T.W. Kirchner's Blog

What Sparks a Reader’s Interest?

How do readers select which books to read? For me, many of the books I’ve read have been recommended by friends. When I find an author I like, like Kelly Armstrong, I will read several of their books. I’ve read many of her series. I admit, the combo of a catchy title and interesting back cover material has roped me in, such as the case with Graveyard Shift by M.L. Rio, which turned out to be a good pick. I’ve found books through BookBub (not plugging, just saying) because they send emails about deals in genres I read.

I wouldn’t say I’ve bought books because of the cover art alone, but if a cover has grabbed my attention and the plot sounds good, I’ll purchase it. The graphic novel The Night Librarian by Christopher Lincoln is one such book. Although it is a children’s book, I really enjoyed it.  As an author, I will go on a binge and read a variety of books in the same genre of a book I’m writing. I’m looking for uniqueness in my book and how it compares to the competition. So if you’ve followed my blog and noticed a string of “witchy rom-coms,” it’s because I’m writing—you guessed it—a witchy rom-com.

The following books I’m reviewing came highly recommended by friends.

Put Wolf in the Title, it Gets My Attention

Lone Wolf (2006) by Linwood Barclay, is a Murder/Suspense Thriller (book 3 in the Zack Walker series). I love wolves. In this case, there aren’t any wolves in the book—a bear—somewhat. I didn’t know at the time that it was book 3 and hadn’t read 1 and 2, but it didn’t matter. I do plan to read the other books.

The main character, Zack Walker, isn’t a detective or superhero but a newspaper writer, husband, and father. Trouble seems to find him even if he’s not looking. The story begins when he gets a call from the police in the tiny forest town where his dad lives. They tell Zack they think his dad was mauled by a bear, and he needs to drive over to ID the corpse.

Zack’s week goes downhill from there. He has to go see a corpse and be prepared that it’s his dad. A crazed bear is supposedly running around. And to top it off, his dad’s neighbors are whack jobs to the nth degree with a pair of dogs (who they let run loose at times) that are out for blood—and fish guts, but that’s another story.

Being a newspaper writer, digging up stories and looking at different angles is second nature for Zack. After another body shows up in town, Zack connects the dots between the two murders and realizes the whole town is in serious danger. Time is running out to stop the wheels that are in motion, but Zack and an ex-military friend are hell bent to try.

The characters are so vivid and quirky, I was able to picture them easily. The author infused a lot of humor into a very serious situation—and there were many laugh-out-loud moments. I really enjoyed the book, especially the ending. Justified.

Fairies Aren’t Always as Cute as Tinkerbell

A Court of Thorns and Roses (2020) by Sarah J. Maas is the first book in the fairy Romantasy series A Court of Thorns and Roses. Several friends told me that Sarah J. Maas is their favorite author, and they loved the series. The books are not short. The first one is over 400 pages, and they get longer.

Remember my comment from the previous paragraph “I love wolves?” In the first chapter, nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf—or so she thinks it is. Anyway, that didn’t get the book started on the right foot for me. I hung in there and finished the book.

[Note and soapbox rant to authors.] DO NOT USE WOLVES FOR YOUR BLOODTHIRSTY ANIMAL. IT HAS BEEN OVERDONE FOR CENTURIES. Every stinkin’ fairytale. Come on already. Wolves avoid humans. When was the last article you read “wolf kills HUMAN?” However, bears, moose, mountain lions and any other big cat, alligators, crocs, snakes, sharks…you get the picture. Besides, if you’re writing FANTASY, you can make up an animal and let all the real ones off the hook. [Getting down from soapbox.]

Back to the review. Not to divulge too much of the plot, the wolf wasn’t an animal. Because Feyre killed it, she’s in serious trouble with a Fae King named Tamlin. The world Feyre lives in is divided mostly between humans and fairies (Fae), but the humans aren’t in control, although they have separate towns from the Fae.

Feyre’s punishment for her deed is she’s forced to leave her home and live in Tamlin’s court with Fae. The creatures have many abilities humans don’t and can glamour humans to see only what they want them to see. She has a learning curve to survive in her new home, but she’s tough and resourceful. Other deadly creatures with special abilities of their own are out to get her, so she’s basically on a hell ride.

All she wants is to go home, which is against some rule—there’s a twist I’m not telling. In the midst of a Fae war, Tamlin finally sends her home. However, she now likes him and wants to return and fight on his side against the evil Fae.

I didn’t love the book as much as my friends did; however, it did keep me turning 400 pages.  My character connection was missing, but from the success of the series, a lot of people do connect to Feyre and Tamlin. If Fae and fantasy is your genre, you may like it, too.

So how do you select books to read? It would be awesome if you actually found some from my blog, but I won’t count on that in the comments.

There’s Magic in the Air

Romantasy is a genre that blends romance and fantasy, but the books in this review span even more genres. Magical disasters aren’t usually the building block for a Romantic Comedy, but it is in The Geographer’s Map to Romance. Add a heavy dose of occult fiction to romantasy and you have The Black Bird Oracle.  Although the books are on completely different spectrums for romance and humor, they are both well-written and very entertaining.

Geography Has Never Been This Funny

The Geographer’s Map to Romance by India Holton (2025) is the second book in the Love’s Academic series. It is set in 1800s England.

Two professors at the same university are experts in magical disasters. They are technically married but have been estranged since a misunderstanding happened shortly after their wedding (of convenience). Professor Elodie Tarrant still loves Professor Gabriel Tarrant, although he’s more frustrating than fun. Gabriel still loves Elodie, the biggest disaster he’s ever met, but he can’t bring himself to tell her.

For a year, Elodie has managed to avoid him, but a tsunami of magic has erupted in a Welsh village, and the duo have been sent by the university to contain it before it spreads to Britain. Lives are at stake, and time to stop chaos ticks away.

The impending magical disaster puts the Tarrants in close quarters, and they have to push their differences and feelings aside to focus on the task at hand. Easier said than done—especially when they have to share the last room at the hotel. Besides that, a few scheming people try to stand in their way.

India Holton’s books are always fast-paced, full of action, romance with a flair for the comedic, and lots of laughs. The Geographer’s Map to Romance checks all those boxes. I enjoyed the story and looking forward to book 3 in the series coming in 2026.

Witches, Vampires, and Higher Magic

The Black Bird Oracle by Deborah Harkness (2024) is part of the Occult fiction, Romantasy All Souls series.

Vampire geneticist Matthew de Clermont married witch Diana Bishop against a covenant set up by the Congregation, a magical ruling body that has been in place to keep a check on magic for thousands of years. The Congregation sets rules that allow witches, vampires and daemons to live among humans peacefully without humans knowing they exist.

The marriage was their first hurdle, but now the couple faces a bigger one. The Congregation wants to test the magical abilities of Diana and Matthew’s young twins Pip and Rebecca. The testing caused problems for Diana as a child, and she doesn’t want the twins to have the same fate.

In the meantime, Diana reconnects with a great aunt who lives in a magical town. Her aunt promises to help Diana unleash her talent for higher magic. She also learns many secrets of her family’s past. It seems no matter which path the powerful witch chooses, there is always another witch who wants to stand in her way.

If you have read A Discovery of Witches and followed the series, you will enjoy this book, too. All the major characters make an appearance and some very interesting ghost ancestors. The setting changed to a farm that’s been in the Bishop’s family for centuries.

Enjoy the recommendations and leave any magical book recommendations in the comments.

Who Can You Trust?

The female protagonists in the following books getting reviewed have trust issues—and with good reason. In the first book, a young lady is traveling by train across the country, meeting all types of shifty commuters. Even in a time without computers and cell phones, she is well aware of con artists lurking about and determined not to fall prey to them. In the second book, another young lady places trust in a witch and cuts a deal. She learns too late of her mistake, but trusting anyone else will not come easily.

Will these two trust again? Read the review to find out.

History and a Mystery

The Harvey Girl : Fools Treasure by Ann Kimbrough (2025) is a historical mystery. Set in 1891, young Willa Abbot has never been far from her home in the East, but she is compelled to travel West to find her missing father. She believes he is mixed up in a fake treasure hunt scheme.

Willa becomes a Harvey Girl, a waitress for a Harvey House along the Atchinson, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad lines. The chain of Harvey House restaurants are like a “drive-through” for train stops…but without a car and offering high-scale dining. Because of her job, Willa sees many travelers, and she hopes to hear something about her father.

Although Harvey Houses have strict rules for the waitresses who live above the restaurant in dorm-like rooms, Willa does a lot of sneaking out and sleuthing. To her dismay, she meets a Pinkerton Man, a private detective of the day, named Finn. After several attempts to send the detective away, he still shows up wherever Willa snoops. She finally agrees to let him help her join the search after he proves himself trustworthy.

The story is fun and keeps you guessing who Willa can trust and where her father has gone. She has limited resources and time, so using her wits and concocting good plans are her best chance to accomplish her goal. Looking forward to book 2 in the series.

Don’t Piss Off a Vampire

A Werewolf’s Guide to Seducing a Vampire (Glimmer Falls book 3) by Sarah Hawley (2024) is a paranormal rom-com. Although the book has a bit of steam, the comedy outweighs the intimate moments.

Picture being trapped in a crystal for six hundred years, only allowed to leave on occasion to watch Star Trek or play hit woman. That’s what vampire succubus Eleonore Bettencourt-Devereux is dealing with after a witch spelled her. Eleonore is angry to say the least and not well-versed in modern culture.

In a twist of fate, werewolf Ben Rosewood, a mild-mannered plant emporium owner, gets possession of the crystal Eleonore is trapped in. At first, he thinks the crystal is a fake. Once he releases the fiery redhead within it, he’s in for a wild ride. Eleonore doesn’t trust him, after all, he commands the crystal, but Ben proves to her that he only has her best interest in mind. A huge drawback is that Eleonore is still under the witch’s spell, which doesn’t sit well with the vampire or werewolf. They go on a mission to find the Witch in the Woods and get her to reverse the spell. Along the way, sparks fly between the pair.

I enjoyed the story and had several laugh-out-loud moments. The characters are well-rounded and have personality. Several supporting characters, like Ben’s sister and close friends of different species, also make it a fun read.

If you’re looking for a short mystery or a mildly steamy comedy, give these books a try. Trust me.

Birds of a Feather

Of the two books getting a review, only one has birds in it. Granted, the birds are fictitious, but they would be pretty awesome if they were real. The other book is about a group of people with nothing much in common, coming together to solve a problem—or crisis as it turns out. One book is a lot of fun and silliness. The other is darker and mysterious. Both are good reads.

Poison with That Tea?

Ornithology can be brutal, at least it is in The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love (Love’s Academic series) by India Holton (2024). The Fantasy/Romance, Romantic Comedy is as wildly funny and absurd as her Dangerous Damsels series.

Set in England in the 1800s, rival ornithologists (and trust me, all of them are rivals) seek out a rare magical (and fictional) deathwhistler bird. The book is full of magical birds, most of them dangerous, like the fire-breathing sand curlew or yeti owl, but some of them would be amazing if they were real.

The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love is billed as “reminiscent of Indiana Jones but with manners, tea, and helicopter parasols.” The characters may have manners, but none of them can be trusted. They are a cut-throat bunch that would put pirates to shame, except for the very proper and innocent Beth Pickering. She is a professor, rare for a woman in those times, and has an ambition to get tenured. She is the assistant for Hippolyta Quirm, an awful woman who makes Beth do all the grunt work and takes the credit for herself.

Professor Devon Lockley is a scoundrel. He foils Beth’s plans to capture the deathwhistler and gets on her bad side from the start. The handsome and charming Lockley falls fast and hard for dear Beth and she for him, although they are RIVALS and she knows he’s bad news.

Between the other ornithologists tracking the deathwhistler and a pair of journalists fueling the romantic story of Beth and Devon, the couple are always on the run—away from and toward—each other.

I enjoyed the book immensely and am looking forward to the next book in the series coming out this year. If you like whimsical stories and some outrageousness, this may be the book for you.

So What’s in the Hole?

Graveyard Shift: A Novela (2024) by M.L. Rio is a mystery, thriller, suspense, modern Gothic tale in 144 pages. Set partially in the cemetery of a college town, it has its share of rats, fungus, and hostile incidents. Strange happenings have occurred recently where some people have just “snapped” for no good reason—or so it seems.

The story follows five acquaintances who have one thing in common—every night, they take a smoke break at an ancient cemetery next to a college campus. None of them are particularly friendly with each other. They just meet there as a routine. Misery loves company kind of thing.

The author creates a vivid personality and a distinct voice for each character. Theo Pavlopoulos is a bartender. “Tuck” aka Wes Tucker is homeless and jobless and lives at the boarded up two-hundred-year-old church St. Anthony the Anchorite next to the graveyard. Only one person in the group knows this. Hannah is an automotive technician, rideshare driver, and an insomniac. Tamar has a library science degree and is a hotel receptionist. She’s not happy with her job but stuck in a rut. Edie Wu is the current editor-in-chief of the college paper. She is determined to break a huge story just to prove she can. They call themselves the Anchorites.

Without giving anything away, this is the line that hooked me into buying the book.

“One dark October evening in the defunct churchyard, they find a hole that wasn’t there before. A fresh, open grave where no grave should be. But who dug it, and for whom?”

I had to know. You’ll have to buy it to find out.

Hopefully, you enjoy these recommendations. Comments about these books or suggestions for similar books are welcome.

Witches, Wizards, and Magical Tea

Magical tea, fun-loving gargoyles, and interesting characters are waiting within the pages of the books getting reviewed. Gargoyles are always a favorite of mine, and you can’t go wrong with tea, especially the magical variety. Add some witches and wizards, and your reading cauldron will bubble over with fun.  

Gargoyles Are More Than Waterspouts

An Indie gem. Greyson and the Gargoyles: Magic Is Real (2024) by Sandy S. Ayala is a YA Fantasy Adventure. With fast-paced action and a lot of surprises, the young wizard and his gargoyle guardians take readers on an entertaining journey.

Greyson Wysz overhears school bullies talking about a creepy abandoned mansion that they are afraid to visit. The twelve-year-old is tired of cowering from the bullies and sets out to prove to himself that he can do something they can’t—he goes to the mansion alone.

This sounds like the segue for a horror story, but it’s the beginning of a magical adventure for Greyson. His presence at the mysterious old house awakens three giant gargoyles who have been waiting for him for a long time. Their job is to protect Greyson and teach him to control magic he doesn’t know he possesses. While he accepts the challenge, this part of his new life must be kept secret from his family and friends. However, it seems a lot of people close to him have been hiding huge secrets, too.

When the going gets tough, quitting is not an option. Greyson must learn a lot of magic in a short time because great evil is threatening not only the magical realm but the one where his family and friends live, and he has been selected to lead the fight.

Rules Are Made to Be Broken

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches (2022) by Sangu Mandanna was a surprise read. I think the long title didn’t grab my interest at first, but I was enchanted with the book, which is funny considering it is a romantic fantasy/witch romance. The characters are very likable. They all struggle with finding love, a home, and acceptance, which makes you root for them even more. I don’t use the term “cozy read” ever, but this is one.

Thirty-something Mika Moon is a witch living in Britain. Although, many other witches are in the world, covens don’t exist. The Rule they all learn at a young age is that too many witches in one place draws unwanted attention and puts them at risk. Mika doesn’t have a family or close friends, so she moves around often with her dog Circe and pond of koi. She’s good at creating spells and making magical tea, but she can’t share it with anyone—until she decides to post magical videos online, pretending to be a witch.

Not everyone is fooled, fortunately for Mika. She is invited to Nowhere House, and that is where her true magical journey begins. She meets a house full of interesting people, including three young witches who need her guidance to control their magic. Of course, there is always a threat that puts everything Mika has longed for at risk.

It is a heartwarming story and a fun adventure. Ms. Mandanna really nails giving characters unique voices. I had a clear picture of the house near the sea and the quirky cast of misfits.

If you have read any other fun witches or wizards books, drop a line in the comments.

Magic in Books

Everyone knows the printed word can be magical, bringing the reader to a new time and place until they are immersed in a story. The three books getting reviewed in this blog are actually about books that have magic (the hocus pocus kind) in them.

Exploding with Magic

The Middle Grade Graphic Novel adventure The Night Librarian by Christopher Lincoln (2024) is awesome. It’s billed as Night at the Museum meets The Land of Stories. Yes, it’s written for children, but I enjoyed it immensely. It has a very clever plot that weaves into many subplots, introducing a slew of famous characters from other books, such as Alice in Wonderland and Tinkerbell. By the way, Alice isn’t as sweet and naïve as she appeared in her own novel.

The illustrations are fun and creative. The cover art grabbed my attention, and the description reeled me in. The setting is the New York Public Library where twins Page and Turner frequent. During this trip, the kids lose their father’s expensive first-edition Dracula novel that they weren’t supposed to take anywhere.

While they search for the book, the twins learn about the job of the Night Librarian, select after-hours employees who are responsible for controlling the books that are bursting with magic so villains won’t escape and cause trouble. Soon, things get out of control, and the Night Librarian needs help. The fate of the library is in the hands of Page, Turner, and some storybook characters.

I recommend this Graphic Novel for any fan of Night at the Museum or anyone seeking a fun adventure.

Vampires Have Come a Long Way Since Dracula

The vampires of old turned crispy in sunlight and slept in coffins. Now they have human and witch wives and walk among warmbloods undetected—until they need to feed—and even then, they’ve gone “vampire vegan,” drinking animal blood and wine.

The All Souls series by Deborah Harkness features vampires, witches, and daemons. The daemons are a happy, scatter-brained bunch instead of the hellraisers with black eyes as Supernatural fans are used to.

The series began with A Discovery of Witches. Diana Bishop, a witch, and Matthew Clairmont, a vampire, met at the University of Oxford’s Bodleian Library where she was doing research as an historian. The couple pursued the forbidden inter-creature romance while dealing with their very different families, the Congregation, and the ancient manuscript that every creature wanted to get their hands on but only Diana could.

Shadow of Night (Book 2 – 2012) picks up the couple’s troubles in the 1500s, unlike the other two books, thanks to time travel. Matthew, being 1,500 years old has “been there done that” and rekindles old friendships. Diana tries to blend in, but she doesn’t speak or look the part. Plus, it’s not a good time for witches in general. Matthew and Diana search for the ancient Ashmole manuscript, hoping to find it in the past before three pages were ripped out (how it is in present day), which disturbed the magic within and renders it unreadable.

The Book of Life (Book 3 – 2014) brings Matthew and Diana back to present day. However, meddling in the past can change events in the future. I don’t want to put in too many spoilers, so I’ll just say I enjoyed the whole series so far.

By the way, the TV series, A Discovery of Witches, followed the books pretty well. Each book is covered in one season. Of course, the books have a lot more detail and scenes, but I like the TV series, too. I think they chose the actors well. I haven’t yet read the fourth book that features Marcus, Matthew’s vampire son, and his human girlfriend, Phoebe, or the fifth book. I would love a book that follows the character Gallowglass, Matthew’s Gaelic vampire nephew. He’s my favorite character.

One More Vegan Vampire

If you love the premise of a vegan vampire—one who sucks beets dry—give my spoof of vampires, Reno Red Reckless, a read. The feisty two-hundred-year-old redhead is stuck at twenty forever and is searching for a way to use her vampire talents for good not evil. In the meantime, she’ll rescue dogs, feed the homeless, and use her crossbow against anyone who doesn’t play well with others.

Leave comments, book suggestions, TV series suggestions, or just say “hi.”

How Do You Like Your Mystery—With Magic or Without?

Do you like your mystery with just humans or also witches and vampires? I’ll take either with a cup of coffee or tea. After reading the first book in the Inheritance Games series, I took down two more and I’m on book four. No magic is involved with the Hawthorns, just a lot of secrets and games.

Another series I started reading has plenty of magic. A Discovery of Witches was also made into a TV show of the same name that lasted three seasons.  I plan to watch it but wanted to finish the book first.

Rich Folk with Layers of Secrets

The Inheritance Games series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is classified as a YA mystery/thriller.  The Hawthorne Legacy (Book 2 – 2021) and Final Gambit (Book 3 – 2022) round up the same main characters from the first book to uncover more secrets while they play the games that billionaire Tobias Hawthorne left for his family.

 He had created games for his four grandsons to play and master since they were born, and the games continue even though he’s dead. Besides, his four grandsons, Tobias left two daughters and a son—that he was aware of. Secrets remember.

The biggest secret was Avery Grambs, a teenage stranger nobody in the family knew. Yet, Tobias left her most of his fortune with a catch. She is required to stay in the family home for one year with all the disinherited family members. And loads of secret passageways in the mansion. I don’t plan to leave spoilers so as not to ruin any of the reveals.

Witches, Daemons, and Vampires Galore

The first book in the All Souls series by Deborah Harkness is A Discovery of Witches (2011). I’ve seen the genre listed as Historical Fantasy, Romanic Fantasy, and Paranormal & Urban Fantasy. If you like slow-burn romance, paranormal reads, and historical manuscripts, this series is for you. It’s almost like an adult’s version of Twilight but more sophisticated with references to biology, old manuscripts, and wine.

Instead of Bella and Edward on a high school campus, Diana Bishop and Matthew Clairmont meet at the University of Oxford’s Bodleian Library. Diana is a witch who doesn’t want to use her magic to get ahead in her profession as an historian. She regularly checks out ancient manuscripts for her work, but her life changes forever when she checks out one particular bewitched manuscript. Matthew is a vampire who has been around for 1,500 years, but he’s never met anyone like Diana. Initially drawn to the manuscript she’s uncovered, the forbidden romance between a vampire and witch begins.

The fifth book in the series, The Black Bird Oracle was published July 2024. I am interested to see how well the actors in the series match my imagination to the characters in the book. I will continue with the book series.

Comments and book suggestions are always welcome.

Comics, Puzzles, and Demon Slayers

The art of comics, puzzles that solve a mystery, and a demon slaying teacher are the subjects of the books getting reviewed in this blog. The first book takes a dream come true for the protagonist and turns it into a nightmare. The second book changes the protagonist’s view of reality. The third book takes you through the make-believe world of comics.

Is the Money Worth It?

The Inheritance Games (Book 1) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes (2020) is a YA mystery/thriller. The whole cast of characters has secrets and issues, which leads to many twists, turns, and great page turners. I will be reading book 2, The Hawthorne Legacy.

Tobias Hawthorne was a man who liked creating puzzles. Even upon his death, the billionaire left a giant puzzle for his entire family to solve—why did he leave most of his fortune to teenage stranger Avery Grambs? Tobias’s two daughters and four grandsons need to know why and so does Avery. The family is definitely not happy about his will and are not welcoming to Avery.

For Avery to receive the inheritance, she must live at the estate named Hawthorne House for one year. A mansion with a bowling alley, pool, libraries, movie theater, and many other amenities would seem like a dream for a teen who spent time living in her broken-down car, but it soon turns into a nightmare when someone tries to kill her. In a house full of secret passageways and hidden rooms, Avery’s year-long stay may prove challenging.

Witches, Demons, and a Talking Dog

The Accidental Demon Slayer (Biker Witches Mystery Book 1) is a paranormal romance by Angie Fox (2008). The book has a lot of action, a little sizzle, and ridiculousness that makes it a fun read. The supporting characters are hysterical, and Lizzie’s talking dog Pirate is a great addition.

Lizzie Brown is a preschool teacher with a normal life. Her thirtieth birthday plans unravel quickly after her long-lost grandma shows up at her door, riding a Harley. Grandma is a witch from a coven of biker witches that create magic potions from roadkill and other strange items.

Grandma warns Lizzie that a powerful demon is coming—and this is Lizzie’s problem because she’s a demon slayer. Of course, Lizzie doesn’t want the job, but she has no choice after a demon nabs Grandma and drags her to Hell. Lizzie must learn her job on the fly, although she has the help of a shape-shifting griffin Dimitri who she happens to be lusting after. It’s a lot to learn in a pinch, but where there’s a will, there’s a way—and for Lizzie, it’s probably fermenting in an old pickle jar.

Comic Books in Depth

Understanding the Invisible Art of Comics by Scott McCloud (1993) is a comic book about comics. McCloud is drawn as a cartoon character to narrate the comic book journey.

The book explores the art of comics, demonstrating the many sides of this medium. I never thought about hieroglyphics as the first comics, but it really was—pictures that tell a story. The book compares US comics to those created in other countries, especially Japan.

With eye-opening illustrations and descriptions, it is a great read for anyone interested in creating comics and graphic novels.

If you like the reviews, leave a comment. If you have a book suggestion, leave a comment. If you had a great day…you get the picture.

Chloroform, Pastries, and Hemlock

What do chloroform, pastries, and hemlock have in common? This blog. The three books I’m reviewing all have a mystery to solve and a female protagonist as the main character. I do not give any spoilers, just the facts.

A Good Detective Team

Cocktails and Chloroform, a novella and part of the Rip Through Time Series by Kelley Armstrong. Mallory Atkinson and her employer Dr. Duncan Gray are lighting it up in Victorian Scotland—literally. They learn how to make Molotov cocktails.

But first, the story begins with Mallory trying to uncover a mystery surrounding her co-worker, the parlor maid Alice. Unable to shake her detective suspicions, Mallory, stuck in the wrong era as housemaid Catriona Mitchell, is compelled to solve the reason for Alice’s strange behavior after receiving a letter. Enter Dr. Gray. He’s never far behind Mallory and is pulled into her scheme that goes awry. The detective soon finds out that going backward in time two hundred years hasn’t improved peoples’ bad behavior.

I recommend the Rip Through Time series, but it makes sense to start with book 1, A Rip Through Time.

Spells and Burnt Pastries

The Great Witches Baking Show is a Culinary Cozy Mystery by Nancy Warren. It is a typical cozy mystery where a murder takes place, and the reader, along with every character in the story, are trying to figure out whodunnit.

Poppy Wilkinson, a young teacher with a passion for baking, enters the Great British Baking Contest. It is the legendary baking show in Britain, but the honor of being chosen to participate isn’t the only reason Poppy honed her baking skills. It is her only chance to get close to Broomwode where the show is being filmed and possibly unlock a mystery of her past and why she can see ghosts.

Unfortunately, one of the contestants is murdered during filming, and it happens to be Poppy’s newest friend. Fortunately, with Poppy’s ghost communicating talent, she is still in touch with the deceased. Poppy not only learns whodunnit but finds out she’s a witch.

If you like cozy mysteries, The Great Witches Baking Show has some good twists and will keep you guessing.

Not the Best Vacation Spot

Hemlock Island, is a standalone horror novel by Kelley Armstong. The main character, Laney Kilpatrick, rents her vacation home to strangers in order to afford to keep it. She originally acquired the home that sits on its own private island from her rich ex-husband Kit Hayes. Laney’s divorce, death of her sister, and guardianship of her niece Madison came in a huge wave. The next wave is ready to crash into her.

There’s trouble in Laney’s island paradise. The Lake Michigan home that she wants to keep and where she writes her novels is having problems. Renters complained, so she has to check it out. Her niece wants to tag along as well as her ex. Friends (former friends) of Laney’s decide it’s a good time to make amends, and they invite themselves along. The mixed-up history between the six is dizzying. They take a boat over to the island because that’s the only way to get there. It’s too far and too cold to swim across the lake. Being remote, there isn’t cell service or a landline. Of course, it doesn’t. It’s a HORROR novel.

The ending was impossible to guess, and there are many graphic gory descriptions. If that piques your interest, this book may be for you.

Feel free to leave a comment. It would be great to know if my blog helped you find your next read.

Tea Time Wasn’t Always Fun…

Victorians. They could ruin someone’s day with a simple cup of bad tea. The following books involve tea in one way or another. The first book is a rom-com where the tea is all good. The other book is a mystery. The tea in that book is hit or miss.

A Golden Gun and Balls of Steel

The Secret Service of Tea and Treason by India Holton is Book 3 in the Dangerous Damsels series, a Victorian Historical Romance/Rom-Com. I love the whole series. Laugh-out-loud funny.

The first dangerous damsel was a pirate, the second a witch, and the third is a spy posing as a maid. Alice Dearlove is the top spy for her organization. She is called Agent A. She goes undercover on an assignment with a butler/spy who is the second best in the organization, Agent B. His name is Daniel Bixby. Both the characters appeared earlier in the series.

The duo must infiltrate a band of pirates, pretending to be a married pirate couple. Although a super spy, Alice is a bit naïve in the relationship department, which adds to the fun. If you like off-the-wall humor and general silliness, I recommend this series.

What Was Lost, Is Found

The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner is a historical fiction/mystery. The melding of past and present keeps the story unfolding secrets in every chapter. The story follows Nella, an apothecary shop owner in 1700s England at the time she meets twelve-year-old Eliza who is a lost soul and very interested in the apothecary shop and its wares. The story also follows present-day Caroline, visiting England from the States to work out what she wants to do with her life—specifically her marriage. This book is written from three point of views.

Mrs. Penner brings these fictional characters to life and paints a vivid picture of the world around them in their respective eras. It also sheds light on what apothecaries were created for initially and how they evolved.

An ancient apothecary vial starts Caroline’s quest on a road of twists and turns to uncover Eliza’s secret of two-hundred-years prior. I really enjoyed the book and would recommend it if you like historical fiction.

I’m always looking for a book recommendation. Based on the two books above, if you know of a good book in a similar category (or paranormal), leave it in the comments.