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Magic Emporium
Haven
(Set in the world of Fox Hollow, but can stand alone).
Old secrets, hidden psychics, secret shifters, ghosts, scandals—and true love.
A series of long-ago disappearances leads cold case private detective Austin Williams to investigate a troubled sanitarium.
Jamie Miller is new in town, temporarily running the local historical association, and he willingly signs on to help solve Austin’s mystery.
Sparks fly between them as they dig into the hospital’s troubled past. But someone wants the past to stay buried—and is willing to bury Austin and Jamie to keep it that way.
Haven is part of the multi-author Magic Emporium Series. Each book stands alone, but each one features an appearance by Marden’s Magic Emporium, a shop that can appear anywhere, but only once and only when someone’s in dire need. This book contains explicit scenes and a guaranteed HEA.
Old secrets, hidden psychics, secret shifters, ghosts, scandals—and true love.
A series of long-ago disappearances leads cold case private detective Austin Williams to investigate a troubled sanitarium.
Jamie Miller is new in town, temporarily running the local historical association, and he willingly signs on to help solve Austin’s mystery.
Sparks fly between them as they dig into the hospital’s troubled past. But someone wants the past to stay buried—and is willing to bury Austin and Jamie to keep it that way.
Haven is part of the multi-author Magic Emporium Series. Each book stands alone, but each one features an appearance by Marden’s Magic Emporium, a shop that can appear anywhere, but only once and only when someone’s in dire need. This book contains explicit scenes and a guaranteed HEA.
205 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 5, 2021
81 people are currently reading
232 people want to read
About the author
Morgan Brice
49 books615 followersMorgan Brice writes Urban Fantasy M/M Paranormal Romance with lots of magic, spooky stuff, and sexy men.
Pen name of author Gail Z. Martin.
Pen name of author Gail Z. Martin.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 123 reviews
June 19, 2021
3.5 Hearts
A solid Magic Emporium entry!
As per the blurb, at the request of Austin’s grandmother, he travels to the Adirondacks to see if he can solve the 50+ year old mystery of her missing brother who was committed to the shady Havenwood Psychiatric Hospital as a teen. While investigating, Austin acquires the help of Jamie, temporary archivist of the local Historical Association, to see if there’s any information to glean as to what happened to not only Thomas but to the many other patients who happened to also disappear from the sanitarium over the years. What they find seems implausible but as the evidence piles up, Austin and Jamie can only deny the truth for so long.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that such a small town is dedicated to keeping its dark secrets. This had a nice sinister feel to it, along with the classic harassment from those who don’t want Austin and Jamie digging deeper to find the facts, and then a life threatening situation where of course, aided by the mysterious Emporium, the tragic awful past comes to light to mete out justice.
Overall, I thought this was well written with a good mystery and a decent romance with unsurprising lightning quick love proclamations. This story takes place in Brice’s ubiquitous Fox Hollow universe that also encompasses another pseudonym (Gail Z. Martin) and involves no less than five other interconnected series. Despite such a daunting and massive backlog, I thankfully had no trouble following along when other characters popped up to lend a helping hand even though I’ve never read any of this author’s books before.
Again, this had good bones interlaced with paranormal and supernatural elements as Austin and Jamie both have some interesting “powers” that assist their cause and make them ultimately, truly connect. What stood out for me the most though was the strong glimpse into the secretive Fox Hollow which will surely nudge readers to check out Brice’s many many other works!
Thank you to the author for a copy in exchange for an honest review
A solid Magic Emporium entry!
As per the blurb, at the request of Austin’s grandmother, he travels to the Adirondacks to see if he can solve the 50+ year old mystery of her missing brother who was committed to the shady Havenwood Psychiatric Hospital as a teen. While investigating, Austin acquires the help of Jamie, temporary archivist of the local Historical Association, to see if there’s any information to glean as to what happened to not only Thomas but to the many other patients who happened to also disappear from the sanitarium over the years. What they find seems implausible but as the evidence piles up, Austin and Jamie can only deny the truth for so long.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that such a small town is dedicated to keeping its dark secrets. This had a nice sinister feel to it, along with the classic harassment from those who don’t want Austin and Jamie digging deeper to find the facts, and then a life threatening situation where of course, aided by the mysterious Emporium, the tragic awful past comes to light to mete out justice.
Overall, I thought this was well written with a good mystery and a decent romance with unsurprising lightning quick love proclamations. This story takes place in Brice’s ubiquitous Fox Hollow universe that also encompasses another pseudonym (Gail Z. Martin) and involves no less than five other interconnected series. Despite such a daunting and massive backlog, I thankfully had no trouble following along when other characters popped up to lend a helping hand even though I’ve never read any of this author’s books before.
Again, this had good bones interlaced with paranormal and supernatural elements as Austin and Jamie both have some interesting “powers” that assist their cause and make them ultimately, truly connect. What stood out for me the most though was the strong glimpse into the secretive Fox Hollow which will surely nudge readers to check out Brice’s many many other works!
Thank you to the author for a copy in exchange for an honest review
May 12, 2021
A fitting final entry in the Magic Emporium series
3.5*
I generally like Morgan Brice's paranormal stories but this one had a bit too much "internal dialogue" than I would have liked.
It meant a fair bit of telling rather than showing and a sudden increase in the pacing as everything rushed towards the dramatic conclusion.
Having said that, it's still a well structured tale, with a plot that works for the story being told.
Austin and Jamie are good characters and they worked well as a pair and I loked hearing from Simon Kincaid who stars in the Badlands series which I love.
3.5*
I generally like Morgan Brice's paranormal stories but this one had a bit too much "internal dialogue" than I would have liked.
It meant a fair bit of telling rather than showing and a sudden increase in the pacing as everything rushed towards the dramatic conclusion.
Having said that, it's still a well structured tale, with a plot that works for the story being told.
Austin and Jamie are good characters and they worked well as a pair and I loked hearing from Simon Kincaid who stars in the Badlands series which I love.
May 23, 2022
A very thrilling and suspenseful story!!!!
Really loved this story of the series! Even though I knew there would be a happy ending that did not stop me from delaying the final part cuz I still was on pins and needles about exactly just how things would work out. Well written and with awesome characters this was a completely enjoyable read!
Really loved this story of the series! Even though I knew there would be a happy ending that did not stop me from delaying the final part cuz I still was on pins and needles about exactly just how things would work out. Well written and with awesome characters this was a completely enjoyable read!
April 19, 2021
Ms. Brice never disappoints. So Austin is a PI & has agreed to investigate the disappearance of his grandmother's brother who was sent to a Psychiatric Hospital for an unknown reason. Jamie is working at the historical society and the ghosts there won't leave him alone. When they first meet, sparks do fly & Jamie agrees to help Austin in his investigation. As they start to investigate not only his missing great uncle, but apparently a lot of missing people from the hospital, it soon becomes apparent that there are people not happy about this & attempt to stop them by any means necessary. What we find out that happens to some of these people was horrible and broke my heart. Along the way, we have cameo appearances from characters from other series by this author & I love when there are crossovers. In the end, Austin is able to bring closure for his grandmother & we get to see these two fall in love & get their HEA. I hope we see these two pop up in other books.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
September 4, 2021
3.25 stars
Hmmm, I LIKED the idea of a private investigator and an archivist poking around an old case of people missing from an asylum. Added some paranormal element, and I could be a happy camper...
EXCEPT...
While I liked Austin and Jamie as individuals, intrigued with their "superpowers", and I thought both were likeable human beings... I was TOO distracted with all the sexual things thrown in between. They thought about the physical appeals of the other man too much, the inner monologues felt tiresome after awhile, and PLEASE... it's 2021... I've been reading this genre for over a decade now... can't we just STOP with the solo shower jerk off?? It's soooooo lame and outdated.
Don't forget the pretty much instant relationship, people.
Yeah, without all of that, this book could earn my 4-stars. But I had to rounded it down because I was annoyed with those I mentioned
Hmmm, I LIKED the idea of a private investigator and an archivist poking around an old case of people missing from an asylum. Added some paranormal element, and I could be a happy camper...
EXCEPT...
While I liked Austin and Jamie as individuals, intrigued with their "superpowers", and I thought both were likeable human beings... I was TOO distracted with all the sexual things thrown in between. They thought about the physical appeals of the other man too much, the inner monologues felt tiresome after awhile, and PLEASE... it's 2021... I've been reading this genre for over a decade now... can't we just STOP with the solo shower jerk off?? It's soooooo lame and outdated.
Don't forget the pretty much instant relationship, people.
Yeah, without all of that, this book could earn my 4-stars. But I had to rounded it down because I was annoyed with those I mentioned
August 14, 2021
Ooooh, that was eerily creepy. I loved it! What a great addition to what turned out to be a fun series.
TAGS
-- Fantasy -- magic -- ghosts -- psychic -- one night stand turns to more -- some sweet moments -- mystery -- drama -- eerily spooky -- loved the MCs... Austen & Jamie -- set in the Fox Hollow world -- part of a multi author series -- can definitely be read as a stand alone
April 11, 2021
This one was really good! Jamie and Austin do have their work cut out for them, having to find a group of missing people who dissappeared between the 1950s and 1980s and in a town that's set on them finding nothing.
Also a plus, it does stand alone!
Also a plus, it does stand alone!
May 14, 2021
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
Full disclosure, I have a complicated relationship with Brice’s work and having recently read a story I considered one of her worst, I was trepidatious when I realized she had written Haven. I’m glad to say my concerns were unwarranted as Haven is a charming, well-paced addition to the multi-author Magic Emporium series (each book a standalone connected by the appearance of Marden’s Magic Emporium, a shop that can manifest anywhere, but only once and only when someone’s in dire need). Haven has the air of a cozy mystery, minus some of the inane/insane hubris and shenanigans cozies typically have.
Austin and Jaime are solid, personable characters with believable chemistry, though they skirt the line of being too similar. Their struggles, experiences, and mental interiors are basically the same—rooted in the unreliable psy abilities that bring stigma and negatively impact relationships, leaving them isolated and lonely. Since Haven is written in first-person, dual POV and the only real difference between Jaime and Austin is their jobs, it’s easy to forget whose POV you’re in and/or for their thoughts and desires to seem repetitive since, about 9 times out of 10, that same thought will show up almost, if not exactly, word for word in the next POV shift. However, the MCs being similar in this core way is a positive too.
Read Jovan’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
Full disclosure, I have a complicated relationship with Brice’s work and having recently read a story I considered one of her worst, I was trepidatious when I realized she had written Haven. I’m glad to say my concerns were unwarranted as Haven is a charming, well-paced addition to the multi-author Magic Emporium series (each book a standalone connected by the appearance of Marden’s Magic Emporium, a shop that can manifest anywhere, but only once and only when someone’s in dire need). Haven has the air of a cozy mystery, minus some of the inane/insane hubris and shenanigans cozies typically have.
Austin and Jaime are solid, personable characters with believable chemistry, though they skirt the line of being too similar. Their struggles, experiences, and mental interiors are basically the same—rooted in the unreliable psy abilities that bring stigma and negatively impact relationships, leaving them isolated and lonely. Since Haven is written in first-person, dual POV and the only real difference between Jaime and Austin is their jobs, it’s easy to forget whose POV you’re in and/or for their thoughts and desires to seem repetitive since, about 9 times out of 10, that same thought will show up almost, if not exactly, word for word in the next POV shift. However, the MCs being similar in this core way is a positive too.
Read Jovan’s review in its entirety here.
May 10, 2022
Curious about the Fox hollow and other series as the couple get quite a bit of help. Cute couple in a creepy small town, you can pretty much tell from the get go what's going to happen. I liked how both of them had abilities and not just one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2021
DNF at 17% in. The prose is amateurish and the plot is slow, a predictable combination. I want to like the POV characters, I love this kind of 'paranormal,' but the slowness is keeping me Very Aware of their minimal complexity. The author also italicizes thoughts that are just narrative, or repeating narrative, which is worse. Why?
I'm reading anywhere from three to eleven other books at a time; this one suffers in comparison to the least of the other 'currently reading' list.
I'm reading anywhere from three to eleven other books at a time; this one suffers in comparison to the least of the other 'currently reading' list.
April 25, 2021
Another Magic Emporium book!
I have said this before, but I will say it again - whoever came up with this idea is a genius! I just love this series and each author's take on it! It is absolutely wonderful to see a group of my favorite authors come together and create something so magical!
And this book was definitely a worthy addition! I love a good mystery-romance and this one had all the elements I love in my books - awesome characters, good mystery, great chemistry, no unnecessary angst/miscommunication and a decent plot speed, plus paranormal elements like a cherry on top. The characters were awesome and I loved how each of them had their own special "gift" that came in handy. Their connection was instant, but not what you would call insta-love, because they still went through the uncertainty of the dating stage and the awkward get-to-know-you stage. I absolutely giggled indecently at some of their interactions, because their awkwardness was just so adorable!
The mystery was also good and quite engaging. I loved the personal angle on it that made it feel like something really important and special, not just your run of the mill crime. The town residents were kind of creepy and kept the suspense up pretty well. No spoilers about how it was resolved, but let's just say you won't be disappointed!
I would have preferred less references to other books by this author, but even with those 'which series had this character, I know I have heard that name before' moments, I really enjoyed this story, both the mystery and the romance.
**I was provided an ARC of this book from the author for an honest review**
I have said this before, but I will say it again - whoever came up with this idea is a genius! I just love this series and each author's take on it! It is absolutely wonderful to see a group of my favorite authors come together and create something so magical!
And this book was definitely a worthy addition! I love a good mystery-romance and this one had all the elements I love in my books - awesome characters, good mystery, great chemistry, no unnecessary angst/miscommunication and a decent plot speed, plus paranormal elements like a cherry on top. The characters were awesome and I loved how each of them had their own special "gift" that came in handy. Their connection was instant, but not what you would call insta-love, because they still went through the uncertainty of the dating stage and the awkward get-to-know-you stage. I absolutely giggled indecently at some of their interactions, because their awkwardness was just so adorable!
The mystery was also good and quite engaging. I loved the personal angle on it that made it feel like something really important and special, not just your run of the mill crime. The town residents were kind of creepy and kept the suspense up pretty well. No spoilers about how it was resolved, but let's just say you won't be disappointed!
I would have preferred less references to other books by this author, but even with those 'which series had this character, I know I have heard that name before' moments, I really enjoyed this story, both the mystery and the romance.
**I was provided an ARC of this book from the author for an honest review**
April 9, 2021
I have to say I love the Magic Emporium ! In this latest installment which can also be totally enjoyed as standalone we have Investigator Austin and Archivist Jamie!! Austin is in town trying to solve the disappearance of his Grandmother's brother from decades past. He meets Jamie and and some Geeky Flirting ensues! Jamie ends up assisting and well dating Austin!! We get both of their POV's throughout and Austin's thoughts especially on the mysterious Emporium are humorous. I love how much Jamie enjoys "investigating with the investigator" LOL They are an engaging pair and I appreciated how the Mystery and the Romance actually complemented one another other and flowed seamlessly. Descriptions of the characters and places are very Vivid, you feel like you are seeing it all with them. I do not want to give too much away as you need to take this romantic, mysterious journey with them! I will say there are some intriguing people and such in this town, but there is also time for some fun steamy times for the guys! I received an ARC of this book and I totally recommend this story for those who enjoy a good investigation mixed with magic, mystery and love!!!
April 12, 2021
Haven is the final conclusion in the Magic Emporium series and a great beginning into Morgan Brice's next project. The author used this project to further expand the urban fantasy universe that she has created from her other series which overlaps and features cross-overs. Austin and Jamie meet when Austin is in Haven investigated the town's troubled sanitorium. Austin is searching for his grand uncle at his grandmother's request. All she remembers is that her older brother was taken away in his teens by the police and strange men who placed him in a strait jacket when she was younger. Her parents never mentioned him again and as far as she knew, he simply disappeared. Haven was mysterious, romantic, sad, and amazing. Another great urban fantasy story written by Morgan Brice and also fits into her other universes since you'll see several familiar haunted Easter eggs :) The conclusion was a nice HEA and hints at a new series by the author! Can't wait to return to this urban fantasy world again.
May 3, 2021
Not only does this story work perfectly within The Magic Emporium series, it is a fantastic addition to the current world in which a large number of the author’s stories are set. I love that we get to see some character crossover from her other books, and that those characters help Jamie and Austin get through their situation.
Austin is just trying to help his grandmother achieve closure with her brother who was sent away when she was very young. Jamie is just temporarily filling in at the historical society. Each have their own small “gifts” that come into play along the way, and their almost instant rapport and ease with each other lets them form a good team to try and discover just what happened all those years ago at a not altogether healthy sanatorium.
The two are not just good partners working on the case—they’re a great match on a personal level too, something that both men having been missing in their lives. Even though the story takes place over a short time period, the relationship development between them did not feel rushed.
With the right amount of excitement once they start to dig too close to the truth for some of the local folks’ comfort and the romance brewing between Austin and Jamie, it makes for an intriguing read from start to finish. 4.5 stars for Haven, and I’d absolutely recommend this story to any M/M paranormal romance fan. This book is meant for readers 18+ for adult language and sexual content.
Austin is just trying to help his grandmother achieve closure with her brother who was sent away when she was very young. Jamie is just temporarily filling in at the historical society. Each have their own small “gifts” that come into play along the way, and their almost instant rapport and ease with each other lets them form a good team to try and discover just what happened all those years ago at a not altogether healthy sanatorium.
The two are not just good partners working on the case—they’re a great match on a personal level too, something that both men having been missing in their lives. Even though the story takes place over a short time period, the relationship development between them did not feel rushed.
With the right amount of excitement once they start to dig too close to the truth for some of the local folks’ comfort and the romance brewing between Austin and Jamie, it makes for an intriguing read from start to finish. 4.5 stars for Haven, and I’d absolutely recommend this story to any M/M paranormal romance fan. This book is meant for readers 18+ for adult language and sexual content.
April 4, 2023
***3.5***
A nice addition to the Fox Hollow as well as the Magic Emporium books. I liked it, the mystery was ok as well as the action scenes. I didn't care for the two or so interludes were one MC was thinking about the other while letting off steam, I'd rather read about either something to advance the story or their relationship or them together. The story progressed quite nicely and didn't have major parts that dragged and makes you want to put the book down - so yeii for that. The characters were quite likable even though their "voices" were not as distinguishable from one another, which, in this story didn't keep me from enjoying the read.
All in all a nice afternoon read if not a memorable one.
A nice addition to the Fox Hollow as well as the Magic Emporium books. I liked it, the mystery was ok as well as the action scenes. I didn't care for the two or so interludes were one MC was thinking about the other while letting off steam, I'd rather read about either something to advance the story or their relationship or them together. The story progressed quite nicely and didn't have major parts that dragged and makes you want to put the book down - so yeii for that. The characters were quite likable even though their "voices" were not as distinguishable from one another, which, in this story didn't keep me from enjoying the read.
All in all a nice afternoon read if not a memorable one.
April 10, 2021
Mystery
Austin ropes Jamie, a historian, into helping him solve the mystery of people going missing from a facility over a number of years, including his great-uncle.
The town is creepy and both Austin and Jamie are keeping secrets. It was utterly absorbing and I loved both mc's.
There are mentions of characters from other books by this author and of course a visit to the Emporium. However this reads as a standalone.
I really liked the authors style and the way that the mystery and the relationship between Austin and Jamie played out. I kind of want more from them investigating weird goings on
Austin ropes Jamie, a historian, into helping him solve the mystery of people going missing from a facility over a number of years, including his great-uncle.
The town is creepy and both Austin and Jamie are keeping secrets. It was utterly absorbing and I loved both mc's.
There are mentions of characters from other books by this author and of course a visit to the Emporium. However this reads as a standalone.
I really liked the authors style and the way that the mystery and the relationship between Austin and Jamie played out. I kind of want more from them investigating weird goings on
May 6, 2021
I love it! Morgan’s books have the perfect amount of suspense and heat, and Haven is no exception.
Austin isn’t as disillusioned as so many former cops are written. He’s not all hard edges. He still has some degree of softness, of openness. Jamie is softer still. He’s learned to live with the ghosts he sees and hears, but never tried to develop and control over his abilities.
The village that Haven is set in gives me the creeps. Not because of the ghosts, but because of the people. There are too many people willing to kill to hide their greed and evil.
Austin and Jamie will be much happier in Fox Hollow, which is one of my favorite places! Keep it up, Morgan!
Austin isn’t as disillusioned as so many former cops are written. He’s not all hard edges. He still has some degree of softness, of openness. Jamie is softer still. He’s learned to live with the ghosts he sees and hears, but never tried to develop and control over his abilities.
The village that Haven is set in gives me the creeps. Not because of the ghosts, but because of the people. There are too many people willing to kill to hide their greed and evil.
Austin and Jamie will be much happier in Fox Hollow, which is one of my favorite places! Keep it up, Morgan!
April 11, 2021
3.5 stars!
This last book of the Magic Emporium series was everything I’ve come to expect from a Brice story. A lot of supernatural shenanigans, some major suspense, and a very strong HEA. This one had two people with only minor supernatural abilities, but both helped them exponentially in the end. I liked the “mystery”, also though it was pretty obvious what had been going on, it was more of a mystery of who was on their side and who wasn’t (and a betrayal caught me completely off guard!). A good end to this series, and a quick paranormal read.
This last book of the Magic Emporium series was everything I’ve come to expect from a Brice story. A lot of supernatural shenanigans, some major suspense, and a very strong HEA. This one had two people with only minor supernatural abilities, but both helped them exponentially in the end. I liked the “mystery”, also though it was pretty obvious what had been going on, it was more of a mystery of who was on their side and who wasn’t (and a betrayal caught me completely off guard!). A good end to this series, and a quick paranormal read.
May 26, 2021
4.5 stas
April 26, 2021
Trying to find out what happened to his grandmother's brother, who went missing when he was just a teenager, Austin Williams comes to a small town where years ago, Thomas was locked up in a mental health unit. Digging up the past, Austin meets Jamie Miller, a handsome guy who is eager to help him for a just cause. Two men start asking uncomfortable questions that trigger an avalanche of events. Knowing the truth can cost them their lives and it is much too late to withdraw and forget about all the secrets.
"Haven" by Morgan Brice is part of the "Magic Emporium" series, which consists of single-volume novels by different authors, all of which have a common element that makes them the series. To be honest, in "Haven" I really liked the somehow obvious facts like, i.e. the appearance of completely new characters, whom we get to know as the story unfolds and, what was most important for me in this case, who are just getting to know each other. When reading the novel, we witness their first meeting and the development of their relationship. And that's exactly what I needed. What I think is equally important, we have the opportunity to admire the talent of the author, who can adjust the creation of her characters to the type of novel she writes. In other words, the way Austin and Jamie were created for this single-volume book differs from the way we get to know the characters in the multi-volume series. It's really admirable. However, I hope that the two main characters of "Haven" will come back to us one day. I really liked them.
As for Austin and Jamie, I really liked the fact that they both have some paranormal secrets that they don't share with others as their secrets make them believe in things that people would never understand and accept. You probably want to know, what's so special about it? Well, the friendship and love born between the characters is not exposed to a test of faith in the confessions of the other person, and thus our boys do not experience another disappointment related to disbelief or even mockery from a loved one. Thus, their relationship somehow smoothly reaches a higher level, thanks to which it can develop faster and differently than the relationships of other characters we know from Morgan Brice's novels. Moreover, I think the way Austin and Jamie try not to tell each other the full truth about their extraordinary abilities, even though they both have them, and so both believe to a great extent the inexplicable, the magic, is really sweet. Imagine two children who try to hide their favorite toy behind their backs for fear of being laughed at, while the toys they hide are the same. This is how I would describe this element of the plot.
Another advantage of "Haven" is undeniably the story the author tells us. This is a paranormal novel in which we can find some ghosts and the action revolves around the hospital. Sounds fantastic, doesn't it? However, I want to mention one important thing. In "Haven" the author carries out her plan, doesn't go beyond the boundaries of the genre and did not make a horror story out of her novel, which I really appreciate. For when we think of ghosts and the hospital, the darkest and bloodiest scenarios immediately come to mind. The more so because the line between urban fantasy and horror is very thin and it would be easy to cross it. However, Morgan Brice did not deviate from the chosen path and from beginning to end she created her novel in a way that we love so much in her writing. "Haven" is therefore a 100% urban fantasy novel and this fact is emphasized even by the plot itself, as well as its development. But don't worry, I will not reveal you any important details. You have to check them out for yourself.
Finally, a few more words about this one thing I love so much in Morgan Brice's works and what we also see in "Haven", therefore about connections with other series by the same author. I believe that it is worth our attention that this time the thread connecting the new novel with the rest of the author's books set in the same universe is created not only by the characters, but also the story itself. Well, as I have already mentioned, the action does not focus on the ghosts in the asylum, but revolves around a specific secret that the characters are trying to solve. So we have this actual problem, and hence, an actual solution that is closely related to another novel by our amazing Morgan Brice. I will only add that in this respect "Haven" surprised me. The author had a great idea for the mystery of the past and for solving it, thanks to which it stimulated my imagination and made me feel a bit unsatisfied in a good way. I would love to read the story of Thomas, a man whose fate after so many years brought Austin and Jamie together.
Overall, "Haven" is a must-have for all Morgan Brice fans, as well as a pretty good start of an amazing adventure with her work for those who haven't read her books yet. In this novel we can find some interesting secrets, great conspiracies, unexpected feelings and the magic of the paranormal world. In short, it has everything that every urban fantasy fan loves.
___________________________
Podążając tropem zaginionego w młodości brata babki, Austin Williams przyjeżdża do niewielkiego miasteczka, w którym przed laty mieścił się ośrodek dla psychicznie chorych. To właśnie w nim zamknięto zaledwie nastoletniego Thomasa, o którym później słuch zaginął. Odgrzebując przeszłość, Austin poznaje przystojnego i chętnego do pomocy w imię słusznego celu Jamie’ego Millera. Mężczyźni zaczynają zadawać niewygodne pytania, które uruchamiają lawinę zdarzeń. Poznanie prawdy może kosztować ich życie, a na wycofanie się jest stanowczo za późno.
„Haven” autorstwa Morgan Brice stanowi część serii „Magic Emporium”, na którą składają się jednotomowe powieści różnych autorów, a wszystkie tytuły serii łączy pewien wspólny element. Prawdę mówiąc, w „Haven” bardzo spodobało mi się to, co niejako jest oczywiste, a więc pojawienie się zupełnie nowych bohaterów, których dopiero poznajemy w miarę rozwoju historii oraz, co w tym wypadku dla mnie było najważniejsze, którzy dopiero poznają siebie nawzajem. Czytając powieść jesteśmy więc świadkami ich pierwszego spotkania oraz rozwoju ich wzajemnej relacji. Tego właśnie było mi trzeba. Co równie ważne, mamy dzięki temu okazję zachwycać się talentem autorki, która potrafi dopasować budowę swoich bohaterów do typu pisanej przez nią powieści. Mówiąc inaczej, sposób, w jaki wykreowani zostali Austin i Jamie na potrzeby tej jednotomówki różni się do sposobu, w jaki poznajemy bohaterów serii wielotomowych. To naprawdę godne podziwu. Mam jednak nadzieję, że dwójka głównych bohaterów „Haven” jeszcze kiedyś do nas wróci. Naprawdę ich polubiłam.
Jeśli chodzi o Austina i Jamie’ego, naprawdę bardzo spodobało mi się to, że obaj oni mają pewne paranormalne sekrety, o których nie mówią innym, a które sprawiają, że wierzą w to, co dla innych byłoby objawem szaleństwa. Co w tym takiego wyjątkowego? Otóż rodząca się między bohaterami przyjaźń oraz miłość nie jest narażona na próbę wiary w wyznania drugiej osoby, a tym samym nasi chłopcy nie przeżywają kolejnego zawodu związanego z niedowierzaniem czy nawet drwinami ze strony kogoś bliskiego. Tym samym, ich związek niejako wchodzi płynnie na wyższy poziom, dzięki czemu może rozwijać się szybciej i inaczej, niż związki innych bohaterów, których znamy z powieści Morgan Brice. Co więcej, uważam za słodki sposób, w jaki Austin i Jamie starają się nie wyjawiać sobie nawzajem całej prawdy o swoich nadzwyczajnych zdolnościach, chociaż obaj je posiadają, toteż obaj w dużym stopniu wierzą w to co niewytłumaczalne, magiczne. Wyobraźcie sobie dwójkę dzieci, która stara się ukryć za plecami ulubioną zabawkę w obawie przed wyśmianiem, tymczasem ukrywane przez nich zabawki są takie same. Właśnie tak najlepiej opisać ten element fabuły „Haven”.
Kolejną zaletą powieści jest niezaprzeczalnie historia, jaką opowiada nam autorka. Mamy bowiem do czynienia z powieścią paranormalną, w której pojawiają się duchy, zaś akcja kręci się wokół szpitala dla obłąkanych. Brzmi fantastycznie, prawda? Chcę jednak wspomnieć szczególnie o tym, że w „Haven” autorka realizuje swoje zamierzenia, trzyma się ram gatunku i nie zrobiła ze swojej powieści horroru, co naprawdę doceniam. Kiedy bowiem myślimy o duchach i szpitalu, najczarniejsze i najkrwawsze scenariusze od razu przychodzą nam do głowy. Tym bardziej, że granica między urban fantasy a horrorem jest bardzo cienka i łatwo byłoby ją przekroczyć. Morgan Brice nie zeszła jednak z obranej ścieżki i od początku do końca tworzyła swoją powieść w sposób, który u niej kochamy. „Haven” jest więc w 100% powieścią urban fantasy i podkreśla to nawet sama fabuła, jak również jej rozwinięcie. Szczegółów Wam jednak nie zdradzę. Musicie poznać je sami.
Na koniec jeszcze kilka słów o tym, co gorąco kocham w twórczości Morgan Brice, a co widzimy także w „Haven”, a więc o powiązaniach z innymi seriami. Uważam, że godne naszej uwagi jest to, iż tym razem nić łączącą nową powieść z całą resztą uniwersum autorki są nie tylko postacie, ale również sama historia. Otóż jak już wspominałam, akcja nie skupia się na duchach w szpitalu dla obłąkanych, ale kręci się wokół konkretnej zagadki, którą bohaterowie starają się rozwiązać. Mamy więc konkretny problem, a co za tym idzie, konkretne rozwiązanie, które jest ściśle związane z inną powieścią naszej niesamowitej Morgan Brice. Dodam tylko, że pod tym względem „Haven” mnie zaskoczyło. Autorka miała świetny pomysł na zagadkę przeszłości oraz na jej rozwiązanie, dzięki czemu pobudziła moją wyobraźnię i obudziła we mnie uczucie niedosytu. Z ogromną rozkoszą przeczytałabym historię Thomasa, człowieka, którego losy po wielu latach połączyły ze sobą Austina i Jamie’ego.
Podsumowując, „Haven” to powieść obowiązkowa dla wszystkich fanów Morgan Brice, jak również całkiem niezły początek przygody z jej twórczością dla tych, którzy dotąd nie czytali jej książek. Na kartach powieści kryją się niesamowite zagadki, wielkie spiski, niespodziewane uczucia oraz magia paranormalnego świata. Mówiąc krótko, kryje się tu wszystko to, co uwielbia każdy fan urban fantasy.
"Haven" by Morgan Brice is part of the "Magic Emporium" series, which consists of single-volume novels by different authors, all of which have a common element that makes them the series. To be honest, in "Haven" I really liked the somehow obvious facts like, i.e. the appearance of completely new characters, whom we get to know as the story unfolds and, what was most important for me in this case, who are just getting to know each other. When reading the novel, we witness their first meeting and the development of their relationship. And that's exactly what I needed. What I think is equally important, we have the opportunity to admire the talent of the author, who can adjust the creation of her characters to the type of novel she writes. In other words, the way Austin and Jamie were created for this single-volume book differs from the way we get to know the characters in the multi-volume series. It's really admirable. However, I hope that the two main characters of "Haven" will come back to us one day. I really liked them.
As for Austin and Jamie, I really liked the fact that they both have some paranormal secrets that they don't share with others as their secrets make them believe in things that people would never understand and accept. You probably want to know, what's so special about it? Well, the friendship and love born between the characters is not exposed to a test of faith in the confessions of the other person, and thus our boys do not experience another disappointment related to disbelief or even mockery from a loved one. Thus, their relationship somehow smoothly reaches a higher level, thanks to which it can develop faster and differently than the relationships of other characters we know from Morgan Brice's novels. Moreover, I think the way Austin and Jamie try not to tell each other the full truth about their extraordinary abilities, even though they both have them, and so both believe to a great extent the inexplicable, the magic, is really sweet. Imagine two children who try to hide their favorite toy behind their backs for fear of being laughed at, while the toys they hide are the same. This is how I would describe this element of the plot.
Another advantage of "Haven" is undeniably the story the author tells us. This is a paranormal novel in which we can find some ghosts and the action revolves around the hospital. Sounds fantastic, doesn't it? However, I want to mention one important thing. In "Haven" the author carries out her plan, doesn't go beyond the boundaries of the genre and did not make a horror story out of her novel, which I really appreciate. For when we think of ghosts and the hospital, the darkest and bloodiest scenarios immediately come to mind. The more so because the line between urban fantasy and horror is very thin and it would be easy to cross it. However, Morgan Brice did not deviate from the chosen path and from beginning to end she created her novel in a way that we love so much in her writing. "Haven" is therefore a 100% urban fantasy novel and this fact is emphasized even by the plot itself, as well as its development. But don't worry, I will not reveal you any important details. You have to check them out for yourself.
Finally, a few more words about this one thing I love so much in Morgan Brice's works and what we also see in "Haven", therefore about connections with other series by the same author. I believe that it is worth our attention that this time the thread connecting the new novel with the rest of the author's books set in the same universe is created not only by the characters, but also the story itself. Well, as I have already mentioned, the action does not focus on the ghosts in the asylum, but revolves around a specific secret that the characters are trying to solve. So we have this actual problem, and hence, an actual solution that is closely related to another novel by our amazing Morgan Brice. I will only add that in this respect "Haven" surprised me. The author had a great idea for the mystery of the past and for solving it, thanks to which it stimulated my imagination and made me feel a bit unsatisfied in a good way. I would love to read the story of Thomas, a man whose fate after so many years brought Austin and Jamie together.
Overall, "Haven" is a must-have for all Morgan Brice fans, as well as a pretty good start of an amazing adventure with her work for those who haven't read her books yet. In this novel we can find some interesting secrets, great conspiracies, unexpected feelings and the magic of the paranormal world. In short, it has everything that every urban fantasy fan loves.
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Podążając tropem zaginionego w młodości brata babki, Austin Williams przyjeżdża do niewielkiego miasteczka, w którym przed laty mieścił się ośrodek dla psychicznie chorych. To właśnie w nim zamknięto zaledwie nastoletniego Thomasa, o którym później słuch zaginął. Odgrzebując przeszłość, Austin poznaje przystojnego i chętnego do pomocy w imię słusznego celu Jamie’ego Millera. Mężczyźni zaczynają zadawać niewygodne pytania, które uruchamiają lawinę zdarzeń. Poznanie prawdy może kosztować ich życie, a na wycofanie się jest stanowczo za późno.
„Haven” autorstwa Morgan Brice stanowi część serii „Magic Emporium”, na którą składają się jednotomowe powieści różnych autorów, a wszystkie tytuły serii łączy pewien wspólny element. Prawdę mówiąc, w „Haven” bardzo spodobało mi się to, co niejako jest oczywiste, a więc pojawienie się zupełnie nowych bohaterów, których dopiero poznajemy w miarę rozwoju historii oraz, co w tym wypadku dla mnie było najważniejsze, którzy dopiero poznają siebie nawzajem. Czytając powieść jesteśmy więc świadkami ich pierwszego spotkania oraz rozwoju ich wzajemnej relacji. Tego właśnie było mi trzeba. Co równie ważne, mamy dzięki temu okazję zachwycać się talentem autorki, która potrafi dopasować budowę swoich bohaterów do typu pisanej przez nią powieści. Mówiąc inaczej, sposób, w jaki wykreowani zostali Austin i Jamie na potrzeby tej jednotomówki różni się do sposobu, w jaki poznajemy bohaterów serii wielotomowych. To naprawdę godne podziwu. Mam jednak nadzieję, że dwójka głównych bohaterów „Haven” jeszcze kiedyś do nas wróci. Naprawdę ich polubiłam.
Jeśli chodzi o Austina i Jamie’ego, naprawdę bardzo spodobało mi się to, że obaj oni mają pewne paranormalne sekrety, o których nie mówią innym, a które sprawiają, że wierzą w to, co dla innych byłoby objawem szaleństwa. Co w tym takiego wyjątkowego? Otóż rodząca się między bohaterami przyjaźń oraz miłość nie jest narażona na próbę wiary w wyznania drugiej osoby, a tym samym nasi chłopcy nie przeżywają kolejnego zawodu związanego z niedowierzaniem czy nawet drwinami ze strony kogoś bliskiego. Tym samym, ich związek niejako wchodzi płynnie na wyższy poziom, dzięki czemu może rozwijać się szybciej i inaczej, niż związki innych bohaterów, których znamy z powieści Morgan Brice. Co więcej, uważam za słodki sposób, w jaki Austin i Jamie starają się nie wyjawiać sobie nawzajem całej prawdy o swoich nadzwyczajnych zdolnościach, chociaż obaj je posiadają, toteż obaj w dużym stopniu wierzą w to co niewytłumaczalne, magiczne. Wyobraźcie sobie dwójkę dzieci, która stara się ukryć za plecami ulubioną zabawkę w obawie przed wyśmianiem, tymczasem ukrywane przez nich zabawki są takie same. Właśnie tak najlepiej opisać ten element fabuły „Haven”.
Kolejną zaletą powieści jest niezaprzeczalnie historia, jaką opowiada nam autorka. Mamy bowiem do czynienia z powieścią paranormalną, w której pojawiają się duchy, zaś akcja kręci się wokół szpitala dla obłąkanych. Brzmi fantastycznie, prawda? Chcę jednak wspomnieć szczególnie o tym, że w „Haven” autorka realizuje swoje zamierzenia, trzyma się ram gatunku i nie zrobiła ze swojej powieści horroru, co naprawdę doceniam. Kiedy bowiem myślimy o duchach i szpitalu, najczarniejsze i najkrwawsze scenariusze od razu przychodzą nam do głowy. Tym bardziej, że granica między urban fantasy a horrorem jest bardzo cienka i łatwo byłoby ją przekroczyć. Morgan Brice nie zeszła jednak z obranej ścieżki i od początku do końca tworzyła swoją powieść w sposób, który u niej kochamy. „Haven” jest więc w 100% powieścią urban fantasy i podkreśla to nawet sama fabuła, jak również jej rozwinięcie. Szczegółów Wam jednak nie zdradzę. Musicie poznać je sami.
Na koniec jeszcze kilka słów o tym, co gorąco kocham w twórczości Morgan Brice, a co widzimy także w „Haven”, a więc o powiązaniach z innymi seriami. Uważam, że godne naszej uwagi jest to, iż tym razem nić łączącą nową powieść z całą resztą uniwersum autorki są nie tylko postacie, ale również sama historia. Otóż jak już wspominałam, akcja nie skupia się na duchach w szpitalu dla obłąkanych, ale kręci się wokół konkretnej zagadki, którą bohaterowie starają się rozwiązać. Mamy więc konkretny problem, a co za tym idzie, konkretne rozwiązanie, które jest ściśle związane z inną powieścią naszej niesamowitej Morgan Brice. Dodam tylko, że pod tym względem „Haven” mnie zaskoczyło. Autorka miała świetny pomysł na zagadkę przeszłości oraz na jej rozwiązanie, dzięki czemu pobudziła moją wyobraźnię i obudziła we mnie uczucie niedosytu. Z ogromną rozkoszą przeczytałabym historię Thomasa, człowieka, którego losy po wielu latach połączyły ze sobą Austina i Jamie’ego.
Podsumowując, „Haven” to powieść obowiązkowa dla wszystkich fanów Morgan Brice, jak również całkiem niezły początek przygody z jej twórczością dla tych, którzy dotąd nie czytali jej książek. Na kartach powieści kryją się niesamowite zagadki, wielkie spiski, niespodziewane uczucia oraz magia paranormalnego świata. Mówiąc krótko, kryje się tu wszystko to, co uwielbia każdy fan urban fantasy.
April 24, 2021
* paranormal
* PI
* research
* ghosts
* mystery
While this is a book in the Magic Emporium collection of books it is also set in Brice's shared universe.
I enjoyed this mystery surrounding Austin's missing Great Uncle and the ghostly aspect. The romance moves fast but I found it believable.
Ties in especially with the Fox Hollow series but also Badlands.
Recommended.
* PI
* research
* ghosts
* mystery
While this is a book in the Magic Emporium collection of books it is also set in Brice's shared universe.
I enjoyed this mystery surrounding Austin's missing Great Uncle and the ghostly aspect. The romance moves fast but I found it believable.
Ties in especially with the Fox Hollow series but also Badlands.
Recommended.
Read
May 26, 2021A Joyfully Jay review.
Austin Williams’ “hunches” (fragmented visions of the past and present/future) helped him achieve an unprecedented close rate as a cold case detective (as well as the enmity of his colleagues). Fortunately, his talent is just as useful in private investigation, and when his grandmother’s dying wish is for him to find out what happened to her brother, Thomas, there’s no way Austin can say no. Austin’s preliminary research and visions uncover a troubling pattern of disappearances from the Havenwood sanitarium where Thomas was consigned to, and the best place to find the records and history he needs is Saranac Lake, the small town where the abandoned Havenwood resides. Austin’s suspicions only grow when he visits the local historical association and discovers that the temporary director, Jaime Miller, is the imperiled mystery man from a vision, a man for whom he already has extremely protective feelings.
While Jaime finds Austin incredibly attractive and intriguing, he’s equally interested in Austin’s mission to discover the truth about his great-uncle, and quickly offers his assistance. Having already received hostile responses to even basic questions and evidence of a large scale cover-up regarding Havenwood, Austin has misgivings about accepting Jaime’s help. Moreover, as a former cop, Austin knows how far people will go to keep even small transgressions secret, and in a small tourist town where reputation means everything to most of its citizens (many of whom were tied to the sanitarium in one way or another), he recognizes how high the stakes are for anyone involved. However, between Jaime’s invaluable research skills and position and simply being drawn to the younger man, Austin doesn’t refuse.
For Jaime, getting to spend as much time as possible with the hot PI seems like a once in a lifetime chance and well worth the risk; he can have a good time while Austin is in town without having to deal with the inevitable demise of a relationship once Jaime reveals he can see ghosts. It doesn’t take long for Jaime to realize that Austin’s caution is warranted as admonitions to stop investigating become more sinister, but his fears pale in comparison to his surprisingly intense feelings for Austin, so leaving the man is not an option. Surrounded by secrets, ghosts, and suspects, the only way the two men can unbury the truth (without getting buried themselves) is to lay it all on the line and trust in their abilities and each other.
Full disclosure, I have a complicated relationship with Brice’s work and having recently read a story I considered one of her worst, I was trepidatious when I realized she had written "Haven". I’m glad to say my concerns were unwarranted as "Haven" is a charming, well-paced addition to the multi-author Magic Emporium series (each book a standalone connected by the appearance of Marden’s Magic Emporium, a shop that can manifest anywhere, but only once and only when someone’s in dire need). "Haven" has the air of a cozy mystery, minus some of the inane/insane hubris and shenanigans cozies typically have.
Austin and Jaime are solid, personable characters with believable chemistry, though they skirt the line of being too similar. Their struggles, experiences, and mental interiors are basically the same—rooted in the unreliable psy abilities that bring stigma and negatively impact relationships, leaving them isolated and lonely. Since "Haven" is written in first-person, dual POV and the only real difference between Jaime and Austin is their jobs, it’s easy to forget whose POV you’re in and/or for their thoughts and desires to seem repetitive since, about 9 times out of 10, that same thought will show up almost, if not exactly, word for word in the next POV shift. However, the MCs being similar in this core way is a positive too. With their shared relationship woes, they recognize how special their connection is since it’s deeper than any emotions they felt in their longest/best relationships, giving them a, logicalish basis for the insta-love, which I like.
I also enjoy the central mystery; Brice puts an interesting slant on some of the more disturbing aspects of the history of mental illness facilities: how too often they preyed on their extremely vulnerable population; how said population had an atrociously sizable subset who were dumped there because they were “too different”; and how the “aid” provided to some was, at best, forced imprisonment. "Haven" manages to take a weighty topic and make it relevant to the story without sounding sanctimonious or exploiting it, and while the climax follows the usual cozy mystery format, it is handled well and depicts an element of the initial aftermath that typically gets glossed over before the usual off-page tidying-up happens. Best of all—there is NO big misunderstanding! Ya’ll, I can’t tell you how happy this makes me! My complicated feelings for Brice’s works stem from the fact that the big misunderstanding is one of my least favorite tropes and all the Brice books I’ve read have used it…badly. As imaginative and creative as she can be, she used the trope in the most obvious, unimaginative ways. "Haven" isn’t hampered by this pace-ruining baggage; the narrative runs smoothly and efficiently and allows her creativity to “shine.” "Haven" is a quick fun read that even people not keen on insta-love may enjoy.
Austin Williams’ “hunches” (fragmented visions of the past and present/future) helped him achieve an unprecedented close rate as a cold case detective (as well as the enmity of his colleagues). Fortunately, his talent is just as useful in private investigation, and when his grandmother’s dying wish is for him to find out what happened to her brother, Thomas, there’s no way Austin can say no. Austin’s preliminary research and visions uncover a troubling pattern of disappearances from the Havenwood sanitarium where Thomas was consigned to, and the best place to find the records and history he needs is Saranac Lake, the small town where the abandoned Havenwood resides. Austin’s suspicions only grow when he visits the local historical association and discovers that the temporary director, Jaime Miller, is the imperiled mystery man from a vision, a man for whom he already has extremely protective feelings.
While Jaime finds Austin incredibly attractive and intriguing, he’s equally interested in Austin’s mission to discover the truth about his great-uncle, and quickly offers his assistance. Having already received hostile responses to even basic questions and evidence of a large scale cover-up regarding Havenwood, Austin has misgivings about accepting Jaime’s help. Moreover, as a former cop, Austin knows how far people will go to keep even small transgressions secret, and in a small tourist town where reputation means everything to most of its citizens (many of whom were tied to the sanitarium in one way or another), he recognizes how high the stakes are for anyone involved. However, between Jaime’s invaluable research skills and position and simply being drawn to the younger man, Austin doesn’t refuse.
For Jaime, getting to spend as much time as possible with the hot PI seems like a once in a lifetime chance and well worth the risk; he can have a good time while Austin is in town without having to deal with the inevitable demise of a relationship once Jaime reveals he can see ghosts. It doesn’t take long for Jaime to realize that Austin’s caution is warranted as admonitions to stop investigating become more sinister, but his fears pale in comparison to his surprisingly intense feelings for Austin, so leaving the man is not an option. Surrounded by secrets, ghosts, and suspects, the only way the two men can unbury the truth (without getting buried themselves) is to lay it all on the line and trust in their abilities and each other.
Full disclosure, I have a complicated relationship with Brice’s work and having recently read a story I considered one of her worst, I was trepidatious when I realized she had written "Haven". I’m glad to say my concerns were unwarranted as "Haven" is a charming, well-paced addition to the multi-author Magic Emporium series (each book a standalone connected by the appearance of Marden’s Magic Emporium, a shop that can manifest anywhere, but only once and only when someone’s in dire need). "Haven" has the air of a cozy mystery, minus some of the inane/insane hubris and shenanigans cozies typically have.
Austin and Jaime are solid, personable characters with believable chemistry, though they skirt the line of being too similar. Their struggles, experiences, and mental interiors are basically the same—rooted in the unreliable psy abilities that bring stigma and negatively impact relationships, leaving them isolated and lonely. Since "Haven" is written in first-person, dual POV and the only real difference between Jaime and Austin is their jobs, it’s easy to forget whose POV you’re in and/or for their thoughts and desires to seem repetitive since, about 9 times out of 10, that same thought will show up almost, if not exactly, word for word in the next POV shift. However, the MCs being similar in this core way is a positive too. With their shared relationship woes, they recognize how special their connection is since it’s deeper than any emotions they felt in their longest/best relationships, giving them a, logicalish basis for the insta-love, which I like.
I also enjoy the central mystery; Brice puts an interesting slant on some of the more disturbing aspects of the history of mental illness facilities: how too often they preyed on their extremely vulnerable population; how said population had an atrociously sizable subset who were dumped there because they were “too different”; and how the “aid” provided to some was, at best, forced imprisonment. "Haven" manages to take a weighty topic and make it relevant to the story without sounding sanctimonious or exploiting it, and while the climax follows the usual cozy mystery format, it is handled well and depicts an element of the initial aftermath that typically gets glossed over before the usual off-page tidying-up happens. Best of all—there is NO big misunderstanding! Ya’ll, I can’t tell you how happy this makes me! My complicated feelings for Brice’s works stem from the fact that the big misunderstanding is one of my least favorite tropes and all the Brice books I’ve read have used it…badly. As imaginative and creative as she can be, she used the trope in the most obvious, unimaginative ways. "Haven" isn’t hampered by this pace-ruining baggage; the narrative runs smoothly and efficiently and allows her creativity to “shine.” "Haven" is a quick fun read that even people not keen on insta-love may enjoy.
April 30, 2021
Reviewed for Rainbow Gold Reviews. A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
I signed up for the blog tour because I am a big fan of the author. I’ve only read one novella of the Fox Hollow series the author indicated this story was loosely related. Also, the concept of The Magic Emporium series had my interest peaked. The Magic Emporium’s appearance in very brief and I imagine it would be the same in other books, but the shop is there to provide something needed for the main characters in the book and while it is unclear how the item will help, it will definitely find a purpose by the end of the story.
Both Austin and Jamie are very likable characters right off the bat. Austin arrives in Saranac Lake, a town where the psychiatric hospital, Havenwood, was located. Austin is looking to find out what happened to a great uncle who disappeared after being admitted there. The small town folks don’t like the newcomer asking questions and his search bears little fruit until he meets Jamie. Jamie is kind of new town and not so invested that he wants to keep its secrets, though he doesn’t exactly know any of them either. With a little search of the historical building where he is working, though, they begin to uncover some history of the hospital. The patients might not have been “crazy” like their family members thought, but were teens experiencing the beginning of psychic or paranormal abilities, instead.
I should mention that Austin and Jamie have some “gifts” of their own, as well as some ties to helpful people. Austin is on friendly terms with Brent Lawson, a character from the author’s Night Vigil series, and Jamie knows Simon Kincaid from the Badlands series. Both Brent and Simon prove to be some help to Jamie and Austin, even though they find themselves in some hot water when their questioning riles up some older townfolk who were around when the hospital was running. The ending felt good. Jamie and Austin can’t blow the case wide open, because the world isn’t ready to accept the existence of people with supernatural abilities, but the bad guys all seem to get their due and Jamie and Austin end up starting over in Fox Hollow where they find their own abilities to be much more useful.
I have to say I enjoyed the crossovers with the authors other series. For the series that I haven’t read yet, I look forward to checking them out even more, as well of the rest of the Magic Emporium books. The world-building was fun and it was a non-angsty read that I would definitely recommend.
I signed up for the blog tour because I am a big fan of the author. I’ve only read one novella of the Fox Hollow series the author indicated this story was loosely related. Also, the concept of The Magic Emporium series had my interest peaked. The Magic Emporium’s appearance in very brief and I imagine it would be the same in other books, but the shop is there to provide something needed for the main characters in the book and while it is unclear how the item will help, it will definitely find a purpose by the end of the story.
Both Austin and Jamie are very likable characters right off the bat. Austin arrives in Saranac Lake, a town where the psychiatric hospital, Havenwood, was located. Austin is looking to find out what happened to a great uncle who disappeared after being admitted there. The small town folks don’t like the newcomer asking questions and his search bears little fruit until he meets Jamie. Jamie is kind of new town and not so invested that he wants to keep its secrets, though he doesn’t exactly know any of them either. With a little search of the historical building where he is working, though, they begin to uncover some history of the hospital. The patients might not have been “crazy” like their family members thought, but were teens experiencing the beginning of psychic or paranormal abilities, instead.
I should mention that Austin and Jamie have some “gifts” of their own, as well as some ties to helpful people. Austin is on friendly terms with Brent Lawson, a character from the author’s Night Vigil series, and Jamie knows Simon Kincaid from the Badlands series. Both Brent and Simon prove to be some help to Jamie and Austin, even though they find themselves in some hot water when their questioning riles up some older townfolk who were around when the hospital was running. The ending felt good. Jamie and Austin can’t blow the case wide open, because the world isn’t ready to accept the existence of people with supernatural abilities, but the bad guys all seem to get their due and Jamie and Austin end up starting over in Fox Hollow where they find their own abilities to be much more useful.
I have to say I enjoyed the crossovers with the authors other series. For the series that I haven’t read yet, I look forward to checking them out even more, as well of the rest of the Magic Emporium books. The world-building was fun and it was a non-angsty read that I would definitely recommend.
April 8, 2021
One of the best things about a Morgan Brice book is how quickly I am pulled into the story. I love her paranormals and the latest is part of the Magic Emporium Series, all featuring different authors.
One of my favorite mysteries is what happened to someone gone missing many years ago. A cold case that seems impossible to thaw. Austin Williams finds himself in this challenging position, searching for any information on a 15 year old, named Thomas, who vanished without a trace decades before. He was not the only one that went missing, but since this took place in a mental health hospital no one seemed to care. Austin’s grandmother needs closure and begs her grandson to find out what happened to him. Her older brother vanished without a trace and there are so many questions. Austin can’t deny her, and is now traveling in one of the most loveliest parts of the country—in my opinion—Saranac Lake, in the Adirondacks. That’s another perk I get from Ms. Brice’s books; her locals are familiar to me and her descriptions are lyrical.
Austin has a unique gift which equally has helped him in life and caused heavy burdens. He experiences visions or fragmented glimpses that frequent this weary man. Since agreeing to go on this quest for his grandmother, the images have ramped up. One man in particular keeps invading his mind in the form of nightmares.
Imagine his surprise when he runs across his vision working as an archivist at a local historical association. Jamie has taken a temporary job there, and the two feel an intense pull towards each other the more time they spend together. Each man has special paranormal abilities and are at ease with each other, not fearing to be judged by their unusual skill sets.
The town people are annoyed about questions being asked. Ghosts are irritated, odd messages are being sent, and the men feel pure desperation as they dig for the truth on all of the odd disappearances at Havenwood Psychiatric Hospital. I have not read the others in the series, but can assure you there is an important event that happens which ties the books together, and offers the promise of help in dangerous surroundings that Jamie and Austin encounter.
I recommend this supernatural tale that sparks of desire. Happy reading!
* * * Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn’t a requirement. * * *
One of my favorite mysteries is what happened to someone gone missing many years ago. A cold case that seems impossible to thaw. Austin Williams finds himself in this challenging position, searching for any information on a 15 year old, named Thomas, who vanished without a trace decades before. He was not the only one that went missing, but since this took place in a mental health hospital no one seemed to care. Austin’s grandmother needs closure and begs her grandson to find out what happened to him. Her older brother vanished without a trace and there are so many questions. Austin can’t deny her, and is now traveling in one of the most loveliest parts of the country—in my opinion—Saranac Lake, in the Adirondacks. That’s another perk I get from Ms. Brice’s books; her locals are familiar to me and her descriptions are lyrical.
Austin has a unique gift which equally has helped him in life and caused heavy burdens. He experiences visions or fragmented glimpses that frequent this weary man. Since agreeing to go on this quest for his grandmother, the images have ramped up. One man in particular keeps invading his mind in the form of nightmares.
Imagine his surprise when he runs across his vision working as an archivist at a local historical association. Jamie has taken a temporary job there, and the two feel an intense pull towards each other the more time they spend together. Each man has special paranormal abilities and are at ease with each other, not fearing to be judged by their unusual skill sets.
The town people are annoyed about questions being asked. Ghosts are irritated, odd messages are being sent, and the men feel pure desperation as they dig for the truth on all of the odd disappearances at Havenwood Psychiatric Hospital. I have not read the others in the series, but can assure you there is an important event that happens which ties the books together, and offers the promise of help in dangerous surroundings that Jamie and Austin encounter.
I recommend this supernatural tale that sparks of desire. Happy reading!
* * * Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure, a review wasn’t a requirement. * * *
April 8, 2021
I tell you what, this series could not have ended on a better note. This has been on of the best set of books I’ve read in a world like this, in a while. And that’s saying a lot. I love paranormal, I have loved all the different aspects of each book. I love the way they all have the Emporium in common but are worlds apart, yet kind of the same. To a point. Some were funnier than others, some more serious, some more sweet, some adorable. Each brought their own brand of eccentricity to this series and this one has also become one of my favorites. Not only was it a paranormal, but it was a mystery, which is my other favorite genre.
I love Austin and Jamie’s characters too. Yes, Austin may have more experience in things but seeing him and Jamie working together to correct a wrong they know about was amazing to watch. And yeah, there were times that it was scary. When people do wrong and it gets buried, most want to let sleeping dogs lie. And when someone comes in to trample on that information, it can get downright nasty. So there were some nail biting incidents in this as well, as Austin and Jamie navigate their way into things that are downright horrible. And the more Austin digs about his family, the more Jamie finds in archives, the more they are getting in over their heads. And it’s a ride and a half that they go through. Especially when they find out how many people had already tried to find out about things that were going on in that town before. And I loved seeing it all unravel.
I loved the connection between Austin and Jamie as well. They had instant chemistry that led to them having an even better working relationship. They meshed well in every way. Whether it be in the bedroom or out, they had each other’s backs and knew they had each other when no one else would have. I just loved it so much.
This series is absolutely amazing. If you haven’t read it, you are seriously missing out on a great set of stories.
https://lovebytesreviews.com/
I love Austin and Jamie’s characters too. Yes, Austin may have more experience in things but seeing him and Jamie working together to correct a wrong they know about was amazing to watch. And yeah, there were times that it was scary. When people do wrong and it gets buried, most want to let sleeping dogs lie. And when someone comes in to trample on that information, it can get downright nasty. So there were some nail biting incidents in this as well, as Austin and Jamie navigate their way into things that are downright horrible. And the more Austin digs about his family, the more Jamie finds in archives, the more they are getting in over their heads. And it’s a ride and a half that they go through. Especially when they find out how many people had already tried to find out about things that were going on in that town before. And I loved seeing it all unravel.
I loved the connection between Austin and Jamie as well. They had instant chemistry that led to them having an even better working relationship. They meshed well in every way. Whether it be in the bedroom or out, they had each other’s backs and knew they had each other when no one else would have. I just loved it so much.
This series is absolutely amazing. If you haven’t read it, you are seriously missing out on a great set of stories.
https://lovebytesreviews.com/
April 11, 2021
I like so much this series, I love Morgan Brice writing style her stories are is very entertaining. This is the last book in The Magic Emporium series and this book can be read as standalone.
Haven is Austin and Jamie story, this book is really good with so many mystery’s surrounding this town. Austin is a PI and is try to find information about Thomas McKean who vanished in 1965 from Havenwood Psychiatric Hospital, he was one of the few teenagers who were left abandoned by their parents there.
Austin’s grandmother had begged him to solve the mystery of her brother’s disappearance so she could die in peace, her brother who was sent to the hospital by his parents and she never new what happened to him. Austin is staying in town researching in a few places trying to find people who work at the hospital.
Jamie Miller is working as a Temporary Archivist at the Historical Association and he is also special, he like is work and he is where he meets Austin, they immediately make a connection but Austin is there to find out anything about his case, they start talking about the events occurred in this Hospital and Jamie is determined to help Austin investigate too.
So many people are involved in this disappearances are they are determined to remain in secret, Austin and Jamie are in danger because they were so clase to find the truth of what happened.
I liked how the story unfolded, I can’t stop reading it! Both Austin and Jamie were brilliant, Morgan make fantastic paranormal stories! I would have like to know more about some of this teenagers but I was happy how the story ends. I also like that they get help form other book characters.
I really enjoy this book!
Haven is Austin and Jamie story, this book is really good with so many mystery’s surrounding this town. Austin is a PI and is try to find information about Thomas McKean who vanished in 1965 from Havenwood Psychiatric Hospital, he was one of the few teenagers who were left abandoned by their parents there.
Austin’s grandmother had begged him to solve the mystery of her brother’s disappearance so she could die in peace, her brother who was sent to the hospital by his parents and she never new what happened to him. Austin is staying in town researching in a few places trying to find people who work at the hospital.
Jamie Miller is working as a Temporary Archivist at the Historical Association and he is also special, he like is work and he is where he meets Austin, they immediately make a connection but Austin is there to find out anything about his case, they start talking about the events occurred in this Hospital and Jamie is determined to help Austin investigate too.
So many people are involved in this disappearances are they are determined to remain in secret, Austin and Jamie are in danger because they were so clase to find the truth of what happened.
I liked how the story unfolded, I can’t stop reading it! Both Austin and Jamie were brilliant, Morgan make fantastic paranormal stories! I would have like to know more about some of this teenagers but I was happy how the story ends. I also like that they get help form other book characters.
I really enjoy this book!
April 12, 2021
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
4.5 stars
Austin is private investigator looking into a missing persons case decades old, a last request from his grandmother. Jamie is the temporary history archivist, a stopping point on his career. I loved the chemistry between these two. There was heat, but also a slower affection, it helped offset the fast pace of their relationship. The suspense was well paced in the story. The more mundane mystery mixed in with the supernatural worked well together. The Magic Emporium made for a fun little twist in the story, but didn't feel forced. I'm hoping we'll get to see Austin and Jamie in future stories.
If you want to read more about some of the characters mentioned in this story, check out the books below:
Badlands, Huntsman, Treasure Trail
Also by Gail Z. Martin: Sons of Darkness, Deadly Curiosities
4.5 stars
Austin is private investigator looking into a missing persons case decades old, a last request from his grandmother. Jamie is the temporary history archivist, a stopping point on his career. I loved the chemistry between these two. There was heat, but also a slower affection, it helped offset the fast pace of their relationship. The suspense was well paced in the story. The more mundane mystery mixed in with the supernatural worked well together. The Magic Emporium made for a fun little twist in the story, but didn't feel forced. I'm hoping we'll get to see Austin and Jamie in future stories.
If you want to read more about some of the characters mentioned in this story, check out the books below:
Badlands, Huntsman, Treasure Trail
Also by Gail Z. Martin: Sons of Darkness, Deadly Curiosities
April 20, 2021
I absolutely loved this addition to the Magic Emporium series! In fact, shhh, it might be my favorite. “Haven” had a wonderful MM romance, a spooky mystery, a haunted asylum, and the two MCs have magical powers...
This came together extremely well and I enjoyed every step of the way. It had pretty much all the ingredients I like in a good ghost story. People missing from an asylum, ghosts both helpful and vengeful, a small town with folks that are willing to kill to keep the past hidden...and, of course, a romance. I actually wasn’t that invested in the romance in comparison to the mystery, which is funny because I’m usually super into the romance and the mystery wasn’t wild. However, I’d chalk it up to the romance being sweeter than I typically go for and the mystery/ghost stuff being exactly what I like. I was already familiar with the world because I’ve read part of the Fox Hollow series—that’s not necessary, and I think that the plot would actually be more mysterious and surprising to someone unfamiliar since I had an advantage in figuring stuff out haha. I was worried going in because I find stuff about old “insane” asylums extremely traumatizing and disturbing to read about—fortunately, the author included enough to keep my attention but didn’t go far enough to upset me. The plot is focused more on the disappearances etc than the inhumane conditions there. Overall, I definitely recommend this one, it was an enjoyable, if not particularly surprising, read. I was super happy with the HEA, which tied everything up nicely and was romantic. I felt like I was leaving the characters on a good note and had confidence in their future being just right for both of them.
**I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review **
This came together extremely well and I enjoyed every step of the way. It had pretty much all the ingredients I like in a good ghost story. People missing from an asylum, ghosts both helpful and vengeful, a small town with folks that are willing to kill to keep the past hidden...and, of course, a romance. I actually wasn’t that invested in the romance in comparison to the mystery, which is funny because I’m usually super into the romance and the mystery wasn’t wild. However, I’d chalk it up to the romance being sweeter than I typically go for and the mystery/ghost stuff being exactly what I like. I was already familiar with the world because I’ve read part of the Fox Hollow series—that’s not necessary, and I think that the plot would actually be more mysterious and surprising to someone unfamiliar since I had an advantage in figuring stuff out haha. I was worried going in because I find stuff about old “insane” asylums extremely traumatizing and disturbing to read about—fortunately, the author included enough to keep my attention but didn’t go far enough to upset me. The plot is focused more on the disappearances etc than the inhumane conditions there. Overall, I definitely recommend this one, it was an enjoyable, if not particularly surprising, read. I was super happy with the HEA, which tied everything up nicely and was romantic. I felt like I was leaving the characters on a good note and had confidence in their future being just right for both of them.
**I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review **
April 28, 2021
Kept me in suspense!
Eighteen months ago, I had never read a book by Morgan Brice (or her alter-ego, Gail Z. Martin) and I was new to the urban fantasy genre. Now, I’ve read most of her backlist and I’ve enjoyed every one of them. Haven is a standalone story with loose ties to other Morgan Brice series. Characters from those other series show up in this story but it absolutely isn’t necessary to have read any other books before you read this one.
Austin is a former cop, now private detective. His grandmother’s dying wish is to know what happened to her brother after he was sent away to Havenwood Psychiatric Hospital when he was fifteen-years-old. Jamie is in town working a job as the temporary archivist for the historical association in Saranac Lake.
Austin gets visions from time-to-time and he’s haunted by one he had involving a brown-haired man who looked about his same age. He is shocked when he meets Jamie and realizes that he’s the man in his vision.
I was totally captivated by this story and on the edge of my seat for portions of it. Austin and Jamie work together on Austin’s quest to find out what happened to his great-uncle and the romance between them heats up. Their investigation involves local people who turn out to be not so happy about having the history of Havenwood investigated. There’s not a lot of hot and heavy sexy time in this story but the feelings between Austin and Jamie come through loud and clear.
I loved the epilogue that lets us know more about Austin and Jamie six-months down the road.
A copy of this book was provided to me at my request but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
Eighteen months ago, I had never read a book by Morgan Brice (or her alter-ego, Gail Z. Martin) and I was new to the urban fantasy genre. Now, I’ve read most of her backlist and I’ve enjoyed every one of them. Haven is a standalone story with loose ties to other Morgan Brice series. Characters from those other series show up in this story but it absolutely isn’t necessary to have read any other books before you read this one.
Austin is a former cop, now private detective. His grandmother’s dying wish is to know what happened to her brother after he was sent away to Havenwood Psychiatric Hospital when he was fifteen-years-old. Jamie is in town working a job as the temporary archivist for the historical association in Saranac Lake.
Austin gets visions from time-to-time and he’s haunted by one he had involving a brown-haired man who looked about his same age. He is shocked when he meets Jamie and realizes that he’s the man in his vision.
I was totally captivated by this story and on the edge of my seat for portions of it. Austin and Jamie work together on Austin’s quest to find out what happened to his great-uncle and the romance between them heats up. Their investigation involves local people who turn out to be not so happy about having the history of Havenwood investigated. There’s not a lot of hot and heavy sexy time in this story but the feelings between Austin and Jamie come through loud and clear.
I loved the epilogue that lets us know more about Austin and Jamie six-months down the road.
A copy of this book was provided to me at my request but my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com***
April 10, 2021
This is part of the Magic Emporium series, and the central conceit-- an enigmatic shop that appears in anticipation of times of direst need, to sell exactly what’s needed at precisely the price people can afford to pay-- just gets more awesome with each story. In this one, former cop turned private investigator Austin finds himself in need of the shop when he is dispatched on a mission for family-- to find out what happened to a great-uncle taken to a mysterious (and deeply sketchy) sanitarium as a child. The town he’s sent to is picturesque and seemingly idyllic-- but the locals have a vested interest in keeping secrets, there are ghosts aplenty, and the only one who’s truly glad to see him is Jamie, the temporary archivist who’s also from out of town. There’s a lot to like about this story: the mystery at the heart of it is bittersweet and heartbreaking,and involves the fate of young people whose differences made them vulnerable in a story that has both heroes and villains of various stripes. The connection between Jamie and Austin develops quickly but believably, fueled by chemistry, a sense of common purpose, and a shared understanding of supernatural phenomena and psychic gifts. I liked the symmetry of having two people with paranormal abilities investigating the fates of others like them: the chance for justice bringing them together even as they risk mortal injury to find out the truth. Fans of the author’s other works will also recognize a helping hand or two from characters from other stories. Well worth a read.
*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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