Sparks & Balances

Eliza Falls #4

by Maggie Francis

A hot mess of a witch and the nerdy virgin who can’t stop thinking about her. If only she hadn’t killed him that one time. Noah Running away from my past was the only way I could have a future. But when I finally got away, I fell from the frying pan into the fire. I didn’t think being murdered out in the woods was my ending, but here I am anyway, my awareness fading to black while a sad and beautiful angel appears to lead me to my nerdy, virgin valhalla. I only wish I could have seen her look at me like this when I was alive. I have some major atoning to do, but I don’t think I’ll get the chance. Tahlia Accidentally killing a cute tourist in my backyard isn’t how I planned my evening, but now that we’re here, the only person to blame is myself, and my terrifying magic. All I want is a quiet life and to make some nice friends. Instead I have to hide the fact that I’m dangerous and a murderer. There isn’t enough chocolate in the world for this kind of stress. Reviving the beautiful stranger and dropping him off at the hospital settles my guilt a little, but finding out that he’s my boss's cousin and she wants us to work together turns my carefully laid plans on their head. I don’t think I can manage to keep myself from falling for him, but staying away from him is the only way to keep him safe. From me. Sparks & Balances is the fourth novel in the Eliza Falls series, magical small town romances full of humor, heat and happily ever afters. Fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the Gilmore Girls will enjoy this series.
Book 1 : Of Mates & Magic Book 2 : Earth Wolf & Fire Book 3 : A Wolf By Any Other Name Book 4 : Sparks & Balances Book 5 : Coming 2024!

Genres: Paranormal, Witches, Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Romance, Magic, Cozy Fantasy

366 pages, Paperback

Published September 7, 2023

About the author

Maggie Francis writes cozy paranormal romance. What’s that you ask? Why, it’s a lot like if Buffy The Vampire Slayer and the Gilmore Girls had a sexy lovechild. We’re talking hunky werewolves, sassy witches and a cast of other supernatural side characters that make you laugh as you witness the shenanigans they get up to and enjoy the banter that comes along with an overactive imagination.

Maggie started writing as a way to joyfully escape into a world where magic is real, heroines save themselves and heroes come with a tall side order of Yes Please. Eliza Falls is a place to let the worries of the world fall away and let the romance of a fated mate and the cozy connection of a found family swoon you off your feet.

Maggie lives in Victoria BC with her own Happily Ever After, a couple of rad kids and a doodle dog. When she’s not writing her next ridiculous romp, she’s hunched over her jewellery bench like a sparkly gremlin listening to inappropriate podcasts and dreaming up beautiful things.

www.magpieandember.com
@maggie.francis.books

Reviews

[Destynnee Realta · Rating 5 out of 5]

She’s already so strangely captivating to me.
-Noah

Spark and Balances
Eliza Falls
Book 4
By Maggie Francis
352 pages
Currently on pre-order.
Publication date September 21st, 2023
MaggieFrancis.com

I received a copy of this book from the author, and this is my review.
Please, watch out for possible spoilers, including but not limited to, TW/CN/Etc.

Possible TW, Tropes, and Genres
Mature, Romance, Paranormal, Small Town Romance, Witches, Werewolves, Shifters, Fated Mates, She Saves the Day, They're both virgins, Found Family, Consent, Condom Usage, an electrifying personality, Series/Standalone, Anxiety issues, mild PTSD, and possibly more.

If you like
Found Family
Smal Towns
Magic
Fated Mates
Then this is a must read.

Every time I think I have found my favorite couple, in the previous book… I learn that's not true as the newest couple becomes my favorite.

This is part of a series, but could b read as a standalone as enough information is given in the book as to what mostly has occurred overall previously. But, I would suggest, getting all four books, making a cup of hot chocolate, and just settling in and reading them all. It is truthfully worth it.

Noah and Tahlia are quite relatable with their anxiety issues and Tahlias, I would day mild PTSD, due to their magic. Both the FMC and the MMC are new/er to Eliza Falls, so you get to see the town through New eyes. In the previous books, at least one person in the couple grew up in Eliza Falls.

I loved how often Noah called the town and townsfolk odd or batshit, cause if you weren't from there… You would think the town odd. Cute. Sweet. Sooooooo Pacific Northwest, but quite odd. It was adorable watching the town, and the people grow on Noah. Watching him settle in, make friends, especially with Gary. He may have stolen the whole show for me. IYKYK.

If there was a real Eliza Falls, my ass would be there in a heartbeat. And I would pstpstpst every animal just in case they were a shifter. And I would go to EVERY town meeting, just with the hopes that I could join these rag tag groupings on their adventures.

As always Maggie makes you not only fall in love with each character and couple, but with the town all over again.

I highly recommend not just this book, but the whole series.

5/5 stars
-Destynnee

[Emily Wall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie. Who. Gave. You. Permission. To write this deliciously delectable story. I loved every second and every character. Thalia is the anxious girl is all of us and Noah is the sweet Valium of a man we all need. I can’t wait to see what you put out next!

[Nikita Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

An electrifying read!

This book was an absolutely wonderful addition to the series, and it left me so excited for the stories left to come!

The characters were vulnerable and wonderful and honestly just hilarious. I felt such deep sympathy and laughed so hard reading this book.

The characters are wonderfully written, and they’re impossible not to love. The world-building for this series is wonderful, and you just really want to visit the quirky little town when reading the books.

This wonderful story contains fantastic rep for anxiety and mental health awareness, great meddlesome friends/ found family, excellent spice, some tears, a lot of laughs that also leave tears, and the sweetest little goat.

This is an absolute must read and I’m so happy to be on the ARC team for this series! Note that this is my honest review, and I give it willingly.

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a super paranormal romance! I really liked it.. It is so funny, adorable, and spicy/sweet.. Exciting and suspenseful as well!

[burt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love Maggie Francis and her feel-good, witchy romances.

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Maggie on a couple of her novels and each one continues to get better and better. While the other ones have been mostly fluff, this one hit on some touchy topics with a specific focus on anxiety.

Thalia, our stressed, and bit of a mess witch was super relatable. Due to her powers that she hasn’t learned how to control, she has gotten used to her isolated lifestyle and convinced herself that she is better off alone for everyone else’s safety.

It doesn’t help that her first interaction with Noah is killing him… no literally. Noah is on the run, fleeing the danger his uncle has put him in. Just when he thought he was out of the woods, he sees an angel, and then everything goes dark.

The thing I loved most about this book was the tension between Thalia and Noah. They felt a connection before they even knew who the other one was. Noah spent most of the book fighting to tear down the walls Thalia built around herself. He was the sweetest and most patient character ever and someone I wish daily was real so I could date him.

Francis has such a unique writing style that she is able to make such light and heartwarming books and while adding a healthy amount of spice to them. If you’re looking for a sweet and magical romance, dive into the Eliza Falls series and see what really goes down in this town full of mythical creatures…

Book Rating: 3/5
Spice Rating: 2/5

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tahlia & Noah
*
The proper way to meet your mate is to electricute him.
*
Tahlia's magic was always a burden. Since her first electrocution she was afraid to touch anyone in fear of hurting them. She lives on an island where she's alone and unable to cause harm.  When a random cute stomping around the woods man falls close to her, her magic protects her and she accidentally kills him.
Noah was always convinced his magic is useless. When he realises what his uncle is up to, he begins breaking the operation and bolts. Imagine his surprise when Desi, Wulfe and everyone involved accept him and offer him help. He stays in the appartment above the shop -  Desi innocently creates forced proximity knowing the future. 
These two  virgins are so nerdy and quirky. Basically two bundles of anxiety. I loved their story. Tahlia's way of handling her panicking and anxiety made me chuckle so much. She's a gem. All their interactions are so funny and full of accidents.
I loved how the friendship between Sylie and Tahlia progresses through the story. And how Noah actually likes Gary, now that he's sure he won't eat him.
*I received an ARC of this book and gave my honest opinion.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok, so... I'm months late writing a review for Sparks & Balances, but like Tahlia, I'm a "spicy disaster". (yes, that is a direct quote) But here we are. Me typing, you reading, wondering if you should pick up Noah and Tahlia's story. The answer is a resounding yes.

Have you read the first three Eliza Falls books?

Yes? Wonderful, keep going and you won't be disappointed. This book dives right back into the eclectic and magical world of Eliza Falls and is full of cozy adventure and hilarious happenings. (Seriously, I laughed out loud multiple times)

No? Well you have two options. Go back to book 1 and start reading now. Option two is start with Sparks & Balances, which could *technically* be read as a stand-alone. The only reason I'd pick option one is because you're missing out on all of the witchy vibes, sexy scenes, and adorable fated mates. These are all themes that carry throughout the series.

Now get to reading while I wait rather impatiently for book 5.

Oh and if you need any more motivation, the series is also on KU!

[Janna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely, lovely continuum to this series!
I love Tahlia and Noah. I love that two anxious people can find love together. Also, Tahlia is someone I can relate to in so many levels and I’m so happy she found herself and her happily ever after.
Noah is also a precious character. I love that we got a sensitive male character who is softer than the other males in the series. I would love me a hot nerd. I also love how Noah is so perfect for Tahlia. He’s supportive and well, he balances her out perfectly 😉
I loved this book and the journey to self development they took together. I’m so happy for them. I hope we’ll get more books in this series.

*ARC received from the author. Review was written voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book. Tahlia x Noah was everything I never knew I needed. Anxious girlies everywhere rejoice because I felt so seen while reading this book. Noah, quite literally, balanced her out and it is the sweetest thing I’ve ever read.

Thank you to the author for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

[Amy Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review
The 4th installment in one of my favourite series introduces us to new characters that we glimpsed in book 3, Tahlia and Noah, two geeky witches who are both virgins and both are relatively anxiety prone. This volume also introduces several other new characters.

I absolutely adore this series yet I just didn't connect with this story as well. The writing is just as great, it's cute and funny and spicy like the rest but I didn't connect with either of these new characters and with the addition of more new characters and not very much of all the old ones that I love so much, it felt maybe too far removed from the other books. It didn't feel quite so Hallmark with less of it taking place in the shops and these characters doing the techie side of things, it felt more trendy I guess. I also missed their being a really issue dangerous issue to solve and big climactic scene with high stakes like most of the other stories, this one was slower paced and mostly about the battles of Tahlia's anxiety, inner turmoil and fearing her electrical powers.

But, I did enjoy having a couple of virgins, it's awkward and cute but even though they're not entirely sure what to do, the spicy scenes are still very steamy and more endearing and probably realistic than most. This is a slower burn than the others, which makes sense since they're both inexperienced.
There's still plenty of humour, I think the fact that they're both nerds comes across very well as there was extra comedy and lots more hyperventilating in the inner dialogue than the prior books, these characters do feel younger and goofier, which is what they are!

The key elements of the series are all still here, it's sweet, cute, cozy, inspiring and steamy, as always the characters learn to trust themselves and step into their power, there's found family and healing and quirkiness. Whilst I missed the old characters taking center stage and I didn't bond as tightly to this couple, I think most readers will, especially if they love nerds, pure heroes, strong anxiety representation, sweet stories and slow burn romances. I'm still excited to see what happens next!

[Marianna (marylest) Porcino · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome back to the beautiful town of Eliza Falls with its magical and romantic atmosphere.

The protagonists of this fourth book are Tahlia and Noah.
Tahlia, a young girl who has just graduated, a computer genius, who works in Cora and Desi's boutique. She is an 'electric' ⚡ witch. Her magic is powerful and she is afraid of harming others, as she is not confident in controlling them. This fear has led her to always be closed in on herself and try to keep her distance from other people, developing a social anxiety that she tries to reduce little by little.

Noah, on the other hand, finds himself catapulted to Eliza Falls (after everything that happened in the previous book) and here, thanks to Desi, he finds a flat, a job and friends. He is a magician with a very peculiar power: he is able to balance the magics of others. He considers his own magic useless and insignificant, but this will soon change....
From the very first meeting, the atmosphere is electric! 😏 Both of them are lost, insecure and awkward, but they gain confidence during the story, getting to know and open up not only to each other but also to their friends (the characters we have come to know and love so much in the previous books, but also new characters who are introduced to us in this book, including Gary 😆). They will find strength and courage, and finally find a home.

Let yourself also be captivated by this small town. Experience with the protagonists these funny, adventurous and of course romantic story, full of magic.

Cozy, fast reading. The author's writing will keep you glued to each page until the last page.

I recommend this book if you love : small town romance, fated mate, paranormal romance, witchy vibes, cozy setting and 🔥🔥!

Thank you Maggie Francis for the digital copy of the book.

[Jayne K. (Fyrefli Fictionary) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes when sparks fly people get hurt. Two people are caught up in a whirlwind of chemistry, but will their pasts keep them from seeing their potential future?

Read if you like: romcom; (magical) small town romance; paranormal romance; witches, shifters, and more, oh my; fated mates; first love; awkward nerds; cozy settings; and spice!

Tahlia and Noah run into each other, literally. And she accidentally electrocutes him and knocks him out! After, Tahlia gets Noah to safety she hopes she’ll never see him again. But Noah is fleeing from his reluctant involvement a dastardly plot and subsequently runs into the helping arms of Desi and crew. Which means Tahlia and Noah are about to be forced to see each other thanks to their psychic friend. With their own pasts and insecurities looming will their obvious spark of attraction could just as easily burn everything down.

I’m so glad to be back in Eliza Falls. I absolutely love this magical town an all the people who call it home. Now that our wolf pack is all mated and accounted for, we have some witchy loose ends to tie up. Tahlia and Noah are both absolute messes. Adorable, anxious messes that you want to hug and encourage the whole way through the book. Their meeting, and almost murder, sets the stage for a bunch of guilt, confusion, and antics. We get to see how the rest of our magical friends are doing and we are introduced to several new characters that will keep us in romances for a good while.

Both of our main characters are feeling lost and adrift in their lives. Together they find the strength and courage to do what needs to be done for themselves. The care taken with their anxiety and self-doubt as part of the emotional and personal growth is quite lovely. We get a really fun and interesting juxtaposition of slow burn and instalust. Watching these characters learn about each other and how their magics work together is a refreshing bit of love reinforced with understanding and acceptance. This story hits all the right notes. It zaps life into your heart and leaves you wanting to see what else the residents of Eliza Falls have in store.

[Belle · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're offended by swearing, sex and laugh out loud situations, this probably isn't for you!

Maggie Francis's latest offering for her Eliza Falls series focuses on Tahlia, a witch with serious spark. Naturally reclusive, Tahlia works with Desi and Cora and is finally beginning to feel a sense of belonging. Given her talents, she prefers being alone and is naturally wary of people so when she finds a strange man in the woods, her first response is to electrocute him. After panicking, she successfully revives him, has another panic attack and knocks him out cold only to dump him anonymously at the hospital.

Poor Noah just can't catch a break. His uncle is a xenophobic cult leader hell-bent on destroying werewolves and he's just woken up naked in a hospital before being rescued (kidnapped?) by Desi and Alma. Before long, he's being welcomed to Eliza Falls and its unique inhabitants. When fate (with a helping hand from Desi) pushes him to Tahlia, the sparks really fly.

[My Emotional Support Story · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. The hardest thing about reviewing a Maggie Francis book is picking a quote for my graphic. She has so many amazing one liners, inner thoughts, and heartfelt declarations that I spend WAY TOO LONG deciding on if I want sweet or sassy.

Onward with the review, thank you to Maggie for the e-ARC!

Emoji summary
⚡️😵🏥🌮🐈🧙‍♀️😬😩😬😩😬⛈️🚣‍♀️⚡️🎇🌶️🌶️🏥🧹😍💕🌶️🌶️🌶️

Thalia and Noah are two of the most adorable nerdy anxious babies. We get to spend a good long cozy journey while they learn how to ‘people’ and how to let other people love them.

Tahlia is a witch with electric magic and because of the danger she’s always kept her guard up and doesn’t let people get close to her. Working in Desi & Cora’s shop she keeps a low profile and is mostly okay with her solitary life, or at least she tells herself that

Noah was caught up with the evil warlock in pervious books and he’s learning that his past actions don’t define him and the people of Eliza Falls are just full of warmth and love for someone on a path of good. He’s got a balancing magic that he has always felt was useless, until he meets Tahlia.

These two dance around each other and the mystery of the other for a large portion of the book, but when they come together sparks fly 🎇

@fyreflifictionary introduced me to this series and she said it best, it’s an interesting balance of slow burn + instalust.

This is very much like your sitting down with your BFF and hearing the hilarious mishaps story of how she met her a soul mate. Sometimes we were in our main characters heads a little long getting caught up in little things and I just wanted to hurry up and get to the good stuff, but the pay off was worth the wait!

So grab a cup of tea and get cozy with the latest installment in Eliza Falls!

[Geraldine · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I rounded up!

Although I enjoyed dipping back into Eliza Falls, and the world the author has created, unfortunately I didn’t connect with this story or the characters as much as the others in the series.

The heat was good as always with this series and the flow of the story worked well.
I did find that that there was a lot of inner thought though, (possibly due to the introverted nature of the characters) including whole chapters with no speech at all. I think that caused a bit of a barrier between me and the story unfortunately. Although this may be personal preference.

You’re not going to connect with all stories in a standalone series like this, that’s the joy of them, in my opinion.
I’ll be reading the next one nonetheless!

[Lita · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this was quite good, I didn't like it as much as I did the other books in this series. I was disappointed that the story arc concerning Seb and Tate's parents wasn't addressed at all. I had hoped it would be as part of an overall continuing story arc. I found myself bored at times while I read this story and felt parts of it were redundant. The actual love story between the two MCs was sweet and Tahlia's personal story was good but maybe a bit overdone. There was a lot of personal angst and the MCs spent a lot of time in their own heads instead of actually connecting. The ending was gratifying though and it was a decent read but not one I'm overly excited about.

[Bella · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once I got into the story this book was amazing, I loved every minutes past chapter 9 or 10. The beginning felt a little slow to me but that is also due to outside life you know. After i got over the intro to a new book hump this book was so good. I loved the characters and the anxiety form Thalia was so real and relatable. Noah was this perfect balance to Thalia and it made the read so nice.

[Reva Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a small town girl and this book is such a comfort read. It was easy to fall in love with everyone. I enjoyed it from start to finish

I need to go back and finish the rest of the series 😅🫣 I’m such a #moodreaderproblems

[Nastia · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Okay, so point me in the direction of your house and explain what you meant when you said you killed me. In that order, please.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
Here we go once again.
“Eliza Falls” series is a favorite series, each book like a new episode with unique couple and continuation of general plot which we started in first book.
So this story starts straight from the moment the previous book ended. Our new characters were on different sides of conflict, but they are like two peas in a pod. Both socially awkward and full of anxiety.
What can cause their paths to cross? How this two beautiful disasters can be together? How their relationship will progress? Why she is afraid of all human contact? What is his magic?
So many interesting things happening in this story. But mainly we have a story of acceptance, love and friendship and how a simple touch can change everything, especially when you are storm drunk.
Also i loved how new characters were introduced to us. New mysterious lady and an eccentric artist. They are so cute, can’t wait to read about their stories.

Many thanks to Maggie Francis for sharing this beautiful ARC with me before official release.