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Forty Proof #1
Midlife Bounty Hunter
A Paranormal Women's Fiction with a bit of class, and a lot of sass for anyone who feels like age is just a number!
One day I’m married, living in Seattle, and magic isn’t real.
The next, I’m divorced and living in the guest room of my ex’s hotter- than-sin cousin’s place in Savannah . . . and talking to an animated skeleton named Robert.
I have to admit, Robert isn’t my worst date.
At forty-one, I didn’t think I’d be starting over. But I’ll be damned if my ex thinks I’m down and out because he pulled a fast one on me.
When a job comes my way that offers me a chance to use my childhood training in the shadow world, I take it—I need the money more than I care about my sanity.
It’s dangerous.
I have to embrace the magic and dark of my past.
And I need Advil to keep me going.
So those who’d hold me back better sit up and take notice, because a new woman is in town, and she’s not about to be counted out by anyone.
Even if she does groan when she rolls out of bed in the morning.
One day I’m married, living in Seattle, and magic isn’t real.
The next, I’m divorced and living in the guest room of my ex’s hotter- than-sin cousin’s place in Savannah . . . and talking to an animated skeleton named Robert.
I have to admit, Robert isn’t my worst date.
At forty-one, I didn’t think I’d be starting over. But I’ll be damned if my ex thinks I’m down and out because he pulled a fast one on me.
When a job comes my way that offers me a chance to use my childhood training in the shadow world, I take it—I need the money more than I care about my sanity.
It’s dangerous.
I have to embrace the magic and dark of my past.
And I need Advil to keep me going.
So those who’d hold me back better sit up and take notice, because a new woman is in town, and she’s not about to be counted out by anyone.
Even if she does groan when she rolls out of bed in the morning.
340 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 16, 2020
9277 people are currently reading
15870 people want to read
About the author
Shannon Mayer
161 books7,235 followersA long time ago, in a galaxy far away, I was born into a family of Star Wars nuts. I have a lot of siblings (somewhere I lost count but I think there was more than could be numbered on one hand) and being one of the young padawans I was subjected to Star Wars marathons, on a regular basis. If you've read any of my books you'll see there is often a reference to said movies as a small homage to my upbringing. May the force be with you and all that jazz.
I started writing when I realized I didn't want to grow up not believing in magic, or not believing in creatures everyone else said didn't exist. That being said, I have never seen a fairy, unicorn or dragon. I had a neighbour who swore they fed the leprechauns in their garden, but I never caught the little buggers no matter how long I lay in wait. (And consequently had to help the neighbours plant new flowers to replace those I killed waiting for the leprechauns to show their faces.)
Along the way, I found my husband who is the rock that keeps me from floating away into my dreams, and we have a little boy who is the centre of our world. Living on a farm keeps us busy (as if the writing wasn't enough) and I have more than my share of stories about wrestling with cows, helping birth calves and ending up in the creek during the process, falling in the mud (we'll call it mud but we all know that on a farm, mud is rarely mud) and chasing escaped livestock in the hopes the four legged convicts don't make it to the highway.
I've taken up archery, and the goal is to move into horseback archery in time (you know, when I can hit the target on a consistent basis) and when no one is looking, I love to bake (this doesn't happen often as it's hard to keep the sweet treats in stock with two boys in the house.)
As to what's coming next for me? More stories (since those never stop inside my head, I might as well share them with all of you!) and more adventures. Pretty much, when the fancy strikes, I'll jump on it. Leap before you look I'm sure that motto was created for me.
Or was that . . . think big and dream bigger, ready, set, pull the trigger . . . yeah. That one is a good one too. But only if you have a gun. And are hunting elephants. Which is not cool because of so many reasons. Let's stick with the first one with an addendum.
Leap before you look and let your dreams carry you on their wings. And that, my friends, is me in a nutshell.
I started writing when I realized I didn't want to grow up not believing in magic, or not believing in creatures everyone else said didn't exist. That being said, I have never seen a fairy, unicorn or dragon. I had a neighbour who swore they fed the leprechauns in their garden, but I never caught the little buggers no matter how long I lay in wait. (And consequently had to help the neighbours plant new flowers to replace those I killed waiting for the leprechauns to show their faces.)
Along the way, I found my husband who is the rock that keeps me from floating away into my dreams, and we have a little boy who is the centre of our world. Living on a farm keeps us busy (as if the writing wasn't enough) and I have more than my share of stories about wrestling with cows, helping birth calves and ending up in the creek during the process, falling in the mud (we'll call it mud but we all know that on a farm, mud is rarely mud) and chasing escaped livestock in the hopes the four legged convicts don't make it to the highway.
I've taken up archery, and the goal is to move into horseback archery in time (you know, when I can hit the target on a consistent basis) and when no one is looking, I love to bake (this doesn't happen often as it's hard to keep the sweet treats in stock with two boys in the house.)
As to what's coming next for me? More stories (since those never stop inside my head, I might as well share them with all of you!) and more adventures. Pretty much, when the fancy strikes, I'll jump on it. Leap before you look I'm sure that motto was created for me.
Or was that . . . think big and dream bigger, ready, set, pull the trigger . . . yeah. That one is a good one too. But only if you have a gun. And are hunting elephants. Which is not cool because of so many reasons. Let's stick with the first one with an addendum.
Leap before you look and let your dreams carry you on their wings. And that, my friends, is me in a nutshell.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,667 reviews
June 11, 2020
Addictive!
Shannon Mayer is new to me as an author, this is the first of her books that I have read, although I do have others on my tbr pile! I picked this up because of the synopsis and having recently read about an 'older' main character in a book, this appealed to me....
What an absolutely great book! At first I was a little unsure, the characters, the plot, the world... but somewhere along the line I became hooked! I absolutely love Breena and her history. I love Robert, Crash, Feish and all the rest!!!
This book is fun but at one point I actually teared up, it's nail biting in places and I'm rooting for things to happen in future books.
I got this book from Kindle Unlimited and I've already downloaded book two. I definitely recommend this book if you love things that go 'bump' in the night!
Shannon Mayer is new to me as an author, this is the first of her books that I have read, although I do have others on my tbr pile! I picked this up because of the synopsis and having recently read about an 'older' main character in a book, this appealed to me....
What an absolutely great book! At first I was a little unsure, the characters, the plot, the world... but somewhere along the line I became hooked! I absolutely love Breena and her history. I love Robert, Crash, Feish and all the rest!!!
This book is fun but at one point I actually teared up, it's nail biting in places and I'm rooting for things to happen in future books.
I got this book from Kindle Unlimited and I've already downloaded book two. I definitely recommend this book if you love things that go 'bump' in the night!
August 5, 2020
Midlife Bounty Hunter is book one in the Forty Proof series by Shannon Mayer.
Breena is a 41 year old heroine starting over. Her ex-husband has done a number and saddled her with all his debt and stolen her Grandmother’s house out from under her. She needs money and fast.
I liked Breena. I could relate to her and some of her life experience. I liked that she’s smart and resourceful. At times she did come across as a bit whinny, but the humor took me away.
I liked Robert. He’s the skeleton that Breena befriends in the cemetery on her way to an interesting interview. We meet a verity of supernaturals and are treated to lots of funny moments, magic, demons, an annoying ex-husband, and more.
This story takes us on a journey. Breena finds herself in the most unlikely of situations and it is hard not to feel like you are with her every step of the way.
Midlife Bounty Hunter is a nice start to the Forty Proof series and I can’t wait to read on and see what happens next. It’s an entertaining read!
Rated: 3.5 Stars
Breena is a 41 year old heroine starting over. Her ex-husband has done a number and saddled her with all his debt and stolen her Grandmother’s house out from under her. She needs money and fast.
I liked Breena. I could relate to her and some of her life experience. I liked that she’s smart and resourceful. At times she did come across as a bit whinny, but the humor took me away.
I liked Robert. He’s the skeleton that Breena befriends in the cemetery on her way to an interesting interview. We meet a verity of supernaturals and are treated to lots of funny moments, magic, demons, an annoying ex-husband, and more.
This story takes us on a journey. Breena finds herself in the most unlikely of situations and it is hard not to feel like you are with her every step of the way.
Midlife Bounty Hunter is a nice start to the Forty Proof series and I can’t wait to read on and see what happens next. It’s an entertaining read!
Rated: 3.5 Stars
April 13, 2021
Midlife Bounty Hunter by Shannon Mayer
Aka Grave Magic Bounty. 1st book in the Forty Proof series. Paranormal women’s fiction trending towards urban fantasy.
Breena, divorced at the age of 41, returns to Savannah to discover magic is not only real but her life is now immersed and dependent on the magic passed down from her grandmother. She needs to figure out quickly who can help and what creatures would rather see her gone. And that doesn’t just mean out of Savannah.
Magic, a talking skeleton, a Bigfoot, and a spider with spells are just a small part of the underworld in Savannah. Fast moving with a few twists that were surprising. Plenty of humor.
I thought she was a bit too focused on her age, her libido, and hated how she referred to her ex-husband, but in the end, I actually liked her pluckiness. I also liked the respect she feels for her grandmother and the level of magic she will have to learn.
I will definitely continue this series to see how Breena survives the world around her.
Aka Grave Magic Bounty. 1st book in the Forty Proof series. Paranormal women’s fiction trending towards urban fantasy.
Breena, divorced at the age of 41, returns to Savannah to discover magic is not only real but her life is now immersed and dependent on the magic passed down from her grandmother. She needs to figure out quickly who can help and what creatures would rather see her gone. And that doesn’t just mean out of Savannah.
Magic, a talking skeleton, a Bigfoot, and a spider with spells are just a small part of the underworld in Savannah. Fast moving with a few twists that were surprising. Plenty of humor.
I thought she was a bit too focused on her age, her libido, and hated how she referred to her ex-husband, but in the end, I actually liked her pluckiness. I also liked the respect she feels for her grandmother and the level of magic she will have to learn.
I will definitely continue this series to see how Breena survives the world around her.
March 8, 2020
Awful
To be fair, I only made it to chapter 4 and gave up in disgust. The MC sounded like a whiny 20-something, not a 41 year old fully grown woman. Her reference to her ex as "Himself" was cringey and the dialogue was trashy. I'm assuming there is some marketing ploy for these books about the paranormal and women in their 40's, but my god, that doesn't mean the author needs to mention this character's age constantly. The premise was absurd- staying with the ex's cousin who she barely knows because divorce lawyer husband tricked her into signing all of their possessions over to him? What is this 41 year old woman's IQ? And then she gets a random ghostly job interview in a graveyard and the cousin happens to be one of the interviewers? Please stop. Thank God it was free. I'll be wiping it from my kindle momentarily.
To be fair, I only made it to chapter 4 and gave up in disgust. The MC sounded like a whiny 20-something, not a 41 year old fully grown woman. Her reference to her ex as "Himself" was cringey and the dialogue was trashy. I'm assuming there is some marketing ploy for these books about the paranormal and women in their 40's, but my god, that doesn't mean the author needs to mention this character's age constantly. The premise was absurd- staying with the ex's cousin who she barely knows because divorce lawyer husband tricked her into signing all of their possessions over to him? What is this 41 year old woman's IQ? And then she gets a random ghostly job interview in a graveyard and the cousin happens to be one of the interviewers? Please stop. Thank God it was free. I'll be wiping it from my kindle momentarily.
February 23, 2020
I almost died laughing.
First thing's first: I really appreciate the over forty protagonist. Smart, resourceful, and experienced, coupled with insecurities pushed on her from society (and a failed marriage) about her age. I identify with most of that and enjoyed it!
I felt super nostalgic after reading about Robert - a talking skeleton that Breena befriends in the cemetery. She offers him a chocolate bar for his help, but a part of me wonders what will happen if she gives him.... wine. Reminded me of a certain favorite childhood movie.
Lots of hilarious monologue. Most notably, the references to my favorite curse word that autocorrect loves to change to 'duck.' Hahaha!
Grave Magic Bounty is definitely a PNR, so imagine my delight that there is more than one potential love interest! And even though Breena's libido is making a comeback, I think it's refreshing that this seems like a slow-burner. Looking forward to the next installment!
First thing's first: I really appreciate the over forty protagonist. Smart, resourceful, and experienced, coupled with insecurities pushed on her from society (and a failed marriage) about her age. I identify with most of that and enjoyed it!
I felt super nostalgic after reading about Robert - a talking skeleton that Breena befriends in the cemetery. She offers him a chocolate bar for his help, but a part of me wonders what will happen if she gives him.... wine. Reminded me of a certain favorite childhood movie.
Lots of hilarious monologue. Most notably, the references to my favorite curse word that autocorrect loves to change to 'duck.' Hahaha!
Grave Magic Bounty is definitely a PNR, so imagine my delight that there is more than one potential love interest! And even though Breena's libido is making a comeback, I think it's refreshing that this seems like a slow-burner. Looking forward to the next installment!
May 12, 2021
My third experiment into the Midlife trope and my research is yielding an amazingly dismal result, is there any hope for me?
Dnf @ 18%
Another divorced middle aged woman who know something about magic. She can see into the shadow world but when she got married she asked her grandmother to close her eyes to all thing magical. Now that her husband is "trading her in for a newer model" she decides to explore the world of magic.
Terrific premise so far but then it all went to hell. So when her husband threw her out she had no place to stay, her grandmother died and though she left the FMC her possessions, her husband somehow switched/copied the signatures on the divorce papers and put them on the property deeds so now she's trying to make money to buy it by from him by means of some subterfuge so he doesn't jack the price on her. I don't know a lot about laws/deeds/properties but why didn't she get a lawyer and say he copied her signature. Why did she just accept it. Maybe there was a reason for the explanation she gave but I obviously don't get it since I stopped at 18%.
Going back to having being thrown out by her husband, she goes to live with her ex-husband's cousin who she only met once and he had said in passing that if she needed anything, she just has to ask. Well, our FMC didn't ask, she just showed up at his house with her luggage while he was entertaining and asked to stay with him. He is obviously shocked because wth does that!
When she applies for a new job in the shadow world, one of the interviewer was her exhusband's cousin. How does that happen. This is the ex husband that doesn't believe in anything magical how come his cousin does. It felt like a bit of a stretch. She never even questioned why he was one of the interviewers, again this is till where I stopped at 18%, I just didn't get why she wasn't surprised to see him or something.
The thing I absolutely loathed in the book was that she called her ex-husband Himself , the first time that was said I thought it was , well not cute but a little funny, then when I read for the 100th time in such few pages I wanted to thump my phone so hard so I just don't see that dreaded word any more.
I am stopping just because of that word, I cannot take it. WTELF is that sh*t.
Dnf @ 18%
Another divorced middle aged woman who know something about magic. She can see into the shadow world but when she got married she asked her grandmother to close her eyes to all thing magical. Now that her husband is "trading her in for a newer model" she decides to explore the world of magic.
Terrific premise so far but then it all went to hell. So when her husband threw her out she had no place to stay, her grandmother died and though she left the FMC her possessions, her husband somehow switched/copied the signatures on the divorce papers and put them on the property deeds so now she's trying to make money to buy it by from him by means of some subterfuge so he doesn't jack the price on her. I don't know a lot about laws/deeds/properties but why didn't she get a lawyer and say he copied her signature. Why did she just accept it. Maybe there was a reason for the explanation she gave but I obviously don't get it since I stopped at 18%.
Going back to having being thrown out by her husband, she goes to live with her ex-husband's cousin who she only met once and he had said in passing that if she needed anything, she just has to ask. Well, our FMC didn't ask, she just showed up at his house with her luggage while he was entertaining and asked to stay with him. He is obviously shocked because wth does that!
When she applies for a new job in the shadow world, one of the interviewer was her exhusband's cousin. How does that happen. This is the ex husband that doesn't believe in anything magical how come his cousin does. It felt like a bit of a stretch. She never even questioned why he was one of the interviewers, again this is till where I stopped at 18%, I just didn't get why she wasn't surprised to see him or something.
The thing I absolutely loathed in the book was that she called her ex-husband Himself , the first time that was said I thought it was , well not cute but a little funny, then when I read for the 100th time in such few pages I wanted to thump my phone so hard so I just don't see that dreaded word any more.
I am stopping just because of that word, I cannot take it. WTELF is that sh*t.
August 18, 2020
I don't send many books back to audible and ask for a refund but this was one of them.
I'd wanted a light, slightly silly, paranormal read that my wife and I could listen to together in the evenings to wind down. 'Grave Magic Bounty' seemed to fit the bill. The main character is a recently divorced woman in her forties returning to her home in Savannah after twenty years away to start a new life and re-enter the Shadow world that she had run away from when she married.
It started to well enough with some flashes of bitter humour about 'himself' her former husband, and stories about life with her (recently deceased) gran, who had taught her how see the Shadows and how to deal with them, that an encounter with a boogeyman that ended with her being sent to an asylum led her to ask her gran to seal off her Sight and that she had left Savannah with no intention of returning.
I thought that was a promising backstory. I liked that it was shared, in bite-sized chunks, while our heroine was going through a bizarre interview in a graveyard that quickly became more like an ordeal by combat with various supernatural those-don't-really-exist-do-they? creatures.
That was enough to get us through the first thirty per cent but not enough to make me put up with the books three main faults: the pacing of the storytelling was uneven and often dragged; the wit was thin, forced, mostly mean-spirited and soon became wearisome, and the main character was very hard to like. She had bitter writen all the way through her like Brighton in a stick of rock. She ogled men and werewolves with boring regularity and in a forced penny-in-the-slot knee-jerk way that would have had any male character pilloried. She kept telling herself how clever she was while completely failing to understand what was going on.
A book stops being a relaxing read when you start to wait for the heroine to meet her well-deserved painful ending.
So it went back and I got a refund, which was probably the best part of the experience.
May 5, 2020
I absolutely loved this, so much more than I was expecting. So glad I gave this author and this series another chance and fell in love with it. I can't wait for more!
May 5, 2020
*1.5 stars* - I really wish they would gives us the options for half stars.
Anyways, I checked out the reviews for this book and thought I'd give it whirl.
I liked they idea of a grown woman who has already lived some of her life and has learned from it and is going back to her roots after being fucked over.
That being said, that's not what I found when I read it. I couldn't connect with the main character because I found her really annoying. I get that her ex treated her like shit for years and that has lasting effects, but she came across as an self-depriciating, whinny adolescent rather than a grown woman. I couldn't stand how she constantly refers to her ex as 'Himself'. Every god damned time. At points, it was used on every page in a chapter at least once. It was seriously ridiculous and too much to take. The constant referring to how she is old, also got old real fast. If the MC wasn't doing it, everyone else was. ALL THE TIME!
I found it also took a long time for the actual plot to come through. At points I was asking myself, what is the point of this? Where is it going? Is the whole story just about her 'training for a new job' (and I use that term very loosely) or is something actually going to happen? Eventually, something did but by that point I was just reading to finish it and didn't really care.
I liked very few of the secondary characters. Mainly, Robert, Feish and Jinx. Other than that, there really wasn't much that holds my interest in this series. I also don't find any of potential love interest that great.
To all those who enjoyed it, good for you. I was really hoping I would as well but that wasn't the case.
Hope some of you find this review helpful!
Anyways, I checked out the reviews for this book and thought I'd give it whirl.
I liked they idea of a grown woman who has already lived some of her life and has learned from it and is going back to her roots after being fucked over.
That being said, that's not what I found when I read it. I couldn't connect with the main character because I found her really annoying. I get that her ex treated her like shit for years and that has lasting effects, but she came across as an self-depriciating, whinny adolescent rather than a grown woman. I couldn't stand how she constantly refers to her ex as 'Himself'. Every god damned time. At points, it was used on every page in a chapter at least once. It was seriously ridiculous and too much to take. The constant referring to how she is old, also got old real fast. If the MC wasn't doing it, everyone else was. ALL THE TIME!
I found it also took a long time for the actual plot to come through. At points I was asking myself, what is the point of this? Where is it going? Is the whole story just about her 'training for a new job' (and I use that term very loosely) or is something actually going to happen? Eventually, something did but by that point I was just reading to finish it and didn't really care.
I liked very few of the secondary characters. Mainly, Robert, Feish and Jinx. Other than that, there really wasn't much that holds my interest in this series. I also don't find any of potential love interest that great.
To all those who enjoyed it, good for you. I was really hoping I would as well but that wasn't the case.
Hope some of you find this review helpful!
April 4, 2020
Does this author know what 40 really is?
It’s like women magically turn into shriveled hags 12 months after their 39th birthday.
Constant complaining about aches which would be appropriate if she we an ex rodeo clown or some other physically extreme career, and the railing about being old was offensive. Thousands of books about men in their 40s being distinguished and we get turned into unfrigable bitties. Not cool.
It’s like women magically turn into shriveled hags 12 months after their 39th birthday.
Constant complaining about aches which would be appropriate if she we an ex rodeo clown or some other physically extreme career, and the railing about being old was offensive. Thousands of books about men in their 40s being distinguished and we get turned into unfrigable bitties. Not cool.
February 23, 2020
I love it, this book is life! No for real, hear me out. The story flowed effortlessly and held my interest throughout. It was funny and totally entertaining. Here’s the kicker, our heroine is over 40 and basically obsolete in the world because she gave her best years to a guy. If that doesn’t ring true to a lot of us. It was a nice change being able to completely relate to a character. Add in a paranormal twist and now we’re having some fun!
I also love how this book is helping to introduce a genre that is focused on the rest of us out there. The ones that are a little worse for wear and so much wiser for it. Midlife women. We may be down but we are far from out. I’m excited for this series and I am here for it!!
I also love how this book is helping to introduce a genre that is focused on the rest of us out there. The ones that are a little worse for wear and so much wiser for it. Midlife women. We may be down but we are far from out. I’m excited for this series and I am here for it!!
May 28, 2020
Okay, I’ve had a beer or two, but... in the past couple of weeks, I’ve read books from three separate series, all with a 40-something female protagonist in a paranormal setting. Being a 40-something female myself, I’m going to assume I’m the target reading audience. Yes, I’ve made a few I’ll-informed decisions in my youth, yes, my body is a LOT different than when I was in my 20’s, but seriously!!! What’s with the never ending barrage of negative comments, from Breena, no less, on the current state of her body and situation? The obsession with the wrinkles and the extra 20 pounds really put a damper on this book. I’m glad I had my fun 20’s, but I’m also really happy not to be there any more. If this book could move past the overstated female ageism from EVERY character, I’d be much happier.
December 22, 2024
Shannon Mayer "Grave Magic Bounty" (Forty Proof #1) is a wonderfully original and quirky look at our heroine who is over 40 and starting over. I pissed myself laughing out loud all the way through. Shannon is a loose cannon when she writes and trust me you would not want her any other way. Shannon and the other Fab 13 are taking the world by storm by showing that being over 40 does not mean the end of life but something to be celebrated, pee pads and all. This brilliant story takes us on a journey where Breena finds herself in the most unlikely of situations and it is hard not to feel like you are on the run with her every step of the way. With laughter and magic, ex husbands and demons, leprechauns, werewolves, skeletons and more and you have everything you could ever want in a story, now you just need a bottle of wine and a quiet place to lose yourself in Shannon's fantastic writing. Bring on the next book.
November 19, 2020
This was a really entertaining read even though there were a few irritating tics. But by the end I’d forgotten them all.
May 5, 2020
I really enjoyed the story here - the setup and the world. And I love Breena, the main character.
But I seriously dislike most of the secondary cast, dislike how they constantly belittle and manipulate her, and I loathe Corb. There is NO excuse for the horrible, abusive shit that has fallen out of his mouth this whole book. I don't think he's any different than her ex. And it's going to take a hell of a lot to change my mind, so currently, the thought of him as possible love interest makes me throw up in my mouth a little bit.
Please don't go there. The thing that should be awesome about this new genre is that we have intelligent women who have learned some life lessons, and aren't just falling into bed with whatever fucktard flexes at her.
Lastly, he ex is too much. He's an asshole dialed up to caricature levels. He better get some huge karma kick to the nuts, and then fuck right off out of her life. Because allowing him to continue to fuck with her just ruins any badassery she's got going on. She should have fed that asshole his spine, when he admitted he used magic to fuck her over. And if she doesn't in the next book, I will think so much less of her for continuing to be a doormat.
But I seriously dislike most of the secondary cast, dislike how they constantly belittle and manipulate her, and I loathe Corb. There is NO excuse for the horrible, abusive shit that has fallen out of his mouth this whole book. I don't think he's any different than her ex. And it's going to take a hell of a lot to change my mind, so currently, the thought of him as possible love interest makes me throw up in my mouth a little bit.
Please don't go there. The thing that should be awesome about this new genre is that we have intelligent women who have learned some life lessons, and aren't just falling into bed with whatever fucktard flexes at her.
Lastly, he ex is too much. He's an asshole dialed up to caricature levels. He better get some huge karma kick to the nuts, and then fuck right off out of her life. Because allowing him to continue to fuck with her just ruins any badassery she's got going on. She should have fed that asshole his spine, when he admitted he used magic to fuck her over. And if she doesn't in the next book, I will think so much less of her for continuing to be a doormat.
March 19, 2020
Such a great book.
A 40 something divorcee returns to her home town of Savannah to regroup and hopefully save her grandmother's home from her bastard ex-husband.
She takes a job as a supernatural investigator / bodyguard in the hopes of making some cash...only to discover she's actually pretty good at it.
Great fun from start to finish.
A 40 something divorcee returns to her home town of Savannah to regroup and hopefully save her grandmother's home from her bastard ex-husband.
She takes a job as a supernatural investigator / bodyguard in the hopes of making some cash...only to discover she's actually pretty good at it.
Great fun from start to finish.
March 27, 2020
When I read that this was a laugh-out-loud paranormal fantasy where the main character is a 41-year-old divorcee who's sidekick is an animated skeleton named Robert, I thought, yep that's me set.
I found the main character Breena funny, some of the side characters interesting, and the book quite entertaining if not entirely satisfying. But the constant referrals to Breena's age and the fact that she is "old" and "past her prime" in every single chapter gets a bit tedious. She sounded and was treated like she was in her sixties rather than in her early forties, and I just didn't get it.
I found the main character Breena funny, some of the side characters interesting, and the book quite entertaining if not entirely satisfying. But the constant referrals to Breena's age and the fact that she is "old" and "past her prime" in every single chapter gets a bit tedious. She sounded and was treated like she was in her sixties rather than in her early forties, and I just didn't get it.
January 11, 2022
'Own yourself my girl. Own your wisdom and the things you've learned that brought you here.... Those twenty-somethings... they don't know the power of a woman who owns every part of herself. The good, the bad, the ugly.'
I absolutely loved this book!
Full of snark, sass and class, this tale of a middle-aged woman who'd given up trying to please everyone and run out of ducks to give, is one that gripped me from the very first page and had me diving straight into the sequel as soon as I reached the end.
Totally awesome!
I absolutely loved this book!
Full of snark, sass and class, this tale of a middle-aged woman who'd given up trying to please everyone and run out of ducks to give, is one that gripped me from the very first page and had me diving straight into the sequel as soon as I reached the end.
Totally awesome!
June 8, 2020
This is my third book in the PWF genre in this group of 13 authors and I LOVED it!
I have several of Shannon's books on my Kindle, but not cracked any open yet, so this is a complete case of going in cold turkey with this author.
This was a fun read with a great cast of characters.
I love Robert.
Jinx grew on me.
Sarge, Corb, Eammon... are all well-written characters, but it is still early days to know more about them all and Crash... well, I have a lady boner for him.
Visually Robert (in my mind) is a wonderful character to 'see' as I was reading. He is described very well. I have this voice stuck in my head I use for him. I am not sure why I have given him a voice, but it pops out every time Robert pops up.
Great humor from Shannon and Breena is a pretty solid character when it comes to a woman of her age. This I liked very much.
Only thing I would say that made my eye twitch every time was when the ex is called 'Himself' by Breena. It was kinda annoying and a little distracting for me.
I'm ready to dive into book 2, but I thought I might just wander over to Magical Midlife Madness by KF Breene, first.
I have several of Shannon's books on my Kindle, but not cracked any open yet, so this is a complete case of going in cold turkey with this author.
This was a fun read with a great cast of characters.
I love Robert.
Jinx grew on me.
Sarge, Corb, Eammon... are all well-written characters, but it is still early days to know more about them all and Crash... well, I have a lady boner for him.
Visually Robert (in my mind) is a wonderful character to 'see' as I was reading. He is described very well. I have this voice stuck in my head I use for him. I am not sure why I have given him a voice, but it pops out every time Robert pops up.
Great humor from Shannon and Breena is a pretty solid character when it comes to a woman of her age. This I liked very much.
Only thing I would say that made my eye twitch every time was when the ex is called 'Himself' by Breena. It was kinda annoying and a little distracting for me.
I'm ready to dive into book 2, but I thought I might just wander over to Magical Midlife Madness by KF Breene, first.
May 17, 2020
What could be a fascinating paranormal fun read is overshadowed by the main character’s odd obsession with being 41 years old and how that makes her an undesirable, useless, decrepit hag to the eyes of the entire world. You read that correctly, 41, not 85. Miss Marple would be clutching her pearls. I was excited to read a book about a 40 something year old female paranormal investigators but it is clear that the author has no clue what women are like emotionally or hell even biologically like at 40 ( the character is in the end stages of menopause at 40!).
I did enjoy the geographical setting descriptions and the development of some lesser characters, such as Robert, but that was about it.
I did enjoy the geographical setting descriptions and the development of some lesser characters, such as Robert, but that was about it.
February 11, 2020
This is the first book in the forty proof series, and the heroine is over forty. Breena is out of shape, Advil popping, and she gives zero ducks!! She is a total badass that I have come to love!!
I absolutely enjoyed following Bree in her journey. From the beginning I knew her journey would be tough, but her character evolved throughout the book. I love her! Bree’s funny lines, and quick thinking was fun to read. I loved her side kick Robert. I hope to see more of him as well. I could definitely relate to her regardless of her age and I’m looking forward to reading the next installment.
I absolutely enjoyed following Bree in her journey. From the beginning I knew her journey would be tough, but her character evolved throughout the book. I love her! Bree’s funny lines, and quick thinking was fun to read. I loved her side kick Robert. I hope to see more of him as well. I could definitely relate to her regardless of her age and I’m looking forward to reading the next installment.
February 27, 2020
Fantastic
Shannon Mayer blows me away
With brilliant story and a first in a new series that has me seriously excited.
For more to come this is my first time reading anything by this author and I have to say I throughly enjoyed her writing style and this story.
Shannon Mayer blows me away
With brilliant story and a first in a new series that has me seriously excited.
For more to come this is my first time reading anything by this author and I have to say I throughly enjoyed her writing style and this story.
May 10, 2020
DNF 26%
Ageist.
1 star.
Ageist.
1 star.
January 31, 2022
Not my cuppa. The comedy felt forced. The h was an walking cliche of women over 40. The plot showed promise but the execution was not for me.
March 11, 2022
I saw this series pop up in an ad on my beloved Oasis. This was my first foray into the women’s fiction and the applicable sub genres (paranormal, action adventure, women’s divorce). I enjoyed this book a lot. The premise was intriguing and the plot and pacing was executed well. I can’t wait to start book 2.
February 19, 2024
A book with a strong female main character who is 41, yes please! I really enjoyed this book and I look forward to reading more in this series. I loved that the main character was in her 40s, had some extra weight, but was still strong, intelligent, and likable. This was a great urban fantasy novel and I can't wait to read more.
February 29, 2020
3.5 stars. I wish we could rate halves because rhis book is really not 4 star. My God the ageism is incessant and RELENTLESS.
For all that the book is about an old person *eyeroll*, the formula is very much the much-maligned, cliched YA. Misunderstood, down-on-her-luck, but plucky/sassy heroine, belittled and disrespected by almost everyone, slowly realising her potential, TWO potential love interests (what's a YA without a love triangle) and clearly gearing up to be the one who saves the world.
I'd say this is not YA, but OA - Old Adult (getit, because omg, she's so old, like pre-menopausal at 41, getit??) 🙄🙄😂😂
That said, I'm a sucker for women power no matter how i get it, so I'll definitely buy the next books too, lol.
For all that the book is about an old person *eyeroll*, the formula is very much the much-maligned, cliched YA. Misunderstood, down-on-her-luck, but plucky/sassy heroine, belittled and disrespected by almost everyone, slowly realising her potential, TWO potential love interests (what's a YA without a love triangle) and clearly gearing up to be the one who saves the world.
I'd say this is not YA, but OA - Old Adult (getit, because omg, she's so old, like pre-menopausal at 41, getit??) 🙄🙄😂😂
That said, I'm a sucker for women power no matter how i get it, so I'll definitely buy the next books too, lol.
June 18, 2021
Surprisingly Good
This truly was a unexpectedly good book. I related to the heroine on so many levels. I felt her emotional and physical pain throughout this book. I don't know why the world feels like a woman doesn't have any value or worthless when she becomes a certain age. Why are older women written off when we hit middle age? Anyway, I don't want to jump on that soapbox in this review. I just want to applaud Shannon Mayer, for a job well done with this book series and storyline by giving us one kick ass heroine who figures out us girls are powerful no matter how old we are!
Overall Rating:
4* ~ A Good Read
This truly was a unexpectedly good book. I related to the heroine on so many levels. I felt her emotional and physical pain throughout this book. I don't know why the world feels like a woman doesn't have any value or worthless when she becomes a certain age. Why are older women written off when we hit middle age? Anyway, I don't want to jump on that soapbox in this review. I just want to applaud Shannon Mayer, for a job well done with this book series and storyline by giving us one kick ass heroine who figures out us girls are powerful no matter how old we are!
Overall Rating:
4* ~ A Good Read
May 9, 2022
This books reads like a 20-something with no idea of what being in your 40s is actually like wrote it. The main character is intellectually stunted, refers to her ex as Himself (seriously, wtf?!), and is a caricature of what someone in their 20s would assume someone in their 40s would act like. Lastly…. for the love of God, enough with the ducks.
February 17, 2020
When I started this book I wasn't sure what to expect. I've read loads of Shannons books and the age of the characters never factored into it, so when I heard of this new over 40s strong female character movement I didn't know what to expect. How different would it be from her usual writing style, how relatable would the characters and world be, would it add to or take away from the overall sense of wonder her stories provoke. The honest answer is it made no difference Shannon created a world that was no less captivating that the Rylee series. Bree was a fun character, one who's not much older than me and I could see myself in the character, the struggle with self image, being kick and knocked down by the men in her life and struggling to put the pieces back together it was what made her believable and realistic.
The world was built around the magic and superstitious world of Savannah. It was realistic and the characters all added mystery and depth to it. My only negative was that I found the first few chapters focused to heavily on the age and negative that came with being 40 but once you slip past that and dive deeper into the world age doesn't matter Bree still kicks butt.
A great start to what I believe will be a superb series. Can't wait to see what she does next and if she will land one of those hotties that are driving her wild. I'm kind of hoping she goes for the dark and dangerous blacksmith.
The world was built around the magic and superstitious world of Savannah. It was realistic and the characters all added mystery and depth to it. My only negative was that I found the first few chapters focused to heavily on the age and negative that came with being 40 but once you slip past that and dive deeper into the world age doesn't matter Bree still kicks butt.
A great start to what I believe will be a superb series. Can't wait to see what she does next and if she will land one of those hotties that are driving her wild. I'm kind of hoping she goes for the dark and dangerous blacksmith.
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