★★★½

While she told an interesting enough story, sadly this author's writing style isn't for me.

(✯✯½ - ✮✮✮☆☆)

✮✮✮½

★★★½

I had a hard time settling on a rating for this one. I really enjoy this author's writing and her characters. I'm a fan of small-town romcoms. There's also a teensy bit of magic (precognitive visions) in a contemporary romance, which was a surprise addition. But, some of their relationship felt too rushed or too smooth going - I don't know. Something was rubbing me wrong as the 400+ pages unfolded despite really liking these two together. I am looking forward to more in this cozy small town and the compliation put together by different authors; all of the other authors are new to me.

Cozy Creek Collection: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DBX3QDWC

Family. Always accepted. Always loved. No exceptions.

I've enjoyed this series from the start and every installment since. As with any series, I liked some more than others. This one was a favorite for several reasons.

★★★½

"The Britlingens Go to Hell" by Charlaine Harris

Although set in

Sookie's "world" this felt more like one of Charlaine Harris' fantasy novels. Assassins/bodyguards Clovache and Batanya are required to accompany a thief to Hell itself. They encounter demons of all kinds (including a couple of not-entirely-fearsome hellhounds), and attempt to steal a treasure from Lucifer himself. Rating: 3★

"Angel’s Judgment" by Nalini Singh

I love Nalini Singh’s

Guild’s Hunters series and this was a great addition. We get to see the hunt that brought together Sara (Elena’s best friend) and her future husband, Deacon. Deacon definitely wins the "hottest hunk" award in the whole anthology. Rating: 5★

"Magic Mourns" by Ilona Andrews

Another one of my favorites, Andrews'

Kate Daniels series. Kate herself has a cameo in the love story of her best friend, Andrea and her bouda, Raphael (were-hyena) lover. Raphael is courting Andrea in the unusual manner of his people. It’s a bitter-sweet tale, with complex threads of grief, love, lust, fear, and desperation. Rating: 5★

"Blind Spot" by Meljean Brook

I have yet to read any of Brook's

Guardian’s series, but I am interested a bit after this novella. Maggie Wren goes in search of her vampire employer’s missing family members, with the help of a three-headed hell-hound named Sir Pup. Rating: 3★

Overall Rating: 4★

Unholy Magic continues the story of Chess in the Downside. She's still reeling a bit from the events in [b:Unholy Ghosts|6261189|Unholy Ghosts (Downside Ghosts, #1)|Stacia Kane|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1280093620s/6261189.jpg|6444397]. Now, she's being called on to help investigate the murders of Bump's prostitutes. Her "relationships" are messier than ever. Due to her drug addiction, she's gotten herself to a place where she's more involved with certain Downsiders than she ever wanted to be.

I still salute Ms. Kane for creating such a unique world. I enjoy visiting Downside and learning more about Chess, but these books have to read in small doses for me, not one right after the other. Though they can be a bit depressing at times, as you hope that Chess will be able to pull herself out of the holes she's dug (and keeps digging) for herself, they also provide a fun escape.

I look forward to continuing the series with [b:City of Ghosts|7243411|City of Ghosts (Downside Ghosts, #3)|Stacia Kane|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1275696685s/7243411.jpg|6912417].

✮✮✮½

‘I’m scared I’m losing myself.’

The book starts off with Jess being arrested right before she's about to be married. From there things spiral into a state of organized chaos. Lucy continues her mission to recover the orb, which pits her against a powerful foe. She's also still battling the Domini and forced to yet again defend her crown and position. Lucy handles everything she does with a level of compassion, so when she's forced to kill she has a difficult time reconciling it and seeing herself as anything other than a murderer. She's always done what's best for those in her pack and that pack continues to grow; she's now alpha to half a dozen.

I was surprised that, as the finale, this book didn't wrap up everything. Most notably, the villain is still out there. More to come? I hope so b/c I enjoy returning to Harris'

Other World, but also because I'd like to see more resolution to the things set in motion in Lucy's series. Harris does have another spin-off set to publish in Sept 2025: [b:Veiled Justice|220805875|Veiled Justice (The Other Detective Series, #1)|Heather G. Harris|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1729800991l/220805875._SY75_.jpg|227753497], The Other Detective #1.