Review: Some Girls Bite

I fell upon this series completely by accident about a week ago when I was looking for a new paranormal book that was slightly less YA in nature and not too long, with some humor and maybe some romance.  I didn't want anything too deep since I would be on the beach with the kids.  I got exactly what I wanted.  In fact, I had such a good time reading this book that I am going to dive right into the second one.

Synopsis from Amazon:
Sure, the life of a graduate student wasn't exactly glamorous, but it was Merits. She was doing fine until a rogue vampire attacked her. But he only got a sip before he was scared away by another bloodsucker and this one decided the best way to save her life was to make her the walking undead.

Turns out her savior was the master vampire of Cadogan House. Now she's traded sweating over her thesis for learning to fit in at a Hyde Park mansion full of vamps loyal to Ethan, Lord o' the Manor, Sullivan. Of course, as a tall, green-eyed, four-hundred- year-old vampire, he has centuries worth of charm, but unfortunately he expects her gratitude and servitude. But an inconvenient sunlight allergy and Ethan's attitude are the least of her concerns. Someone's still out to get her. Her initiation into Chicago's nightlife may be the first skirmish in a war and there will be blood.

My Review:
First of all, if you are looking for a serious read, this isn't the book for you.  This is a book for readers with a love of the paranormal who are looking for a story with fun characters, humor, action, and a strong female lead.  Merit is that female lead and most of the story deals with her trying to adjust to being a vampire.  She is naturally independent, stubborn, sassy, and stands up for what she believes. A lot of this story deals with her making decisions about her new life but I found this to be quite interesting and it was also needed since this is the first in the series. The minor characters are also extremely likable.  We have Jeff, who is a shifter/computer nerd, Catcher, the hot sorcerer/vamp trainer, and Mallory, who is Merit's best friend/new found witch.  These characters are fun and make the book even more enjoyable.

I also liked the idea of humans and vampires being aware of each other's existence, the different vampire houses, and the hierarchies in each house.  There are definitely a ton of possibilities for future story lines as the series progresses.  As for the romance in the story, there isn't a whole lot of it in the first book but I can tell there will definitely be a love triangle between Ethan, Merit, and Morgan.  I haven't decided who I like for Merit yet so I'll have to get to know both contenders a bit better before making my choice.

Light and fun, with just a bit of bite.  I'm on to the next book to see what happens with these characters next.
                                                                                                                                        

Summer Reading Challenge!

I am so excited about this summer reading challenge! Hosted by From left to write, this is a challenge for adults and runs from June 26-July 24, 2014. You can join at any time.  

Here’s how the summer reading challenge for adults works:

1. Pledge to read at least 15 minutes a day from June 26-July 24, 2014. You can join at any time.
2. If you miss a day, you can make up for it later in the week. For example read 15 minutes Monday, skip Tuesday, read 30 minutes on Wednesday. You don’t have to keep a log or anything. You’re adults. 
3. You can read whatever books you choose: literary fiction, YA, mysteries, biographies, etc.
4. Return every Thursday to share your progress and enter to win prizes.
5. If you are on social media, share your updates with the hashtag #FL2WSummer. Don’t forget to tag the host at @fromleft2write on Twitter, tag on Facebook or @fromleft2write on Instagram. Feel free to blog about your updates too!
6. You must be at least 18 years old to participate. Hey, it’s a reading challenge for adults!

Well, personally, I am super excited about this challenge because I am off for the summer and have a lot of time to read.  I can't wait to see what everyone else is reading and hopefully meet some new people in the process.  Happy reading everyone!                                                                                                                                        

Review: The Goodbye Witch

This is the fourth book in Heather Blake's Wishcraft series, so if you haven't had a chance to enjoy any of these books yet, be sure to start with the first one, It Takes a Witch.  These books are sassy, fun, and yes... just a little bit witchy.  Perfect for the beach or when you have a few hours to relax.

Synopsis from Amazon:
As Enchanted Village’s resident Wishcrafter, Darcy Merriweather has the power to make other people’s wishes come true, but what she really wishes is that she had the power to uncloak the invisible man who’s stalking her best friend....
 
Darcy’s closest friend and fellow witch, Starla Sullivan, hoped she’d never see her ex-husband, Kyle, again. Two years ago he tried to kill her, and he has been a fugitive ever since. Now Starla claims to have seen him back in Enchanted Village, but it seems she’s the only one who can see him. To everyone else, her ex is invisible.
 
Darcy only wishes his motives were as transparent as the rest of him. Since the police can’t arrest someone they can’t see, it’s up to Darcy to find the secret behind Kyle’s latest disappearing act—before he does something they can’t see coming….

My Review:
There are a lot of things I really like about this series.  First off, they are light and fun. When I pick up a Heather Blake book, I know exactly what I am going to get and that I will most likely not be able to put the book down until I finish it.   I know that it will have an intriguing mystery for me to solve and that a few twists and turns will be thrown in with the real clues so that the story isn't too predictable.  I know that I will smile, possibly get a bit emotional, and laugh often.  All of my favorite quirky characters will be there to greet me and I will get just the right amount of romance.  And finally, the fact that there is magic in the story is like the glittery icing on the cake.

The Goodbye Witch was completely satisfying.  The setting of the Enchanted Village never gets tiring, especially if you are someone like myself, who loves the idea of witches and magic.  Darcy, our main character, is kindhearted and, because she didn't have much of a family life growing up, considers all those she cares about part of her family and will do anything to help them.  I love that Darcy and Nick's relationship, although not perfect, is solid.  They aren't being consistently torn apart and their romance really isn't even the focus during most of the book.  I instead got to immerse myself fully and sleuth along with Darcy as she got her hands dirty trying to figure out how to clear Starla's name and figure out what really happened to Kyle.  I often found myself jotting down hunches or little notes that I felt might be clues to the story. I find this to be part of the fun of reading a cozy mystery.  

If you have been reading this series, I'll just say that in my opinion, this is the best book yet and there are some big reveals!  No spoilers here though.  You have to grab it for yourself. Happy reading!

                                                                                                                                            

Waiting on Wednesday (June 25th)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating

This week, my pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness

Coming out in July! :)

I know a lot of people are probably choosing this book and I know I have put it in a post or two before, but I am so excited for this final book in the All Souls trilogy and it is finally almost here! I feel like I have been waiting forever.  

Synopsis:

After traveling through time in Shadow of Night, the second book in Deborah Harkness’s enchanting series, historian and witch Diana Bishop and vampire scientist Matthew Clairmont return to the present to face new crises and old enemies. At Matthew’s ancestral home at Sept-Tours, they reunite with the cast of characters from A Discovery of Witches—with one significant exception. But the real threat to their future has yet to be revealed, and when it is, the search for Ashmole 782 and its missing pages takes on even more urgency. In the trilogy’s final volume, Harkness deepens her themes of power and passion, family and caring, past deeds and their present consequences. In ancestral homes and university laboratories, using ancient knowledge and modern science, from the hills of the Auvergne to the palaces of Venice and beyond, the couple at last learn what the witches discovered so many centuries ago. With more than one million copies sold in the United States and appearing in thirty-eight foreign editions, A Discovery of Witches and Shadow of Night have landed on all of the major bestseller lists and garnered rave reviews from countless publications. Eagerly awaited by Harkness’s legion of fans,The Book of Life brings this superbly written series to a deeply satisfying close.

Click here to join and share the book that you are impatiently waiting for. Happy reading!

Available now! Neanderthal Marries Human

Available now!! 

If you like romantic comedy, pick up two great books.  The first, Neanderthal Seeks Human, and Penny Reid's newest addition to the Knitting in the City series, Neanderthal Marries Human.  Both are completely worth the read.  Don't miss out!

Synopsis from Amazon:

This book is not a standalone. It is the sequel to ‘Neanderthal Seeks Human,’ it is book #1.5 in the ‘Knitting in the City’ series, and it is a full length, 105k word novel. 

There are three things you should know about Quinn Sullivan: 1) He is madly in love with Janie Morris, 2) He’s not above playing dirty to get what (or who) he wants, and 3) He doesn’t know how to knit. 

After just five months of dating Janie, Quinn—former Wendell and unapologetic autocrat—is ready to propose marriage. In fact, he’s more than ready. If it were up to Quinn, he would efficiently propose, marry, and beget Janie with child all in the same day—thereby avoiding the drama and angst that accompanies the four stages of pre-matrimony: engagement, meeting the parents, bachelor/bachelorette party, and overblown, superfluous wedding day traditions. But Janie, much to Quinn’s dismay, tosses a wrench in his efficacious endeavors and challenges him to prove his devotion by going through the matrimonial motions, no matter how minute and mundane. 

Will Quinn last until the wedding day? Or will he yield to his tyrant impulses? 

Regardless, one thing is for certain, Quinn Sullivan will have to learn to expect the Spanish Inquisition (i.e. the unexpected) if he plans to have and keep Janie Morris as his wife. 

My Review of Neanderthal Seeks Human:

http://www.thebooknerd2013.blogspot.com/2014/01/review-neanderthal-seeks-human.html

My Review of Neanderthal Marries Human:

http://www.thebooknerd2013.blogspot.com/2014/06/review-neanderthal-marries-human.html

                                                                                                                                          

Review: Mariana

I admit it.  This book has been in my TBR pile for over a year.  I love Susanna Kearsley.  She is one of my absolute favorite authors.  The Winter Sea, The Shadowy Horses, The Firebird, and The Rose Garden are divine reads.  Why has this one been on my shelf for so long?  I honestly can't say.  I think I was afraid to pick it up because I would have been disappointed if it wasn't as good as the others.  I was wrong.  I finally decided to dive in two days ago and I devoured the story just as I had each of the others.  I only now wish that I hadn't waited quite so long.

Synopsis from Amazon:
The first time Julia Beckett saw Greywethers she was only five, but she knew at once that it was her house. Now, twenty-five years later, by some strange chance, she has just become the new owner of the sixteenth-century Wilshire farmhouse. But Julia soon begins to suspect that more than coincidence has brought her there. As if Greywethers were a porthal between worlds, she finds herself abruptly transported back in time. Stepping into seventeenth-century England, Julia becomes Mariana, a beautiful young woman struggling against danger and treachery, and battling a forbidden love for Richard de Mornay, handsome forebear of the present squire of Crofton Hall. Each time Julia travels back, she becomes more enthralled with the past, falling ever deeper in love with Richard...until one day she realizes Mariana's life threatens to eclipse her own--and that she must find a way to lay the past to rest, or risk losing a chance for love in her own time.

My Review:
Susanna Kearsley's characters are always both intriguing and engaging.  She often only shares a small group of important characters in each story and develops each one to the point where they seem like real people who could come right off the page.  In Mariana, we have Julia/Mariana, Iian, Vivian, Geoff, Tom, and Richard.  I was invested in all of them right from the beginning of the story.  Their personalities, their compassion and caring for one another, and their relationships.  The settings are also always beautiful and make me want to pick up and travel.  In this book, Julia buys an old 16th century cottage in England with a rich historical background, which makes a perfect backdrop for the time travel element in the story. One thing that consistently attracts me to these books are the stories that accompany the settings. That many of these place really existed fascinates me. Historical fiction has always been one of my favorite genre but Kearsley seems to have the perfect combination of history, romance, and just a touch of the supernatural in the form of time travel.  I was completely enthralled.

Not only did I love the present day story with Julia, but the past story where she traveled back in time and became Mariana was lovely. Julia's time slips flowed seamlessly and I was able to easily tell when she arrived in her past life, and when she returned to the present.  The comparisons between the two times were absorbing, especially the details concerning the settings of the manor house, dovecote and surrounding area. The romance in both time periods was endearing, as in most of Kearsley's books.  Both Julia and Mariana experience love but Mariana's story is more passionate. Unfortunately, it is also more tragic and bittersweet than Julia's present day relationship.  The intrigue develops as Julia finds herself traveling more and more to the past and finds herself in danger of losing herself to the person she used to be.  

In my opinion, Kearsley's entire style of writing is captivating.  Her attention to detail and the haunting yet "fairytale" feel of the story make you want to go back and reread passages over and over, which I did on several occasions and will most likely do again.  
                                                                                                                                

Review: Get Lost

I've always loved Peter Pan.  It is one of my favorite Disney movies.  I also love stories that update or connect to this fairy tale.  Peter and the Starcatchers is just one example.  When the author of Get Lost contacted me and offered her book in exchange for an honest review, I jumped at the chance to try out another version of my favorite story.

Synopsis from Amazon:
Peyton Darling, high school senior, is a perennial wallflower who keeps her nose to her sketchbook. Everybody else might think that moving from city to city around the world is pretty glamorous, but Peyton is excruciatingly aware of what it really means---never fitting in. So when the mysterious and---let's face it---super hot Justin literally almost drops in her lap, she almost misses her chance at an amazing adventure in a secret world that few ever see. Just as Peyton finally starts discovering who she is, circumstances show her that her life is not what it seems. And now she has to make a choice 'family or friends?

My Review:
This book had me hooked from the start.  The action starts on the first page and doesn't stop until the end of the story.  It was a fun ride to say the least and would be a great addition to any YA library. This is a modern but loose retelling of Peter Pan with Peter being portrayed as less the hero and more a teenage, selfish brat who uses people to get what he wants.  He is not the main character of the story.  Instead, we have Justin, a lost boy, who just happens to be charming, adorable, and of course, able to fly.  We also have Peyton, a member of the Darling family who is extremely introverted but brilliant when it comes to art.  These two are our main focus and it is their quest and their relationship that we follow as we read.  

There is a large paranormal element to the story right from the beginning and it is not meant to be realistic, it is meant to be fun and it completely accomplishes this goal.  In addition to the action, we get glimpses of other favorite Pan characters, some humorous moments, and a little mystery.  My only problem with the book? I didn't want it to end!  I want to know what happens next.  I want to see Neverland and how it would be portrayed by the author.  I'm certainly hoping there is a second book in the works.

Review: Divine Vices

This book was generously given to me in exchange for an honest review and I am grateful that I had the opportunity to read it.  Divine Vices was self published by Melissa Parkin in late 2013 and begins as more of a mystery. However, as the story progresses, it escalates and becomes a paranormal thriller that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

Synopsis from Amazon:
Danger seldom leaves its victims unscathed in the ways of seduction, and this lesson is one that sixteen-year-old Cassie Foster now knows all too well. 

Nine months following the traumatic accident that claimed the life of her mother and sister, this high school junior has at last found a fresh start in the quiet town of New Haven, Maine. In the company of her best friends, Ian and Gwen, she’s bracing the usual turmoil of adolescence and taking all in stride… until the new transfer student, Jackson Matthews, comes walking into her life. He’s arrogant, sarcastic, roguish, devastatingly sexy, and the very last thing Cassie wants to entertain. But when circumstances drive these two together, she finds herself a bit too close for comfort as their bond intensifies. Plagued by unexplainable events, a sudden string of disappearances, and even a cult-related murder, Cassie begins to fear for her life. Is it all just a coincidence that these happenings began when this Casanova strolled into town, or has she in fact fallen for a real lady-killer, or worse?

My Review:
As I first began reading this book, I wasn't sure what to expect.  It began like many other YA novels.  We have our trio of friends, Cassie, Gwen, and Ian, with Ian secretly in love with Cassie. Enter the hot and sassy new kid, Jack, who takes an immediate interest in Cassie as well. Cassie isn't interested in the attention and the resulting sarcastic banter between the two is quite humorous and enjoyable to read.  Cassie does slowly let her guard down but this is where most of my hunches fell apart. When there is a local murder, Gwen enlists Cassie to help her solve it. As they investigate, they realize that the murder may be even closer to home than they thought and let's just say that some characters aren't what they seem.  I was expecting a huge love triangle but, aside from some minor tension, it was refreshing to see that the story was able to avoid making this the main plot and focused more on story development. 

The paranormal element of the story emerges slowly but is always there, right under the surface.  I loved the scene with the Ouija board because it was perfect old school horror.  I have an incredible urge to go back and watch some old 80's horror movies. In addition, Cassie's nightmares and the mysterious hooded figure Cassie keeps seeing kept me turning the pages.  Even though the real action didn't begin until late in the story, there was always just enough mystery and intrigue to keep me going. Once things finally escalated, there was no way I was putting the book down, especially after most of my theories were blown out of the water.  

My one wish would be that there were a bit more action and an explanation about the paranormal element earlier in the story.  I felt a bit rushed toward the end and would have liked more time to absorb the facts before the big cliffhanger, and it is a BIG cliffhanger!  One that will have you wishing the next book was already available so you can continue the story.  

Click here to get this book on Amazon for only $0.99.  Completely worth it in my opinion.  :)

                                                                                                                                           

Review: Neanderthal Marries Human

Neanderthal Marries Human is the sequel to Neanderthal Seeks Human, and is part 1.5 in the Knitting in the City series.  I began it yesterday and had extreme difficulty putting it down, hence the reason I was still awake and reading at 1:00am when I completed it. 

When I first discovered Penny Reid's books, I was reluctant because I am not a huge romance fan but the cover was cute and the teaser seemed to promise some humor along with the romance so I gave it a shot.  I was immediately hooked and have now read all of the Knitting in the City series and enjoyed every one of them.  I was so happy when I found out that this book would continue the story of Janie and Quinn.

Synopsis from Amazon:
There are three things you should know about Quinn Sullivan: 1) He is madly in love with Janie Morris, 2) He’s not above playing dirty to get what (or who) he wants, and 3) He doesn’t know how to knit. 

After just five months of dating Janie, Quinn—former Wendell and unapologetic autocrat—is ready to propose marriage. In fact, he’s more than ready. If it were up to Quinn, he would efficiently propose, marry, and beget Janie with child all in the same day—thereby avoiding the drama and angst that accompanies the four stages of pre-matrimony: engagement, meeting the parents, bachelor/bachelorette party, and overblown, superfluous wedding day traditions. But Janie, much to Quinn’s dismay, tosses a wrench in his efficacious endeavors and challenges him to prove his devotion by going through the matrimonial motions, no matter how minute and mundane. 

Will Quinn last until the wedding day? Or will he yield to his tyrant impulses? 

Regardless, one thing is for certain, Quinn Sullivan will have to learn to expect the Spanish Inquisition (i.e. the unexpected) if he plans to have and keep Janie Morris as his wife. 

My Review:
Janie is an addicting personality and delightful as she continues her role from the first book.  Her ability to spew random facts about almost anything is unique and never gets tiring.  Her need for proof that love can last and her search for the caring family she never had leads to some of her more humorous ideas and experiments that drive almost everyone crazy.  I don't think a chapter went by without my smiling or laughing at the snarky humor offered by one of the many characters, whether it be sexy, brooding Quinn or one of Janie's lively knitting club.  

The story is written in dual point of view and alternates between Janie and Quinn. In many books that use this text structure, I find that isn't always successful.  However, Penny Reid is able to not only make it work, but make it flow seamlessly from one character to the other, with each chapter complimenting the next. I enjoyed being able to see both sides of their relationship and Quinn's chapters were equally fun to read as I followed his journey to better himself and be more worthy of Janie.

Another aspect I really liked about this book was that, even though it still held onto its quirky, fun nature, it was also deeper in meaning as Janie and Quinn's relationship grew.  As I reader, I got to see more into the baggage both carried due to their family relationships (or lack thereof) and how they helped each other to overcome their insecurities, both purposefully and just through their overwhelming love for one another. It holds great themes of love, forgiveness, and letting go.

This is a book that makes you laugh, makes you swoon, and leaves you feeling really good about the world and love in general.  Just make sure you have a few hours set aside to read it from beginning to end because you aren't going to want to be distracted until you have finished.  

                                                                                                                                        

Review: A Barricade in Hell

A Barricade in Hell by Jaime Lee Moyer is the sequel to the extremely popular Delia's Shadow. I often shy away from sequels to books I love but I dared pick this one up in the hopes that it was as engaging as the first.  

Synopsis from Amazon:

In Jaime Lee Moyer's Barricade in Hell, Delia Martin has been gifted (or some would say cursed) with the ability to peer across to the other side. Since childhood, her constant companions have been ghosts. She used her powers and the help of those ghosts to defeat a twisted serial killer terrorizing her beloved San Francisco. Now it's 1917—the threshold of a modern age—and Delia lives a peaceful life with Police Captain Gabe Ryan.

That peace shatters when a strange young girl starts haunting their lives and threatens Gabe. Delia tries to discover what this ghost wants as she becomes entangled in the mystery surrounding a charismatic evangelist who preaches pacifism and an end to war.  But as young people begin to disappear, and audiences display a loyalty and fervor not attributable to simple persuasion, that message of peace reveals a hidden dark side.

As Delia discovers the truth, she faces a choice—take a terrible risk to save her city, or chance losing everything?

While I adore the genre of the paranormal, I sometimes have a hard time finding books with all of the story elements I enjoy.  I loved Delia's Shadow. I was immediately attracted to the historic post-earthquake San Francisco setting offered by Moyer where the city, although already 1917, is still rebuilding and recovering. Another plus was the fact that the characters in the story, minus the paranormal, were realistic.  They are adults who had life experience and had to deal with their own losses as they worked toward a happier future. Their stories had depth and meaning which allowed me to invest in them emotionally. 

In this sequel, Delia and Gabe have been married for a few years and have a solid relationship throughout the story.  The main plot revolves around ritualistic killings that are truly creepy in nature.  While Gabe deals with the police investigation, Delia must deal with figuring out why all of a sudden the spirit world has erupted with angry mobs of ghosts, more powerful then she has ever experienced and seemingly focused on her husband.  The two of them make a great team and it is wonderful to see how Gabe, a seasoned law enforcement agent, believes in and supports the use of Delia's abilities when necessary.  

The story is thought provoking and definitely has its share of edge of your seat moments. I could have easily read it in one night if I had the time (which I did not).  What I found interesting is that the mystery focuses less on who the murderer is (which we can figure out fairly early) and more on how to prove their guilt, bring them in, stop more murders from occurring, and figure out how the restless ghosts can finally find peace.  This was a refreshing twist to the normal, "whodunit" and I found myself stealing every possible moment to read a few more pages. 

All in all, A Barricade in Hell was just as good, if not better than Delia's Shadow. I'm looking forward to a third book to wrap things up for all of these characters I have grown to love.

Feature and Follow Friday (June 13, 2014)

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee’s View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow us to show off more new blogs!

This week's topic is:

Armchair Travel! Tell us about your favorite book in a setting you’d like to visit (a real place for this question).

Wow! I love this question but there are some tough decisions to be made. Hmmm... I think I would choose to read The Shadowy Horses by Susanna Kearsley.  It takes place in Scotland near the ocean and the setting was absolutely stunning whether it was the cliffs, the ocean, or the quaint little town nearby. Nevermind the ghosts, I would be willing to be haunted by a centuries old soldier.  No problem! :)

The goal here is to gain new friends and followers so click here to add yourself to the list and join!  Happy reading! 
                                                                                            

Top Ten Tuesday: Beach Reads

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This weeks topic is:

Seven Books That Will Be In My Beach Bag This Summer.  

I have these all ready to go but I didn't want to push ten.  I'll be thrilled if I can get to all seven of these. Being a teacher, I am so excited to get my feet in the sand.  I can smell the salt of the ocean and picture myself in a chair at water's edge, with my kids playing and me devouring a book.  It's almost here!!!

1. Opposition by Jennifer Armentrout

2.  The Goodbye Witch by Heather Blake

3. The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness

4. Lion in the Valley by Elizabeth Peters

5. The Arrivals by Melissa Marr

6.  Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

7.  That Night by Chevy Stevens

Happy summer reading everyone!

Review: The Good, the Bad, and the Witchy

The Good, the Bad, and the Witchy by Heather Blake is the third in the wishcraft mystery series and I am devouring them.  I find that they are perfect cozy mysteries to snuggle up with and am already grabbing the next one from the store.

Synopsis from Amazon:
Darcy Merriweather is Enchanted Village’s newest resident Wishcrafter—a witch who can grant wishes for others. But as Darcy prepares a celebration for a magical florist, she discovers that every rose has its thorns… When magical florist Harriette Harkette decides to throw a lavish eightieth birthday party for herself, she hires Darcy’s Aunt Ve’s personal concierge service, As You Wish, to plan the soiree. But turning eighty isn’t all Harriette is celebrating—the Floracrafter has recently created the midnight black Witching Hour rose, the first all-natural rose of that color. Darcy works hard on planning an extravagant celebration that will make Harriette feel like the belle of the ball. But when cake delivery boy Michael Healey—a former employee at Harriette’s greenhouse—is found dead, the celebration takes a turn. Now Michael’s ghost has imprinted on Darcy, meaning that they’re bonded until she can untangle the thicket surrounding his murder—and what exactly it has to do with the Witching Hour rose….   

My Review:
This series gets rave reviews from me. I've spoken before about my love for the characters. Each character living in the Enchanted Village has their own appeal.  Eccentricity is the norm and in this installment, we get some new quirky characters to love (or hate).  We still have our beloved Aunt Ve, Harper, and the delightful blooming (no pun intended) relationship between our main character Darcy and Nick, the police chief.  

The main mystery in this book is finding out who killed Michael, the delivery boy.  While it begins as a simple investigation, it becomes more complicated as we learn more about the events surrounding his death and we end up with a few other mysteries on top of the original. The story has just enough twists and turns to keep us guessing until the end and keeps us smiling with its snarky humor.  And in this one, quite a wrench was thrown into the mix at the end which only makes me want to get to the next book faster! We can only wish that a place like the Enchanted Village really existed so we can move there ourselves and meet all of these personalities. (did you hear that, Darcy?) 

This book, and the whole series as a matter of fact, is the perfect light, summer read.