ARC Feature Post and Book Review: The Shop on Hidden Lane by Jayne Ann Krentz

Book Description

The Harper and the Wells families have regarded each other with deep suspicion for four generations. The Harpers have been known to offer their psychic talents for less-than-legal purposes, and the powerful Wells clan has a reputation for playing both sides of the street. But for all the years of history and distrust between them, there is a mysterious pact binding the two. They share the responsibility for protecting a long-buried and very dangerous secret.

Sophy Harper and Luke Wells are shocked to learn that her aunt and his uncle have been sleeping together—and now they are both missing. Not only that, but the last traces of them are at the scene of a murder soaked in negative paranormal energy. Clearly, someone is willing to kill to obtain the secret their families have been charged with protecting. Despite their mutual distrust, which, as far as Sophy is concerned extends to Luke’s hellhound of a dog, they both know that the terms of the pact must be honored.

Their investigation uncovers a psychic trail leading to a bizarre desert art colony where nothing is as it seems. But Luke and Sophy are concealing a few secrets, too. By a strange twist of fate, a Harper and a Wells have no choice but to trust each other and the fierce attraction that is binding them as surely as the pact between the families.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/231203825-the-shop-on-hidden-lane?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=sHClCkLpBg&rank=1

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My Book Review

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

THE SHOP ON HIDDEN LANE by Jayne Ann Krentz is hopefully the start of a new romantic suspense/paranormal series in the Jayneverse featuring two generational psychic families, the Harpers and the Wells, suspicious of each other but tied by a pact protecting a long-buried secret. If you love the other psychic/paranormal series in the Jayneverse, you will be excited for this new set of characters in present day Fogg Lake.

Sophie Harper is not happy about Luke Wells showing up to hire her to psychically read and clean a crime scene for him. When Sophie discovers her missing aunt and Luke’s missing uncle are together, they reluctantly pair up to find them. Sophie’s ability to read past crime scenes and Luke’s ability to connect seemingly random dots in a problem are perfect for the hunt as well as the nose of Luke’s dog, Bruce.

This story brings together supernatural elements from several past books and series from the Jayneverse; the Arcane Society, the Bluestone Project, and the disaster at Fogg Lake. Sophie and Luke, like many couples in Jayne’s books, seem to be completely incompatible, but are actually perfect for each other. The dialogue is always entertaining with Sophie’s sass and Luke’s low-key wit. While I wait for the next dustbunny in Harmony, I was excited to meet Bruce and look forward to discovering more about his past and current abilities. The suspense plot is full of twists, surprises, and comes to a satisfying conclusion.

I am always happy to curl up with and disappear into a Jayne Ann Krentz book. I know the crime will be solved and two disparate souls will find their perfect match. I highly recommend this new book in the Jayneverse and cannot wait for more.

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About the Author

Jayne Ann Krentz is the author of more than fifty New York Times bestsellers. She has written contemporary romantic suspense novels under that name and futuristic and historical romance novels under the pseudonyms Jayne Castle and Amanda Quick, respectively. Jayne currently lives in Seattle, WA.

Social Media Links

Website: https://jayneannkrentz.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JayneAnnKrentz

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayneannkrentzauthor/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-shop-on-hidden-lane-by-jayne-ann-krentz

Book Review: Have a Bear-y Little Christmas by Roxie Ray

Book Description

When a grizzly shifter and a human woman collide at the town ice rink, Christmas gets complicated—fast.

They’re both single parents. Both a little broken. And both about to find out that fate doesn’t care about timing—it only cares about love.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/244210172-have-a-bear-y-little-christmas?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=Cs0TvsW4yv&rank=1

***

My Book Review

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

HAVE A BEAR-Y LITTLE CHRISTMAS by Roxie Ray is a beautiful paranormal romance story featuring a grizzly bear shifter widowed father of two young girls and a single human mom of a young son who has entered remission from cancer. The holiday season theme is prevalent as the time of the first meeting and then renewed over the two-year span of the story. This is a standalone Christmas holiday romance with all the adult relationship emotional ups and downs and three young characters who are all enchanting.

Jeannie Wolfe is a single mom with a young son in cancer remission. Their financial situation is difficult, but Jeannie is determined to give Max as normal as possible Christmas now that he is home.

Remington LeBeau has been widowed for eighteen months and even though he and his two young daughters had been waiting for their mother’s death from a genetic disease, it has taken time to adjust to their new normal. He has tried to make the transition as easy on his girls as possible and only focused on them.

Jeannie and Remington both decide to take their children to a free community skate. When one of Remington’s girls is injured, Max comes to the rescue. The three children instantly form a bond which leads to Remington and Jeannie spending more time together. Jeannie is reluctant, with her past overshadowing her present and Remington is not sure if he is ready for another romance, besides his bear-y secret, but the children are determined to become one happy family.

I really loved this paranormal romance. It did not follow the usual path but really dug into complex feelings that both Jeannie and Remington are dealing with and the children had issues of their own which were integrated beautifully into the story. The shifter revelation in the story was a new and pleasant take on the discovery for me. This book is not an easy holiday romance, but it really pulls you into hard, realistic relationship issues in an empathetic way. The love of family is the guiding light of this story with fully developed characters that shine.

I highly recommend this holiday paranormal shifter romance!

***

About the Authors

Roxie Ray is a collective of romance authors known for steamy, imaginative Paranormal & Alien Romance, specializing in shifter, vampire, and alien love stories with found family, strong alphas, and fantasy worlds. They’ve penned numerous popular series like Black Claw DragonsBears of Forest Heights, and Lunarian Warriors, offering readers a blend of magic, action, and heartwarming romance. 

Key Aspects of Roxie Ray’s Work:

  • Genre Focus: Paranormal Romance, Alien Romance, Sci-Fi Romance, Fantasy Romance, often featuring shifter and vampire themes.
  • Common Tropes: Soft/kind alphas, curvy heroines, found family, slow-burn romance, and magical elements in everyday settings.
  • Writing Style: A group effort, aiming for steamy, captivating stories with intricate plots and emotional depth.

Book Tour/Feature Post and Mini Book Review: Hummingbird Moonrise by Sherri L. Dodd

Hi, everyone!

Today I am sharing my Feature Post and Mini Book Review for HUMMINGBIRD MOONRISE: A Witch Paranormal Murder Mystery (Murder, Tea & Crystals Book #3) by Sherri L. Dodd on this Black Tide Book Tour.

Below you will find a book summary, my mini book review, an about the author section, and the author’s social media links. Enjoy!

***

Book Summary

The past two years have taken their toll on Arista Kelly. Once an eternal optimist, now she has faced the darkness and must recalibrate what true happiness means for her. Meanwhile, Shane, her ex-boyfriend, is pulling all the right moves to help keep her sane from her heightening paranoia. But it doesn’t help that Iris, her Great Aunt Bethie’s friend, has disappeared.

Still, one additional trial remains. While searching for Iris, Bethie and Arista stumble upon a grand revelation in the eccentric woman’s home. With the discovery, they realize their run of chaos and loss of kin may have roots in a curse that dates back to the 1940s-the time when their family patriarch first built Arista’s cottage in the redwoods and crafted his insightful Ouija table.

This pursuit will not follow their accustomed recipe of adrenalized action, but the high stakes remain. Will the mysterious slow burn of unfolding events finally level Arista’s entire world or be fully extinguished, once and for all?

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/234758707-hummingbird-moonrise?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=zvcReBtjgV&rank=1

Universal link for the book on Amazon

***

My Mini Book Review

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

HUMMINGBIRD MOONRISE: A Witch Paranormal Murder Mystery (Murder, Tea & Crystals Book #3) by Sherri L. Dodd is the final mystery/YA paranormal book of the trilogy. While I found this book the most captivating of the three, they are still best read in order due to Arista’s emotional growth as well as her increased paranormal powers.

Arista Kelly has changed over the last two years. While she has grown emotionally and into more of her powers, she is also not the eternal optimist she was before she faced the darkness of her uncle and all that he sends after her. Now, her great-aunt Bethie’s friend has disappeared and when they investigate her home, they discover a curse that involves both their families that go back to the 1940s. This is when the family patriarch built the infamous and insightful family Ouija table and Arista’s cabin among the redwoods. Now they have some insight into fateful family choices and a trail to follow to understand how this all has impacted Arista’s present.

Arista is the heart of all the books in the trilogy, but she truly is empowered in this story. Her endurance, grief, pain, forgiveness, and overall love demonstrate her strength and can be as transformative as any spell the young witch may use. While there is no shortage of drama in this third book, there is also a feeling of warmth and love as Arista’s and Shane’s relationship truly develops and the mystery plot comes to an emotional conclusion.

A strong and satisfying conclusion to the Murder, Tea & Crystals trilogy.

***

About the Author

Sherri was raised in southeast Texas. Walking barefoot most days and catching crawdads as they swam the creek beds, she had a love for all things free and natural. Her childhood ran rampant with talk of ghosts, demons, and backcountry folklore. This inspired her first short story for sale about a poisonous flower that shot toxins onto children as they smelled it. Her classmate bought it for all the change in his pocket. It was not long after that her mother packed the two of them up and headed to the central coast of California. She has ping-ponged throughout the area ever since.

Her first real step into writing was the non-fiction fitness book, Mom Looks Great – The Fitness Program for Moms published in 2005, and maintaining its accompanying blog. Now, transmuting the grief of her father’s passing, she has branched into Fiction, specifically the genre of Paranormal Thriller with generous dashes of Magick Realism! Her Murder, Tea & Crystals Trilogy released book one – Murder Under Redwood Moon – in March 2024. Book two – Moonset on Desert Sands – released in March 2025, and the final book in the series will release October 2025!

Social Media Links

Website: https://sherridodd.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SolisRedhead/#

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/hummingbird-moonrise-by-sherri-l-dodd

Book Tour/Feature Post and Mini Book Review: Moonset on Desert Sands by Sherri L. Dodd

Hi, everyone!

Today I am sharing my Feature Post and Book Review for MOONSET ON DESERT SANDS: A Witch Paranormal Murder Mystery (Murder, Tea & Crystals Book #2) by Sherri L. Dodd on this Black Tour Book Tour.

Below you will find a book summary, my mini book review, an about the author section, and the author’s social media links. Enjoy!

***

Book Summary

With a traumatic year of fending off a serial killer behind her, Arista has settled contentedly into her temporary home with Auntie in Sedona, Arizona. She enjoys her new job selling all things metaphysical and even has her eye on the hot security guard, Dakota, after her recent breakup with Shane.

But a series of new fainting spells has her worried, and when Auntie witnesses one, they decide the answer lies in her home of Boulder Creek. However, returning means not only dealing with her breakup and its heartache but also the possibility of drawing her bloodthirsty Uncle Fergus to her once safe haven in the redwoods. And this time he has recruited an even more dangerous alliance.

Arista’s closest bonds will be strengthened, but the mounting tension of a death in the desert, a stalker on the streets, and the relentless pursuit of Fergus puts her in dangerous territory, and escaping sorrow proves impossible.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/221550238-moonset-on-desert-sands?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=O4DsIAkDLr&rank=1

***

My Mini Book Review

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

MOONSET ON DESERT SANDS: A Witch Paranormal Murder Mystery (Murder, Tea & Crystals Book #2) by Sherri L. Dodd is an emotional mystery/YA paranormal romance mash-up and the second book in the trilogy. I feel this trilogy is best read in order due to Arista’s continued increase in paranormal powers and emotional growth, and the overall trilogy plot of her uncle seeking her elimination.

A year has passed, and Arista and her aunt are in Sedona to get away from the horror of the murder in the first book in the trilogy, Murder under Redwood Moon. This story has Arista in peril as always from her Uncle Fergus, but it also has her facing many emotionally devastating moments in her life. This installment of the trilogy has danger and death, but I felt it is more focused on the changes in Arista personally and her growth. The crime plot and Arista’s personal life are all intertwined and kept me turning the pages, but there is a slightly slow portion about a third of the way through, but it picks up and is well paced with suspense after. This is an easy-to-read book, and I feel it is geared more to the YA paranormal reader.

I look forward to reading the last book of this trilogy.

***

About the Author

Sherri was raised in southeast Texas. Walking barefoot most days and catching crawdads as they swam the creek beds, she had a love for all things free and natural. Her childhood ran rampant with talk of ghosts, demons, and backcountry folklore. This inspired her first short story for sale about a poisonous flower that shot toxins onto children as they smelled it. Her classmate bought it for all the change in his pocket. It was not long after that her mother packed the two of them up and headed to the central coast of California. She has ping-ponged throughout the area ever since.

Her first real step into writing was the non-fiction fitness book, Mom Looks Great – The Fitness Program for Moms published in 2005, and maintaining its accompanying blog. Now, transmuting the grief of her father’s passing, she has branched into Fiction, specifically the genre of Paranormal Thriller with generous dashes of Magick Realism! Her Murder, Tea & Crystals Trilogy released book one – Murder Under Redwood Moon – in March 2024. Book two – Moonset on Desert Sands – released in March 2025, and the final book in the series will release October 2025!

Social Media Links

Website: https://sherridodd.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SolisRedhead/#

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/murder-under-redwood-moon-by-sherri-l-dodd

Book Tour/Feature Post and Book Review: Murder Under Redwood Moon: A Witch Paranormal Murder Mystery by Sherri L. Dodd

Hi, everyone!

Today I am sharing my Feature Post and Book Review for MURDER UNDER REDWOOD MOON: A Witch Paranormal Murder Mystery (Murder, Tea & Crystals Book #1) by Sherri L. Dodd on this Black Tide Book Tour.

Below you will find a book summary, my book review, an about the author section, and the author’s social media links. Enjoy!

***

Book Summary

At the age of eight, Arista Kelly was frantically swept up by her parents and whisked off to an isolated town in the California redwoods. Two days later, her parents were gone.

Now at the age of twenty-three, she has settled quite nicely into an eclectic lifestyle, much like her great aunt, and guardian since childhood, Bethie. She enjoys the use of herbs and crystals to help her commune with the energy and nature around her and finds pleasure in the company of her beloved pet, Royal. Usually quite satisfied with her mundane life high in the Santa Cruz Mountains, life becomes unsettling when a new recurring vision of an ominous tattoo as well as increased activity from the ghostly presence within her own cottage invade her once-harmonious existence.

But life in this mountain sanctuary takes an even darker turn when the body of Arista’s former classmate is found in the nearby river. As other young women fall prey to a suspected serial killer, Arista realizes that the terror is coming to her.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206022905-murder-under-redwood-moon?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=JAtu619bzF&ra

Universal link for the book on Amazon

***

My Book Review

RATING: 4 out of 5 Stars

MURDER UNDER REDWOOD MOON: A Witch Paranormal Murder Mystery (Murder, Tea & Crystals Book #1) by Sherri L. Dodd is a paranormal romance/murder mystery and the first book in this trilogy. This is an interesting mix of a young adult white witch coming into her more advanced powers, finding love, and a serial killer crime mystery all intertwined.

Arista has grown up and learned of witchcraft since the age of eight with her father’s aunt. The family has a history of paranormal powers being passed down through the generations and they believe Arista will be the strongest of them all. When girls Arista knows are found murdered, she and her aunt take measures to protect themselves, but it may not be enough to turn back the attraction of a killer set on Arista.

This first book in the trilogy does have a complete solution to this murder mystery, but the overarching family plot with Arista’s dark magic uncle looking for her is only partially answered. This book was a mixed bag for me, but still strong enough for me to continue reading the trilogy. The beginning felt as though a lot of information and too many characters were being introduced to close together, but it begins to settle down and is easier to read about a quarter of the way through. Also, while the information about crystals, magic, spells, and nature were interesting for some reason the author keeps interjecting how all the young male characters are devout Catholics, which did not seem pertinent and makes Arista’s boyfriend, Shane, a bit of a stretch. The romance is mild and gave me the feeling that this trilogy is better targeted at a young adult readership than a more mature paranormal romance reader.

This is an entertaining, easy-to-read paranormal book and I will continue the trilogy to discover what happens to Arista in future books.

***

About the Author

Sherri was raised in southeast Texas. Walking barefoot most days and catching crawdads as they swam the creek beds, she had a love for all things free and natural. Her childhood ran rampant with talk of ghosts, demons, and backcountry folklore. This inspired her first short story for sale about a poisonous flower that shot toxins onto children as they smelled it. Her classmate bought it for all the change in his pocket. It was not long after that her mother packed the two of them up and headed to the central coast of California. She has ping-ponged throughout the area ever since.

Her first real step into writing was the non-fiction fitness book, Mom Looks Great – The Fitness Program for Moms published in 2005, and maintaining its accompanying blog. Now, transmuting the grief of her father’s passing, she has branched into Fiction, specifically the genre of Paranormal Thriller with generous dashes of Magick Realism! Her Murder, Tea & Crystals Trilogy released book one – Murder Under Redwood Moon – in March 2024. Book two – Moonset on Desert Sands – released in March 2025, and the final book in the series will release October 2025!

Social Media Links

Website: https://sherridodd.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/SolisRedhead/#

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/murder-under-redwood-moon-by-sherri-l-dodd

Feature Post and Book Review: It Takes a Psychic by Jayne Castle

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DG1GK7Y5

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley

Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 3, 2025

Language ‏ : ‎ English

Print length ‏ : ‎ 316 pages 

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593639962

Book Description

Leona Griffin is at the height of her career as a para-archeologist thanks to a recent Underworld discovery. Her high profile attracts the attention of an organization of elite, secretive collectors. They want her to authenticate the artifacts that aspiring members submit as evidence to join their group. The ceremony takes place at a glittering reception where Leona is shocked to discover that one of the relics is a powerful Old-World object known as Pandora’s Box. But she’s not the only one interested in that artifact.

Oliver Rancourt, a man with a unique talent—they say you never see him coming—is also there. Leona knows she must not underestimate him. Attempting to make a discreet exit, she stumbles over the body of a waiter wearing the emblem of a dangerous cult. Before she can alert authorities, a police raid sends the reception into chaos. To avoid being arrested, Leona slips away with Oliver—a risky decision that gets her fired.

Now forced to work together, Leona and Oliver pursue an investigation that leads them to the town of Lost Creek where the locals are obsessed with a chilling legend involving a long-dead cult leader and illicit paranormal experiments. But Leona knows the real danger may be the irresistible attraction between herself and Oliver.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/218460334-it-takes-a-psychic?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=yMPRWjBSnQ&rank=1

***

My Book Review

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

IT TAKES A PSYCHIC (Ghost Hunter Book #17) by Jayne Castle is another exciting and fun addition to the Ghost Hunter series. All these books can be read as standalone paranormal romances, but this one does tie back to People in Glass Houses, Book #16 with the heroines of both stories being sisters.

Para-archeologist Leona Griffin is still riding the wave of her celebrity from her recent discoveries in the Underworld when she is asked to authenticate items at a meeting for membership in a secretive organization. From the moment she arrives, she has a bad feeling about this group, especially when the final object for her to authenticate is the infamous Old World object Pandora’s Box.

Oliver Rancourt is also at the meeting and has an interest in Pandora’s Box. While the other attendees all seem to ignore him, Leona not only sees him, but feels he is watching her. And she is right. Oliver has a unique ability to blend in and seem to disappear, which is perfect for retrieving his stolen property, but Leona’s ability to see him has intrigued him.

When Leona tries to make a discrete exit, she discovers a dead server wearing the symbol of a dangerous cult around her neck. Before she can alert anyone, a police raid occurs. Oliver shows up at her side and rather than be arrested, they slip away. Oliver has Pandora’s Box, which he tells Leona was stolen from him and when they open it, it has, in addition to its original contents, a strange golden pyramid inside.

Leona and Oliver work together to uncover secrets about the long dead cult leader and the illegal paranormal experiments. The attraction grows between the two, but they are both hiding secrets about their psychic profiles. The answer to questions about Leona and her sister’s past may be within reach, but can Oliver and Leona stay alive to find them.

I wait anxiously for each new installment in this long running series. Not only for a fun, intriguing new pair of romantic protagonists, but also for the new dustbunny. Roxy and her blue fascinator did not disappoint. There was a good amount of heat and chemistry between Leona and Oliver that grew believably over the course of the story, and even though there is sexual intercourse, it is a smaller part of this story than in other books in this series. These books are always a great mash-up of paranormal romance, mystery, and adventure in Harmony.

I highly recommend this addition to the series and would recommend the entire series to anyone. Long live dustbunnies!

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About the Author

Jayne Castle, the author of Guild BossIllusion Town, Siren’s CallThe Hot ZoneDeception CoveThe Lost NightCanyons of NightMidnight CrystalObsidian PreyDark LightSilver MasterGhost HunterAfter Glow, and After Dark, is a pseudonym for Jayne Ann Krentz, the author of more than fifty New York Times bestsellers. She writes contemporary romantic suspense novels under the Krentz name, as well as historical novels under the pseudonym Amanda Quick.

Social Media Links

Website: https://www.jayneannkrentz.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JayneAnnKrentz

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/it-takes-a-psychic-by-jayne-castle-and-jayne-ann-krentz

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593639944/?bestFormat=true&k=it%20takes%20a%20psychic%20jayne%20castle&ref_=nb_sb_ss_w_scx-ent-pd