Once Upon Stilettos - Book Review by Voodoo Bride

 

Once Upon Stilettos (Enchanted, Inc. #2)

by Shanna Swendson

What is it about:

Katie Chandler’s life is pure magic–literally. As an executive assistant at Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc., she’s seen more than her share of fantastical occurrences. A mere Manhattan mortal, Katie is no wizard, but she’s a wiz at exposing “hokum” pocus, cloaked lies, and deceptive enchantments. And she’s fallen under the all-too-human spell of attraction to Owen, a hunky wizard and coworker. Owen, however, is preoccupied. Someone has broken into his office and disrupted top-secret files, and it reeks of an inside job. CEO Merlin (yes, the Merlin) taps Katie and her special ability to uncover the magical mole.

Keeping her feelings in check while sleuthing alongside Owen, Katie is shocked to discover that her immunity to magic is waning, putting her in grave danger. Soon she’s surrendering to the charms and enchantments of everyone and everything around her, including a killer pair of red stilettos. Katie must now conjure up her natural instincts to get to the bottom of the break-in, regain her power, and win the wizard of her dreams.

What did Voodoo Bride think of it:

This book was just as much fun as the first was.

Just when Katie thinks she has the hang of her new job she gets more responsibilities thrust upon her. And there's her crush on Owen, while she's trying to date someone else, and then her family shows up!

So lots of things going on and lots of possibilities for things to go wrong. This book was fun and entertaining. Once I got into the world again I wondered why it took me a while to pickup this book, because this series is relaxing and enjoyable.

It looks like the love triangle/square is shrinking, and I like where it seems to be going, but as there's a lot more books in this series, I will stay wary just a bit longer.

All in all I had a good time with this read and I'll be picking up the third book soon.

Why should you read it:

It's a fun and enjoyable read.

Nothing But Blackened Teeth - Book Review

 

Nothing But Blackened Teeth

by Cassandra Khaw

What is it about:

Cassandra Khaw's Nothing But Blackened Teeth is a gorgeously creepy haunted house tale, steeped in Japanese folklore and full of devastating twists.

A Heian-era mansion stands abandoned, its foundations resting on the bones of a bride and its walls packed with the remains of the girls sacrificed to keep her company.

It’s the perfect wedding venue for a group of thrill-seeking friends.

But a night of food, drinks, and games quickly spirals into a nightmare. For lurking in the shadows is the ghost bride with a black smile and a hungry heart.

And she gets lonely down there in the dirt.

What did I think of it:

I very much enjoyed this book, but I didn't find it particularly creepy.

The writing was stunning, the characters interesting, and I liked the mood, but it wasn't the creepy haunted house mood I expected when picking this up.

More than a creepy horror read this is an emotional read in my opinion. It's more about friendship and how it changes through the years, and how each friend in this story handles that differently. The ghostly apparitions are almost a manifestation of the emotions between the five friends.

At a few points in the story I got a bit lost. the characters would do something I couldn't understand why they did it. For example the main character suddenly drank from a fetid pool. Those few things aside I really liked this novella, creepy or not. It will be a keeper.

Why should you read it:

It's an enjoyable atmospheric read.

Teaser Tuesdays - Nine Goblins

 

It was gruel again for breakfast. It had been gruel for dinner the night before, and it would be gruel sandwiches for lunch, a dish only possible with goblin gruel, which was burnt solid and could be trusted not to ooze off the bread.

(start of chapter one, Nine Goblins by T. Kingfisher)

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Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, previously hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: - Grab your current read - Open to a random page - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their  TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Back Soon

 

We've been busy playing games again, so new reviews of books will be coming next week.

The Annual Migration of Clouds - Book Review

The Annual Migration of Clouds

by Premee Mohamed

What is it about:

In post-climate disaster Alberta, a woman infected with a mysterious parasite must choose whether to pursue a rare opportunity far from home or stay and help rebuild her community.

The world is nothing like it once was: climate disasters have wracked the continent, causing food shortages, ending industry, and leaving little behind. Then came Cad, mysterious mind-altering fungi that invade the bodies of the now scattered citizenry. Reid, a young woman who carries this parasite, has been given a chance to get away - to move to one of the last remnants of pre-disaster society - but she can't bring herself to abandon her mother and the community that relies on her.

When she's offered a coveted place on a dangerous and profitable mission, she jumps at the opportunity to set her family up for life, but how can Reid ask people to put their trust in her when she can't even trust her own mind?

What did I think of it:

When I was investigating this year's Nebula Award winners I stumbled on this book (which didn't win the Nebula, but Premee Mohamed's And What Can We Offer You Tonight did). I will confess I fell in love with the cover, and when I read what it was about, I had to have it.

And this is such a beautiful read.

Set in a future that seems all too plausible this novella explores what we owe or don't owe to those close to us. Where do we as individuals draw the line? When have we done enough for our parents and are we allowed to live our own lives? What do we owe our (childhood) friends?

I was pulled into the story from the start. The setting, mood, and themes were enough to keep my interest, the parasite inside of Reid was an added bonus. This being a novella it won't surprise you I read it in one sitting.

You bet this will be a keeper, and I'll most definitely will check out other books by Mohamed.

Why should you read it:

It's a beautiful and thought provoking post apocalyptic read.

On McPig's Radar - Exit Interview

 

I had the opportunity to read the ARC of this book and it's totally amazing! So you bet I preordered the book to add to my keeper shelves. And you should totally preorder as well, because you need to read this book!

Exit Interview: an a.k.a. Jayne novel

by Dana Cameron

Reporter Amy Lindstrom has just witnessed the sudden, suspicious death of the powerful arms dealer she's been investigating. Jayne Rogers, the deadly covert operative assigned to work with the arms' dealer, has been accused by her boss of killing him, as well as turning traitor and picking off her former colleagues one by one. The only one who believes Jayne is being framed is Nicole Bradley, whose technical skills are as stealthy and lethal as Jayne's abilities with her fists and weapons. All three must work together to prevent a hidden arms cache from falling into the wrong hands. 

Expected publication: December 6th, 2022

Dead Sexy - Book Review

Dead Sexy (Garnet Lacey #2)

by Tate Hallaway

What is it about:

From the author of Tall, Dark & Dead, the second in the paranormal series featuring a gem of a heroine (Mary Janice Davidson).

Tall, Dark & Dead introduced Garnet Lacey, a bookstore manager/witch who accidentally unleashed the dark goddess Lilith on Vatican assassins. Now she has other things to worry about-like pesky frat boy zombies, a gorgeous FBI agent hot on her trail, love spells gone wrong, and keeping her vampire boyfriend a safe distance from her vampire ex-boyfriend. There's just no rest for this Wiccan...

What did I think of it:

I had a great time with the first book in this series, so when I was in the mood for an enjoyable Paranormal read I picked up book 2.

And this was just as fun.

Garnet does seem to attract problems and men, but were I usually get annoyed by love triangly stuff, here it somehow works. I was invested in Garnet getting herself out of trouble and for her to figure out her feelings.

I really love the sidekicks in this series as well, apart from one of the guys in the love dodecahedron square: Garnet's ex, who is just a bit too sleazy in my opinion. I actually worried a lot over one of the side characters, hoping he would be ok.

All in all another fun read. I'll probably pick up book 3 soon 

Why should you read it:

It's a very enjoyable Paranormal read.