The Vanishing Viscount by Jane Charles

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

The Vanishing Viscount (Magic and Mystery Book 2)The Vanishing Viscount by Jane Charles

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: Magic & Mystery, #2 AND The Witches’ Ball, #1

Release Date: August 22, 2023

At the tender age of 15, Lady Clara Westcott fell irrevocably in love with Pierce Drakos, Viscount Harcourt, and the heir to the Earl of Wharton. Normally a lovesick schoolgirl would not be noteworthy, but Clara is no ordinary young lady, Clara is a witch, and unfortunately for Pierce Clara’s magic seems to be a bit wonky whenever he is around her. Clara is horrified by the mishaps and for the next five years does her best to avoid him. It is not a perfect solution, but it is the best she can do, that and hope with time the mishaps will stop. But when she is invited to the Witches’ Ball at Nightshade Manor in Bocka Morrow there will be no avoiding him and it seems as if the mishaps have intensified, especially when she has to watch the object of her undying affection spending time with other marriageable ladies who were also invited to the ball!

Since the marriage of his younger brother, Pierce’s mother has clearly decided that it is time for him to settle down with a nice witch and start a family of his own, thus the Witches’ Ball. His mother has invited several eligible young ladies, all from magical families to attend the ball and has told Pierce in no uncertain terms that he is expected to find himself a bride. Unfortunately, the only witch that captures his interest is the one witch who seems to do her utmost best to avoid him. But Pierce will not be deterred by a few magical mishaps and places himself in her proximity. But once he realizes that the mishaps are directed at him, will he walk away from the woman he has come to love or will they find a way to have their HEA?

What a great novella! I love visiting the magical town of Bocka Morrow and the surrounding estates, especially Nightshade Manor, and this story certainly did not disappoint! A delightfully charming tale filled with magic, wonderful characters, laugh-out-loud magical mishaps, a slow-burn romance, secrets, a bit of heartache, and finally a very sweet start to their HEA complete with an epilogue. This is the second book in the Ms. Charles Magic & Mystery series, but it is also the first book in the Witches’ Ball series, which is a new author collaboration series! I happily recommend this title and am looking forward to upcoming installments of the Witches’ Ball series!

*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.*

Payback in Death by J.D. Robb

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Futuristic, Mystery, Part of a SeriesLeave a comment

Payback in Death (In Death, #57)Barbara’s rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Series: In Death #57
Publication Date: 9/5/23
Period: Future New York City – 2061 or so
Number of Pages: 368

WOW! This long-running series is one of the best I have ever read, and I hope it continues for a long time to come. This fifty-seventh book is just as fresh and engrossing as the first one was. I’m not one to re-read books, but I have re-read the first three books in this series many times – just because those are the books that establish Roarke and Eve as a couple and set up the characters and background for the rest of the series. Also, don’t let the fact that it takes place in the future keep you from giving the books a try. Yes, the setting is in the future, but that is just an auxiliary fact – window dressing – to a superbly written mystery with wonderful characters and a tad of wit and humor sprinkled throughout to add to your enjoyment. Then, there is the romance – goodness – romance writers take note – if you want to write a toe-curling, heart-singing, sizzling romance read these books for the ultimate example.

Eve and Roarke are in for a crashing end to the vacation they took to celebrate their third anniversary. After long, romantic, sunny days on an island and then the beautiful, lush greens of Ireland, they return to the heat of crowded New York. Eve enjoyed her vacation, but she loves New York and her job as a Homicide Lieutenant in the New York Police and Security Division. She’s darn good at that job – probably the best there is – and that is how she came to be specially requested to handle the case of an apparent suicide. Lieutenant Donald Webster, Internal Affairs Bureau, is sure his old friend and mentor, retired Captain Martin Greenleaf, did not kill himself and he wants to assure justice for his friend.

Within minutes of arriving on the scene, Eve is also convinced that Martin Greenleaf did not kill himself. Martin had a warm, loving family – so – could the murder have something to do with work? He’s been retired for years, so that isn’t likely – or is it? As head of the Internal Affairs Bureau, Martin had a reputation as a by-the-book, no-gray-areas cop that many didn’t like, but most respected. Those who didn’t respect him were those who had broken their oaths to protect and serve.

We all know Eve never gives up, but this case frustrated her. Every thread she pulled led nowhere. She just knows the answer is buried somewhere in his past, but can’t find any connections. Until she does. Then she and her team are off and running to bring the villains down. With a villain who is so supremely self-confident that there is no way the NYPSD can ever link them to the victim, the interview room at cop central gets pretty heated.

I can definitely recommend this book! This author! This series! Each book is an exciting, perplexing case that can be read as a standalone. However, to truly understand the dynamics among the characters, the location, etc. (and to get some of the humor), you’ll definitely want to read at least the first three (maybe four) books first. If you are looking for excitement, suspense, mystery, and romance this is the book for you!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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