yearns for more from her life. After a devastating discovery and an entirely unexpected crime spree, she is busted out of the big house by her father. She’s whisked back to her hometown, trying to wrap her head around how her life has so unexpectedly changed in a heartbeat. Now, she has her hands full dealing with her eccentric father and the shadowy government agency he seems to head. Their first mission, to prevent a demon horde from busting through and causing worldwide havoc and chaos, might be a disaster of biblical proportions unless she can harness the magic that is her birthright. Can Beth help her father and her new team go to hell and back before the devil himself makes his final appearance? Midlife Mountain Magic is the devilishly entertaining first book in a new Paranormal Woman’s Fantasy series. If you like middle-aged characters with accidental magic and more sass than is good for them, a quirky cast of magical sidekicks, and a slow-burn romance, you love Renee Brume’s hellish fantasy.
THOUGHTS: In this paranormal, Beth Potentia leaves a cheating husband with a burning business and drives his expensive sports car into a water-filled quarry. When she gets arrested, she calls her father who gets her out very quickly and takes her home, where she finds out some secrets that have her reeling. For instance, her father is a wizard who works for a secret government agency. Even more confusing, he wants her to join his team and eventually lead it. Beth is a witch, but untrained. Thus begins her adventures – including one where she ends up in Hell helping to get someone out and stop a full breakout.
This was a fun story, but there were a few issues. For instance, she has an 18-year-old daughter and is just now telling her the “facts of life”? And her romance with Clay was too sudden – it needs more buildup. Finally, the ending didn’t work well for me. These are personal issues, but they affected my feelings for the story. Still, if you can ignore these, go for it.
Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”
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