Flippin' Pages Book Reviews

World’s Okayest Oracle (Reluctantly) Seeks Demon by Olivia Dade

Series: Supernatural Entanglements #2

Release Date: August 11, 2026

Middling oracle and cheese lover, Gwendolen “Gwen” Wexloff is preparing for her final evaluation by the oracle verification panel at the Delphi Academy when she meets Hugh Blacke, a demon who she thinks is a representative of the Supernatural & Enhanced Ruling Council (SERC) interviewing students. They chat for a few minutes, and she is incredibly attracted to him and thinks he might be attracted to her as well, but then she learns that he is actually one of the panelists. To say her evaluation went badly would be a massive understatement and her dreams of a better life for herself and her family are crushed. Now twenty years later, Gwen, who has been living in the Containment Zone, is single, pregnant, and has just battled a zombie breach and then had the most powerful vision she has ever had. From her vision she learns that there is a conspiracy to frame demons for the zombie breach and it will trigger a worldwide species war that will leave millions dead. She and her friends need to find someone powerful enough to help them prove the breach was meant to trigger the events that will lead to the war in Gwen’s vision, and she knows that there is only one person she can turn to, the man who witnessed her greatest humiliation and the man she hoped to never see again…Hugh Blacke.

Hugh Blacke is a powerful man, a lawyer and a councilor for SERC, he is known to be fair, law abiding and honest, so when Gwen shows up on his doorstep in the middle of the night, he agrees to hear her out and keep an open mind, despite the fact that her track record with him isn’t stellar. He has never forgotten Gwen and has even wondered about her over the years. He agrees to go to “The Zone” with her to examine the scene for himself, never expecting to get dragged into a fight for the future of the world! He is convinced that something shady is going on, but before he can leave, the authorities show up and he needs a good reason for being in “The Zone” in the middle of the night, so he pretends Gwen is his girlfriend and even fights one of her Troll friends to prove it. Now he and Gwen will have to figure out who is behind the plot and stop them before their evil plan can come to fruition and hopefully live long enough to explore the attraction that is clearly still brewing between them.

I really enjoyed this story, Gwen and Hugh are such likable and relatable characters that it is almost impossible not to root for them. This story is filled with emotion, found family, conspiracies, laugh out loud moments, betrayal, secrets, spicy love scenes, hope and finally an ending with a HEA! I do wish I had read the previous book in the series, but that is just because this one was so good that I feel like I missed out and not because I couldn’t follow this story. I have definitely added it to my TBR pile and am already looking forward to the next installment. Highly recommended.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

View all my reviews

A Betrothed’s Betrayal by Deb Marlowe

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Lockstone Hollow, #1

Release Date: August 11, 2026

Lady Lisette Birthwhistle, the sister of Adam Brithwhistle, the late Duke of Winbury, has not had an easy year. First, she broke off her betrothal to Alexander Prescott, the Earl of Bealford and then her beloved brother passed away unexpectedly. Alone and unsure of her future as the new duke has yet to be found, she travels to the village of Lockstone Hollow, her brother bequeathed her a cottage and the leases to several buildings in the village, presumably for her to manage. She sets out to make the cottage her own and hopefully to make friends in the community. But on the day she arrives there is a murder and it is none other than her former betrothed, which to the local constable makes her the prime suspect.

But Lisette has allies in the village; Misses Sylvie and Ruby Etwell, the mayor’s daughters, Miss Rosie Curtis, owner of the town tavern, Mr. Royce Logan, a carpenter (and local newcomer) who vow to support her when Mr. Maxwell Sowerby, former Bow Street Runner and now the local constable, sets her in his sites. Lisette is clever and easily gets the locals to talk, suppling her with clues and leads that she passes on the constable. When Mr. Sowerby makes an arrest, Lisette is sure he has the wrong person, but first she will need to find evidence and hopefully survive to deliver the proof!

Set in a quaint English village filled with wonderful characters, this was a great start to a new series. While the mystery is the main focus of the book, there is so much more to the is book! The story has new beginnings, loss, two possible love interests, great friends, small town charm, baby goats, and a bit of tension, female empowerment and finally an ending that ties up this mystery, but leaves the door open for more to come! If you are looking for a well-written, regency-era cozy mystery, this is a book you will want to read.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *

Share this:

Share this: