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Under Your Spell
Fall under the spell of ten up-and-coming romance authors. When the clock strikes midnight on Halloween, you’ll want to read every one of these all-new, original novellas. From enchanted gardens to mystic curses, you’ll find something to make your spine shiver and your heart beat faster. Fall in love with a cursed werewolf, a heartbroken ghost, a true southern gentleman, and many more. There’s something for everyone, with contemporary romance, historical romance, paranormal and shifter romance.
Everyday is Halloween with this spellbinding collection!
Everyday is Halloween with this spellbinding collection!
648 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 1, 2016
11 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Elana Johnson
186 books2,125 followers3-time USA Today bestselling author Elana Johnson writes adult contemporary beach romance. She is the author of over 130 books across two names, and there's nothing better than sun, sand, and swoon-worthy kisses! Unless it's a sweet-and-sexy cowboy - read those under her pen name of Liz Isaacson. Or an emotional, heartfelt women's fiction novel - read those under her pen name of Jessie Newton.
Learn more at:
www.elanajohnson.com
www.lizisaacson.com
www.authorjessienewton.com
Learn more at:
www.elanajohnson.com
www.lizisaacson.com
www.authorjessienewton.com
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 3, 2016
There are many different settings in these stories, but I enjoyed reading them all. I hope you enjoy them as well. Below is my short description of each story in this collection. I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review, which I have given.
The Killing Touch by Elana Johnson
It’s July 1869, Door Country, Wisconsin. Robert Williams meets Anna Crane and it’s love at first sight for Robert. They correspond and visit each other for several months, but Anna only has the feelings of a friend. When she visits Robert to tell him that, she meets his brother Charles. Skip ahead to October 1871. Anna is now married to Charles and expecting their first child. Robert and Charles are together when a firestorm hits the area and their whole town is destroyed, with over 50 people killed, including Charles. Anna is safe with her parents in their town. Robert comes to Anna for help with his injuries. However, he isn’t really alive. He too died with the others and only Anna can see him. Robert has been given a strange ability and with it, he can make himself human again. Can he do it and if so, will he and Anna be able to have a life together?
One Touch of Silver by Elizabeth Cole
New Jersey, 1931. Silver Salem has traveled here at the written request of Collier (Coll) Dunne. He is actually expecting her father, but reluctantly agrees to let Silver stay. From a spellbook he has, he wants Silver to find a spell to break the curse he’s under…not that of being a werewolf, but the bargain he made with the demon Bahor. Silver, too, is unusual. Her cat Piewicket communicates with her telepathically and she understands every word. It is both complicated and painful to rid Coll of the curse, but it works…that is until they leave the house. You will be surprised how Bahor is defeated permanently—a little gruesome, but effective.
Sweet Lavvy by Amanda Gale
There is nothing scary about this story, but it provides a lesson in what is most important in life—family. Nick is in the cemetery of his small town in Maine to visit his father’s grave. There he meets an old man who is visiting his great-great-grandmother, Lavinia (Lavvy) Lockett Sewall. That night as Nick waits in the local pub for his brother-in-law Vince, to tell him he is breaking up their partnership and taking a job away from here, he again meets the old man. Then Nick hears Lavvy’s story. The story of her love for her husband Theodore is both heart-warming and tragic at the same time. At the end of the story, as Nick looks at Vince coming through the door, he looks back and the old man is gone. Who is this old man? Nick makes the decision to stay where he is so he can be close to Vince and continue with the job that lets him be home with his wife and family every night.
To Hell With Love by G.G. Andrew
An unusual story. Have you ever thought about what it would be like to visit Hell or the devil? Daisy meets Derek in a bookstore and they are together one night, but the next morning he doesn’t even recognize her and wants nothing to do with her. When she finds out she’s pregnant, she returns to the bookstore and learns he made a deal with the devil. Because she wants to break that deal so he will be with her again, the clerk helps her get to Hell. On her first trip she meets Will, a human temporarily working as Charon, who rows the dead across the river Acheron. Will shouldn’t do it, but he tells her how she can return to earth if she needs to, which she certainly does. Daisy makes three trips to Hell, meeting a different character each time. The third time she finally gets her wish to meet Hades (the devil). Everything works out for the best in the end, but I won’t tell you how. It’s pretty amazing! I’m glad to say Daisy ends up with the right man.
Montgomery Mansion by Sara Spencer
This is a sweet story, even with ghosts roaming around. Alice and her friend Tara (the adventurous type) are invited to a party at a haunted house on Halloween. There Alice meets Elliott and Tara finds her new friend Chuck. The house truly is haunted. There are a number of ghosts, including a lady in black and a crying baby. The sound of a baby crying draws Alice and Elliott into an empty room, where the door slams shut and locks them in. They only escape when “whoever” it is, unlocks the door. Alice and Elliott have had enough and leave to finish the night peacefully, while Tara and Chuck stay to go looking for more ghosts.
Gravebound by Rachel Shane
This is the perfect name for this story. Cole has a curse on him that is forcing him to throw himself into a certain grave and bury himself alive. How can he break the curse? He goes to Delilah, a divorce lawyer who is also a witch. She is able to break contracts, whether divorces the regular way or curses using magic. Together they seek out the most likely people who want him dead—his bookie, his ex-girlfriend and his former good friend. Delilah finds a way to break Cole’s curse, but the result isn’t what Cole wants. Now Delilah is in danger and he has to help her. In doing that, they discover who really put the curse on Cole and why. What a surprise! Good ending, though. There is one sex scene you might want to skip.
Wicked Garden by Bryn Donovan
Nicole Sherry is housesitting a month for her mother’s friend Francie in Savannah, Georgia. She meets her next door neighbor, Aaron Cavanaugh, her first day—right after a scary experience in the house. That night Nicole has a nightmare where she seems to be Polly, who is killed by her husband. The next night Polly appears in Aaron’s bedroom, but she shifts between being herself and Nicole. Trying to get rid of Polly doesn’t work, so Nicole moves across town to a hotel. After deciding she needs to go back—not just because of Polly, but also because of wanting to be with Aaron—she returns. The chemistry that has been between Nicole and Aaron from the beginning culminates in an explicit sex scene in the back yard before they confront Polly. Nicole has now moved on with her life after two failed relationships and now Polly can do the same.
Of Scares and Smooches by Nicole Zoltack
This is one of my favorite stories in this collection. I really enjoyed it, even with the scary things going on. Ryder Warren comes to a very old, very rundown mansion in South Carolina to, hopefully, be the handyman to restore the house. He meets the owner, Jade Abbot, there, but even before she arrives, there are strange things happening—the front door opening by itself and a cold breeze blowing from inside the house to the outside through a broken window. When Jade goes to enter the house, the door slams right in her face, hitting her nose hard. Jade believes the “curse” of the house has killed her parents and grandparents. At dinner that night, an invisible hand throws her against the wall and almost chokes her to death. She barely survives, but the ghost suddenlyleaves after she says she is the last of the Abbots. Jade and Ryder are attracted to each other, so they work together to figure out why the house is haunted and how to get rid of the ghost. They succeed, but I’ll let you find out how. The story has a great ending.
The Skeptics’ Guide to the Mysteries of the Universe by Jessica Arden
I really enjoyed this story too. Julie Deveaux is doing her college thesis on the Madam Sophia murders in New Orleans. She believes Sophia is innocent of murdering two men, even though there is an eye witness. But how can she prove it? She literally bumps into Griffin Durocher, who is Sophia’s grandson, but Julie doesn’t know that right away. They are drawn to each other and discover how many things they have in common, including a great sense of humor. Julie is afraid to tell Griffin she’s researching his grandmother’s alleged murders because of his reaction, and it turns out she was right. He is super angry and walks out on her. Discover how they get together again and find out the truth behind the murders. Julie is torn between her attraction to Griffin and her family’s strong dislike of him. See how that works out for a happy ending.
Unmasked by Saskia Blake
This was definitely one of my favorite stories of all. There are no unusual, scary or strange occurrences except two brief times when Julia seems to be in a place decades earlier. Carly invites her best friend Julia to help waitress a party at Willingdon Manor. Willingdon Manor, the house Julia has tried to locate for the last two years since seeing it on a hiking trip in the mountains. Of course, a second reason for going is that Julia hopes to see Jason, the man she’s thought about the last two years. Julia meets her true love at the party, but not who you might think. He too has been waiting two years for the girl he saw in a dream…a girl in the mountains, sitting on a rock looking towards Willingdon Manor. It’s a great happily-ever-after story.
The Killing Touch by Elana Johnson
It’s July 1869, Door Country, Wisconsin. Robert Williams meets Anna Crane and it’s love at first sight for Robert. They correspond and visit each other for several months, but Anna only has the feelings of a friend. When she visits Robert to tell him that, she meets his brother Charles. Skip ahead to October 1871. Anna is now married to Charles and expecting their first child. Robert and Charles are together when a firestorm hits the area and their whole town is destroyed, with over 50 people killed, including Charles. Anna is safe with her parents in their town. Robert comes to Anna for help with his injuries. However, he isn’t really alive. He too died with the others and only Anna can see him. Robert has been given a strange ability and with it, he can make himself human again. Can he do it and if so, will he and Anna be able to have a life together?
One Touch of Silver by Elizabeth Cole
New Jersey, 1931. Silver Salem has traveled here at the written request of Collier (Coll) Dunne. He is actually expecting her father, but reluctantly agrees to let Silver stay. From a spellbook he has, he wants Silver to find a spell to break the curse he’s under…not that of being a werewolf, but the bargain he made with the demon Bahor. Silver, too, is unusual. Her cat Piewicket communicates with her telepathically and she understands every word. It is both complicated and painful to rid Coll of the curse, but it works…that is until they leave the house. You will be surprised how Bahor is defeated permanently—a little gruesome, but effective.
Sweet Lavvy by Amanda Gale
There is nothing scary about this story, but it provides a lesson in what is most important in life—family. Nick is in the cemetery of his small town in Maine to visit his father’s grave. There he meets an old man who is visiting his great-great-grandmother, Lavinia (Lavvy) Lockett Sewall. That night as Nick waits in the local pub for his brother-in-law Vince, to tell him he is breaking up their partnership and taking a job away from here, he again meets the old man. Then Nick hears Lavvy’s story. The story of her love for her husband Theodore is both heart-warming and tragic at the same time. At the end of the story, as Nick looks at Vince coming through the door, he looks back and the old man is gone. Who is this old man? Nick makes the decision to stay where he is so he can be close to Vince and continue with the job that lets him be home with his wife and family every night.
To Hell With Love by G.G. Andrew
An unusual story. Have you ever thought about what it would be like to visit Hell or the devil? Daisy meets Derek in a bookstore and they are together one night, but the next morning he doesn’t even recognize her and wants nothing to do with her. When she finds out she’s pregnant, she returns to the bookstore and learns he made a deal with the devil. Because she wants to break that deal so he will be with her again, the clerk helps her get to Hell. On her first trip she meets Will, a human temporarily working as Charon, who rows the dead across the river Acheron. Will shouldn’t do it, but he tells her how she can return to earth if she needs to, which she certainly does. Daisy makes three trips to Hell, meeting a different character each time. The third time she finally gets her wish to meet Hades (the devil). Everything works out for the best in the end, but I won’t tell you how. It’s pretty amazing! I’m glad to say Daisy ends up with the right man.
Montgomery Mansion by Sara Spencer
This is a sweet story, even with ghosts roaming around. Alice and her friend Tara (the adventurous type) are invited to a party at a haunted house on Halloween. There Alice meets Elliott and Tara finds her new friend Chuck. The house truly is haunted. There are a number of ghosts, including a lady in black and a crying baby. The sound of a baby crying draws Alice and Elliott into an empty room, where the door slams shut and locks them in. They only escape when “whoever” it is, unlocks the door. Alice and Elliott have had enough and leave to finish the night peacefully, while Tara and Chuck stay to go looking for more ghosts.
Gravebound by Rachel Shane
This is the perfect name for this story. Cole has a curse on him that is forcing him to throw himself into a certain grave and bury himself alive. How can he break the curse? He goes to Delilah, a divorce lawyer who is also a witch. She is able to break contracts, whether divorces the regular way or curses using magic. Together they seek out the most likely people who want him dead—his bookie, his ex-girlfriend and his former good friend. Delilah finds a way to break Cole’s curse, but the result isn’t what Cole wants. Now Delilah is in danger and he has to help her. In doing that, they discover who really put the curse on Cole and why. What a surprise! Good ending, though. There is one sex scene you might want to skip.
Wicked Garden by Bryn Donovan
Nicole Sherry is housesitting a month for her mother’s friend Francie in Savannah, Georgia. She meets her next door neighbor, Aaron Cavanaugh, her first day—right after a scary experience in the house. That night Nicole has a nightmare where she seems to be Polly, who is killed by her husband. The next night Polly appears in Aaron’s bedroom, but she shifts between being herself and Nicole. Trying to get rid of Polly doesn’t work, so Nicole moves across town to a hotel. After deciding she needs to go back—not just because of Polly, but also because of wanting to be with Aaron—she returns. The chemistry that has been between Nicole and Aaron from the beginning culminates in an explicit sex scene in the back yard before they confront Polly. Nicole has now moved on with her life after two failed relationships and now Polly can do the same.
Of Scares and Smooches by Nicole Zoltack
This is one of my favorite stories in this collection. I really enjoyed it, even with the scary things going on. Ryder Warren comes to a very old, very rundown mansion in South Carolina to, hopefully, be the handyman to restore the house. He meets the owner, Jade Abbot, there, but even before she arrives, there are strange things happening—the front door opening by itself and a cold breeze blowing from inside the house to the outside through a broken window. When Jade goes to enter the house, the door slams right in her face, hitting her nose hard. Jade believes the “curse” of the house has killed her parents and grandparents. At dinner that night, an invisible hand throws her against the wall and almost chokes her to death. She barely survives, but the ghost suddenlyleaves after she says she is the last of the Abbots. Jade and Ryder are attracted to each other, so they work together to figure out why the house is haunted and how to get rid of the ghost. They succeed, but I’ll let you find out how. The story has a great ending.
The Skeptics’ Guide to the Mysteries of the Universe by Jessica Arden
I really enjoyed this story too. Julie Deveaux is doing her college thesis on the Madam Sophia murders in New Orleans. She believes Sophia is innocent of murdering two men, even though there is an eye witness. But how can she prove it? She literally bumps into Griffin Durocher, who is Sophia’s grandson, but Julie doesn’t know that right away. They are drawn to each other and discover how many things they have in common, including a great sense of humor. Julie is afraid to tell Griffin she’s researching his grandmother’s alleged murders because of his reaction, and it turns out she was right. He is super angry and walks out on her. Discover how they get together again and find out the truth behind the murders. Julie is torn between her attraction to Griffin and her family’s strong dislike of him. See how that works out for a happy ending.
Unmasked by Saskia Blake
This was definitely one of my favorite stories of all. There are no unusual, scary or strange occurrences except two brief times when Julia seems to be in a place decades earlier. Carly invites her best friend Julia to help waitress a party at Willingdon Manor. Willingdon Manor, the house Julia has tried to locate for the last two years since seeing it on a hiking trip in the mountains. Of course, a second reason for going is that Julia hopes to see Jason, the man she’s thought about the last two years. Julia meets her true love at the party, but not who you might think. He too has been waiting two years for the girl he saw in a dream…a girl in the mountains, sitting on a rock looking towards Willingdon Manor. It’s a great happily-ever-after story.
September 17, 2016
AWRW Book Review: Under Your Spell: A Romance Boxed Set of Masked Balls, Haunted Gardens, Magic, and More
SEPTEMBER 16, 2016 ~ AUTHOR APRIL L WOOD (A WELL READ WOMAN)
Fall under the spell of ten up-and-coming romance authors. When the clock strikes midnight on Halloween, you’ll want to read every one of these all-new, original novellas.
From enchanted gardens to mystic curses, you’ll find something to make your spine shiver and your heart beat faster. Fall in love with a cursed werewolf, a heartbroken ghost, a true southern gentleman, and many more.
There’s something for everyone, with contemporary romance, historical romance, paranormal and shifter romance.
Everyday is Halloween with this spellbinding collection!
Kindle Edition, 648 pages
Published September 1st 2016 by SkySpark Books
Genre: Romance, Supernatural Romance, Paranormal Romance, Historical Romance, Anthology
Authors: Elana Johnson, Amanda Gale, G.G. Andrew, Sara Spencer, Rachel Shane, Bryn Donovan, Nicole Zoltack, Jessica Arden, Saskia Blake, Elizabeth Cole
Add on Goodreads
THE KILLING TOUCH by Elana Johnson: When the worst firestorm in Wisconsin history sweeps across the frontier, it takes thousands of lives, but it does something worse to Robert Williams. After the ashes cool, he’s immune to hunger and cold, invisible to everyone—and cursed with a killing touch. Anna Crane, the woman Robert once hoped to marry, is the only one who can see him. Can they figure out how to overcome his living death to find a future together?
“She exhaled one final time and gave everything she had to the man she loved.”
I really liked THE KILLING TOUCH and found it to be a good opener to set the mood for the rest of the short stories featured in this haunting, supernatural romance anthology. Full of suspense, THE KILLING TOUCH kept me at the edge of my seat.
ONE TOUCH OF SILVER by Elizabeth Cole: Silver Salem arrives in New Jersey with her telepathic cat, looking to help a man (with the manners of a Viking) with his translations. When she learns the text she is to translate is a spellbook, she first refuses. After all, magic is not to be trifled with. What has she gotten herself into?
“Demons always taste so delicious.”
I really liked this shifter, paranormal romance and took a particular interest in the rituals to remove the curse of Bahor. The telepathic cat was a nice addition, too!
SWEET LAVVY by Amanda Gale: On a blustery Maine winter’s night, an old man tells Nick the story of Lavinia, who is buried in the local cemetery. After her husband Theodore was lost at sea in 1857, Lavinia insisted he returned in ghostly form and lived out her days as if he were with her. The townspeople thought she was mad with grief–but did Theodore actually return? And what lessons will Nick learn from this tale of eternal love?
SWEET LAVVY — a tale of eternal love — was my favorite by far out of the collection. I loved how the author painted a picture of the wintry cemetery with her words. I also loved how she connected this story to her contemporary-romance book series, MEREDITH. It was fun to revisit the characters I love so much and to see them in a totally different light. Bravo!
TO HELL WITH LOVE by G.G. Andrew: Daisy has the perfect night with the perfect guy–only to wake and find he’s sold his soul to the Devil and has no memory of her. Now she’s got to navigate the underworld, unbalanced goddesses and unpleasant demons–not to mention a cute med student posing as Charon–to meet the Devil and reverse the curse…and discover that what she really wants may be something else entirely.
“Daisy still vowed to wish upon every star for her own happy ending.”
Another favorite of mine! Daisy wants her happily-ever-after, even if she has to go to hell to find it. I really liked Daisy and was surprised by the lengths that she would go to save Derek’s soul – whether he appreciated it or not.
MONTGOMERY MANSION by Sara Spencer: Getting over a recent breakup, Alice isn’t too thrilled when her best friend Tara invites her to a party at a haunted mansion. Not only is Alice afraid of the dark, she’s terrified of any spiritual beings she may run into there. When Alice meets Elliot at the party, her fears temporarily disappear until she and the hot teacher are thrown into a horrifying situation that ends up being just what she may need to move on with her life.
OMG, this one actually had a lot of humor to it and I was laughing hysterically when Alice nearly died from the spicy dip at the party. And, of course, she’s mortified when an extremely good looking man catches her practically frothing at the mouth. Haha! I really liked this story.
GRAVEBOUND by Rachel Shane: Delilah York is a witch lawyer on the Las Vegas Strip who breaks up marriages by day and breaks curses…also by day. When a sexy gambler barges into her office claiming he’s cursed to bury himself alive, she bets everything to try to save him, even though it means putting her own life on the line. Together they must figure out who cursed Cole, all while trying not to fall for each other.
Oooh, this was another really good story about contracts, blood, and magic! Delilah is a divorce attorney who also reverses potions and curses! Loved it!
WICKED GARDEN by Bryn Donovan: After a painful breakup, Nicole moves to a house in Savannah, resolving to be single. Aaron, her new neighbor, is a true Southern gentleman who tempts her to forget that plan. But the house’s evil history haunts the garden and Nicole’s dreams… and Aaron has secrets of his own. To end the curse, Aaron and Nicole will have to overcome their past fears and give their relationship a chance to bloom.
Another favorite of mine! A haunted garden where the camellias smell like… corpses! I loved the romance between Nicole and Aaron.❤
OF SCARES AND SMOOCHES By Nicole Zoltack: Handyman Ryder has his work cut out for him when he signs on to help the beautiful Jade restore her newly inherited southern plantation. Not only are the premises completely rundown, something otherworldly seems to be haunting the house… and Jade. As the couple grows closer together, and closer to the truth, the greater the likelihood that neither will survive.
“This haunted ruination of my family legacy.”
LOVED this one! Witches and curses abound in this supernatural romance about a woman who inherits a haunted house and hires a handyman to restore it. I loved (handyman) Ryder and he made me laugh so hard when he, Jade, and Katrina are thrown from the house and he comments, “Well, that didn’t go well.” Hahaa!
THE SKEPTICS’ GUIDE TO THE MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE by Jessica Arden: Grad student and New Orleans ghost tour operator Julie would do anything to complete her thesis research and exonerate infamous murderess Sophia Durocher. Anything except further harass Sophia’s spotlight-weary family. But when Julie accidentally switches books with Sophia’s infuriatingly handsome grandson, Griffin, she finds herself getting much closer to her research subject than anticipated. Is getting the information she craves worth losing the guy who’s making her believe love isn’t the stuff of superstition after all?
Ghost tours, otherworldly sightings, allure, and mystery! This story has it all. I loved how Julie and Griffin came together.❤
UNMASKED by Saskia Blake: Julia is over the moon when she gets a gig waitressing a masked Hallowe’en party at the mysterious Willingdon Manor, especially when she discovers that her college crush, Jason, will be one of the VIP guests. But when a violent thunderstorm knocks out the power and everything is cast in candlelight, things take a surprising turn that Julia can only describe as otherworldly…
Last, but certainly not least, is UNMASKED by Saskia Blake. I loved the dark and stormy night theme and the pleasant attitude of the party-goers who suggested that the lights going out would be like fancy camping.
I would love to explore a large manor such as the one described in this story so I lived a little vicariously through Julia!
OVERALL, I enjoyed this anthology. Since it’s described as Halloween themed, I was under the impression that this was more of a horror anthology. However, I wasn’t at all disappointed when I realized it was more of a supernatural-romance anthology. With that being said, this anthology can be enjoyed at any time of the year by fans of paranormal and supernatural romance! Also, some of these stories have a little bit of heat, so if you like hot, supernatural-romance, you need to buy this set, today! It’s a steal at 99 cents!
5/5 stars.
BOOK REVIEW: https://awellreadwomanblog.wordpress....
SEPTEMBER 16, 2016 ~ AUTHOR APRIL L WOOD (A WELL READ WOMAN)
Fall under the spell of ten up-and-coming romance authors. When the clock strikes midnight on Halloween, you’ll want to read every one of these all-new, original novellas.
From enchanted gardens to mystic curses, you’ll find something to make your spine shiver and your heart beat faster. Fall in love with a cursed werewolf, a heartbroken ghost, a true southern gentleman, and many more.
There’s something for everyone, with contemporary romance, historical romance, paranormal and shifter romance.
Everyday is Halloween with this spellbinding collection!
Kindle Edition, 648 pages
Published September 1st 2016 by SkySpark Books
Genre: Romance, Supernatural Romance, Paranormal Romance, Historical Romance, Anthology
Authors: Elana Johnson, Amanda Gale, G.G. Andrew, Sara Spencer, Rachel Shane, Bryn Donovan, Nicole Zoltack, Jessica Arden, Saskia Blake, Elizabeth Cole
Add on Goodreads
THE KILLING TOUCH by Elana Johnson: When the worst firestorm in Wisconsin history sweeps across the frontier, it takes thousands of lives, but it does something worse to Robert Williams. After the ashes cool, he’s immune to hunger and cold, invisible to everyone—and cursed with a killing touch. Anna Crane, the woman Robert once hoped to marry, is the only one who can see him. Can they figure out how to overcome his living death to find a future together?
“She exhaled one final time and gave everything she had to the man she loved.”
I really liked THE KILLING TOUCH and found it to be a good opener to set the mood for the rest of the short stories featured in this haunting, supernatural romance anthology. Full of suspense, THE KILLING TOUCH kept me at the edge of my seat.
ONE TOUCH OF SILVER by Elizabeth Cole: Silver Salem arrives in New Jersey with her telepathic cat, looking to help a man (with the manners of a Viking) with his translations. When she learns the text she is to translate is a spellbook, she first refuses. After all, magic is not to be trifled with. What has she gotten herself into?
“Demons always taste so delicious.”
I really liked this shifter, paranormal romance and took a particular interest in the rituals to remove the curse of Bahor. The telepathic cat was a nice addition, too!
SWEET LAVVY by Amanda Gale: On a blustery Maine winter’s night, an old man tells Nick the story of Lavinia, who is buried in the local cemetery. After her husband Theodore was lost at sea in 1857, Lavinia insisted he returned in ghostly form and lived out her days as if he were with her. The townspeople thought she was mad with grief–but did Theodore actually return? And what lessons will Nick learn from this tale of eternal love?
SWEET LAVVY — a tale of eternal love — was my favorite by far out of the collection. I loved how the author painted a picture of the wintry cemetery with her words. I also loved how she connected this story to her contemporary-romance book series, MEREDITH. It was fun to revisit the characters I love so much and to see them in a totally different light. Bravo!
TO HELL WITH LOVE by G.G. Andrew: Daisy has the perfect night with the perfect guy–only to wake and find he’s sold his soul to the Devil and has no memory of her. Now she’s got to navigate the underworld, unbalanced goddesses and unpleasant demons–not to mention a cute med student posing as Charon–to meet the Devil and reverse the curse…and discover that what she really wants may be something else entirely.
“Daisy still vowed to wish upon every star for her own happy ending.”
Another favorite of mine! Daisy wants her happily-ever-after, even if she has to go to hell to find it. I really liked Daisy and was surprised by the lengths that she would go to save Derek’s soul – whether he appreciated it or not.
MONTGOMERY MANSION by Sara Spencer: Getting over a recent breakup, Alice isn’t too thrilled when her best friend Tara invites her to a party at a haunted mansion. Not only is Alice afraid of the dark, she’s terrified of any spiritual beings she may run into there. When Alice meets Elliot at the party, her fears temporarily disappear until she and the hot teacher are thrown into a horrifying situation that ends up being just what she may need to move on with her life.
OMG, this one actually had a lot of humor to it and I was laughing hysterically when Alice nearly died from the spicy dip at the party. And, of course, she’s mortified when an extremely good looking man catches her practically frothing at the mouth. Haha! I really liked this story.
GRAVEBOUND by Rachel Shane: Delilah York is a witch lawyer on the Las Vegas Strip who breaks up marriages by day and breaks curses…also by day. When a sexy gambler barges into her office claiming he’s cursed to bury himself alive, she bets everything to try to save him, even though it means putting her own life on the line. Together they must figure out who cursed Cole, all while trying not to fall for each other.
Oooh, this was another really good story about contracts, blood, and magic! Delilah is a divorce attorney who also reverses potions and curses! Loved it!
WICKED GARDEN by Bryn Donovan: After a painful breakup, Nicole moves to a house in Savannah, resolving to be single. Aaron, her new neighbor, is a true Southern gentleman who tempts her to forget that plan. But the house’s evil history haunts the garden and Nicole’s dreams… and Aaron has secrets of his own. To end the curse, Aaron and Nicole will have to overcome their past fears and give their relationship a chance to bloom.
Another favorite of mine! A haunted garden where the camellias smell like… corpses! I loved the romance between Nicole and Aaron.❤
OF SCARES AND SMOOCHES By Nicole Zoltack: Handyman Ryder has his work cut out for him when he signs on to help the beautiful Jade restore her newly inherited southern plantation. Not only are the premises completely rundown, something otherworldly seems to be haunting the house… and Jade. As the couple grows closer together, and closer to the truth, the greater the likelihood that neither will survive.
“This haunted ruination of my family legacy.”
LOVED this one! Witches and curses abound in this supernatural romance about a woman who inherits a haunted house and hires a handyman to restore it. I loved (handyman) Ryder and he made me laugh so hard when he, Jade, and Katrina are thrown from the house and he comments, “Well, that didn’t go well.” Hahaa!
THE SKEPTICS’ GUIDE TO THE MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE by Jessica Arden: Grad student and New Orleans ghost tour operator Julie would do anything to complete her thesis research and exonerate infamous murderess Sophia Durocher. Anything except further harass Sophia’s spotlight-weary family. But when Julie accidentally switches books with Sophia’s infuriatingly handsome grandson, Griffin, she finds herself getting much closer to her research subject than anticipated. Is getting the information she craves worth losing the guy who’s making her believe love isn’t the stuff of superstition after all?
Ghost tours, otherworldly sightings, allure, and mystery! This story has it all. I loved how Julie and Griffin came together.❤
UNMASKED by Saskia Blake: Julia is over the moon when she gets a gig waitressing a masked Hallowe’en party at the mysterious Willingdon Manor, especially when she discovers that her college crush, Jason, will be one of the VIP guests. But when a violent thunderstorm knocks out the power and everything is cast in candlelight, things take a surprising turn that Julia can only describe as otherworldly…
Last, but certainly not least, is UNMASKED by Saskia Blake. I loved the dark and stormy night theme and the pleasant attitude of the party-goers who suggested that the lights going out would be like fancy camping.
I would love to explore a large manor such as the one described in this story so I lived a little vicariously through Julia!
OVERALL, I enjoyed this anthology. Since it’s described as Halloween themed, I was under the impression that this was more of a horror anthology. However, I wasn’t at all disappointed when I realized it was more of a supernatural-romance anthology. With that being said, this anthology can be enjoyed at any time of the year by fans of paranormal and supernatural romance! Also, some of these stories have a little bit of heat, so if you like hot, supernatural-romance, you need to buy this set, today! It’s a steal at 99 cents!
5/5 stars.
BOOK REVIEW: https://awellreadwomanblog.wordpress....
September 1, 2016
This review was originally posted to Jen in Bookland
Since this is a boxed set I am going to write a small review for each story, but I wanted to start off with my thoughts of this as a whole. Under Your Spell is an awesome read! Probably the best boxed set I have ever read. I really enjoyed most of the stories. I don't read a lot of novellas, only ones from authors I already like, so I was quite pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed these ones. Most of them were amazing and I instantly went to look up the authors and see what else they have written. Oh, this was such a fun read. Definitely grab yourself a copy as it is amazing. Now onto the reviews!
The Killing Touch by Elana Johnson
★ ★ ★
At first I forgot I was reading a spooky collection of novellas just in time for Halloween. The Killing Touch is a bit old-timey and you start reading it and quickly get to a part where you are wondering what is going on. It is the story of Robert and Anna (and Charles). The idea was an interesting one - what happens to Robert after a tragedy and how he deals with his situation is one I haven't seen before. I enjoyed this story. It a quick read, but fun.
One Touch of Silver by Elizabeth Cole
★ ★ ★ ★1/2
I really loved this story. The writing, the characters, the world, everything about it was amazing. When Silver shows up in a bit of a ghost town with her cat Piewicket things are not as they appear. For one she is there to do some translating work for Mr. Dunne, work she really needs now that she doesn't have anyone else, but he is not inclined to let her help. He asked for her father, not her, but with nowhere else to stay and the late time she will have to spend the night. Of course things are not always what they seem and I loved this story so much. It takes place in a world full of magical things, but it reminds me of some dark, gothic stories I love. I will definitely have to read more from this author as this was a wonderful read.
Sweet Lavvy by Amanda Gale
★ ★1/2
This story is just okay. It was kind of obvious what would/was happening and it was not my cup of tea. It is a story of a guy who meets a mysterious stranger in the graveyard. When the stranger shows up while he is having a drink the stranger tells him the story of Levinia and Theodore. It was okay, but the ending was a bit much for me (even though it was what I expected). Also I kept thinking what time period is this? The "present day" time seemed like it should be older the way it was written, like maybe the 50's or prior, but at one point the one guy takes out a phone and shows the other guy some photos so it can't be that old. The writing for me didn't fit a present day story. It felt too old-timey, but it wasn't so...it just wasn't for me.
To Hell With Love by G.G. Andrews
★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2
To Hell With Love was a lot of fun. If you have read the author before you won't be disappointed, and if not then you are in for a treat. It is the eve of Daisy's thirtieth birthday and she doesn't have any fun exciting plans for her big day. Only she goes to a new bookstore and meets her prince charming! Just like in all the books she has read since she was little! This is it! She just knows it. Only things don't turn out how she expects. A few bumps in the road, some trips to Hell and back and a cast of really fun characters and you have a really entertaining read. It made me want to go to take a trip to Hell as it was so much fun!
Montgomery Mansion by Sara Spencer
★ ★ ★ ★1/2
What do you get when you cross a haunted mansion on Halloween, a girl afraid of all things scary, potential ghosts, and hot new guys? This super fun story! I loved that it is just the story of two friends going to a party at a haunted mansion. It feels like a simple spooky story, nothing super crazy, which is why I really enjoyed it. Sometimes it is nice to have a classic kind of story like some of the old ghost movies I used to watch. This is another author I will have to read more of.
Gavebound by Rachel Shane
★ ★ ★ ★1/2
I have really enjoyed most of the stories thus far and Gravebound was no exception. This is the story of Delilah, a divorce attorney for magical and non-magical situations. She helps people who have curses or spells placed upon them who want them gone. When Cole bursts into her office in need of help she only has a few hours to figure out who cursed him and why. It was a lot of fun watching the two of them run around town and try to figure everything out, all the while Cole is trying to fight the curse. These story are all so great!
Wicked Garden by Bryn Donovan
★ ★ ★
Wicked Garden was an okay read. The story opens with Nicole moving to the south after things didn't work out so well for her in Chicago. She is housesitting for a month before she will have to find her own place and start her new job. She is exited to be on her own and prove that she can be independent. No more men for her in the near future...only she almost immediately meets Aaron, her neighbor. They were cute together, they both have some issues or problems that came up in past relationships, but I liked them. Add in some spooky things happening, a ghost, and you have a cute story. The only thing that kept me from loving it was the ending and what Nicole realized and did and whatnot. It is not completely my cup of tea, but it was still an enjoyable read.
Of Scares and Smooches by Nicole Zoltack
★ ★
This story wasn't my favorite. I know all of these stories move quickly, the people fall in love fast and whatnot, but I just didn't see it with these two. Jade has hired Ryder to renovate her family home, only there is a curse to deal with. Can they figure out how to break the curse before it ends up getting Jade? The issue for me was that Jade and Ryder didn't seem like they even liked each other so it didn't work for me. I never felt the connection. Plus I didn't like the ending, how everything was resolved.
The Skeptics' Guide to the Mysteries of the Universe by Jessica Arden
★ ★ ★ ★1/2
Oh this was another great read. I loved Julie and Griffin right from the start. They both love the same things and it was so much fun to read. I loved the banter and all the witty comments and everything about this story. It was so much fun! It had me grinning so big the whole time I was reading it. So this is the story of Julie and Griffin as I have said. They both are big into history, especially ghosts stories. Julie doesn't want to every be in a relationship, she doesn't want the potential heartache, so she tries to keep things simple. Only when she meets Griffin things start to change. He was amazing. I loved him. He was always willing to do whatever Julie needed. There are lots of other details, like Julie trying to find proof that a lady accused of murder is actually innocent, but it was really just Julie and Griffin getting to know each other. Oh it was a wonderful read. Loved this one.
Unmasked by Saskia Blake
★ ★ ★ ★
This story was really short, but you had everything you needed for a fun read. Julia has been obsessed with Willingdon Manor for a few years now. She saw it once when she was hiking, but after that she couldn't find anything out about it. Or find it again. Or anything. So when her friend calls her with a job at Willingdon Manor and her college crush will most likely be there she is in. This is very exciting for her, but things don't turn out the way she expected. It was a cute story, and really just the start, but it felt complete. I am glad the author didn't try to rush everything and make it more than it was.
So there you have it. All my reviews for the stories in Under My Spell. As I said I don't read a lot of novellas, or boxed sets, but I might have to give more a try if they are going to be as awesome as this one was.
*Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
Since this is a boxed set I am going to write a small review for each story, but I wanted to start off with my thoughts of this as a whole. Under Your Spell is an awesome read! Probably the best boxed set I have ever read. I really enjoyed most of the stories. I don't read a lot of novellas, only ones from authors I already like, so I was quite pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed these ones. Most of them were amazing and I instantly went to look up the authors and see what else they have written. Oh, this was such a fun read. Definitely grab yourself a copy as it is amazing. Now onto the reviews!
The Killing Touch by Elana Johnson
★ ★ ★
At first I forgot I was reading a spooky collection of novellas just in time for Halloween. The Killing Touch is a bit old-timey and you start reading it and quickly get to a part where you are wondering what is going on. It is the story of Robert and Anna (and Charles). The idea was an interesting one - what happens to Robert after a tragedy and how he deals with his situation is one I haven't seen before. I enjoyed this story. It a quick read, but fun.
One Touch of Silver by Elizabeth Cole
★ ★ ★ ★1/2
I really loved this story. The writing, the characters, the world, everything about it was amazing. When Silver shows up in a bit of a ghost town with her cat Piewicket things are not as they appear. For one she is there to do some translating work for Mr. Dunne, work she really needs now that she doesn't have anyone else, but he is not inclined to let her help. He asked for her father, not her, but with nowhere else to stay and the late time she will have to spend the night. Of course things are not always what they seem and I loved this story so much. It takes place in a world full of magical things, but it reminds me of some dark, gothic stories I love. I will definitely have to read more from this author as this was a wonderful read.
Sweet Lavvy by Amanda Gale
★ ★1/2
This story is just okay. It was kind of obvious what would/was happening and it was not my cup of tea. It is a story of a guy who meets a mysterious stranger in the graveyard. When the stranger shows up while he is having a drink the stranger tells him the story of Levinia and Theodore. It was okay, but the ending was a bit much for me (even though it was what I expected). Also I kept thinking what time period is this? The "present day" time seemed like it should be older the way it was written, like maybe the 50's or prior, but at one point the one guy takes out a phone and shows the other guy some photos so it can't be that old. The writing for me didn't fit a present day story. It felt too old-timey, but it wasn't so...it just wasn't for me.
To Hell With Love by G.G. Andrews
★ ★ ★ ★ 1/2
To Hell With Love was a lot of fun. If you have read the author before you won't be disappointed, and if not then you are in for a treat. It is the eve of Daisy's thirtieth birthday and she doesn't have any fun exciting plans for her big day. Only she goes to a new bookstore and meets her prince charming! Just like in all the books she has read since she was little! This is it! She just knows it. Only things don't turn out how she expects. A few bumps in the road, some trips to Hell and back and a cast of really fun characters and you have a really entertaining read. It made me want to go to take a trip to Hell as it was so much fun!
Montgomery Mansion by Sara Spencer
★ ★ ★ ★1/2
What do you get when you cross a haunted mansion on Halloween, a girl afraid of all things scary, potential ghosts, and hot new guys? This super fun story! I loved that it is just the story of two friends going to a party at a haunted mansion. It feels like a simple spooky story, nothing super crazy, which is why I really enjoyed it. Sometimes it is nice to have a classic kind of story like some of the old ghost movies I used to watch. This is another author I will have to read more of.
Gavebound by Rachel Shane
★ ★ ★ ★1/2
I have really enjoyed most of the stories thus far and Gravebound was no exception. This is the story of Delilah, a divorce attorney for magical and non-magical situations. She helps people who have curses or spells placed upon them who want them gone. When Cole bursts into her office in need of help she only has a few hours to figure out who cursed him and why. It was a lot of fun watching the two of them run around town and try to figure everything out, all the while Cole is trying to fight the curse. These story are all so great!
Wicked Garden by Bryn Donovan
★ ★ ★
Wicked Garden was an okay read. The story opens with Nicole moving to the south after things didn't work out so well for her in Chicago. She is housesitting for a month before she will have to find her own place and start her new job. She is exited to be on her own and prove that she can be independent. No more men for her in the near future...only she almost immediately meets Aaron, her neighbor. They were cute together, they both have some issues or problems that came up in past relationships, but I liked them. Add in some spooky things happening, a ghost, and you have a cute story. The only thing that kept me from loving it was the ending and what Nicole realized and did and whatnot. It is not completely my cup of tea, but it was still an enjoyable read.
Of Scares and Smooches by Nicole Zoltack
★ ★
This story wasn't my favorite. I know all of these stories move quickly, the people fall in love fast and whatnot, but I just didn't see it with these two. Jade has hired Ryder to renovate her family home, only there is a curse to deal with. Can they figure out how to break the curse before it ends up getting Jade? The issue for me was that Jade and Ryder didn't seem like they even liked each other so it didn't work for me. I never felt the connection. Plus I didn't like the ending, how everything was resolved.
The Skeptics' Guide to the Mysteries of the Universe by Jessica Arden
★ ★ ★ ★1/2
Oh this was another great read. I loved Julie and Griffin right from the start. They both love the same things and it was so much fun to read. I loved the banter and all the witty comments and everything about this story. It was so much fun! It had me grinning so big the whole time I was reading it. So this is the story of Julie and Griffin as I have said. They both are big into history, especially ghosts stories. Julie doesn't want to every be in a relationship, she doesn't want the potential heartache, so she tries to keep things simple. Only when she meets Griffin things start to change. He was amazing. I loved him. He was always willing to do whatever Julie needed. There are lots of other details, like Julie trying to find proof that a lady accused of murder is actually innocent, but it was really just Julie and Griffin getting to know each other. Oh it was a wonderful read. Loved this one.
Unmasked by Saskia Blake
★ ★ ★ ★
This story was really short, but you had everything you needed for a fun read. Julia has been obsessed with Willingdon Manor for a few years now. She saw it once when she was hiking, but after that she couldn't find anything out about it. Or find it again. Or anything. So when her friend calls her with a job at Willingdon Manor and her college crush will most likely be there she is in. This is very exciting for her, but things don't turn out the way she expected. It was a cute story, and really just the start, but it felt complete. I am glad the author didn't try to rush everything and make it more than it was.
So there you have it. All my reviews for the stories in Under My Spell. As I said I don't read a lot of novellas, or boxed sets, but I might have to give more a try if they are going to be as awesome as this one was.
*Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
October 31, 2017
The Killing Touch by Elana Johnson DNF
One Touch of Silver by Elizabeth Cole 4 stars
Sweet Lavvy by Amanda Gale DNF
To Hell With Love by G.G. Andrew 4 stars
Montgomery Mansion by Sara Spencer 4 stars
Gravebound by Rachel Shane 4 stars
Wicked Garden by Bryn Donovan 3.5 stars
Of Scares and Smooches by Nicole Zoltack 3 stars
The Skeptic's Guide to the Mysteries of the Universe by Jessica Arden DNF
Unmasked by Saskia Blake 4 stars
Nice set of Halloween-themed romances. I bought this one mostly for G.G. Andrew's book, (I really loved her Halloween trilogy), but there were several others in here I also enjoyed. A steal at only a dollar for the whole set!
One Touch of Silver by Elizabeth Cole 4 stars
Sweet Lavvy by Amanda Gale DNF
To Hell With Love by G.G. Andrew 4 stars
Montgomery Mansion by Sara Spencer 4 stars
Gravebound by Rachel Shane 4 stars
Wicked Garden by Bryn Donovan 3.5 stars
Of Scares and Smooches by Nicole Zoltack 3 stars
The Skeptic's Guide to the Mysteries of the Universe by Jessica Arden DNF
Unmasked by Saskia Blake 4 stars
Nice set of Halloween-themed romances. I bought this one mostly for G.G. Andrew's book, (I really loved her Halloween trilogy), but there were several others in here I also enjoyed. A steal at only a dollar for the whole set!
February 4, 2019
I likely didn't read the synopsis of this collection well enough--this wasn't my thing. Most of the stories bored me and I didn't enjoy reading them.
September 2, 2016
I received a copy of Under Your Spell in exchange for a fair review. This boxed set includes short stories by different authors. The running theme is that of love found in spite of the magic in the stories. Ghosts play a predominant role, but there are witches and demons too. I won't be reviewing all of the stories, but the ones I liked the most.
Note: this review does contain spoilers!
The Killing Touch by Elana Johnson - death of the body doesn't always mean the end of love. Even if you don't approve of Robert's methods, the author so skillfully creates Robert's backstory and he view of the world, you will understand why he feels driven to kill. You will have to be the judge of his guilt and his love. This was not a favorite, but well done, so I'm including it.
One Touch of Silver by Elizabeth Cole - sometimes it takes a friend to drag someone out of their dispair. Although this tail involves wizards which aren't part of the author's usual stories, it is well crafted. Both Silver and Collier are at the end of their ropes. Silver is out of money with very few options on how to make some and Collier is days away from losing his willpower and hence his soul. But these two together become cohorts and find solutions for both of them. The characters are well developed and the descriptions well done. One of my favorites in this collection.
Sweet Lavvy by Amanda Gale
To Hell With Love by G.G. Andrew - How far would you go to make sure you go a happy ending? To hell and back?
Montgomery Mansion by Sara Spencer
Gravebound by Rachel Shane
Wicked Garden by Bryn Donovan - lack of faith in themselves and thinking that they are not worthy of happiness drives the main characters in this story. It takes a ghost in search of justice to bring these two together. I felt their pain in the beginning and then their determination to bring justice and find happiness. The characters were well devoloped, even the ghost!
Of Scares and Smooches by Nicole Zoltack
The Skeptics‘ Guide to the Mysteries of the Universe by Jessica Arden - one of my favorites. How do you prove a thesis when ther is no proof? Do you give up because others say you should or do you keep fighting for the truth? Is your truth the same as mine? I loved the characters and the storyline was captivating.
Unmasked by Saskia Blake
I hope you give these stories a chance and find new authors that you will follow!
Note: this review does contain spoilers!
The Killing Touch by Elana Johnson - death of the body doesn't always mean the end of love. Even if you don't approve of Robert's methods, the author so skillfully creates Robert's backstory and he view of the world, you will understand why he feels driven to kill. You will have to be the judge of his guilt and his love. This was not a favorite, but well done, so I'm including it.
One Touch of Silver by Elizabeth Cole - sometimes it takes a friend to drag someone out of their dispair. Although this tail involves wizards which aren't part of the author's usual stories, it is well crafted. Both Silver and Collier are at the end of their ropes. Silver is out of money with very few options on how to make some and Collier is days away from losing his willpower and hence his soul. But these two together become cohorts and find solutions for both of them. The characters are well developed and the descriptions well done. One of my favorites in this collection.
Sweet Lavvy by Amanda Gale
To Hell With Love by G.G. Andrew - How far would you go to make sure you go a happy ending? To hell and back?
Montgomery Mansion by Sara Spencer
Gravebound by Rachel Shane
Wicked Garden by Bryn Donovan - lack of faith in themselves and thinking that they are not worthy of happiness drives the main characters in this story. It takes a ghost in search of justice to bring these two together. I felt their pain in the beginning and then their determination to bring justice and find happiness. The characters were well devoloped, even the ghost!
Of Scares and Smooches by Nicole Zoltack
The Skeptics‘ Guide to the Mysteries of the Universe by Jessica Arden - one of my favorites. How do you prove a thesis when ther is no proof? Do you give up because others say you should or do you keep fighting for the truth? Is your truth the same as mine? I loved the characters and the storyline was captivating.
Unmasked by Saskia Blake
I hope you give these stories a chance and find new authors that you will follow!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2017
What we have here is a bucket, sorry, cauldron, full of stories that will keep any fan of paranormal romance entertained from here to Halloween. There‰Ûªs something here for just about everybody: ghosts, witches, demons, werewolves, curses, and mysteries. All of these authors were new to me except Elizabeth Cole and Nicole Zoltac. All the stories were good and I enjoyed them. Here are my highlights.
One Touch of Silver by Elizabeth Cole was my favorite of the stories. What is the first thing you think of when you are introduced to a girl, a telepathic cat, a creepy Gothic mansion, and a handsome mystery man? Scooby Doo, right? With that thought (giggle) in mind, I could not resist! Our heroine, Silver Salem, arrives in Seagrove, New Jersey, to translate an ancient passage for her mysterious employer, Collier Dunne (he needs the passage to help him break a curse). Once they meet, things get interesting. I won‰Ûªt give away the good stuff, but I‰Ûªll put these questions to you: 1. When is being a werewolf not the curse? 2. How do you outsmart a demon? 3. When are you beyond glad that your new girlfriend brought her cat along? 4. How can you resist a Gothic romance set on a South Jersey beach in the winter?
I also liked Of Scares and Smooches (cool title) by Nicole Zoltac. The hero, a handyman, and the heroine, who has inherited an old Southern plantation house, are terrorized by ‰ÛÒ something. Their task is to discover what or who and why. Finding out is fun. This story epitomizes the saying ‰ÛÏCheaters never prosper.‰Û�
The Killing Touch by Elana Johnson was just creepy weird! A man who died in a fire comes back as a ‰Û÷sort of ghost,‰Ûª who can only be seen by his dead brother‰Ûªs wife. At first he doesn‰Ûªt realize he‰Ûªs dead, and then he discovers a most bizarre and disturbing way to become human (alive) again.
I liked The Skeptics Guide to the Mysteries of the Universe by Jessica Arden. The story is set in New Orleans, which is a fertile site for spooky stories. The heroine meets the hero while researching murders his grandmother supposedly committed. She doesn‰Ûªt believe his grandmother is guilty. The two of them work well together. This one seemed less like a ghost story and more like a detective/mystery (a good one).
As I said all ten stories were good. Enjoy!
One Touch of Silver by Elizabeth Cole was my favorite of the stories. What is the first thing you think of when you are introduced to a girl, a telepathic cat, a creepy Gothic mansion, and a handsome mystery man? Scooby Doo, right? With that thought (giggle) in mind, I could not resist! Our heroine, Silver Salem, arrives in Seagrove, New Jersey, to translate an ancient passage for her mysterious employer, Collier Dunne (he needs the passage to help him break a curse). Once they meet, things get interesting. I won‰Ûªt give away the good stuff, but I‰Ûªll put these questions to you: 1. When is being a werewolf not the curse? 2. How do you outsmart a demon? 3. When are you beyond glad that your new girlfriend brought her cat along? 4. How can you resist a Gothic romance set on a South Jersey beach in the winter?
I also liked Of Scares and Smooches (cool title) by Nicole Zoltac. The hero, a handyman, and the heroine, who has inherited an old Southern plantation house, are terrorized by ‰ÛÒ something. Their task is to discover what or who and why. Finding out is fun. This story epitomizes the saying ‰ÛÏCheaters never prosper.‰Û�
The Killing Touch by Elana Johnson was just creepy weird! A man who died in a fire comes back as a ‰Û÷sort of ghost,‰Ûª who can only be seen by his dead brother‰Ûªs wife. At first he doesn‰Ûªt realize he‰Ûªs dead, and then he discovers a most bizarre and disturbing way to become human (alive) again.
I liked The Skeptics Guide to the Mysteries of the Universe by Jessica Arden. The story is set in New Orleans, which is a fertile site for spooky stories. The heroine meets the hero while researching murders his grandmother supposedly committed. She doesn‰Ûªt believe his grandmother is guilty. The two of them work well together. This one seemed less like a ghost story and more like a detective/mystery (a good one).
As I said all ten stories were good. Enjoy!
January 14, 2017
I recieved this for free in exchange for an honest review. Im not normally a mystery reader but i love the words Free.
i read a piece called Wicked Garden and just could not put it down!!!
I was in love with the mc the moment i began reading.
I found myself trying to solve things out and make sense of things before reading ahead, but i just let myself down.
This novella was easy to get into and the character was relatable especially after a few failed relationships.
i found myself looking up things such as camillas to see what the character would see.
the entire time i read this i wanted more aaron time. im so happy there was a part of him at his job. the sex in it was almost a bit much for me but it added a depth to the story and helped the plot move along.
overall im very impressed!
this is my first novella by this author too. will read more!
started reading Unmasked and am anticipating good things from it too!
edit i finished unmasked and i am saddened that there wasnt more, however it was so wonderful i cant complain!! i loved how much history was in here without overflowing with excessive unneeded things!
The main character knows her interests and keeps true to herself.
I was really hoping the whole time that she was looking for the old fling that she would end up with the man of the house in the end.
will read more from this author.
the main character reminded me of myself. and i loved the reference to jane austen.
Read To Hell With Love
Having never read anything from this author, Imanticipating the next one on Penelope!! Such a silly little quarky novella. Daisy really is hooked on this man which is totally great because it builds her character. I wish there was more with the time difference between worlds but I liked the story none the less :)
i read a piece called Wicked Garden and just could not put it down!!!
I was in love with the mc the moment i began reading.
I found myself trying to solve things out and make sense of things before reading ahead, but i just let myself down.
This novella was easy to get into and the character was relatable especially after a few failed relationships.
i found myself looking up things such as camillas to see what the character would see.
the entire time i read this i wanted more aaron time. im so happy there was a part of him at his job. the sex in it was almost a bit much for me but it added a depth to the story and helped the plot move along.
overall im very impressed!
this is my first novella by this author too. will read more!
started reading Unmasked and am anticipating good things from it too!
edit i finished unmasked and i am saddened that there wasnt more, however it was so wonderful i cant complain!! i loved how much history was in here without overflowing with excessive unneeded things!
The main character knows her interests and keeps true to herself.
I was really hoping the whole time that she was looking for the old fling that she would end up with the man of the house in the end.
will read more from this author.
the main character reminded me of myself. and i loved the reference to jane austen.
Read To Hell With Love
Having never read anything from this author, Imanticipating the next one on Penelope!! Such a silly little quarky novella. Daisy really is hooked on this man which is totally great because it builds her character. I wish there was more with the time difference between worlds but I liked the story none the less :)
September 5, 2016
I haven't yet read the entire book but I did get an advanced copy to review and I can't wait to read it all before posting a review on the Elizabeth Cole story, "One Touch of Silver," the second in the anthology. Normally, I am not much of a fan of paranormal romances and I grew out of a passion for gothics years ago. However, I found this particular story captivating from the beginning. In just a few pages, Cole created warm, believable characters and a charming tale in which the paranormal elements blend so well with reality that they are not vexing or unconvincing but add piquancy to the entire narrative. It reminds me of the old movie, The Canterville Ghost (1944). It has a similar period feel and mixture of seriousness, humor and fantasy.
But the characters and the relationships are the best part of the story. The interactions between the scholarly Silver and the tormented Coll are quite authentic and provide the realistic base on which she builds a fanciful tale of redemption through suffering.
Impoverished Silver shows up in place of her deceased father to assist Coll with a vital task the success of which will allow him to live a relatively normal life. It is not an uncommon theme of fantasy or realistic fiction but Cole retells the theme with panache. Silver finds some redemption of her own along the way. Altogether worth the price of the book. Very enjoyable.
But the characters and the relationships are the best part of the story. The interactions between the scholarly Silver and the tormented Coll are quite authentic and provide the realistic base on which she builds a fanciful tale of redemption through suffering.
Impoverished Silver shows up in place of her deceased father to assist Coll with a vital task the success of which will allow him to live a relatively normal life. It is not an uncommon theme of fantasy or realistic fiction but Cole retells the theme with panache. Silver finds some redemption of her own along the way. Altogether worth the price of the book. Very enjoyable.
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October 6, 2016Source: e-arc provided in exchange for an honest review
My thoughts: I’ve only read the first four stories so far but they were quite good for getting into the fall/Halloween spirit.
#1 - The Killing Touch by Elana Johnson had an old fashioned kind of feel – a gentleman courting his love interest – but turns much darker after tradgedy strikes.
#2 – One Touch of Silver by Elizabeth Cole was a lot of fun. Cursed werewolves, gothic vibe, romance.
#3 – Sweet Lavvy by Amanda Gale was a bittersweet tale told by a mysterious man to a younger man making a big life decision as a warning not to take advantage of the love you have. Nice message but not as spooky as the rest.
#4 – To Hell with Love by G.G. Andrews. Andrews is the reason I read this antho and hers is my favorite of the group (so far). Fun, sexy, Greek mythology, curses, BOOKS and romance.
I do plan on reading the other 4 stories and reviewing on Goodreads – but probably closer to Halloween…mood reader lol but wanted to let you all know about it in the meantime.
My thoughts: I’ve only read the first four stories so far but they were quite good for getting into the fall/Halloween spirit.
#1 - The Killing Touch by Elana Johnson had an old fashioned kind of feel – a gentleman courting his love interest – but turns much darker after tradgedy strikes.
#2 – One Touch of Silver by Elizabeth Cole was a lot of fun. Cursed werewolves, gothic vibe, romance.
#3 – Sweet Lavvy by Amanda Gale was a bittersweet tale told by a mysterious man to a younger man making a big life decision as a warning not to take advantage of the love you have. Nice message but not as spooky as the rest.
#4 – To Hell with Love by G.G. Andrews. Andrews is the reason I read this antho and hers is my favorite of the group (so far). Fun, sexy, Greek mythology, curses, BOOKS and romance.
I do plan on reading the other 4 stories and reviewing on Goodreads – but probably closer to Halloween…mood reader lol but wanted to let you all know about it in the meantime.
September 2, 2016
Under Your Spell: A Romance Boxed Set of Masked Balls, Haunted Gardens, Magic, and More
Ten fantastic short (romance) stories. There is something for everyone, Historical, Contemporary, Paranormal and more, all with romance theme. Each Author brings their special blend to make for an enchanting fascinating, fun read!
Ten fantastic short (romance) stories. There is something for everyone, Historical, Contemporary, Paranormal and more, all with romance theme. Each Author brings their special blend to make for an enchanting fascinating, fun read!
September 3, 2016
I loved the originality in each of the stories - although there was a common theme throughout, each author brought something new and interesting to the table. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a bitesize captivating stories.
October 7, 2016
Wicked Garden was lovely and sexy and real. It was absolutely my favorite from this box set though all of them were charming. This was the perfect read for October.
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