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Midlife Supernaturals #1
Eastside Hedge Witch
Miriam Diaz has lived as a suburban mom on Seattle’s Eastside for the past seventeen years. She serves on the parent teacher association, bakes for her daughter’s cheer squad, and is an all-around champion stay-at-home mom. Pretty average and totally boring, and Miriam likes it that way. All the better to hide her sordid past.
When a hellhound shows up in her neighbor’s begonias, and Miriam banishes the stinky mutt back to where it came from, she let her evil ex know she’s still alive and kicking…and likely in possession of something she stole from him.
Miriam doesn’t only have trouble brewing from below. The banishment also alerts the supernatural cops. When a gorgeous alpha of the shifter pack starts sniffing around her hedges, Miriam fears the news might go all the way to the archangel that she isn’t a latent but a full-blown witch. Miriam isn’t a registered supernatural and for a good reason, she’s hiding something big from the authorities above and below.
All of the commotion threatens the veil hiding the separating the mundanes and the supes. Miriam might just have to come out of the supernatural closet to save the world. Again.
When a hellhound shows up in her neighbor’s begonias, and Miriam banishes the stinky mutt back to where it came from, she let her evil ex know she’s still alive and kicking…and likely in possession of something she stole from him.
Miriam doesn’t only have trouble brewing from below. The banishment also alerts the supernatural cops. When a gorgeous alpha of the shifter pack starts sniffing around her hedges, Miriam fears the news might go all the way to the archangel that she isn’t a latent but a full-blown witch. Miriam isn’t a registered supernatural and for a good reason, she’s hiding something big from the authorities above and below.
All of the commotion threatens the veil hiding the separating the mundanes and the supes. Miriam might just have to come out of the supernatural closet to save the world. Again.
370 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 31, 2021
325 people are currently reading
1032 people want to read
About the author
T.J. Deschamps
22 books196 followersAfter living all over the U.S., T.J. Deschamps made the Pacific Northwest her home. There she raises three precocious teens. T.J. likes to lift weights, read, draw, dance, and collect oddities. Loves building worlds with words. Might be a dragon. Definitely a bog witch.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
May 1, 2022
I liked the story. I also wrote it.
May 6, 2022
It wasn’t bad at all, just not for me.
It wasn’t a match for me, and I thought it would be. Because oh, that blurb was so promising. And oh, that start was so promising. But then, I don’t know what happened, but it just didn’t work. That tricky first person present tense definitely had something to do with it. It is difficult to pull off. Every time I had to put the book down for a bit, I felt this caused it to be hard to get into again each time I picked the book back up again. That, to me, signalled that it wasn’t done right, it wasn’t done fluently. I think it was because sometimes, when the situation didn’t even call for it, the author slipped back into past tense and that meant I never got used to it. Example: “In reality, it took a lot of magical energy…” why use past tense here, in a present tense book? And this kept happening, often with her explaining things. And it just wasn’t working.
And maybe the biggest problem I had was that I didn’t connect to the main character Miriam. And that lack of connection made me care less about what happened, it’s really a big thing for me in any book. She irritated me.
Why then did I continue, and why did I give three stars and not one? Because the story itself did make the book interesting enough to keep reading. The story is there. And it was multi-layered, which was good.
Then again, maybe I’m being too harsh. Because truth be told, I was in a reading slump and this just wasn’t the book to pull me out of that. Conclusion: not a bad book, just not my book at this moment in my life. Maybe if I’d’ve been in a different frame of mind, I’d have enjoyed it better, who knows? But now, it missed the mark for me, and based on the book description I had expected more fun.
It wasn’t a match for me, and I thought it would be. Because oh, that blurb was so promising. And oh, that start was so promising. But then, I don’t know what happened, but it just didn’t work. That tricky first person present tense definitely had something to do with it. It is difficult to pull off. Every time I had to put the book down for a bit, I felt this caused it to be hard to get into again each time I picked the book back up again. That, to me, signalled that it wasn’t done right, it wasn’t done fluently. I think it was because sometimes, when the situation didn’t even call for it, the author slipped back into past tense and that meant I never got used to it. Example: “In reality, it took a lot of magical energy…” why use past tense here, in a present tense book? And this kept happening, often with her explaining things. And it just wasn’t working.
And maybe the biggest problem I had was that I didn’t connect to the main character Miriam. And that lack of connection made me care less about what happened, it’s really a big thing for me in any book. She irritated me.
Why then did I continue, and why did I give three stars and not one? Because the story itself did make the book interesting enough to keep reading. The story is there. And it was multi-layered, which was good.
Then again, maybe I’m being too harsh. Because truth be told, I was in a reading slump and this just wasn’t the book to pull me out of that. Conclusion: not a bad book, just not my book at this moment in my life. Maybe if I’d’ve been in a different frame of mind, I’d have enjoyed it better, who knows? But now, it missed the mark for me, and based on the book description I had expected more fun.
October 25, 2021
I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Copy provided by BookBuzz.
Eastside Hedge Witch is the first book in the Midlife Supernaturals series. Miraim has lived on Seattle’s Eastside for the past seventeen years as a suburban mom. She is a stay-at-home mom. She's retty average and boring, and Miraim likes to keep it like that, so she can hide her past. When a hellhound shows up in her neighbor’s begonias, and Miriam banishes the stinky mutt back to where it came from, she may have let her evil ex know she’s still alive and in posession of something she may have stolen from him.
This was the first parannormal women's fiction book I've read, however, this book was just okay for me. It might be because I am not the biggest fan of this genre. However, it was such an intresting read for October and Halloween season. Overall, it was very interesting to learn about each character, and I cannot wait for the next book in the series and to see where it will take us.
Eastside Hedge Witch is the first book in the Midlife Supernaturals series. Miraim has lived on Seattle’s Eastside for the past seventeen years as a suburban mom. She is a stay-at-home mom. She's retty average and boring, and Miraim likes to keep it like that, so she can hide her past. When a hellhound shows up in her neighbor’s begonias, and Miriam banishes the stinky mutt back to where it came from, she may have let her evil ex know she’s still alive and in posession of something she may have stolen from him.
This was the first parannormal women's fiction book I've read, however, this book was just okay for me. It might be because I am not the biggest fan of this genre. However, it was such an intresting read for October and Halloween season. Overall, it was very interesting to learn about each character, and I cannot wait for the next book in the series and to see where it will take us.
September 8, 2022
I could not put this book down until it was finished. If you enjoy paranormal intrigue, you should read this book. Miriam is a hedge witch besides being a middle-aged widow and mom. She has a past that involved 'His Creepiness' from hell. Her life is suddenly turned upside down as her past, her secrets and everyone else's secrets start to unravel.
I loved the universe the author created for these characters, the complexity and the originality. The characters are engaging and fun. I will continue to read this series.
I loved the universe the author created for these characters, the complexity and the originality. The characters are engaging and fun. I will continue to read this series.
October 16, 2021
Eastside Hedge Witch: A Paranormal Women's Fiction (Midlife Supernaturals, Book One) by T.J. Deschamps
Publication Date: October 31, 2021
Independently Published
Genre: Sci Fi & Fantasy, Women's Fiction
Eastside Hedge Witch is the first book in the Midlife Supernaturals series by T.J. Deschamps. This book was so good that I could not put it down! Also, I refused to go to bed until I finished it because WOW!
I found the heroine of this book, Miriam, to be incredible! She is a fierce woman, who has overcome a lot and finds that it just keeps coming. Also, she is hiding from her ex, Satan, who will destroy the world if he finds out she is still alive.
I am a huge fan of paranormal cozy mysteries and I loved this one! Miriam is an actual adult with some life behind her and is very relatable! I found this story to be incredible! It's funny, fast-paced, filled with adventure and has amazing characters that I just wanted to hang out with!
I definitely recommend reading this book. I know I can't wait for the next book in the series to come out! I want to see what happens next!
I'm so grateful to T.J. Deschamps and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.
Publication Date: October 31, 2021
Independently Published
Genre: Sci Fi & Fantasy, Women's Fiction
Eastside Hedge Witch is the first book in the Midlife Supernaturals series by T.J. Deschamps. This book was so good that I could not put it down! Also, I refused to go to bed until I finished it because WOW!
I found the heroine of this book, Miriam, to be incredible! She is a fierce woman, who has overcome a lot and finds that it just keeps coming. Also, she is hiding from her ex, Satan, who will destroy the world if he finds out she is still alive.
I am a huge fan of paranormal cozy mysteries and I loved this one! Miriam is an actual adult with some life behind her and is very relatable! I found this story to be incredible! It's funny, fast-paced, filled with adventure and has amazing characters that I just wanted to hang out with!
I definitely recommend reading this book. I know I can't wait for the next book in the series to come out! I want to see what happens next!
I'm so grateful to T.J. Deschamps and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.
October 21, 2021
3.5
I enjoyed this, even if I wasn't totally wowed by it. I really liked Miriam, Jada, Roxy, Rhiannon, and Phry. I was OK on everyone else, including Gabriel. And since he's the most likely romantic pairing for most of the book, that left me a little cold. But the writing rolls along at a good clip, there's some humor, an interesting world, and the characters have moral codes I appreciate.
I did think Miriam was just a little too central, too powerful, too wanted by all the powerful men around her. And while I liked the ending, I did have to wonder if anyone (other than Lucifer) bothered to consider how it would effect the whole rest of the world.
All in all, I'll happily read the next book in the series, when it comes out. But I'm not gnashing my teeth that I can't have it now.
I enjoyed this, even if I wasn't totally wowed by it. I really liked Miriam, Jada, Roxy, Rhiannon, and Phry. I was OK on everyone else, including Gabriel. And since he's the most likely romantic pairing for most of the book, that left me a little cold. But the writing rolls along at a good clip, there's some humor, an interesting world, and the characters have moral codes I appreciate.
I did think Miriam was just a little too central, too powerful, too wanted by all the powerful men around her. And while I liked the ending, I did have to wonder if anyone (other than Lucifer) bothered to consider how it would effect the whole rest of the world.
All in all, I'll happily read the next book in the series, when it comes out. But I'm not gnashing my teeth that I can't have it now.
August 7, 2022
Wow what a book! Action packed and well written.
This is my first book by T.J. Deschamps and it won't be my last. I loved Miriam who is a middle aged woman that kicks butt. You see Miriam is a witch who faked her death so that she could get away from Lucifer, who was using her for her magic. But that is all I will say about the book because I am not one to give away the storyline.
I have always loved paranormal books and this one did not disappoint. It has magic and mayhem, filled with adventure and romance. Well written that it keeps your attention and makes you keep reading.
The characters are amazing and I can't wait to catch up with them again in the next book. I recommend if you like paranormal books with a lot of action...fast paced book.
This is my first book by T.J. Deschamps and it won't be my last. I loved Miriam who is a middle aged woman that kicks butt. You see Miriam is a witch who faked her death so that she could get away from Lucifer, who was using her for her magic. But that is all I will say about the book because I am not one to give away the storyline.
I have always loved paranormal books and this one did not disappoint. It has magic and mayhem, filled with adventure and romance. Well written that it keeps your attention and makes you keep reading.
The characters are amazing and I can't wait to catch up with them again in the next book. I recommend if you like paranormal books with a lot of action...fast paced book.
June 19, 2022
This was such a fun listen/read! I jumped back and forth due to my schedule but I had to know what happened! I love the world building, the characters, the detail, all of it! So much diversity as well! Miriam was definitely a strong character who really always did what was right. I loved her discovery of herself along the way and how most of the leads were all over 40 (or hundreds or thousands of years older lol). I can’t wait for the next book!
December 22, 2021
This was a fun paranormal romance/women’s fiction. I’m always into over forty MC’s. The best thing about this genre is that the middle aged heroine usually finds out about her magic at 40ish, or, as in this novel, the 40ish heroine needs to unlock her magic to fight some threat. It’s such a great metaphor for aging, especially for women.
This series has great world building, and I was hooked from the beginning. Can’t wait for the next installment.
This series has great world building, and I was hooked from the beginning. Can’t wait for the next installment.
July 9, 2023
Cute story - just wish there had been a little more depth to it.
November 15, 2021
Miriam Diaz is a suburban single mom on Seattle’s Eastside for 17 years. She does all the things a mom does plus more. She bakes for her daughter’s cheerleading squad and serves on the PTA. She does her best to be boring and tries to forget her past. One morning Miriam sees a hellhound in which automatically gets rid of. Unfortunately she is watched by her 17 year old daughter Jada sees her do it. By doing what she did, she has brought herself to the attention of the sype (supernatural) community. Mariam must now disclose her past. She tells Jada she is a witch. Gabriel, a supernatural archangel/shifter in charge of the PNW supernatural committee realizes that Mariam is a witch — a powerful one. Gabriel surprised me as he attempts to woo her while helping her find her “roots” and tries to get her to be the representative for witches in the PNW supernatural community.
What will Mariam do? In her past she was with someone who was mean and abused her and had plans for her that ended up with her stealing something and faking her death so she would be free of him. Killing the bee hound was one way that if her past “beau” looked at who did that would give him a clue as where she was besides being alive. Will he come after her?
In this novel, I found Mariam fascinating as she was doing her best to raise her daughter and be true to herself. She hated her past as she felt used by everyone she knew. This is not a bloody or gruesome story. It actually made me laugh at times. The characters are well described and were life like to me. Mariam dilemmas were difficult as sometimes she was not sure what the best thing to do was. This is a first book of a new series. I am looking forward to reading the next volume.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
What will Mariam do? In her past she was with someone who was mean and abused her and had plans for her that ended up with her stealing something and faking her death so she would be free of him. Killing the bee hound was one way that if her past “beau” looked at who did that would give him a clue as where she was besides being alive. Will he come after her?
In this novel, I found Mariam fascinating as she was doing her best to raise her daughter and be true to herself. She hated her past as she felt used by everyone she knew. This is not a bloody or gruesome story. It actually made me laugh at times. The characters are well described and were life like to me. Mariam dilemmas were difficult as sometimes she was not sure what the best thing to do was. This is a first book of a new series. I am looking forward to reading the next volume.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book from the author/publisher from Netgalley. I wasn’t obligated to write a favorable review. The opinions expressed are strictly my own.
December 21, 2023
For those us who grew up watching reruns of 60s sitcom, we know things the rest of the world does not. We know that a three-hour tour on the S.S. Minnow could land you on a deserted island for a lifetime. We know Marlo Thomas really is That Girl. We know there’s a house in Beverly Hills where hillbillies live the life of the rich and famous. We know that we all have a Favorite Martian and that astronauts can dream up genies in bottles.
And when we visit suburban homes we are just as likely to find Gomez and Morticia, as we are to find Herman and Lily. Though if you wanted to see a witch herald her magic with a twitch of her nose, you wanted Samantha Stephens.
T.J. Deschamp’s Eastside Hedge Witch is that stay at home hedge witch who can cast out hellhounds during her mornings jog. Miriam is both hints of Samantha and something quite new. She is the suburban witch of the next generation.
In a seemingly quiet little cul-de-sac where you expect to find nothing more than a suburban life, there’s a world of magic. This is the world T.J. has built for us to visit and explore. Brimming with secrets and magical creatures, some even of the heavenly variety, Miriam’s world had the illusion of mundane and still contained the gateway to the fantastical.
So when you’re done channel surfacing for a nostalgic look at the past, put down the remote and find Miriam in the pages of the Eastside Hedge Witch.
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8HGXNP7/
And when we visit suburban homes we are just as likely to find Gomez and Morticia, as we are to find Herman and Lily. Though if you wanted to see a witch herald her magic with a twitch of her nose, you wanted Samantha Stephens.
T.J. Deschamp’s Eastside Hedge Witch is that stay at home hedge witch who can cast out hellhounds during her mornings jog. Miriam is both hints of Samantha and something quite new. She is the suburban witch of the next generation.
In a seemingly quiet little cul-de-sac where you expect to find nothing more than a suburban life, there’s a world of magic. This is the world T.J. has built for us to visit and explore. Brimming with secrets and magical creatures, some even of the heavenly variety, Miriam’s world had the illusion of mundane and still contained the gateway to the fantastical.
So when you’re done channel surfacing for a nostalgic look at the past, put down the remote and find Miriam in the pages of the Eastside Hedge Witch.
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8HGXNP7/
June 9, 2024
Grossly misogynistic. Made it halfway somehow. Noped out at "He never said you were a MILF".
MC is a doormat. Every female character except her daughter and bestie are just jealous hag tropes, including love interest's daughter.
I was trying to keep going because I wanted to know why her asshole husband did what he did, but I just can't take it. The "you aren't like other girls". The women hating women. The love interest just taking over her life AFTER ONE DATE. Where he was a real jerk, actually.
This book is terrible.
MC is a doormat. Every female character except her daughter and bestie are just jealous hag tropes, including love interest's daughter.
I was trying to keep going because I wanted to know why her asshole husband did what he did, but I just can't take it. The "you aren't like other girls". The women hating women. The love interest just taking over her life AFTER ONE DATE. Where he was a real jerk, actually.
This book is terrible.
October 29, 2021
*Source* NetGalley
*Genre* Paranormal
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
Eastside Hedge Witch is the first installment in author T.J. Deschamps Midlife Supernaturals series. 42-year-old Miriam Diaz is a lone witch who has lived as a suburban mom on Seattle’s Eastside for the past seventeen years. She serves on the parent teacher association, bakes for her daughter’s cheer squad, and is an all-around champion stay-at-home mom. Pretty average and totally boring, and Miriam likes it that way. A witch likes to keep her secrets after all. But what happens when those secrets become dangerous to keep?
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
*Genre* Paranormal
*Rating* 3.5
*Thoughts*
Eastside Hedge Witch is the first installment in author T.J. Deschamps Midlife Supernaturals series. 42-year-old Miriam Diaz is a lone witch who has lived as a suburban mom on Seattle’s Eastside for the past seventeen years. She serves on the parent teacher association, bakes for her daughter’s cheer squad, and is an all-around champion stay-at-home mom. Pretty average and totally boring, and Miriam likes it that way. A witch likes to keep her secrets after all. But what happens when those secrets become dangerous to keep?
*Full Review @ Gizmos Reviews*
https://gizmosreviews.blogspot.com/20...
September 9, 2023
The story was okay, but the editing was atrocious.
The idea that all "supernaturals" were introduced to the world by aliens seems to come out of left field and was never mentioned again. I can usually overlook ridiculous plot devices, structure and grammar, because I admire anyone who has the courage to put a story out into the world, but the editing was so bad it completely pulled me out of the story.
The idea that all "supernaturals" were introduced to the world by aliens seems to come out of left field and was never mentioned again. I can usually overlook ridiculous plot devices, structure and grammar, because I admire anyone who has the courage to put a story out into the world, but the editing was so bad it completely pulled me out of the story.
July 10, 2023
So slow. And the main character is unbelievably clueless. I didn’t have the patience to wait and see if she came into her own.
July 16, 2023
I've missed the plethora of fun, humorous, urban fantasy novels that used to saturate the market in the aughts/2010s -- similar to Jim Butcher's The Dresden Files and Seanan McGuire's October Day series which are still thriving. Novels filled with a variety of supernatural characters that exist in our world (unknown to mundanes) who come together to solve a mysterious happening or are required to complete a quest of some kind. And Eastside Hedge Witch has a grand cast of characters from angels, demons, faerie, cryptids, witches, vampires, shifters, and dragons!
This novel leans a bit more into the paranormal romance side of UF, but, thankfully, isn't only that. The occasional paranormal (vampire/shifter/fae/mythological creature) & human (or inter-species) romance is fine, but this genre seems to be the majority of the market now as opposed to the mystery/thriller/quest Urban Fantasy genre I prefer. Additionally, this novel also fits into the cozy mystery genre, which I also enjoy of late, but usually those I read are firmly in the contemporary or historical fiction categories, not the paranormal. In fact, I believed this was promoted as more of a cozy mystery when I took advantage of the discount ebook offer presented in author Lisa Edmonds' newsletter. It's also enjoyable for a change that the main characters are in midlife -- or appear as much given that most are immortal or fae, but what's a few hundred years among partners, right? LOL!
Basically, this novel deals with the tensions among the various factions due to the fae, witches, angels and demons having fought over who would rule over the humans & losing factions throughout history and their various grievances & prejudices. Miriam attempts to live a quiet life as a hedge witch, PTSA Secretary, and recently widowed mother to her teenage demigoddess daughter, but her past seems to be catching up with her once she has a run-in with a hellhound during her early morning run. Her godly husband may have betrayed her before he passed and her scary ex is likely hunting her down. Not only that, but the ruling Archangel of the Pacific Northwest and alpha of the Greater Seattle shapeshifter pack is romantically pursuing her. So much for living under the radar! Now, what? Lots of mysteries to unravel and secrets to discover, that's what!
I'm very much looking forward to reading the rest of the novels in the trilogy that I've purchased: Eastside Witch Hunt (Book #2) and Eastside Morrigan (Book #3). I've also added the author's Midlife Olympians series to my TBR pile. I've even signed up for the author's newsletter, which resulted in receiving a novella that takes another Eastside Hedge Witch character's POV from a scene within this novel -- that should be a kick!
This novel leans a bit more into the paranormal romance side of UF, but, thankfully, isn't only that. The occasional paranormal (vampire/shifter/fae/mythological creature) & human (or inter-species) romance is fine, but this genre seems to be the majority of the market now as opposed to the mystery/thriller/quest Urban Fantasy genre I prefer. Additionally, this novel also fits into the cozy mystery genre, which I also enjoy of late, but usually those I read are firmly in the contemporary or historical fiction categories, not the paranormal. In fact, I believed this was promoted as more of a cozy mystery when I took advantage of the discount ebook offer presented in author Lisa Edmonds' newsletter. It's also enjoyable for a change that the main characters are in midlife -- or appear as much given that most are immortal or fae, but what's a few hundred years among partners, right? LOL!
Basically, this novel deals with the tensions among the various factions due to the fae, witches, angels and demons having fought over who would rule over the humans & losing factions throughout history and their various grievances & prejudices. Miriam attempts to live a quiet life as a hedge witch, PTSA Secretary, and recently widowed mother to her teenage demigoddess daughter, but her past seems to be catching up with her once she has a run-in with a hellhound during her early morning run. Her godly husband may have betrayed her before he passed and her scary ex is likely hunting her down. Not only that, but the ruling Archangel of the Pacific Northwest and alpha of the Greater Seattle shapeshifter pack is romantically pursuing her. So much for living under the radar! Now, what? Lots of mysteries to unravel and secrets to discover, that's what!
I'm very much looking forward to reading the rest of the novels in the trilogy that I've purchased: Eastside Witch Hunt (Book #2) and Eastside Morrigan (Book #3). I've also added the author's Midlife Olympians series to my TBR pile. I've even signed up for the author's newsletter, which resulted in receiving a novella that takes another Eastside Hedge Witch character's POV from a scene within this novel -- that should be a kick!
January 11, 2024
Miriam, a witch in suburban Seattle, introduces us to a myriad of supernatural beings living incognito in her neighborhood. There are shapeshifters, cryptids (like Bigfoot), fae, witches, sirens, and archangels, to name a few. And there are strict laws governing these beings and their interactions with humans. In fact, these laws and the rules pertaining to interactions between various types of supernaturals themselves made this a somewhat confusing and complicated read. Fae and angels hate each other, for instance, and the angels running things have lots of prohibitions regarding fae. There are also pocket worlds, conjured up by skilled witches, where they can tear a little hole in the fabric of reality and pop into it for some privacy. This is an expansion of the useful ability to stow useful items in little bubbles for easy retrieval without having to lug everything around in a knapsack or similar. One thing I noticed happening rather often in the book was the following: something is declared to be completely impossible or totally against some very serious restrictions, and then that thing is done, without terrible (or any) consequences. This was annoying because I was trying to keep the rules straight as I read, only to realize that they don't have to be followed anyway. The characters have pleasant lives and relate to each other nicely, which is always a pleasure to read about. But there are demons and hellhounds arriving to wreak havoc from time to time, so it's not really that enviable an existence. Since I ultimately wouldn't want to live in Miriam's neighborhood and wouldn't be befriended by her gang, having no magical pedigree, I have to say my enjoyment of this imaginative but overelaborate book was limited.
October 30, 2021
I was honored to receive an ARC of T.J. Deschamps upcoming novel, Eastside Hedge Witch.
Eastside Hedge Witch is the first in a new series that follows Miriam, a witch living a secret life in the great PNW. Undercover as a normal human, she spends her days gardening, baking, and caring for her 17 year old daughter, Jada. Until one day, during her routine morning run, she meets a vicious hellhound. Sure that it was sent by her abusive ex, who she affectionately nicknamed His Creepiness, she banishes it. Her daughter sees the whole thing, which sets into motion Miriam being revealed to the rest of the supe (supernatural) community.
Despite her best efforts to conceal her identity—which is funny because even Miriam herself doesn’t know her full identity—Gabriel, the supernaturally attractive (and single) archangel/shifter in charge of the PNW supernatural committee, realizes she’s a witch, and a powerful one at that. Cue shenanigans as Gabriel attempts to woo her while also helping her figure out her roots, come into her full power, and recruit her for his supe committee as the representative for witches. The journey Miriam goes through as she wrestles with her dark past is hopeful, comical, and heartbreaking. I found myself chuckling more than a few times at her sassy commentary. By the end of the story, no one is who you thought they were at the beginning, and honestly, that’s pretty freaking awesome.
If you enjoy urban fantasy full of strong women, supernatural beings, and of course a healthy dose of snark, this book is for you.
Eastside Hedge Witch is the first in a new series that follows Miriam, a witch living a secret life in the great PNW. Undercover as a normal human, she spends her days gardening, baking, and caring for her 17 year old daughter, Jada. Until one day, during her routine morning run, she meets a vicious hellhound. Sure that it was sent by her abusive ex, who she affectionately nicknamed His Creepiness, she banishes it. Her daughter sees the whole thing, which sets into motion Miriam being revealed to the rest of the supe (supernatural) community.
Despite her best efforts to conceal her identity—which is funny because even Miriam herself doesn’t know her full identity—Gabriel, the supernaturally attractive (and single) archangel/shifter in charge of the PNW supernatural committee, realizes she’s a witch, and a powerful one at that. Cue shenanigans as Gabriel attempts to woo her while also helping her figure out her roots, come into her full power, and recruit her for his supe committee as the representative for witches. The journey Miriam goes through as she wrestles with her dark past is hopeful, comical, and heartbreaking. I found myself chuckling more than a few times at her sassy commentary. By the end of the story, no one is who you thought they were at the beginning, and honestly, that’s pretty freaking awesome.
If you enjoy urban fantasy full of strong women, supernatural beings, and of course a healthy dose of snark, this book is for you.
July 24, 2023
I read this entire three book series in a weekend. I really, really enjoyed it. It has a great storyline, world and characters. And the author was smart enough to leave the end so there is room to continue this series, if they so choose. If they write more about this particular set of characters, I would read more.
With all of that, the series felt like it was a first draft, with no editing. There were inconsistencies throughout the series. Characters that changed or disappeared. The ways certain magic worked changed in the last book. Please, please, for the sake of my sanity, use a different phrase than "reared their head." It doesn't work in about 95% of the places you used it. Sometimes a word was used improperly. Put there to be "fancy." Please understand how a word works within the structure of the sentence you are using it for. An adverb/adjective is not a noun. The flow of the story was broken up by pieces of information being left out or introduced with no context...not ever through three books. I really am trying to come up with the proper way to explain what this is missing. The potential to be GREAT is there. It just needs some finesse.
Keep writing. Find a writing group that can help you and you can help them. It's worked for many an award winning author. Now excuse me, I'm going to read the Midlife Olympians series.
With all of that, the series felt like it was a first draft, with no editing. There were inconsistencies throughout the series. Characters that changed or disappeared. The ways certain magic worked changed in the last book. Please, please, for the sake of my sanity, use a different phrase than "reared their head." It doesn't work in about 95% of the places you used it. Sometimes a word was used improperly. Put there to be "fancy." Please understand how a word works within the structure of the sentence you are using it for. An adverb/adjective is not a noun. The flow of the story was broken up by pieces of information being left out or introduced with no context...not ever through three books. I really am trying to come up with the proper way to explain what this is missing. The potential to be GREAT is there. It just needs some finesse.
Keep writing. Find a writing group that can help you and you can help them. It's worked for many an award winning author. Now excuse me, I'm going to read the Midlife Olympians series.
November 15, 2021
Good
Miriam has always believed she was a witch, with a past that wasn’t really pretty, and that causes her to live in hiding.
When she has to use her witch magic to get rid of a hellhound, she exposes herself to the supernatural community.
Now her life is far more complicated, her history has a lot more to it than she remembered, and the people she once trusted all seem to have been keeping secrets…
This is the first installment in what promises to be an interesting and exciting urban fantasy series, which means that although this is a complete story in and of itself, it does have an open ending with some unanswered questions.
Miriam is in her forties, and a widow. Sort of. Given that her ex was more god than human.
Her past is extremely complicated (and explained as you go through the story), her present even more so.
There are two beautiful men vying for her attention (though you don’t meet one until much later), and a powerful former lover who might yet prove to be a lot of trouble.
It was an engaging story, with interesting characters and a storyline that definitely kept the attention.
I will certainly keep my eye open for the next book in the series!
Recommended for fans of paranormal women’s fiction, and urban fantasy.
Miriam has always believed she was a witch, with a past that wasn’t really pretty, and that causes her to live in hiding.
When she has to use her witch magic to get rid of a hellhound, she exposes herself to the supernatural community.
Now her life is far more complicated, her history has a lot more to it than she remembered, and the people she once trusted all seem to have been keeping secrets…
This is the first installment in what promises to be an interesting and exciting urban fantasy series, which means that although this is a complete story in and of itself, it does have an open ending with some unanswered questions.
Miriam is in her forties, and a widow. Sort of. Given that her ex was more god than human.
Her past is extremely complicated (and explained as you go through the story), her present even more so.
There are two beautiful men vying for her attention (though you don’t meet one until much later), and a powerful former lover who might yet prove to be a lot of trouble.
It was an engaging story, with interesting characters and a storyline that definitely kept the attention.
I will certainly keep my eye open for the next book in the series!
Recommended for fans of paranormal women’s fiction, and urban fantasy.
November 30, 2022
What I liked:
Excellent characters, minimal melodrama, plenty of action, and enough wit and humor to keep things from getting grim. BFF and family interactions, and a self assured and competent female lead - once she stops hiding, at least. Hints of maybe a Happy Threesome in future novels!
What I am on the fence about:
Love Corner -sigh- But see above, there is hope for a legitimate love triangle in the future, so fingers crossed! Plus the lovely lass stuck in the corner is just as annoyed by the pushy males as I was, and she set some boundaries that so far the smitten men are following.
I also felt the main character transitioned from fearful unsure slightly broken woman in hiding to Bad Ass Super Witch a bit quickly without much in-between. Ditto for the first of the Pushy Men - he fell fast and he fell hard and I don't fully accept the whole "But he has had a crush on her for YEARS" excuse that is used to explain it. He's a cool character and I definitely like him, but going from passing acquaintance to Snog Fest and Deeply Involved In Her Life after one little hell hound banishment followed by a Vampire Attack seems a bit forced, even if she did save his life.
Over all I still really enjoyed the book and am looking forward to the next one in the series!
Excellent characters, minimal melodrama, plenty of action, and enough wit and humor to keep things from getting grim. BFF and family interactions, and a self assured and competent female lead - once she stops hiding, at least. Hints of maybe a Happy Threesome in future novels!
What I am on the fence about:
Love Corner -sigh- But see above, there is hope for a legitimate love triangle in the future, so fingers crossed! Plus the lovely lass stuck in the corner is just as annoyed by the pushy males as I was, and she set some boundaries that so far the smitten men are following.
I also felt the main character transitioned from fearful unsure slightly broken woman in hiding to Bad Ass Super Witch a bit quickly without much in-between. Ditto for the first of the Pushy Men - he fell fast and he fell hard and I don't fully accept the whole "But he has had a crush on her for YEARS" excuse that is used to explain it. He's a cool character and I definitely like him, but going from passing acquaintance to Snog Fest and Deeply Involved In Her Life after one little hell hound banishment followed by a Vampire Attack seems a bit forced, even if she did save his life.
Over all I still really enjoyed the book and am looking forward to the next one in the series!
May 8, 2023
So I listened to this one on Audible and I don't really recommend it. The narration was just TOO monotone. Or maybe it was the way the dialogue was written but it came across as really wooden. It probably didn't help that it was a very slow moving story. Or it seemed that way. The heroine, Miriam and her teenage daughter live in the suburbs. Miriam is a witch but left her coven and basically doesn't practice magic at all. To the hidden magic community she is known as a "latent" that doesn't realize she has any powers. This works out well until her supernatural husband and Archangel dies and leaves her a widow. Soon afterward it looks like her former boyfriend (the actual devil in hell) comes sniffing around. She faked her death and escaped the relationship but is fearful that he could someday find her and that day may be soon. When some hellish creatures appear she is outed as a pretty powerful witch and this draws her back into the supernatural world. Her dead husband's good friend and local supernatural leader brings her out of the shadows. This causes all kinds of problems and tribulations. This is the beginning of the series so there isn't really a final resolution to most of the events that takes place. Unfortunately I probably won't go on to the next book.
July 17, 2023
***3.5***
I thought this was a fun start to the series. Though it had to do a lot of heavy lifting on setup and worldbuilding, it managed to do it without feeling clunky or info-dumping.
I'm not a fan of Miriam's choice in men, though. Her husband (who passed from cancer) was a lying liar who had so much stuff going on behind her back that he didn't tell her about that I just can't like him. At all. I'm not sure I like Gabriel either - he's a bit high-handed, and though he says he wants to shake off the angel hierarchy and run the territory via committee, I don't believe him. He makes unilateral decisions as it suits him. And he hasn't yet realized that the angels are the villains. He's been a bad guy his whole life, until now. Frankly, when we find out he was their "Sword" and the fae call him a baby killer because in their war he slaughtered children ... I'm sorry, but that's a dealbreaker for me. I don't care if he HAS learned better, nothing makes up for that. And, again, the fact that he hasn't realized the angels are the goddamned villains, ordering genocides like that, is a problem.
Also, her friend Shawn who seized her assets without telling her via power of attorney and now sits here judging her sanity when this piece of shit is a fallen angel and knows everything she has talked about is true is a literal bag of human garbage.
I thought this was a fun start to the series. Though it had to do a lot of heavy lifting on setup and worldbuilding, it managed to do it without feeling clunky or info-dumping.
I'm not a fan of Miriam's choice in men, though. Her husband (who passed from cancer) was a lying liar who had so much stuff going on behind her back that he didn't tell her about that I just can't like him. At all. I'm not sure I like Gabriel either - he's a bit high-handed, and though he says he wants to shake off the angel hierarchy and run the territory via committee, I don't believe him. He makes unilateral decisions as it suits him. And he hasn't yet realized that the angels are the villains. He's been a bad guy his whole life, until now. Frankly, when we find out he was their "Sword" and the fae call him a baby killer because in their war he slaughtered children ... I'm sorry, but that's a dealbreaker for me. I don't care if he HAS learned better, nothing makes up for that. And, again, the fact that he hasn't realized the angels are the goddamned villains, ordering genocides like that, is a problem.
Also, her friend Shawn who seized her assets without telling her via power of attorney and now sits here judging her sanity when this piece of shit is a fallen angel and knows everything she has talked about is true is a literal bag of human garbage.
July 21, 2023
Such a fascinating, enjoyable reading experience!
I have just been transported to the Pacific Northwest...and discovered incredible magical worlds hidden behind a facade of mundane normalcy! T.J. Deschamps' unique treatment of multiple belief systems combines with flawless research and knowledge to create the most detailed and intriguing world-building. Then, there are the diverse and fully realized characters to savor, beginning with the lead, PTSA member/cheer mom/midlife supernatural Miriam. The secondary players are not overlooked, either, and they make valued contributions to the storyline. Sufficient action and peril are available to ratchet up the intrigue along with unresolved sexual tension that has truly combustible potential! The only negative comes from insufficient editing and proofing; it's a testament to the excellence of the storytelling that such obvious and numerous fails still leave this work deserving of a five-star rating. I am so eager to return to this world!
I have just been transported to the Pacific Northwest...and discovered incredible magical worlds hidden behind a facade of mundane normalcy! T.J. Deschamps' unique treatment of multiple belief systems combines with flawless research and knowledge to create the most detailed and intriguing world-building. Then, there are the diverse and fully realized characters to savor, beginning with the lead, PTSA member/cheer mom/midlife supernatural Miriam. The secondary players are not overlooked, either, and they make valued contributions to the storyline. Sufficient action and peril are available to ratchet up the intrigue along with unresolved sexual tension that has truly combustible potential! The only negative comes from insufficient editing and proofing; it's a testament to the excellence of the storytelling that such obvious and numerous fails still leave this work deserving of a five-star rating. I am so eager to return to this world!
October 24, 2021
This book doesn’t hold back, the action starts straight away! Miriam has lead a mundane life for the past 20 years, but she is anything but! She is hiding from her past and trying to keep her daughter safe. Her past catches up with her and other secrets are revealed which mean she needs to look into her past and acknowledge who she really is. Gabriel is the gorgeous Alpha male who has been on the outskirts of her life for a long time. Events mean that they need to come clean to each other what they’re capable of. In trying to prepare for the fight with her past Miriam finds another life she had forgotten. Enter Phyr a fae she knew in the life she was forced to forget. She now has too hot, alpha males vying for her attention. Hot! There is a lot going on in this story and you need to concentrate to keep it all in order, but it’s so interesting that you want to know if all! I think this will turn in to a great series and my one complaint is I need to wait so long for the next book.
September 30, 2023
When a hellhound is sniffing around Miriam's neighborhood, she knows the gig is up. Lucifer is looking for her and she and her supe daughter need to gtfo of Dodge. Problem is she's exposed herself as not as a latent, but as a witch with her immature decisions. But what if there's a hex on your light?
Here's what I didn't like: Present tense was extremely clunky in this tell only story. This book was all over the place, like it couldn't figure out what it was supposed to be. I didn't buy Miriam as she was being sold, and I didn't like her, I didn't like the community, and to be honest, I think this book put me into a bad book slump. The editing and formatting was sloppy. Lots of typos, half of words being italicized, and scene breaks in the middle of conversations.
Here's what I liked: the premise, banishing a hell hound was cool.
Overall, I did not like this and won't be moving on to the next book.
Here's what I didn't like: Present tense was extremely clunky in this tell only story. This book was all over the place, like it couldn't figure out what it was supposed to be. I didn't buy Miriam as she was being sold, and I didn't like her, I didn't like the community, and to be honest, I think this book put me into a bad book slump. The editing and formatting was sloppy. Lots of typos, half of words being italicized, and scene breaks in the middle of conversations.
Here's what I liked: the premise, banishing a hell hound was cool.
Overall, I did not like this and won't be moving on to the next book.
September 20, 2023
This was a chaotic campy good time that felt like a sitcom but the characters are all magical or mythical creatures and then plunked into mostly the human world with all these wide multi dimensions. It was mostly superficial and doesn’t have super deep prose or descriptions but it’s a magically good time and kept the plot going and was mostly entertaining.
Miriam, while being the central and most important character, felt a little flat which made it harder to connect to everyone falling all over her. I wanted much more on her childhood and past and experiences with Lucifer but I think it also would have changed the direction of the book as well. Oh well. The cast of characters is fun although a little hard to believe every single person has a magical background and so many people didn’t know. It was still a light quick read.
Miriam, while being the central and most important character, felt a little flat which made it harder to connect to everyone falling all over her. I wanted much more on her childhood and past and experiences with Lucifer but I think it also would have changed the direction of the book as well. Oh well. The cast of characters is fun although a little hard to believe every single person has a magical background and so many people didn’t know. It was still a light quick read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 25, 2024
If you're looking for a supernatural book that has all the creatures. The MC is a widow witch whose deceased hubby (technically he ascended) was a demi-god. Her daughter's best friend is a shape shifter and her father is a hybrid archangel/shapeshifter. There are vampires, Cryptids--Big Foot, Fae, and a Siren as well. I'm probably forgetting something/someone. This was a fun read with an inventive plot and I plan to continue the series. The narrator was excellent.
I had only 2 minor quibbles, which probably wouldn't matter to anyone but me.
1) The vampires were stupid and operated more like zombies. I know that many other authors have zombie-like vampires, but I personally prefer to keep my zombie and vampire subgroups separate.
2) Miriam, the MC, was such a feminist she ended rounding the bend and defending the trad wife life to own the Alpha Male. Too funny.
I had only 2 minor quibbles, which probably wouldn't matter to anyone but me.
1) The vampires were stupid and operated more like zombies. I know that many other authors have zombie-like vampires, but I personally prefer to keep my zombie and vampire subgroups separate.
2) Miriam, the MC, was such a feminist she ended rounding the bend and defending the trad wife life to own the Alpha Male. Too funny.
October 30, 2021
Eastside Hedge Witch . . .
Miriam Diaz is a witch who stole something from hell that would kill 8 billion people. She ran, faked her death, and has been in hiding as a boring suburban mom for 17 years now. But a hellhound came snooping around and she was forced to banish it back to the source. This had the dual effect of letting her evil ex know she’s still alive and alerting the supernatural cops since she never registered as a supernatural. Can she keep out of the reach of hell’s minions? Is she going to have to come out of hiding and save the world again?
I enjoyed the dialog in this story and the interactions of the characters. Will Gabriel win her heart? Or does he just need a representative for the witches on his committee? Grab your copy and join the fun!
Miriam Diaz is a witch who stole something from hell that would kill 8 billion people. She ran, faked her death, and has been in hiding as a boring suburban mom for 17 years now. But a hellhound came snooping around and she was forced to banish it back to the source. This had the dual effect of letting her evil ex know she’s still alive and alerting the supernatural cops since she never registered as a supernatural. Can she keep out of the reach of hell’s minions? Is she going to have to come out of hiding and save the world again?
I enjoyed the dialog in this story and the interactions of the characters. Will Gabriel win her heart? Or does he just need a representative for the witches on his committee? Grab your copy and join the fun!
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