Category: Young Adult

Magic in the Music by Jane Charles

On By TracyIn Georgian Era (1714-1837), Historical Paranormal/Fantasy, Paranormal / Fantasy, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820), Series Crossover, Tracy's Reviews, Young AdultLeave a comment

Magic in the Music (Magic and Mystery #4)Magic in the Music by Jane Charles

Tracy’s Rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

Series: Magic and Mystery, #4

Release Date: July 22, 2025

Cassian Jourdain is the non-magical foster son of the Earl and Countess of St Alban and has lived most of his life in Bocka Morrow, but what most people don’t know is that he is the displaced Comte de Rohan. His mother was able to smuggle Cassian and his sister Nina out of France during the Terror, but their ship is wrecked near Bocka Morrow, on the Cornish coast. Sadly, his mother was lost and his sister gravely injured, but Cassian made a deal to save his sister’s life and that bargain, he assumed tied him to Bocka Morrow for life. But recent events have changed everything, and he might have the chance to return to France and reclaim his birthright. Which he wants more than anything, especially since meeting Lady Samantha Ellis at the Halloween ball held at Nightshade Manor. He would love to court her, but without restoring his estates, he has nothing to offer her. And tries to keep his distance, especially since she has made her interest in him clear and his adopted family is bent on matchmaking.

Lady Samantha Ellis has been at Nightshade Manor for almost two months, first for the Halloween ball and then decided to stay to help the family prepare for her friend Antonia’s wedding. During this time, she has become enamored with Cassian Jourdain, the foster son of her hosts. But Cassian seems to be sending mixed signals – it is clear that he is attracted to her but has made no attempt to court her. Frustrated and a bit heartsick, Samanatha ended up trapped in a mysterious room the Manor and the only person who can see or hear her is Cassian. Will this forced proximity finally give Samanatha the happy ending she has been seeking, or will she be lost?

I love returning to Bocka Morrow and Nightshade Manor, Jane Charles has done a fantastic job building this world and her characters. This story brings back a lot of former characters, matchmaking and plenty of magic. As much as I liked this story, it wasn’t my favorite in the series, I felt like the lack of communication between Samantha and Cassian dragged on for much too long, causing it to be repetitious and frustrating. Overall, it was a good read and book I would be happy to recommend. This is the fourth book in the series and has ties to other series but can easily be read as a standalone title without any issues.

3.5 stars rounded up

*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. *

The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst

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

The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst

Tracy’s Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: The Spellshop #2

Release Date: July 15, 2025

With her love of languages Terlu Perna decided that working at the Great Library of Alyssium would be the perfect job for her, so she moved far from her family to the capital of Alyssium and began working. But she never realized how lonely the job would be, so she cast a spell and created a magically sentient spider plant to be her companion. But only sorcerers were allowed to do magic and despite the support of the head librarian, she was found guilty and the judge decided to make an example of her – Terlu was turned into a statue to be displayed in the Great Library to warn others of the penalty of doing magic.

Terlu believed this was the end of her story, but to her surprise, she wakes one day on a nearly deserted island that is home to an enchanted greenhouse and Yarrow, the grumpy gardener who had asked the government for a sorcerer to help him save the greenhouse, which seemed to be losing its magic. Terlu wants to help, but after learning she was a statue for six years and finally being set free, she is terrified of attempting to doing anything that might see her punished again. But how can she let this wonderful place die or refuse to help the man who set her free and has stolen her heart?

This is a very sweet, heartwarming, cozy fantasy story about second chances, healing and love. Terlu and Yarrow are wonderful, loving, supportive characters who both get a second chance at life. The story has magic, dragons, talking plants, spells that don’t go as planned, a sea serpent, a ghost, found family, reunions, a slow-burn kisses only romance, surprising revelations and a very happy ending. The narrator of the audiobook edition did a wonderful job of giving each character a distinct voice and kept an even cadence throughout the story. My only qualm with the reading was that the narrator occasionally changed the pronunciation of Yarrow’s name, hopefully that will be edited before the book is released. Overall, this was a very sweet story and one I would happily recommend. This is the second book in the series, but I didn’t read the first book and had no problem following this story.

*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. *