Category: Paranormal / Fantasy

The Viscount at Midnight by Jane Charles

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Historical Paranormal/Fantasy, Paranormal / Fantasy, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's Reviews2 Comments

The Viscount at Midnight (Magic and Mystery Book 3)The Viscount at Midnight by Jane Charles

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Magic and Mystery, #3

Release Date: March 26, 2024

Last season, Lady Antonia Kerrigan had hoped that something would develop between herself and Philip Cardwell, Viscount Chedworth, as he seemed interested in her. But thanks to her “gifts” she mistakenly gave him the impression that she was not interested in him and any hope she had for courtship was dashed. But months later they meet again when they both attend the Witches Ball at Nightshade Manor in Bocka Morrow. Antonia stays at the manor after the other guests depart, hoping to find a spell to veil her gift of empathy, which is so overpowering, she can barely tolerate attending social gatherings. While participating in a magical ceremony during the new moon, Antonia accidently recites part of a spell to turn a man into a wolf, never imagining that it would affect anyone!

Philip, Viscount Chedworth is not magical, but he has Drakos blood and is expected to marry a witch, he thought that Lady Antonia might be the perfect candidate. Hoping to court her, he dances with her at each ball they attend, but she always leaves him standing on the dance floor and disappears, refusing to see him when he calls on her. He finally decides she is not interested in him and stops trying to court her, but his feelings aren’t as easy to turn off and when he sees her again at the manor, he wonders if maybe he was wrong. He follows her into the garden when she meets with the other witches and inadvertently becomes the subject of her partial spell. Now he is changing and seems to have formed a bond with Antonia. Their feelings seem real but what is real and what is magic? Until they reverse spell they won’t know, but unfortunately time is running out.

This was another fun and magical addition to the Magic and Mystery series! I loved this story, Antonia and Philip are both wonderful characters who have a true chemistry and work well together. I enjoyed the magical component to this story, returning to Nightshade manor in Bocka Morrow, revisiting previous characters and the happy ending. I do wish there a bit of steam in the story, but if you have read other books then you know why there isn’t any, more’s the pity. If you enjoy a bit of magic and low steam in your historical romance, this series is for you!

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

A Witch of His Own by Nicole Locke

On By TracyIn Author Collaboration Series, Georgian Era (1714-1837), Historical Paranormal/Fantasy, Novella, Paranormal / Fantasy, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Tracy's ReviewsLeave a comment

A Witch of His Own: The Witches' BallA Witch of His Own: The Witches’ Ball by Nicole Locke

Tracy’s rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: The Witches’ Ball, #7

Release Date: October 3, 2023

Since the death of her parents, Joan Holland, a white witch of Winterbarrow Hundred has had a problem. She is no longer willing to help the villagers of Winterbarrow, as she blames them for the death of her parents. Now she can no longer make decisions and feels angry, causing her to change, she fears she is changing into a grey witch – something that has never happened in her family. She is desperate to keep herself a white witch, something she is hoping can be achieved by marrying a man who practices the white arts. Thankfully, she has been invited to the Witches’ Ball in Bocka Morrow. She sets out early, hoping to meet someone before the actual ball, but fate seems to have a different plan for he when her carriage gets stuck in the mud, miles from Nightshade Manor late at night. It is here she meets Branok Flavell, a man who is clearly not a white witch, but intrigues her like no man she has ever met. She feels herself falling for him, but for the sake of her siblings and her parents’ memory, she cannot allow herself to love him, or can she?

Branok Flavell is a ghost layer, but he too is changing and he has no idea how to stop it. He has searched far and wide to find the answer but has had no luck. When he comes upon Joan, he wonders if she could help him, but soon realizes she too is looking for answers. He invites her to his home and promises to help her get to Nightshade Manor the next day. But a late-night conversation changes everything. And Branok begins to think maybe change is exactly what they need, maybe their flaws are not flaws at all, and maybe love is the answer. But will he be able to convince Joan?

This was a good story, I liked Joan and Branok and was rooting for their HEA, but it was very different from the previous stories. I think my issue with the book is that I am not really sure what a “ghost layer” is, I thought it was someone who helped spirits crossover – like the Ghost Whisperer, but there was a brief mention of a “famous” relative who was an exorcist, but that isn’t the same thing and Branok’s problem is nothing like either of those things, so I am completely baffled. Nevertheless, everything works out in the end and the secondary characters were delightful. Overall, despite my confusion, I was happy that Joan and Branok decided to love each other and let the rest sort itself out. This is the seventh installment of the Witches’ Ball author collaboration series, but this story is very loosely connected and could be read as a standalone title with no problems at all!