**2.5**

I’m annoyed.

The Southern Witch novels are of the rollicking, fast-paced sort. They’re filled with thinly-explained magic, strange townspeople, and countless secrets. Halfway Hexed (the last installment?) is more of the same, but this time the mayhem lacks the inherent charm that elevated the first two books from pure silliness to decent entertainment.

Frost does address those many secrets, for which I am grateful. The prophesy is revealed, the McKennas’ lies are uncovered, and we even get a few surprising new tidbits. All these discoveries are what kept me turning pages - although I must admit that once the exact phrasing of Lenore’s prophesy was given, I knew where the story was headed. Still: yay for answers!

Unfortunately, that’s the last yay I’m going to give.

The previous books made me chuckle over the numerous messes Tammy Jo got herself into; the mishaps were farcical in their abundance. Halfway Hexed takes this to new extremes, with unfavorable results. I literally lost count of how many times Tammy Jo was kidnapped or shot at. It seemed every page included some active threat to her life, depriving the individual incidents of tension and making them all blur together into an indistinct mess. The most ludicrous of these threats were the townspeople themselves. With many of them turning into a hateful band of witch hunters, I was hard-pressed to understand why Tammy Jo wanted to save her town at all. I understand Duvall is her life-long home, but this storyline proves there’s a point where kind-heartedness can cross into stupidity. It almost made me wish Zach was still around to beat sense into everyone.

In between the bouts of kidnapping and gunplay, Tammy Jo spends time with Bryn. Over three books and a few weeks’ time, Tamara and the wealthy lawyer/wizard have grown very close. They’ve come to depend on one another through various dangers and have saved each other’s lives several times. Despite all of this, Tammy Jo holds him at arms’ length. Actually, no, she doesn’t. She begs for his help, kisses him, then pushes him away. She runs to his side, tells him she can’t be with him, has sex with him, warns him off other girls…and pushes him away again. She repeatedly makes demands, but when Bryn thinks she’s finally laying claim to his heart, she mutters about prophesies or betraying poor Zach.

Yes. I get it. Tammy Jo is torn - she knows she should stay away but she and Bryn have such amazing chemistry that she can’t help herself. Blah. Blah. Blah. This book moved her from confused but well-intentioned sweetheart to immature, demanding, contrary cocktease. She wants all of the benefits of a relationship with Bryn, but none of the commitment. I know you’re a pastry chef, Tammy Jo, but you really can’t have your cake and eat it, too. Having endured so much drama and trauma with Bryn, she should know what kind of man he is and be able to make up her mind. If she can’t feel comfortable doing that until uncovering the prophesy, she should be more serious and sincere in her refusal to be intimate.

Which leads to my problems with Bryn. It’s no secret that he was my preference of the two love interests. With his dark hair, slight brogue, and sly, determined ways he’s just the type of man I root for. Unfortunately, his tolerance of Tammy Jo’s see-sawing diminished him in my eyes. Romantic that he’s determined to win her over. Masochistic that he puts up with her indecision and poor treatment.

The final battle and the resolutions arising from it were decently delivered, though somewhat contrived in their reliance on Shocking New Info. The problem with the townspeople was too neatly settled and Tammy’s forgiveness too easily given. And the question of the future of Bryn and Tammy’s relationship wasn’t answered solidly enough for me. (view spoiler)[Why include a love triangle if you aren’t going to resolve it by the end? I might have accepted such a vague ending if Zach’s return and the postponed decision weren’t still lurking in the background. Instead, I’m deeply unsatisfied. (hide spoiler)]

I’m disappointed. If Halfway Hexed is truly the last installment, it’s ruined the fun I was having with this series. What was once a humorous, light read turned into an eye roll-worthy, exasperating muddle. I’m thankful most of my questions were answered, but I think I’ll avoid any future series by this author.