Book Review: Possessing the Witch by Elle James

I pulled this book from the TBR shelf and I'm glad my first read of the year didn't disappoint.elow the city Possessing the Witch by Elle James was a fun read and offered a few different twists to classic tropes.

About the Books

A spirit witch and a recluse must unite to save their city

Gryph Leone keeps a low profile because he considers himself a freak of nature. But when his powerful senses detect a woman in distress, his lion takes over. Before he knows it, he's in a losing battle with a wolf shifter. And then a beautiful woman with bewitching eyes and her own secrets finds him.

Selene Chattox didn't know what—or who—she'd find when she followed her premonition to the river's edge. When she discovers Gryph, the spirit witch brings the injured stranger home, determined to resist the intense desire he evokes in her. But as he heals, they know fate has brought them together as they track a ruthless killer through the tunnels of Chicago. And as their passion ignites, so does the danger…

The story starts with leading lady, Selene, having a terrifying dream. She wakes up and instantly jumps into action to rescue the victim she saw in the dream. After finding help for the first victim Selene is drawn to rescue someone else entirely, the hero, Gryph.

Gryph is a werelion and ends up badly hurt trying to help the victim Selene saw in her dreams. He ends up injured and naked in Selene's bed and instantly sparks start to fly.

The Review

Personally it took me a few chapters to get into the story, but once I did I was hooked. The author creates magic filled world that flows well. While the traditional pack is featured in the story Gryph is far removed from it and his own "pack" below the city. This twist on the pack idea was fun to read. Instead of a pack of weres Gryph's "pack" is a group of misfits just trying to live as normal a life as possible.

Selene is a witch along with her four sisters. The five of them hold the powers of the elements: Earth, Fire, Water, Air and Spirit. The leading lady has the power of spirit which allows her to feel others feelings and thoughts. Selene can also influence the thoughts and feelings of others, which sets up some nice drama on the developing relationship between Selene and Gryph.

Gryph has his own commitment issues that at times seemed a bit much, but didn't take away from the story.

Overall I really loved this story and recommend it to anyone who enjoys a city based paranormal romance.



This read counts towards both the Paranormal Reading Challenge and the Witch & Witchcraft Reading Challenge.

Review: The Witch Who Cried Wolf by Sarah Makela

So this is the first book review to make it to the Witches and Witchcraft Reading Challenge and it also counts towards my eBook Reading Challenge. Twofer! Besides that awesomeness I've got some good things to say about the book, but first a glance at the blurb.

The Witch Who Cried Wolf by Sarah Makela

Be careful what you wish for...

A potion gone wrong: Mia Brooks is a reluctant witch, with powers that she tries to hold in check. But when her magic gets mixed up, supernatural forces are unleashed and suddenly she's being pursued by werewolves--that she didn't even realize existed...

Hidden emotions: Ethan Parker, Mia's brother's best friend, is home from deployment for the holidays. Mia's not only hiding from werewolves, she's trying to keep her feelings for Ethan secret; it would be a disaster if he knew she's been nursing a long-time crush...

The power of love: Things take a terrifying turn when Mia and Ethan are attacked by a werewolf. Ethan is amazed when Mia reveals her paranormal prowess as she tries to shield them from danger. But can she really protect them from the darkness that lurks? And how can he tell her that, for ages, he's been denying what he really wants? Mia...


The Review

This was the first time I've read a New Adult novel. I've read them before but that was before it spun off into it's own genre. I was a little worried this new independent genre thing might flavor my opinion, but I'm happy to say the book kept on track and stuck more to plot than just the New Adult coming of age flavor. 

As a leading female role Mia was pretty nice. She is coming into her own as a witch and I was able to connect with her. As a witch coming into her power and learning, Mia stays to herself a good bit and the author uses that. Mia needs to be outed at least to some degree and along comes Ethan, her childhood crush, and opens that door right up for her.

Ethan is the best friend of Mia's brother and honestly it feels like he developed that older brother connection with Mia also. He has romantic feelings for Mia but doesn't want to mess with his friend's baby sister. He comes home for the holidays and is instantly thrown into Mia's witchy life when a werewolf attacks.

Beyond the romance between the two I did enjoy the plot. Mia's witch mentor and friend, Jessa, pushes Mia into making a healing salve for a tall dark and sexy man who comes into her magic shop. Mia makes the salve, not realizing it's going to spin off into the adventure that exposes her life to Ethan. I really wanted to know more about the tall dark and sexy stranger than started the whole mess, more to the point I wanted to know about the mysterious alpha that appears and drags him away. As this is a series of novellas and not a stand alone that's a good thing.

All in all it's a nice short read and I'm planning on reading more. For werewolf and witch fans alike I think this is at least worth a read to see if it catches your interest.


 

 

Review: Blood of the Pride by Sheryl Nantus

I found another great book for the Shifter Reading Challenge. I tucked this book away in my bag when I went camping this past weekend and I was not disappointed.

Blood of the Pride by Sheryl Nantus

Blurb:
 
"When a severed rabbit's paw is delivered to her office, outcast cat shifter Rebecca Desjardin recognizes the summons home. One of their own has been murdered--and a shocking photo published in a local tabloid--and her Pride needs Rebecca, now a private investigator, to track down the killer.

Investigative reporter Brandon Hanover wants to find out who slipped the photo of the half-shifted cat-woman under his door, marking him as a suspect in her death. Determined to stay one step ahead of the sexy journalist, Rebecca reluctantly agrees to partner with him to find the real murderer. But as their mutual attraction heats up, Rebecca finds it harder and harder to keep Brandon from discovering the existence of the shifter society--and her own true nature.

When the search leads them back to the Pride, Rebecca must attempt to Change for the first time in years to face the killer, and save the man she loves..."

I've always loved the idea of cat shifters. Normally I see them as panthers, but these cat shifters are unique unto themselves. Rebecca was kicked out of her pride because she is unable to shape-shift, which left both emotional and physical scars behind. This created a wonderfully in-depth character right from the get go, which had me hooked. The reporter, Brandon, pops into the story with a flurry of alpha maleness that few humans have in paranormal stories. 

Along with an interesting cat human hybrid the story also offers a great detective plot. The plot runs deep within the pride and before Rebecca knows it she's tossed to the wolves, or cats in this case. It was hard to put down the book without finding the next break through clue in the story line.

Over all a great story with a nice sprinkling of romance. 


To my readers I'll add that this story is more of a detective story than a romance and does have closed door love scenes.