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Enchanted, Inc. #8
Frogs and Kisses
The weather is getting cold, but the frog population in New York is on the rise, thanks to a magical mafia that has a unique method for getting their enemies out of the way. When wizard Owen Palmer at Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc., gets a cryptic threat that the secretive organization called the Collegium is gunning for them, Katie Chandler puts their wedding on hold and goes undercover as a compromised magical immune to infiltrate the enemy.
It’s not easy pretending to work for a psycho who not only wants to take over MSI but also pull a coup in his own organization. It’s even more difficult having to pretend to cut all ties with MSI. But with prominent magical citizens disappearing and anyone who crosses the magical mafioso landing on a lily pad, Katie knows she doesn’t have a choice. It becomes personal when her friends become targets. It becomes an urgent crusade when Owen disappears.
When the final showdown comes, Katie’s going to have to kiss a lot of frogs to have the allies she needs to save MSI – and if she ever wants to see her fiancé again.
It’s not easy pretending to work for a psycho who not only wants to take over MSI but also pull a coup in his own organization. It’s even more difficult having to pretend to cut all ties with MSI. But with prominent magical citizens disappearing and anyone who crosses the magical mafioso landing on a lily pad, Katie knows she doesn’t have a choice. It becomes personal when her friends become targets. It becomes an urgent crusade when Owen disappears.
When the final showdown comes, Katie’s going to have to kiss a lot of frogs to have the allies she needs to save MSI – and if she ever wants to see her fiancé again.
222 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 13, 2016
111 people are currently reading
729 people want to read
About the author
Shanna Swendson
40 books1,132 followersOnce upon a time ...
A little girl learned to amuse herself by making up stories in her head. She turned everyday activities into exciting adventures, and she made up new adventures for characters from her favorite movies, TV shows and books. Then one day she realized that if she wrote down those stories, she'd have a book! But that was crazy, she thought. Real people don't become novelists. That was like deciding you were going to be a movie star. You couldn't just go and do it.
But, it turns out, you can, and she did. She realized her dream of becoming a novelist and seeing her stories in bookstores.
And then she started to wig herself out by writing about herself in the third-person.
This is her story.
The Novelist's Journey
As I said above in that bit of silliness, I've always been a writer at heart. My favorite way to play was to create stories and act them out with my Fisher-Price people, my Barbie dolls or myself and a box of play clothes. If none of those things were available, I could just sit and make up stories in my head. I occasionally got into trouble for being a little too creative, such as the time when I embellished a bit on my kindergarten experiences (where's the dramatic hook in coloring, cutting out and pasting?).
When I was in seventh grade and a bit old for Fisher-Price people, Barbie dolls or the dress-up box, I started writing these stories down in spiral notebooks. Later, I found an old manual typewriter, taught myself to type, then wrote a lot of first chapters of novels on it. I still hadn't figured out how to actually be a working novelist who gets paid for writing (finishing a book instead of writing a lot of first chapters might have been a good start), so when it came time to go to college, I went to journalism school at the University of Texas. While getting my degree in broadcast news, I managed to structure a curriculum that might also help me in my real career plans. I took fencing (which I thought would be useful for writing fantasy novels), an astronomy course on the search for extraterrestrial life (in case I wanted to write science fiction), psychology, interpersonal communication, and parageography (the geography of imaginary lands).
I got serious about pursuing my novel-writing ambitions soon after I got my first job in public relations (TV reporting, it turns out, would have taken away from my writing time) when I started joining local writing organizations and reading books on how to write a novel. Then I took the big step of registering for a writing conference. With the registration fee, you could enter two manuscripts in a contest that went with the conference. I figured if I was paying that much money, I'd get the most out of it, so I wrote two entries. At the conference, I met a real, live editor, who encouraged me to submit, and one of my entries won the science fiction/fantasy category of the contest. I hurried to finish the novel the editor had asked for, then mailed a proposal.
She ended up rejecting the book, but encouraged me to keep trying. I ended up selling that novel elsewhere, then sold two more books to that publisher before I had another idea for that original editor. That book ended up selling, and then one more.
And then I hit the wall. Due to a number of circumstances, some of which weren't my fault and some of which were, I didn't sell anything else for eight years. But then I had the idea that became Enchanted, Inc., I wrote it, sold it, and here I am.
Other Life Stuff
I think I need to get a few more hobbies or something else going on in my life that isn't related to reading or writing because currently my bio in my books is shorter than the "about the typeface" section. Yes, a typeface has a more interesting life than I do.
When I'm not writing, I'm most often reading. Otherwise, I enjoy watching science fiction TV shows and then discussing them on the Internet, working crossw
A little girl learned to amuse herself by making up stories in her head. She turned everyday activities into exciting adventures, and she made up new adventures for characters from her favorite movies, TV shows and books. Then one day she realized that if she wrote down those stories, she'd have a book! But that was crazy, she thought. Real people don't become novelists. That was like deciding you were going to be a movie star. You couldn't just go and do it.
But, it turns out, you can, and she did. She realized her dream of becoming a novelist and seeing her stories in bookstores.
And then she started to wig herself out by writing about herself in the third-person.
This is her story.
The Novelist's Journey
As I said above in that bit of silliness, I've always been a writer at heart. My favorite way to play was to create stories and act them out with my Fisher-Price people, my Barbie dolls or myself and a box of play clothes. If none of those things were available, I could just sit and make up stories in my head. I occasionally got into trouble for being a little too creative, such as the time when I embellished a bit on my kindergarten experiences (where's the dramatic hook in coloring, cutting out and pasting?).
When I was in seventh grade and a bit old for Fisher-Price people, Barbie dolls or the dress-up box, I started writing these stories down in spiral notebooks. Later, I found an old manual typewriter, taught myself to type, then wrote a lot of first chapters of novels on it. I still hadn't figured out how to actually be a working novelist who gets paid for writing (finishing a book instead of writing a lot of first chapters might have been a good start), so when it came time to go to college, I went to journalism school at the University of Texas. While getting my degree in broadcast news, I managed to structure a curriculum that might also help me in my real career plans. I took fencing (which I thought would be useful for writing fantasy novels), an astronomy course on the search for extraterrestrial life (in case I wanted to write science fiction), psychology, interpersonal communication, and parageography (the geography of imaginary lands).
I got serious about pursuing my novel-writing ambitions soon after I got my first job in public relations (TV reporting, it turns out, would have taken away from my writing time) when I started joining local writing organizations and reading books on how to write a novel. Then I took the big step of registering for a writing conference. With the registration fee, you could enter two manuscripts in a contest that went with the conference. I figured if I was paying that much money, I'd get the most out of it, so I wrote two entries. At the conference, I met a real, live editor, who encouraged me to submit, and one of my entries won the science fiction/fantasy category of the contest. I hurried to finish the novel the editor had asked for, then mailed a proposal.
She ended up rejecting the book, but encouraged me to keep trying. I ended up selling that novel elsewhere, then sold two more books to that publisher before I had another idea for that original editor. That book ended up selling, and then one more.
And then I hit the wall. Due to a number of circumstances, some of which weren't my fault and some of which were, I didn't sell anything else for eight years. But then I had the idea that became Enchanted, Inc., I wrote it, sold it, and here I am.
Other Life Stuff
I think I need to get a few more hobbies or something else going on in my life that isn't related to reading or writing because currently my bio in my books is shorter than the "about the typeface" section. Yes, a typeface has a more interesting life than I do.
When I'm not writing, I'm most often reading. Otherwise, I enjoy watching science fiction TV shows and then discussing them on the Internet, working crossw
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
April 28, 2017
I've read all of Shanna Swendson's Enchanted Inc. series, and while it is out of my normal reading habits, I really enjoy her work. The series is urban fantasy with a dash of romance (not the bodice ripper kind). The relationship Katie has with Owen is healthy. They are communicative and are conscientious of each other's feelings. It took a bit to get there, but it felt real and organic even if it involved evil sorcerers and being kidnapped by fairies. It's a nicer take on the usually dark urban fantasy genre. I applaud Swendson for mixing the two genres so well and without falling into any normal tropes. Katie has agency, her normalcy is seen as a strength, and her friends and family are supportive of her decisions. This book even passes the Bechdel test. Pretty rad for a book that is thrown into the romance category. The plots are a little silly, but in the end, everything else about these books outweigh the goofiness.
It today's social climate, a fun and refreshing urban fantasy to escape into is exactly what we need. Frog's and Kisses and Katie are here to the rescue.
It today's social climate, a fun and refreshing urban fantasy to escape into is exactly what we need. Frog's and Kisses and Katie are here to the rescue.
February 10, 2017
Once again, author Shanna Swendson takes readers on a delightfully magical adventure, through the sweet and cute couple, Katie Chandler and Owen Palmer.
Things look good for the happy couple, ready to plan their wedding and have their happily-ever-after. But unfortunately, instead of wedding bells, warning bells will ring instead. When Sylvia Meredith is on the run, and then up and disappears, things take a turn for the weird and Katie finds herself going undercover to find out what's going on with MSI's rival.
Everything is even stranger than Katie thought. Not to mention her boss at the rival company is a bit too ambitious.
Worse still, Owen disappears.
Can the good guys prevail? Can Katie find Owen again?
Pucker up those lips, coat on the chapstick and/or lipstick, it's time to kiss a few frogs and foil another evil plot...hopefully before things get worse...and more froggy.
Things look good for the happy couple, ready to plan their wedding and have their happily-ever-after. But unfortunately, instead of wedding bells, warning bells will ring instead. When Sylvia Meredith is on the run, and then up and disappears, things take a turn for the weird and Katie finds herself going undercover to find out what's going on with MSI's rival.
Everything is even stranger than Katie thought. Not to mention her boss at the rival company is a bit too ambitious.
Worse still, Owen disappears.
Can the good guys prevail? Can Katie find Owen again?
Pucker up those lips, coat on the chapstick and/or lipstick, it's time to kiss a few frogs and foil another evil plot...hopefully before things get worse...and more froggy.
April 8, 2021
I had forgotten about this series until this book and the next one popped up on my library's website. It looked familiar, I did some research and realized I hadn't read these, made it a no brainer to request them and get caught up on the series. Despite not having read the previous books for years, it was really easy to fall back into this world.
For quite a bit of this book Katie was on her own, working undercover at a different magical company, one who is an enemy to MSI. They all agreed to this ahead of time, but it was still hard for the MSI people to let her go and for Katie to on her own learning more about the bad guy. Katie did a great job, learning different things and passing on the info, thwarting efforts being made. But what really worked well was how effective Katie was at the end, during the big battle. For a person having no magic, she was very helpful in getting things to end.
I think Katie made a wise choice with her job change at MSI and I look forward to seeing how that plays out in the next book.
For quite a bit of this book Katie was on her own, working undercover at a different magical company, one who is an enemy to MSI. They all agreed to this ahead of time, but it was still hard for the MSI people to let her go and for Katie to on her own learning more about the bad guy. Katie did a great job, learning different things and passing on the info, thwarting efforts being made. But what really worked well was how effective Katie was at the end, during the big battle. For a person having no magic, she was very helpful in getting things to end.
I think Katie made a wise choice with her job change at MSI and I look forward to seeing how that plays out in the next book.
February 8, 2018
This is a series I've enjoyed. It's different in that it includes magic and some serious bad guys in a contemporary setting, but the tone is lighter and more fun than typical UF. Chic Lit/UF crossed, perhaps? I've given every book in the series 4 stars until now.
Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed reading this entry, but it took too long to really get going and dragged in the middle. The ultimate showdown was so easily resolved I had to give it a weak 3 stars overall. I love the characters, setting and idea, but this book wasn't good enough, it really needed more plot.
Definitely read this series in order, as the characters relationships and issues build over time.
Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed reading this entry, but it took too long to really get going and dragged in the middle. The ultimate showdown was so easily resolved I had to give it a weak 3 stars overall. I love the characters, setting and idea, but this book wasn't good enough, it really needed more plot.
Definitely read this series in order, as the characters relationships and issues build over time.
April 3, 2019
feels good to return to the world of Katie and Owen, and even more so now that I live in New York. Enjoyed this quick read and though the story sometimes got a little too dragging for me, I hope that it's just because the author is setting up for the next arc.
hoping the next installment will be all about Katie and Owen's wedding.
hoping the next installment will be all about Katie and Owen's wedding.
February 14, 2021
I have enjoyed every one of this series. Only one more to go.
November 27, 2019
3.75 not quite 4. It was clever and had some very fun moments, but not nearly enough interaction with Owen.
February 24, 2020
Although they've hinted at Katie becoming part of the security force, it hasn't happened yet in the series. She's still in charge of marketing a magical spell monopoly in the sales department. That doesn't mean her life will remain mundane. When MSI attempts to plant an undercover operative in the Collegium, a sort of magical mafia, Katie is the least logical choice due to her fame. It turns out, Katie isn't as famous as you might think. And surprise, the Collegium attempts to recruit her. Despite everyone's misgivings, it's an opportunity they can't pass up.
Where do the frogs come into play? It turns out a lot of people are coming up missing like when the Elf Lord trapped everyone in the Elvin Lands. Only this time, they're turning into frogs (not much a spoiler considering the title). There's danger, suspense, and more than a few surprises as Katie infiltrates the Collegium.
I'm on my second reading of the series, so I can't tell you what it's like to read this the first time. I will say I enjoyed it very much. There weren't many relationship situations in this story, but there was enough to fill-in the gaps between the plot points.
Where do the frogs come into play? It turns out a lot of people are coming up missing like when the Elf Lord trapped everyone in the Elvin Lands. Only this time, they're turning into frogs (not much a spoiler considering the title). There's danger, suspense, and more than a few surprises as Katie infiltrates the Collegium.
I'm on my second reading of the series, so I can't tell you what it's like to read this the first time. I will say I enjoyed it very much. There weren't many relationship situations in this story, but there was enough to fill-in the gaps between the plot points.
January 24, 2023
Fun, fantastic and fulfilling!
A thoroughly enjoyable addition to this series. It has pace, action and follows on well from the others bringing in threads from other stories and plaiting them into a beautiful whole.
If you've not read the others go start with Enchanted Inc, I'm jealous you get to read them all for the first time and travel this wonderful route.
Merged review:
read this in book form when it first came out, now via audible. I love it, wasn't expecting the twists and turns of this latest edition to the Enchanted Inc series. I was worried that this 8th book might be stretching things a bit far but I shouldn't have worried. It's a delight and the perfect addition.
A thoroughly enjoyable addition to this series. It has pace, action and follows on well from the others bringing in threads from other stories and plaiting them into a beautiful whole.
If you've not read the others go start with Enchanted Inc, I'm jealous you get to read them all for the first time and travel this wonderful route.
Merged review:
read this in book form when it first came out, now via audible. I love it, wasn't expecting the twists and turns of this latest edition to the Enchanted Inc series. I was worried that this 8th book might be stretching things a bit far but I shouldn't have worried. It's a delight and the perfect addition.
February 10, 2018
Something over break made me think of this series, so I decided to look it up, and I discovered she had written another book, almost ten years later! Huzzah! I took it upon myself to read the entire series again (of course) and just finished with this last book. And, final words?I enjoyed this series. ☺️It’s not deep, it is not meant to expand your brain. The beginning is much like The Babysitters Club and how they would always explain the premise every time, even in book 120. Yes, that Merlin 😏 But I enjoy Owen and Katie, and reading about New York in a fun manner, and all the minor characters as well. So it isn’t Proust, but it’s perfectly fine for me 🙂 (if she writes another one I’m on it!)
May 20, 2020
I still like this series for the very unusual way that the story involves a magical world within a real world and for the quirky things that happen. One of the things I also like about series is the reappearance of a few core characters throughout all of the books, and this one does that for me. Generally, I don't prefer first-person told stories because the first person is usually pretty impressed with himself or herself. This series breaks away from that and makes the main character someone I really like. I'd read more if the author can produce them.
April 28, 2017
Non romance
Just when you think Katie & Owen are finally go in to get together, they find another way to be apart. This is an ok story but you never get what you want and that's an HEA. You just get a couple who don't act like a couple and crazy weirdness all the time.
Just when you think Katie & Owen are finally go in to get together, they find another way to be apart. This is an ok story but you never get what you want and that's an HEA. You just get a couple who don't act like a couple and crazy weirdness all the time.
September 8, 2017
As a disclaimer I am reviewing the whole series (8 books) in this review because I read them all within a week, so while they are their own separate thing, I really view them as just one whole. I will likely cut and paste this review into each books review spot, with perhaps a comment or two about the individual book itself.
That said, I really enjoyed this book, and this whole series. It was a bizarre modern magical romp through New York (and occasionally Texas). I really appreciated the corporate take on the magical industry, and I really enjoyed all of the characters. It was especially interesting looking at this magical world through the eyes of a magical immune (someone unaffected by magic), our heroine Katie Chandler. She is an interesting character. I would have liked her better if she had been more secure and confident in herself and her abilities. I think one of my favorite parts of the entire series is Merlin, I love him. His character portrayal was fabulous. The romance is fun, and sweet. Occasionally I felt like descriptions of our hero's physical "hotness" was a bit repetitive, but that may have been due to the fact that I read all of these books back to back in such quick succession. On that note of repetitiveness, the beginning of each book felt a little like a babysitters club book in that the setting had to be reintroduced and it seemed like the first chapter of each book was a recap of up to that point. This is probably necessary, but when reading them all together, like I did, it becomes slightly boring (luckily it's only the first chapter of each book, then your right back into the action-which there is plenty of).
As far as content these books are quite clean. Despite the fact that this series is riddled with innuendo it's actual content on the steaminess scale is extremely low (nothing beyond kissing). I think the author did a really good job of portraying a modern working girls life, particularly love life, with out entering into sordid bedroom details. Don't get me wrong I like sex as much as the next person, but I feel no desire to watch or read about the details in anyone else's sex life.
Sorry, back off my soap box... All in all, I thought this was a fun series and I really enjoyed reading it. It was fast paced, funny, and light. Great books for when your in a lighthearted, funny, romance mood.
That said, I really enjoyed this book, and this whole series. It was a bizarre modern magical romp through New York (and occasionally Texas). I really appreciated the corporate take on the magical industry, and I really enjoyed all of the characters. It was especially interesting looking at this magical world through the eyes of a magical immune (someone unaffected by magic), our heroine Katie Chandler. She is an interesting character. I would have liked her better if she had been more secure and confident in herself and her abilities. I think one of my favorite parts of the entire series is Merlin, I love him. His character portrayal was fabulous. The romance is fun, and sweet. Occasionally I felt like descriptions of our hero's physical "hotness" was a bit repetitive, but that may have been due to the fact that I read all of these books back to back in such quick succession. On that note of repetitiveness, the beginning of each book felt a little like a babysitters club book in that the setting had to be reintroduced and it seemed like the first chapter of each book was a recap of up to that point. This is probably necessary, but when reading them all together, like I did, it becomes slightly boring (luckily it's only the first chapter of each book, then your right back into the action-which there is plenty of).
As far as content these books are quite clean. Despite the fact that this series is riddled with innuendo it's actual content on the steaminess scale is extremely low (nothing beyond kissing). I think the author did a really good job of portraying a modern working girls life, particularly love life, with out entering into sordid bedroom details. Don't get me wrong I like sex as much as the next person, but I feel no desire to watch or read about the details in anyone else's sex life.
Sorry, back off my soap box... All in all, I thought this was a fun series and I really enjoyed reading it. It was fast paced, funny, and light. Great books for when your in a lighthearted, funny, romance mood.
June 8, 2024
Like with the Harry Potter series, this one was much more interesting in the first 4 or 5 books. After a while, they all start to use a formula--bad guys wanting to take over the world, a big fight ensues, the good guys are victorious. I do like the way that an off-handed, obscure solution to a problem is thought of, then implemented with outstanding results. So, storyline: Katie Chandler is no longer magical; her brief stint of having magic has faded away. A different evil villian is trying to take over the world, one company at a time. Much to her fiance's chagrin, Katie has caught the attention of this evil company and they want to recruit her to work for them. Katie has to make it seem like she's very unhappy with her job, her bosses and her fiance. So, she quits her job in a huff and breaks off her engagement to super cute guy Owen. She receives a job offer from this other company. It's weird when she goes for the interview. She's picked up outside her apartment and whisked away to an unknown location. The windows to the limo are blacked out so she can't even get a read on where she's at or where she's going. When she gets to the location, she has to change ALL of her clother and take nothing personal with her. They even give her a company watch. Then she has to repeat this process in reverse when she leaves work. No contact with the outside world when she's at work. Kinda whuggy. Working for this evil company does have it's perks though...limo to pick her up in the morning, drop her off in the evening, lunch provided everyday, company apartment with premium cable...what could be so bad about that? Well, except for the evil company wanting to take over the world dilemma. A huge fight ensues, mostly with magic, spells & enchantments, which won't bother Katie, but then there's the harpies with their long talons, which will bother Katie, a lot. It looks like this is the last of this series. I'm looking forward to reading her other series, Rebel Mechanics. I hope you like this book as much as I did.
May 16, 2022
What fun! On a whim, I decided to check and see if there were any new installments in the Enchanted, Inc. series ... and there were TWO. (Which, if you think about it, says something about how busy I've been, that I haven't kept up with the series. And then there was the author's note that she wrote the first book in 2005 .... wow!)
Anyway ... what kind of trouble are Katie, the magic-immune girl and her super-powered, shy-guy boyfriend wizard fiance Owen getting into now?
This time ... it's a group that calls itself the Collegium, but Katie refers to it as the Magic Mafia. And yeah, they're pretty nasty folks. Indications are they're the ones behind a lot of the troubles -- but not all -- that Katie and Owen and their friends at MSI have been dealing with. The race is on to figure out what their next big scheme is, and how to defend against it.
Then there's the problem of all these people disappearing, and a sudden increase in the frog population of New York ...
And oh, yeah, in the middle of all this Katie and Owen are trying to plan a wedding. Actually, two weddings -- a magical one for their magical friends in New York, and a non-magical one for Katie's ordinary mortal family in Texas. Because, y'know, some of them are immunes and it'd be impossible to hide the magical stuff that might go on at the New York wedding. Don't want to drive her mother over the edge.
Major fun. Can't wait to read Book 9, Enchanted Ever After, when hopefully Katie and Owen finally get married. But not without major roadblocks and shenanigans along the way, of course.
Love this series.
Anyway ... what kind of trouble are Katie, the magic-immune girl and her super-powered, shy-guy boyfriend wizard fiance Owen getting into now?
This time ... it's a group that calls itself the Collegium, but Katie refers to it as the Magic Mafia. And yeah, they're pretty nasty folks. Indications are they're the ones behind a lot of the troubles -- but not all -- that Katie and Owen and their friends at MSI have been dealing with. The race is on to figure out what their next big scheme is, and how to defend against it.
Then there's the problem of all these people disappearing, and a sudden increase in the frog population of New York ...
And oh, yeah, in the middle of all this Katie and Owen are trying to plan a wedding. Actually, two weddings -- a magical one for their magical friends in New York, and a non-magical one for Katie's ordinary mortal family in Texas. Because, y'know, some of them are immunes and it'd be impossible to hide the magical stuff that might go on at the New York wedding. Don't want to drive her mother over the edge.
Major fun. Can't wait to read Book 9, Enchanted Ever After, when hopefully Katie and Owen finally get married. But not without major roadblocks and shenanigans along the way, of course.
Love this series.
December 26, 2022
Frogs and Kisses on Books On Track
RTC
Previous book reviews:
✦ Paint the Town Red (Enchanted, Inc., #7.5) ~ ★★★ (26/09/2022)
✦ Kiss and Spell (Enchanted, Inc., #7) ~ ★★★ (27/08/2022)
✦ No Quest For The Wicked (Enchanted, Inc., #6) ~ ★★★ (19/08/2022)
✦ Much Ado About Magic (Enchanted, Inc., #5) ~ ★★★ (26/12/2021)
✦ Don't Hex with Texas (Enchanted, Inc. #4) ~ ★★★★ (17/01/2012)
✦ Damsel Under Stress (Enchanted, Inc. #3) ~ ★★★ (19/11/2011)
✦ Once Upon Stilettos (Enchanted, Inc. #2) ~ ★★★★ (25/01/2010)
✦ Enchanted, Inc. (Enchanted, Inc. #1) ~ ★★★★ (23/01/2010)
✦ Criminal Enchantment (Enchanted, Inc. #0.5) ~ ★★★ (22/08/2022)
March 2, 2019
With this series, I always have the idea that if you have read one then you have read them all because the books seem to follow a similar (near identical) template. But, this book surprised me. Yes, it does still loosely follow the pattern of those that came before, but it also deviated somewhat from the exact template that the others followed.
I think this episode of the series was improved by Katie being removed from MSI Inc. and acting so much on her own. As the reader, I appreciated seeing Katie really acting on her own in intelligent, and sometimes ingenious ways. I also appreciated that while there were still romantic elements in this novel, Swendson avoided the trap of having her female protagonist spending the book mooning and moaning about a man, which unfortunately happens all to often around this point in the series with books in this genre.
Yes, this book was a pleasant surprise for me. It was a light, fun read, that did still somewhat stick to its original format, but at the same time, the plot was enjoyable and I enjoyed both the development of Swendson as a writer and Katie as a character in this series. With the lack of a next book in the series, I have instead added book 1 of one of Swendson's other series to my TBR list.
I think this episode of the series was improved by Katie being removed from MSI Inc. and acting so much on her own. As the reader, I appreciated seeing Katie really acting on her own in intelligent, and sometimes ingenious ways. I also appreciated that while there were still romantic elements in this novel, Swendson avoided the trap of having her female protagonist spending the book mooning and moaning about a man, which unfortunately happens all to often around this point in the series with books in this genre.
Yes, this book was a pleasant surprise for me. It was a light, fun read, that did still somewhat stick to its original format, but at the same time, the plot was enjoyable and I enjoyed both the development of Swendson as a writer and Katie as a character in this series. With the lack of a next book in the series, I have instead added book 1 of one of Swendson's other series to my TBR list.
January 9, 2019
Have I mentioned how much I love this series? Because...I really love this series. In the latest installment, Katie is undercover: MSI needs her to help infiltrate a big/old/bad organisation that is, among other things, trying to take MSI down. In some ways it's the worst job she's ever had: she has to fake-end her engagement and steer clear of Owen for the duration, and at the office she's completely cut off from the outside world, right down to being required to wear company-issued underwear. In other ways it's the best job she's ever had: onsite spa, good working conditions, a considerate (to her) boss. And, of course (she says wryly), what's more exciting than corporate espionage?
It's not my favourite of the series, probably because I like the MSI team that Swendson has built over the course of the series, and by necessity Katie doesn't spend a ton of time with them here. It's a bummer for the reader as well as for Katie that Owen can't be around more. But...I'm hopeful that there will be more books yet to come. There's a promise of . Either way...I'll be along for the ride.
It's not my favourite of the series, probably because I like the MSI team that Swendson has built over the course of the series, and by necessity Katie doesn't spend a ton of time with them here. It's a bummer for the reader as well as for Katie that Owen can't be around more. But...I'm hopeful that there will be more books yet to come. There's a promise of . Either way...I'll be along for the ride.
October 10, 2017
The Enchanted books are sweet and relatively uncomplicated, but that's all part of their charm.
Swendson sets Katie up for some corporate espionage in an effort to take down the latest baddie. What follows is an enjoyable tale that kept me briskly flipping pages, delighting in the creepy competitor and the clandestine meetings with the MSI team.
I categorize these as chick-lit because the series lacks the gritty feel of a true urban fantasy. However, that's not a complaint. Swendson's world is charming and Katie is a likable romantic who remains pragmatic under pressure. I never worry about anything particularly bad happening to our core group, but there's enough tension to make me wonder how things will pan out.
Having read numerous urban fantasy books all in a row, coming back to this series was the perfect feel-good change of pace. I look forward to more adventures in Katie Chandler's world - hopefully with an appearance from Granny!
Swendson sets Katie up for some corporate espionage in an effort to take down the latest baddie. What follows is an enjoyable tale that kept me briskly flipping pages, delighting in the creepy competitor and the clandestine meetings with the MSI team.
I categorize these as chick-lit because the series lacks the gritty feel of a true urban fantasy. However, that's not a complaint. Swendson's world is charming and Katie is a likable romantic who remains pragmatic under pressure. I never worry about anything particularly bad happening to our core group, but there's enough tension to make me wonder how things will pan out.
Having read numerous urban fantasy books all in a row, coming back to this series was the perfect feel-good change of pace. I look forward to more adventures in Katie Chandler's world - hopefully with an appearance from Granny!
October 27, 2019
This was ... boring. It felt so watered down. First, I find it difficult to believe that a company that is so paranoid that they make their employees strip and wear company clothing in order to enter the building would hire someone who is KNOWN to work for (and be loyal to) their enemy. A week of whining and acting totally unlike herself would not make the bad guys think Katie had turned away from not only her boss but her friends and her fiance! Second, the whole thing seemed to be over before it even started. Most of the book felt like filler. Then there was a showdown, and "Look. We won. The end." I still don't buy the romance between Katie and Owen. They barely spend any time together or seem to know each other more than superficially. What does Owen (or the reader) know about Katie? She's magically immune and she gets into trouble by not having any common sense. What do we (and Katie) know about Owen? He's smart, works too much and blushes a lot. Pretty much it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2017
FROGS AND KISSES, the 8th book in the Enchantment, Inc. series by Shanna Swendson, was everything I wanted to reset me for this holiday season. I find this series to be the ultimate literary escapism for me and my favorite guilty pleasure. They have magic, mayhem, and romance. They make you smile and keep your imagination going even if you know the good guys will always win. I thought this series was over so I missed that she came out with a 8th book that follows Katie and Owen as they have to take down a rival company from the inside before it takes over MSI. If you are looking for some funny, loveable, and magical chick lit/contemporary fantasy, look no further than this enjoyable series.
March 25, 2019
Oh wow. I finally got round to reading the last book in this fantastic series, and it was amazing. Until now, Book 5 was my absolute favourite, but Book 8 manages to top it to end the series with a bang :-)
Katie, as always, is the matter-of-fact heroine we'd all love to be in our own lives. Looking deceptively ordinary for someone so adventurous. No airs and graces, no inflated sense of self, just a good head on her shoulders and the right amount of tenacity and luck.
Once again, she manages to save the magical world using her common sense and her network of helpful friends, and it's glorious to read. Highly recommended!
Katie, as always, is the matter-of-fact heroine we'd all love to be in our own lives. Looking deceptively ordinary for someone so adventurous. No airs and graces, no inflated sense of self, just a good head on her shoulders and the right amount of tenacity and luck.
Once again, she manages to save the magical world using her common sense and her network of helpful friends, and it's glorious to read. Highly recommended!
July 4, 2019
I really enjoyed this book. I listened to it on Audible and the narrator is great. I am sad to know that it has ended because it was so good. The idea of being someone who is not affected by magic and seeing their reactions to the magical world is very unique. Fans of urban fantasy and romance will definitely like this.
August 30, 2020
What can I say about this book? It is very similar to the other seven books in the series. The author is definitely writing by a formula. The writing is not fantastic, but it holds your attention. There’s only one more book in the series, and then I will be done. This was a very clean, sweet and non-offensive. No swearing no sex. I would let my mom or teenager read it.
March 13, 2021
To be honest, some parts of this book felt a little contrived. Like, Katie is the main character, so she had to somehow be the one at the center of the plot, even if that didn't make as much sense. But I still quite enjoyed the book. I especially thought it was cool with the portals making the office building cover different locations.
March 3, 2022
Penultimate book
There is a tendency with series that go on for so long, that recaps end up taking up a good portion of the story. It slows down the action and makes the main character sound wooden because of all the explanations. That said, the story was good albeit with an ending that could have gone farther.
There is a tendency with series that go on for so long, that recaps end up taking up a good portion of the story. It slows down the action and makes the main character sound wooden because of all the explanations. That said, the story was good albeit with an ending that could have gone farther.
November 1, 2025
Another really cute installment of the Enchanted, Inc. series. I just realized that I only have one more book to go and it's making me kind of sad. I have grown to really enjoy the characters. Swendson does a really good job of creating a different story for each book rather than just having the same story different setting.
November 24, 2017
There's a couple of lines near the end of this book that goes something like this: "I bet that was exciting!" "Actually, it was mostly boring, but that last part was quite exciting!" Not sure why she wrote another one in the series, but it was fun enough. I hope this is the last, though.
March 17, 2019
I love this whole series. It is such a pleasant read. I highly recommend it for the beach, the armchair, before you go to bed. Also recommended: a cuppa tea at your elbow.
Katie, the main character, is someone I enjoy spending time with. Try it! Start from the beginning. You won't regret it!
Katie, the main character, is someone I enjoy spending time with. Try it! Start from the beginning. You won't regret it!
June 17, 2019
Another enjoyable read in the Enchanted, Inc series. Not sure if there are any other novels planned in this series, but if not, this is a lovely end. If there are, then I'll be among Katie's continuing readers.
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