A Charming Hex by Tonya Kappes

Bubble... Bubble...

June Heal is excited to be going on an island honeymoon where she not only will she get away for some much needed rest away from her magical powers that she'd promised Oscar she'd leave home, but where she will get away from her sassy talking crystal ball, Madame Torres, and her pesky familiar, Mr. Prince Charming.

Cures and trouble...
The secluded island is a perfect getaway for the charming honeymooners, especially since the only other vacationers are a wedding group. June Love's a good romantic wedding and this one is on the beach.

Magic stirs...
June is embracing her old mortal self until the groom from the wedding party washes up on the beach ...MURDERED!

And troubles double...
June is unable to keep her promise to Oscar about not using magic for their weekend island getaway and finds herself square in the middle of the investigation.

Suddenly, June wishes that her pesky familiars were there to help and realizes that there really is no place like home.  


This series continues to charm me. Oscar and June are on their long awaited honeymoon but anxiety plagues June. A dream has disturbed her because her dreams usually come true in some way and this one wasn't good. I loved the rich description that happened in the book, I could see and feel the island and hear the surf. The plot was great and kept me in suspense , wondering how it all would end. I loved the little added zing that her aunt was able to give her too. The character development I the series is served by a new experience of a recurring character and I like the way she stepped out on her own. It was the perfect mix of the elements which I love and have come to expect plus new additions and plot twists that make it worth the ride. My rating:

review  Beautiful Star of Bethlehem

Meet Arlene Santana, a vibrant wife and young grandmother whose life suddenly takes a confusing and often laughable turn into a new reality framed by a severe brain injury. As one holiday after another speeds by, Arlene takes comfort in the amusing old people who surround her in the rehabilitation center and one special friend who relates well to Arlene. But when will her husband, whose love is more real to her than anything, come to visit her? Treasure this Christmas novella from bestselling author Lori Copeland that demonstrates the healing power of true love.This novella was moving and well written. A plane crash leads to the main character being in a skilled nursing facility. She has a traumatic brain injury and is confused about what happened to her husband who had been piloting the plane. How her children cope is explored  as well.as the other residents of the home. It is very poingnant to see the type of thoughts that human beings who have a traumatic brain injury may experience. It was also interesting to see the way things played out in the family both as a response to the accident and in general and how the main character interacted with family members staff and residents at the skilled nursing facility. we also get a rare and interesting look at her relationship with herself.  A wonderfully written story overall.

Betting off Dead

And their off!
Gambling on horse racing is Kentucky's number one sport but when Kentucky Derby Thoroughbred picked to win the Derby, Rails and Nails, ends up poisoned, SKUL special agent Mick Jasper and rookie witch Maggie Park, who keeps her witch powers a secret, are called in to investigate a world of illegal gambling where a run for the roses can prove to be deadly.

This is the second book in Tonya Kappes new Spies and Spells series. The first book after from which the series takes its name introduces us to Maggie , a witch who is waiting for that life defining moment that will make clear her life's calling, While she waits for that moment she works in her family's diner waiting tables. She thinks that she may have found it when a great looking agent shows up and she gets involved in espionage. Her methods are unorthodox and somewhat magical and her adventures leave you on the edge of your seat.

In this latest book we see Maggie pressed into service once more and she has to play the studs wife! Unfortunately, this leads to some jealously from guy friend Abram and some static from the family. Meanwhile Maggie tries to infiltrate an illegal and deadly operation that seeks to fix the outcome of races using unnatural methods. Along the way there are both tense and funny moments to keep you reading on.

We learn a little more about the characters and they are developed more here. The plot is solid and there re no annoying holes for you to shake your head at. Mick is not sure what is going on with her but it works so I feel that there is a lot more life left in this series. I enjoyed both the suspense and the fact that it was not really easy to figure out what was going to happen in advance as sometimes happens when you have read an authors work for a while. Tonya Kappes always surprises and delights me no matter what series I am reading at the time.

You can see reviews of other books by Tonya Kappes on my blog and in an upcoming post for the premiere of A Charming Voodoo on October 18th. Until then may your life be magical!

My rating

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Kingsbury comes the third novel in the unforgettable Angels Walking series about divine intervention and the trials and triumphs of life for a group of friends.

Despite needing a heart transplant and against the advice of her doctor, Mary Catherine moves to Uganda to work at a brand new orphanage. Whatever time she has left, Mary Catherine wants to spend it helping children—especially since there will be no children of her own. The only problem is Major League Baseball player Marcus Dillinger, the man she never meant to fall in love with. Neither Marcus nor Mary Catherine’s other friends—Tyler Ames and Sami Dawson—know just how serious her heart condition is.

Still, Marcus is sure in the depths of his soul that something isn’t right. Ultimately his correspondence with Mary Catherine leads him on a desperate life-or-death mission to rescue her and get her to a US hospital before time runs out. Meanwhile, Sami and Tyler struggle with issues of their own. In a season when Tyler plans to ask Sami to marry him, the very core of their relationship is in jeopardy.

The team of angels walking is busier than ever in this epic battle between life and death. A Brush of Wings is a poignant tale of love, sacrifice, and the power of faith. 

This is the third and final installment in the Angel Walking series. It was much anticipated and here we see all of the loose ends wrapped up. There are four angels dispatched from heaven to deal with the events they hope will set a birth in motion. They have been told in the first installment that Dallas Garner is a baby that will grow up to be a great teacher and greatly impact the world for good. The problem is that he hasn't been born yet . They must handle some of us earthlings carefully in order to see this baby get a chance at life. The going is sometimes very hairy as emotions and circumstances keep us on the edge of our seats and the angels have to intervene.

This wrapped up things nicely and finally tells us where this baby comes from in terms of parentage and why angels are needed in order to facilitate this occurring . There are lots of touch and go moments and secrets to keep us interested along the way. We learn a little more about the characters and their families and it gives us a window into the kinds of battles we may be assisted with each day by heavenly visitors. overall a good effort and a nice wrap up to a series. Well done.

My rating