The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandannna

 Mika Moon.  You'd think her name gives her away as a witch.  

In the current day of England, there are a lot of rules to being a witch such as don't let anyone know, don't live with another witch, and don't breed.  How can it be any fun to have extraordinary powers if you can't use them?

Mika thinks she's outsmarting the system by starting a blog and giving hints online under an alias.  Her blog reveals tiny witchy secrets.  This helps her still feel like a witch without anyone knowing.  So she thinks.

A couple hours across the country exists a mansion, the Nowhere House, with a few caretakers, an archeologist, a protective librarian, and three young, orphaned witch sisters.  Jamie, the librarian, senses what Mika is hiding, so he sends her a message requesting her assistance in educating the girls.  

Moving frequently, Mika figures this is
an opportunity to do something useful.  Granted, this breaks a huge witch rule, yet she wants to do it.

Jamie, handsome as can be, has no intentions of getting along with Mika.  She's an intrusion to the "family's" carefully contained life.  

Mika's move-in comes with transitions to everyone's life.  Most of it smooth until the fact that now four witches, maybe more, are living together.  It gets worse when an evil source discovers the magic in the house.  

Then all evil breaks loose, and Mika needs to decide if she can risk the witch rules in order to save the family and home that she is very comfortable with.  An increasing and unexpected fondness, bordering on a romantic dalliance with Jaime gives her strength and courage to go all the way.  

As long as no one gets burned, melted, or vaporized, love and happiness will survive. 

Happy Halloween,

Dawn

  

What The Hex by Alexis Daria

 Isla Bruja is an island hosting the two largest Latina witch families and their union through a spectacular wedding.  

Catalina Cartagena takes a big breath and brooms herself from New York back to her family's island.  She had escaped the island many moons ago because she wanted to resist being a witch, but as her sister's maid of honor it is time to return.

Catalina's nemesis from high school, Diego Paz, is the best man.  Her luck doesn't seem to be changing.  Granted, nerd to super- sexy is an okay start when she spots him on the island.

Distracting her from Diego, she notices a strange vibe on the island.  Her intuition is confirmed after meeting the groom.  The groom's eyes are distant, which definitely indicates he's possessed by a demon along with most of the witches on the island.

Except Diego.

Time to overcome her negativity toward an old grudge.  Diego and she are the only ones who can exorcise the demon.  

Diego is handsome, smart, and incredibly nice.  What happened??  Catalina is amazed at how easy they get along, yet she remains leery of his approachability.  However, she needs to get over it and make a plan with him to save the families and the island.

After Diego reveals his secret, baring his soul, Catalina is shocked.  They bare more than their souls while fighting the island demon.  

Island magic won't dare miss out on another romance and happily-ever-after as long as Diego and Catalina let their hearts be heard.

Happy reading,

Dawn

Watermelon by Marian Keyes

 Doesn't matter what hospital you're in but as Claire Walsh gives birth to her new little angel in London, she is exhilarated.  For a few minutes until her husband, James, sits next to her bed with little interest in the swaddled baby.

He tells her he is leaving her for the woman downstairs from their apartment.

Now what?

On maternity leave, Claire packs up and ventures to her parents and sisters in Ireland.  

Claire doesn't have a problem voicing her opinion, and you certainly will get pagefuls of her contempt toward her husband along with her doubts of marriage, men, and what the hell will she do now.

On another page, she meets a gorgeous man, Adam, and has a night with him.  Loaded with his own baggage, Claire doesn't take the romance too seriously.

Besides, James flies over the pond to discuss how they can remain married.  According to him, it's all her fault and if she changes everything can be perfect.

Push the knife in, twist and pull.  

With a lot of mind-probing and heckling from her family, Claire tries all avenues until she finds the clear path to love and happiness.

Happy reading,

Dawn

The Quit List by Katie Bailey

We can all figure out where the hike is going, but the trail up the mountain is full of ruts, trips, and boulders on the way.

Thinking she's nearly past her prime, Holly Green decides that the only way to get a man is to make a list compliments of a dating app of possible contenders for a relationship.  Time after time, money, makeup, cute outfits, and the clock ticks.  

She meets each man in the same pub, offering them all equal opportunity.  

Pub employee, Jax Grainger, has a personal laugh at noticing Holly's unusual dates until "Keith" causes a ruckus, and Jax has to intervene.  He can laugh at the commitment scene because he doesn't trust it, believe in it, and has given up on it.  Besides, giving up the bartender gig and getting his wilderness guiding license he'll soon be moving into the mountains of Georgia.

As many conversations stray, Holly and Jax learned a lot about each other after the "Keith" date.  She sat at the bar and told him her efforts to find the right man.  She also divulged her aptitude for marketing and computer graphics.  

With his mind working, Jax makes a deal with Holly.  He'll guide her to the right man in exchange for her help in advertising his new guiding venture.

Perfect. 

That is until Holly has to hit the wilderness, not a norm for her, and Jax gets jealous of her dates.

The wind shifts and it's quite exciting where it takes them!

Happy reading, 

Dawn

All I Ever Needed by Stacy Kristen

 If you need to cool down in the summer heat, quickly, this is the romance to read.  You may get a chill in Foxtail Ridge as the residents are getting ready for Christmas and heading toward Valentine's Day for the finale.  

In addition, Abbie Marsh, editorial consultant, has a cold edge to men in her life.  This is easy right now because there aren't any.  She's all business including helping her sister open a B & B along with snaring her soon-to-be husband.  

Matt Ellis wants to be all business, but he has writer's block from every angle and his author title is in jeopardy.  The more he tries to write and create, the more his words are nonexistent.  He needs help.

The initial video meeting of Abbie and Matt is a cold shower.  Abbie becomes bitchy when she considers Matt an untalkative, uncooperative grump.  And they are both stubborn.  

The only way to overcome this tug-of-war, is for them to ease up on their attitudes. 

Matt begins to try Abbie's writing suggestions.  He'll have to admit, with excitement, some bullet points are working.  

Abbie begins to enjoy the new laughter in Matt's calls.  

Working together may have a few advantages not considered at the beginning.  Abbie brings Matt's career back in focus, Matt helps Abbie at her sister's B&B, and a little time off the work clock is fun. 

And more time off the clock is good for the heart.  Matt could write that story while Abbie edits it to a Happily Ever After. 

Happy reading,

Dawn

 

The Deal by Elle Kennedy

 Highly musical, Hannah is far from reserved as a vocalist during her practice and presentations on campus.  She's in love with music.  Waitressing part-time helps with the bills, but she needs a lot more help with attracting a boyfriend.

Garrett's devotion to being a professional hockey player takes a lot of his time.  He takes his studies seriously also, but Ethics is a never-ending battle.  He needs the grade to stay on the team and advance.  

Hannah excels at philosophy and Garrett needs her for tutoring after an 'F' grade.  They've never hung out together, but Garrett has a plan.  It's a sneaky plan.  If Hannah helps him pass the class, he'll get her a date with her secret crush, Justin.

Sounds simple enough.  The story dives a lot deeper.

In the mix, Hannah and Garrett have a chance to get to know and respect one another.  Again, it's not as easy as it sounds when you add Hannah's insecurity with getting near any man physically and Garrett's overpowering father and their different lifestyles.

Love, friendship, trust, education, bribery, and great hearts collide in one semester.  I know which people and variables I'm rooting for, and I couldn't flip the pages fast enough to find out where the multi-layer drama finishes its maze.  Are hearts broken, mended, or made stronger?  

I vote for stronger hearts!

Happy reading,

Dawn

Rent Yourself An Elf by Savannah Scott

 Not too late for a great Christmas story.  Don't forget Easter is just around the corner and the holidays are related!  For whatever reason, I was in the mood to read this.

It's a delightful rom-com, and Noelle has a problem with Christmas.  It's not that she doesn't like it, but rather it was always centered around her grandmother who has passed and left her home for Noelle as an inheritance.

The house is old and needs a few minor repairs.  As a grade school teacher, Noelle has little time to do much more than plan to teach and teach.  She squeezes in a few dinners with her best friends.

They surprise her with an elf because she needs entertainment other than just work.  

His name is Liam.

Liam is a handyman for hire, wearing a Santa hat for the occasion, and appears at Noelle's door to do handywork for two days.  He's too busy and consumed with his trade to think about women.  

Noelle isn't perfect like her sister.  Yet, Liam notices everything good about her immediately.  

The kindling is set for the fire.

When she gets herself in a pickle over needing a date for a family event, let's see if Liam can fill the ticket. 

The match is lit and will the fire burn?!

 It's a feel-good read and can be enjoyed even without decorations and snow for the holiday!

Happy reading,

Dawn

  

The Do Over by Sharon Peterson

 My last review was beautiful and serious, so now it's time for a lot of fun.  A kettle full of laughs is necessary to get through the dingy, brown days of late winter.

Perci is a people-pleaser, starting with her mom, and then her boyfriend, Brent, and all others. 

Apparently, Brent is too hard to please. 

I want to tell you, as a reader, how Brent broke-up with Perci, but I can't.  I had to put the book down and wipe the tears of laughter from my eyes.  For Perci, I want to smack him, but I can't deny the humor.  

She has a change in her romantic relationship, changes her job because she works with Brent, and the other life changes are all done by keeping a sense of humor in life. 

Perci, in her late twenties, is my kind of woman.  She loves her forget-the-rules grandma, loves chocolate, and is working on the idea of loving herself.

Hot-Man-Next-Door, Nate, gets involved.  And a good thing he does.  He's accidentally what Perci needs and wants and should have.  With all the sudden changes in her life and happenings in the family, Nate pulls Perci through with the best of kisses and tulips (two-lips).  Those are kind of the same, but not really:)

Laugh and love,

Dawn