Wickedly Wonderful

Baba Yaga #2

by Deborah Blake

Known as the wicked witch of Russian fairy tales, Baba Yaga is not one woman, but rather a title carried by a chosen few. They keep the balance of nature and guard the borders of our world, but don’t make the mistake of crossing one of them…

Though she looks like a typical California surfer girl, Beka Yancy is in fact a powerful yet inexperienced witch who’s struggling with her duties as a Baba Yaga. Luckily she has her faithful dragon-turned-dog for moral support, especially when faced with her biggest job yet…

A mysterious toxin is driving the Selkie and Mer from their homes deep in the trenches of Monterey Bay. To investigate, Beka buys her way onto the boat of Marcus Dermott, a battle-scarred former U.S. Marine, and his ailing fisherman father.

While diving for clues, Beka drives Marcus crazy with her flaky New Age ideas and dazzling blue eyes. She thinks he’s rigid and cranky (and way too attractive). Meanwhile, a charming Selkie prince has plans that include Beka. Only by trusting her powers can Beka save the underwater races, pick the right man, and choose the path she’ll follow for the rest of her life…

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

353 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 2, 2014

About the author

Deborah is the author of over a dozen non-fiction books on modern witchcraft and a tarot and oracle decks from Llewellyn. Her fiction includes the Baba Yaga series, The Broken Rider series, and the Veiled Magic series, and her cozy mysteries The Catskill Pet Rescue series (mostly from Berkley) as well as a few stand-alone novels.

Deborah lives in a 130 year old farmhouse in upstate NY with multiple cats. She believes in magic, laughter, chocolate, and wine. The order may change depending on the day.

Reviews

[Madison Warner Fairbanks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wickedly Wonderful by Deborah Blake
Book 2 of the Baba Yaga series. Paranormal romance. Can be read as a stand-alone.
Beka Yancy has finished her training and is on her first mission as a Baba Yaga. A witch in charge of protecting all magical creatures. She’s not quite certain of her magic or her right to be in her position. In only a short time, she will have to make the ultimate decision: stay on the path to being a Baba, or give it up to become human again.
Marcus meets Beka when he brings up his fisherman’s net with her inside. She can’t tell him that she was saving a baby mermaid. Marcus doesn’t believe that Beka cut his nets to rescue a baby dolphin, but he’s fascinated by her all the same.

Investigation, flirtatious behavior, a selkie prince and a mystery that’s making the local water population sick.
Engaging and a gratifying romance.
3.5 rounded up to 4 for the talking dragon disguised as a dog.

[Maria V. Snyder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 of the Baba Yaga series of paranormal romance. I really enjoyed this book and read it in a few nights. I love the world that Deborah has created and the characters especially the dragon disguised as a huge dog - I would love to have one of those in my house! If you haven't read this series, you need to start with the first book, Wickedly Dangerous. They should be read in order!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Wickedly Wonderful is the story of Beka, the youngest of the three Baba Yaga witches currently residing in America. She has less experience than her fellow Babas and has much less confidence in her abilities thanks to the way she was treated by her predecessor but that doesn't stop her jumping in to help when the selkies and merpeople are forced to leave their homes due to a strange poison that is making them sick. The seafolk have been forced to leave everything behind in search of safe water and Beka is going to have her work cut out trying to figure out what is going on.

Marcus is an ex-Marine who has returned home and is helping his father run his fishing boat but the mysterious poison is affecting all sea life and all of the local fishermen are all struggling to make a living. Marcus is trying to convince his father to sell up so he can move away but the old man is stubborn and refuses to quit. Anyway, the last thing Marcus needs is a new age hippy like Beka hanging around but his father needs the money she is offering and agrees to take her out on the boat so she can carry out research.

In a lot of ways Beka and Marcus are complete opposites but they both have strong protective instincts and they're both prepared to do whatever it takes to protect the people they care about. Beka has to keep her true reason for being out on the boat a secret but it isn't long before Marcus gets suspicious and starts putting two and two together. Once he is onboard with the investigation things start to move a lot quicker but Beka has several people working against her trying to stop her getting to the bottom of things.

I had mixed feelings about the first book in this series, I love the way Deborah Blake has put her own spin on the Baba Yaga mythology and she's really brought the witches into the 21st century while still liking it through to the original stories but I felt a bit disappointed by the romance and think I'd have enjoyed the story more if there had been a bigger focus on the mystery. I'm happy to say I liked Wickedly Wonderful more, Beka was easier to relate to than her sister Barbara and I definitely felt more invested in the relationship between Beka and Marcus. They fit together really well and I liked how they started as enemies before becoming reluctant allies and eventually more. I also enjoyed the mystery side more in this book, it was a little too obvious who the bad guys were which is why this didn't quite hit 4 stars for me though. Either way this series is definitely improving and I'm looking forward to spending time with the third Baba, Bella, in the next book.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had a fantastic time with the first book in the series and was awed just a bit from the creative Baba Yaga world. It was a no-contest decision to take up the sequel telling the story of the next Baba Yaga, Beka Yancy. This book moves things to a new territory, the beautiful central California coast, and focuses on an adventure by and in the sea since this Baba claims water as her strongest magical element. It's only fitting that her Chudo Yudo is disguised as a huge loveable Newfoundland, her hut is an eclectically decorated school bus and her preferred wheels are a surf board and a Karmann Ghia. Since this one got the reader up to speed and dove into the story, the character development and the romance with just brief reminders as to the backdrop and a lot of the magical world surrounding the Baba Yagas, I was much better pleased with this installment than the first one.

This one could be read out of order or as a standalone as there is enough description to get the reader in the loop, but my advice is to get them in order. As I said, the worldbuilding is better teased out in the first one.

The story opens just as Beka has been released to be on her own as a full-fledged Baba Yaga when her mentor, the previous Baba Yaga, is retired to the Otherworld. Beka feels shaky about her abilities and even harbors serious doubts that being a Baba Yaga is what she wants to do. And that's before she lands on the bad side of a cantankerous fisherman while out on a rescue and then a huge problem is dropped into her lap. Beka is approached by the Mer Queen and the Selkie King because something is poisoning their home in the deep hidden trench and their people are sick and dying. She strikes the deal to aid them even though she is convinced that this is way above her pay grade.

Marcus returned from a 12-year career as a marine when he is contacted by a concerned friend that his dad is being treated for cancer. He left the crusty old Irish fisherman and that world behind with only bad memories attached to his dad's harshness and his younger brother's death, but now he's back in the middle of it all determined to help someone who makes it clear he doesn't want Marcus or his help. Marcus believes he is almost as inhuman as his old da after years spent at war and it doesn't help that he is bristly and suspicious of the gorgeous blond surfer who he suspects is up to something. He can't help, but be affected by her sunny nature and bright smiles even as he fights to resist the attraction. He has no use for flaky, hippy types or any type of woman for that matter. She got around him and hired out his dad's boat to carry her out to dive for treasure or so she claims.

While Beka hunts unsuccessfully for the source of what is poisoning the sea kingdom and killing its peoples along with tentatively coming to a sort of understanding with Marcus, she meets the suave, charismatic Selkie Prince who wishes to court her for his own purposes. She is no closer to finishing her difficult tasks when the Fairy Queen adds another immediate problem to her pile that is endangering humans and magical kind alike and her former mentor has grave doubts about Beka's ability to handle it all. Beka must decide what she really wants and she must reach down inside herself to find if she has what it takes to be a Baba Yaga. When its all over, she suspects that she will lose either way because surely her cranky, magic-hating fisherman will leave her behind even though her dragon cautions her to give a chance to the unexpected.

As I said, the plot on this one got going and kept going at a good pace. It was full of changing scenes and situations, character development, intrigue and yes, a nice slow developing romance. Beka is very different from the Baba in the previous story. Where Barbara was confident and edgier and in the prime of her knowledge and power, Beka is a rookie and she is as lacking in confidence as they come. Fortunately, her dragon gives her some verbal boots up the butt to get over it and get busy. There are several things going on to capture the attention from Beka's two missions, to her personal dilemma, her choice of men interested in her, Marcus' thing with his sick dad and his issues and attraction to Beka. Marcus and Beka were a good match. Marcus' stalwart strength and drive supported Beka when she needed to lean on his help and it was good for him to have someone who needed him. Beka was also good for Marcus because her light and generous kind-hearted nature was able to heal a lot of Marcus' internal wounds. They make a good romantic pair, but also worked well together when faced with trouble. And like the first book, there is blessedly no untoward drama. The book lets the organic conflicts that are already there to challenge the hero and heroine. I loved that familiar characters like the Riders and the Fairy Queen made brief appearances even while new characters were introduced.

My only real niggle, and it's just a little one, was that I wished that Kesh's point of view hadn't been available- as interesting as it was- because knowing what he was doing early on took away some of the excitement and suspense. Oh, the book still had some thrilling moments, but I think there could have been more if the reader is as in the dark as Beka and Marcus with just the evidence of their eyes and impressions.

In the end, it was a superb story and a fantastic sequel showing the series of books just getting stronger. From the little bits gleaned from that Epilogue, I anticipate things to build even more since there looks to be some serious trouble coming- maybe for all the Baba Yagas, their guys, and their friends. I think paranormal romance fans who like slow to build story and romance development, slightly spicy romance, engaging characters and a creative world should give these a go.

My thanks to Penguin Group and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Dark Faerie Tales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Beka is having some doubts about her future as a Baba Yaga, but she now has her first solo job and has to put those doubts aside in this much improved follow up to the first book in the Baba Yaga series.

Opening Sentence: Marcus Dermott watched the sunrise from the windswept deck of his father’s fishing boat and wondered if the sea had changed, or if it was him.

The Review:

Beka is one of three Baba Yagas in America. She’s relatively new to the job, not even thirty yet, and she feels every bit as green as her age would suggest. Her mentor Baba Yaga always made her feel as if she would never be good enough, and now she doubts her ability to do the job. At the height of her insecurities, she receives her first solo job: figuring out what is making the merpeople and selkies sick. The job comes with a strict timeline, and Beka feels the pressure mounting every day. Working on this job puts her in daily contact with Marcus, a grumpy human she can’t stop thinking about. But a relationship with a human could never work out, could it? Will Beka discover the answer to that question as well as the solution to the merpeople’s problem, or will she decide to give up being a Baba Yaga and become fully human again?

I was a little hesitant starting this one because my feelings towards the first book were mixed. While I still had issues with this installment, it was definitely an improvement over the first. I found myself greatly enjoying the plot, and the interactions between Marcus and Beka were wonderful. They certainly had chemistry, and I was on the edge of my seat waiting for them to get together.

I had a much easier time connecting to Beka than I did the heroine in the first book. She felt very real, albeit a tad naive for my tastes. That’s actually my biggest (and pretty much only) complaint about the book. We find out early on who’s behind the merpeople’s illness, and all the reader can do is watch as Beka forms a friendship with the guy with no clue as to what’s going on. Maybe it’s because so many of their scenes are from his point of view, but it just seems so obvious that he’s up to something,and it gets frustrating that that part of his personality sails right over Beka’s head until the last minute.

Despite my frustration with Beka’s naivete, I greatly enjoyed this book. It was fast paced, and I found time just speeding by as I read. It left me with high hopes for book three, which I plan on reading when I get the chance. I would say if readers felt that the first book had any promise whatsoever, they should definitely give this one a shot, as I felt it was a great improvement.

Notable Scene:

Through the gaps between the ropes, she could see the Merbaby clearly, swimming in desperate circles round and round the ever-shrinking space.

His tiny pale green face was splotched with crying, although any sound he made was lost in the metallic grinding of the winch as it pulled the purse seine in tighter and tighter. As he spotted her, he shot over to her side of the net, making soft eeping noises like a distressed dolphin.

Beka swam up to the choppy surface to gulp another breath, then down again; the trip was noticeably shorter on the way back, and she knew she was running out of time. It was tempting to use magic to blast through the net, but she was afraid that she might accidentally hurt the child, and magic often didn’t work well underwater, so in the end, she simply pulled out her knife and sawed away frantically at the tough fibers.

Twice more she had to dart above to take a breath, but after the last time, her efforts paid off; she had cut a ragged hole not much more than two feet long, but large enough for the small Merbaby to exit. The fish within were already bolting toward freedom, brushing her with their tickling fins as they flashed past.

She gestured for the Merbaby to come closer, only to realize that while she had been fighting with the robustly woven strands, the child’s tail had become entangled in a section of net, and he was trapped, unable to get loose from the seine’s unrelenting grasp.

Cursing soundlessly, Beka raced to get one more deep lungful of air, then threw herself toward the hole and eeled her way through the impossibly small opening. Frantically, she fought the sinuously twining ropes until the little one was free and she could shove him through the other side. Only to find herself trapped in the quickly contracting net and rapidly running out of time and oxygen.

FTC Advisory: Penguin/Berkley provided me with a copy of Wickedly Wonderful. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wickedly Wonderful is the story of West Coast Baba Yaga, Beka Yancy. With water as her strongest element, Beka is at her best when she is settling down near the ocean, just surfing, swimming, diving… When something is poisoning the water where the ocean’s supernatural beings are residing, Beka is requested by Queen of the Merpeople and the King of the Selkies to help finding out the cause. In the meantime, she is struggling with her position as the youngest Baba Yaga and also dealing with her growing attraction to ex-Marine Marcus Dermott and fighting off the intense courting from Kesh, Prince of the Selkies.

After reading Wickedly Dangerous back in August, I knew that this series would be on the lighter side of fantasy (or maybe best to see it as light paranormal romance?) and that I should enjoy it as such. Guess what, I really liked this sequel as well!! I think that is the way to come into this book – don’t expect something heavy-like, you know, like epic battles where everyone is bruised and battered.

I thought, in a way, Beka was more vulnerable than her Baba sister. She is very young – in terms of Baba’s age; not yet thirty years old (Barbara from the first book, for example, has been a Baba Yaga for decades). Beka has not decided whether she would continue taking the Baba Yaga mantel from her predecessor. In addition, Beka’s mentor always tells her that she’s not ready yet as Baba. So she is unsure of herself, she lacks of confidence, she doesn’t know if she has what it takes to be a Baba Yaga. For me, that makes Beka more relatable. It’s great to have a strong heroine, but sometimes I also like to read about a heroine who needs to learn her mistakes and to get stronger. That is what happens to Beka … she learns that she needs to stop listening to the voices that discourage her, and she really rises up to the occasion.

The mystery surrounding the poisoned water was NOT exactly a mystery. Readers were told from early on who the villain was. We were even told from the villain’s point of view as to the reason why. So it wasn’t really a mystery – having said that, it was the process of Beka finding out about it that was worth it to read. Of course, as a reader who already pretty much knew everything, I also got frustrated and found myself saying, “Damn it, Beka, don’t be so gullible! Trust your instincts!” because I wanted Beka to stop being too kind-hearted and too trusting.

As for the romance, it did feel a little lacking in heat. I did enjoy the humorous situation that happened, such as when Marcus was being jealous of Kesh, or when Chewie (Beka’s Chudo-Yudo) clearly favored the sailor over the prince, and it helped to keep the relationship interesting to read. However, I must admit that I liked reading Marcus’s relationship with his father better – it was more complex, and at times, it felt more emotional, more urgent, compared to Beka and Marcus’s relationship.

The secondary characters were wonderful, from Chewie to the Wily Serpent crew. I also liked reuniting with the Riders, although the disappearance of one of the riders here definitely set up something for book three. So bottom line, when it comes to book #3 with Bella’s story (and I think her element is FIRE), well, count me in!!


A Guest Review for The Blogger Girls




The ARC is provided by the publisher for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.

[BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme · Rating 2 out of 5]

Selkies, mermpeople and a dragon disguised as a dog, how can I not like this book? This second book in the Baba Yaga series can be read as a standalone. Or it can be skipped all together. I was gravely disappointed in the character. Beka the youngest Baga Yaga in the States killed it for me.

I guess this book was to show how Baga Yagas are not all knowing and that they all start somewhere. Perhaps whilst Barbara represents the experienced old crone, Beka represents the innocent young and DUMB maiden. There were so many obvious clues in this book which Beka never picked up on until it was shoved into her face. Her lack in ability to assess a person just drove me batty. Her lack of self confidence was a complete downer in this book for me.

From romance perspective it was weak. I didn't get why Marcus and Beka should have been paired together. Other than perhaps Marcus is the realist who can keep Beka grounded. Because her quasi-hippie positive view of people is so Disney that I wanted to barf. A few of the plot holes in this book are annoying because they feel contrived. For example, Beka and Chewie left the Water of Life and Death unguarded. Seriously? Is that NOT the cardinal rule? Why on EARTH would they leave it unguarded?

Why is this still a 2 star? Because I liked the world. I like the merpeople and I liked Marcus and his father. Everything other than Beka was done rather well and enjoyable. I really liked Chewie the water dragon disguised as a Newfoundland dog. He is probably my favourite character in this book. This book was a letdown after the first one. With all my favourite elements in here to only be desecrated by an idiot female lead... not worth the read.

[Stephine · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inexperienced but powerful witch, Beka Yancy must trust in her powers if she wants to save the underwater races, pick the right man and choose the path she’ll follow for the rest of her life in this thrilling paranormal romance.

This fast paced and smooth flowing plot keeps reader on the edge of their seat with lots of suspense, excitement and romance. Beka feels that she may not be the person the mer and selkie need to save them from the unknown toxin and the reader can’t help but get caught up in her adventure as she sets out to do her best. Along the way she meets the rigid and cranky marine, Marcus who she may be attracted to but he’s human and thinks she’s a flake which leads to some explosive confrontations that include some humorous dialogue. There’s also a charming selkie prince that has plans for Beka and he’s not going to let Marcus interfere with them.

Danger and excitement follows Beka on her journey as the well written scenes and details capture the imagination and make the reader feel as if they are part of the story. Betrayal from unexpected sources adds lots of spice to the story and the well orchestrated suspense draws the reader into the story and ensures that they want to know every last detail.

The author has created a truly fascinating world with an interesting spin on a Russian fairytale and lots of interesting elements that make for a refreshingly different and magical romance. There are lots of wonderful and intriguing characters that grab the reader’s attention and invite them to join them in their adventures. In fact this story includes a really cool dragon-dog named Chewie that loves smores that added a bit of snarky fun to the story. I was completely ensnared by this book and couldn’t put it down and I am definitely looking forward to reading the next one, so if you are looking for a great book about witches and magic along with other supernaturals then this is the book you are looking for.
- Eva

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this one was fun to read, but I wished that Beka hadn't been so insecure, for me it detracted from the story, even as it played an important part of it.

I loved how it seemed like Beka brought happiness to everyone's life she encountered, I think it was due to her happy personality. Even when she was working on her problem she didn't let it get her down very much.

The interaction between Beka and the Merpeople and Selkies was good. I liked that both parties were respectful of the other and their place in society. I felt for the sea people and how their way of life and people were in danger. I thought that Beka went about solving the problem in a very sensible way, her only problem was letting the wrong person know what was going on. I loved how Beka was able to fix both problems and let the bad guy pay.

The ending made me smile, I was glad that Beka didn't have to make a choice, that the choice was made for her.

[Audrey Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

I almost didn't finish this book. Baba Beka was beyond stupid. I didn't start to really enjoy this story until the last 30 pages. Sorry, Ms Blake.

[Crystal P · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wickedly Wonderful is book 2 in the Baba Yaga series by Deborah Blake. I enjoyed the first book a lot, but Beka and Marcus worked for me more.
Beka is struggling with a life-altering decision and Marcus is navigating tricky waters, both literally and metaphorically, with his father. Beka seems “flaky” to Marcus in the beginning and that word bugged me but makes total sense coming from a military man whose family makes a living on the sea. Beka doesn’t take herself too seriously, but it seems obvious she hasn’t had the right supports in place to help her see her true potential. These two are drawn to each other and it is a little enemies to lovers from the moment they meet. I found it very cute!
The Baba Yaga world is fun and full of paranormal intrigue. In this book, the Selkie and Mer are dealing with a mystery that has made them leave their home and made some of their children sick. Beka is brought in to help and it is her first major solo task as Baba Yaga.
I thought the storyline was well-done and character interactions moved the story along well. This is a series I look forward to returning to again. The narration is good even if the voices for the Baba Yagas doesn’t quite mesh with their images/personality to me.

[Ashley Yungbluth · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Wickedly Wonderful" is book two in the "Baba Yaga" series by Deborah Blake. This book was such a great read. I enjoyed following along with Beka while she tried to figure out what was going on. She talks Marcus into allowing her to ride on his father's ship so that she could dive to look for "treasures." I enjoy the magical world and how she tries to keep her two worlds separate. I absolutely loved her Chudo-Yudo, Chewy. He brought so much to this story. I loved the scene where he "knocked" the surfboard over for Marcus to take and use. I look forward to reading the third book in this series soon.

[Suzanne Bourgeois]

Beka is adorable! and I loved this book as much as the first one. I really liked how Barbara and Beka are so different. The Baba's are individuals, despite having the same job. So many times a series like this one have cookies cutter characters. I am beyond happy to know this is not the case here. Also I rally like this version of enemies to lovers. Less rancor and more just not liking each other at first. Also, I too am concerned about Mikhail and nothing bad had better not have happened to him.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

The problem with going from mystery to paranormal romance is you learn who the bad guy is and what they're doing really early. So instead of trying to figure it out with the detective, you're watching and waiting for them to catch up.

Also, love triangles.
UGH

The first one was better.
I'll check out the third though. I'm invested.

[Rachel-RN · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first book. I struggled with this one and could not get into Beka's (the youngest Baba) story.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually read book 2 first which was fine. It really can be read as a standalone. That said, Becca was wimpy, second guessed herself constantly, did not think she was capable of being a Baba Yaga but she had the biggest heart and tried so hard to do the right thing. Marcus was also hard to understand and sometimes he was really a pain but they made a great couple. The ending was surprising but I totally loved it. Looking forward to book 3!

[Meaghan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It started a little slow and was similar to the previous book, but overall I loved it. After chapter two I couldn’t put it down. It was nice to read a quick fiction after reading to heavy nonfiction books. Looking forward to reading the third book of the series once I am done with my other nonfiction book.

[ML Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Selkies and witches and humans, oh my! Another good baba yaga story. We need a chido yudo spinoff!

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightfully magical, wonderfully witchy tale! I love Deborah's Baba Yagas!

Legends had been written about less...

WICKEDLY WONDERFUL by Deborah Blake is a brilliantly woven bewitching tale. I'm so grateful that I won this paperback in a panel contest at the Coastal Magic Convention this past February, as it started me on a magical journey of discovering the awesomeness of Deborah Blake's books! I've been holding off reading it until now as I wanted to read the series in order and, happily, I've now done that. This is the story of Beka Yancy, a relatively new, unsure, but powerful witch, and ex-marine Marcus Dermott, who has returned to Monterey Bay to be with his father as he's going through chemotherapy.

The Baba Yaga series is a fractured retelling of an old Russian folk tale of an aged, sometimes-wicked/sometimes-not witch. The original stories were mostly gory and rarely had happy endings. I prefer the author's spruced-up spin! For instance, the original Baba Yaga lived in a chicken hut on legs. Beka's version has morphed into a hippie school bus painted with beautiful ocean art. For short trips, Beka drives a Karman Ghia, which brought back memories of my own first Ghia many years ago! Mine was candy apple red; Beka's is ocean blue. AND, most importantly to me, Deborah's have HEA endings!

WICKEDLY WONDERFUL is the second book in this series and features my favorite cover of the series as it's purple andI'm a huge purple fan. I would recommend that this series be read in order, if possible. I can attest that each book has been fantastic! However, WICKEDLY WONDERFUL can be enjoyed as a standalone, if that is your preference, as Deborah seamlessly fills in whatever-new-readers would-need-to-know.

I absolutely loved this installment in Deborah's Baba Yaga series. Beka and Marcus were both genuinely compelling characters who each captured my heart. They had chemistry galore! I kept hoping they would move on from their rocky beginning and issues. Their story was yummy sexy with a suspenseful plot that kept me eagerly turning the pages.

As with the other books, the supporting cast was colorfully quirky. Tito, a human boy full of life while fighting a deadly disease, and Fergus, a merman, were two favorites.

I would be gravely remiss if I didn't mention Chewie. Each of the witches has their own Chudo-Yudo, aka dragon partner who is charged with protecting their witch and guarding their precious supply of the Water of Life and Death. Chewie, disguised as a Newfoundland, a large water dog, is Beka's. AND, don't think for a minute that he's named after Chewbacca in Star Wars. I'm not telling how he got his name. You'll have to read the book to find out. Chewie is seriously addicted to s'mores, which ignited my craving for them also. (Mmmm!) Beka's and Chewie's bantering was delightful - sometimes sweet and often laugh-out-loud funny.
I was thrilled to find out that Deborah is writing a spin-off to this series featuring the strong and sexy Riders who are at the Baba Yagas' beck and call. The first book will be DANGEROUSLY CHARMING and it's scheduled to released Oct 4 2016!

As with the first book, Deborah's writing is very descriptive with richly detailed imagery so your mind's eye will visualize what she has put in words. I can't wait to read the next installment, WICKEDLY POWERFUL; It's sitting on my bedside table and I'm starting it today! I would highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys delightfully magical paranormal reads!

My full review is posted at Reading Between The Wines Book Club. Please check it out there: !
http://www.readingbetweenthewinesbook...

4 1/2 out of 5 Wine Glasses!

[Deb Lester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deborah Blake continues her tales of the Russian Baba Yaga's with the second book in the series, Wickedly Wonderful. This book is part mystery and part romance, with a touch of folklore and a ton of paranormal characters. Readers who read the first book in the series, Wickedly Dangerous are treated to a change of scenery and a change in Baba Yaga's. Blake has created a world that is reminiscent of the old tales of the Baba Yaga, with a more modern spin that will take readers by surprise. A very good addition to this intriguing series!

What I liked:

Having read Wickedly Dangerous, I was interested to see how Blake would once again make the Baba Yaga tale, fresh and inviting. Blake's interpretation of the old Russian stories, gives readers more than one Baba Yaga to focus on. In the latest installment, Wickedly Wonderful, Beka Yancy is a young Baba Yaga just starting out, but not without considerable powers. With her affinity for water, it only seemed natural that this Baba Yaga lived on the coast and took up surfing. The change in heroine and scenery was enough to give this book and entirely different feel than the first, it had good originality and depth.

Beka is very different from Barbara, the previous heroine. She is beginning her journey as a Baba Yaga and does not have the confidence that comes from experience yet. She is thrown into a situation with the Selkie King and the Mer Queen that would have been daunting for even the most mature of the Baba Yaga's. Someone is poisoning the home of these paranormal denizens of the deep and it's up to Beka to solve the mystery. Blake develops Beka's character throughout the book, building on each experience and situation, until she begins to come into her own and believe in herself and her abilities. It almost had that 'coming of age' vibe about the story that was very satisfying when Beka realizes her worth.

The mystery wasn't exactly a mystery to the reader. Though Beka and her love interest Marcus go through the book trying to figure out what is happening in the ocean and why, readers are privy to the villain's plan and intentions. I think it would have been a bit more intense had the reader been trying to figure it out along side the characters, but there was a certain unique quality to seeing inside the mind of someone so full of greed. It was an interesting perspective for sure.

The romance between Beka and Marcus was central to the story and I felt as a reader they were a very good match. Marcus is an ex-Marine who is a bit battle scarred and world weary. Beka's bright nature and love of life were obviously good for him and his steadfast and loyal attitude helped her to trust in him and herself. Their relationship was a slow build that readers will definitely enjoy. Blake does a good job of giving the reader a little hiccup with the Selkie prince, but it was easy to recognize who Beka should be with. A great overall romantic tone and enough spice to make it interesting.

Bottom Line:

Overall I liked this book quite a bit better than the first book. There wasn't as much background on the Baba Yaga legend, but I don't think that was necessary unless being read as a standalone. I liked the re-occurring characters of the Fairy Queen and the Riders and the change of heroine made it seem fresh and new. Chudo Yudo was a beautiful Newfoundland in this one and still as wise as anyone would expect for a dragon. The romance was tender and believable and the mystery had a totally different angle than expected. A excellent second effort!

[OpenBookSociety.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brought to you by OBS reviewer Daniele

This is a fun paranormal romance with lots of fantasy elements. I like the concept of modernizing the Russian fairy tale of Baba Yaga, the child eating wicked witch. It is the Baba Yagas’ job to maintain the balance of the elements by guarding the doors that separate the mundane world (reality) from the otherworld. Beka is tied to the water and is most at home on her surf board or scuba diving. She is a powerful witch but young and inexperienced, and she is questioning whether she even wants to be the Baba Yaga. She has until her thirtieth birthday to decide, and it is rapidly approaching.

The story gets off to an action packed start when a mermaid implores Beka to save her baby that has become entangled in a fishing net. Beka is able to free the little mer but is caught herself and hauled to the surface by Marcus and his father’s fishing crew. This leads to a rocky start for this oil and water pair. Marcus is a battle weary marine who has come home to help his ill father, with whom he has a strained relationship, until he can figure out what to do with his life. The two cannot be more different from each other, nor can they help but be drawn to one aother.

The Mer and Selkie people usually stay in their own territory, concealed in the deep trenches of Monterey Bay. However, something is poisoning their environment and making the inhabitants sick. They have had to move dangerously close to the humans and fear being discovered. The queen of the Mers and the king of the Selkies implore Beka to find the origin of the problem and fix it. Beka has until the next full moon, at which time the ocean people are at their weakest, hoping to prevent anyone from dying.

We learn very early on in the story that the eldest Selkie Prince, Kesh, is behind the toxins. He is upset with his father’s decision to pass the thrown on to his more responsible younger son, and Kesh sets out to ruin everything if it cannot be his. I really wish that there had been some element of mystery and suspense regarding Kesh’s identity and motivation, but he made an excellent, slick villain who was a joy to dislike.

With the support of her dragon disguised as a Newfoundland Chewie and Marcus’s reluctant help, Beka does her best to save the ocean society and accept her destiny, all while falling in love with Marcus.

I thought Marcus’s reaction to Beka’s magic was understandable, but found it interesting that he considered her secret a lie, and that is what bothered him more than accepting this fantastical world around him that he did not know existed. Beka seemed younger than her portrayed twenty-nine years, but I suppose that was her trusting nature and optimistic attitude shining through. I loved Chewie’s levity and obvious affection for Beka, and Markus, Sr., was fun despite his gruff exterior. I truly hope he got his ever after.

Wickedly Wonderful is a nice follow up to Wickedly Dangerous but can definitely be read as a standalone novel. Beka is a much different Baba Yaga than Barbara (from Dangerous) but equally as entertaining. She is such a kind, free spirit, and I would like to hang out for a day in her converted school bus with her and Chewie. I look forward to reading about the third Baba Yaga in the series and recommend this to fans of paranormal romance that is heavier on action than bedroom scenes.

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

[Marta Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of paranormal stories so when I saw this series based on the famed Baba Yaga stories I just had to read it. The legendary Russian witch who lived in a magical hut has captured the imagination of many and tales of her exploits have fascinated readers over the years. A powerful witch who meted out justice and yet not one that many would willingly seek out as the famed Baba Yaga was a mercurial creature with a fearsome reputation that would raise chills. Definitely not someone who the unwary would ever want to cross!
This story brings the legend slap bang up to date though and we learn that there is not one Baba Yaga but several and three of these incredible witches are living and working in the US. Charged with protecting the barriers between worlds Beka may the youngest of the Babas but she is no less powerful for it. She may well be a little naive and self deprecating but Beka is determined to do her job and woe betide any who get in her way. There's something not right in the ocean and Beka is called upon by the Merfolk and Selkies to investigate before any more of them are poisoned. To try to discover just what is polluting the water Beka arranges passage on a local fishing boat but right from the start she clashes with Marcus whose father owns the boat. Marcus is a battle hardened former Marine who distrusts Beka who he sees as a bit of a hippy and all round tree huger ! Oh she's lovely but there's something about Beka that just doesn't feel right. They are two very different people what with Bekas free living ways whilst Marcus is all about duty and yet the intense attraction they share is not easy to ignore. Luckily it seems as if Beka already has a man in her life so Marcus can breathe a sigh of relief but that's not happening either! Just what is going on and what is Beka really up to? It's not what Marcus expects and Beka has to face a hard truth if she's to solve the mystery!
I really like these stories and I am loving the twist on the old Baba Yaga legend. I will confess I was a touch anxious that these books might turn out to be a tad formulaic as this book like the previous story sees Beka paired up with her own Chudo Yudo which is a dragon disguised as a dog and also as she's a servant of the Otherworld Queen she has the ability to call upon three powerful guardians. Let me reassure those who read the previous book Wickedly Dangerous that the author gives us a completely different heroine with this tale and a unique set of circumstances that allow for a fabulous insight into the world of the Fae. There's a villain to boo and hiss at and it's a compelling story with greed at it's centre. I thought the author did a fine job of opening up this world she is introducing us to and there's certainly a lot more to come as we follow the guardians into the next book.
So this was easy to read and who doesn't love a strong protective hero? I thought Marcus and all his taciturn ways to be a perfect foil for free spirited Beka. They are each stubborn in their own way and yet there's a vulnerability about Beka that is very appealing. This is without a doubt a romantic story but it's also fun and more than a little sexy! I'm loving the world building which is getting more intriguing with each book and if you enjoy diverse entertaining characters then this book is bound to appeal.

[Christal · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

See this review and others like it at Badass Book Reviews!

The Baba Yaga series has been such a pleasant surprise for me. Both books have had interesting characters and really strong plots that lean more towards urban fantasy than romance. While Wickedly Dangerous gave us a Baba Yaga in the prime of her power, Wickedly Wonderful introduced us to Beka Yancey, surfer girl and fledgling Baba Yaga.

It was interesting to see the difference between Barbara and Beka. While they both wielded significant power, Barbara was more comfortable in herself and her power. Beka was more tentative and worried about failing. It was understandable give how her mentor trained her, but it was nice to see Beka finally coming into her own towards the end. It was also interesting to see how the differences in their personalities influenced the world in which they lived. Instead of an airstream and motorcycle, Beka had an eclectically painted bus, Karmann Ghia, and a dragon-turned-Newfoundland. Though I tended to prefer Barbara's story overall, it was nice to be reminded that everyone starts somewhere and I enjoyed watching Beka learning the ropes.

In Wickedly Wonderful, the Mers and the Selkies are being driven out of their homes. None of their people can figure out what is polluting their ocean, but it is making people sick. The King and Queen call upon Beka for her help and she's determined to do everything she can to help the underwater races. She ends up chartering a boat to take her out to the dive site and that boat happens to come along with hunky, ex-Marine Marcus Dermott. Now, Deborah Blake almost lost me when she had Marcus wearing a pair of cutoff denim shorts... but she pulled me back in with the banter between Beka and Marcus.

There were only two things that I wish had been a little different in this book. As a reader, we know who the culprit is right from the beginning. I think the mystery would have built a little more if we, as readers, had been kept in the dark as much as Beka. Also in regards to Beka, she was a little too trusting to me -- almost to the point of naive. I know she's young and very kind-hearted, but there were several things done and said to her that should have raised a red flag. Again, my expectations could have been clouded because we knew who the bad guy was when Beka didn't, but even her Chudo-Yudo told her that person was bad news time and time again.

Aside from those minor quibbles, I found Wickedly Wonderful to be an enjoyable read that managed to be different from its predecessor. I'm always wary with paranormal romance because so often it can turn into the same story over and over, just with different characters. Deborah Blake avoided this by keeping the plot chugging along and creating characters that fit the expected archetypes but had personalities all their own. Though I knew where the story was headed, I was more focused on savoring the ride.

Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for providing an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Aly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't read as many Urban Fantasy as I used to, so I was really happy to discover this one. Those covers are so gorgeous ! Even if I don't think that Wickedly Wonderful was as good as the first book plotwise, I really enjoy the universe that Deborah Blake created for a modern version of a Russian fairy tale, where witches live in enchanted vehicle with their dragon disguised as dog(they're the comic sidekick) and use their powers from different classical elements to help people and they fall in love with a human along the way.

There's three Baba Yaga. This time, we meet Beka, the youngest Baba and she's less confident in her capacities. If you're used to strong heroine and prefer them as badass instead of insecure, you might not be please with this one. I prefer someone with bolder attitude, but I think it's great to see something different from time to time. And it goes well with this universe where the witches are both human and supernatural creature, and try to keep a balance between the two worlds. During her mission, Beka will wonder if she have what it takes to be a good Baba.

Beka first assignment begin when a baby mermaid is caught in a fishing net. In helping the infant, she get stuck in it too and that's when she meet the grumpy hero. After twelve years as a Marine, Marcus is back on his father's commercial fishing boat to offer support to the old man who's dying of cancer. They never got along well and the disease will not suddenly erase years of resentment between the two men. But Beka's luminous presence on the ship could help. At first, Marcus is annoyed by her, but it's only because he doesn't want to be attracted to her. He always stayed away from emotional attachment, but the cute blond surfer chick makes it hard for him to resist her natural sweetness.

Something is poisoning sea life and made the Mer people and Selkies move away from their home. When more and more sea creatures are getting sick, it's up to Beka to discover the cause and find a cure.

I was happy to see the setting for this one was the sea because there's something so mesmerizing and soothing about it. There was some beautiful descriptions and the story and action was related to it, but I guess I wanted to see Beka's powers intersect more with water. I didn't mind knowing from the start who is the villain. I think it would have been too obvious anyway so it was a good idea for the author to not try to hide it from the readers, but I still think that playing with the insecurities and naivety of the heroine for this storyline to keep going as long as it did made for a thin plot in the end and a slower pace. Like I said for the first book, I don't think the romance part was completely convincing. The tension and feelings between Beka and Marcus were more told than felt.

But like I said before, I really enjoy this series. It may be not flawless but it's still fun and I'm entertained all the same. I love the whimsical vibe to it :)

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beka Yancy is a barely qualified Baba Yaga (turns out that’s a title, not a person, and there are 3 of them in the US, protecting the environment and dealing with bad guys), and for her first serious mission she finds herself faced with a tricky situation: something is poisoning the deepwater trench where the mers and selkies live, forcing them to move closer to human waters and risk discovery. There’s little to go on, and Beka can’t help but question her own competence, as her self-confidence was pretty much wiped out by her mentor during training.
Just to complicate things, the only way Beka can get out to the site to dive, is on a fishing boat with a grumpy old guy dying of cancer, and his impossibly stiff-shirted son, Marcus; an ex-marine who can’t abide Beka’s flaky surfer-girl persona. He’s not to know she’s a powerful witch, and he wouldn’t believe her anyway...
This is the second of Deborah Blake’s Baba Yaga series, and it was great to have a totally different character from Barbara Yager, the Baba in Wickedly Dangerous. The writing is clear and crisp, and the story holds together nicely although I did think Beka was a bit too trusting and forgiving, even if she is understandably naive.
I think I may be suffering from romance-reading burnout, as I found the plot structure of the romance aspect way too predictable: boy meets girl and they detest each other on sight. Through circumstances they gradually come to the point of developing a relationship, have sex, and then girl reveals big secret which boy can’t forgive, and suddenly it’s all doom and gloom and looks like it’s all over. But hey, guess what? It isn’t! Now there’s a surprise... Not.
To be fair, the characters are beautifully drawn, and totally true to their natures. I just think the predictability is rather dull, but you may thrive on it. After all, there are only so many stories out there to be told.
The villain is gloriously villainous, there is a little lead in to the next book with one of the Riders (the Baba Yaga’s traditional assistants) missing, and all the immediate plot threads are nicely tied up by the end, so a satisfying read on many levels. I look forward to the next one, and discovering yet another Baba and her individual quirks.

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Again, I listened to the audio and loved the narrative voice of Romy Nordlinger. This series is perfect for audio and I listened in a few sittings.

Beka lives in a decked out bus that looks like it is straight from the sixties on the outside and is much more modern inside. She lives with her faith-full dragon disguised as a rather large, scary dog.

When a mer-woman pulls Beka and her surfboard into the deep sea to save her baby from a fishing net, she soon finds herself in trouble with Marcus Dermott, a former U.S. Marine who has returned home to help his ailing father operate his fishing boat. She also discovers that the mer-people have left the safety of their underwater cavern because their old and young are getting sick. Something is poisoning their waters. Beka soon finds herself tasked with saving the Mer-people and tasked with a mission by the Queen of the Otherworld.

The mystery was solid and kept me listening even as I struggled with the romance. I did not care for Dermott. He was cold, bossy and opinionated. Sadly, by the time he came around I was already disconnected. Thankfully, the mastery, villains and action kept me in the game.

Audio provided by publisher. This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I gave it 3.5 stars

The first thing that comes to mind about Beka is that she isn't as hardened as Barbara was. She was sweet, trusting and pretty naive in some things. On top of that she doesn't have much confidence in herself and her position. She has spunk though and by the end she really grows into herself and her position. I liked Marcus. He had his moments, but he has a crazy past and the more I learned the more I understood him and started to root for him and Beka more. His grumpy old Dad had a place in my heart too by the end.

Although there was action, I didn't think there was as much as book 1 had. It also 'felt' like not as much happened. Which in the grand scheme of things, I guess it didn't. WICKEDLY WONDERFUL was still worth the read and I enjoyed meeting Beka.

I have enjoyed the series so far. The Babas have been interesting and entertaining. The world building is well done and I have learned something new in each book. We didn't see much of the Riders in WICKEDLY WONDERFUL, but it looks like they will be a big part of book 3. I look forward to meeting the next Baba and love interest.

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Eva Millien · Rating 5 out of 5]

An inexperienced but powerful witch, Beka Yancy must trust in her powers if she wants to save the underwater races, pick the right man and choose the path she’ll follow for the rest of her life in this thrilling paranormal romance. The author has created a truly fascinating world with an interesting spin on a Russian fairytale and lots of interesting elements that make for a refreshingly different and magical romance. There are lots of wonderful and intriguing characters that grab the reader’s attention and invite them to join them in their adventures. In fact this story includes a really cool dragon-dog named Chewie that loves smores that added a bit of snarky fun to the story. I was completely ensnared by this book and couldn’t put it down and I am definitely looking forward to reading the next one, so if you are looking for a great book about witches and magic along with other supernaturals then this is the book you are looking for.

See my full Review at:

http://paranormalhaven.com/2014/12/bo...

[Arwen Lynch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this addition to Deborah Blake's wonderfully imaginative Baba Yaga series. Here we meet Beka. When you compare her to the confident Barbara of the first book, you may be disappointed. But stop comparing the two. Just like any sisters (even though they aren't related other than by magic), the two are vastly different.

Beka lets her insecurities get in the way. She doesn't listen to the good advice of her Chudo-Yudo. She makes poor decisions that, as a reader, made me want to tweak her nose to get her back on the path.

The two males in the book are yummy personified. And Beka has to choose between the Selkie prince and the ex-marine. Now me? It was a no-brainer as to who she should choose.

I loved the use of bus as her cottage. And if you've never met a Newfoundland, you may miss why that breed made the perfect shift for a dragon.

I am looking forward to the next in the series.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be a captivating book. I started to read it last night shortly before bed and didn't want to put it down when my husband was harassing me to sleep! The story is about Beka, the water Baba Yaga, as she finds herself with a problem placed in her lap. She has to deal with problems in multiple paths and find confidence in herself and her powers. Along the way we add some romance splashes in there. The only frustration I found was that the mystery was handed to you and you only had to figure out how she resolved it. You knew what was causing the issue and even who was causing the problem withing a few chapters of her given the problem to solve. Paranormal mystery it is not. But that aside, I did find this book to be delightful and hit on the main notes I like in my paranormal books. Even squeezed out a tear towards the end.