Review: An Incantation of Cats: A Witch Cats of Cambridge Mystery by Clea Simon

The new novel in Clea Simon’s spellbinding Witch Cats of Cambridge series!

When two new clients seek Becca’s professional services, the fledgling witch detective is overjoyed. Finally, she can use her skills to help her magical community. But as the young witch finds the new cases intertwining, things grow more complicated. Becca’s three cats – the ones with the real power – can smell something is wrong with these clients. But not even Clara, the calico, knows what to do when a man ends up dead and a powerful and poisonous root appears – and disappears – in the case. To make matters worse, Clara and her littermates are feuding – and she can’t tell them about an unsettling interaction she’s had with one of the client’s sisters. Is it possible that some humans may have the same powers as the magical felines? What does that mean for Clara’s beloved Becca – and for the potent poison that has already taken one person’s life? In this second Witch Cats of Cambridge mystery, Clara and her sisters must learn to work together if they are to save the person they all love.

My Review:

This is a fun mystery with a lot of twists and turns.  I enjoyed the story being told from a cat’s point of view.  The three sibling cats are really witches, but they aren’t allowed to let their caregiver, who is a witch detective, know.  Together they solve the mysteries in this unique and entertaining book.  If you like cats, mysteries and witches, you’ll really enjoy this book.  

Thank you to Polis Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

 

Review: Sinless by Juliet Lyons

The task is laughably easy...until he meets Grace Black

Hadrian Cross is a half-angel with an attitude. He avoids his goody-two-shoes angelic family and prefers to slum with humans until he tangles with the deadly vampire queen, Esme. Fearing for the lives of his mortal friends, he approaches an ancient archangel for help, but there are strings—lead mortal woman, Grace Black to her soulmate. Hadrian happily complies. All women want to fall in love, right?

Book store owner and cheerful snark, Grace Black doesn't believe in soulmates, marriage or regrets so when an angel arrives at her front door espousing the virtues of true love and destiny, she laughs in his face. Then makes him take off his shirt to prove he has wings. Grace doesn’t miss the ex who’s her supposed destiny, but Hadrian shirtless and in full flight is not something she wants to forget.

She agrees to his ridiculous offer mostly out of boredom and curiosity, but as they spend time together, they both worry the universe has its wires crossed.

My Review:

What a fun and imaginative book!

Half angel, Hadrian Cross, and book store owner, Grace Black are brought together when Hadrian gets himself in a situation, involving a vampire, where he has to go to an archangel, Tobias, for help.  Hadrian is sent on the task of reuniting Grace with her soulmate.  What Hadrian isn’t prepared for is the instant attraction him and Grace have for each other.  Not being able to resist each other, Hadrian just might have blown the deal he made with Tobias and he could find himself in a heap of trouble when it comes to the vampire.  Will Hadrian be able to keep his end of the bargain and still keep the girl of his dreams?

This is not a book I would have typically picked up.  I have never been attracted to angel stories (until now).  But the blurb intrigued me.  And, there was a vampire, which I do enjoy reading about.   In the end, I really enjoyed this book and hope there will be a sequel to it.  I feel there are more stories that can be told with some of the other characters.  And, I would love to read more about swoon-worthy Hadrian, the half angel disguised as a bad boy with his rock n roll t-shirts and leather jacket.        

 

Review: To Tame a Texas Cowboy (Wishing, Texas Book 3) by Julie Benson

They want different things, but they just might need each other

Barrel racer Cheyenne Whitten returns to Wishing, Texas, after an injury, determined to recuperate and return to the rodeo circuit. But living with her over-protective mother only adds to Cheyenne’s problems. Desperate to move out and reclaim her independence, Cheyenne believes a service dog is the answer. That is, until she learns the waiting list for one is up to five years.

Having lost his fiancée two years ago, Cooper Abbott wants to run his veterinarian clinic and rebuild his life. A calm, stable, uneventful life. Then Cheyenne shows up asking for help getting a service dog, and Cooper finds he can’t refuse the feisty redhead.

Cheyenne and Cooper insist a relationship is the last thing they want. Cheyenne is focused on her health and returning to the rodeo. Cooper’s heart is still raw from loss. But it could be they’re exactly what each other needs.

My Review:

This was a sweet story.  Each of the characters had something the other needed. 

Cheyenne Whitten suffered from seizures and she was tired of her mother and sister always watching over her like she was a baby.  She needed some freedom.  She needed a service dog.  When Cheyenne’s best friend suggests they take a road trip to see Cooper Abbott, a veterinarian and has connections to organizations with service dogs, Cheyenne decided it would be worth it. 

Cooper was still struggling with the loss of his girlfriend who passed away two years ago.  He wanted to keep Olivia’s dream invention, the SeizureReader, alive but he needed someone to test it on.  Cheyenne showed up at just the right time.  Cooper needed to keep an eye on Cheyenne to make sure everything was working properly, so they moved in together.  As they spend time together, they realize how much they liked each other and started a relationship.  But, when Cheyenne needs a second opinion on surgery and Cooper refuses to ask his father, who is a brain surgeon, for help, it just might be the end of them.  Now it’s up to Cooper to swallow his pride, for the women he loves, and talk to his father. 

This book was really good.  I liked how the author gave good backgrounds on the main characters and their friends without it getting confusing.  Sometimes when I read a book that has a lot of characters, I have trouble keeping them straight.  I also learned something about service dogs and how they help people.  The story flowed along nicely and kept my interest the entire time.