I’ve coveted a lot of valuables in my life. Magic was never one of them.
My plan was to spend my days on a little team-building, a headquarters’ renovation, and an overdue date with a smoking-hot shifter. Instead, I’m stuck learning to wield a magic as unpredictable as my nature.
As the first known shifter witch hybrid, my sexy alpha werewolf isn't the only one pressuring me to join ranks. The local coven is determined to get me under control. With their rules and rituals, they're worse than a supernatural H.O.A. Too bad, I'm allergic to being told what to do.
When a demon spell book makes a cameo on a celebrity gossip show, the Enclave hands me the distraction I need. Going undercover on a movie set sounds like a sweet gig. A week of flamboyant costumes, daredevil stunts, and glitzy parties should make it an easy job.
Unfortunately, Los Angeles is a magnet for more than wannabe starlets. If the vampires get their hands on that book of spells, Hollywood won’t be the only place overrun with demons. With an all-access-pass to our world, it’ll take more than my unpredictable magic to hold off the demon war that’s brewing.
Magic Heist is the third book in the Riley Cruz series about a goat shifter who steals magical artifacts. If you like fun, fast-paced urban fantasy with quirky characters and a dose of slow-burn romance, this is the book for you.
Most of the time, I don't finish two books in the same day, but I could not put this one down.
I love these characters. They have such a unique blend of traits, but they mesh together so well and are so much fun to read. Garth and Helen both threatened to steal the show in this quirky addition to the series.
There were some mistakes that would've pulled me out of other books, but McBride kept me so invested in the cast and the plot that I was able to overlook them and still give this novel 5 stars.
I cannot wait for the next book to release! In the meantime, I might need to start Kali's stories.
I received an ARC from the author, but this review is my own. Riley is so much fun to read, I love how she takes everything with a lot of laughs but is fiercely loyal to her crew, when tasked with a new job Riley and crew do things in such a unique way that will have you smiling and laughing a lot. Seeing how her relationship with Max grows and becomes something even she didn't expect, something really special. I love seeing how Riley pulls off the jobs in her own unique way, not always the best, but she gets the job done one way or another. With her crew in tow, she's becoming a force to be reckoned with. I love how Riley always sees the best in everyone and every opportunity, never fails to make me smile. I now look forward to Rileys next book.
As always, Riley's books leave us with a new surprise. Her life has been a whirlwind of unfamiliar situations, but now, with her new reality, it is impossible to know where this new magic will take her.
WELL DAMN, after the previous books ending I couldn't wait to pick up this one to see what was in store for my girl Riley and once again I was not disappointed. Although I love all of these books, this one has to be my favourite so far (I literally couldn't put it down) there's suspense and secrets galore and just when I think I've figured something out, BAM something else comes along. I swear this author along with Riley are going to be the death of me, but I'm loving every moment of it.
When the Enclave hand Riley her next job, going undercover on a movie set to get a demon spell book that surfaced on a celebrity gossip show, she is looking forward to the distraction it will provide. After all the glamorous parties, costumes and dare devil stunts will not only make the job more fun, but will take her mind off the recent secrets she has discovered. Unfortunately for Riley and her crew, they aren't the only ones after the book, so they will need to get to it first. Because in the wrong hands, hell could literally break loose.
Riley always brings her A game to the table even when things don't turn out how she expects them to be. Like when she's on the movie set ready for an action film only to find out it's nothing of the sort, what does she do, she improvises of course. Hey if she can learn to make a Molotov cocktail on the internet, cheerleading should be no problem haha. When she finds out that the local coven wants to get their hands on her, she takes it in her stride because nobody is going to make her do anything that she doesn't want to do. Which is exactly why I adore her so much, she won't change for anybody. You either except her as is or not at all. She is unequivocally my favourite female character of all time (I will die on this hill) and I can't wait to see where she takes me next.
The more I learn about Max, the more I fall for the guy. He's starting to share more about his past with Riley, even if his mother does try to interfere with their relationship, makes him more complex than I first thought. But finding out he has a gift for music and is the world's biggest romantic, had me giddy with joy. I mean he literally pulls out all the stops for a perfect first date, although it doesn't end up as planned (bless him) I'm still swooning none the less. His protectiveness of Riley hasn't let up, in fact goes up a notch when the local coven try to get their hands on her, yep the guy has definitely won my heart cementing himself into my book boyfriend hall of fame. ❤️
Now if there's a character that's got under my skin and not in a good way, it's Martha. Head of the local coven she's determined to get Riley under her control using every means possible. I can totally understand why Helen, Alyce, Janis and Bea go out of their way to antagonize her as she is insufferable. I'm definitely hating on her big time...
Oh God the lengths that Helen and the rest of the Stitch Witches will go to to get the coven to back off Riley is priceless. I'm literally a mess, giggling so hard my sides hurt. These wily old girls are just ace, nothing is out of bounds with them and I love them for it. And for the record I STILL want them to adopt me.
I love everything about this series, from the humor to the tension, this author definitely knows how to keep me hooked and on my toes. I've finally caught up with Riley's adventures, now I've got to wait until the next one is released. But you can bet I pushed that preorder button so fast I nearly broke my finger.
So if you want a fantastic Urban Fantasy to sink your teeth into, featuring a feisty goat shifter who loves to find trouble, a loveable but uptight Alpha and a found family who will feel like your best friends, this is the book for you. Highly recommend 😁
There is nothing better than a punchy opening line to get me to pay attention from the onset and this one sure did, "it's about time you got yourself a stripper pole". Needless to say, it drew a giggle from me and I slunk back to enjoy more Riley! Riley has held a special place in my heart since I first met her and her character invoked all the emotions I possess. She cut me to my core and I was thrilled to get to see her grow, to see her get out of a situation that haunted her for years, her coming into her own and magic and the BEST is seeing her being loved, cherished, by none other than the yummy Max! A whole new chapter for Riley, a whole new take on her life is unfolding before her eyes, and then... of course there HAS to be an "and then!" Oh my goodness did I laugh! Max, proving to be a romantic at heart, arranges the perfect date for Riley, like REALLY perfect! And when a tumble amongst some leaves put a crimp to it, I couldn't help but laugh. No.... not THAT type of tumble!
I loved Riley's past opening up, leaving more red herrings than answers, it took the mystery element up a notch. Which this author does superbly, she wiggles her way around her words in a manner that's enticing and alluring, allowing me me to delve deeper and deeper. But oy are things taking a turn for Riley! With her unique abilities, like REALLY unique abilities, she has even more reason to stay under the radar except... you guessed it, easier said than done when a b*tch of a witch decides to go all out for her! Well the ante got turned up like a gas stove inferno, one bombshell dropping after another, even Garth, who's a rooster BTW, had my jaw drop in disbelief! No, I'm not going to say why, you seriously need to discover that by reading this book! But my word is Garth a hoot! He's a rooster after my own heart, so freaking obnoxious and entitled, he rocks it whenever he appears. These characters, what can I say...they rock! I adore Riley's adopted "aunties" they're so protective of her, so scathing of the rules and practices of the Coven, they're "solo witches" marching to their own drum, or, as Bea commented"to mayhem". The shenanigans they get up to is hilarious! Kali, Craig, Nash, Dez, my gorgeous vamp Dez, all of them individual, all of them very developed, all of them so very likeable. All of them Riley's new family...
This book had a different feel to it from the previous ones, there was less anxious tension and warmer feel of family, of friends and of the steadfast bond they had. Riley was no longer the outsider on the run, she had a true team who watched her back, who aided her, who joined her in her next heist. Oh yeah, THAT'S what Riley's expertise is, she's a master thief! I really loved the sense of "togetherness" I felt throughout the book. They set up a heist to locate and "retrieve" a dangerous book, all planned out, all well thought through and then...yes, plans go belly up in a jiffy! My goodness did the second half ramp up in action! I could barely sit with one blow after the other pounding me to a pulp! A wonderful continuation of a wonderful goat shifter who captured my heart, she'll capture yours too once YOU get to meet her...
There's so much more I want to SAY about this book, which is impossible or this review would end up more than 20000 words, the comical snappy moments are outstanding! From references to poop containment to catnip for a demon, unexpected and smile worthy. The plot and pacing, the world building, all of it adds another level of joy whenever I read a Lisa McBride book! All I can emphatically say, is READ THIS SERIES!!!!
(FYI I tend to only review one book per series, unless I want to change my scoring by 0.50 or more of a star. -- I tend not to read reviews until after I read a book, so I go in with an open mind.)
2.75*
First book I rated 3.75*, I didn't bother to rate the second because it fell by 0.25 of a star.... but I still am not keen on the love interest so that lost it points again, and more, this book.
Author, what exactly do you think a
This totally threw me out of the book and made me decide to type this instead of keep reading. Guess you can tell the plot started to bore me, the 'romantic' interlude**that happened just before, was already irritating me, then we had the above 'huh?' moment.
**
I'll keep going and hope it doesn't lose more than a star from the rating I gave the first book.
Finished it.
I still like everyone but the love interest. He's alright as a character, but I don't really like him with the MC. I also don't like her with him, what she IMHO puts up with.
Also I'm already signed up to her newsletter, but haven't been sent the epilogue, so got to mess about signing up again to finish the story. -- I'll edit if the full story means my score changes.
First time read the author's work?: No
Will you be reading more?: Probably
Would you recommend?: Probably
------------ How I rate Stars: 5* = I loved (must read all I can find by the author) 4* = I really enjoyed (got to read all the series and try other books by the author). 3* = I enjoyed (I will continue to read the series) or 3* = Good book just not my thing (I realised I don't like the genre or picked up a kids book to review in error.)
All of the above scores means I would recommend them! - 2* = it was okay (I might give the next book in the series a try, to see if that was better IMHO.) 1* = Disliked
Note: adding these basic 'reviews' after finding out that some people see the stars differently than I do - hoping this clarifies how I feel about the book. :-)
This next book in this series was brilliant! I just loved all the action, the sweet romance, the twists and turns that constantly had me on the edge of my seat, the slight betrayal of Bea, but most of all Riley!
In this one, Riley's team of demon artefact hunters are now becoming stronger and more close knit, and are sent on a mission to retrieve a demon spell book over in Hollywood. What should have been an easy break in and grab kind of mission, soon turns into something completely unexpected! I loved Riley's undercover role here!
Riley was a great character in this one - I loved how she initially got one up against Martha, who obviously hadn't considered Riley's shifter nature at all. Her powers are developing, but into what I have no idea. The friendly witches all believe she is a null, but with what happened in the silo with Phoebe will make them - and me - rethink that idea. I have a feeling that she will end up as something like a magic vacuum cleaner, sucking up everyone else's powers, but I have no idea what you would call that! I can't wait to find out though! And I can't wait to see the look on Martha's face when all is revealed!
I loved that Riley and Max's relationship is now starting to heat up and that he is letting her in a bit more, revealing more about his past and his feelings. He can be a bit over protective of her at times, but she definitely stands up to him and will not let him push her over at all! I love her independent she is, while at the same time, is willing to show that she needs him.
The best character though had to be Garth! Who would have thought a rooster could be so much fun and his secret was a complete shocker as well!
I can't wait to read the rest of this series and see what happens with Riley next and then I think I need to jump back to Kali James' series as I feel something is missing as I haven't read that one yet!
I've been waiting—not very patiently—for Riley's latest adventure! It does not disappoint! Our full cast is here, the aging witches who give zero F's, the hot alpha werewolf, the reluctant vampire, the deadly human, and the demon rooster. And it will take the entire crew for this heist! They have to steal a very dangerous demon grimoire to keep the next apocalypse from occurring.
As usual, Riley's antics keep you howling with laughter. This goat shifter has never found the situation that makes her less than confident. A fill in as a movie stunt double? She's sure she's got it handled. Karaoke? Not an issue even if she's completely tone deaf, and stealing a deadly grimoire that is protected by wards and tech? Easy Peasy.
Of course, that isn't how the universe works, and that's what makes the story the bomb! (there are also a few explosions, of course)
What can I say? Riley is a total package of confident, capable, and capricious (see what I did there?). Everything I love in a UF MC! It's not her fault that things don't ever go as planned!
Pick up this series today. You won't be disappointed. Riley, from now to forever, will always be the G.O.A.T!
Who is worse as an enemy, demons or witches? Riley and crew are tasked with finding a demon artifact that will allow demons to take over the world. Pretty bad. But a bunch of witches are after Riley too, and, man, those ladies are mean. Luckily the crew, including a rather special rooster, have Riley's back - as does her swoonsome boyfriend Max.
I love how everyone is showing a new side to themselves in this instalment (especially Max). Riley's immunity to magic is throwing up a lot of questions, but she can depend on her skills and her team, which gives me hope for myself, should I ever be in a similar situation.
The action comes thick and fast in this one. Nash, with his special forces experience, and Dez, with his technical brilliance, really bring the heists to life, while the good witches are as zany and hilarious as ever.
I can't wait to read the next one. But it's not out yet, so, sadly, I must.
Now let me say, I love Kali and her books, but Riley? She has wormed her way into my very soul. Sassy, snarky, unapologetically herself, vulnerable, caring, fierce, sneaky, and just *chef's kiss* perfect. She is off on an all new adventure and there's all kids of drama afoot. The local Coven wants her, for "training", and her bosses want a new artifact that has surfaced. She also has her first date with Max, and it is glorious. Oh, she meets his mom. That's.....fun. There's a lot in this book and it was well worth the wait. It's setting up for several more stories and intriguing twists. I did leave out what was, to me, the biggest shocker in this whole book. No spoilers for it, but it made so much sense. Definitely give this a read and this series a chance. Well worth it.
Riley and the team are back and better than ever. She and Alpha Volkov are together and she has even convinced Kali that it's for real. The only issue is the local coven is out to wrangle her under their training and supervision and the only thing stopping them is Volkov but she may need to join the pack to keep his protection. Not to mention the new mission from Sato to find and recover a demon book and possibly kill its non-human owner. But they are beaten to the book and must battle a fearsome duo which includes a demon souled warrior and his Witch Wife. All the while the coven is after her and her friends can do little to fend them off. Oh and the training with her surrogate family has been interesting and could lead to a huge surprise. This is by far Ms. McBrides best book yet and the world she has created is truly a world you can get lost in.
still a fun read but i liked this book a little less than the first two. maybe bc of the lack of max + riley moments and i wasn't a huge fan of max's mom trying to get rid of riley for the sake of her son. i really appreciated riley standing up to her and bringing up really good points that his mom failed to acknowledge. the whole movie plot was eh and i thought that it ended really abruptly? this book definitely felt short and i feel like more could've been added to the end? i get that it was supposed to feel cliff-hanger-y but it really seemed more like the end of a chapter than the book. like someone literally just split this book and decided to end it here.
i'm curious to see where riley will end up in terms of her magic, her background, is she truly just a goat shifter?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I quite enjoy almost every book I read because it’s more of a compulsion as opposed to a hobby, but there are definitely some authors I enjoy on a whole different level. Guess what? This is one such author. This is the third book in the series and things are getting serious for poor Riley. Not only is she on the hunt for a magical artifact, but she also is trying to keep out of the witches’ clutches because she has a secret to keep. I was so glad to be back in this universe, I devoured this book in one go. I was so sad when this was over because it ended way too soon. Now, I’ll be anxiously awaiting the next one in the series. Fans of this author and series will be thrilled with this latest installment. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
I love Riley's spunky attitude & optimism! Her crew is still getting to know each other & learning to gel with everyone's different strengths, but you can tell they're getting there. Don't tell my rooster, Rocky, that I love another rooster: Garth! He almost stole the show! It's always good to see my other favorites Kali & Volkov. They are so supportive, but also let Riley be her self-reliant self until she needs them. I'm glad she's found space to feel safe. I'm definitely not trusting the Witches' Council at this point. I think it needs new management. Also, researching Riley's background & new abilities are just bringing up more questions. Can't wait for the next adventure!
Riley and her team of Dez, Nash and Kali are sent to retrieve a Demon book of spells by the Enclave in this third book of Riley's series. Max, worried for her safety insists Craig goes with. It's an action packed book with the team working undercover in the movies, Riley's first date with Max, new info about her and her mom and the witches trying to test her. I love Riley and Max together and wish there were more of them but L.A.'s books are fun and enjoyable to read. However , Riley's troubles are not over so a cliffhanger until the next book with some of the plot lines. I received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.
This book has the first little wrinkles in the series. Possibly because I'm not reading Kali's books concurrently but more than one moment has stopped me and made me wonder why the storyline jumped. That said, it's again a very interesting and funny story, with smart main characters and (mostly) smart side characters (Bea needs to go to Oz and borrow the scarecrow's brain). I'm concerned that book 4 may be too rushed to wrap up such a complex story but I'm very hopeful since the author has done really well with this series so far.
This one didn't hit me as well as the 2 previous. I felt like most of the Scenes were truncated and incomplete. The whole idea of faking a stunt double and having no idea what the movie was about seemed pretty absurd. I'm also having problems determining how Martha can get away with all of the coven regulations - something is decisively off with that. The Garth demon was pretty funny and answered some questions about his abilities. The end was sweet with Volkov but seemed like it was cut off also. It just felt like we were stumbling from action to action without any conclusion/closure.
Meeting up with the witches council proves to be problematic as Riley is finding out about her parents and understanding she has a bigger secret now that she is a null. Max is moody and still pressing for her to join the PAC which she doesn’t want ever do again despite being a shifter with magic. More demon artifacts this time a Book must be found and the team is having some growing pains “gelling” together in a cohesive way. The HQ is still in flux but the tools Dev comes up with are just as great as Kali’s costumes. The rooster is a trip and Nash is not dealing with it well. So funny, action packed the witches are hilarious!😆
I love Riley and her crew. This book has it all. We finally get a romantic first date for Riley and Max. We learn more about Riley’s parents. And we learn who Garth the rooster really is (total shocker!). Plus the main storyline of Riley and her team tracking down another demon relic.
And of course we can’t forget the Stitch Witches who left me literally in stitches from laughing so hard at their antics. Full on belly laughs with tears rolling down my face. They are the best! I need one of their t shirts!!
I like all of Riley's crew so a new book was a joy. This time she is after a book of demon spells and it is going to be a difficult task. One new thing in this book is she bought an old warehouse for a headquarters and the book starts with a work party there. She also has to avoid being evaluated for her magical potential by the local coven. This is a result of events in the previous book. Garth also plays a role in the story and we learn more about the rooster. He has to be one of my favorite characters in this book.
Well as usual with this series, I am left wanting to read more, the story is so well written that when the end of the book comes you are not ready for it! I love Riley, she's so sassy and confident that I know I'd love to be her friend. I am loving the relationship with Max, he is really going all out for her, and I love the care and attention he is giving her. While Riley spends a lot of time, in this book, dodging the witch coven I have a feeling that this is going to get worse with the development towards the end. Can't wait for the next book.
The gang is back together for Riley’s latest heist. Their team building seems to be working finally as they pull together to pull it off. There’s some problems to overcome on the way, but nothing Riley can’t handle with her tried and true arsenal of skills plus newfound magic. The book is fast paced and sets the stage for further adventures as it ends in a cliffhanger. I enjoyed this Advanced Reader Copy and look forward to seeing where it leads next. I give it 5 stars and recommend it to everyone who enjoys this series.
Riley's book are such a fun read, she's a funny FMC and I'm here for it. This book's storyline was action-packed, funny, and emotional, reading how the relationship between characters developed and deepened made me want to read more and more about this family of misfits. I love everything about Riley and her group of misfits. Found Family is my favorite trope so it's always a treat to read it.
L.A. McBride's writing skill brings characters like Riley, Max, Nash, and even Garth alive in a realistic and relatable way even though we are reading urban fantasy. Highly recommend it!
Riley’s story continues with another demon artifact catching adventure! I love the continued build up of the romance dynamic between her and Max. Riley finds herself once again having to fight multiple battles at once. I love the ending but it does end with unanswered questions so just be warned! I can’t wait for more of Riley’s adventures with her team and sexy romance with Max!! Worth the wait and will leave you hanging onto your reading nook for more!
Riley has been working hard to get past her time under Carl’s thumb in the Sante Fe pack. Since then she’s moved to KC, MO, made friends, found family, and built up her circle of trust with amazing people who absolutely have her back. Her relationship with Max Volkov has slowly been growing into something she can’t deny, and she and her crew are seeking out demon artifacts for the Enclave regularly, expenses paid, and rewards on delivery.
Life’s been pretty good for Riley, especially since settling things with Carl’s pack and putting some solid protection on her crewmate Nash, the only mortal in the bunch. When a new gig pops up with Kade Sato’s arrival, Riley knows that this next heist is going to be a big one! But a trip to Hollywood for the grab? How could she turn down a job like this
It’s going to be great! It is! Nothing says team-building like a big payday, amirite?? It’s gonna be fiiiiiiine. Waitaminit… the rooster’s got a weird look in his eye…
“Magic Heist” is the third novel to the new Riley Cruz spin-off series from the award-winning Kali James series by L. A. McBride. It lives in the same world as Kali James and features a new perspective on characters fans already know and love. It also allows readers to see more of events that may have been only briefly mentioned in the OG series, which is an absolute treat! The hits keep on coming, and the humor is on point! The settings are rich, the characters dynamic, the action keeps coming, the burn slow-and-steamy, and the book is unputdownable! I highly recommend this book and look forward to Riley’s continuing solo series!
I received a free copy of this e-book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Wow! What a fantastic adventure for Riley and her friends! Riley and Max are on fire together. Riley is quite fearless most of the time and wings it along the way. This story is another wonderful adventure with this amazing group of friends. I will stop here, as I do not do spoilers! I Highly Recommend! I Loved It!!! I received an ARC and I am Leaving this Totally Honest Review because I Choose to and think that this book is Fantastic!!!
Riley likes to accept all challenges. Can she cheerlead or skydive, carry out stunt fights and save the day. There might be a little improvisation on some of those but Riley is a quick learner.
The local coven is determined to test Riley as much as Riley is determined to not be tested. Besides the enclave have a mission for them to complete before anything else.
Riley is back and working on another heist for the Enclave. I love Riley’s character. She’s got such self confidence and banter. She knows who she is and what she wants.
There’s lots going on for Riley and her friends - film stunts, chicken companions, a witch coven out to get her and a host of really great characters. It’s fast paced and funny; balanced with some real heartfelt moments too.
Yet another amazing heist book! Riley must steal a magic artifact from a Hollywood stunt man. Hijinks ensue. This book was do much fun and it answered some of the questions from the series. It also introduces some new adversaries. Plus, lots of Garth the chicken! Love this book so much. 10/10 no notes!
The gangs all back and this time they’re invading a movie set to find their demon artefact. The humour in this book is spot on! And with the crew all working together and starting to become family you can’t help but love them as they work together. With a fantastic finale and fun along the way it’s a fantastic read