Category: Audiobook

Sea of Charms (Audiobook) by Sarah Beth Durst, Narrated by Caitlin Davies

On By TracyIn Audiobook, Paranormal / Fantasy, Part of a Series, Romantasy, Tracy's Reviews, Young AdultLeave a comment

Sea of Charms (Spellshop, #3)Sea of Charms by Sarah Beth Durst

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Spellshop #3

Release Date: July 28, 2026

Mariner “Marin” is the captain of the supply ship “Silver” and has loved the sea for as long as she can remember. Her parents were sailors and when they retired, they helped her buy her own ship, going into debt to the sorcerer they hired to enchant the hold. Marin was sure she would be successful and could pay back the debt quickly, but when she is betrayed by her fiancé, and learns that her parents are in danger of losing their home, she is driven to save them and to never fall in love again! She sails between the Empire capital of Alyssium and the Crescent Islands with just a sea serpent named Perri for companionship – and she likes it that way. But after two years, she can admit she is a bit lonely and agrees to take on a crew member – a sentient wax myrtle named Ree. They set sail to Alyssium to look for work and are surprised to find the city ablaze! She and her shipmates head for the conservatory to check on their friend Daxicent “Dax” the musician, and against her better judgment agrees to ferry him and his friends to safety.

But when they arrive at the island, Dax asks to stay aboard when his friends disembark, Marin wants to refuse, but then has a thought, she asks him to stay and attend the festival on her parent’s home Island of Flicker, while pretending to be her boyfriend. He readily agrees, his life has been sheltered at the conservatory, and he is delighted to have new experiences and to spend time with Marin. He is working on his opus, to present at the winter solstice and to become a grand master at the conservatory. When the time comes, he plays the part of her boyfriend perfectly and Marin admits she might be falling for him, but bad news about her parents’ debt makes her harden her heart once more. Determined to earn the money she needs, they set out once again, but one trial after another makes any chance of a happy ending seem impossible and she refuses to let Dax give up on his dream, even if hers can never be.

I read the Enchanted Greenhouse and was delighted to discover that this story runs concurrently with that one and actually answers some lingering questions I had after that book. I loved Marin in that book and enjoyed the opportunity to really get to know her in this book. She tries to be a crusty old sailor but truly has a heart of gold and will do anything to help others, even at the cost of her own dreams. She is attracted to Dax, but past experience has made her heart-shy and unwilling to risk being hurt again – understandable, but she held on to that hurt a bit too long in my opinion. Dax is a gentle, kind soul who finds music in everything he sees, he is the perfect contrast to Marin. I was lucky enough to be granted advanced access to the audiobook and felt that the narrator Caitlin Davies did an amazing job of giving each character their own voice, it made an already great story even better. I loved the ending of this story and am looking forward to the next installment. I really don’t think you have to read the previous books to enjoy this story, but I do think reading them in order will enhance your reading experience.

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

 

A Murder in Mayfair by Magda Alexander

On By BarbaraIn Audiobook, Barb's Reviews, Historical Mystery, New To Me Author, Part of a Series, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

A Murder in Mayfair (Rosalynd and Steele Mysteries #1)Barbara’s rating: 4.4 out of 5 Stars
Series: Rosalynd and Steele Mysteries
Publication Date: 5/31/25
Period: Victorian London
Number of Pages: 266

Although this author has published several books, this is the first one I’ve read, making her a new-to-me author. I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery, the pacing, the writing, and the characters. In fact, I have already read the second book in the series because I wanted to see whether the female main character continued exhibiting a particular trait I noticed in this installment. She did, and I’ll discuss that below.

I should also mention that this is a very slow-burn romance. Having read the first two books and the blurbs for the third and fourth, I haven’t seen any indication of a wedding on the horizon. Personally, three books is about my limit for a slow-burn romance, so after the fourth book I’ll decide whether I want to continue the series.

The story follows the Duke of Steele and Lady Rosalynd as they investigate the murder of Rosalynd’s cousin-in-law. No one is particularly saddened by the victim’s demise—he was a thoroughly unpleasant man—but when Rosalynd’s cousin and Steele’s brother become not only suspects, but the primary targets of an inept Scotland Yard inspector, Rosalynd and Steele know they must uncover the truth themselves.

The mystery is filled with red herrings, potential suspects, and unexpected twists. While I suspected the culprit and motive fairly early on, I still thoroughly enjoyed watching the story unfold to see whether my suspicions were correct.

Now, about Lady Rosalynd. I absolutely adore her family. She is the second oldest of nine children, and they are all precocious, boisterous, well-loved, and genuinely happy. Following the deaths of her parents, Rosalynd decided she would never marry because she believed her younger siblings needed her care and guidance. No one asked her to make that sacrifice—she simply assumed the responsibility herself. She is also deeply committed to social reform, and her older brother grants her the freedom to pursue the causes she believes in. Her devotion to both her family and her principles is admirable.

What I find less admirable is her tendency to be foolhardy. It seems to be a trait many authors assign to female characters intended to be perceived as “strong.” Rosalynd repeatedly places herself in obviously dangerous situations and then resents being rescued by the hero. To me, true strength includes recognizing genuine danger and taking sensible precautions. Instead, Rosalynd often acts recklessly and then berates the very person who saves her. I had hoped this tendency would diminish in later books, but it appears to continue. It isn’t enough to stop me from reading the series, but it does leave me wondering why authors rely on this particular character trope so often.

The Duke of Steele is a compelling hero. Handsome, intelligent, and influential, he takes his responsibilities in Parliament very seriously and understands how to wield his power effectively. A widower who lost both his wife and child in childbirth years ago, he has sworn never to marry again. He has two brothers: Philip, the youngest, who takes center stage in the next book, and Nicholas, the middle brother, who plays a significant role in this one. I’m looking forward to seeing how the family dynamics evolve as the series progresses.

I enjoyed this book both in print and audio format. The narrator has a wonderfully smooth, mellow voice, and her delivery is well-paced and highly expressive. She does an excellent job bringing the story and characters to life.

Overall, this was an enjoyable introduction to a new author, and I’m eager to continue with the series to see where both the mysteries and relationships lead.

Happy Reading!

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