All Things Halloween Review - Beguiled

Beguiled (Betwixt & Between, # 3)

By: Darynda Jones

Publication: February 15th 2021 by Feather & Leaf, LLC

372 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Newly indoctrinated witch, and a charmling to boot, Defiance Dayne discovers there’s more to life after forty than she'd ever imagined possible. Especially since one neighbor is trying to seduce her, another neighbor is trying to steal her house out from under her, and a third neighbor is trying to get her kicked off the planet. Oh for three, but things start to look up when a new witch moves to town, one who says she’s been sent to thwart an attempt on the charmling’s life.

Dephne decides she has three things to do before she can die. Find out who killed her beloved grandmother, teach her BFF, Annette, the finer points of spellcasting before she blows up the world, and figure out how serious her relationship with the Adonis living in her basement really is. If it’s heading in the direction she’s hoping for, she can die happy. Though, admittedly, she’d rather not.

None of that will matter, however, if she can’t figure out how to foil the supernatural assassin who’s been sent to kill her. Until then, it’s business—and hopefully romance—as usual. Now if she can only figure out how to tame a lacuna wolf.

I have this funny habit of reading books and ignoring characteristics about a character that I find unattractive. Like men with long hair aren't attractive to me for the most part. So if a book has a main male character with long hair, I mentally edit that out. Or in this case, if the main male character wears a leather kilt, I just kind of forget that detail as I'm reading. Does anyone else do that? I'm sure some people find leather kilts attractive. Me...not so much.

One thing Darynda Jones does well is writing quirky, funny heroines. Defiance might be her quirkiest character yet. Charley comes close, but Defiance has an air of ditziness that even Charley didn't have. And Sunshine is quite a bit more put together with her professionalism that neither Charley nor Defiance has. And Annette is right up there. The humor was on point in Beguiled.

I was slightly discouraged with the romantic relationship. Roane said a few things that made me feel like he had no emotional choice in his being drawn to Defiance. And the two progress in their relationship without actually sharing much back and forth conversation as far as delving into the essence of who each other is and how they've come to be these people...at least in this story. They seem to just share day-to-day experiences with each other, which is fine, but doesn't give me a really deep feeling about their relationship despite having some supernatural situations that tie them together in multiple ways.

Favorite quotes:

-"I want to be let past the gates. You can keep the wall up." He leaned back again. "I'm fine with that. I understand it better than most. I just want to be on the other side of it. With you."

-There were few things more disappointing than finding out you were nothing more than a means to an end.

-Clearly, I could not be trusted when it came to men with a penchant for saying exactly what a girl wanted to hear.

-"Sometimes the fiercest predators and the strongest allies come in the smallest packages."

-"How long can you wait?" "Until the stars burn out."

Perhaps the most telling thing for me was that after I finished Beguiled, I kept wanting to come back to it. I kept forgetting that I was finished and had this urge to pick it up to keep reading. Of course, I also want to continue the story and find out what happens next. I'm both dreading and excited to see things continue with Annette in the future. But I don't feel done with Defiance. (Obviously, she'll still be present, but I hope she continues to narrate in the future as well.) I'm hoping to see continued depth develop between Defiance and Roane and not just be two characters that were cosmically connected and now have no choice in the matter. Beguiled gets 4 Stars. Have you read Beguiled? What did you think? Let me know!

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

Can't Wait for House of Sky and Breath

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and talk about the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released as well. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here.

House of Sky and Breath (Crescent City, # 2)

By: Sarah J Maas

Expected Publication: February 15th 2022 by Bloomsbury Publishing

768 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Bryce Quinlan and Hunt Athalar are trying to get back to normal―they may have saved Crescent City, but with so much upheaval in their lives lately, they mostly want a chance to relax. Slow down. Figure out what the future holds.

The Asteri have kept their word so far, leaving Bryce and Hunt alone. But with the rebels chipping away at the Asteri’s power, the threat the rulers pose is growing. As Bryce, Hunt, and their friends get pulled into the rebels’ plans, the choice becomes clear: stay silent while others are oppressed, or fight for what’s right. And they’ve never been very good at staying silent.

What are you guys waiting on this week? Let me know!

2021 Series Enders Reading Challenge - October Wrap Up

Time for our Monthly Wrap Up for the 2021 Series Enders Reading Challenge hosted by Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know and Holly @ Words Fueled by Love!

Neither Holly nor Sandy have finished any series enders this month.

Which series enders did you finish? Link the up below. Don't forget to include the title, your name, & your blog name (Ex: Requiem - Sandy @ Somewhere Only We Know) Also, the October giveaway runs from October 25th - November 25th. On November 25th we will use random.org and the linky entries to pull a grand prize winner.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

All Things Halloween Review - Bewitched

Bewitched (Betwixt & Between, # 2)

By: Darynda Jones

Publication: September 15th 2020 by Feather & Leaf, LLC

247 pages

Genre: Adult, Fantasy, Supernatural, Witches

Source: Personal Kindle Library

( Goodreads | Amazon )

*Note: The above link to Amazon is an affiliate link. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Forty-something Defiance Dayne only recently discovered she comes from a long line of powerful witches. Added to that was the teensy, infinitesimal fact that she is what’s called a charmling. One of three on the entire planet. And there are other witches who will stop at nothing to steal her immense power, which would basically involve her unfortunate and untimely death.

No one told her life after forty would mean having to learn new lifeskills—such as how to dodge supernatural assassins while casting from a moving vehicle—or that the sexiest man alive would be living in her basement.

Whoever said life begins at forty was clearly a master of the underappreciated and oft maligned understatement.

This is another book when I let too much time go by between finishing the book and writing my review. Sigh. And I truly can't remember much that I wanted to say about Bewitched.

I really couldn't remember Defiance bringing Ruthie back from the veil at the end of Betwixt. So it took me a little while to settle in to the start of Bewitched. I also felt like overall Defiance was facing a lot of the same challenges in Bewitched that she already faced in Betwixt. She doubts her abilities in Betwixt, but now she's trying to deny they exist. She doesn't expect to be able to stay in the house and in Salem in the first book and now she's looking for a way to escape. I just don't want the stories to repeat themselves too much.

I also found it slightly discouraging how much doubt Defiance has in Roane or at least in the possibility of him being interested in her. To me it seemed quite obvious that he feels connected and even desires her. And well by the end of the book it should definitely be obvious to her.

Defiance does hint about some big evil that should be coming based upon what she witnessed in her coma at the beginning of the book. I'm curious as to how many books Darynda Jones intends for this series. It seems similar to the Charley Davidson series in that not much happens in the overall plot per book. Enough to keep you interested and wanting to know more, but a slow trickle of information for the overall plot.

I'll be honest, this review sucks. *I'm pregnant and dealing with a sinus infection and so my brain is just not working like I'd like. I finished Bewitched 14 days before writing this review which I'm beating myself up about not reviewing sooner. I enjoyed it. I really did. I'm happy to give Bewitched 4 Stars. Have you read Bewitched? What did you think? Let me know!

*Original review written in October 2020 but saved for "All Things Halloween" 2021.

This review is part of my All Things Halloween event--a month of fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, mystery/thriller, etc reviews and books.

Sunday Post - 10/24/21

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~this meme was inspired in part by ~ In My Mailbox~ It's a chance to share News. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up for the week on our blog.

Monday and Tuesday, I was focused on finishing up last minute details for Little Girl's birthday. Wednesday was Little Girl's actual birthday. She had school as always so festivities didn't begin until after she got home. She turned 6 years old this year. Everyone says it...the days drag but the years fly by. She had a good birthday, and I fixed ravioli lasagna (her favorite) for dinner. Thursday I spent as much free time as possible getting ready for the birthday pary this weekend. Friday, I did what I could, but I had a hair appointment. That was overdue, and it feels so good. Saturday was the joint birthday party for Little Girl and Little Boy (his birthday is this coming Saturday). We only had family and a couple of family friends over, but they had a blast. This afternoon we're getting family pictures done. October is always jammed packed for our family.

THE PAST WEEK:

Monday: All Things Halloween Review of Kingdom of Ash (Throne of Glass, # 7) by Sarah J Maas (5 Stars)
Wednesday:Can't Wait for Moonlight & Magic (Betwixt & Between, # 4) by Darynda Jones

UPCOMING THIS WEEK:

Monday: All Things Halloween Review of Bewitched (Betwixt & Between, # 2) by Darynda Jones
Tuesday: Top Ten Tuesday?
Wednesday: Can't Wait for Wednesday

My annual "All Things Halloween" event is starting. This is my month-long event where I feature reviews from Halloween-y genres (fantasy, paranormal, supernatural, sci-fi, horror, mystery, thriller, and suspense). Over the last few years I've had mostly fantasy books as I just haven't been in the mood for much horror, but still...these are books that can get you in the mood for Halloween.

Don’t forget to link up for the 2021 Series Enders Reading Challenge! You have until December 15th, 2021 to sign up. Each month there will be a giveaway for those participating with an end of the year giveaway too! Click on the picture below or the link above to find out more!

NEW BOOKS:

The Siren of Sussex (Belles of London, # 1)

By: Mimi Matthews

Expected Publication: January 11th 2022 by Berkley

336 pages

Genre: Adult, Historical Fiction

Source: Publisher via NetGalley (Thank you!!)

( Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository )

*Note: The above links to Amazon and Book Depository are affiliate links. Affiliate links support giveaways for Somewhere Only We Know readers.

Goodreads description--Victorian high society’s most daring equestrienne finds love and an unexpected ally in her fight for independence in the strong arms of London’s most sought after and devastatingly handsome half-Indian tailor.

Evelyn Maltravers understands exactly how little she’s worth on the marriage mart. As an incurable bluestocking from a family tumbling swiftly toward ruin, she knows she’ll never make a match in a ballroom. Her only hope is to distinguish herself by making the biggest splash in the one sphere she excels: on horseback. In haute couture. But to truly capture London’s attention she’ll need a habit-maker who’s not afraid to take risks with his designs—and with his heart.

Half-Indian tailor Ahmad Malik has always had a talent for making women beautiful, inching his way toward recognition by designing riding habits for Rotten Row’s infamous Pretty Horsebreakers—but no one compares to Evelyn. Her unbridled spirit enchants him, awakening a depth of feeling he never thought possible.

But pushing boundaries comes at a cost and not everyone is pleased to welcome Evelyn and Ahmad into fashionable society. With obstacles spanning between them, the indomitable pair must decide which hurdles they can jump and what matters most: making their mark or following their hearts?

That's it for my shelves and recaps of my past and upcoming week. What did you add to your shelves this week? Any bookish news you want to talk about? Let me know!