Book Review: “The Modern Girl’s Guide to Magic” & “A Jar of Thursday”

About The Modern Girl’s Guide to Magic

So here’s the deal—I’m a magical disaster. A witch from a family of witches, and the only one whose magic blows up in her face. Which is why I came up with my rules…

1. Never get involved with magic

2. If you must get involved, do not enter a competition to win the biggest magical fortune in England

3. And definitely don’t fall for Callan Hawthorne, the sexy billionaire mage who you’ve hated for years

So how the heck do I end up in a situation that promises to break all those rules? It’s the only way to save Seaside Spells, my family’s magical potion shop.

But it’s cool. When I go back home to Charming Cove—a village of ancient pubs and foul-mouthed familiars—I will totally ignore Witch Weekly’s Sexiest Man of the Year. I’ll win the competition, and if I’m lucky, I won’t turn myself into a toad in the process.

This’ll be fine. It’ll all be fine.

Riiiight.

The Modern Girl’s Guide to Magic is a fun, frothy romantic comedy full of laughter, love, and magical hijinks. It’s the first in a series of stand alone romances set in the seaside village of Charming Cove.

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Modern-Girls-Guide-Magic-romantic-ebook/dp/B0C511BLPN

My Review of The Modern Girl’s Guide to Magic

I purchased a digital copy of The Modern Girl’s Guide to Magic, by Linsey Hall, from a KindofBook deal, and I am providing an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.

A magic contest. What could be more fun? But when Gran asks Aria to compete to win the Garden of Enchantment and save Gran’s shop and, possibly, the town, Aria wants nothing to do with it. Her magic has always been broken. Her specialty is blowing things up… accidentally. Yet, she returns home to Charming Cove even as she protests that she has no intention of competing.

Callen Hawthorne, a handsome and powerful wizard, (emphasis on handsome), who happens to be a billionaire and is used to getting his way is one of Aria’s competitors. The same Callen Hawthorne who bought her special place and turned it into a busy cafe, making her hate him. Or at least, making her want to hate him so bad that she believes it.

The harder she tries to bow out of the competition, the more things happen that makes her feel she must compete. After all, her Gran’s shop, and possibly the whole town may depend on her to champion them. The fun of solving riddles in a magical treasure hunt, meeting each new challenge, and watching the two opponents/love birds figure things out about each other, and about themselves, are all the ingredients needed for this romantic comedy recipe.

A truly fun read. I smiled all the way through. I give The Modern Girl’s Guide to Magic five quills.

About A Jar of Thursday

When Jack Hargreaves takes a job with Fingers Molloy, it doesn’t quite go to plan. Fingers turns out to be a time-travelling burglar, with a host of ingenious devices supplied by the mysterious Mr Smith. And the things they’re stealing are, frankly, odd. But Jack is in no position to pick and choose — for Jack has a secret too…

Sherlock Holmes is convinced that Fingers Molloy works for his nemesis, Professor Moriarty. Yet Inspector Lestrade won’t take him seriously. How can the great detective prove he is right?

The further in Jack gets, the more serious — and mysterious — things seem. But breaking free and coming clean could land Jack in not just trouble, but danger…

A Jar of Thursday is the first novella in the Sherlock & Jack series, set in 1890s London.

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Jar-Thursday-adventure-featuring-Sherlock/dp/1539399230

My Review of A Jar of Thursday

I purchased a digital copy of A Jar of Thursday, by Liz Hedgecock through a KindofBook deal. I’m offering an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.

It may not be Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, but I’m always up for a good Sherlock Holmes mystery. Told from the perspectives of Jack and Watson, this super-sleuth mystery is filled with surprises. Hedgecock does an excellent job of keeping to the Holmes style and character.

Jack takes a job as an assistant, but isn’t clear as to the type of work expected. When it is discovered that the new employer is a time traveling thief, however, Jack can’t afford to be choosy, as she has a few secrets that need to remain undisclosed, like the fact that he is a she, and she’s on the run. But, doing being an assistant to a thief, even a time traveling one, could be dangerous, or even deadly.

Meanwhile, Sherlock Holmes is on the case, convinced that the mastermind behind the crimes is his old adversary, Dr. Moriarty, but he can’t seem to get Inspector Lestrade on board. Although in the dark as to his methods, Dr. Watson is by his side, as he unravels the mystery of the time traveling thief.

Classic style that’s on the mark. I give A Jar of Thursday five quills.

About Kaye Lynne Booth

For Kaye Lynne Booth, writing is a passion. Kaye Lynne is an author with published short fiction and poetry, both online and in print, including her short story collection, Last Call and Other Short Fiction; and her paranormal mystery novella, Hidden Secrets; Books 1 & 2 of her Women in the West adventure series, Delilah and Sarah, and book 1 in her Time-Travel Adventure series, The Rock Star & The Outlaw, as well as her poetry collection, Small Wonders and The D.I.Y. Author writing resource.

Kaye holds a dual M.F.A. degree in Creative Writing with emphasis in genre fiction and screenwriting, and an M.A. in publishing. Kaye Lynne is the founder of WordCrafter Quality Writing & Author Services and WordCrafter Press, where she edits and publishes two short fiction anthologies and one poetry anthology every year amidst her many writing projects. She also maintains an authors’ blog and website, Writing to be Read, where she publishes content of interest in the literary world.

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Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARCs. Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.