Category: Book Publicity

Christmas Wishes of Love by Julie Johnstone

On By TracyIn Book Publicity, Christmas, Medieval (1066-1540), Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Novella, Part of a Series, Scottish/Highlander, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

Christmas Wishes of Love (Highlander Vows- Entangled Hearts Book 11)Christmas Wishes of Love by Julie Johnstone

Tracy’s Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Series: Highlander Vows: Entangled Hearts #11

Release Date: December 1, 2025

When she was just a child, Lillith MacLeod made a wish that she would never suffer from a broken heart after seeing how unhappy her father was after losing her mother. Since that day, Lillith has dedicated herself to becoming a warrior for her clan and has made it clear that she has no plans to marry. Lucky for her, her father found love, remarried and promised that Lillith and her twin sister Lenora would be able to choose their own husbands. But that promise may be in danger of being broken, when the king demands that MacLeods end their feud with the Matheson clan by marriage! The king has declared that Rory Matheson, the heir to the Matheson laird can choose his bride between the two sisters. And after being accidentally shot with an arrow by Lillith, it is clear that he won’t be choosing her, he wants a biddable wife.

This royal decree has ramifications, if the clans do no abide the king’s command, they will lose lands and power, but if Iain MacLeod agrees and forces one of his granddaughter to wed Rory, then the cost could be his marriage, as his wife, as well as several of his other womenfolk are adamantly opposed to forcing the girls to wed. Lucky for him, the women have a plan to scare Rory off and shift the blame for the failed clan merger on the Mathesons. Lillith is more than happy to torment Rory, since she has no desire to ever get married, but why does he have to be so handsome and likable?

I really enjoyed this novella, it was well-written and nicely paced and I felt that the relationship between Lillith and Rory progressed at a believable pace. If you love a low/no steam, enemies to lovers romance, then this book is for you! This book is linked to the Highlander Vows: Entangled Hearts Series, but it could easily be read as a standalone title with no problems.

*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. *

Witches of Dubious Origin by Jenn McKinlay *BLOG TOUR*

On By TracyIn Blog Tour, Book Publicity, Contemporary, First Person Narrative, New To Me Author, Paranormal / Fantasy, Standalone Title, Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

When a librarian discovers she’s descended from a long line of powerful witches, she’ll need all of her bookish knowledge to harness her family’s magic, in this enchanting cozy fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay.

Zoe Ziakas enjoys a quiet life, working as a librarian in her quaint New England town. When a mysterious black book with an unbreakable latch is delivered to the library, Zoe has a strange feeling the tome is somehow calling to her. She decides to consult the Museum of Literature, home to volumes of indecipherable secrets, some possessing dark magic that must be guarded.

Here, among their most dangerous collection, the Books of Dubious Origin, Zoe discovers that she is the last descendant of a family of witches and this little black book is their grimoire. Zoe knows she must decode the family’s spell book and solve the mystery of what happened to her mother and her grandmother. However, the book’s potential power draws all things magical to it, and Zoe finds herself under the constant watch of a pesky raven, while being chased by undead Vikings, ghost pirates, and assorted ghouls.

With assistance from the eccentric staff of the Books of Dubious Origin department—including their annoyingly smart and handsome containment specialist, Jasper Griffin—Zoe must confront her past and the legacy of her family. But as their adventure unfolds, she’ll have to decide whether or not she’s ready to embrace her destiny.

 

About the Author

Jenn McKinlay is the award-winning, New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of several mystery and romance series. Her work has been translated into multiple languages in countries all over the world. She lives in sunny Arizona in a house that is overrun with kids, pets, and her husband’s guitars.

Tracy’s Review

Witches of Dubious OriginWitches of Dubious Origin by Jenn McKinlay

Tracy’s Rating: 3 of 5 stars

Series: Standalone Title

Release Date: October 28, 2025

Zoanne “Zoe” Ziakas, a small-town librarian with a major sugar addiction in her late-30s, finds herself at the center of a magical mystery when a family spellbook appears out of nowhere. The story takes her to a curious museum full of odd magical books, where she learns about her witchy heritage and faces supernatural trouble including magical libraries, ghostly pirates, and a raven that won’t leave Zoe alone.

I really wanted to love this book, but the plot moves at a slow pace and the FPN makes it all but impossible to really understand the other characters, but it does pick up speed towards the end. Overall, I came for romantasy and left with a rather vanilla cozy fantasy sans romance.

*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. *