Wild Wicked Mate by Laurie Gilmore

On By TracyIn Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, New To Me Author, Paranormal / Fantasy, Part of a Series, Romantasy, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Wild Wicked Mate by Laurie Gilmore

Tracy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: Maple Hollow #2

Release Date: October 20, 2026

Pheobe and has been in love with Theo forever, they met ten years ago and have been best friends ever since. That is as far as their relationship has gone, despite their mutual attraction and flirting. The primary problem is Phoebe is a wood nymph, and Theo is a werewolf, but a year ago, when Theo was pitted against his brothers in a fight to be the next alpha of the pack, everything changed. Theo had made certain declarations to Pheobe, making her believe they could have a future together, but when he started to heal from the injuries he sustained in the fight, he broke her heart and left. Now they are reunited and working together to find the missing sister of his brother Rafe’s mate. But any hope of finally getting together is in jeopardy when Pheobe is convinced to keep a secret from Theo.

Theo has loved Pheobe for years, but as a werewolf, he couldn’t claim a wood nymph as his mate as long as his father was the alpha of the pack, so he snuck off to see her, but never let their relationship progress beyond friendship and harmless flirting. But when his father’s health started to fail, he and his brothers were forced to fight each other to be named as the next alpha, a position Theo didn’t want but had no choice in the matter. When he was grievously injured and leaves his pack; he turned to Pheobe in his hour of need. In his delirium, he let his feelings slip and ended up breaking her heart when he left. But now they have been reunited, and Pheobe seemed to have moved on, so they are able to resume their friendship. But it will never be enough for either of them, and just when he thinks they might have a future together, she betrays his trust and shatters his heart.

When I requested this title, I didn’t realize this was the second book in an interconnected series, and I think that not having read the first book might have skewed my opinion of this book as this was a very character driven story with deeply established relationships. And I was intrigued by the relationship between Pheobe and Theo, but I didn’t really understand the friendship they had, even though the author did provide a lot of flashbacks, I didn’t feel a deep friendship, it seemed more like simmering lust that had been denied. The story has a friends-to-lovers trope, combined with found family, fated mates, secrets, long-denied love, forgiveness, forced proximity, spicy love scenes and a happy ever after that segues nicely into the next book. Overall, I was underwhelmed by this story, it seemed to drag and since their relationship was fully established, I didn’t feel like I really got to know or understand them. Maybe if I had read the previous book, I would have felt differently and enjoyed the book better. So, to that end, I would highly recommend reading the series in order for the best reader experience.

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

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Hexes Go Well with Tequila by LeAnna Ehrsam

On By TracyIn Check Content Warning/Triggers, Contemporary, New To Me Author, Paranormal / Fantasy, Part of a Series, Tracy's Reviews, Women's FictionLeave a comment

Hexes Go Well with Tequila (The Lost Souls Series, Book 1)Hexes Go Well with Tequila by LeAnna Ehrsam

Tracy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: Lost Souls #1

Release Date: October 20, 2026

After years of slowly losing herself, Ursula Cambridge decides enough is enough and makes the decision to change her life, and almost immediately she receives a magical invitation to move to Salem, MA and take up residency at the Lost Souls House. She doesn’t even think twice, she packs up her belongings and her dog, leaves a note for her domestic partner and makes her way to Salem, with no idea what is in store for her.

She arrives at the lovely old house and is greeted by an older woman named Crystal, who explains the terms of Ursula’s tenancy, she will be the new caretaker of the Lost Soul’s House and is required to visit the Graveyard of the Lost Souls at least four nights a week and keep them company. It all seems surreal to Ursula, but she agrees and settles into the house that seems to come alive and provide for her. But it isn’t just the house that welcomes her, several women come to welcome her and for the first time in years, Ursula has other women to bond with. And bond they do…with lots of girl talk, cooking, drinking and even a little hexing men who have wronged them. But not everything is perfect, namely a grumpy (yet incredibly attractive) carpenter by the name of Jenson Lancaster, who happens to be cursed and some very vile men who will do anything to keep their secrets.

I was so excited for this book, it seemed like it was going to have fun witchy vibe just in time for Halloween, and to a certain extent it did, but it was mostly about a group of women who have been ill-used by men and a really ugly political campaign. I love a story of strong women who encourage and support each other, but this was not that story. This story felt like every woman was a victim and every man was evil, which made for a stressful read. While I appreciated an older heroine who didn’t feel any less of a woman for not having children, I was a bit disappointed that not one of her new friends was in a happy, loving relationship. On top of that, the romance between Ursula and Jenson just didn’t feel right, I think the author was going for an enemies-to-lovers trope, but it really didn’t develop that way – at least not to me. Overall, I didn’t love or hate this book and wished it had more magic and less vitriol, so while I didn’t hate it, I wouldn’t read it again and I am not sure I would read the next book.

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