a delightful tale with just a touch of paranormal magic
595027
4.5 First I should confess that I love Jane Austen and I actually read this on the eve of Pride and Prejudices two hundred year anniversary. It just amazes me that it's been around and loved by so many for so long.  Alyssa Goodnight's Austensibly Ordinary was an absolutely delightful modern day romance with an Austen twist that had me giggling aloud and falling in love with the characters.

The tale takes place in Austin, Texas where we meet the delightful, funny English school teacher Cate Kendall. She teaches about her beloved author Jane Austen and is very much a fangirl. Like all of us she dreams of meeting her Mr. Darcy. Her life is anything but adventurous and in fact the highlight of her week is playing scrabble with the deliciously handsome Ethan; her best friend and a fellow teacher. They share witty banter and tease about friends with benefits but it never really goes any farther until Cate finds a mysterious journal and decides to create an alter ego in search of the adventure she seeks. The tale that unfolds is hilarious, romantic and heartwarming.

I adored Cate and found her attempts with her alter ego hilarious. She adores Austen and daydreams about the type of romances the characters in her book experiences. I loved watching her discover things, get into mischief and trying to uncover clues. Ethan is smexy, can speak French and keeps a lot of secrets which makes him oh-so-mysterious. The banter between them had me squealing with delight and I love the path the author chose for them. Cate's Mom was an absolute hoot and I so enjoyed this crazy woman. Cate's friend the ghost-hunter made me giggle as did Cate's wild and crazy sister. All of the characters had depth, were well rounded and I enjoyed them all.

Goodnight weaved a delightful tale with just a touch of paranormal magic that I adored. The journal and its impact on this tale, its secrets and messages had me flipping the pages at a dizzying pace.  All of the references to Austen and her characters thrilled me, and made me realize all over again why I am a fangirl. The romance was complicated, sweet and felt very genuine. There was no insta-love; there was a little competition but no triangle. *thank you* As soon as I finished I looked for more books by Goodnight about the journal and was delighted to find; Austentatious the first book regarding the journey also set in Austen. I so hope she writes more. Since I had no idea this was not a standalone you will have no difficulty reading them out of order.
I want to thank Kensington Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review. Originally posted at caffeinatedbookreviewer dot com.
98662
This book combines a number of elements that I haven't encountered before and for that reason, it was a refreshing and delightful read. The story is character-driven in the point of view of Caprice Livingstone, a proper young woman from good family living in the US northwest in 1910. She is witty, indeed, but shes also clutzy, curious, sneaky, and adventurous.

Shortly after the book begins, Caprice sneaks into a closed bookshop at night and discovers a cabinet of magic stones. Each stone has a different property that enables her to time and/or distance travel. Most of the book involves her secretive experimentation with the stones (in cahoots with her friend Janie), her encounters with mysterious personalities, and her curiosity about one Thomas Worthington, the bookshop owner.

What I enjoyed right from the beginning was Caprices quirky personality and the consistent and expressive narrative voice, which fits her and the time period perfectly. This is a wonderfully tight point of view without any author commentary. The author clearly researched the historical details of the time(s) and then blended them with magic and some steam-punk mechanics  the engaging combination of elements mentioned above.

The magic requires some suspension of disbelief. The stones (and other magical items) don't work in any logical way and theres no explanation for their powers or anything scientific as a backstory, at least not in this book (the first in the series). There are plenty of hints that there is more to come including a better understanding of the powers.

Dialog is excellent, consistent, and realistic. The friendship between Caprice and Janie is adorable, and Thomas Worthington is a dear with some mystery yet to be revealed. There is plenty of tension as Caprice travels and is chased by the questionable Mr. Manush. The pace is modest due to the time spent between Caprice and Janie speculating about the stones and Caprice relating her adventures once she returns to her current place and time.

I can highly recommend this book to any readers who enjoy mysteries, romance, historical fiction, and magic. The book is appropriate for all ages.
619168
4.5 stars
This is a tale about a fairy princess coming to the human realm to visit her cousins before going home to be married to a prince she doesn't want. While at a ball, she meets a not-human man who has been looking for another of his kind for centuries and pursues her because he believes she's the one he's been looking for. What happens next is a story brimming with fairy creatures and magic: a fairy princess, shape-changers, witches, spells...

I really loved this book. It's like a fairy tale for adults that brings into play romance and magic and imagination in a way I haven't seen in a long time in books. It's hard to explain what I mean, but it feels like it brings back the beauty inherent in magic itself rather than just using magic as a means to an end. It wove a sort of spell around me where the world itself became alive with magic, where a fairy princess has eyes that swirl with color, spells cannot be completed without riddles being solved, witches come to balls armed with spells, and having your cousin shrunk is simply another spell that must be broken. Not to mention that the romance between the characters is sweet and undeniable.

Maybe I just haven't found them, but I feel like I haven't read a book like this in a long time, if ever (Patricia McKillip's might be the closest because of her lyrical way of writing). This is the type of story that pulled me so completely into another world and mixes the fantastical with the real so easily that I didn't so much suspend my disbelief so much as I just totally forgot that it's not normal. So much so that when I left it and came back, this sentence made me start laughing because only coming back from the 'real world' did I realize how funny beastie hybrids darting about the parlor is: "The demons having been fed and sequestered, for the time being, in the solarium..."

The writing is beautiful with lovely turns of phrases and descriptions. The scenery is enchanting, the sensations are described perfectly, the characters are full of magic, and you can feel the pull of the romance between the characters. I wish I would have picked out some sentences, but I was too wrapped up in the story to willingly take myself out of it. Here is one part that I quite liked, though, and went back through to find because of the image it evoked:
"Tanaquill wove a pixie enchantment through her thoughts that would obscure them from the peering eyes of the other guests in the ballroom, to make them look away as she kissed him in the dark recess. He was warm and strong, and she was falling into something, someone, that was unlike what she had ever known. Powerful, made of claws and wings and hooves, a thousand beasts she took in a breath as he pulled her closer. A force akin to nothing she had encountered and felt like she would never recognize..."

There are three sex scenes in the book, but I quite liked them because they, too, are full of magic and wonder and show how magical creatures transform when caught up in passion.

On the down side, parts of the story do seem a bit rambling and some scenes could do with some tightening up. I didn't feel that everything quite made sense, or that everything was explained, and a few of the events seemed to just a bit like deus ex machina. Hence my rating of not quite 5 stars.

But that still doesn't make me any less in love with this book!
3170341
Witch Weigh is a beautifully written paranormal romance with a touch of comedy.  Caroline Mickelson worked her magic (yes I went there) to give a wonderful novel exploring the life of a young witch who desperately needs an attitude adjustment and a fairy who gives her that precise adjustment.

Witch Weigh really shows how a person can change for the better and help other's in the process.  I appreciate Mickelson's sense of reality when it comes to how people perceive those who are overweight.  The backup characters at the camp give the novel a comical sense but a serious note about different ways people end up seeking assistance for losing weight.

Thoroughly enjoyed this paranormal romance about a witch who turns from a mean and self-centered person into a more presentable person.

Great novel.
1185003
I have to be honest, what intrigued me most about this book was the title and cover. That being said, I really enjoyed it, especially the writing style of the author. The characters were well drawn, and I loved the time hops from chapter to chapter and the way the story unfolded bit by bit. The only reason I did not give this one 5 stars is because the paranormal aspect threw me for a loop--but I think a lot of readers will love it. I hope the author writes another book featuring the heroine (who's a reporter) as she's a very memorable character.

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley and have voluntarily written this review.
3001068
I like a bit of paranormal reading in my literary diet.  It adds a bit of flavour.  And this book was a lovely hint of spice.

I enjoyed the world that the author created and the misdirections she sends the readers' way.  The main characters are eminently likeable and their interactions are reminiscent of every awkward conversation between teenagers you can think of - in short, wonderfully observed.

This is a quick read, with a suggestion of romance and hint of threat and tension, which I found worked well with the narrative.  If it had been a darker, more overwhelming situation, I think that the story would have lost some of its readability.  I look forward to the next in the series.

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.
4216306
A wonderful story woven in a beautiful, descriptive realm. From the start you can see Bethany Adams is taking her time, building her magical eleven world and drawing you in with a tale spun with mystery and intrigue. The premise is one that I would love to read more about in the next books and the characters are realistically flawed, likeable and believable. Adams has created a strong female lead that is independent, well-developed and modern; one that shows bravery and tenacity as she navigates through this new, unknown world. The story is well written and enjoyable.
1888377
If you like paranormal stories with a good storyline and erotocism, you will probably like this unusual tale of 3 half human, half Fae sisters who are assigned from the "other world" investigative unit to monitor the activities of nonhuman, earthbound creatures in Seattle . Paired with a full blooded human or FHB, Camille and her sisters, one who turns into a tabby cat when frightened, and one who had the misfortune to become a vampire, the crew sets out to find 3 demons who managed to enter a portal from the underworld.  Strange right?  The characters include every sort from gargoyles to giants to dragons that joke and turn into beautiful men.  To top off the fantasy the book has such funny parts that I found myself enjoying the dialogue.  Who would have thought the other world creatures could qualify for food stamps or that an arrogant dragon would accept a name like Smokey.  I enjoyed the book because it has a decent story, a romantic triangle, but more so because I laughed throughout the book.  I am not sure if that was the author's intent but this is definitely a fun read.
4350056
Mary Catherine Livingston can see thingsthings that most people cant see. Mary Catherine sees the spirits of the deceased. And it is during a trip from Pennsylvania to North Carolina that she discovers that she is not the only Livingston with The Gift. Turns out her son, D.J., is also paranormal sensitive. D.J. HEARS spirits.

Pair Mary Catherines hair-raising interaction with spirits with her racy relationship with nerdy-sexy Tony, and youve got yourself a just-cant-put-it-down paranormal romance. One reviewer suggested the reader just might want to leave a light on. I agree, but I also think that after reading the steamy scenes with Mary Catherine and Tony, the reader just might feel like lighting up a cigarette. Yeah, its that good!

If you're a fan of chills-up-your-spine suspense with a healthy dose of romance, don't miss Nancy Youngs HEARINGS THINGS.
3235558
I don't usually read romance novels, but I do like a good tale of the supernatural and this one surely qualifies.  It's a really interesting mix of historical fiction, monsters and yes, romance.  As another reviewer stated, the writing is a little over the top, but instead of being campy, it succeeds in being charming and humourous.  Alexai, the main character is a charming victorian spinster with a backbone, and if she and her werewolf "knight in shining armour" are a bit cliche, the author is forgiven because they are so witty and enjoyable.  A big recommend for fans of Jane Austen who wish to walk on the lighter side of things for a while, and for any fans of sexy supernatural beasties.
3993817
A wonderful tale of both suspense and supernatural elements. A fun, fun book to read!
4586721
A truly enjoyable well written story following a group of Magics (vampires, witches, werewolves, mermaids, elementals and more) taking a college semester aboard a cruise liner.  With a handful of Magics and a whole cruise ship of non Magics, they must fight evil whilst keeping the existence of Magic hidden. A fun read that had some brilliant spins on all things fantasy.  I loved the characters and how all their lives were interwoven, there were some brilliant stories within the story, and even a little possibility of romance.  I will definitely be looking to read more in this series.
3493544
This was a fun read. Magical and seemingly paranormal, but with a twist I didn't expect. The characters were well developed. I loved them. Christian Sparks, an Earl moves into an old Castle. When his presence wakes up the "ghost" who's been trapped for centuries in a hidden room. She can't remember who she is, or where she came from, or how she died. He can see her but no one else can, unless she chooses for them to. She's transparent though so she can't be passed as anything but a ghost.

Christian can't get his inheritance from his father to maintain this castle and grounds until he gets married. (Silly parents) but he doesn't have any prospects for marriage and he's of course fallen for this ghost.

The ghost (who we eventually learn her name is Tessa) knows she can't have him, but is still connected to him. She can't leave the castle grounds because of the spell around it, but when Christian goes to a ball to meet some ladies his mother is insisting he pick a bride from, Tessa calls his name and is transported there. And that makes things fun because sometimes she flits back and forth from being ghost like to being flesh and blood. But no one knows when it's gonna happen. Through the workings of a spell and with the help of a witch, they figure things out and learn who Tessa really is, but that's just the beginning of what they need to do. They've got to end the spell that's on her, and save her from the threat that caused her to be under that spell in the first place.

This book was fast paced, engaging, romantic without getting blushworthy, and like I mentioned, not what I expected when I first started it. Nice twist. The only thing I didn't like was the epilogue where I'm not sure if they were leaving things open for a sequel or if it was just a tease for me to think of what happens next on my own.
885256
This was surprisingly a wonderful read.
This story takes place in the very noteworthy town of Salem where all the witches were put to trial many many years ago.
There are so many different elements to this story there is no way anyone could get bored with it.  You have the supernatural flair to it with Druids, and magic flowing throughout the book; there is a mystery brewing through out the pages and of course romance is always in the air.
The action picks right up in the first few pages of the novel and from there it is very hard to put it down.  The Seer, who is a central character to the story, is also for the most part the narrator, and it helps to see things through her perspective.
Usually, in most fantasy books, seers are wise old people that always have a riddled saying to accompany the lesson.  This Seer is the complete opposite except for her very Southern and funny sayings.  I think the author, Elizabeth Marx, was very smart to write it like this because it is easier for the young adult population to relate to this character, since she is the just a teenager too.
Another wonderful, and probably my favorite, aspect to this story is the emphasis on the Celtic lore.  I love all mythology, but is refreshing to learn about the Gaelic culture, when you hardly see many books written from this standpoint.
The dialogue was the only thing that concerned me.  Sometimes, it was tricky to follow along as to who said what; but if I went back and re read it once or twice, I could easily see what was happening.  It wasn't so major to distract from the story.
There are many emotions to be felt from reading this story.  One moment I was practically in tears from the hardships the characters have to face, and other times I was laughing away at some of the snarky comments made by the secondary characters.
I feel this an excellent young adult paranormal novel for our young people to read today.  It is a fiction story but there is some real messages that everyone can relate to.  I like how the author shows us that it is okay to be different and to embrace all of your traits, albeit good or bad.
I would encourage everyone to give this book a shot.  Yes, the title is a strange one, but if you can get past that I feel like you might just come away realizing something about yourself.

I am crossing my fingers and hoping there will be another book to go with this one.  I believe this is a great first start to a wonderful series.
1083099
Delilah Dusticle has a special gift, a superpower perhaps, but one so sweetly humorous any child and parent will happily relate. She can dust, like magic. And she can make dust. This latter, of course, is a bit of a problem since dust falls like snow when shes distracted.

Delilah and Abi have started a great dustbusting business in post-war Britain, cleaning grand mansions for the no-longer-rich who cant afford live-in staff. Theyre advertised in all the best newspapers, and Delilahs image can even be seen on a billboard in Piccadilly Circus. But are they ready to go international? Is it really safe for Delilah to travel to Transylvania and clean the Counts castle?

The storys full of fun characters, perfectly suited to Bollywood, Hollywood and more. And the text has a nice read-aloud cadence, making this not just a fun middle-grade novel, but also a great story to read to groups of younger children (or at bedtime). Illustrations nicely interspersed with the text complement the narrative and add to the fun. I especially love the picture of Doris peeping over her well-wrapped scarf, but Ulriks washing is pretty cool too, as are assorted bats and spiders!

And then theres Count Dracula. But be ready for intriguing surprises, mystery and terror, all told with a nice quiet sense of humor as Delilah explores her dusty side. Imaginative, magical and fun, Delilah Dusticles Transylvanian Adventure will entice and amuse all ages, in the tradition of good old-fashioned fantastical storytelling. And the fact that its reluctant heroine is female, and cleans houses, is just a delightful added bonus.

Disclosure: I was given a free ecopy by the author and I offer my honest review.
1465455
Vivian Marshall has seen better times. She has been living in her car for the last few days because her apartment burned. But it is not the best solution since it is not quite spring in Juneau, Alaska. She visits her friend, Penny, hoping for the chance to use her shower. But Penny has a different idea. She convinces Norm to rent Vivian the second part of his duplex for the same rent she paid at her old apartment plus cooking lessons. Norm adds the condition that she takes one of the dogs living with him. The problem is Vivian is an introverted artist who prefers painting and quiet evenings and no dogs. Vivian's life becomes more hectic with her mother living in a coven, neighbors who have relaxed boundaries, and seeing magic all around her.

This is a fast and fun read. There is plenty of magic including weredogs, shape-changing boxes, selkies, and other magical creatures. I love the concept that magic isn't paranormal since paranormal means someting beyond normal. The magic is part of the world so it isn't paranormal, just normal. It is obvious the author loves her subjects. Juneau, dogs, and the existence of magic are all written with the tones of someone who loves them all. When someone writes about something they love, it just makes it easier to read and enjoy.

There are a few cases of tecnology being a double-edged sword. Spell-check changed some words to the correct spellings but the wrong word, like using foreword for forward. This wasn't a problem but it did just amuse me a little.

I look forward to the following book(s) in this series.
3452624
Poltergeeks is the story of Julia Richardson, a teenage witch. It runs in the family, and while they aren't part of a coven, Julia and her mother get by just fine by themselves. That is until, one day, Julia steps in to stop a poltergeist from terrorising one of her neighbours, and in doing so sets off a chain of events that not only lead to danger and tragedy, but also to discovery, and the reason behind her mother's often strict rules on Julia and her use of magic.

Sean Cummings has taken a pretty straight forward - and often overdone - trope and shined it up real good, being rather clever, and working well on many levels. While this is a YA novel, it edges towards the older crowd, and with the main protagonist a 15 year old girl going through many life changing events because of her heritage, it's nice to see them handled well. Julia is a headstrong young woman, and while at many points she goes through with plans that she really shouldn't, they're not done in haste. With her best friend, Marcus, at her side, Cummings allows their relationship to often carry the story without resorting to dragging it out. It's quick and punchy, and does exceedingly well for it.

Julia and Marcus are, without a doubt, the highlight of the novel. The chemistry between them easily carries the story at a quick pace, entertaining you as the plot progresses. It's nice to see them both as fully fleshed out characters, each with distinct personalities and quirks, and each complementing the other very well. The character depth doesn't stop with the main protagonists, but carries on throughout the cast. Perhaps there were moments that could have been explored a little more, but the urgency of the plot allows these to be pushed to one side to be examined later on, and hopefully in future instalments.

One of the main points I was worried about would be the explanations of the use of magic. Rather than bore the reader with long and in-depth info-dumping and history, Cummings delivers everything you need to know within the story. It once again adds to the ease with which Poltergeeks can be read, and is very appealing to anyone not wanting to be bogged down with a slow-moving narrative.

In short, Poltergeeks is a quick, easy, and enjoyable read with characters that make the story. The plot is interesting and quirky, with surprises in store throughout. A recommended read.