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BeWere My Heart #3
Mad for a Mate
Beloved and bestselling author MaryJanice Davidson is back with a hilarious and heartfelt shifter Verity Lane might be a Shifter who can't shift (known as a "squib")―but woe betide anyone who tries to tell her who she is or what she's capable of. She's a proud member of a club for squibs out to prove themselves by participating in dangerous stunts. Which is probably how she ended up on this strange island… Bear shifter Magnus Berne wants two to connect with his motherless goddaughter, and to find out who keeps dumping dead bodies on his property. When he discovers Verity on his island, he's determined to get some answers―but it's clear that whoever has been killing squibs is just as resolved to keep it quiet. And now that Verity is in the crosshairs, they'll have to move quickly to stay ahead, stay alive, and stay together. You won't want to miss the rollicking series readers are raving about! Praise for A Wolf After My Own Heart : "Hilarious, quirky, unique, and fun."―CHRISTINE FEEHAN, #1 New York Times bestselling author "Super cute…sure to keep you flipping pages."―TERRY SPEAR, USA Today bestselling author "A droolworthy hero and high-stakes…a winner!"―PAIGE TYLER, New York Times bestselling author
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 26, 2022
62 people are currently reading
339 people want to read
About the author
MaryJanice Davidson
142 books5,398 followersMaryJanice Davidson is an American author and motivational speaker who writes mostly paranormal romance, but also young adult and non-fiction. She is the creator of the popular UNDEAD series and the time-traveling historical fiction A CONTEMPORARY ASSHAT AT THE COURT OF HENRY VIII. MaryJanice is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author who writes a bi-weekly column for USA Today and lives in St. Paul with her family. You can reach her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.
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March 26, 2022
Mad for a Mate
by MaryJanice Davidson is a fun paranormal romance mixed with some suspense featuring bear shifter Magnus Berne and Verity Lane, a bear shifter that can’t shift (known as a squib). This is the third book in the BeWere My Heart series. Magnus wants to connect with his goddaughter, Sally Smalls, and to find out who keeps leaving mannequins on his rented property. Verity is a member of a club for squibs who participate in dangerous stunts to prove themselves. During one of those stunts, she ends up on Magnus’ property. Shen squibs start dying, is it an accident or murder?
Magnus tends to be a loner, but has slowly been making friends in the two months he has been in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area. Verity left her over-protective parents in Florida to start a new life in Minnesota as a freelance odor tester. Both main characters have definite flaws that make them more relatable. They have backstories which affect their current-day actions and which add to the depth of their characters. While there is attraction between them, this is not a steam-filled novel. Additionally, there are characters from the two previous books in the series that play important roles in the story.
This is a slow burn romance with nothing more than kissing until very late in the book. Deeper situations were weaved into the story line (similar to the previous books in the series). This made it more complex than one would initially think. These include racism, death, grief, family dynamics, secrets, communication, friendship, romance, and much more. There is some use of curse words in the book.
The story was entertaining and very thought provoking. It was also funny and heartwarming at times. Discovering some surprises along the way, with lots of laughter, I raced through this book. One of the unusual things about this book were the funny footnotes. Besides enjoying the story, I recommend that readers look for the deeper meanings that are within it.
This author continues to bring unusual characters, high stakes, and entertaining story lines together. Although this can be read as a standalone novel, I recommend starting with book one in the series.
SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca and MaryJanice Davidson provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for April 26, 2022.
-------------------------
RTC around 3/26/2022 per publisher guidelines.
Magnus tends to be a loner, but has slowly been making friends in the two months he has been in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area. Verity left her over-protective parents in Florida to start a new life in Minnesota as a freelance odor tester. Both main characters have definite flaws that make them more relatable. They have backstories which affect their current-day actions and which add to the depth of their characters. While there is attraction between them, this is not a steam-filled novel. Additionally, there are characters from the two previous books in the series that play important roles in the story.
This is a slow burn romance with nothing more than kissing until very late in the book. Deeper situations were weaved into the story line (similar to the previous books in the series). This made it more complex than one would initially think. These include racism, death, grief, family dynamics, secrets, communication, friendship, romance, and much more. There is some use of curse words in the book.
The story was entertaining and very thought provoking. It was also funny and heartwarming at times. Discovering some surprises along the way, with lots of laughter, I raced through this book. One of the unusual things about this book were the funny footnotes. Besides enjoying the story, I recommend that readers look for the deeper meanings that are within it.
This author continues to bring unusual characters, high stakes, and entertaining story lines together. Although this can be read as a standalone novel, I recommend starting with book one in the series.
SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca and MaryJanice Davidson provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. This is my honest review. Opinions are mine alone and are not biased in any way. Publication date is currently set for April 26, 2022.
-------------------------
RTC around 3/26/2022 per publisher guidelines.
June 5, 2022
This is third in a series and characters from the others are sprinkled throughout this one. Magnus is introduced in the previous and carries a not-insignificant role, there, that bleeds into this story. So I recommend reading them in order.
We've seen a bit of the shifters who can't shift before, though until now, they featured as villains stunted by their inadequacies as shifters. Okay, that was one guy, but he made an impression in the first book. So having Verity show up as one of the so-called "squibs" (awful name that's kind of perfect for its connotations) I was intrigued to see where Davidson was going with it. The emotional pain of being less-than could well have been everything about the character and that would have been a shame.
So it's good that Verity was very much her own self and that she leans into who she is rather than what she cannot do. She has an interesting job, semi-interesting friends, and an attitude of competence that really engaged me. I particularly liked getting to know her largely through Magnus (to start) who is fascinated by her no-holds attitude and willingness to do difficult things.
And I liked Magnus, too. Even as he's trying so hard not to be the creepy stalker while figuring out who this intriguing woman is. I love that a couple of times he had to sit back and acknowledge that he had done as much as he could without being creepy guy and just had to hope she'd rise to his expressed invite. His combination of hope and discouragement sat well with me because it showed he could take a hint and give a woman her space. Plus, it let Verity decide that she really was intrigued by the guy and not just because he had money.
So I liked their relationship and seeing it develop. The plot, on the other hand, was pretty lame. Verity's squib club friends were rather pathetic, really, and I never really felt like I knew them beyond two-word descriptions. So the stakes never felt that real, for all Verity does her best at being distraught over the couple who died. Plus, the villain was rather pathetic once revealed (though I loved the scene where Verity demonstrated just how well a motivated squib could defend herself when pressed, not least because she knew exactly where to get the best bang for her violence buck).
Anyway, Verity and Magnus make this a simple call for four stars. Sure, the plot turned out to be lame, but I didn't care about it at all, so that's alright.
A note about Steamy: As in the others, we get just enough steam to count but not a lot of detail all-told. It works for the series and characters, so I'm okay with that.
We've seen a bit of the shifters who can't shift before, though until now, they featured as villains stunted by their inadequacies as shifters. Okay, that was one guy, but he made an impression in the first book. So having Verity show up as one of the so-called "squibs" (awful name that's kind of perfect for its connotations) I was intrigued to see where Davidson was going with it. The emotional pain of being less-than could well have been everything about the character and that would have been a shame.
So it's good that Verity was very much her own self and that she leans into who she is rather than what she cannot do. She has an interesting job, semi-interesting friends, and an attitude of competence that really engaged me. I particularly liked getting to know her largely through Magnus (to start) who is fascinated by her no-holds attitude and willingness to do difficult things.
And I liked Magnus, too. Even as he's trying so hard not to be the creepy stalker while figuring out who this intriguing woman is. I love that a couple of times he had to sit back and acknowledge that he had done as much as he could without being creepy guy and just had to hope she'd rise to his expressed invite. His combination of hope and discouragement sat well with me because it showed he could take a hint and give a woman her space. Plus, it let Verity decide that she really was intrigued by the guy and not just because he had money.
So I liked their relationship and seeing it develop. The plot, on the other hand, was pretty lame. Verity's squib club friends were rather pathetic, really, and I never really felt like I knew them beyond two-word descriptions. So the stakes never felt that real, for all Verity does her best at being distraught over the couple who died. Plus, the villain was rather pathetic once revealed (though I loved the scene where Verity demonstrated just how well a motivated squib could defend herself when pressed, not least because she knew exactly where to get the best bang for her violence buck).
Anyway, Verity and Magnus make this a simple call for four stars. Sure, the plot turned out to be lame, but I didn't care about it at all, so that's alright.
A note about Steamy: As in the others, we get just enough steam to count but not a lot of detail all-told. It works for the series and characters, so I'm okay with that.
January 14, 2025
You are hooked by characters that are really quirky and lol. From the first naked mannequin thrown over the wall this story is one of the authors best. Verity is a squib (not able to shift). Who would want to start murdering their members. When she arrives naked on Bear Shifter Magus Berne’s island both their lives will change forever. There are references to other beloved characters in previous books which are well worth hunting down. I was given an arc of this book by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
July 29, 2022
3.5 stars
another good one from MJD w/her usual incredible humor.
Good characters. Engaging story. Brilliant dialogue!!! Great chemistry b/w the characters.
And awww man...Jerry...shame. I liked that character. But yeah Dev!!!!
I liked the way she incorporated the characters from the previous books into the current storyline. It was nice to see them again. (and her footnotes...too cute)
And perhaps Verity Lane is the character closest the writer herself. I've never seen MJD in person, but I could sense her own personality traits shining thru the character.
I get her humor (the babble, the witty dialogue) so I must say that one was the star for me over the actual story.
But one little nitpicky thing MJD...
I don't think I really understand what a squib is...a shifter who can't shift..then doesn't that mean by definition that they're not a shifter???
For exs., my niece loves animals & whenever she's out & about she says that she not only understand them but also talk to them. she says she has the heart & spirit of an animal. (the specific one varies depending on her mood. By the by, she's 7yrs old w/a vivid imagination & definitely can't shift) No shade MJD, i'm just saying...
I should of done this on audio as I bet the various accents would have been great to hear out loud (as opposed to in my head)
another good one from MJD w/her usual incredible humor.
Good characters. Engaging story. Brilliant dialogue!!! Great chemistry b/w the characters.
And awww man...Jerry...shame. I liked that character. But yeah Dev!!!!
I liked the way she incorporated the characters from the previous books into the current storyline. It was nice to see them again. (and her footnotes...too cute)
And perhaps Verity Lane is the character closest the writer herself. I've never seen MJD in person, but I could sense her own personality traits shining thru the character.
I get her humor (the babble, the witty dialogue) so I must say that one was the star for me over the actual story.
But one little nitpicky thing MJD...
I don't think I really understand what a squib is...a shifter who can't shift..then doesn't that mean by definition that they're not a shifter???
For exs., my niece loves animals & whenever she's out & about she says that she not only understand them but also talk to them. she says she has the heart & spirit of an animal. (the specific one varies depending on her mood. By the by, she's 7yrs old w/a vivid imagination & definitely can't shift) No shade MJD, i'm just saying...
I should of done this on audio as I bet the various accents would have been great to hear out loud (as opposed to in my head)
April 13, 2022
This is a case of loving the 'verse, but the romance? Maybe not as much. I think Ms. Davidson is still pretty damn funny and she makes these characters interesting in and of themselves. My issue is that the romance always feels like a side note, not the main show. And that's ok, as long as the story is still entertaining. This is the third book in the series, I believe and I do think it's important to read in order because there's alot going on and the supporting players will be a tad confusing, even with the helpful bits of backstory given here.
So will I continue to read this series? Definitely, it's entertaining, but I'm not coming here for the romance fix, that's more of a sprinkle than a cupcake. And now I'm a little hungry, not gonna lie. Ok, off I pop. If you like PNR and prefer the romance on the mild side, you may really enjoy this.
**ARC provided via Netgalley for review**
So will I continue to read this series? Definitely, it's entertaining, but I'm not coming here for the romance fix, that's more of a sprinkle than a cupcake. And now I'm a little hungry, not gonna lie. Ok, off I pop. If you like PNR and prefer the romance on the mild side, you may really enjoy this.
**ARC provided via Netgalley for review**
January 26, 2025
4.5⭐️ Hahaaaa Squib Games! Throughout this series there has been these cute little footnotes that are just as hilarious as the rest of the book. This book wasn’t as funny as the last one but I still laughed out loud several times.
The character in this book has allowed me to respect the name Verity. It has repairs the damage that CoHo has brought to the rare name.
Also, the author has a way of touching on sad topics and intertwining them with humor in a way that is respectful and understandable.
This book is NOT instalove which is awesome. Also, there is little to no smut in this book.
The plot was good and the end was precious. I can’t wait for the next book because Nadia needs her own story.
Content Warning: Death, grief
The character in this book has allowed me to respect the name Verity. It has repairs the damage that CoHo has brought to the rare name.
Also, the author has a way of touching on sad topics and intertwining them with humor in a way that is respectful and understandable.
This book is NOT instalove which is awesome. Also, there is little to no smut in this book.
The plot was good and the end was precious. I can’t wait for the next book because Nadia needs her own story.
Content Warning: Death, grief
February 9, 2022
This novel was a balm for a stressful work week. Verity is a squib, which is a shifter who can't shift. She is a werebear. She is in a club called the damp squibs and they do dangerous stunts to prove they are just as good as shifters who can shift. Magnus Berne is a werebear from Scotland who is trying to get over some personal baggage. He has been living in an island in Lake Minnetonka. For some reason mannequins have been floating on to his island. One day however he finds a real naked woman and his life changes from there. Verity turns out to be that woman doing a damp squib challenge. The attraction is mutual but neither is going to make the first move. A death happens to bring them together and then before they know it they are trying to unravel a mystery.
This novel had so many elements to it. I loved the paranormal aspect, as well as the romance, and mystery. My favorite part was that it was funny. The author has a way with words and there were many times I would get strange looks from my family because I was laughing out loud. I recommend this book to anyone looking for something to brighten their day.
Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca, for this arc.
This novel had so many elements to it. I loved the paranormal aspect, as well as the romance, and mystery. My favorite part was that it was funny. The author has a way with words and there were many times I would get strange looks from my family because I was laughing out loud. I recommend this book to anyone looking for something to brighten their day.
Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca, for this arc.
April 27, 2022
Magnus Berne is a bear shifter who has an issue with someone dumping dead bodies on his property. As Magnus investigates he finds that he has a stow away on his island, Verity. Determined to find answers and keep Verify out of harms way he needs answers. Verify is a very proud woman and doesn't need help. She feels she is quite capable on her own. The two realize they need to stick together so they can figure out must what is going on. This was a fun read filled with a ton of humor, romance, and shifters galore to make it that much more interesting.
April 23, 2022
I didn’t know this was part of a series when I requested it, but I wasn’t too worried as I’ve read this author before. I was right. It didn’t take long to be drawn into the book, and I didn’t feel I was missing too much not having read the previous ones. I am sure that I did miss some subtle things and not know some of the characters as well as I should have. This story was at times funny, serious, and thought-provoking proving that the author still has it. I am not overly fond of shifter books, but this was still a great book. I admit that Verity at times really annoyed me, but Marcus is very endearing. All in all, this is a paranormal romance/suspense book worth reading. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
April 11, 2022
I fell in love with MaryJanice Davidson’s books when I found her Undead series which follows the adventures of the Queen Vampire, Betsy Taylor. That series was always such a fun read, filled with lots of absurd situations and quirky characters. Davidson continues with the quirky characters, but makes some of the situations more realistic in Mad for a Mate and a bit heavier since the series has children who came up with bad home lives or were bounced around in foster care… although there’s still lots of crazy situations too!
One of the reasons I enjoy Davidson’s writing so much is the frantic pace that her characters end up talking from time to time. Four people will be talking, maybe not all about the same thing, and she doesn’t give you lots of definition as to who is saying what. For some people this can get confusing or they don’t like that style of writing, but I do, since this is in reality often how groups of people talk; everyone talking over each other, not really listening, but still wanting to be heard.
Davidson shines when it comes to character development, even if some of the characters are air-heads or vapid. And her secondary characters are always as complex as the main ones. Often one of them will become my favorite over the leads. Nadia is stealing my heart (and I’m hoping/thinking she’ll be the lead in the next book) since she reminds me of myself a bit, seems to not really like people, but is a soft, squishy mess under that hard exterior.
If you enjoy the quirky characters in Darynda Jones’s or Janet Evanovich’s books, you’ll want to check out Mary Janice Davidson. And while each book can be read alone, it’s best to start each series at the beginning so you can catch all the inside jokes and character crossovers from book to book and series to series.
One of the reasons I enjoy Davidson’s writing so much is the frantic pace that her characters end up talking from time to time. Four people will be talking, maybe not all about the same thing, and she doesn’t give you lots of definition as to who is saying what. For some people this can get confusing or they don’t like that style of writing, but I do, since this is in reality often how groups of people talk; everyone talking over each other, not really listening, but still wanting to be heard.
Davidson shines when it comes to character development, even if some of the characters are air-heads or vapid. And her secondary characters are always as complex as the main ones. Often one of them will become my favorite over the leads. Nadia is stealing my heart (and I’m hoping/thinking she’ll be the lead in the next book) since she reminds me of myself a bit, seems to not really like people, but is a soft, squishy mess under that hard exterior.
If you enjoy the quirky characters in Darynda Jones’s or Janet Evanovich’s books, you’ll want to check out Mary Janice Davidson. And while each book can be read alone, it’s best to start each series at the beginning so you can catch all the inside jokes and character crossovers from book to book and series to series.
December 10, 2024
4
I have already read this book twice-once for my pleasure, and then I re-read the series (three books so far) to review this one with everything fresh in my mind.
This should have been a solid 4.5/5 book for me, but Verity (the female protagonist) just annoyed me in the beginning with all her "just kidding" stuff. But I did eventually warm up to her.
If you have read the first two books, you will know just how this book will go.
Bear shifter Magnus Berne meets someone unusual (in this case, it's a Squib named Verity Lane).
The shifter has been depressed for a long time and thinks he will never find love.
The Squib? The same as the shifter-angsty about her future, had a difficult childhood (not as complicated as most of the others in this series, though) and sort of resents what she is.
These two will eventually come together (in more ways than one!) when they are forced to investigate the murder of one of Verity's friends from a squib club she belongs to. This book will also connect with the past two books and the mystery that was started with the first book.
I loved seeing all the characters from the first two books (although I did miss Pat), the mystery was fascinating and the romance was steamy, but not porn steamy!
*I received this book as an ARC but I have already preordered another copy.
I have already read this book twice-once for my pleasure, and then I re-read the series (three books so far) to review this one with everything fresh in my mind.
This should have been a solid 4.5/5 book for me, but Verity (the female protagonist) just annoyed me in the beginning with all her "just kidding" stuff. But I did eventually warm up to her.
If you have read the first two books, you will know just how this book will go.
Bear shifter Magnus Berne meets someone unusual (in this case, it's a Squib named Verity Lane).
The shifter has been depressed for a long time and thinks he will never find love.
The Squib? The same as the shifter-angsty about her future, had a difficult childhood (not as complicated as most of the others in this series, though) and sort of resents what she is.
These two will eventually come together (in more ways than one!) when they are forced to investigate the murder of one of Verity's friends from a squib club she belongs to. This book will also connect with the past two books and the mystery that was started with the first book.
I loved seeing all the characters from the first two books (although I did miss Pat), the mystery was fascinating and the romance was steamy, but not porn steamy!
*I received this book as an ARC but I have already preordered another copy.
March 26, 2022
Oh look! Another book in the BeWere My Heart series. Would I like to read it? Yes please. And so, begins my reading Mad for a Mate by MaryJanice Davidson.
Verity is a bear shifter who can't shift. To prove herself, she joins a local club of other shifters who can’t shift, the Damp Squibs. Club members do outrages, and dangerous, challenges to prove just because they can’t shift doesn’t mean they aren’t fierce and strong as other shifting shifters. Magnus, also a bear shifter, who can shift, lives out on an island. All he wants is to connect with his young goddaughter, and to find out who keeps dumping mannequins on his property. He gets up one morning to find, yet again, another mannequin. Or so he thinks until he turns it over to find a very alive, very naked, Verity. Surprise! Who then promptly swims away. Wait! He needs answers! And so does Verity especially after a second death occurs within the Damp Squibs. Was it an accident or something more? And who is next!
Just like the previous book, there isn’t a whole lot of romance to be had. Instead we get a rollicking funny story with great characters, great dialog, and a mystery to solve. Magnus is such a sweet (No pun intended) teddy bear! Verity is quirky and crazy. Not exactly a pair you would expect to see together, but they totally work. There’s plenty of secondary characters just as fun and quirky, who keep adding to all the chaos that surround Magnus and Verity. Let’s not also forget, there’s a mystery to solve. Who is killing the Squibs?! Not going to say I’m totally surprised when the big reveal happened. I just wasn’t expecting the exact who. The story is very face-paced and at times, I found myself a bit overwhelmed. It eventually came together for me.
You don’t have to read the previous titles in the BeWere My Heart series. Despite the repeating characters, each book does work well as stand-alones. Now that I got that PSA out of the way, I say do read the whole series. They’re fun and very entertaining. Looking forward to the next book!
Stars: 3.75
I received this book from Netgalley. I was not compensated for the book other than the entertainment it provided. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Verity is a bear shifter who can't shift. To prove herself, she joins a local club of other shifters who can’t shift, the Damp Squibs. Club members do outrages, and dangerous, challenges to prove just because they can’t shift doesn’t mean they aren’t fierce and strong as other shifting shifters. Magnus, also a bear shifter, who can shift, lives out on an island. All he wants is to connect with his young goddaughter, and to find out who keeps dumping mannequins on his property. He gets up one morning to find, yet again, another mannequin. Or so he thinks until he turns it over to find a very alive, very naked, Verity. Surprise! Who then promptly swims away. Wait! He needs answers! And so does Verity especially after a second death occurs within the Damp Squibs. Was it an accident or something more? And who is next!
Just like the previous book, there isn’t a whole lot of romance to be had. Instead we get a rollicking funny story with great characters, great dialog, and a mystery to solve. Magnus is such a sweet (No pun intended) teddy bear! Verity is quirky and crazy. Not exactly a pair you would expect to see together, but they totally work. There’s plenty of secondary characters just as fun and quirky, who keep adding to all the chaos that surround Magnus and Verity. Let’s not also forget, there’s a mystery to solve. Who is killing the Squibs?! Not going to say I’m totally surprised when the big reveal happened. I just wasn’t expecting the exact who. The story is very face-paced and at times, I found myself a bit overwhelmed. It eventually came together for me.
You don’t have to read the previous titles in the BeWere My Heart series. Despite the repeating characters, each book does work well as stand-alones. Now that I got that PSA out of the way, I say do read the whole series. They’re fun and very entertaining. Looking forward to the next book!
Stars: 3.75
I received this book from Netgalley. I was not compensated for the book other than the entertainment it provided. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
January 25, 2022
This book was...meh. I didn't feel the romance and wasn't connected to any of the characters; except the dead ones, because I wanted to know the killer. Before the fade-to-black sex scene, there's little intimacy between the couple asides one awkward almost-sex scene. Ever felt like a character just talked too much? This is it—just that everyone here talks a lot. I got so lost in the conversations so many times and had to start and stop a scene because of my confusion. An interesting book, but I was disappointed because books of this sub-genre are usually quite steamy. Not the case here, unfortunately. Also, about the mystery about the dolls that kept appearing in front year? Never solved. Haven't been this misled by a synopsis before.
May 8, 2022
This was a super fun read. The mystery was good, albeit sad. In hindsight, I probably should have read the first two books in the series.
Will most definitely be reading them.
All the characters are great. Magnus especially. Verity, I didn’t much care for. She grew on me but she not one of my favourites by any means.
Her courage to get justice for her friend was good to see. I would have liked her to not be so self absorbed.
This book had lots of humour. Some really funny and some not so. Overall a fun easy read. The secondary characters are fantastic and you can’t help but want to know them and their stories.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Will most definitely be reading them.
All the characters are great. Magnus especially. Verity, I didn’t much care for. She grew on me but she not one of my favourites by any means.
Her courage to get justice for her friend was good to see. I would have liked her to not be so self absorbed.
This book had lots of humour. Some really funny and some not so. Overall a fun easy read. The secondary characters are fantastic and you can’t help but want to know them and their stories.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
May 28, 2022
The third book in BeWere My Heart. Mad for a Mate is an entertaining, fun read. Magnus Berne and Verity Lane are unique and likeable characters, the story has humor, suspense, and romance, however I feel the romance in this story was a by-line and didn’t feel the deep connection between the characters. In saying that I did enjoy the overall story and will read more by this author.
June 23, 2022
Loved this clean paranormal light romance , love the charcters , sarcastic whitty shifters.
November 3, 2021
A fun continuation of the BeWere My Heart paranormal romance series. The romance isn't quite as organic as in the other books, but it works. We learn more about the Shifters and their society, and see that their families can be just as dysfunctional as Stable families.
Recommended for fans of paranormal romance and humorous romance.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Recommended for fans of paranormal romance and humorous romance.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 8, 2022
This is a very quirky shifter romance about two very opposite characters. Verity Lane is a squib - a shifter who can't shift. She is exploring her rebellious streak - and proving to herself and others who tough she really is by joining a club of other squibs. She ends up naked on Magnus's property after a very long swim in the lake. Magnus has been holding himself apart from others for a long time. He's in Minnesota to be closer to his goddaughter and is slowly meeting people he can't even bring himself to call friends. When he meets Verity he's attracted to her and also feels like he needs to help her and keep her safe (even from herself).
The term squib brings to mind Harry Potter which in turn brings up a quote that is very much in line with the overall theme of this story - "It is our choices that define us." For both Verity and Magnus - they both made choices to join groups that have questionable motives and actions. For Magnus, the repercussions were terrible and he should have chosen to leave the group long before he finally did. For Verity - her intentions are good - but then people in the group keeping turning up dead.
MaryJanice Davidson has a specific writing style that I want to love - but doesn't always work for me. Its funny and very non-standard. The thing is - Verity wasn't particularly likeable for me. She's tough and sassy and takes no shit. She also had a lot of kindness in her - but it didn't come out towards Magnus in a way that was accessible to me. She didn't want to be attracted to him or have him in her life - so she wasn't very nice to him. She admits that - but I always have a hard time liking that type of character. Davidson writes a lot of female characters like this - and sooooo....I did like Magnus - but for a bear he seemed very timid and even as I felt empathy for his situation - I also wanted him to have a bigger personality or something. I normally love beta heroes - but there was just something off for me about Magnus.
Overall - this was an entertaining book and definitely in Mary Janice Davidson's signature style! I would say the title has very little to do with the actual book.
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.
The term squib brings to mind Harry Potter which in turn brings up a quote that is very much in line with the overall theme of this story - "It is our choices that define us." For both Verity and Magnus - they both made choices to join groups that have questionable motives and actions. For Magnus, the repercussions were terrible and he should have chosen to leave the group long before he finally did. For Verity - her intentions are good - but then people in the group keeping turning up dead.
MaryJanice Davidson has a specific writing style that I want to love - but doesn't always work for me. Its funny and very non-standard. The thing is - Verity wasn't particularly likeable for me. She's tough and sassy and takes no shit. She also had a lot of kindness in her - but it didn't come out towards Magnus in a way that was accessible to me. She didn't want to be attracted to him or have him in her life - so she wasn't very nice to him. She admits that - but I always have a hard time liking that type of character. Davidson writes a lot of female characters like this - and sooooo....I did like Magnus - but for a bear he seemed very timid and even as I felt empathy for his situation - I also wanted him to have a bigger personality or something. I normally love beta heroes - but there was just something off for me about Magnus.
Overall - this was an entertaining book and definitely in Mary Janice Davidson's signature style! I would say the title has very little to do with the actual book.
I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.
May 3, 2022
So I’ve read the previous 2 books in the series... the first one twice but honestly I could barely remember anything that happened in those books... especially the 2nd one. So Magnus in any way being involved in the second book? No idea at all I do remember there being a child in that one but that’s it. But I suppose that doesn’t really matter much. I liked Magnus a lot... his awkward ways and wariness about things made sense with his background. Verity I found irritating and irrational a lot of the time. Her parents were obviously overprotective and maybe didn’t handle things the best but she overreacted to pretty much everything constantly. She blamed them for things that was clearly her own complex about being a shifter who couldn’t shift.
Usually when I do a review I would stop to like summarize it but this was essentially a bunch of nonsense and the way it’s described is not anything to do with wha5 it’s about. Yes Magnus is a bear shifter and yes Verity is a non-shifting shifter aka a squib. There are some murders and they are squibs but there were no dead bodies being dumped at Magnus’s house and there was no real threat to squibs or anyone through the book. Basically everything that happens is because Magnus involves himself in things. Had he not nobody would have even known there was a murder at all. So the story is kind of odd, not bad just odd. Some of the more interesting things going on though had nothing to do with the main characters, the characters from the previous books had more interesting things going on. The whole plot of the book though was kinda dumb, it’s like why was someone killing squibs? No real reason and there wasn’t even like some big conspiracy or plan.
I did like the book because it was funny and enjoyable however this series is the only one I’ve ever read from the author. That said I don’t know if it’s just this series or it’s just the way she writes but the female main characters in all 3 books could literally be the exact same person from the way they are written. They are all full of witty sarcastic banter constantly. It’s like the only differences between them are very slight. No a bad book but it was mostly just a series of evens in the lives of some shifters.
Usually when I do a review I would stop to like summarize it but this was essentially a bunch of nonsense and the way it’s described is not anything to do with wha5 it’s about. Yes Magnus is a bear shifter and yes Verity is a non-shifting shifter aka a squib. There are some murders and they are squibs but there were no dead bodies being dumped at Magnus’s house and there was no real threat to squibs or anyone through the book. Basically everything that happens is because Magnus involves himself in things. Had he not nobody would have even known there was a murder at all. So the story is kind of odd, not bad just odd. Some of the more interesting things going on though had nothing to do with the main characters, the characters from the previous books had more interesting things going on. The whole plot of the book though was kinda dumb, it’s like why was someone killing squibs? No real reason and there wasn’t even like some big conspiracy or plan.
I did like the book because it was funny and enjoyable however this series is the only one I’ve ever read from the author. That said I don’t know if it’s just this series or it’s just the way she writes but the female main characters in all 3 books could literally be the exact same person from the way they are written. They are all full of witty sarcastic banter constantly. It’s like the only differences between them are very slight. No a bad book but it was mostly just a series of evens in the lives of some shifters.
April 29, 2022
Mad for a Mate
by MaryJanice Davidson
I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
If Lorelei Gilmore dictated a shifter murder mystery I imagine it would be something like this. Quirky to the extreme it was almost difficult to follow at times likely because this is my first time reading this author and it’s also one of the later books in a series.
This book features a unique oddball madcap zany sarcastic sense of humor that I imagine could be too much for some people.
Our heroine is a shifter who cannot shift but does have heightened senses. They call this minority squibs. More or less exactly the same as non-magic people from magical families in Harry Potter are called squibs. I was not sure how I felt about this and looked up the work on merriam Webster while there is a definition for just squib that I suppose could be somewhat related - a broken fire cracker that fizzes. More interesting was that “damp squib” was listed as British
: something that is disappointing because it is not as exciting or effective as expected.
The heroine and her friends call them selves the damp squibs and perform extreme challenges/dares.
Our hero is an adorably awkward Scottish bear shifter. Some of his backstory felt a little convoluted but I imagine would have made more sense had I read the previous books. So I would recommend reading in order in this case.
Lowish steam. Door only slightly cracked open and only at the end. More plot and humorous dialogue driven.
Trigger warnings - specism? Foster care, child runaways, remembered child trafficking (but not in a sex way), extreme sport death.
Additionally the title feels a little misleading. Many shifter books bring us fated mates or mate bonds or mate frenzies etc. There are zero mates here. There is a side character wedding but they’re not referred to as mates either it’s just a wedding. So don’t go in expecting Mates of any kind really.
4/5
by MaryJanice Davidson
I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
If Lorelei Gilmore dictated a shifter murder mystery I imagine it would be something like this. Quirky to the extreme it was almost difficult to follow at times likely because this is my first time reading this author and it’s also one of the later books in a series.
This book features a unique oddball madcap zany sarcastic sense of humor that I imagine could be too much for some people.
Our heroine is a shifter who cannot shift but does have heightened senses. They call this minority squibs. More or less exactly the same as non-magic people from magical families in Harry Potter are called squibs. I was not sure how I felt about this and looked up the work on merriam Webster while there is a definition for just squib that I suppose could be somewhat related - a broken fire cracker that fizzes. More interesting was that “damp squib” was listed as British
: something that is disappointing because it is not as exciting or effective as expected.
The heroine and her friends call them selves the damp squibs and perform extreme challenges/dares.
Our hero is an adorably awkward Scottish bear shifter. Some of his backstory felt a little convoluted but I imagine would have made more sense had I read the previous books. So I would recommend reading in order in this case.
Lowish steam. Door only slightly cracked open and only at the end. More plot and humorous dialogue driven.
Trigger warnings - specism? Foster care, child runaways, remembered child trafficking (but not in a sex way), extreme sport death.
Additionally the title feels a little misleading. Many shifter books bring us fated mates or mate bonds or mate frenzies etc. There are zero mates here. There is a side character wedding but they’re not referred to as mates either it’s just a wedding. So don’t go in expecting Mates of any kind really.
4/5
Read
May 15, 2022Heat Factor: The slowest of horny slow burns, with hot fading to deep purple after 90%
Character Chemistry: I liked them for each other, but there was more focus on the banter and the danger than on the emotional development
Plot: A loner werebear with a checkered past finds a naked woman washed up on his island. Then she hops up and swims off, and he goes after her. Banter ensues.
Overall: I definitely laughed out loud.
If you’re looking for a serious romantic suspense book, or a romance that’ll release a kaleidoscope of butterflies in your stomach, this is not that book. In fact, if Verity and Magnus weren’t so horny for each other, it would be romance adjacent at best. But Verity is very interested in Magnus’s sexiness, even if not in his protectiveness, and Magnus just has this inexplicable need to just…check in. Make sure Verity hasn’t died yet. It’s nothing personal, really. So even though it’s a slow burn with a sex scene added at the very end (a thing some readers have feelings about), I would not categorize this book as smut adjacent.
Read our full review at The Smut Report
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.
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Character Chemistry: I liked them for each other, but there was more focus on the banter and the danger than on the emotional development
Plot: A loner werebear with a checkered past finds a naked woman washed up on his island. Then she hops up and swims off, and he goes after her. Banter ensues.
Overall: I definitely laughed out loud.
If you’re looking for a serious romantic suspense book, or a romance that’ll release a kaleidoscope of butterflies in your stomach, this is not that book. In fact, if Verity and Magnus weren’t so horny for each other, it would be romance adjacent at best. But Verity is very interested in Magnus’s sexiness, even if not in his protectiveness, and Magnus just has this inexplicable need to just…check in. Make sure Verity hasn’t died yet. It’s nothing personal, really. So even though it’s a slow burn with a sex scene added at the very end (a thing some readers have feelings about), I would not categorize this book as smut adjacent.
Read our full review at The Smut Report
I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. We disclose this in accordance with 16 CFR §255.
Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
March 27, 2022
MAD FOR A MATE was humorous urban fantasy. Magnus Berne is a bear shifter who is in Minnesota to look after his goddaughter who has recently lost her mother - Magnus's excuse for not having a real relationship. He's living on an island in Lake Minnetonka and is currently wondering who is dropping department store mannequins on his lawn.
Then, one day, instead of the daily mannequin, he finds Verity Lane. It seems she's ended up there after swimming six miles as part of a challenge from her club of squibs. Verity is out to prove, mostly to herself, that just because she can't shift into a bear form, she is still a powerful and worthy person.
However, when two of the members of the club die, it becomes apparent that someone is murdering squibs. It is up to Verity and Magnus to find out who the killer is.
Magnus and Verity are both prickly people and they are both busy denying that they even have a relationship even as they are both falling in love. The dialog is entertaining and witty.
There is a large cast of quirky characters in this story. Many of them were stars of earlier books in the series as noted in footnotes. I enjoyed learning some of their stories and seeing how they fitted into the plot of this story. I also liked the Twin Cities setting for this story and enjoyed seeing places I knew and had visited.
It did take me a while to get into the flow of this story. The author has a quirky style that reminds me of Shelly Laurenston's urban fantasy stories.
Then, one day, instead of the daily mannequin, he finds Verity Lane. It seems she's ended up there after swimming six miles as part of a challenge from her club of squibs. Verity is out to prove, mostly to herself, that just because she can't shift into a bear form, she is still a powerful and worthy person.
However, when two of the members of the club die, it becomes apparent that someone is murdering squibs. It is up to Verity and Magnus to find out who the killer is.
Magnus and Verity are both prickly people and they are both busy denying that they even have a relationship even as they are both falling in love. The dialog is entertaining and witty.
There is a large cast of quirky characters in this story. Many of them were stars of earlier books in the series as noted in footnotes. I enjoyed learning some of their stories and seeing how they fitted into the plot of this story. I also liked the Twin Cities setting for this story and enjoyed seeing places I knew and had visited.
It did take me a while to get into the flow of this story. The author has a quirky style that reminds me of Shelly Laurenston's urban fantasy stories.
April 26, 2022
I love this series. For so many reasons. Funny, heartwarming, unique writing style, footnotes, political commentary and great, great, great characters! The cast of characters has slowly grown, and many carry over from one book to the next.
Magnus Berne seems a bit shyer in this book than in Wolf After My Own Heart. Maybe because he is awkward around Verity Lane, the lovely shifter that ended up on the beach of his island, naked. Verity is a squib – a shifter that can’t shift to her animal form. As a member of the Damp Squibs, she and her friends try to prove to themselves that they are as capable as any shifter. But when Damp Squibs start dying, Magnus brings in a private investigator because – well, things don’t smell right. Not that Magnus can smell very well, f&^*ing allergies!
The investigation brings Verity and Magnus together even though they annoy each other. (You know what that means.) Also in the story is more of the young shifters Caro and Dev, including a tearjerking scene with Dev and Annette. Also, a wedding. Not saying who. There are a few candidates from this series.
One of my favorite quotes (it’s like the author read my mind): He gritted his teeth over the absurdity of turning nouns into verbs.
Read this story, but only if you want to laugh, cry, solve a mystery and generally have a bit of fun.
Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Magnus Berne seems a bit shyer in this book than in Wolf After My Own Heart. Maybe because he is awkward around Verity Lane, the lovely shifter that ended up on the beach of his island, naked. Verity is a squib – a shifter that can’t shift to her animal form. As a member of the Damp Squibs, she and her friends try to prove to themselves that they are as capable as any shifter. But when Damp Squibs start dying, Magnus brings in a private investigator because – well, things don’t smell right. Not that Magnus can smell very well, f&^*ing allergies!
The investigation brings Verity and Magnus together even though they annoy each other. (You know what that means.) Also in the story is more of the young shifters Caro and Dev, including a tearjerking scene with Dev and Annette. Also, a wedding. Not saying who. There are a few candidates from this series.
One of my favorite quotes (it’s like the author read my mind): He gritted his teeth over the absurdity of turning nouns into verbs.
Read this story, but only if you want to laugh, cry, solve a mystery and generally have a bit of fun.
Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 17, 2022
I love how well Davidson manages to mix fun and heartfelt moments with some of the darkest subplots possible in a manner that doesn't take away from the romance and the wonderful feels her characters engender. It's an artform that not many authors can manage, but she is the master.
I loved Magnus ever since he was the enigmatic bear that popped up in a previous volume and this book just confirms that he's a giant teddy bear of a man. Verity took some getting used to because she's a bit caustic as a defense mechanism for being a were who can't shift, but she's the perfect mate for Magnus, and seeing them clash and come together was a treat.
I particularly like this book because it's a continuation of the love stories set up in the previous two volumes with the wedding of Annette and David. We also get to check in on the kids from previous books and it's great feelings and growth all around. But this might also be why I don't think this could be a book that new readers can jump in without knowledge from the previous ones. It would still be enjoyable because it's a fun story despite the darker undertones, I just don't think it would be as great.
Overall, it's a fun and exciting adventure that has some hilarious hijinks to offset the darkness of the murders at its core.
Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the phenomenal read!
I loved Magnus ever since he was the enigmatic bear that popped up in a previous volume and this book just confirms that he's a giant teddy bear of a man. Verity took some getting used to because she's a bit caustic as a defense mechanism for being a were who can't shift, but she's the perfect mate for Magnus, and seeing them clash and come together was a treat.
I particularly like this book because it's a continuation of the love stories set up in the previous two volumes with the wedding of Annette and David. We also get to check in on the kids from previous books and it's great feelings and growth all around. But this might also be why I don't think this could be a book that new readers can jump in without knowledge from the previous ones. It would still be enjoyable because it's a fun story despite the darker undertones, I just don't think it would be as great.
Overall, it's a fun and exciting adventure that has some hilarious hijinks to offset the darkness of the murders at its core.
Very happy thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the phenomenal read!
May 28, 2022
This book is part of a series. It can be read alone but it does reference the earlier books.
Verity is a Damp Squib, a group of shifters who are just as strong and fast as shifters but cannot actually shift. When she does a dare (from the group Damp Squibs) and wakes up naked in Magnus' backyard, he goes to see what is out there. From there on, this bear shifter sets about following her and making sure she is safe from whoever is murdering squibs. This initializes some strong feelings between the two.
Opinion
The reason I read this book is that I am a fan of MaryJanice Davidson. Though I haven't read the earlier books in the series, I was confident that I would enjoy this one. Davidson has a way about her writing that makes me chuckle quite often. This is true with the words spouted out of Verity's mouth. Verity's pension for speaking before thinking gives a good laugh. The flow of the story was perfect, though the whole reason Magnus went looking in his yard in the first place was thrown to the side. I plan on looking in to the earlier books and will keep my eyes out for any more that may come in this series.
Many thanks to Net Galley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with an ARC of this book.
Verity is a Damp Squib, a group of shifters who are just as strong and fast as shifters but cannot actually shift. When she does a dare (from the group Damp Squibs) and wakes up naked in Magnus' backyard, he goes to see what is out there. From there on, this bear shifter sets about following her and making sure she is safe from whoever is murdering squibs. This initializes some strong feelings between the two.
Opinion
The reason I read this book is that I am a fan of MaryJanice Davidson. Though I haven't read the earlier books in the series, I was confident that I would enjoy this one. Davidson has a way about her writing that makes me chuckle quite often. This is true with the words spouted out of Verity's mouth. Verity's pension for speaking before thinking gives a good laugh. The flow of the story was perfect, though the whole reason Magnus went looking in his yard in the first place was thrown to the side. I plan on looking in to the earlier books and will keep my eyes out for any more that may come in this series.
Many thanks to Net Galley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for providing me with an ARC of this book.
February 14, 2022
Mad for a Mate is a fun, quick-paced romp that might be hard to follow if you haven't read the previous book and/or haven't slept much previously. As for me, I did (read the previous book) but didn't (sleep previously), so it was mostly a hit and only a little a miss.
If you followed all that ^^^, you should be fine.
The story follows Verity, a squib (shifter unable to shift), and werebear Mangus as they navigate a friendship and possibly more, while simultaneously trying to figure out the truth behind the deaths of other squibs. Interspersed in the plot are secondary plots that span the series, and--if you have read the previous novels--previous characters not only make an appearance but play a prominent role.
Dialog is snappy; the prose is too. At first, it can be off putting because it can seem like the characters are snarky with no added dimension. Give them a chance though; there's a lot of heart that filters through, and by the end of the novel, you just want to hang out at the big purple house.
I received an ARC from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks!
If you followed all that ^^^, you should be fine.
The story follows Verity, a squib (shifter unable to shift), and werebear Mangus as they navigate a friendship and possibly more, while simultaneously trying to figure out the truth behind the deaths of other squibs. Interspersed in the plot are secondary plots that span the series, and--if you have read the previous novels--previous characters not only make an appearance but play a prominent role.
Dialog is snappy; the prose is too. At first, it can be off putting because it can seem like the characters are snarky with no added dimension. Give them a chance though; there's a lot of heart that filters through, and by the end of the novel, you just want to hang out at the big purple house.
I received an ARC from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion. Thanks!
April 28, 2022
I have loved MJD ever since I picked up my first book of hers and have eagerly read as much of hers as I can since. This book started off slowly and really, it needed to since after the reader gets introduced to the primary characters, of which there are quite a few, it starts to pick up the pace and gets so much more interesting! This was in no way a normal shifter story which is what one expects when reading a book about shifters by this fabulous author. I won't give away any spoilers other than to say that I loved the idea of a new subspecies of shifters! The possibilities for interesting storylines in future books are huge! The only downside to me was that the romance between Verity and Magnus was way too slow to develop. The mystery was great but I wanted the romance to move as quickly as the mystery did. I had to drop a star in the rating because of that. It would have only been a half star but that isn't possible on the star system available. This was still a winner in my book and I can't wait for the next book in the series to come out!
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher through NetGalley.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy provided to me by the publisher through NetGalley.
May 5, 2022
This was such a quirky, clever, and funny ride. I had not read a MaryJanice Davidson book in years, but I remembered they were always funny, so I requested this one. I totally got what I was looking for, though I wish I knew all of the backstory from the other books in the series.
This book contains mannequins, mayhem, murder, and an adorable werebear hero, Magnus Berne. I LOVED him. He is sweet, caring, and stalwart. A complete cinnamon roll. Verity Lane is a shifter who cannot shift, and I think it was so interesting to consider what that would be like. This is definitely a slow-burn romance, but it works.
We spend a lot of time with secondary characters, two of whom are couples that likely got together in the first two books of the series. I really do recommend reading them first, as I think it would develop things nicely.
My only complaint is a lot of things happen off page. The way she describes or responds to them after the fact is funny, but I would have liked to see the action. All-in-all, it is a fun read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher.
This book contains mannequins, mayhem, murder, and an adorable werebear hero, Magnus Berne. I LOVED him. He is sweet, caring, and stalwart. A complete cinnamon roll. Verity Lane is a shifter who cannot shift, and I think it was so interesting to consider what that would be like. This is definitely a slow-burn romance, but it works.
We spend a lot of time with secondary characters, two of whom are couples that likely got together in the first two books of the series. I really do recommend reading them first, as I think it would develop things nicely.
My only complaint is a lot of things happen off page. The way she describes or responds to them after the fact is funny, but I would have liked to see the action. All-in-all, it is a fun read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher.
June 26, 2022
Mad for a Mate is book 3 in MaryJanice Davidson's BeWere My Heart series. It can be read as a standalone, but reading the first two books will give you a more rich and in depth experience.
Verity and Magnus's story is a very slow burn romance that really focuses more on the humor and mystery of the story. Both characters are very likeable and the rest of the cast are fun and well written. To me, the best add-on to this book is that there are endnotes for most of the chapters. They explain situations, give definitions, and refer to which book the note comes from. The notes are usually funny and are a great prompt to get you to read the other books in this series if you are reading it as a standalone.
The worldbuilding, as usual, is good and character development and story arcs are easy to read and enrich the main story instead of taking away from it. The pacing is fairly quick through most of the book after you get through chapter one. Also, if you are a fan of Shelley Laurenston, you will enjoy this book.
Thank you Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for sending me this book in exchange for my honest review.
Verity and Magnus's story is a very slow burn romance that really focuses more on the humor and mystery of the story. Both characters are very likeable and the rest of the cast are fun and well written. To me, the best add-on to this book is that there are endnotes for most of the chapters. They explain situations, give definitions, and refer to which book the note comes from. The notes are usually funny and are a great prompt to get you to read the other books in this series if you are reading it as a standalone.
The worldbuilding, as usual, is good and character development and story arcs are easy to read and enrich the main story instead of taking away from it. The pacing is fairly quick through most of the book after you get through chapter one. Also, if you are a fan of Shelley Laurenston, you will enjoy this book.
Thank you Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for sending me this book in exchange for my honest review.
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