Tuesday, May 14, 2019

Review: Shadows in the Mist (Booke of the Hidden #3) by Jeri Westerson

Book Blurb:

Small town tea shop proprietor Kylie Strange already has a lot on her plate. The last thing she needs is more trouble to spring up from the mystical Booke of the Hidden. Keeping one step ahead of a scheming demon, supernatural assassins, and Baphomet—an angry god hellbent on stealing the Booke—it’s all more than enough for one person to handle. And that’s without mentioning her competing affections for the handsome and human Sheriff Ed and the demon Erasmus Dark. But soon enough, Kylie and her coven hear whispers of new disturbances in Moody Bog. Strange creatures have been stalking the townsfolk through the fog and rumors of violent encounters confirm their deadly intent. Worst of all, the Booke of the Hidden is not to blame, and no one is sure who is. Kylie and her coven of wiccans need to prioritize. Which is worse? The mysterious and lethal figures in the mist, or Baphomet, who—if he gets his way—will unleash Hell on Earth onto oblivious little Moody Bog.

Find out more about the Booke of the Hidden Series on Goodreads

My Review:

5 Out Of 5 Stars

Genre: Mystery, Romance, Scary, Supernatural, Suspense, Urban Fantasy, Werewolves, Witches, Zombies--

Kylie has so much on her plate, be it her missing demon protector/lover, the angry god on the rampage, the flying demon who wants to kill her, the random dangerous creatures that keep popping out of the Booke which now includes a ghoul, oh and now there is a pack of zombie Vikings on the prowl. Luckily she has people on her side, a whole coven of them, as well as an overwhelmed sheriff and an ex-boyfriend turned werewolf (wereJeff!). Now let's see if Kylie can make it through the day.

“I don’t suppose you cook.”

“Since I don’t eat, there is very little need for me to cook.”

“Souls are best served raw, huh?”

He scowled. Okay, so that wasn’t in the best of taste, having your food talk back to you. It was only a little gallows humor to cut the tension.

I love this book, this series really, so much that I wish they were all out so I could just binge on them to my hearts desire and then be sad it was all over. Jeri has the ability to create scenes that are full of horror, danger, blood, romance, and tons of surprising, dark humor- and sometimes all mixed together, and I have no idea what kind of magic she has to make it all work so well. Her timing and pacing is absolutely perfect (hmm, maybe Jeri made a deal with a certain demon for this...) and The Booke of the Hidden series has jumped into the running for my favorite Urban Fantasy series.

And while it was not the focus of the book (but maybe my focus) there was something like a love square in the story. Normally I hate love triangles in a story, but the flair and humor that Jeri gives her characters made it totally worthwhile. Kylie has a hard choice in front of her, having to figure out her feelings for the men she inadvertently has to juggle. Be it the brooding, smoldery demon Erasmus who has questionable motives and can't stop lying, reliable and trust worthy sheriff Ed, or even the surprising attention from her Ex Jeff (WereJeff! Sorry, it's my favorite nickname and makes me snicker.) that was turned into a werewolf when he came to apologize for his past behaviors and now has morphed into a decent (were)person.

I blew through the story in a single day because I just could not put the book down. It was easy to get lost in the world and connect to Kylie and her struggles, only a few weeks has past in the series, but it feels like I have know all the random Scooby gang forever. I will try to patiently wait for the next book to come out, which I am sad that it might be the last, but I guess I can console myself with rereading the series while I am waiting. I highly recommend picking up the series, starting with Booke of the Hidden first, for anyone who likes urban fantasy, horror and paranormal romance.

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Catch up on the Booke of the Hidden Series

Book Blurb:

“Westerson creates an utterly believable history of witches, demons, and magic for her claustrophobic New England village including a heroine with enough spark, smarts, and stubbornness to keep both the bad guys and the deliciously dangerous love-interest on their toes.” —Kat Richardson, author of the Greywalker series

After a relationship gone bad in California, Kylie Strange moves to rural Maine for a fresh start. But she gets more than she bargained for when she finds a supernatural book bricked into the wall of her new tea shop, Strange Herbs and Teas. As soon as she opens the Booke of the Hidden, the quiet town of Moody Bog suddenly becomes a lot more interesting.

First the mysterious and handsome Erasmus Dark shows up unannounced, claiming to be a demon and warning Kylie of untold destruction. She waves him off, until a museum proprietor turns up dead, and the sheriff targets Kylie as a suspect. With the help of Erasmus and a ragtag group of local Wiccans, Kylie unravels the Booke's secrets, and they begin to believe the culprit is someone--or something--much more sinister than a run-of-the mill human murderer.

Award-winning author Jeri Westerson crafts a tale of magic, murder, and romance, drawing us into the mystical world that surrounds Strange Herbs and Teas.

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Book Blurb:

Deadly Rising

A Booke of the Hidden Novel #2

by Jeri Westerson

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Pub Date: 10/23/18

Things were quiet in Strange Herbs & Teas. For about a week.

Our crossbow slinging hero and her ragtag gang of Wiccans have earned some rest. But when Kylie learns that the Booke may have released not one, but two creatures of horror out into the world, it’s up to her to save Moody Bog. Again.

Calling upon the devilishly handsome demon Erasmus once more for help, Kylie’s determined to handle the mischief of the Booke and go back to a normal life. But when digging through Moody Bog’s history leads her to the ghost of her grandfather, the past she once knew is turned upside down.

Can Kylie save the town and her grandfather, or will the horrors of the Booke be too much to handle?

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You can read my 5 Star review of Deadly Rising HERE

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Author Bio:

Los Angeles native and award-winning author Jeri Westerson writes the critically acclaimed Crispin Guest Medieval Mysteries, historical novels, paranormal novels, and LGBT mysteries. To date, her medieval mysteries have garnered twelve industry award nominations, from the Agatha to the Shamus. Kirkus Review said of her latest Crispin Guest Medieval Mystery A MAIDEN WEEPING, “Once again Guest’s past misdeeds actually help him in the present in a case that includes plenty of red herrings and an interesting look at medieval jurisprudence.” Jeri is former president of the SoCal chapter of Mystery Writers of America and frequently guest lectures on medieval history at local colleges and museums. She lives in southern California with her home-brewing husband, a complacent tortoise, and 40,000 bees.
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