Selene and Cheney are almost to happily ever after. Just one small promise stands in their way. The spirits make a request Selene can’t refuse without forfeiting her soul, but to fulfill their desire, she will have to sacrifice her life. Traveling to a world beyond the reach of the living, Selene has to dig deep within herself to find a way back home. The kingdom trembles on the edge of political upheaval and fae of all shapes and sizes are being murdered. The further Cheney digs into these mysterious deaths, the more skeletons he unearths from his family’s past. Sometimes, the truth can kill you.In a race against the clock, Selene and Cheney stumble through an emotional and physical journey to make it back to one another. Will they find a way back to one another or are not all love stories meant to have a happily ever after?
Many authors claim to have known their calling from a young age. Liz Schulte, however, didn't always want to be an author. In fact, she had no clue. Liz wanted to be a veterinarian, then she wanted to be a lawyer, then she wanted to be a criminal profiler. In a valiant effort to keep from becoming Walter Mitty, Liz put pen to paper and began writing her first novel. It was at that moment she realized this is what she was meant to do. As a scribe she could be all of those things and so much more.
When Liz isn't writing or on social networks she is inflicting movie quotes and trivia on people, reading, traveling, and hanging out with friends and family. Liz is a Midwest girl through and through, though she would be perfectly happy never having to shovel her driveway again. She has a love for all things spooky, supernatural, and snarky. Her favorite authors range from Edgar Allen Poe to Joseph Heller to Jane Austen to Jim Butcher and everything in between.
I liked this one a little more than the last one. It was entertaining and I liked seeing both Cheney and Selene's storylines. Cheney had to face some things about his family and I appreciated how it made him and Sebastian start talking again. I like their friendship and I wanted them to start working towards rebuilding that trust.
Selene of course is thrown into the deep end and told to just figure it out. I think my biggest problem with her as a character is she really doesn't think things through and this story wasn't any different. But she does power through and face things head on. She doesn't shirk her duties.
I think my favorite part of this story was seeing the coven start to connect with Cheney and help him out.
So this one is definitely better than the last. It's the first book with the alternating POV's and I actually like it in this book. Author did a great job of telling two complete stories in one. Still super dramatic. I mean what's more dramatic than hell? I love love love the coven and really wish the book was more about all of them - not just Selene. Gotta finish it out and read the next.
Must have more!!!! I have devoted these first three books in a matter of days. I love Liz Schulte!! Can't wait to read more about Holden and Olivia too! Oh the excitement!!! Wonderful series. Definitely recommended!!
2.5 Think I may give this series up. I'm not a big fan of Chaney or Selene find myself uninterested in the birth of a child or his future "campaigning" for king.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This book is written in such a way that Selene is the featured storyteller of one chapter and then Cheney writes the next which I find disconcerting. It wouldn't be so obnoxious if the author had used this format in the first two books. Now it's like changing horses midstream. I have to remember to look for a name at the beginning of each chapter to see who will be telling their side of the story. PITA
Okay, I've calmed down a bit and can understand why the author has told the story with different narrators since Selene and Chaney are separated for a good portion of this book. We didn't need Cheney's side of the story in the previous two.
Sebastian's character is getting jacked all over the place, poor guy.
Aaaaand once again we are forced to read the next book to determine what will happen to Frost. There also seems to be some unfinished business with Colton. There is a preview chapter of the next book and it looks like Holden & Olivia will be added as narrators. Why not add the whole coven? There have been indications that H & O are in the midst of "something big" so I imagine I will find out what that is in book 4.
cover/title: It was more the series name that drew my attention. I love the play on words. A witch coven mixed up with a toy every little girl wanted when growing up: the easy bake oven.
Characters: The characters are fun and a mix of species as well.
Plot: This book obviously picks up from book 2, which I skipped over without realizing it. I was still able to pick up on what was happening because I did read book 1. I love the non-stop action. The book goes back and forth between the MCs and what is happening to each of them.
Overall: I really enjoyed this book and I definitely want to go back and see what I missed in book 2. Then I will move forward with the series.
At first I didn't like the back and forth between Chaney and Selene, but once I got into the book it made since and was quite a good story. The characters and storyline are original and I really love it.
Something about this book seemed to give me a vague vibe of a first book written. Which is odd considering this is the third in a series and there's been a bunch of other books out there by this author.
I don't particularly like certain types of changes mid-stream/series. I don't like when series suddenly switch to other characters to follow, though I have been able to read and like some like that, nor do I like when the series style suddenly changes. Hmms. Style might not the right word.
The previous two books in this series followed one Selene Warren. From her point of view. Sure, she herself changed over the books, but it was still from her point of view. This time, in the third book, things suddenly shift to alternating between following Selene and Cheney. I did not and do not particularly desire to read anything from Cheney's point of view. But, did.
In terms of story . . . it was alright, I suppose. Because of a deal made in a previous book, Selene goes to hell to return a stick. She takes along a vampire for help. She has 12 hours to get in and out again or she will be stuck down there.
Meanwhile, someone's been killing various creatures in the kingdom and - after a lot of 'I'm too busy to look into it' from Cheney, he finally starts to look into the issue. So, he's doing that. And Selene's wandering hell.
In terms of sex/erotica - there was on graphic scene. Or at least it started off that way. Didn't particularly read it so, for all I know, they switched to baking cookies during the part I skimmed/skipped over. Wasn't particularly interested in reading a sex scene right then and there.
4.5 Stars! What can I say, other then I love this series! Book #3 didn't disappoint! Pickup Styx centers around Selene visiting the Underworld (yikes) to retrieve a pole for the souls stuck in a New Orleans cemetery. Since she can't go there alive, a necromancer (Frost) was keeping her body "around" for 12 hours. Talk about suspense! I loved the author's descriptive POV of Hell. Liz painted a vivid picture of the landscapes and tests a "soul" would encounter.
During Selene's absence, Cheney has a battle of his own. Family he never knew he had are being killed and soon he finds out his father set a curse on his bloodline. Cheney is victorious in defeating his father and mending his friendship with his longtime friend Sebastian.
Again, I loved this series and I HOPE there is a book #4 in the works!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I was given an ARC of Pickup Styx for a non-spoiler review. All the usual characters are back in the 3rd installment of Cheney and Selene's story. Selene is set with a task that could end her life. If she doesn't complete the task this will end her life. She has 12 hours to complete the task. While she is doing that, Cheney has to figure out who is killing his people. Selene's coven plays a large part in this book as does the necromancer Frost. This book to me was more exciting that the first two and I loved them. I cannot wait to see what happens next.
Once the book is released, i will be sure to add to the above, with more detail. But suffice it to say if you liked Easy Baked Coven and Hungry Hungry HooDoo, you will love Pickup Styx.
Pickup Styx is the third in the Easy Bake Coven series. I would never have given the series that name, because it really has nothing to do with the books; however, I'm really loving the series so far. In this installment Selene has to repay the spirits who helped her break her curse by completing a near-impossible quest in the underworld. She has to leave Cheney at home this time, but he discovers that he has his own issues to deal with when he discovers someone is killing off all of his half siblings.
Lots of adventure in this book. Carries on well from the last one and right into the next. Plus, there are a couple of spin-off series also, so I'm happy that I have plenty more to read. I'm really enjoying reading about the characters, and their fae world. I hope the author keeps writing more.
This series just keeps getting better and better. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time while reading this one. I just couldn't read it fast enough. I am exited to see what comes next. I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion, which in no way influenced my opinion of this book.
This series is a lot of fun. I love the relationships between each character. It is hard to know who to trust and who to run from. It is part of the mystery and charm of this series. I can't wait for the next book!
I'd like more of this series! It didn't develop the way I'd wished it would, but I'm intrigued. I've been going back and forth between 3 and 4 stars, but I finished it a few month ago so I'm no longer sure.
You really got to see the characters grow and face things that would rather leave in the past. I did enjoy the split POV too. You got to see side if people that were really nice to see come out in the open.
I love this series and recommend it. I have read the first 3 books in under 2 days and cannot wait to read more of this series. I love that I cannot predict what is going to happen next. So much fun to read.