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Witching After Forty #2.7, 3, 4, 4.3, 5)
Witching After Forty, Volume Two
Volume Two of the bestselling After Forty series is packed with five more adventures starting Ava and Friends.
Witching After Forty follows the misadventures of Ava Harper – a forty-something necromancer with a light witchy side that you wouldn’t expect from someone who can raise the dead. Join Ava as she learns how to start over after losing the love of her life, in this new paranormal women’s fiction series with a touch of cozy mystery, magic, and a whole lot of mayhem.
This Volume includes:
Birthday Blunder (Novella)
A Haunting Midlife
An Animated Midlife
Faery Odd-Mother (Novella)
A Killer Midlife
Witching After Forty follows the misadventures of Ava Harper – a forty-something necromancer with a light witchy side that you wouldn’t expect from someone who can raise the dead. Join Ava as she learns how to start over after losing the love of her life, in this new paranormal women’s fiction series with a touch of cozy mystery, magic, and a whole lot of mayhem.
This Volume includes:
Birthday Blunder (Novella)
A Haunting Midlife
An Animated Midlife
Faery Odd-Mother (Novella)
A Killer Midlife
487 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 7, 2021
99 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Lia Davis
290 books1,566 followersIn 2008, Lia Davis ventured into the world of writing and publishing and never looked back. She has published more than twenty books, including the bestselling A Tiger’s Claim, book one in her fan favorite Ashwood Falls series. Her novels feature compassionate yet strong alpha heroes who know how to please their women and her leading ladies are each strong in their own way. No matter what obstacle she throws at them, they come out better in the end.
While writing was initially a way escape from real world drama, Lia now makes her living creating worlds filled with magic, mystery, romance, and adventure so that others can leave real life behind for a few hours at a time.
Lia’s favorite things are spending time with family, traveling, reading, writing, chocolate, coffee, nature and hanging out with her kitties. She and her family live in Northeast Florida battling hurricanes and very humid summers, but it’s her home and she loves it! Sign up for her newsletter, become a member of her fan club, and follow her on Twitter @NovelsByLia.
While writing was initially a way escape from real world drama, Lia now makes her living creating worlds filled with magic, mystery, romance, and adventure so that others can leave real life behind for a few hours at a time.
Lia’s favorite things are spending time with family, traveling, reading, writing, chocolate, coffee, nature and hanging out with her kitties. She and her family live in Northeast Florida battling hurricanes and very humid summers, but it’s her home and she loves it! Sign up for her newsletter, become a member of her fan club, and follow her on Twitter @NovelsByLia.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
August 24, 2022
A laugh out loud fun, magically thrilling, action packed set of heart racing adventures that are just jam packed with witty and engaging charters, heart racing twists and unforgettable turns. These are the rest of the Witching After Forty adventures and I loved every one of them.
July 6, 2022
Birthday Blunder
A silly, fun little story that reminds us of just how crazy life is around Ava. I liked that we got to see Olivia as the main character for a change, but I would have killed for just a tiny bit more about her and not quite so much about Ava’s cantankerous old house.
(Please note, if this story feels familiar, it was previously published as Feeding Them Won't Make Them Grow in the Eat Your Heart Out charity anthology.)
A Haunting Midlife
This is probably my favorite book in the series. It’s just about all about the mysteries that surround Ava and her powers. However, there’s a lot of things going on in this story and it was maybe one or two more than really needed to be between a single set of covers. Just when we accomplished what I thought this story had set out to do, there was still almost a third of the book to go. The rest of that tale is completely fascinating, and the only real regret I have for following it to it’s conclusion is that we’re left with a fairly steep cliff-hanger ending.
An Animated Midlife
Wow! There are a lot of secrets revealed in this little gem. And just like nearly every other book in the series so far, for every answer we uncover, a half dozen new questions spring up to take over. I loved seeing Ava grow in her understanding of her powers and her allies, though the surprise at the end of this book means that a couple of allies have some ‘splainin’ to do. I can’t wait to see what comes next.
Faery Odd-Mother
Squee! We get to know more about Olivia’s story. This book answers so many questions that I didn’t even realize I had. It’s got the funny, irreverent sense of humor that I’ve come to expect from this series, and I giggled my way through the story. And now that we’ve gotten some more answers – and discovered a new complication or two – I can’t wait to find out what’s next.
A Killer Midlife
So much new information! My brain feels a bit overloaded now. I love every chance we get to come back and check in on Ava and her crew and all their shenanigans. This book did not disappoint. And the little twist at the end has made me more excited than ever to get my hands on the subsequent book to find out what’s going to happen next.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Booksprout.
A silly, fun little story that reminds us of just how crazy life is around Ava. I liked that we got to see Olivia as the main character for a change, but I would have killed for just a tiny bit more about her and not quite so much about Ava’s cantankerous old house.
(Please note, if this story feels familiar, it was previously published as Feeding Them Won't Make Them Grow in the Eat Your Heart Out charity anthology.)
A Haunting Midlife
This is probably my favorite book in the series. It’s just about all about the mysteries that surround Ava and her powers. However, there’s a lot of things going on in this story and it was maybe one or two more than really needed to be between a single set of covers. Just when we accomplished what I thought this story had set out to do, there was still almost a third of the book to go. The rest of that tale is completely fascinating, and the only real regret I have for following it to it’s conclusion is that we’re left with a fairly steep cliff-hanger ending.
An Animated Midlife
Wow! There are a lot of secrets revealed in this little gem. And just like nearly every other book in the series so far, for every answer we uncover, a half dozen new questions spring up to take over. I loved seeing Ava grow in her understanding of her powers and her allies, though the surprise at the end of this book means that a couple of allies have some ‘splainin’ to do. I can’t wait to see what comes next.
Faery Odd-Mother
Squee! We get to know more about Olivia’s story. This book answers so many questions that I didn’t even realize I had. It’s got the funny, irreverent sense of humor that I’ve come to expect from this series, and I giggled my way through the story. And now that we’ve gotten some more answers – and discovered a new complication or two – I can’t wait to find out what’s next.
A Killer Midlife
So much new information! My brain feels a bit overloaded now. I love every chance we get to come back and check in on Ava and her crew and all their shenanigans. This book did not disappoint. And the little twist at the end has made me more excited than ever to get my hands on the subsequent book to find out what’s going to happen next.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through Booksprout.
July 7, 2022
Witching After Forty - Vol 2 . . .
Volume Two of the bestselling After Forty series includes five adventures for Ava and her friends. Ava Harper is a 40-ish necromancer with a witchy side who is ready to start something new in her life. The stories will give you a feel of cozy mysteries, magic, and guaranteed mayhem! Below is a review of one of the books to give you an idea of what you can find here.
This Volume Two includes:
⚡ Birthday Blunder (#2.7) (novella)
⚡ A Haunting Midlife (#3)
⚡ An Animated Midlife (#4)
⚡ Faery Odd-Mother (#4.3)
⚡ A Killer Midlife (#5)
*** Reviewing “FAERY ODD-MOTHER” ***
A New Discovery !! . . .
Olivia Thompson was no stranger to magic, having a best friend Ava who is a necromancer-witch and showed her all the paranormal things that were possible through witchcraft, necromancy, and a bunch of other skills. Olivia and Ava worked well together, although Olivia could not contribute in the same way… she thought.
Olivia was with Ava examining a strange blob imprisoned in a cave. Olivia was able to see a beautiful woman trapped inside the blob. Oddly Ava could not see that. When Olivia accidentally sets her free, it turns out the woman is actually her birth mother, a Fae. Her father is Lucifer (yes, that one) we met previously as Ava’s neighbor. Phira turns Olivia’s suppressed magic on, so Olivia has a whole new exciting world to explore, skills to discover, and family to meet! Grab your copy and see how this major change shakes up the rest of her family members as they learn of her lineage!
Volume Two of the bestselling After Forty series includes five adventures for Ava and her friends. Ava Harper is a 40-ish necromancer with a witchy side who is ready to start something new in her life. The stories will give you a feel of cozy mysteries, magic, and guaranteed mayhem! Below is a review of one of the books to give you an idea of what you can find here.
This Volume Two includes:
⚡ Birthday Blunder (#2.7) (novella)
⚡ A Haunting Midlife (#3)
⚡ An Animated Midlife (#4)
⚡ Faery Odd-Mother (#4.3)
⚡ A Killer Midlife (#5)
*** Reviewing “FAERY ODD-MOTHER” ***
A New Discovery !! . . .
Olivia Thompson was no stranger to magic, having a best friend Ava who is a necromancer-witch and showed her all the paranormal things that were possible through witchcraft, necromancy, and a bunch of other skills. Olivia and Ava worked well together, although Olivia could not contribute in the same way… she thought.
Olivia was with Ava examining a strange blob imprisoned in a cave. Olivia was able to see a beautiful woman trapped inside the blob. Oddly Ava could not see that. When Olivia accidentally sets her free, it turns out the woman is actually her birth mother, a Fae. Her father is Lucifer (yes, that one) we met previously as Ava’s neighbor. Phira turns Olivia’s suppressed magic on, so Olivia has a whole new exciting world to explore, skills to discover, and family to meet! Grab your copy and see how this major change shakes up the rest of her family members as they learn of her lineage!
October 7, 2022
This is Volume Two of the Witching After Forty series and covers books five and seven to ten, but misses number six, the short story, A Girlfriend for Mr Snoozerton. There are still at least another four books to come in the series, so I look forward to catching Volume Three when it comes out.
Birthday Blunder
This is book six in the Witching After Forty series and is a short story all about Olivia helping Ava with a surprise fiftieth birthday party celebration to be held at Ava’s haunted house. The problem is that Winston, which is what the house is called since it seems to have absorbed a lot of magic over the years and is somewhat sentient, isn’t too happy that someone is decorating his house and trying to bake a cake, without Ava herself being there! Lots of steps tripping her up as she tries to unload her car, to doors that won’t open one minute, but then do the next, and so on. She puts the assorted dead and undead menagerie to work decorating the front room, while she tries to bake a cake she should have done the previous night. Nothing seems to go right for Olivia and when another couple turn up and are put to work, the chaos just continues. Some people, whether dead or alive, should not be trusted to help decorate for a party!
This is a very short story, with lots of the characters people will know from the series so far, especially the ones in Ava’s home that you can easily read over a break or lunch. It is a simple tale just about Olivia’s problems helping prepare Ava’s home for the party and trying to keep it a surprise, which doesn’t quite meet its target. The end is fairly abrupt, and the story is really just an aside almost, what might have been a scene in a main book. It is less than thirty pages long and deals just with the one simple task, even if the house tries to make matters difficult. An amusing short read.
A Haunting Midlife
This is book seven of the Witching After Forty series and sees Ava Harper finally going back to Philly, Pennsylvania to clear out her old home, where she had lived with her husband Clay, before his death some six years before, and raised their son Wallie. She has decided to live in Shipton Harbor, Maine, in the house where her magic came alive and where she has discovered so much about her powers. The house, named Winston, has a mind of its own and makes its feelings plain all the time. She also has Larry the skeleton, Alfred the ghoul, Zoey the teenage tiger shifter and ghoul who she rescued, as well as two immortal cats, to keep her company. Her best friend Olivia, her husband Sam, and their son Sammie, live nearby, so she always has lots going on. She has been in Shipton for some six months and that is now her home. She has a new love interest in Drew, a former Hunter and now town sheriff, and things are going along nicely. Her former home has now sold and she, Wallie and Zoey, fly down to pack up what they want to keep and clear out everything else that the new owner, Hailey Whitfield, doesn’t need or want.
Ava finds it a lot harder to face finally saying goodbye to all the memories that come with the house she lived in so happily for a large portion of her life and where she and Clay raised Wallie until his untimely death in a car accident. She thought she had moved on, but feeling the presence of her long dead husband, brings about a lot more questions. He didn’t want her to dabble in her magical powers during their marriage, but then they weren’t anywhere near as powerful as they became once she moved to Shipton, even becoming the High Witch of the local coven soon after arriving. Her necromancer powers are a lot more powerful than anyone has ever seen, proven by the ability to change Larry from a skeleton, to a fully fleshed out man, and have control over the life forces of a number of ghouls, all at the same time. Wade, Clay’s uncle, comes by to visit while they are there, but disappears the next day, leaving Ava and the gang to follow up on his case, and try to find him. Clay’s ghost manages to materialise before Ava and tells her that she has to let him go, so he can move on! It seems that even though she is starting a new life I Shipton and found a new love interest, she still hasn’t let go of her love for Clay and that is obviously stopping him and her from moving on with their lives. His in the afterlife and hers with Drew.
Of course, nothing goes smoothly and Luci decides to trick them into action, to check out something he wants to find out more about. Worries about Wade keep them occupied as well and Ava decides to introduce herself to her strange night time moon bathing neighbours! One of them isn’t happy with Ava and her family asking questions and takes offense, going against all the vampire rules that keep them safe in the human world. Even Drew didn’t know vampires were real, not having come across any when he was a hunter. A train trip home becomes a little bit more than expected, as Ava and Drew, plus Olivia and Sam, have some private time together and Ava takes a big step forward in her relationship with Drew. She has not just Clay’s ghost to deal with, but a whole load of them, plus another close family member, lost long ago, who was cursed and stuck in the in-between, ever since. They need to find out what happened to Wade and rescue him if required, Ava needs to let Clay go and move on with her life, deal with being stuck in
An Animated Midlife
This is book eight of the Witching After Forty series and sees Ava Harper needing to embrace her necromancer skills as she somehow manages to access the In-between in search of her mother, and meets an evil blob of darkness and is unable to bring her mother back with her and her friends. Her neighbour Luci (Lucifer), asks her to take him into the In-between, but the way he insists upon it, has her hackles up and makes her wonder what he wants from that realm. Ava also has to deal with now being the head of the coven, after the previous Head Warlock and about half the coven were found to be corrupt. She finds that Alfred the ghoul has also been possessed by one of her relatives, who is looking to get Ava to reconstitute her own body for her soul to occupy. Only issue is that there is no actually body, as she was cremated after her death, and Ava is still getting used to all of her new abilities, especially her necromancy. The book seems to begin in the middle of something important and will catch you out if you haven’t read the previous ones.
Part of the darkness has followed Ava and her friends back from the In-between and seems to be growing with anger and rage with every hour that passes. She attempts to open another portal to the In-between, but fails, whether that is down to not enough power and magic, or something else, she and her friends will have to research and figure out. Ava has her boyfriend Drew, the local town sheriff, as well as her son Wallie, and others, including the troublesome and mischievous cats, Larry the skeleton who now looks a lot better after she managed to rebuild a body around him, and best friend Olivia at her side as needed. She must also allow herself to trust in the new coven witches and warlocks, most of who she doesn’t know, as much as she relies on her human friends, to contain the blob of darkness that followed her back, but also to strengthen her ability to open and keep open a portal. There is also an additional problem that her aunt Winnie and her own mother, were tricked into doing something years ago by the then Fae King, and in their deaths are unable to pass on, as they have unfinished business! Lots of magic going on and Luci is right in the midst of it, seemingly knowing everything that is said in her house! He has more to lose from what was done in the past and there is a massive surprise for one who was thought to be completely human only. A short tale of Ava’s necromancy powers and righting a wrong from the past.
Faery Odd-Mother
This is book nine and a short novella in the Witching After Forty series and sees Olivia Thompson finally find out about her birth parents, in an unexpected event. She was helping her best friend and necromancer/earth witch Ava with a strange blob imprisoned in a cave near her house. Olivia can see a beautiful woman inside the blob, something even Ava can’t. Olivia and Ava’s husbands both work as Shipton Harbour police officers and her marriage to Sam has brought her happiness after her previous failure of a marriage to the father of her two oldest children, who she is estranged from. She and Sam have a late in life child together Sammie and life is looking up at last. Ava lives in her house Winston, yes the house is sentient and often doesn’t like Olivia, even though she was actually born there! She has taken on the dead skeleton Larry, who she reanimated, plus the undead tiger shifter Zoey, she rescued from the cage fights, her ghoul Alfred who used to house her dead Aunt Winnie. Even Ava’s dead mum Beth was there and off searching hospitals for new bodies for her and Winnie to occupy and for Ava to reanimate for them!
The beautiful woman within the blob is freed by accident, with Olivia’s blood and turns out to be her mother Phira, a Royal High Fae. Her father turns out to be Ava’s neighbour of the last year, Luci, or Loki, amongst many names he has been called during his immortal life. Phira opens Olivia up to her magic, which was locked away to keep her safe from the King all those years ago. This also triggers strange events in her three children’s lives and they all need rescuing by Loki. Olivia is totally shocked to find out who her real birth parents are and that she now has magic herself as well. She is even more powerful than her friend Ava, who she always used to be somewhat jealous of. Now she has to get used to a whole new family and loads of new relatives. Plus she needs to introduce her kids to this new lifestyle and all the secrets that have been kept from them, since they hadn’t been a part of the supernatural world before now. Not something her ex-husband takes well when he drops by unannounced! This is an enjoyable, but very short story, that I realise I had already read as part of something else, but still fun to re-read. Ava and Olivia have the best of friendships and loving partners, which helps them to deal with everything that happens around them.
A Killer Midlife
This is book ten of the Witching After Forty series and sees necromancer/witch hybrid Ava Harper suddenly begin to feel ill and slowly getting worse, as do all of her seven undead she is linked with. After finding out it was Olivia’s Fae mother Phira who was stuck in the black blob in a cave near her home and Olivia’s blood set her free, Olivia has also found out that Ava’s neighbour Luci/Loki was her father. Ava’s sentient building called Winston, is no longer playing tricks on Olivia whenever she comes over and she lets herself in and finds Ava at near collapse. Everyone gathers round to try and figure out what is wrong with her, after Ava just thought she was suffering from a bad cold. But she has no fever or any human illness symptoms, so magical ones are looked for. Ava calls in her deputy in the coven, Melody, but she can find no magic trace. Her boyfriend Drew, the Shipton Sheriff, offers to bond with her, to share his hunter magic and powers with her. It will only be a temporary fix, but the bond will be for life and one of them dying would lead to the death of the other as well. A deep decision to make when they have been dating for less than a year.
Ava’s mother has some possible news about her necromancer father John, long thought dead in an accident when she was a child, but she has heard rumours that he was alive. Mel helps with a location spell, with Luci providing map assistance and they find a trace of him in Italy and Luci knows immediately where he is. They rescue him from the vampire council’s stronghold and he is reunited with his daughter Ava and his wife, who is now back in her ghoul state and her temporary body has returned to ash. They thought that maybe Ava’s seven ghouls were placing too much of a drain on her powers and John would be the one who could confirm this. Normal necromancers can only manage up to two ghouls at a time and Ava has been managing seven for the year since her powers flared into existence. Her powers have been growing and she is getting new abilities all the time, whether from her necromancer or earth witch heritage is unclear. Someone is wanting to gain a position of power and want Ava out of the way! Ava’s very life is in danger and a huge threat is coming that she will be too weak to stop, unless her friends and family can rally and figure out a solution and quickly. Lots happening in this episode of life for Ava and her friends, as well as romance becoming serious between many.
I received an ARC copy of this boxset from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the books above.
Birthday Blunder
This is book six in the Witching After Forty series and is a short story all about Olivia helping Ava with a surprise fiftieth birthday party celebration to be held at Ava’s haunted house. The problem is that Winston, which is what the house is called since it seems to have absorbed a lot of magic over the years and is somewhat sentient, isn’t too happy that someone is decorating his house and trying to bake a cake, without Ava herself being there! Lots of steps tripping her up as she tries to unload her car, to doors that won’t open one minute, but then do the next, and so on. She puts the assorted dead and undead menagerie to work decorating the front room, while she tries to bake a cake she should have done the previous night. Nothing seems to go right for Olivia and when another couple turn up and are put to work, the chaos just continues. Some people, whether dead or alive, should not be trusted to help decorate for a party!
This is a very short story, with lots of the characters people will know from the series so far, especially the ones in Ava’s home that you can easily read over a break or lunch. It is a simple tale just about Olivia’s problems helping prepare Ava’s home for the party and trying to keep it a surprise, which doesn’t quite meet its target. The end is fairly abrupt, and the story is really just an aside almost, what might have been a scene in a main book. It is less than thirty pages long and deals just with the one simple task, even if the house tries to make matters difficult. An amusing short read.
A Haunting Midlife
This is book seven of the Witching After Forty series and sees Ava Harper finally going back to Philly, Pennsylvania to clear out her old home, where she had lived with her husband Clay, before his death some six years before, and raised their son Wallie. She has decided to live in Shipton Harbor, Maine, in the house where her magic came alive and where she has discovered so much about her powers. The house, named Winston, has a mind of its own and makes its feelings plain all the time. She also has Larry the skeleton, Alfred the ghoul, Zoey the teenage tiger shifter and ghoul who she rescued, as well as two immortal cats, to keep her company. Her best friend Olivia, her husband Sam, and their son Sammie, live nearby, so she always has lots going on. She has been in Shipton for some six months and that is now her home. She has a new love interest in Drew, a former Hunter and now town sheriff, and things are going along nicely. Her former home has now sold and she, Wallie and Zoey, fly down to pack up what they want to keep and clear out everything else that the new owner, Hailey Whitfield, doesn’t need or want.
Ava finds it a lot harder to face finally saying goodbye to all the memories that come with the house she lived in so happily for a large portion of her life and where she and Clay raised Wallie until his untimely death in a car accident. She thought she had moved on, but feeling the presence of her long dead husband, brings about a lot more questions. He didn’t want her to dabble in her magical powers during their marriage, but then they weren’t anywhere near as powerful as they became once she moved to Shipton, even becoming the High Witch of the local coven soon after arriving. Her necromancer powers are a lot more powerful than anyone has ever seen, proven by the ability to change Larry from a skeleton, to a fully fleshed out man, and have control over the life forces of a number of ghouls, all at the same time. Wade, Clay’s uncle, comes by to visit while they are there, but disappears the next day, leaving Ava and the gang to follow up on his case, and try to find him. Clay’s ghost manages to materialise before Ava and tells her that she has to let him go, so he can move on! It seems that even though she is starting a new life I Shipton and found a new love interest, she still hasn’t let go of her love for Clay and that is obviously stopping him and her from moving on with their lives. His in the afterlife and hers with Drew.
Of course, nothing goes smoothly and Luci decides to trick them into action, to check out something he wants to find out more about. Worries about Wade keep them occupied as well and Ava decides to introduce herself to her strange night time moon bathing neighbours! One of them isn’t happy with Ava and her family asking questions and takes offense, going against all the vampire rules that keep them safe in the human world. Even Drew didn’t know vampires were real, not having come across any when he was a hunter. A train trip home becomes a little bit more than expected, as Ava and Drew, plus Olivia and Sam, have some private time together and Ava takes a big step forward in her relationship with Drew. She has not just Clay’s ghost to deal with, but a whole load of them, plus another close family member, lost long ago, who was cursed and stuck in the in-between, ever since. They need to find out what happened to Wade and rescue him if required, Ava needs to let Clay go and move on with her life, deal with being stuck in
An Animated Midlife
This is book eight of the Witching After Forty series and sees Ava Harper needing to embrace her necromancer skills as she somehow manages to access the In-between in search of her mother, and meets an evil blob of darkness and is unable to bring her mother back with her and her friends. Her neighbour Luci (Lucifer), asks her to take him into the In-between, but the way he insists upon it, has her hackles up and makes her wonder what he wants from that realm. Ava also has to deal with now being the head of the coven, after the previous Head Warlock and about half the coven were found to be corrupt. She finds that Alfred the ghoul has also been possessed by one of her relatives, who is looking to get Ava to reconstitute her own body for her soul to occupy. Only issue is that there is no actually body, as she was cremated after her death, and Ava is still getting used to all of her new abilities, especially her necromancy. The book seems to begin in the middle of something important and will catch you out if you haven’t read the previous ones.
Part of the darkness has followed Ava and her friends back from the In-between and seems to be growing with anger and rage with every hour that passes. She attempts to open another portal to the In-between, but fails, whether that is down to not enough power and magic, or something else, she and her friends will have to research and figure out. Ava has her boyfriend Drew, the local town sheriff, as well as her son Wallie, and others, including the troublesome and mischievous cats, Larry the skeleton who now looks a lot better after she managed to rebuild a body around him, and best friend Olivia at her side as needed. She must also allow herself to trust in the new coven witches and warlocks, most of who she doesn’t know, as much as she relies on her human friends, to contain the blob of darkness that followed her back, but also to strengthen her ability to open and keep open a portal. There is also an additional problem that her aunt Winnie and her own mother, were tricked into doing something years ago by the then Fae King, and in their deaths are unable to pass on, as they have unfinished business! Lots of magic going on and Luci is right in the midst of it, seemingly knowing everything that is said in her house! He has more to lose from what was done in the past and there is a massive surprise for one who was thought to be completely human only. A short tale of Ava’s necromancy powers and righting a wrong from the past.
Faery Odd-Mother
This is book nine and a short novella in the Witching After Forty series and sees Olivia Thompson finally find out about her birth parents, in an unexpected event. She was helping her best friend and necromancer/earth witch Ava with a strange blob imprisoned in a cave near her house. Olivia can see a beautiful woman inside the blob, something even Ava can’t. Olivia and Ava’s husbands both work as Shipton Harbour police officers and her marriage to Sam has brought her happiness after her previous failure of a marriage to the father of her two oldest children, who she is estranged from. She and Sam have a late in life child together Sammie and life is looking up at last. Ava lives in her house Winston, yes the house is sentient and often doesn’t like Olivia, even though she was actually born there! She has taken on the dead skeleton Larry, who she reanimated, plus the undead tiger shifter Zoey, she rescued from the cage fights, her ghoul Alfred who used to house her dead Aunt Winnie. Even Ava’s dead mum Beth was there and off searching hospitals for new bodies for her and Winnie to occupy and for Ava to reanimate for them!
The beautiful woman within the blob is freed by accident, with Olivia’s blood and turns out to be her mother Phira, a Royal High Fae. Her father turns out to be Ava’s neighbour of the last year, Luci, or Loki, amongst many names he has been called during his immortal life. Phira opens Olivia up to her magic, which was locked away to keep her safe from the King all those years ago. This also triggers strange events in her three children’s lives and they all need rescuing by Loki. Olivia is totally shocked to find out who her real birth parents are and that she now has magic herself as well. She is even more powerful than her friend Ava, who she always used to be somewhat jealous of. Now she has to get used to a whole new family and loads of new relatives. Plus she needs to introduce her kids to this new lifestyle and all the secrets that have been kept from them, since they hadn’t been a part of the supernatural world before now. Not something her ex-husband takes well when he drops by unannounced! This is an enjoyable, but very short story, that I realise I had already read as part of something else, but still fun to re-read. Ava and Olivia have the best of friendships and loving partners, which helps them to deal with everything that happens around them.
A Killer Midlife
This is book ten of the Witching After Forty series and sees necromancer/witch hybrid Ava Harper suddenly begin to feel ill and slowly getting worse, as do all of her seven undead she is linked with. After finding out it was Olivia’s Fae mother Phira who was stuck in the black blob in a cave near her home and Olivia’s blood set her free, Olivia has also found out that Ava’s neighbour Luci/Loki was her father. Ava’s sentient building called Winston, is no longer playing tricks on Olivia whenever she comes over and she lets herself in and finds Ava at near collapse. Everyone gathers round to try and figure out what is wrong with her, after Ava just thought she was suffering from a bad cold. But she has no fever or any human illness symptoms, so magical ones are looked for. Ava calls in her deputy in the coven, Melody, but she can find no magic trace. Her boyfriend Drew, the Shipton Sheriff, offers to bond with her, to share his hunter magic and powers with her. It will only be a temporary fix, but the bond will be for life and one of them dying would lead to the death of the other as well. A deep decision to make when they have been dating for less than a year.
Ava’s mother has some possible news about her necromancer father John, long thought dead in an accident when she was a child, but she has heard rumours that he was alive. Mel helps with a location spell, with Luci providing map assistance and they find a trace of him in Italy and Luci knows immediately where he is. They rescue him from the vampire council’s stronghold and he is reunited with his daughter Ava and his wife, who is now back in her ghoul state and her temporary body has returned to ash. They thought that maybe Ava’s seven ghouls were placing too much of a drain on her powers and John would be the one who could confirm this. Normal necromancers can only manage up to two ghouls at a time and Ava has been managing seven for the year since her powers flared into existence. Her powers have been growing and she is getting new abilities all the time, whether from her necromancer or earth witch heritage is unclear. Someone is wanting to gain a position of power and want Ava out of the way! Ava’s very life is in danger and a huge threat is coming that she will be too weak to stop, unless her friends and family can rally and figure out a solution and quickly. Lots happening in this episode of life for Ava and her friends, as well as romance becoming serious between many.
I received an ARC copy of this boxset from BookSprout and I have freely given my own opinion of the books above.
February 23, 2023
Birthday Blunder
Poor Olivia. Winston just didn't want to let her get the party for Drew's 50th birthday done. His hijinks caused lots of chaos. I just loved it so funny.
A Haunting Midlife
This one was sad and healing for Ava.She goes to pack up her house in Philly with Wally and Zoey and when they get there her husband Clay is there. He tells her that he can't pass on until she lets him go completely. Also while there she finds out that Vampires live next door. And her Uncle Wade goes missing and she has to find him in come Sam Olivia and Drew. I really love how Drew and Clay both handle the situation.
In the second half of the book after Ava and Drew become intimate for the first time her power shocks them plus Sam and Olivia into a Ghost Train in the InBetween realm. They help a woman and her daughter get closure. When they get back to Shipton they are still on the other plane but Ava finds her mother and that something is stalking her. They finally end up back in the real world when Ava let's off a big power surge.
The ending was funny because Snooze finally rips the string out of Alfie's mouth and it is a shocker at who the Ghoul really is. Can't wait to start the next book.
An Animated Midlife
This one is a really doosey. Ava gets her Aunt Winnie back by separating her soul from Alfred and we get to keep him yay also she saves her mom and we find out what the blob is. And also we find out something shocking about Lucifer and Olivia. This one was amazing.
Faery Odd Mother
This starts right where An Animated Midlife leaves off with Phira telling Olivia she's her daughter. Also we learn Luci is her father. When Olivia says she wants proof Phira unlocks her powers which causes the after affects of her children to unlock their powers also. I really can't wait to see this new family grow and for her Son Dev and Daughter Jessica to warm up to Sam.
A Killer Midlife
This is just great is has Fae Curses Magic and of course lovable characters.it is we have Ava being cursed. and she and Drew bond. Also we find out Ava's father is still alive but was being held by Vampire Elders Luci and Olivia save him and bring him back home. I love it that each book has a mystery to solve. I'm starting the next book now.
Poor Olivia. Winston just didn't want to let her get the party for Drew's 50th birthday done. His hijinks caused lots of chaos. I just loved it so funny.
A Haunting Midlife
This one was sad and healing for Ava.She goes to pack up her house in Philly with Wally and Zoey and when they get there her husband Clay is there. He tells her that he can't pass on until she lets him go completely. Also while there she finds out that Vampires live next door. And her Uncle Wade goes missing and she has to find him in come Sam Olivia and Drew. I really love how Drew and Clay both handle the situation.
In the second half of the book after Ava and Drew become intimate for the first time her power shocks them plus Sam and Olivia into a Ghost Train in the InBetween realm. They help a woman and her daughter get closure. When they get back to Shipton they are still on the other plane but Ava finds her mother and that something is stalking her. They finally end up back in the real world when Ava let's off a big power surge.
The ending was funny because Snooze finally rips the string out of Alfie's mouth and it is a shocker at who the Ghoul really is. Can't wait to start the next book.
An Animated Midlife
This one is a really doosey. Ava gets her Aunt Winnie back by separating her soul from Alfred and we get to keep him yay also she saves her mom and we find out what the blob is. And also we find out something shocking about Lucifer and Olivia. This one was amazing.
Faery Odd Mother
This starts right where An Animated Midlife leaves off with Phira telling Olivia she's her daughter. Also we learn Luci is her father. When Olivia says she wants proof Phira unlocks her powers which causes the after affects of her children to unlock their powers also. I really can't wait to see this new family grow and for her Son Dev and Daughter Jessica to warm up to Sam.
A Killer Midlife
This is just great is has Fae Curses Magic and of course lovable characters.it is we have Ava being cursed. and she and Drew bond. Also we find out Ava's father is still alive but was being held by Vampire Elders Luci and Olivia save him and bring him back home. I love it that each book has a mystery to solve. I'm starting the next book now.
July 8, 2022
Birthday Blunder:
Birthday Blunder is a very short story about Olivia planning a surprise party for Drew. One problem, Winston the house doesn't want anyone in the house if Ava isn't home. This is a fun, quick read and a great addition to the Witching After Forty series. Although it was really short it is still a great read and I look forward to reading more books in the Witching After Forty series.
A Haunting Midlife:
Ava and the gang are back in A Haunting Midlife. I am loving this series with all the quirky characters and the entertaining storyline. Just when Ava thinks things are getting back to normal things take some crazy fun turns. This is a great addition to the Witching After Forty series.
An Animated Midlife:
Ava and her cast of quirky friends are back in An Animated Midlife. Ava is determined to bring her mom back from the in-between with the help of all of her friends. This is an entertaining story and it is packed with mystery, suspense, drama, humor, and unexpected twists and turns. After that cliffhanger ending, I can't wait to read the next book in this series to find out what happens next for all of these interesting characters.
Faery Odd Mother:
Faery Odd Mother is book nine in the Witching After Forty series and in this book we learn more about Olivia. I loved that we get to find out who Olivia's parents were and get her perspective on what was going on. This is an entertaining short story and it is packed with magic, family drama, humor, unexpected twists and turns, and an ending that left me wanting more. I can't wait to read the next book in this series to find out what happens next for all of these interesting and quirky characters.
A Killer Midlife:
Ava and the gang are back in book ten of the Witching After Forty series and it's an action packed read. From the quirky characters to the entertaining and unique story is packed with danger, mystery, faeries, secrets revealed, love, and twists that held my attention from the first page to the last. A Killer Midlife is a great addition to the series.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.
Birthday Blunder is a very short story about Olivia planning a surprise party for Drew. One problem, Winston the house doesn't want anyone in the house if Ava isn't home. This is a fun, quick read and a great addition to the Witching After Forty series. Although it was really short it is still a great read and I look forward to reading more books in the Witching After Forty series.
A Haunting Midlife:
Ava and the gang are back in A Haunting Midlife. I am loving this series with all the quirky characters and the entertaining storyline. Just when Ava thinks things are getting back to normal things take some crazy fun turns. This is a great addition to the Witching After Forty series.
An Animated Midlife:
Ava and her cast of quirky friends are back in An Animated Midlife. Ava is determined to bring her mom back from the in-between with the help of all of her friends. This is an entertaining story and it is packed with mystery, suspense, drama, humor, and unexpected twists and turns. After that cliffhanger ending, I can't wait to read the next book in this series to find out what happens next for all of these interesting characters.
Faery Odd Mother:
Faery Odd Mother is book nine in the Witching After Forty series and in this book we learn more about Olivia. I loved that we get to find out who Olivia's parents were and get her perspective on what was going on. This is an entertaining short story and it is packed with magic, family drama, humor, unexpected twists and turns, and an ending that left me wanting more. I can't wait to read the next book in this series to find out what happens next for all of these interesting and quirky characters.
A Killer Midlife:
Ava and the gang are back in book ten of the Witching After Forty series and it's an action packed read. From the quirky characters to the entertaining and unique story is packed with danger, mystery, faeries, secrets revealed, love, and twists that held my attention from the first page to the last. A Killer Midlife is a great addition to the series.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book.
July 1, 2025
In this volume of the series, we have another four stories to read. In Olivia's Novella, Birthday Blunder, we see her trying to help Ava in throwing a birthday party for Drew. What shenanigans does Winston get up to while Ava is out and Olivia is trying to bake? Oh my... I have no words for this one. In A Hunting Midlife, things got interesting when Ava, Willie, and Zoey went to Philly to pack up the house. I loved getting an intro to the Bitten in the Midlife crowd! Clay's appearance was fun. Once again, Luci makes himself known, and Ava gains a new supernatural for her menagerie. Oh my gosh... Some real surprises happen in this story. Goodness. In My Animated Midlife, we see more about the Inbetween. We get a shock with Alfred and find Luci being cagey as all Hades, yes, pun intended. Oh wow, so much gets unpacked in this story, and some things come to light that were completely unexpected. Read and see what happens! I am giddy to continue reading! In Faery Odd-Mother, we get Olivia's story! What happens when she finds out who her birth parents are? What happens to or with Devan, Jessica, and Sammie? Things got tense when Carter showed up. Read and see what happened! Finally, in A Killer Midlife, life starts to carry on like usual, until Ava gets sick. What is the suspected cause? Holy Smokes! What an intense read. Faery, Fate, Mates, Bondings, Trial, Hexes, Threats, Vampires, and Life are all rolled into one in this story that kept me on the edge of my seat. Enjoy the read! I certainly did. Talk about a cliffhanger at the end.
October 2, 2023
What a read!
Birthday Blunder
This was so funny and WAY too short!
This is Oliva's rodeo or would circus be a better description! Oh, my ... these two can throw my birthday party anytime!
A Haunting Midlife
A raucous riot! Twists, turns, weird adventures and more twists. Danger, mild spice and new parts of Ava's undead menagerie ... ready for more adventures!
An Animated Midlife
Again this was a riot-fest of fun, snarky, emtion-filled reading. The books in the couple of "After Forty" series are like Supernatural Stephanie Plum'esque books and I'm in for that!
Ava is a powerhouse backed by an ever growing cast of characters and for the first time in a while, I was surprised by a plot twist! Oh my Olivia!
Faery Odd Mother
Well things just got more interesting for Olivia and Ava! Olivia found her birth parents and SO much more. With her older children a little freaked out she has a chance to truly connect with then. Then her ex shows up ... will it ruin everything?
A Killer Midlife
Well this was fun! You can never count Ava out! Her friends, family and love are such an interesting cast of characters and there is never a lack of drama!
Can she thwart her newest foe and save the day?
Birthday Blunder
This was so funny and WAY too short!
This is Oliva's rodeo or would circus be a better description! Oh, my ... these two can throw my birthday party anytime!
A Haunting Midlife
A raucous riot! Twists, turns, weird adventures and more twists. Danger, mild spice and new parts of Ava's undead menagerie ... ready for more adventures!
An Animated Midlife
Again this was a riot-fest of fun, snarky, emtion-filled reading. The books in the couple of "After Forty" series are like Supernatural Stephanie Plum'esque books and I'm in for that!
Ava is a powerhouse backed by an ever growing cast of characters and for the first time in a while, I was surprised by a plot twist! Oh my Olivia!
Faery Odd Mother
Well things just got more interesting for Olivia and Ava! Olivia found her birth parents and SO much more. With her older children a little freaked out she has a chance to truly connect with then. Then her ex shows up ... will it ruin everything?
A Killer Midlife
Well this was fun! You can never count Ava out! Her friends, family and love are such an interesting cast of characters and there is never a lack of drama!
Can she thwart her newest foe and save the day?
May 27, 2023
The Fun, The Intrigue, and The Witchiness Continue
What fun to read the continuing stories of Ava and her ever-growing cast of characters! I wish I had as interesting a midlife as she does! Each story has an element of suspense and mystery that is a delight to watch unfold. I love the humor in all the books; it makes them such fun to read. As you might guess from this book's title, it follows volume one’s five stories and picks up where that volume ends. I definitely suggest reading volume one first so you get a sense of this wacky and wonderful world before diving into the continuation of their stories. If you liked that book (or any other previous ones in this series), you will undoubtedly enjoy this one. I'm looking forward to volume three, as I've come to care about the characters in this series and wonder what the authors will come up with next for them. Highly recommended.
I received a free digital copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
What fun to read the continuing stories of Ava and her ever-growing cast of characters! I wish I had as interesting a midlife as she does! Each story has an element of suspense and mystery that is a delight to watch unfold. I love the humor in all the books; it makes them such fun to read. As you might guess from this book's title, it follows volume one’s five stories and picks up where that volume ends. I definitely suggest reading volume one first so you get a sense of this wacky and wonderful world before diving into the continuation of their stories. If you liked that book (or any other previous ones in this series), you will undoubtedly enjoy this one. I'm looking forward to volume three, as I've come to care about the characters in this series and wonder what the authors will come up with next for them. Highly recommended.
I received a free digital copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
July 9, 2022
This volume contains books Birthday Blunder (2.7), A Haunting Midlife (3), An Animated Midlife (4), Faery Odd-Mother (4.3), and A Killer Midlife (5). You could probably start reading this volume but honestly I think this series is one that is best enjoyed read in order, you'll miss a lot of info if you don't. I'd recommend grabbing volume one first. I can't begin to expression how much I love this series. It's funny, lighthearted and oh so entertaining. I love Ava and her mishmash odd mix of supernatural family, ghoul butler, at talking animated skeleton, witches, necromancers, an immortal cat, a hottie sheriff, crazy human best friends, and Luci the devil himself. Their adventures will keep you entertained and laughing.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 4, 2023
More adventures with Ava and the gang. So much happens in this collection that it was hard to put down. I loved the story arc development of Olivia and Luci. Some of the stories in this book recap previous books and novellas but that was because they were sold separately and might have been missed. I really want an Alfred of my own since no one prepared me tea while reading this book. This portion of the series is much steamier than the first collection. I look forward to reading more books in this fun page-turning series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 7, 2022
This collection has the second batch of five books of this paranormal witch mystery series.
This is a paranormal witch mystery series with a keen sense of humor The stories are well written and easy to read with some very unusual twists to them. The stories tend to move at a good pace and have no problem keeping the reader's interest throughout. Overall, this is another fun series and I look forward to seeing what comes next.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
This is a paranormal witch mystery series with a keen sense of humor The stories are well written and easy to read with some very unusual twists to them. The stories tend to move at a good pace and have no problem keeping the reader's interest throughout. Overall, this is another fun series and I look forward to seeing what comes next.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
June 26, 2022
I so enjoy these authors' characters! Ava and her friends, allies, even her enemies, are funny, quirky, and engaging. There is a touch of drama and suspense, but most of it is played for laughs. Since some of the novellas are short, it is great to get several of the books in one volume so you can keep enjoying the hilarity and hijinx for hours.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 5, 2022
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I really enjoyed the second box set of this series as Ava gets back her family and bonds with her boyfriend Drew. Her powers just keep growing and she is beginning to like her neighbor Lucifer. I liked that her bestie gets her true family too along with new powers.
January 20, 2023
Ava certainly has an eventful midlife! This was an entertaining second volume of books in her story. I loved reading about her adventures. Even more secrets are revealed and questions answered including why Alfred has his lips sewn shut. With the solution to each mystery Ava’s powers grow and more aspects are revealed. I loved this book!
February 25, 2022
Brilliant!
Honestly, I am loving these books. The characters are brilliant and totally alive in my head. I have laughed, cried and worried about the whole cast, that only happens when I am invested in a book.
Fabulous, love everything about them.
Great reads xxx
Honestly, I am loving these books. The characters are brilliant and totally alive in my head. I have laughed, cried and worried about the whole cast, that only happens when I am invested in a book.
Fabulous, love everything about them.
Great reads xxx
June 25, 2022
Ava and company are back for more fun and games. Fun times, actions, danger, surprises and hilarious scenes to enjoy. New characters, old favorites and lots of fun had by all. Ava and her friends are a riot. And loved visiting her house once again. And seeing what they must face and overcome.
September 14, 2022
I really am loving this series and especially being a paranormal romance I have never laughed so much. These books are so well written and the characters especially Ava are so amazing.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
October 2, 2024
Oh I am so enjoying these books, so much so that before finishing this one I bought 3 . I adore the characters so many complex magical entities I love every one of them. The storytelling is brilliant, enthralling, funny, gripping, great plots and intriguing happenings not to mention such great magic of so many different types, I have other authors waiting to be read but I’m hooked on these and totally in the world set by Lia Davis and L.A. Boruff, I highly recommend these books.
July 23, 2024
Great writing and I can hardly wait to start reading Volume three! Keep up the great writing!
Rilla Leboe (Wooler)
Rilla Leboe (Wooler)
September 2, 2024
Good
I enjoyed this book and the characters in this book are how the characters grew and overcome their faults and moved on
I enjoyed this book and the characters in this book are how the characters grew and overcome their faults and moved on
February 20, 2025
fun read
I am having so much fun reading these books!! I am on vacation alternating between reading and looking at the ocean!
I am having so much fun reading these books!! I am on vacation alternating between reading and looking at the ocean!
April 4, 2023
L.A. Boruff does it again! Each time I pick up one of the books in this series I think "oh please god let it be as good as the last one.", and sure enough it is!
This one book contains 5 of the books in the series. If you grabbed Volume One you will have 10 glorious stories to read! It's a deal and these are quick, fun, and entertaining to consume!
Go grab your own copy!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This one book contains 5 of the books in the series. If you grabbed Volume One you will have 10 glorious stories to read! It's a deal and these are quick, fun, and entertaining to consume!
Go grab your own copy!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews