Tag: fantasy

Spotlight: Unearthly Desire

UNEARTHLY DESIRE

BOOK FIVE – OUTLAWED REALM

Erotic Urban Fantasy Romance

AMAZON: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FMQ2JVKG

Blurb: They’re fighting for their lives, freedom, and love…in the realm of the dead. Eeete, a pleasure slave, thought she’d found freedom in an underwater colony until a hated Palace guard abducted her for his carnal pleasure. Swept with him through a portal into E3, she faces danger from the deceased, grotesque monsters, and a dimension where few things are as they seem and nothing can be trusted…including her own desire. Running from sure death, she comes upon Makam, another guard, sentenced to E3 for treason against their dimension’s depraved ruler. She’s determined to hate him—as she does all men who imprisoned her in the Palace—but survival depends on them fighting together. Curious about Makam’s seeming honor and tempted by his untamed allure, she soon falls under his sensual spell, their nights filled with unrestrained passion, their days spent trying to stay alive…an increasingly impossible struggle. When all appears lost, an unexpected chance allows hope for them to flee together toward a promising future. Until a shocking secret threatens to tear them apart forever.

About Tina: Tina’s an Amazon and international bestselling novelist who writes passionate romance for every taste – ‘heat with heart’ – for traditional publishers and indie. Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic Times and numerous online sites have praised her work. She’s won Readers’ Choice Awards, was named a finalist in the EPIC competition, received a Book of the Year award, The Golden Nib Award, awards of merit in the RWA Holt Medallion competitions, and second place in the NEC RWA contests. She’s featured in the Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. Before penning romances, she worked at a major Hollywood production company in Story Direction. On a less serious note: she’s an admitted and unrepentant chocoholic, brakes for Mexican restaurants, and has been known to moan like Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally while wolfing down tostadas. She’s flown a single-engine airplane (freaking scary), rewired an old house using an ‘electricity for dummies’ book, and is horribly shy despite the hot romances she writes.

MeWe: https://mewe.com/i/tinadonahue

Bluesky: @tinadonauthor.bsky.social

Website/Blog: https://tinadonahuebooks.blogspot.com/

Newsletter: https://tinadonahuebooks.blogspot.com/p/newsletter.html

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tina-donahue

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/146988.Tina_Donahue

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/tinadonahue

Amazon author page: https://amzn.to/1ChWFkO

Sweet ‘n Sexy Divas: https://sweetnsexydivas.blogspot.com/

Wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/user/AuthorTinaDonahue 

Review: Funerals & Familiars

FUNERALS & FAMILIARS by Carmen Radtke

Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal

4****

Blurb: Midlife can be murder – or magic…
Almost fifty and freshly divorced, Bex Merriweather is going through The Change – battling hot flashes and night sweats. Little does she realize that when an elderly relative dies and leaves her a lending library in sleepy Willowmere, complete with cat, her whole life is going to change… Turns out Aunt Violet left behind more than books and home-made herbal teas, like full-blown witch powers, and a small town where murder is very much on the menu. Even Cosmo the cat is no ordinary feline, but a sassy talking familiar. And when rumors about her aunt’s death begin to circulate, Bex has no choice but to embrace her witchy inheritance, and her inner detective. Now the novice witch, armed only with her circle of lifelong friends and a snarky, judgemental cat mentor, must uncover the truth, before her newly acquired magical life goes up in smoke. Perfect for fans of cozy mysteries, magical mayhem, and heroines who believe it’s never too late for a new chapter—or a little witchcraft!

THOUGHTS: Bex is 50, newly divorced and living in a tiny apartment when she gets the news that her beloved Aunt Violet has died. Bex dyes her hair blue (because she can), and heads to the small town where she grew up to discover she has inherited the house, a lending library, a cat with attitude (who talks!), and magical powers. Cosmo the cat is not only her familiar, but her mentor who has to teach her how to use her powers and fast, because they have not one, but two murders to solve before there’s another. She has to learn how to control her magical hot flashes (different from her regular hot flashes), and bake “special” cookies. She has a cadre of friends who help her deal with everything and have some pretty special gifts of their own.  

A cute paranormal cozy and the beginning of a series that holds promise. And a satisfying ending.

Recommended.

Review: The Magic of Death

Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal

4****

Blurb: Witches, Murder, and Ghosts, oh my!
Welcome to Dead End, Texas, a tourist town where it’s spooky season all year long… Star Bell comes from a long line of witches originating all the way back to Salem—if her granny is to be believed. While the rest of her family employs their magical abilities in their assorted businesses on Main Street, Star flat out refuses to use her own because communicating with the dearly departed has never brought her anything but trouble. And the one spirit she wants to talk to—her sister Astra—has ghosted her. So why bother? And if that’s not enough for an almost forty-year-old to deal with, she’s living with three generations of Bells. Between her sixty-year-old aunt who is acting like a teenager and her teenage niece who isn’t acting much like herself, Star doesn’t have a moment of peace these days. But when her niece becomes the prime suspect in a murder investigation, Star must embrace her power and enlist the spirits of Dead End to help find the real killer before she becomes a permanent resident of Dead End herself.

THOUGHTS: This was an intense, but fun paranormal cozy mystery. Star is the main character and she can see and talk to ghosts. Which can be both good and bad. She also gets visions – ones that, in this case, show events that happened years ago but lead to the recent killings in their small town of Dead End. There are a lot of corruptions and secrets abound throughout. Star’s family is quirky and interesting in that they are witches. Star uses her gift/curse to help her discover the killer(s), but nearly ends up being a victim herself.

The story plot was intriguing and had a satisfying end. The characters well done, and the scene setting fit the story. What the story needed though was better editing. There were quite a few glitches throughout, but that didn’t lower my enjoyment of the story.

Recommended.

Review: A Curse for Samhain

A CURSE FOR SAMHAIN by Dahlia Donovan

Fiction, Paranormal Cozy Mystery Romance

Blurb: Welcome to the Skeleton Crew. Bring your knitting needles and a good, strong brew. Gender fluid, autistic vampire Hyde Snodgrass runs Between the Leaves—a cosy village book store. Their life revolves around books, all things autumnal, and the two cats who rule their world. The shop also plays host to a weekly knitting group called the Skeleton Crew. When one of the leaders of the village coven fails to show up for the weekly knitting meeting, Hyde finds themselves investigating a horrific murder side by side with their long-term crush, Teresa Vega. Suspicion immediately falls on other members of their group. Hyde and Teresa struggle to find answers to the growing list of questions. It’s made all the more difficult when the killer has them in their sights. Can working together spark the romantic flame within them? Will they solve the mystery before death comes too close?

THOUGHTS: I absolutely loved the characters in this story. The only thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars was the ending. I felt a little let down by it. But…the characters! Thank you so much for making them who they are. Hyde is a youngish vampire who sometimes goes by she and sometimes by they; they are also autistic; and they own a bookstore in this amazing hamlet where paranormals who don’t fit elsewhere fit. Hyde’s girlfriend, Teresa, is a witch who owns a taco bus and has anxiety/panic attacks. Having two main characters like that, and having them live their lives as they are really touched me.

In this story, Hyde and Teresa are trying to figure out who killed another witch in town, broke into and trashed Teresa’s bus/home/taco business (all in one), poisoned Hyde, and more. We do find out who the murderer is but not necessarily who did all the rest. It’s a little fuzzy.

But even with fuzzy, I would highly recommend this book if only because of the characters and the setting. Nicely done.

Review: A Traveler’s Guide to the Lucky Gryphon

Recipes & Regalings by Stephen Warren & McKenzie

Fantasy, Cookbook, Short Stories

5*****

Blurb: Hello there, traveler!Welcome to The Lucky Gryphon, the most magical tavern in the Crossroads. We’ve been expecting you. Your quest is keep this book safe. What you’re holding is a journal unlike any other. This book will reveal some of the tavern’s history, as well as scraps of insight on mine and Minthie’s origins. There are even some personal notes from the others that call The Lucky Gryphon home.
-Quincy

Over the centuries, this collection of tales has become a bit much for Quincy and me to remember. So, we’re sharing with you a few of our secrets, and inviting you to learn some of our famous recipes.
-Minthie

“A Traveler’s Guide to The Lucky Recipes & Regalings” is a cross between a fantasy storybook and cookbook. Accompanying each recipe is a short story detailing the recipe’s origin, lore about the tavern, or a personal tale from one of the tavern keepers, Quincy and Minthie. With over 60 illustrations depicting everything from savory meals to sweet desserts, delicious drinks and easy snacks, there’s something in here for every foodie. From the archives of Minthie’s Library to you, this book is perfect for any fan of magic, fantasy, and food.

Thoughts: This book is a combination tale and recipe book that brings the characters of Quincy’s Tavern to life. There’s Quincy, Minthe, Stubby, and so many more. I love the tales of how some of the recipes came into being. And the names are as unique and fun as the tales behind them. And yet, they are simple to make and the ingredients easy to find. 

If I have any reservations about this at all, it’s that this book is only available in e-book format. I really, really want to hold a print book in my hands. 

Thank you to the authors for creating such a wonderful “recipe” book. 

Definitely recommended.