Book Review: “The Modern Girl’s Guide to Magic” & “A Jar of Thursday”
Posted: September 11, 2026 Filed under: Book Review, Books, Fiction, Gothic, Mystery, Review, Romantic Comedy | Tags: A Jar of Thursday, Book Review, Gothic Horror Mystery, Kaye Lynne Booth, Linsey Hall, Liz Hedgecock, Romantic Comedy, The Modern Girl's Guide to Magic, Writing to be Read Leave a comment
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.
_________________________________
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.
Share this:
Book Review: “Crossbones” & “Consumed”
Posted: June 26, 2026 Filed under: Action/Adventure, Book Review, Books, Dark fiction, Fiction, Gothic, Mystery, Review | Tags: Action/Adventure, Book Review, Consumed, Crossbones, Douglas Pratt, E.Chris Ambrose, Gothic Horror Mystery, Justin Acala, Kaye Lynne Booth, Treasure Hunting, Writing to be Read 2 CommentsAbout Crossbones
Treasure hunter Rikki Talens embarks on a daring expedition down the Gulf coast of Florida, driven by the discovery of an ancient grave that could lead to one of the greatest pirate treasures in history. But she’s not the only one on the trail. Ernesto, a ruthless descendant of the very pirate who buried the treasure, is determined to reclaim what he believes is his birthright, even if it means leaving a trail of blood in his wake.
As Rikki deciphers cryptic clues and navigates deadly traps laid centuries ago, she must also outwit Ernesto and his band of mercenaries who will stop at nothing to claim the treasure first. The race is on, and the stakes couldn’t be higher—for Rikki, it’s about more than just gold; it’s about uncovering the truth behind a pirate legend that could change history.
Battling the elements, rival treasure hunters, and her own inner demons, Rikki is pushed to her limits in a high-octane adventure where every decision could be her last. Can she outsmart Ernesto and secure the treasure, or will the legacy of the pirate Gasparilla claim yet another victim?
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Crossbones-Talens-Adventure-Douglas-Pratt-ebook/dp/B0CXZRPRD7
My Review of Crossbones
I purchased Crossbones, by Douglas Pratt and E. Chris Ambrose through a free BookBub Deal. I’m offering an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own.
Who doesn’t love a good treasure hunt? Crossbones is the first book in the Rikki Talens Adventure series, with a strong female protagonist capable of carrying the series. Rikki is after the treasure of Gasparilla, a legendary pirate who stole a Spanish princess and beheaded her, carrying her head with him until his vessel sank and he met his demise. As Rikki follows the clues in an attempt to find the princess’ burial spot and the treasure left behind, she must beat Ernesto and his gang of thugs, who are Gasparilla’s heirs, determined to claim their legacy in Gasparilla’s hidden plunder.
Action and adventure are the meat of this tale. I give Crossbones five quills.
About Consumed
Sergeant Nathaniel Brannick is trapped in Victorian London during a period of disease, crime, and insatiable vices. One night, Brannick returns from work to find an eerie messenger in his flat who warns him of dark things to come.
When his next case involves a victim who suffered from consumption, he uncovers clues that lead him to believe the messenger’s warning. Despite his incredulity, he can’t help but wonder if the practical man he once was has been altered by an investigation encompassed in the paranormal. That is, until he meets the witch hunters, and everything takes a turn for the worse.
Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Consumed-Justin-Alcala-ebook/dp/B07WLVR9QN/
My Review of Consumed
I received a digital copy of Consumed, by Justin Alcala through Sandra’s Book Club review program in exchange for an honest review. All opinions stated here are my own. The digital copy which I received was fraught with places where the text was confuddled in mid-sentence, often with whole lines of text missing, which may or may not appear a paragraph or two down. Needless to say, this was very confusing and pulled me right out of the story every time this occurred.
(I also have to say that I think Alcala could have picked a better title for this book. When searching for it on Amazon, I came by twenty-four other books by the same title, making it necessary to type in the author’s last name to locate the book, because it wasn’t even among them. A different title might improve discoverability for this book.)
Nosferatu, the undead, or vampires, if you prefer, a classic Victorian London setting, and a detective suffering from both consumption and opium addiction, come together to create a gothic horror crime novel which is right up there with the classics. When Sargeant Detective Nathanial Brannick and his partner are assigned to a woman found dead in her flat, with circumstantial evidence pointing to murder, it seems they’ve stumbled into something much more sinister. When they see the probable murder victim rise from her grave and she attacks them, the case turns even more puzzling. At every turn, it seems their suspect is three steps ahead of them and circling around behind. And it’s unclear just who their suspect is, as there are two Romanian strangers in town, who claim to be witch hunters, whose paths keep crossing with our detectives, who seem like likely suspects, in addition to their evil prey. People are dropping dead all around him as Brannick struggles to catch the culprit before there is another killing.
Fans of classic Dracula will love this gothic horror crime novel. I give Consumed four 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.
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.
______________________________________________
Kaye Lynne Booth does honest book reviews on Writing to be Read in exchange for ARC digital copies, (she also accepts print copies). Have a book you’d like reviewed? You can request a review on the Book Review tab above.
