Allie McCormack (Author of Wishes in a Bottle)

Allie McCormack rated a book it was amazing Worse Than Her Bite (The Eternity College Chronicles, #5) by Lauretta Hignett (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Worse Than Her Bite is the 5th book in the Eternity College Chronicles by Lauretta Hignett. *clapping slowly* Well played, Ms. Hignett. Well played, indeed. I did NOT see that coming!!! It is rare that an author manages to surprise me with a plot tw ...more
Jul 09, 2026 04:51PM · like · see review
Allie McCormack rated a book it was amazing Hard Evidence (Blackstone House Romantic Suspense Book 7) by Elise Noble (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Hard Evidence by Elise Noble is the 7th book in the Blackstone House romantic suspense series. Superb characterization, amazing world-building, intricate plot with carefully thought-out details, and intrigue that has you on the edge of the seat and t ...more
Jun 28, 2026 02:54PM · like · see review
Allie McCormack rated a book really liked it Tides Wait for No Witch (Spelltide Bay Magic Mysteries, #1) by Natalie Summers (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Tides Wait for No Witch had me hooked from page one — Sara's voice is warm and funny, and Spelltide Bay itself is such a vivid, lived-in setting that I wanted to move in immediately. Finding her family was genuinely charming — they're welcoming and p ...more
Jun 27, 2026 03:59AM · 1 like · like · see review
Allie McCormack rated a book it was amazing The Dark Lord's Guide to Honeymooning (and Other Acts of Tyranny) (Guides to Villainy and Love) by Tiffany Hunt (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
The Dark Lord's Guide to Honeymooning (and Other Acts of Tyranny) by Tiffany Hunt is the 2nd book in the Guides to Villainy and Love series. I was only through the first chapter and I was ALREADY cackling on every single page. Yes, chapter ONE... and ...more
Jun 26, 2026 06:50PM · 1 like · like · see review
Allie McCormack rated a book it was amazing The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating (and Other War Crimes) (Guides to Villainy and Love, #1) by Tiffany Hunt (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating (and Other War Crimes) by Tiffany Hunt is the 1st book in the Guides to Villainy and Love series. First off... the chapter titles and subtitles are freakin' hilarious. That's worth the price of the book right there, I ...more
Jun 25, 2026 11:22AM · like · see review
Allie McCormack rated a book it was amazing Night Maze (The Cat Lady Chronicles #4) by Helen Harper (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
First off, I am 100% totally a fan of the power of being underestimated, which makes me connect with Kit on a soul level. Her guise as a middle-aged cat lady is SO smooth, so perfectly constructed, that absolutely no one would ever suspect her of bei ...more
Jun 12, 2026 11:31AM · like · see review
Allie McCormack rated a book it was amazing The Wednesday Box: A Dark Fable by Jonathan Kieran (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Quietly Devastating! From the very first page, The Wednesday Box pulls you into a world of creeping dread and unsettling wonder, masterfully balancing psychological darkness with raw emotional stakes. Thoughtful, tense, and hauntingly beautiful, this ...more
May 29, 2026 01:09PM · 2 likes · like · see review
Allie McCormack rated a book it was amazing Love Bites (The Eternity College Chronicles, #4) by Lauretta Hignett (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Love Bites is the fourth book in the Eternity College Chronicles, a fun urban fantasy series by Lauretta Hignett. Can I just say, every time I hear Marie's real name, it just cracks me up! I'm pretty sure I wrote that in my review for the last book, b ...more
May 22, 2026 09:14AM · like · see review
Allie McCormack rated a book it was amazing The King's Captive (Gate of Myth and Power, #1) by K.M. Shea (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
The King's Captive is the first book in the Gate of & Power paranormal romance series by K.M. Shea. Okay, so really this a review for all 3 books in the series: The King's Captive, The King's Shadow, and The King's Queen. It's a continuing story, and ...more
May 14, 2026 03:09PM · 2 likes · like · see review
Allie McCormack rated a book it was amazing Dead Weight (Magic, Mayhem, and the Law in Precinct #153, #1) by G.P. Robbins	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Dead Weight is the first book in the Magic, Mayhem, and the Law in Precinct #153 urban fantasy/paranormal romance series... and it is hands-down fabulous! And by fabulous, I mean funny, witty, and clever... and did I mention funny? Not necessarily la ...more
May 10, 2026 09:24AM · like · see review

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Worse Than Her Bite (The Eternity College Chronicles, #5)
by Lauretta Hignett (Goodreads Author)

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Worse Than Her Bite is the 5th book in the Eternity College Chronicles by Lauretta Hignett.

***clapping slowly***

Well played, Ms. Hignett. Well played, indeed. I did NOT see that coming!!!

It is rare that an author manages to surprise me with a plot tw ...more

Allie McCormack rated a book it was amazing

Hard Evidence (Blackstone House Romantic Suspense Book 7)
by Elise Noble (Goodreads Author)

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Hard Evidence by Elise Noble is the 7th book in the Blackstone House romantic suspense series.

Superb characterization, amazing world-building, intricate plot with carefully thought-out details, and intrigue that has you on the edge of the seat and t Hard Evidence by Elise Noble is the 7th book in the Blackstone House romantic suspense series.

Superb characterization, amazing world-building, intricate plot with carefully thought-out details, and intrigue that has you on the edge of the seat and turning the pages until the very end, leaving you wanting more... this book has it all! Which, honestly, I can say is true of every one of her books.

I have nothing but respect for our heroine, Jessie. She holds up beautifully under the weight of an abusive relationship, making the best of what she's dealing with AND very aware of what is occurring... and while she doesn't leave with a plan, she doesn't hesitate to leave when it counts — plan or no plan. Watching her bloom under Justin's careful, steady care is a joy, as she reclaims not just her life, but the calling she loves as a blogging chef.

Justin, meanwhile, has been described as having "the personality of a Care Bear" — Grumpy Bear, specifically — and honestly? That made me giggle-snort, because it's perfectly true. Kind, empathic, supportive... this man deserves better than three exes. He deserves Jessie. Watching the two of them dance their way toward each other is genuinely lovely.

The Choir... our team of, er, professionals... has a strong part to play here. They descend without hesitation to come to support Justin, and I loved watching them interact with (and get fed by) Jessie. Violet and Jessie together were a good friendship pairing, truly.

And I'm sorry, I truly love her, but someone has to say it: Jerry has the empathy of a rock. I mean, really. Love her. But... yeah. Rock.

And then there's Ava. Ava rocks, and we don't get nearly enough of her — she should absolutely get her own book, because I would never tire of reading about her. Honestly? I can see her on Team Blackwood. She'd fit right in with all the female assassins and other kick-ass types in Blackwood. I cannot wait to see where her character goes from here, and — okay, it has to be said — if she ends up having anything to do with... oh. wait. I'm reviewing, not theorizing. Moving on.

I can't say much about the suspense and mystery threads — because, spoilers — but I'll say this much:

For the book's central threat, the truly nasty piece of work that is Ridge: my innate (and possibly also morally grey) sense of justice walked away satisfied.

For the series-long mystery of who killed Ruby ten years ago: Elise Noble just demolished a theory I've been building since book one. The person I was sure was the real killer — who isn't the person currently in prison for it — turns out not to be the killer either. (Small victory, though: the guy in prison is still not the murderer, and I called that back in book one. Validation!) Which means I now have no idea who actually did it, and I'm doomed to reread all seven books trying to figure it out. Although, apparently it's not even that simple. But — oops, right, no spoilers.

The life of a reviewer is hard.

BUY this book! Don't hesitate, don't think about it, don't bother reading the back cover. Just get it. You won't be sorry!

This is an ARC review. ...more

Allie McCormack rated a book really liked it

Tides Wait for No Witch by Natalie Summers

Tides Wait for No Witch (Spelltide Bay Magic Mysteries, #1)
by Natalie Summers (Goodreads Author)

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Tides Wait for No Witch had me hooked from page one — Sara's voice is warm and funny, and Spelltide Bay itself is such a vivid, lived-in setting that I wanted to move in immediately. Finding her family was genuinely charming — they're welcoming and p Tides Wait for No Witch had me hooked from page one — Sara's voice is warm and funny, and Spelltide Bay itself is such a vivid, lived-in setting that I wanted to move in immediately. Finding her family was genuinely charming — they're welcoming and patient with her, clearly understanding just how disorienting it must be to discover an entire family and heritage she never knew existed. And her ability to talk to sea creatures is such a fun extension of the undine side of her magic — the orca pod especially was a wonderful touch (the talking sea otter alone was delightful, but a whole pod of orcas? Awesome). All of it — the found-family thread, the magic system, the slow build of her relationship with the island and its secrets — is doing exactly what a great cozy paranormal should do. Natalie Summers clearly knows how to build a world readers want to stay in.

Where the book lost me a bit was the pacing of the reveals. On day one alone, Sara learns she has a father, grandparents, and half-sisters she never knew existed; that her mother lied to her about all of it her whole life; that magic is real, that she's a witch, and that sea otters can talk to her. That's a lot to stack in twenty-four hours without much room to breathe between revelations, and the same instant-acceptance pattern carries into the mystery — Sara goes from discovering her magic to investigating a murder almost immediately, and later, she and her sisters pin a smuggling operation and a money-laundering shell company on a quick glance at some financial records, when in reality both usually take real forensic digging to uncover. Moments like these pulled me out of an otherwise immersive read, because the pacing and mystery mechanics didn't get the same careful groundwork as the world and characters did.

But set the mystery mechanics aside, and there's so much to love here. The characterization is genuinely strong — Sara feels like a real person reacting to an upended life, her half-sisters each have distinct personalities and chemistry with her, and the supporting cast (the infuriatingly attractive FBI agent included) is fun and well-drawn. The game shop, the runaway teen subplot, and the magic lessons all add great texture without feeling overstuffed. And Spelltide Bay itself might be the real star — it's exactly the kind of cozy, gossip-soaked, secret-keeping small town that makes this genre so addictive. The overall plot, separate from the murder-solving logic, moves well and kept me turning pages.

This is a NetGalley ARC review. ...more

Allie McCormack rated a book it was amazing

The Dark Lord's Guide to Honeymooning (and Other Acts of Tyra... by Tiffany Hunt

The Dark Lord's Guide to Honeymooning (and Other Acts of Tyranny) (Guides to Villainy and Love)
by Tiffany Hunt (Goodreads Author)

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The Dark Lord's Guide to Honeymooning (and Other Acts of Tyranny) by Tiffany Hunt is the 2nd book in the Guides to Villainy and Love series.

I was only through the first chapter and I was ALREADY cackling on every single page. Yes, chapter ONE... and The Dark Lord's Guide to Honeymooning (and Other Acts of Tyranny) by Tiffany Hunt is the 2nd book in the Guides to Villainy and Love series.

I was only through the first chapter and I was ALREADY cackling on every single page. Yes, chapter ONE... and I knew immediately that this second book of the series was going to be just as hilarious as the first. (Spoiler: it absolutely is.)

Arabella does not let Kazimir get away with a single ounce of his BS, and that's exactly what makes their dynamic so much fun. When these two go toe to toe, she gives just as good as she gets, every single time. No simpering, no eye-rolling-while-secretly-swooning heroine here — she matches him blow for blow (figuratively speaking, of course), and honestly? It's glorious.

And the pacing! Tiffany Hunt is an absolute master at this. Tension, light comedic beats, intimacy, rapid-fire banter, and pure desperation are all measured out with absolute precision — and just when you think you've caught your breath, she punctuates it all with another moment that has you laughing out loud (that would be me, repeatedly, embarrassing myself in public).

Some of my favorite chaos highlights so far are the "inappropriately chatty" set of black roses that had me almost choking on my tea.

Then there was this absolute gem of a line, which might be the most dire sentence ever uttered in romantasy history: "We're going on our honeymoon. Prepare accordingly."

The names for things again are a delight, and we have more cool place names! The Shattered Sea, Godspire, the Lawless Expanse, Azroth's Claw, and more.

But nothing prepared me for the pickled (both literally and figuratively) cornhole game. I'm not exaggerating when I say this might be the single funniest thing I have ever read in my entire life. I stopped reading, went back, and read that scene three times before I let myself continue the book. THREE TIMES. It was just. That. Funny.

"The real question… is whether we're aiming for the holes, or if the holes are aiming for us."

I rset my case.

Now, yes, some genuinely dire, dangerous, and heartbreaking stuff happens in this book too (because Tiffany Hunt is just as skilled at the dark and desperate moments as she is at the comedy), but I can't say more than that because SPOILERS.

So if you'll excuse me, I have to go find that cornhole scene and read it all over again.

Note: This is an ARC review. ...more

Allie McCormack rated a book it was amazing

The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating (and Other War Crimes) by Tiffany Hunt

The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating (and Other War Crimes) (Guides to Villainy and Love, #1)
by Tiffany Hunt (Goodreads Author)

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The Dark Lord's Guide to Dating (and Other War Crimes) by Tiffany Hunt is the 1st book in the Guides to Villainy and Love series.

First off... the chapter titles and subtitles are freakin' hilarious. That's worth the price of the book right there, I ...more

Allie McCormack rated a book it was amazing

Night Maze (The Cat Lady Chronicles #4)
by Helen Harper (Goodreads Author)

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First off, I am 100% totally a fan of the power of being underestimated, which makes me connect with Kit on a soul level. Her guise as a middle-aged cat lady is SO smooth, so perfectly constructed, that absolutely no one would ever suspect her of bei ...more

Allie McCormack rated a book it was amazing

The Wednesday Box: A Dark Fable
by Jonathan Kieran (Goodreads Author)

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Quietly Devastating! From the very first page, The Wednesday Box pulls you into a world of creeping dread and unsettling wonder, masterfully balancing psychological darkness with raw emotional stakes. Thoughtful, tense, and hauntingly beautiful, this ...more

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Love Bites (The Eternity College Chronicles, #4)
by Lauretta Hignett (Goodreads Author)

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Love Bites is the fourth book in the Eternity College Chronicles, a fun urban fantasy series by Lauretta Hignett.

Can I just say, every time I hear Marie's real name, it just cracks me up! I'm pretty sure I wrote that in my review for the last book, b Love Bites is the fourth book in the Eternity College Chronicles, a fun urban fantasy series by Lauretta Hignett.

Can I just say, every time I hear Marie's real name, it just cracks me up! I'm pretty sure I wrote that in my review for the last book, but it STILL cracks me up, so I'm saying it again.

The world building is stellar, as is the characterization. Particularly Marie herself. In a series like this, we have more of a chance to see the character arc in action than in a single novel. And in particular, in this 4th book, when Marie is forced to acknowledge she can't protect her friends by controlling them, even while she is still struggling to accept that she HAS friends. It's been a slow progression, and a sometimes painful one, especiallly in this book, but we're getting to SEE the real Marie emerging through all those protective layers.

As for her mother, I literally cringed when Deborah showed up, and even then I didn’t know how bad it was gonna get. She just makes my skin crawl. I mean, even Marie’s shoulder angel wanted to punch her, which made me actually cackle out loud.

And now we have THREE demons (that we know of) living at the college: 1) The cat, Caligula (who doesn't seem evil to me, except for harrassing Marie, everyone else doesn't have a problem with him), 2) Arin the Demon of Unwelcoming, and... 3) oh! Wait! I can't tell you, because mwahahaha you have to read the book!

Then there is the vampire mistress. At this point we don't know who she is, although I'm 99.998% sure I know who it is (I'm not saying, but prepared for a "toldja so!" dance with the next book review), and it's not good. At least... I didn't think it was good, until we actually see her in conversation with the apprentice, and she seems to be speaking kindly to her. So now, I'm conflicted. I mean. I still think it's her, but I'm not so sure she's evil, like I was in the previous books. So, IS there a possible... um, right, nope, can't say. 'cause I might be wrong, but if I'm right it'd be spoilers, so nahhh.

So okay, as far as (I can't tell), I just have to say, WOW! I did NOT see that coming!!! At least... through 3 whole books I didn't see it coming, but as soon as Deborah showed up, I saw it coming, and I clued in before Marie did, and WOW!!! I did NOT see that coming! But it totally makes sense.

And I also have to just say, I freaking LOVE when an author springs a "I did NOT see that coming!" on me! And she did it not once, not twice, but THREE times in this book! Yay, Lauretta!!!

To wrap things up, this book was an absolute DELIGHT, from cover to cover. I looove unexpected plot twists! Sooo many here! I can't tell you because (spoilers!), but there were several, and each one earned a delighted squeal from me! ...more

Allie McCormack rated a book it was amazing

The King's Captive (Gate of Myth and Power, #1)
by K.M. Shea (Goodreads Author)

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The King's Captive is the first book in the Gate of & Power paranormal romance series by K.M. Shea.

Okay, so really this a review for all 3 books in the series: The King's Captive, The King's Shadow, and The King's Queen. It's a continuing story, and ...more

Allie McCormack rated a book it was amazing

Dead Weight (Magic, Mayhem, and the Law in Precinct #153, #1)
by G.P. Robbins

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Dead Weight is the first book in the Magic, Mayhem, and the Law in Precinct #153 urban fantasy/paranormal romance series... and it is hands-down fabulous! And by fabulous, I mean funny, witty, and clever... and did I mention funny? Not necessarily la ...more

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	Wishes in a Bottle (The Magic of Wishes & Dreams, #1) 4.44 avg rating — 335 ratings — published 2019 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Gift of Jacinth (Wishes & Dreams, #2) 4.52 avg rating — 233 ratings — published 2019 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Cat for Troy (The Magic Wishes & Dreams #3) 4.15 avg rating — 207 ratings — published 2021 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Witch in Time (The Magic of Wishes & Dreams #6) 4.52 avg rating — 150 ratings — published 2024 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	A Prince of the Djinn (The Magic of Wishes & Dreams #8) 4.51 avg rating — 110 ratings — published 2025 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Night Shift (The Magic of Wishes & Dreams #9) 4.46 avg rating — 95 ratings — published 2025	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Coveted Mate (The Magic of Wishes & Dreams #4) 4.52 avg rating — 85 ratings — published 2022 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	When Darkness Falls: The Trilogy 4.64 avg rating — 66 ratings	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Reluctant Rogue (The Magic of Wishes & Dreams #5) 4.45 avg rating — 67 ratings — published 2022 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Foxy Lady (The Magic of Wishes & Dreams #7) 4.51 avg rating — 41 ratings — published 2024 — 4 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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