Mini Thoughts
Hello, all!
A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping- Sangu Mandanna: Sera Swan had a bright future ahead of her as one of the most powerful witches in Britain, until she resurrected her great-Aunt, lost her magic, and was exiled from the magical Guild. Sera was devastated at first, but has now come to terms with her lot in life and helps her aunt run an inn full of quirky houseguests, a skeletal chicken, and a slightly villainous talking fox in the English countryside. When Sera stumbles across a spell that would restore her magic, she reluctantly seeks help from Luke Larsen, a handsomely grumpy magical historian, to decipher the old language. Luke was only looking for a place for him and his sister to rest at the inn and didn't plan on getting roped into Sera's shenanigans, so no one is more surprised than him when he agrees to help her. The longer the pair work together, the more their icy demeanors begin to thaw, and Sera begins to realize she doesn't always have to go through life alone.
I enjoyed Mandanna's previous book, but cozy fantasy is often hit or miss for me, so I didn't enter this with high expectations. I'm happy to report that I adored this. I found everything about it to be so charming. I loved all the characters and the setting (why can't the Batty Hole Inn be a real place?!). I liked the grumpy/grumpy dynamic of Sera and Luke. They both put up a tough front, but were big ol' softies inside. I loved how much Sera cared for those around her, and the little family all the residents formed together. I thought the plot itself was entertaining and the magic system was easy to follow. If you're looking for a quick, whimsically cozy read that feels like a warm hug, then I highly recommend checking it out.
I'm not the biggest fan of holiday romances because they tend to lean more on the cringey side, but I knew if anyone could do it right, it would be Borison. I thought this was great. I loved Harriet so much and found her so relatable. She was so kindhearted, and I admired her outlook on life. Nolan was a little rough around the edges, but he folded so fast for Harriet. I liked watching them fall for one another and thought the romance was so sweet. The balance of fun, festive moments, and more tender, emotional scenes was perfectly executed as well. I didn't know how the story would play out, given that Nolan was a ghost, and I liked how Borison brought it all together. If you want a whimsical yet heartwarming read for the holiday season, I recommend checking this one out.
Rating: 4/5
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| Pub Date: 7-15-25 Adult - Fantasy |
The Enchanted Greenhouse- Sarah Beth Durst: Terlu created a sentient spider plant out of loneliness, breaking the law and earning herself a statue's fate in the Great Library of Alyssium. One wintry day, she awakens on a nearly deserted island with magical greenhouses and only a grumpy gardener, Yarrow, for company. When it's clear the magic supporting the greenhouses is beginning to fail, Terlu and Yarrow must work together to discover why. Terlu knows she's risking everything once again, but she's finally found where she belongs, and she's willing to do whatever it takes to keep it.
I thought the first book in this series was charming, although a bit dull. My expectations, therefore, were pretty much the same here. Durst's writing is whimsical and lighthearted, but it can be serious when necessary. Our two main characters stood out to me, and the romance between them felt very sweet. I liked watching Terlu grow more confident in herself and her abilities as the story progressed. The talking plants—especially Lottie—were the highlight and added a fun element to the story The stakes felt a tad higher than in the previous book, but they were still very low compared to other fantasies. If you're looking for a cozy read that would be perfect to snuggle up with under a warm blanket with a hot cup of tea, then this would be it.
I thought the first book in this series was charming, although a bit dull. My expectations, therefore, were pretty much the same here. Durst's writing is whimsical and lighthearted, but it can be serious when necessary. Our two main characters stood out to me, and the romance between them felt very sweet. I liked watching Terlu grow more confident in herself and her abilities as the story progressed. The talking plants—especially Lottie—were the highlight and added a fun element to the story The stakes felt a tad higher than in the previous book, but they were still very low compared to other fantasies. If you're looking for a cozy read that would be perfect to snuggle up with under a warm blanket with a hot cup of tea, then this would be it.
Rating: 3/5
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| Pub Date: 7-15-25 Adult - Fantasy |
A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping- Sangu Mandanna: Sera Swan had a bright future ahead of her as one of the most powerful witches in Britain, until she resurrected her great-Aunt, lost her magic, and was exiled from the magical Guild. Sera was devastated at first, but has now come to terms with her lot in life and helps her aunt run an inn full of quirky houseguests, a skeletal chicken, and a slightly villainous talking fox in the English countryside. When Sera stumbles across a spell that would restore her magic, she reluctantly seeks help from Luke Larsen, a handsomely grumpy magical historian, to decipher the old language. Luke was only looking for a place for him and his sister to rest at the inn and didn't plan on getting roped into Sera's shenanigans, so no one is more surprised than him when he agrees to help her. The longer the pair work together, the more their icy demeanors begin to thaw, and Sera begins to realize she doesn't always have to go through life alone.
I enjoyed Mandanna's previous book, but cozy fantasy is often hit or miss for me, so I didn't enter this with high expectations. I'm happy to report that I adored this. I found everything about it to be so charming. I loved all the characters and the setting (why can't the Batty Hole Inn be a real place?!). I liked the grumpy/grumpy dynamic of Sera and Luke. They both put up a tough front, but were big ol' softies inside. I loved how much Sera cared for those around her, and the little family all the residents formed together. I thought the plot itself was entertaining and the magic system was easy to follow. If you're looking for a quick, whimsically cozy read that feels like a warm hug, then I highly recommend checking it out.
Rating: 5/5
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| Pub Date: 10-21-25 Adult - Contemporary |
Good Spirits- B.K. Borison: A people pleaser to her core, Harriet York has always done what's expected of her. The only time she ever did something for herself —taking over her aunt's antiques shop — her family shunned her for it. Despite all the hits Harriet's feelings have taken over the years, she tries to keep a positive outlook and be a good person. So, she's confused when she meets Nolan Callahan, the Ghost of Christmas Past. Nolan has been at this haunting thing for quite some time, and he can usually get in and out quickly, but there's something different about this case. Harriet isn't selfish or a bad person, so why is she being haunted? With their Christmas Eve deadline fast approaching, Harriet and Nolan must work together to figure out what's going on, and in doing so, they discover their fates are intertwined.
I'm not the biggest fan of holiday romances because they tend to lean more on the cringey side, but I knew if anyone could do it right, it would be Borison. I thought this was great. I loved Harriet so much and found her so relatable. She was so kindhearted, and I admired her outlook on life. Nolan was a little rough around the edges, but he folded so fast for Harriet. I liked watching them fall for one another and thought the romance was so sweet. The balance of fun, festive moments, and more tender, emotional scenes was perfectly executed as well. I didn't know how the story would play out, given that Nolan was a ghost, and I liked how Borison brought it all together. If you want a whimsical yet heartwarming read for the holiday season, I recommend checking this one out.
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