morganthebee's Reviews (489)

When I started reading The Headmistress I realized I had already done so and just never logged it (I've had a few of those here and there), but that didn't matter. It was so good the first time around, and I was listening to the audiobook this time, I decided to finish it again. I mean, it's Abby Craden: she's pretty much the perfect pick for Magdalene, but she also did a fabulous job with Sam and Lily, and it was easy to differentiate the characters.

I love Milena McKay's writing. She spreads lots of detail throughout, there's a little mystery and danger that move the story along in really interesting ways, and we get some lovely spice. Magdalene Nox is such a fabulous character, and her ice queen exterior is hiding depth and a golden heart. Sam Threadneedle, whose whole life has been spent at the Three Dragons Academy, is smart, snarky, and loyal to a fault. There are some really great, well-developed side characters as well, including a fellow teacher named Joanne who basically raised Sam, a spunky student named Lily, and even a very huffy cat named Willoughby. An overall fabulous book that I would highly recommend.

I found Fall Into You enjoyable, but I didn't love it. Although the premise was good it was so short it didn't have a chance to really develop much, and it would have benefitted from a bit more editing. I did really love Imari as a character, she was interesting and sweet, but I didn't feel like I we got much in the way of characters otherwise except for knowing how great she thought her best friend was and hot she found Cassidy. It's a quick read, though, and worth checking out.

In a dystopic world teeming with vampires battling the witches struggling to protect humanity, Joan returns to her small town after 8 years away following her estranged father’s death—the town where she left her former love, Leigh, to go out into the world and pursue her dream of becoming a war witch. The poverty-ridden town has been protected from the vampires by a magical barrier that her father erected, as well as a small coven of secretive witches, but the veil is failing and no one knows why. 

 

Joan is lethal and damn good at her job. Don’t let that fool you, though: she’s got a soft side, and she’s definitely not over Leigh. She teams up with a motley crew of citizens protecting the town, led by Dayton (with his dog Willy by his side), a man who clearly respects her and her father, but it was Leigh whose story captured my heart. After Joan left, she made some decisions that changed the course of her life in ways that neither could ever have imagined. Together Joan and Leigh, along with Dayton, slowly untangle the secrets and mysteries surrounding what’s happening to save the town, and themselves. 

 

The writing is flawless, and the tone is perfect. Black blends a dark and mysterious story with fabulous transitions between slow, sensual moments and heart pounding action. Mysteries abound and the tension was delicious. While Black ends the story with a satisfying ending that could be the end of the story, it’s definitely left open for a potential sequel, and I’m here for it. 

It's pretty rare to see a romance between an already established couple as the main characters, but Cami and Sutton have been married for 5 years. The two of them are struggling a bit in their relationship: Sutton's stressed and overwhelmed at work, and Cami is knocked off her game by the announcement that her parents' 30-year marriage, which she's always seen as the perfect relationship, is ending. 

They each decide separately to make an attempt to reconnect with the other, but because they haven't really talked to each other there are some miscommunications and assumptions that threaten to derail the process. The two of them are each really interesting and likeable characters, and together they're a dream if they can just just through this slump. Noche Buena is a bit deeper than you'll get in a lot of holiday romances, but it's very well done and I highly recommend checking it out.

 An opposites attract holiday romance that’s low on drama, complete with relatable characters, sparks (and a bit of spice), and an absolutely adorable dog? How could you possibly go wrong! 

 

Evelyn Crawford is the (unexpectedly) newly appointed CEO of her family’s pet supply empire, and (also unexpectedly) newly single. She’s overworked and overwhelmed, and if it’s not one thing it’s another. Alyssa Fox runs a dog rescue, but she’s sick of people adopting the cuties as holiday presents only to return them after the new year. She’s concocted a plan and it’s going flawlessly—except for one small detail. 

 

When Bug the cocker spaniel shows up in Evelyn’s office and Alyssa comes in search of him there’s an instant spark between the women. Bug seems to find his way to Evelyn’s office every day, and the two women strike up a friendship with an undercurrent of more. I loved seeing their relationship develop, with each bringing something that the other was missing, and Bug was just so adorable. 

 

Lillia Green does a really nice job with the audiobook narration, and The Wisdom of Bug was enjoyable all around. 

 

I received a free ALC from the Sapphic Author Collective, but my review is unbiased and left voluntarily. 

Abby Craden did a great job with the narration of Not Just Gal Pals. It’s sweet, low angst, and has cute pets. I enjoyed the small-town fall feel and I liked the premise. I liked Jenny, and the side characters were nice and all. That said, for whatever reason this one just didn’t do it for me. I felt like I got a bit of whiplash at the end with how quicky things turned and then turned again, and I found Blake to be…pretty boring, to be honest. I don’t know. It’s not a bad book and I don’t regret reading it, but it’s not one I’ll pick up again.

My goodness but I do love Erin and Amelia. The first book in the Loch & Key series was told from Amelia’s perspective; Waiting for Eternity gives us Erin’s, and she’s just as lovely a spitfire as ever. While Amelia has successfully attained immortality and the pair are hopeful that they’ve solved the puzzle of how Erin can join her when she reaches her 30th birthday, Erin starts to notice some strange changes happening and things get a bit more serious as the story progresses. 

Erin starts to feel out of control, and she has to learn to open up and trust those around her—and vice versa. Never fear, though: the Loch family is there as always to lovingly support the couple, and we get more of Barty and Anya as they step up to help. We have a few new characters who make an appearance as well, and Mack is back!

There’s less spice here than Risking Immortality but it feels like enough, and the connection is just as wonderful. While the previous volume focused on the developing relationships, this installment is more focused on the story, and it works. The plot is so interesting, and I can’t wait to see where it goes next!

I received a free ARC from the Sapphic Author Collective, but my review is unbiased and left voluntarily.