Witcha Gonna Do? by Avery Flynn

Could it possibly get any worse than having absolutely no magical abilities when you’re a member of the most powerful family of witches ever? It used to be that I’d say no, but then I keep getting set up on dates with Gil Connolly whose hotness is only matched by his ego. Seriously. I can’t stand him. Even if I also can’t stop thinking about him (specifically kissing him) but we’re going to pretend I never told you that part.

 

So yeah, my life isn’t the greatest right now, but then it goes straight to the absolute worst hell when I accidentally make my sister’s spell glitch and curse my whole family. And the only person who can help non-magical me break the spell? You guessed it. Gil the super hot jerk.

 

Now we have to work together to save my family and outmaneuver some evil-minded nefarious forces bent on world domination. Oh yeah, and we have to do all that while fighting against the attraction building between us because I may not be magical, but what’s happening between Gil and I sure feels like it.

 Series: Witchingdom #1 | Publisher: Berkley  |Genre: Magical Realism/Paranormal Romance  | Source: Publisher  | Rating: 4

It’s been a minute since I’ve read Avery Flynn and I don’t know why because I always have such a good time with her books. I was a more than intrigued when I discovered that she was releasing a witchy series and I was not disappointed.

Tilda’s having it a little rough. Not only is she the only magicless member of her family (which happens to be the most power family in Witchingdom) and daily social media fodder, she keeps getting setup on dates with Gil, the one guy she can’t stand (even if she does like to look at him). When she accidentally freezes her family, she has no choice but to ask Gil for help, which causes some rather interesting developments.

This was such a cute, fun, little romance that I could not put down. If you’ve read anything from Flynn you’ll know she’s known for snarky banter and this book was overflowing with it, which I loved.

I liked Tilda and Gil; she’s a little spunky and gets into all sorts of trouble and he’s a little stern and focused until you really get to know him. From the start, it’s obvious that there’s some issue between Tilda and Gil. He’s not her favorite person although we don’t really get to see the backstory for that, which I would have liked, but they are definitely in the frenemies category and it made for some interesting interactions.

The romance went from insta-lust to insta-love, and while I’m not a massive fan of that, this worked a bit better since it falls under that magical realism category. There’s also a bit of questioning going on since Gil’s not sure if his magic caused their attraction. Even though it is insta-love, there’s still some trust issues they have to work out.

Avery Flynn’s world building in this was spot on. The little details about how family magic differs, the different types of witches, and the people and magical creatures that live in this world really brought this world to life. It gave it a nice, cozy feel.

I was so close to giving this a 5, so close, but the epilogue, which takes place 5 years later revealed way too much about what’s coming in the series. There’s a thing going on with Leona (Tilda’s sister) and Erik (a guy from a rival witch family) and the epilogue gives it away. Why do authors feel the need to do this? I would have preferred that a novella been released at the end of the series with a catch up rather than revealing it all in the epilogue of the first book.

Overall, this was a fun, cozy read and the perfect type of book to start a new year of reading. It’s snarky, witty, and full of zany characters that made me laugh.

If you do pick this up, I would suggest not reading the epilogue until after the next book (which I’m assuming is Leona’s story) comes out. 

Reluctant Immortals by Gwendolyn Kiste

Reluctant Immortals is a historical horror novel that looks at two men of classic literature, Dracula and Mr. Rochester, and the two women who survived them, Bertha and Lucy, who are now undead immortals residing in Los Angeles in 1967 when Dracula and Rochester make a shocking return in the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco.

Combining elements of historical and gothic fiction with a modern perspective, in a tale of love and betrayal and coercion, Reluctant Immortals is the lyrical and harrowing journey of two women from classic literature as they bravely claim their own destiny in a man’s world.

 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio | Narrator: Carlotta Brentan  | Length:  8 hours, 43 minutes | Genre: Horror/Fiction | Source: Purchased | Rating: 1.5

Anything Jane Eyre or Dracula-centered is going to catch my eye, so when I discovered that this featured characters from both classic novels, I knew I had to give it a go. Yeah, I have regrets…so many regrets.

The quick of it is: Bertha from Jane Eyre and Lucy from Dracula are immortals living their best undead/immortal lives in Los Angeles hiding from the ‘bad men’ in their lives (Dracula and Rochester) while interacting with a bunch of hippies and accidentally setting Dracula free from the many urns he’s stashed in.

I wanted to like this, I did, but, honestly, I’m not even sure what this was supposed to be about other than unlikable women complaining about horrible men (not that I find Rochester to be horrible).  

The majority of the book was very repetitive and, sadly, the world building was lacking. There’s a lot of talk about the many urns that Dracula’s ashes are being kept in (until he’s let loose) and some talk here and there that Lucy created these urns but there’s very little detail about why. There’s also talk about this sort of vampire purgatory where vampires go when they’ve been killed but it doesn’t really go into enough detail and, honestly, it was one of the most interesting parts of the book.

What I’m a bit confused about is the way Rochester was presented in this book. I feel like the author is referencing more from Wide Sargasso Sea rather than Jane Eyre. For me, making Rochester into a monster just didn’t work.

After reading this, I have questions….lots of questions…

Why was this label as horror? I honestly can’t figure out why this was called horror. Where was the gothic vibe at? There was nothing gothic about this one. Why are people labeling Jane Eyre as horror? If you know, let me know because that’s a new one to me. Why do authors feel the need to turn Jane and Bertha into lesbians in just about every retelling? I just don’t get it. Lastly, who really ever found Lucy Westnera to likable? Yeah, no, she’s never been a likable character in my book.

I picked this one up on audio and the narrator was fine. At times, she did come off as annoying but I think that it was just the character of Lucy. And no matter the format, this book is going to be a slow start with a repetitive middle and end.

Overall, yeah, I really need to start reading the synopsis before picking up the book…I should have walked away after reading that this was labeled ‘feminist horror’ but, sadly, I stayed for the train wreck that was this book.

Who do I think would like this? If you’ve not read Dracula or Jane Eyre you might have a better chance with this one.

If you feel you need to read this book, I strongly suggest picking it up from the library rather than wasting your money. 

The Sunday Post for January 15, 2023

Hello, Lovelies, and Happy Sunday! I hope you’re all doing fantastic!

I started the New Year with strep throat and a sinus infection and because that wasn’t enough, I ended up with the flu, so it’s been fun. Between feeling poorly and the meds, I slept for most of the last two weeks. I’m finally starting to feel better although I still have a slightly scratchy throat and I just feel drained, so I’ve been taking it easy and drinking lots of hot tea with lemon and honey, while curled up in my comfy reading chair.

Here’s what I’ve read in the last two weeks.

 

City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita (print, read the review HERE)—a good start to what I’m hoping will be a series.

The Push by Ashley Audrain (print, review to come)—this is the first book I read from my list of 23 Books in 2023 and, honestly, it was twisted and draining.

The Reluctant Immortals by Gwendolyn Kiste (audiobook) —review will be up Monday. This is a story about Lucy (from Dracula) and Bertha (from Jane Eyre) in the late 1960’s during the Summer of Love. Yeah, I have no idea, either, and I’ve read the book.

Witcha Gonna Do? by Avery Flynn (e-arc)—review will be up Tuesday. This was such a fun, witchy romance!

 

Here’s What I’m Currently Reading

Solace House by Joy Ellis (audiobook)—this is the 9th book in the Jackman and Evans series and it’s going really well so far. The team is getting ready to look into a case from 20 years ago, which could possibly be tied to an estate that has a horrible history. I love this series but I don’t always get on with the books but I can usually tell from the start which way it will go and I have a feeling this one might be one of the better books.

The Minuscule Mansion of Myra Malone by Audrey Burges (e-arc)—this one’s out at the end of the month and it’s a bit different as it centers on this magical dollhouse that this woman inherited from her step-grandmother when she was a kid. This one feels like it’s going to be a whimsical read with a touch of heaviness thrown in here and there.

Amy Robsart: A Life and Its End by Christine Hartweg (nonfiction)—I’m reading this for an upcoming project, and it’s super short (144 pages), so I should have it finished today.

 

What’s up next?

Oddly enough, I’m actually ahead with the arcs that I needed to read for the next few months so I’m trying to figure out what books I want to read next. I have an unsolicited review book that just came in as well as four others that I’ve picked out. The books look like they’re all going to be on the heavier side—and I’ve been reading a lot of heavy books—so I might end up picking two from the list and then going with a romance or cozy mystery just to lighten my reading.

I received The Villa by Rachel Hawkins for review and I’m kind of intrigued by what the end of the synopsis says:

Inspired by Fleetwood Mac, the Manson murders, and the infamous summer Percy and Mary Shelley spent with Lord Byron at a Lake Geneva castle—the birthplace of Frankenstein—Rachel Hawkins’s The Villa invites you into its deadly legacy.

As a Fleetwood Mac fan and someone that’s always been intrigued by that summer with Byron, I’m wondering how that’s all going to play into this book.

Then I have The Cloisters by Katy Hays (love this cover), which is on my January TBR list, I’m just not sure when I want to start it.

In The Night Wood by Dale Bailey is a book that I picked up randomly from Waterstones it looks intriguing and it’s short.

The cover of the Curse Of The Specter Queen by Jenny Elder Moke makes me want to read, and it has an Indiana Jones vibe that’s mixed with a Celtic legend but it’s YA and I’m not sure how I’ll get along with YA. I can’t remember where this book came from, maybe an unsolicited review book or it came in a book box I received for review.

The last book I’m considering reading this week is Winter Water by Susanne Jansson. This is supposed to be January’s pick for the book club I’m in although I’m not 100% sure we’re actually going to have a meeting as it’s been dwindling off for the last 6 months.

Books Gifted or Purchased

I received two book and three cute bookmarks for Jolabokaflod and the books look like they’re going to be amazing.

The White Hare by Jane Johnson gives me Susanna Kearsley vibes and The Lady Of The Ravens by Joanna Hickson has been on my TBR.

I purchased Spare by Prince Harry. I have no idea what I’m in for with this book but I’m eager to read it. Although I watched their Netflix docuseries and it was a bit cringe worthy and I have no idea what they were truly hoping to accomplish. I do want to read this book before the end of the month but I think I’m going to buddy read it with my mum (I’m just waiting for her to let me know when she gets her copy) so we can chat about it over our weekly tea and chat sessions.

 

Here’s what I’ve been watching…

 

Glass Onion—the soundtrack was great, the movie was just okay. I preferred Knives Out.

Miss Scarlet and the Duke Season 2—one of my favorite cozy mystery/detective shows.

The Pale Blue Eye—honestly, I feel asleep through the majority of this and have no desire to re-watch.

All Creatures Great and Small—season 3 just came on and I’ve been loving it. 

What I’ve been loving for the past two weeks…the feeling poorly edition.

 

The Unhide Marshmallow Blanket—I’ve basically spent the last two weeks curled up in my cozy reading chair (or in bed) and huddled under this blanket. This is the coziest, softest, warmest blanket that I’ve ever used and, no matter how many times I wash it (hang dry), it still stays soft. I have four them (cream, silver, charcoal, rose) and I could not recommend them enough.  

 

Candy Cane Kisses Body Lotion from Goose Creek—the combination of peppermint and spearmint has been so soothing. It’s really helped with my congestion. I don’t know if this is still available on their website, but I pick up a few bottles when they release their Winter scents and save them for when I’m feeling poorly.

 

Cuccio Somatology Yohahhh! Cooling Spot Therapy—this is a temple rub and it’s really helped with my headaches.

 

Rebels Refinery Hand Sanitizer—this doesn’t dry my hands out, it contains peppermint essential oil, and it’s refillable.

 

PopMask Self-Warming Eye Mask—these have been amazing at relieving my headaches and sinus pressure. These do warm up better than other brands I’ve tried and while they say they’re 30 minute masks, they stay warm for quite a bit longer.  I’ve been switching between the Calm (chamomile scented) and Starry Eyes (fragrance free). I highly recommend these.

 

Sweater Weather Candle from Bath and Body Works—this is one of my favorite scented candles and the eucalyptus and juniper is the perfect combo for when you’re under the weather. I love this scent so much I buy both the single wicks and the three wicks by the case.

 

Hello Bello Immunity Vitamins—if you’re like me and your body rejects most vitamins, give this brand a try. They are the only ones that I found that doesn’t make me ill or cause a migraine flair up.

 

Laneige Lip Glowy Balm (grapefruit)—this has been the only daytime lip balm that’s been soothing my dried out lips, also it’s in a tube so I can just squeeze some out on my finger rather than just applying directly on my lips.

 

Plum Color Affair Nail Polish in Moonlit—if you’re looking for a nail polish that lasts through a million hand washings and copious amounts of sanitizer, then this is the polish for you. I’ve had this on for 4 days and it still looks like I just applied it.

 

Daily Matcha Premium Stone Japanese Stone Ground Matcha Tea Powder from Republic of Tea—if you’re a matcha drinker, this has been the best one that I’ve found.

 

Taylors of Harrogate Lemon & Orange Black Tea—this is one of my favorite teas for when I’m under the weather. It’s great on its own but it really sooths my throat when I pop in a lemon slice and a drizzle of honey.

 

Summer and Rose Robe—I didn’t get a pic because both of mine are in the wash but this is the comfiest and warmest robe that I’ve ever owned. I’ve been living in mine for two weeks with no complaints. Just like the blanket, they stay so soft even after they’re washed a million times and they have pockets and a hood. I have one in cream and one in silver.

 

The Sunday Post is a blog news meme hosted by Kimberly @ Caffeinated Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog and showcase books and things we have received. Share news about what is coming up on your blog for the week ahead. Join in weekly, bi-weekly or for a monthly wrap up.

City Under One Roof by Iris Yamashita

When a local teenager discovers a severed hand and foot washed up on the shore of the small town of Point Mettier, Alaska, Cara Kennedy is on the case. A detective from Anchorage, she has her own motives for investigating the possible murder in this isolated place, which can be accessed only by a tunnel.

After a blizzard causes the tunnel to close indefinitely, Cara is stuck among the odd and suspicious residents of the town—all 205 of whom live in the same high-rise building and are as icy as the weather. Cara teams up with Point Mettier police officer Joe Barkowski, but before long the investigation is upended by fearsome gang members from a nearby native village.

Haunted by her past, Cara soon discovers that everyone in this town has something to hide. Will she be able to unravel their secrets before she unravels?

Publisher: Berkley | Release Date: January 10, 2023 | Genre: Mystery | Source: Publisher  | Rating: 3.5

A locked room mystery but make it a small, secluded Alaskan town cut off from the outside world by a blizzard? Yes, please!

When severed body parts are discovered washed up on the shore, the local police is quick to chalk it up to an accidental death although Anchorage detective Cara Kennedy seems to think there’s more to the story. Determined to investigate, Cara gets more than she bargained for when a blizzard traps her in the secluded town. Teaming up with a local officer, the two soon embark on an odd investigation that seems to be making everyone in the building a suspect although things start going sideways when a local gang sets their sights on the building.

The story is told from three POVs: Cara (the detective), Amy (the teen that discovered the body parts), and Lonnie (she’s a young adult with mental illness and a pet moose). Each of them offer glimpses into the residents, the building, and the mystery and they all have their secrets they’re determined to keep. Besides the three women, there’s a bevy of residents, each with their own issues. Nobody is likable and it’s hard to figure out who’s trustworthy.

This was an interesting mystery in the fact that the entire town (all 200 residents) lives inside this high-rise known as the Dave-Co and that really contributes to the isolated, claustrophobic feel of the book.  Not only are they trapped in the town due to the tunnel being closed, they’re trapped in this building where a killer could be hiding out.

Am I going to say that this is the best mystery that I’ve read? No, the main mystery could have been wrapped up a bit quicker--I feel like there were a lot of things that were drawn out too much. Am I going to recommend this to everyone? Yes, while the main mystery wasn’t the best, there’s another mystery that has to do with Cara and I’m really hoping that this will be turned into a series and that we’ll see this mystery arc develop over the series. I will be really upset if this book is a standalone based on the reveal at the end.

What I really enjoyed about this book was the atmosphere; it was spot on the entire time. This book is very tense, very cold, and very claustrophobic. The author was brilliant at making me feel like I was in the midst of this isolate little Alaskan town.

I’ve been going back and forth with my rating on this one. After I finished it I gave it a 3.75, then when I was writing down my thoughts in my reading journal I gave it a 4, but now that I’m actually writing my review, I think I’m settling on a 3.5, which isn’t bad, it seems to be the standard rating I give most mysteries and thrillers.

There were just a few things I had trouble with. The pacing was a bit all over the place at the start, it’s does even out to a medium pace but it’s a very slow start. There’s a relationship that starts a bit out of the blue, which I found odd. While I did enjoy the mystery and had a feeling where this was headed, I wish it would have gone in a different direction. I think I was expecting a bit more.

Overall, I enjoyed this one but wanted a little more with the main mystery. What I’m hoping will be the series mystery arc was highly engaging (please, put out at least one more book), and I was invested in that and wanted to know more.

 

Read this for the setting and atmosphere. Read this for the diverse set of characters. Read this for what I’m hoping will be the setup for a great mystery series. It is slow but do give it a chance. 

Have you read this one yet?

 If so, what are your thoughts?

 If not, read any good mysteries lately? 

 

2023 Goals

Another year, another set of goals! While my goals are not that much different from the previous year, they’re a little more focused, which goes along with my main goal for this year, which is to get organized. 

Blog Goals

 

Be Consistent—I’ve set a dedicated blogging day (every other week) to help me stay ahead of schedule.

 

Stay On Top Of Reviews—I plan to write up reviews within a week of finishing the book. While I would like to review the book as soon as it’s finished, I know it’s probably not going to be possible, within a week sounds doable.

 

Update GoodReads—updating GoodReads has been a constant struggle. This year I’m using a habit tracker to remind me, we shall see if it works.

 

Post More Creative Content

 

Be consistent with blog visits

 

Discover new-to-me blogs

 

Be consistent with social media updates

 

Reading/Bookish Goals

 

Tackle My TBR Pile—my TBR is out of control and in desperate need of organization. I want to Declutter the books that I’m not interested in and catalogue and organize the ones I want to read so I won’t be searching for ages when I want to read something.

 

Declutter—while I have no plans to streamline my book collection (I love my books way too much for that), I do want to declutter the books that I didn’t enjoy or the ones I have no desire to read again.

 

Limit Book Purchases—I’m not giving up book buying completely but I do plan to use KU or Audible when available.

 

Bid Adieu to authors I don’t mesh with— while I try to give authors a fair chance, I’m limiting myself to the 3 strikes you’re out rule. I’ll also be hosting a new blog feature for this.

 

Read more non-fiction—I would like to read at least 12 non-fiction books this year. Non-fiction is something I miss reading.

 

Read more historical fiction—again, this is another genre that I want to get back into reading this year.

 

Continue My Reading Journal Journey to find my perfect reading journal.

 

House

 

Declutter—while I will never be a minimalist, I do want to declutter some things just to be more organized.

 

Finish Front Porch—the processes started last year and lasted way longer than it should have. Finger’s crosses, it will be finished before Summer starts.

 

Replace Bookshelves—the bookcases I want (they match my desk) are still on backorder. I had wanted to get all the pieces at the same time but I think I’m going to buy them as they come in and keep them in the boxes until I have the entire set.

 

 

Personal

 

Unplug more—while I’d like to do this daily, I’ll be happy with at least 4 times a week.

 

Create a Work/Life Balance—because I work from home, it’s very easy for me to get caught up and work until the middle of the night and I really do need to implement a work schedule and stick to it.

 

Get Out More—I need to get outside more and take more walks (weather permitting).

 

Remember to take my vitamins—I’ve been using the habit tracker in my Happy Planner for the last two years and it’s been working to remind me to take my vitamins.

 

Learn something new

 

Drink more water

23 Books In 2023

One of my 2023 reading goals is to tackle my TBR pile mountain and to help with that, I decided to take the plunge and read 23 books (from my TBR pile) in 2023.

 

I’ve spent the last few days searching my TBR shelves and came up with a list of titles I’ve been wanting to read but, for some reason or another, kept putting off. The majority of the titles are mysteries/thrillers (no surprise there) with a few fiction and fantasy titles.

 

How am I going to tackle this challenge? To start with, I went ahead and selected 3 books (The Cloisters, The Push, and The Cousins) that I want to read in January. Going forward, I will pull 2 or 3 titles from my TBR jar then decide which one I want to read based on my mood.

 

If I DNF a book, I’ll swap it for another book on my TBR shelf. 

1-Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano

2-The Invisible Life Of Addie Larue by V.E. Schwab

3-In My Dreams I Hold A Knife by Ashley Winstead

4-The Push by Ashley Audrain

5-House of Hunger by Alexis Henderson

6-Pandora by Susan Stokes Chapman

7-The Cousins by Karen M. McMamus

8-The Lost Village by Camilla Sten

9-The Maiden by Alex Michaelides

10-The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner

11-The Cloisters by Katy Hays

12-The It Girl by Ruth Ware

13-Daisy Jones & The Six by Tayler Jenkins Reid

14-The House Across The Lake by Riley Sager

15-The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

16-Spells For Forgetting by Adrienne Young

17-Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney

18-The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

19-The Lamplighters by Emma Stone

20-Not My Boy by Kelly Simmons

21-Every Vow You Break by Peter Swanson

22-The Windsor Knot by SJ Bennett

23-Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy