Starting over as a house manager in a charming small town sounded perfect. Until my new boss turned out to be a vampire.
After burning myself out at my corporate career, I take a job managing a mansion in a picturesque tourist town to reset my life.
The house is historic. The town is charming. The locals are welcoming. And, as I accidentally discover, my unfairly handsome employer, Beckett Kinge, is a vampire in hiding.
Beckett prefers order, privacy, and absolutely no supernatural mishaps.
Unfortunately for both of us, a rogue vampire is attacking the locals. The same people who have been nothing but nice to me. As attacks escalate and secrets unravel, staying uninvolved is no longer an option.
And somehow the only person who steps up to find the vampire is me—the mansion manager with poor people skills who knows absolutely nothing about supernaturals.
At least… I think I’m the only one working this case. But somewhere between tracking a killer and trying not to die, I realize Beckett isn’t just protecting his secret. He’s protecting me. And that might be far more dangerous for my emotional well-being.
Regardless, the rampaging vamp has to be found, or no one in town will be safe. Not even me.
This stand alone cozy urban fantasy story is set in the same world as the Magiford Supernatural City trilogies, but is located in a different (real life!) town in Wisconsin.
My pen name is K. M. Shea, but my readers—I prefer to call them Champions—call me Kitty.
I love to write funny, clean stories with strong characters. Books like that are among my favorite to read so naturally I love writing stories like that as well. My philosophy is that life is tough, so books should be something that makes you relax and laugh!
Y’all don’t understand how ready I was for this book 🤠 but it just didn’t do it for me. As a self proclaimed K M Shea fan and has read like everything… this hurts me to say but the characters didn’t really seem to have any depth and the love story (chemistry what chemistry?) fell flat for me. Possibly due to the length of the novel whereas in the Magiford series’ there’s more time to develop characters and their interactions.
Loved the appearances from our friends in Magiford. Excited to see what’s next
And we're back!! It is so good to be back in the world of K.M. Shea's Magiford Supernaturals! This time we're in northern Wisconsin again, which is always a good place to be. This isn't the first time a vampire has served as the main love interest. (I still prefer Considine.) But I enjoyed it and am excited to see that Shea is (maybe?) back from her hiatus! (And if not, all the more reason to be grateful for this book!)
I’ve been missing Magiford, and this was the perfect Magiford adjacent story! It was everything I wanted and more!
Abi and Beckett were the CUTEST. An anemic human falling in love with vampire amused me more than it should have. 🤣 But I love that sunshiny Abi was in her 30s, and that Beckett was a hilarious adorable mash up of Killian-Constidine-and-Josh; it’s hard to explain but his personality was immaculate. 😂
And I love the nod to Magiford staples!! I LOST IT with full on wheezing when the Paragon showed up & Killian Drake in a group chat was not on my 2026 bingo card but MAN IT WAS PERFECTION. 😂
This book was just plain old fun! I loved the banter between the MCs and literally laughed outloud several times. It was that clever and funny. Loved the mystery, the worldbuilding, and the sweet human innocence in a supernatural world.
2.5 stars A couple years ago, I binged on this author. I read several of her Magiford trilogies in quick succession and adored them all. Of course, I bought this book as soon as it became available. Unfortunately, the magic is gone. I'm not sure if it is the book's fault or if I became a more discerning reader. I finished the novel, but it felt flat, unexciting. It makes me sad, as if I've lost a friend. But I still have hope. Maybe her next book will be better.
*it is set in the same world as K. M. Shea’s Magiford Supernatural City trilogies & they don’t need to be read to enjoy this story (but it might be best enjoyed if the Hall of Blood & Mercy trilogy is read beforehand – due to some characters from that trilogy being seen/mentioned in this story)
*Point Of View:* Abi & Beckett
*Any Cursing Or Possibly Offensive Language?* there are about 3 mentioned of characters swearing/cursing without using words on page; there is one use of the British version of the ‘a’ word for donkey (used in reference to a group that makes bad decisions)
*Romance?* Yes! Just kisses
*Things To Know:*
–there is some fantasy fighting & violence
Review:
This was such an awesome return to the Magiford world! I loved getting to know the small town residents and their quirks (especially the gnomes!). And Abi & Beckett’s relationship was phenomenal! I loved seeing Beckett’s feelings toward Abi change over time. It was fun to see him going from the aloof employer to a teasing friend to more. I also loved getting to see Beckett interact with a couple of characters I’ve met in the Magiford trilogies! As for Abi, she was adorable! I loved seeing her try new things out and being overall ignorant of different things having to do with supernaturals. I also really enjoyed trying to figure out the mystery of who the rogue vampire was (K. M. Shea almost got me on the perpetrator’s identity!).
Summary:
Abi needed to escape the hassle of the corporate job that took over her life and chose a completely different job to reset it. Being a house manager to a small town mansion should give her time to find fun things to do and get to know the locals. But Abi’s life gets a little more interesting than she expected when she accidentally discovers that the owner of the mansion she’s managing is a vampire in hiding. With it comes a slew of supernaturals coming to his door that he expects her to turn away so he can keep his solitude. So when odd attacks are made on the locals that point to a rogue vampire in town, Abi is determined to discover who the perpetrator is for the sake of everyone she’s come to know. If only her employer would do something to help too.
Beckett has spent his life living the same quiet life over and over again in the same small town with the human locals none the wiser. He has had a plan that has worked every time without fail set in place. That is until he hires Abi as his newest house manager. Abi baffles Beckett with her odd work hours and her kindness towards anyone she comes across. And yet she makes him care for more than just living his life of solitude, especially when she insists on spearheading the investigation into the rogue vampire on the loose.
I am intensely curious how female authors writing a female character imagine that an adult woman can have an aversion to blood so severe that they black out cold from catching a glimpse of a plastic blood pack? Unless the character doesn’t have a uterus? Is she trans? Was it a birth defect? Perhaps she had a hysterectomy when she was 10? What is her hormone replacement protocol? Surely she can’t take any medication via injection least there be a drop of blood? Would she just lay where she fell until she healed? I got a papercut the other day while refilling the copier at work. Would this character have to go home after that kind of workplace injury? Does the sight of a bandaid also make her lose consciousness? A box of tampons? How closely associated to blood does the object have to be to make the character pass out? If she had a roommate who nicked themselves shaving in the shower, would she then not be able to go into the bathroom? The author doesn’t explain any of it. It’s just so twee that she has such delicate sensibilities! Very Twilight-esque.
Otherwise, this book reads like it’s comprised entirely of discarded ideas from the other Magiford series. In terms of the timeline, it falls somewhere after the Court of Midnight and Deception and before the Pack of Dawn and Destiny, but doesn’t really get into any of those storylines which are all done more adroitly than this.
K.M. Shea’s Managing the Vampire’s Mansion is a fun, character-driven story set in her Magiford universe—though this time, we’re a little outside the main hub in Algoma, WI. It still feels connected, though, with a few familiar faces popping in and some nice nods to other supernatural groups that longtime readers will catch.
Abi is such a refreshing main character. She’s blunt, hardworking, and completely unfiltered, which makes her stand out right away. Since she’s human and not clued into supernatural norms, she skips all the careful politicking and just… deals with things head-on. It’s chaotic at times, but also what makes her so effective (and entertaining).
Beckett is the total opposite—very proper, reserved, and set in his ways. The contrast between the two of them really drives the story. Their interactions are where the book shines, with a mix of humor and a developing connection that keeps things engaging.
The only downside is that it’s a pretty quick read, so everything moves a bit faster than you might expect. If you’re used to Shea’s longer series, you might wish for a little more time to sit with the characters and their dynamic.
Overall, it’s an easy, enjoyable read with great chemistry, light humor, and some fun connections to the wider Magiford world.
This was my first experience with this author, and this book just didn't do it for me. I liked it, but I didn't love it.
Let's go over the good first. I really did find the story itself interesting and the plot moved at a good pace. I enjoyed the setting and the concept of a house manager handling a vampire's estate. Some of Abi and Beckett's banter was entertaining. The ending wrapped things up in a way that was satisfying and even made me want to see what other situations they got themselves into and how the relationship progressed. Also, the scenes with Bobby showing up to the house were hilarious.
Now, for what I didn't enjoy. The dialogue felt very immature for the ages that these characters really were. Especially Abi. I know she's portrayed as quirky and blunt, but she reminded me of a teenager. At the same time, the dialogue between characters often felt as though they shared the same voice and manner of speaking. Some of the slang and terms didn't feel natural. Also, the romance seemed to happen very quickly and conveniently once they actually acknowledged it aloud. I wish there would have been more build up.
Overall, I am still going to give this author another shot and see if this was just a one off for me.
KM Shea did such an amazing job on this book!!! I was laughing so many times while reading and smiling continuously. Abi was so cute with how blunt she was and was genuinely interested in the supernatural world. Beckett gives some Killian vibes in the sense of hating politics and wanting to be on top of technology; however, he is waaaaay less manipulative than Killian and has such cute moments with Abi. This really was a cozy, closed door, modern fantasy with a good mystery and amazing character as always. I will say that the story is more enjoyable if you’ve read Hazel and Killian’s trilogy first so that more details make sense and are appreciated. Definitely a 10/10!!
This was a very sweet and fun addition to the Magiford series. Abi and Beckett seem like a very cute couple, and like they would fit in well with characters from other series.
Because this is a standalone, there isn't as much time to develop the characters or the relationships, but I think the time is used well.
The mystery was fun, and while it was the main plot, I felt like there was enough time spent on other characters to make it seem well rounded.
I do have to take away points for making me imagine seagulls with rat tails. I know they're opossums, same difference. I can deal with a raccoon/pigeon hybrid, but this was a step too far, lol.
A most enjoyable side track into a supernatural encounter of a nerdy kind. Abi is logical & practical as well as open-minded, which perfectly positions her to deal with Beckett.
The development of their relationship is amusing, while the side characters frequently had me laughing - Bobby was a trip!
The beginning took some time to set up & build, which those looking for action might find frustrating, but I didn't mind. The mystery was a good spine for the plot development. And the conclusion was a solid happy ending while still leaving the potential for more stories in this same vein - if you'll forgive the vampire-flavored pun.
Fun and fantastic characters!!! Hope to see more of them in future books!!! I adore Flint! Abi and Beckett are so fun! and getting Killian updates fantastic! Hope for more books with these characters!!! As always K.M. Shea delivers another amazing fun read can't wait for more books from one of my all time favorite authors!!
Kitty has done it again! You will love all the characters and laugh. It was so good to step back into the Magiford world! Thank you, Kitty for giving us this amazing story! I loved it!
This book made me smile so much! I adore the Magiford books, and so I was extremely excited for this new one. Abi and Beckett are adorable, the setting is fascinating, and the cameo appearances of some old friends made it even better.
It was absolutely amazing finally getting to read another one of K.M Shea’s magnificent books. This book definitely didn’t disappoint and was just as amazing as all the rest of the Magiford books.
This was such a fun read. I love the characters and the story. Loved the little Easter eggs from the other Magiford books. K M Shea did a wonderful job with this book!
This is a super fun read, light and entertaining, and I loved it! The Magiford series is one of my all time favorites. Though standalone and set in a different city, this story takes place in the same world and even has guest appearances from the Paragon and Killian Drake. It also has that same Magiford feel, filled with humor (Bobby, the gnome sacrifice! 😂), fun characters, and a side mystery to keep it all engaging. It was like coming home after a long absence.
Unique from the other Magiford books, our FMC is a straight-up human with limited exposure to supernaturals. She is hired as a house manager for our MMC, a closet vampire trying to avoid politics and responsibility. This being a standalone instead of a trilogy, the romance builds a bit faster than we’re accustomed to, but it doesn’t feel rushed or lacking.
I highly recommend this book (and the entire Magiford series) to anyone who enjoys a fantasy rom-com. Just excellent!
Content: There is no foul language or sex. There’s a little violence (mysterious vampire attacks and a kidnapping), but it’s not excessive or gory. The romance is limited to lightly descriptive kisses. There is magic and supernatural races. There is no mention of faith or God.
This fun, short read was exactly what I needed — the right amount of sweetness, charm, action, and references to the larger world. So glad KM Shea is publishing again!
3.5 stars. It's on the short and fluffy and flat side for Shea but still good. It took me way too long to realize that Kinge was supposed to rhyme with King and not Hinge so I spent the book thinking of him as Mr. Kringe/cringe. Both characters are a bit overly analytical and don't show emotion much. It's a bit akin to reading about to Vulcans falling in love. Definitely has pieces of the signature humor, but overall lacking the depth and emotion I was hoping for from Shea's return.