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Mystical Midlife in Maine #3

Hellmouth & Hot Flashes

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Listening Length: 5hrs 20mins

Hot flashes? They're nothing when you have a Hellmouth to create...

Demons are overrunning my hometown of Camden, but they're messing with the wrong peri-menopausal witch. After twenty years with my ex, delivering supernatural smack-downs is my pleasure.

But my to-do list is growing and I've more to tackle than just these demons. A ghoul needs my help, and I still have Objects of Power to locate. Ghostly invaders have taken over the private dimension my familiar needs to gather with her kind, and I promised my best friend she'd have a familiar of her own so I need to find a way to evict these wayward phantasms and keep my word.

Oh, and my son arrives for a visit from college and discovers my secrets. And it turns out he has a whopper of his own.

Then, just when I think I may never get a chance to cool off in front of my freezer ever again, a simple trip to the grocery store ends with me in the hospital fighting for my life.

Do I miss my old, predictable life? Not for one second. I may be on the brink, but I'm still determined to own my new power. And I'm going to prove to everyone that Hattie didn't make a mistake by naming me her heir.

6 pages, Audible Audio

First published October 15, 2021

694 people are currently reading
140 people want to read

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5 stars
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97 (7%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
Profile Image for Tracy Cameron.
46 reviews
November 2, 2021
Not my favorite

Can’t quite figure out the point of this book. Lots of minor battles. Some so so romance. I would love to get more invested in these characters. See some fun conversations getting to know them. And I wish the men weren’t totally whipped and had a bit more personality. There is a great storyline here with lots of potential. I just wish this book had really gone somewhere and had more of a point. Sadly I found it too easy to put this book down. More sizzle would be great. A good book should make you feel what the main character does. But I’m glad to see she isn’t whining about her aches and pains because of her age anymore. But how many times can she come so close to dying yet be up and going again almost instantly? But I’m glad to see a woman who finds her power in midlife after divorce. I really want to like these books more….
Profile Image for Veronica LaRoche.
4,628 reviews69 followers
September 27, 2021
This story just keeps getting more and more interesting. Phoebe has enemies come out her at all angles. She will do anything too save the one she loves. I am dying for more of Aidoneus & Phoebe because the sexual tension is off the charts. Can’t wait too read what happens next.

I voluntarily reviewed this Advanced Reader Copy of this book
2,999 reviews44 followers
November 4, 2021
This is book three of the Mystical Midlife in Maine series and sees Phoebe Duedonne, the new Pleiades, having to help out a ghoul, a social worker and witch called Selene, who was doing good for children in need, when she was murdered by a powerful witch and turned into a ghoul. The witch forced her to do some questionable actions, until she managed to escape from her and found her way to Phoebe’s mother’s house. It turns out her soul is in limbo in the Underworld and they will need some powerful magic to reunite Selene with her soul, if not another witch or a demon could possess her and get through the wards around the house, which keep them all safe. Demons are somehow getting to the human realm and are overrunning her town of Camden and she also has Objects of Power to locate. She lives with her daughter Nina (16), mother and gran in Nimaha, a home and has a business, Silva Enterprises that she inherited form Hattie and only came into her witch powers after she finally divorced and left her ex-husband Miles. Her daughter Nina is there with her as well as her familiar Tarja, one of only a few familiars left in their world. She also has various pixies, ghosts and so on living in the house and gardens. The familiars had their own dimension, Stuleros, where they used to go to share info, hang out and procreate, until it was overrun by Nightmares and the Tainted killed off most of them. They can no longer go back there and so newer witches or those without one already, like her friend have no chance of gaining a familiar to help with their magic!
Phoebe is in the early days of a new relationship with Hades son Aidon (Aidoneus) and he has a suggestion for stopping all the demos getting into their town. He suggests he and Phoebe work together to open a Hellmouth next door, sort of like in Buffy the Vampire Slayer series. It would help stop lower level demons from passing through the veil between their worlds. His father has the spell in his personal library and Aidon knows it could work. Her son Jean-Marc comes home unexpectedly, just as she is trying to create the silver seal for the Hellmouth, with one of the pixie experts, and he sees her doing magic. It seems he has a secret and reveals he can do magic as well! Looks like magic was passed to her son and daughter when they visited a location with strong ley lines, leaving her mother and gran rather annoyed that they haven’t received any magical powers when Phoebe received hers! A simple visit to the supermarket for supplies for all the hungry visitors, sees Phoebe attacked by imps and an evil looking witch seemed to be behind the attempt to kill her! The attack leaves her fighting for her life, not just to recover from the operation to save her, but from yet another attack as well! Someone clearly wants her out of the way and before she can create this Hellmouth and they want to be Pleiade instead of her, by stealing her magical powers. The powers she now has are far more than any normal witch, having been given to Hattie by two Gods and now passed onto Phoebe. An interesting story with lots of magic and spells, plus danger and attacks from demons and possessed beings, with Phoebe learning a lot about what she can now do, bigging up the abilities and knowledge of those in their midlife and even surprising the wolf shifter alpha and Aidon, when she does the impossible! I look forward to reading the rest of this series, having somehow missed the beginning of the series. I received an ARC copy of this book from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the book above.
Profile Image for Stephanie.
522 reviews4 followers
September 30, 2021
Phoebe and gang are back at fighting the good fight and helping as many paranormal types as they can. Aidoneus has figured out how to make and set a Hellsmouth and will need Phoebe's help... poor Phoebe keeps getting beat up and almost killed!!! Everything is happening to fast and not giving her a chance to heal.... while low on power and energy they sneak and set a kind of trap in her and towards the end of the book they figure out what happened and Stella comes to the rescue. Stella and Nina and Aidoneus all work together to get Phoebe back on her feet. A couple phone calls to Fiona in England and Phoebe is trying to figure out how to work with silver and help Selene find her soul and make her a good witch ghoul. The bad guys are pretty much the same ones and the crew meets a whole new set of good guys who end up on the good side and want to help Phoebe succeed! We meet Phoebe's son, Jean-Marc, and learn that he's all of sudden having weird powers... he's a warlock! The magic is all in the family now... poor dude was a bit freaked out but mom and Nina help him ease into it and Gammy and Nana also give him a pep talk!
I'm getting suspicious of Brody... but not a lot of new info on the guy.......Layla needs to find her a special someone! I really really love this group and Fiona's group!! The stories just flow so well and smoothly and I really like the back n forth between the 2 groups! Looking forward to the next book!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for T..
907 reviews20 followers
October 18, 2021
Phoebe and her Tribe are back, including Aidon, but now we also have Selene and Jean-Marc her son. Who is Selene? She is a murder victim turned Ghoul who has come to Phoebe for help. 👀 Well! Selene’s arrival launches the Tribe into a frenzy of Ghoul study mostly, with the addition of some good old fashioned detective work. Jean-Marc arrives unexpectedly which launches the Tribe into a bit of a pressure cooker as they hadn’t told him about Phoebe being a witch and her new role in life.

I still love Ms. Trim’s universe and characters. Parts of this story are very intense and others entertaining and fun. It was very amusing that various characters could quote actions from ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ television show. I loved how awkward Phoebe was with Aidon in front of her family members, specifically her children. I am SO looking forward to the next installment of the series, Holidays with Hades, which releases on December 6, 2021.

I received this ARC via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving an honest review. Frankly, I borrowed it via KindleUnlimited first since I prefer to read the final product.
Profile Image for Amy Reads Romance.
993 reviews11 followers
October 20, 2021
Phoebe's hands are full. She inherited Nimaha and a corporation to take care of, along with pixies, a dragon, a werewolf ane more. She is seeing a god of the Underworld, and falling for him. When she is asked by a ghoul for help, of course she jumps in with both feet. Now on top of that, she has to create a Hellmouth and seal it off to keep the world safe from demons. All this while learning more about her powers as a pleiades witch.
Brenda Trim is a master storyteller. She has crafted an incredible world where middle aged women not only are not invisible, but they are the protagonists. There is even a touch of romance! Each book in the series is better than the last. This book is not a standalone. It begins where the last one left off, and ends on a cliffhanger. The wait for the next one is worth it. This is a five star book well worth the one click.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
6,028 reviews45 followers
October 21, 2021
Phoebe seems to have ongoing challenges. an effort to build one hellmouth, and pave the way for more, proves to be draining. but is there an additional problem? ignoring mundane potential causes could be lethal

Tainted and Dark witches seem to be wielding a dangerous amount of power.

Phoebe might be in for a surprise or two from her son on the front of power

As her connection grows with Aidon, Phoebe struggles with ghosts of relationships past, and insecurities present.

Life, and death, are complicated- no real surprise in the life of a woman who happens to be a powerful witch - and a great fun series to read!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Lisa Malmquist.
772 reviews24 followers
June 23, 2022
Next installment of the Mystical Midlife in Maine series.
Phoebe was a nurse and now has been given magical powers. She learning curve is steep and she is constantly in danger while trying to solve some magical mysteries.
She has inherited the magic from Hattie the recently deceased powerful witch, who was in charge of her area and a coven, as well as several businesses.
But as Hattie wasn't well for some time, some things were allowed to slide. Things like demons invading the territory, bad witches trying to take over and objects of power being stolen.
She has her work cut out for her! But luckily also has the back up of the son on Hades and her family and the local coven. Lots of action and a creative series!
Profile Image for Sunny Lovestories.
Author 21 books36 followers
October 29, 2021
This series keeps picking up speed and throwing something new at us. Phoebe would like nothing more than to have a bottle of wine and stand in from of a freezer to chill out. But there are things to do, things to conquer, scared objects to find. Oh, and she needs to prepare for her son coming home from College.
Author Trim does a great job of pacing the story just right through everything she gives us to read through and devour. I have an idea on what direction I see this series going, so I need to keep reading to see if I am right. Three Cheers for the emergence of menopause going mainstream in storytelling.
2,897 reviews17 followers
November 20, 2021
Phoebe has a problem, the demons are getting out of hand. She befriends the ghoul who attacked her and she is determined to save her, but everyone is telling her it is impossible. To make matters worse, her son pays an unexpected visit and discovers her secret. She thought the hot flashes were bad, but when a trip to the grocery store ends with her in a hospital bed fitting for her life, she realizes that the threats to her life have escalated and she has to take them more seriously.
Wonderful characters doing their best to navigate a world new to them. Exciting action, surprising twists, and magic. I can't get enough of Phoebe and her family. Fantastic book and series.
Profile Image for Tahnia Ross.
2,184 reviews9 followers
October 22, 2021
Life has been fairly calm since Phoebe killed Myrna. Family and friends are sitting around the kitchen table carving pumpkins when a ghoul showed up on her doorstep asking for help. Next on the menu is Aidoneus asking Phoebe to help him set up a Hellmouth to help keep demons out then a feral wolf shows up on the property. There is plenty more happening that keeps Pheobe and company on their toes. This story is full of romance on top of everything else and ends in a cliffhanger. Highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Spinneretta.
2,858 reviews20 followers
December 12, 2021
Good

Life for Phoebe is never quiet! First she has a ghoul to deal with, then there is the Hellmouth, and there seems to be something always threatening her life!

Phoebe definitely gets more than she bargained for in this one.
She is learning more about her magic, getting closer to Adon, and creating allies while she does.
While there are a lot of things happening in the book, only a few are part of the ongoing story!
Lots of action, magical adventures and more, for a fast paced and exciting PWF read!
Recommended for PWF fans.
1,124 reviews15 followers
October 6, 2021
The rollercoaster ride that is Phoebe's life continues. Phoebe and her family and friends have their work cut out for them in this book. They need to save a Ghoul (Selene) Find the witch that created the Ghoul. Find out who is trying to kill her. Deal with hot flushes. Go on a date with the son of Hades...This is a brilliant book I don't know how Brenda Trim manages to squeeze it all into one book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Anne-Marie .
970 reviews23 followers
October 18, 2021
Action packed

Wow what a rollercoaster ride
This one is packed full of action, witches, a ghoul, an Imp, and injuries
Phoebe and the gang have their hand full trying to keep demons out of Camden so they build a hellmouth...but someone is out to get Phoebe and it takes everyone to help her.
The sexual tension between Phoebe and Aidon is so thick even Nana is noticing..
Love this series can't wait for the next book
Profile Image for Emily Pennington.
20.7k reviews361 followers
October 21, 2021
One of Those Days . . .

This story line is loaded with tons of action-packed excitement with Phoebe and her gang of buddies working hard to keep demons out of Camden. They build a hellmouth, but Phoebe still needs all of them to help her out. The enemies are coming at her from all sides, and everybody seems to need something from her. Even Phoebe’s son has a huge surprise! Will this day ever end?
Profile Image for Joanne Lyons.
187 reviews7 followers
October 25, 2021
Phoebe

Brenda Trim has written such a wonderful series about women mature witches. Trim adds humor, compassion and twist of danger to ever story. Not to worry it’s packed full of family love demon snd tainted witch hate that brings this series to life. I recommend this book to anyone one who loves stories with love and danger mixed in it is truly a wonderful series and I look forward to book 4
182 reviews7 followers
February 21, 2022
Good reality, characters and story

I like the characters, the reality is well done and considered. The Greek gods angle is interesting and adds depth. I am fully into strong women doing great things. The spelling of the name, Dieudonne, isn't consistent. Also, I don't like the name, Yahweh, being used for a Greek god, even in jest. Somersaults is the spelling for turning over and over. Taught English once, sorry!
99 reviews4 followers
March 14, 2022
Phoebe has demons coming after her that seem to just appear out of the blue all the while she is dealing with hot flashes. I must admit of all the books I have read in the series this by far is the best and funniest. The characters are becoming a little more developed and quirky. Phoebe personal life finally gets more interesting on all fronts. I really enjoyed this plot and story. This is my honest unbiased review.
Profile Image for Sue-Dee Numb.
323 reviews3 followers
October 18, 2021
I just keep getting more and more invested in this series, the characters feel like old friends!
After the previous book when memories were lost, it was so sad, would he get his memories back or would he make new ones!
I wish I was with the ladies from Backside of forty, I am looking forward to the next adventure because we know this is not over yet.
Profile Image for Lynne  Davison.
226 reviews
October 20, 2021
I love reading Brendas books of which I have read a number in the series.

In this book Phoebe and her friends powers develop, the connection with Aidon grows and as ever she is under attack.

There are surprised for Phoebe who is coming into her own in this book.

Definitely a good read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
597 reviews2 followers
October 20, 2021
This book number three in the series just keeps rolling with the mysteries, action and slow burn romance! Phoebe’s to-do list of helping people with her witchy powers just keeps getting longer and longer! I am hooked on this series!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Barbara.
19.2k reviews8 followers
October 21, 2021
The third book in the Mystical Midlife in Maine series another well written story in this series a story that kept me turning pages. This series just gets better with each new book. I would recommend this book if you enjoy this series. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
1,147 reviews13 followers
October 28, 2021
This book was fantastic. The characters are awfully realistic. I love all things magical and witchy. This one is right up my alley. The action and the drama were really great. I was really intrigued by this story and I wanted to finish it. It was fabulous.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Myra Ball.
649 reviews
January 23, 2022
Satisfying series

This is one of the better series in the midlife paranormal genre with great characters that are likeable. The books do have the typical elements you expect in this genre with a newly single midlife woman and moving to a new town. This series does have some crazy unique ways of introducing some of those expected elements which I love.
Profile Image for Kimberly #Audiofile.
2,563 reviews29 followers
March 7, 2022
Ok so in this one we get more than a kiss in!
Relationships develop.
The kids are better, and get their own powers.
This is short and sweet and the fmc is definitely loving herself more which is fabulous to see!

I like the secondary characters and I’m looking forward to the next instalment.

3 star listen
Gifted audio in exchange for an honest review
267 reviews2 followers
November 18, 2022
Brenda Trim you did it again!

What a book! So many incredible situations for the characters to deal with, so many interesting new characters. But at the heart is the power of family and truly loyal friends. Absolutely loved this book and excited for the next! Thank you Brenda Trim!!!
Profile Image for Denise.
3,735 reviews
October 1, 2021
Loved this third book in the series. Phoebe once again has her hands full with all things demonic and witchy. A ghoul shows up at the house wanting help (lucky for her that Phoebe's friend Fiona is all over that one), her boyfriend wants to fashion a hellmouth on the property next door (no biggie, everyone should have one), she keeps getting attacked by everything from sprites to wolves (hospitals suck from the flat in the bed side of things), and her familiar needs her help if they ever want to have familiars available for other witches (astral projecting is not her best subject), and then her son shows up unexpectedly and finds out about the whole witchy women thing (and pixies, and dragons, and werewolves, and, uh, the son of Hades as his mother's boyfriend). Enjoy!

I was given an advanced copy of this book by the author. My review is voluntary.
5,450 reviews32 followers
October 5, 2021
Brenda Trim has given us another great addition to the series thanks to her classic writing style. The characters were entertaining and the story line kept me laughing.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
4,497 reviews24 followers
October 15, 2021
The interaction and chemistry between the characters is great. The storyline is witty and entertaining. I can't wait for more from this author. I received this book 📚,as a FREE ARC copy to read and I voluntarily leave this review.
Profile Image for Marianne.
7,211 reviews85 followers
October 17, 2021
This is a great paranormal romance/women's fiction.. I really liked it.. It is super fun, quirky, and sassy.. with wonderful characters..

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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