Book Review and GIVEAWAY: The Witch's Secret, by Stacie Murphy {ends 10/2}

Guest review by: Becki Bayley

Peter took me into Denver City on Christmas Eve. We left at first light, wrapped in buffalo robes against the frigid air, our breath making clouds of mist as the mules plodded along under the brightening sky. We made far better time riding than if we’d brought the wagon and reached town by midday.

From the look of things, every rancher and miner in the territory had come into Denver City for the holiday. The streets were jammed, and as we turned into Wazee Street I worried Bonnie might not have a room for me. There hadn’t been any way to tell her I was coming, and with so many people in town, the temptation to rent out her spare room might have been too much to resist. 

But she looked pleased to see me when I arrived, smiling from across the front room, her hands full of plates. She put the dishes in front of a pair of men at a corner table, then stopped for a moment to speak to a plain-faced young woman wiping up a spill from one of the long trestle tables before making her way over to me.

“Joya! You made it.”

Joya Shaw has had her magic bound and been sent out west after using a forbidden spell. What she had found out, though, was bigger than her own relationships. Not all witches are using their power for good.

Official synopsis:

After using a forbidden spell to wring a confession from her faithless lover, young witch Joya Shaw finds herself stripped of her power and banished to the magical backwater of the Colorado Territory.

But it is 1862, the American Civil War is raging, and going west doesn’t mean leaving the battlefields behind. When Joya arrives at a homesteader’s cabin and discovers the occupants savagely slain, she knows it is no mere murder: traces of demon magic cling to the bodies. When a Union patrol is later wiped out the same way, Joya begins to suspect that someone is trying to create a new weapon for the rebel arsenal.

She gambles that thwarting the plot could be the key to ending her exile. But demon hunting is a dangerous game, and it’s all too easy for the hunter to become the prey. Trapped, Joya enters into an uneasy alliance with a demon. She must find a way to free herself or bend its power to her will. If she fails, she will forfeit not only her life, but also her soul—along with the chance to stop the tide of the war from turning in an unspeakable direction.

Joya starts out trying to do right and serve her time gracefully. A visit to the city reunites her with the ranger who escorted her to her new home, and introduces her to the rest of his special family. Their warm welcome encourages her to return when she can, and her loyalty to them has her wanting to use her magic again to help them.

Unfortunately, evil is already running amok before she arrives. When she notices what’s going on, she does not realize the damage has already started. Without her powers, can she really prevent the destruction of those she’s grown to love?

This was a great historical fiction book with a believable portrayal of the Colorado Territory and how a whole population of witches may be incorporated and involved in the Civil War. The story was well told and earned a high 3 out of 5 stars. It could be recommended to those who like witchy stories and U.S. historical fiction.

{click here to purchase via my Amazon Affiliates link}

Becki Bayley is a wife and mom who also enjoys reading, Legos, and hanging out with her kids. See what else they’re up to on her blog, SweetlyBSquared.com.

GIVEAWAY:

One of my lucky readers will win a copy of The Witch's Secret!

Enter via the widget below. Giveaway will end on Wednesday, October 2nd, at 11:59pm ET, and winner will be notified via email the next day, and have 24 hours to respond, or an alternate winner will be chosen.

U.S. residents only, please.

Good luck!

The Witch's Secret, by Stacie Murphy

Read More

Book Review: Sammy Espinoza's Last Review, by Tehlor Kay Mejia

Guest review by: Becki Bayley

The next morning, I awake with one more plan and zero more texts than I had the night before.

Letting my Max situation and my Paloma situation collide the other night left everything horribly tangled, I can see that now. But now that I know, I vow as I ease reluctantly out of bed, I will separate the threads. Today, I’ll deal with Paloma. Tomorrow, I’ll deal with Max.

And by “deal with him” I mean say goodbye. Brook was right last night – this whole thing has gotten completely out of control. It’s laughable to think I could still be objective about Max’s music after everything that’s happened between us. And trying to be objective about the music of someone I have romantic feelings for is what got me into this mess in the first place.

Sammy is not only finding out who she might have been, she’s learning to fill those roles even as they keep changing.

Official synopsis:

Sammy Espinoza’s life is a raging dumpster fire. Her desperate attempt to win back her singer ex-girlfriend has landed her in hot water at work, and she has one last chance before her editor cuts her column. Luckily, Sammy has a plan to redeem herself, but it won’t be easy.

Rumor has it that Max Ryan, the former rock god, is secretly recording his first-ever solo album years after he dramatically quit performing. And it just so happens that he and Sammy have history: Right before Max got his big break, he and Sammy spent an unforgettable night together.

Exclusive access to Max’s new music would guarantee Sammy’s professional comeback and, even better, give her the opportunity to serve some long-awaited revenge for his traumatic ghosting.

But Max lives in Ridley Falls, Washington, and Sammy has history there as well: a family that never wanted her and a million unanswered questions. Going back would mean confronting it all—but what else does she have to lose?

The book starts with Sammy Espinoza returning to the closest thing she ever had to a hometown, with her tail between her legs. While her best friend is still there, along with the beloved parents of her friend that she lived with for a year, the rest of it isn’t anything she ever missed. So she’ll swoop in, get the interview she needs to continue her career as a music journalist, and be gone again before anyone notices. Of course, these sort of plans never go as expected.

The story could have progressed as a completely predictable contemporary romance and drama, but the developments for a couple of the characters were largely unexpected. Even Sammy started out somewhat annoying, while letting herself be just a side character in a lot of her own life. She did what she had to in order to keep getting by, but it frequently felt like she was just filling a role and trying to appear happy.

By the end, this fun summer read earned 4 out of 5 stars. The characters ended up enjoyable while still realistic and the plot twists kept this reader engaged. This book could be recommended to those who like found-family dramas, contemporary romance, quirky characters with unique careers, and just a bit of music life and partying memories.

{click here to purchase via my Amazon Affiliate link}

Becki Bayley is a wife and mother of two kids who will hopefully attain a level of success that will help them support her in the manner to which she would like to become accustomed. See what they’re all doing in the meantime on Instagram, where she posts as SweetlyBSquared.

Read More