Review of Indigo Dusk: An Epic Fantasy Romance (The Aetherial Embrace Trilogy Book 1) by Kristy Nicolle

Review of Indigo Dusk: An Epic Fantasy Romance (The Aetherial Embrace Trilogy Book 1) by Kristy Nicolle

5 stars

Indigo Dusk is by far one of my favorite reads of 2020.

I've followed this Author since her debut novel and she just keeps getting better and better. Her attention to detail is insane. Her character and world-building are out of this world. She doesn't just let you fall into the story. She sweeps you away in it like a ferocious hurricane! 

Indigo Dusk is about a young woman named Kairi, fighting an invisible illness. She finds solace in a man whom she thinks is going to give her a happily ever after. He sweeps her away to a magical place. The vivid imagery of this fairytale-like place is just beyond amazing. The detail that went into this new world is phenomenal. I felt like I was in this heavenly sacred place. The color scheme and details were just so precise and painted the best picture in my head. It gave me all sorts of the feels. I love that by the end of the book Kairi does not let her disease run her life. She accepts her past and takes charge of the present and her future. This book left me wanting more. SO much more. It's going to hurt waiting for the next installment. This was just such a great book!  One that will stay with me for a long time. I love mythical creatures and fairytale-like stories. So, this had me hook line and sinker. I often can tell how a story is going to end and this one had me at the edge of my seat the whole time. I would highly recommend this book to others.

5 beautifully amazing stars

Reviewed by The Magic of Books Admin Jenna

Review of Good Intentions (Volume One) by Ana Balen

Review of Good Intentions (Volume One) by Ana Balen

4 stars

First, if you are triggered by cheating this book is not for you. However, that stuff doesn't bother me so I dug right into this book and devoured it in one sitting! It starts out making you feel all warm and gooey with the set up of the storyline. Fast forward a few years after that initial first scene and you are left with a depressing state of the MC's current life. It's really hard not to feel sorry for him. I did feel like this story progressed very quickly. I wish there was more information in the storyline. Other than that I thought it was written very well. That last line of the book basically guarantees that you WILL WANT to pick up the next one!

If you are looking for a quick read this is definitely one I'd recommend!

Reviewed by The Magic of Books Admin Jenna

Review of Destiny for Love Arranged (A Second Chance Romance Book 1) by Vash Karuppa

Review of Destiny for Love Arranged (A Second Chance Romance Book 1) by Vash Karuppa

4 stars

I enjoyed the story as second-chance romances are some of my favorites. Aariyan Ranjan is making his name in the hotel business, and Varini Iyengar is a doctor who has worked hard through a difficult start to life to find a place where she belongs. Her best friend is Aariyan's sister, so they've known each other most of their lives. However, there's always at least one person in a relationship who makes a huge mistake that makes it hard to come back from it. Yet, when they're both faced with circumstances that bring them to an arranged marriage, there is hope on both sides that something will get them to a place where they want to be. Of course, throughout the story, things are said, feelings are hurt, and actions are taken that could cause them to lose each other for good.

I have to say that I love that the story was written about a society about which I know little. The index for the reader was excellent in its explanations, and it made following the endearments and the religious aspects of the story so much easier. It's not always easy to use when an index is separate from a story, especially in ebooks. But it was such a helpful tool.
Also, dual point of view really made it easier to read in this instance because the way the characters played off of each other helped with the interpretations.

It's a beautiful love story unfolding in front of the reader. There's a lot of realization on each character's part as they face the hardships thrown at them. And as much as you watch them stumble, you hope there will be something that gives them that extra push. The twists are heartbreaking, and there are areas that become emotional, especially when truths are told and secrets are revealed. And that is what makes up a good story.

If I could caution the author, I would suggest she doesn't write in omniscient POV. I found it confusing and considered giving the book a lower star value because of it. If the story is taking place from dual POVs, make a cleans separation between them so the reader remembers who is speaking. There were several times I had to go back and reread portions of the story to figure out when the POV changed. If the reader has to reread to clear confusion, there's a problem with the writing. Also, run-on sentences had me rereading for the same reasons. Punctuation is key for clarification. Find a good editor, and make sure the sentences are interpreted the way they are meant to be. I gave 4 stars for story and content. Much of it was new to me, and I love learning new things. Different societies are what makes the world an interesting place to live.

Reviewed by The Magic of Books Reviewer Dawn

Review of Hush, Now Forget (Sisters of Bloodcreek, #1) by Mary Gray, Cammie Larsen

Review of Hush, Now Forget (Sisters of Bloodcreek, #1) by Mary Gray, Cammie Larsen

                                                     

4 stars

Eva and Frost give us a dual view of the horrors of their world, beginning at Bloodcreek but expanding to include the world of the previously unseen. This story is filled with the excitement of spirit hunting and first love. It takes us through heart-rending family life and into an underground society that keeps the blood pumping and the mind whirling. The first-person accounts of the adventures of these two teens are thrilling, frightening, and full of adventure whether they want to participate or not. With their friends Leo and Raylan, they may just survive.

I thought it moved a little slow in places from the beginning, but once it got into the meat of the story, it was non-stop action and terrifying adventure. It held my attention and had me on the edge of my seat. With some biblical references and a swirl of the paranormal, it was definitely unique and left me wondering what happens next as these young women mature.

Reviewed by The Magic of Books Reviewer Dawn

Review of Sweet Valentine by S.A. Clayton

Review of Sweet Valentine by S.A. Clayton

                                               

4.5 stars

Val and Noah met when Noah came to her bakery to get cookies for the Valentine's Day project the class was doing. I enjoyed how they came together and I liked how the had a little cat and mouse game going on.
I do think if Noah was honest that drama could have been avoided but at the same time, I liked that Val's reaction was real.
I would happily read it again and I'm looking forward to reading more by the Author.

Reviewed by The Magic of Books Reviewer Kathleen

Review of The Opal Blade by Kristy Nicolle

Review of The Opal Blade by Kristy Nicolle

5 stars 

Kristy Nicolle has done it again! I don’t give out 5 stars easily and she has snagged another one from me! The Opal Blade starts out with a very spoiled rich girl, Sephy. She hides behind her snarky and quick-witted attitude. At first, I was thrilled about this character. It was a breath of fresh air having a woman MC taking up characteristics that you see in most male MC’s, example-rich, cocky, womanizing man whore. So to have a female character do that it was different. Then I started to not like Sephy. Her attitude got old, her nighttime antics got old, she seriously came across as a spoiled rich girl. However, in my eyes, she fully redeems herself and becomes a loveable character. She’s a bad ass hero that doesn’t need saving. I loved her friendship with Xion. He was like the Ying to Sephy’s Yang. They insult each other perfectly. I really loved the world the Author built in this book. I’ve always loved Greek mythology so as soon as I knew it was about the underworld I was intrigued. Her take on it was way different than anything I’ve ever read before and it sucked me in! I love how she didn’t make “hell” this crazy damned place. She made it where you can repent and still move on. You weren’t damned for eternity like everyone believes. The characters and this world just went together perfectly. Oh, and I can’t forget about Haedes. Omg, I think I’m in love! I really love this character and can’t wait for more of him in book 2. What can I say I’ve always loved the bad boys. Throughout the entire book, you were questioning everyone's motives. Are they sincere? Are they trustworthy? Is so and so going to betray Sephy. It was seriously written so perfectly, and you didn't know what was coming next. The twist at the end surprised me! I did not see it coming at all. It really set the pace for the next novel and I really can’t wait to dig in. I would highly recommend this book to everyone! Like seriously go pick it up right now!

Reviewed by Admin Jenna

Review of In Over Her Head: Lights, Camera, Anxiety by Krysten Lindsay Hager

Review of In Over Her Head: Lights, Camera, Anxiety by Krysten Lindsay Hager

                                                  
4 stars


This is the perfect angst-ridden teen love story with a twist. Cecily has problems with anxiety, and this issue bleeds into everything in her day from school to her social life. It's an issue so many teens face today, and I thought it was well written by this author. We're taken into the mind of a teen girl who has anxious thoughts about everything - tests, friendships, her parents, her career choices, and her love life. When she connects with another soul who has the same issue, everything in both their worlds escalates. And the reader is left wondering whether their relationship will survive unscathed.

It was sweet, poignant, and pertinent to the teen world of today. We expect so much from our young people, and we push them to be better. Sometimes it's too much for their adolescent minds to handle. I thought it was well thought out and refreshing. It even had me feeling anxious. I definitely recommend it for high school reading.


Reviewed by The Magic of Books Reviewer Dawn

Review of Sweet Valentine by S.A. Clayton

Review of Sweet Valentine by S.A. Clayton

                                               

4 stars

This was a perfect Valentine's Day read. I really liked the characters and I loved that Val the female MC wasn’t so quick to do the whole insta love. I really liked Noah. He was a nice change of pace from the normal hard/rough guys in books nowadays. He was sweet and persistent and knew what he wanted which was Val. I thought the writing in this novella was great! I felt like it was beautifully written, and I felt like I was right there with the characters. Also, for some reason, I loved that the Author made Val imperfect with her career. She openly admitted she wasn’t good at baking some things. Most books the MC’s are all perfect. To me, this made Val even more likable. She was just so down to earth and practical. Overall, I would definitely recommend this to others!

Reviewed by Admin Jenna

Review of A Witch in Time (Cat's Paw Cove #1) by Catherine Kean, and Wynter Daniels

A Witch in Time (Cat's Paw Cove #1) by Catherine Kean, and Wynter Daniels


                                                
5 stars

First, let me point out I do not give out 5 stars easily to any book. I seriously MUST love it in order to give it a 5 star. Most of my reviews are 3 (meaning I thought it was ok) BUT this book I don’t know what it was about it. I absolutely loved it! There was not one time in the story I didn’t like the characters. They meshed well together. I loved the setting of the story. It made me want to jump in my car and drive right to Cats Paw Cove Florida! Normally in a book, I want more conflict but given the storyline, I feel like there was plenty upset going on. I like this book enough I intend to snatch up the next in the series. I would definitely recommend this to other readers that like paranormal type books. This was a fantastic read!

Reviewed by Jenna (Admin) from The Magic of Books

Review of The Schatten by Ashley Greathouse

The Schatten by Ashley Greathouse

                                                  

4 stars

Let me start out by saying wow! I don’t scare easily but we will get to that later! I really enjoyed this story. The writing and storyline flowed together well. The imagery omg the imagery was fantastic. The Author really puts you into the story. So, to the scary part. I made the mistake of reading this book in the dark in my room before bed. The scene where the MC was in the pantry as a young girl seriously got to me. Talk about CREEPY!! I was laying in bed and I happened to look up and seen this huge shadowy figure in my closet. (I have an open closet, no door.) So yea instant terror! My daughter is literally in a pack n play 3 feet away from the said shadow. I’m like be a good shadow and don’t make me fight you over my kid! So, I turned the flashlight on my phone and looked over there. It was just my wedding dress cover. It’s purple so stood out against the white wall. So, for the rest of the book, I kept looking at that and constantly looking around my room. This story is seriously creepy! I did find a few typos but nothing crazy. I would definitely recommend reading this and checking out this author's other work!

Reviewed by Jenna Martinez (Admin)

Review of The Christmas Guardian by Georgia S. Dickson

The Christmas Guardian by Georgia S. Dickson
3 stars
Reviewed by Admin Jenna Martinez

                                                    

I love a good Christmas book. This book was a quick and easy read. It allowed for a great escape. I’m not a religious person so I wasn’t sure how I was going to like this book, but it honestly didn’t even bother me. It was such a cute quick read. There were a few things I didn’t care for. The story goes back and forth from the two MC’s. To me, it wasn’t made clear that it was skipping to the next character. It was just the name in bold. On the left side of the page. I guess I’m just used to a bigger font and the name in the center to represent a character break. I didn’t realize It had skipped to the other Character until a few pages in. I then realized it was a different person’s storyline. But after that first initial mix up, I had no problems. I found the Characters super relatable. I really enjoyed Mary Beth. At first, I thought she was whiny and immature for her age how she treated her mom, but I quickly got over that because she had other redeemable qualities. Her loyalty is fierce, and her personality is strong. What can I say about Noel? I loved his childlike curiosity and his ferociousness to protect MB. There were two main conflicts in this novella. I almost feel like the ending one (I don’t want to give spoilers) should have been a minor one earlier in the story. I didn’t feel like that was conflict enough. The one I felt was devastating was more in the center of the story. I wish I could have seen that played out more and more conflict with Jack (evil dude) later in the story. I think this world built in the novella would make for a great series!
I would recommend this book to others.

3 stars
Reviewed by The Magic of Books Admin Jenna Martinez

Review of Tangled Up in You by Lara Ward Cosio

Tangled Up in You by Lara Ward Cosio

                                                  

5 stars
Reviewed by Dawn

I'm not sure what I expected when I began reading this book, but it was far beyond anything I could have imagined. I've read a few rock band series', and few of them live up to the hype. This one was recommended to me, and I was blindsided by how much I liked it.

Gavin is the perfect moody frontman, the singer in the band. He's sexy and handsome but not in a conventional way. And when he opens his mouth, people are drawn to him, not only when he sings but when he is in any kind of crowd. And this is the man Sophie meets as a boy of 16 when she does a year of high school overseas in Ireland. He's cocky and bold, and he holds his own. But like many young loves, life gets in the way, and they're separated.

Fast forward a few years, and Gavin and his best friend Connor, along with their friends Shay and Martin have formed a bad, Rogue, that is sweeping the world. When they just happen to be playing in L.A., Sophie stops in. Hearts were broken, and the rejection is still fresh for both of them, but there's something that draws them together, and they find out that their love has only become more intense. What neither of them suspected was that there was someone else who crushed on her too. Secrets are uncovered and love is betrayed. Will they make it through the muck and mire that is their pasts and their present, to find any kind of future together?

There were moments that had me giggling while others had me talking back to the characters. I cried and got angry and ran the gamut of emotions with this story. I only finished it an hour or so ago, and I'm still trying to wrap my head around everything my heart experienced. I love when an author can bring out all of the feelings I don't really want to feel, and this author did exactly that. The only annoying thing was that we don't get an HEA as is the case in many series'. So, I bought the entire series because I need to know...

The Magic of Books Reviewer Dawn

Review of Austin by Lauren Runow, Jeannine Colette

Austin by Lauren Runow, Jeannine Colette




                                          


4 stars
Reviewed by Amanda Tharp

Austin This was an easy but completely captivating book to read! I love the way that it drew me into the world of the little secret keeper while also making me fall in love with Austin and his secrets! I hope the story of Bryce is just as captivating as Austin's was and I anticipate it! I rate this book with 4 stars!

The Magic of Books Reviewer Amanda Tharp

Review of The Age of Ashers by Diana Tyler

The Age of Ashers by Diana Tyler

                                                    


4 stars
Reviewed by Amanda Gibson

Interesting take on mythology-fantasy. Well-written, but started off a little slow for me. Overall, it’s a decent read-especially if you’re looking for something a little different.

The Magic of Books Reviewer Amanda Gibson

Review of Providence Paranormal College Volume Two: Books 6-10 (Providence Paranormal Box Sets Book 2) by D.R. Perry

Providence Paranormal College Volume Two: Books 6-10 (Providence Paranormal Box Sets Book 2) by D.R. Perry


                                                 


4 stars
reviewed by Amanda Tharp

Paranormal college This book took me the rest of the way through the journey! There is alot of suspense and speculation along the way. Through it all I could have never guessed who would have saved everyone from the Magnus! I would definitely recommend reading this series! I rate this book with four stars.


The Magic of Books Reviewer Amanda Tharp

Review of Providence Paranormal College Part One: Books 1-5 (Providence Paranormal Box Sets) by D.R. Perry

Review of Providence Paranormal College Part One: Books 1-5 (Providence Paranormal Box Sets)
by D.R. Perry

                                                 


Reviewed by Amanda Tharp
5 stars

Providence paranormal college books 1-5 This was a very interesting and mind blowing story to begin! I fell in love with the characters from the start. I would recommend this book to anyone! I am left thirsty for the knowledge of what is to happen next!


5 stars
The Magic of Books Reviewer Amanda Tharp

Review of Sparks Fly by Lauren Runow

Review of Sparks Fly by Lauren Runow

Reviewed by Amanda Tharp

4 stars

                                               

If your'e looking for a happy ever after this is your story! I love the personalities of the characters! I also love the way they fight to be who they are despite their stations in life. It's well written and I couldn't put it down when I started on it.

Rated 4 stars

The Magic of Books Reviewer Amanda Tharp

Review of Demon Escape, the Resurrection Chronicles Book Four, by M.J. Haag

Reviewed by The Magic of Books Blog Admin, Char Webster

Hilariously Entertaining

Demon Escape, the Resurrection Chronicles Book Four, by M.J. Haag is another awesome addition to the Resurrection Chronicles Series. This fast paced, fun adventure follows Eden and Ghua through the devastated remains of the world after all hell literally broke loose.

Eden is a tough, determined and spunky lead character. She had to learn to survive in a crazy and dangerous time where nothing and nowhere is safe, especially her current situation. It was so bad, that she decided to brave the hell hounds and zombies to escape.

Ghua, a hottie demon fae from the underground, is strong, caring, patient, funny and lovable. He swoops in to save Eden, even though she doesn’t want to be saved and the sparks fly.

Ghua and Eden are awesome together providing an entertaining experience that I just couldn’t put down. I found myself laughing loudly throughout the entire book.

I didn’t want this to end and I am anxiously awaiting the next book. If you haven’t started this series yet, grab book one now.

Five stars. ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Review of Revelation by Randi Cooley Wilson

Reviewed by The Magic of Books Admin, Char Webster

Revelation, book one of The Revelation Series, by Randi Cooley Wilson is an exciting adventure with sexy gargoyles and divine influence. This was the first gargoyle book I had ever read, so I was a little skeptical, but I was quickly sucked into a great story. (Mentally berating myself for not reading this sooner.)

Eve, a college freshman, is spunky, determined, smart and troubled. Her nightmares haunt her as she tries to navigate college, and increasingly unusual and unexplained situations. Her roommate are awesome and they make you want to hang out with them.

Mysterious bad-boy, Gage, draws all of the girls to him on campus, but he is interested in Eve. His hot car, non-caring attitude and ability to show up when he’s needed are just a few of his more charming qualities.

Asher is super sexy, brooding, conflicted and loyal. His hot and cold treatment of Eve drives her crazy but is very entertaining. He is also assigned to protect Eve, which he will do at all costs.

I love how the author reveals bits of information throughout the book and keeps the reader always wanting more.  There is great chemistry throughout and the romance is a slow build that is well done.

I binge read the whole series in a week – it’s that good. Five Stars. Don’t miss out.

 

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

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