Tag: fantasy

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A Quiet Elsewhere (1 book series)

306 pages Publication date June 30, 2026

ABOUT THE BOOK

She boarded the wrong train… and found a teahouse that knows her heart better than she does.

Liora likes plans, schedules, and knowing exactly where she’s going. So when a strange, ivy-choked train drops her in the middle of an enchanted forest instead of her grandmother’s house, Emberlee is the last place she expects to end up. The teahouse hums with wayward spirits, peculiar staff, and teas that soothe, stir, and sometimes slip memories away.

And her name appears in the guest book with no departure date.

Watched day and night, Liora searches for a way home with the help of Silas, the sharp-eyed gardener bound to Emberlee by an enigmatic past. Their reluctant alliance soon softens into something warmer, charged with late-night confessions and an undeniable attraction.

But Emberlee has its own plans, and when her forgotten past finally resurfaces, Liora must choose:

Stay and risk her heart, or leave and lose a love she may never find again?

Cozy stone and wood forest cafe named The Whispering Owl with people sitting outside and an owl perched on a sign
A cozy forest cafe named ‘The Whispering Owl’ with warm glowing lights and patrons enjoying tea

MY THOUGHTS

Wow! Just WOW! This is a romantasy, not my usual type of read at all. I usually prefer a book that is solid, standing on its own two feet and based on reality.
This is about as far from that as could possibly be.
Boarding the wrong train takes a woman to a world unexpected, stepping off the train she stepped into a world that felt like a whole other dimension.
Let me just say I really loved the teahouse, Emberlee. The whole thing feels like you’re inside a mystical magical garden. It’s fantasy at its best.
It’s magical, whimsical. enchanting and absolutely left me spellbound and impatiently waiting for the next in the series.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Rachel Ann Hubert has always been drawn to the shadowy corners of storytelling—the places where fate twists, magic lingers, and characters fight for every scrap of truth. A lifelong writer, she officially embarked on her publishing journey in 2022 and has since spent her time crafting dark fantasy, fantasy romance, and an eerie Halloween anthology—with plans to expand into even more genres.

When she’s not weaving stories about betrayal, forbidden powers and passions, and morally murky protagonists, Rachel can be found cooking up delicious dishes, battling through board games, or screening scary movies (the spookier, the better). She lives in Michigan with her husband, their endlessly entertaining son, and just the right amount of chaos.

As a multi-genre indie author, Rachel thrives on character-driven narratives that linger long after the last page. For more tales of dark intrigue, twisted magic, and high-stakes adventure, follow her on Instagram @rachelann_indieauthor.

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The Tiny Magic Bookshop: The charming and heartwarming cozy fantasy for fans of books about books new for 2026 (The Tiny Magic series Book 1)

322 pages Publisher HQ Digital Publication date June 4, 2026

ABOUT THE BOOK

There’s magic in a book …

Max always felt too ordinary for the magical village of Lampton. No place more so than her mum’s bookshop, where the recommendations are more than just a matter of taste – they’re magic.

When Max’s mum dies suddenly, she leaves her daughter Lamplight Books and makes one last wish: that Max would spend a year working in the bookshop before she sells it.

Max has no desire to uproot her busy life in the city to return to a place that always made her feel inadequate, but she can’t ignore her mum’s last request. So she decides on a trial run of two weeks – if she can’t even last that long, then a year would be impossible…

Owl figurine sitting on a bookshelf in a cozy library filled with books
A charming library corner featuring an owl figurine perched among nature-themed books.

MY THOUGHTS

If you are in a reading slump feeling down, this is such a lovely book it’ll cheer, you right up.
Every once in a while, I’ll read a magical realism book, and it hits just right.
This one is so warm and charming. The writing just drew me right in.
Our main character is dealing with grief; it’s pretty debilitating to her.
She must run her mother’s bookshop, The Lamplighter. I want to work there, surrounded by books all day but even better the shop is magical. With its whimsical cast we find out just how incredible literature is when it’s recommended to others. Small town vibes and magical creatures including a special bookstore owl made the story feel like a warm reassuring hug. Looking forward to visiting this town again in future books.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

NEXT BOOK IN THE SERIES

ABOUT THE BOOK

Something sweet is on its way! Return to Lampton for cosy treats and tattoos, coming soon!

Cam has spent her whole life in the quiet magic of her family’s bakery – flour-dusted, certain of her path, content. But when her brother arrives home with his fiancée, everything she thought she knew about her place in the bakery – and in her family – begins to crumble.

Convinced she’s being edged out of her own dream, Cam finds herself facing an impossible question: if she can’t have the life she always wanted, what can she do? Setting up her own tattoo stall at the summer fayre feels like the answer – she’s always been proud of the beautiful art on her skin, after all – but leaving her mark on strangers terrifies her in a way that baking never has.

The more Cam chases this new path, the more she suspects she’s running in the wrong direction entirely. She must figure out who she really is: not who her parents need her to be, not who Lampton expects, but someone altogether more herself.

Publication date October 22, 2026

Have a delightful day. Thank you for stopping in.

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The Amberglow Candy Store

ABOUT THE BOOK

In this charming, fable-like book from Japan, a fox spirit sells magical confections to troubled humans, only for them to get a little more than they bargained for…

Welcome. We don’t get many humans here.

In a cozy night-alley lies a very special store. It’s only open between the full moon and the new moon, and it’s full of wagashi, Japanese sweets. Each candy claims to cure some ailment of the heart or the head. But who is the mysterious proprietor, and why does he study his customers so closely?

From the girl who craves more time with her boyfriend to the friends with some buried resentments, each customer learns a valuable lesson from these sugary treats. The candies can give you what you most desire, but not always in the way you expect…

Back to the shop owner—did that shadow just make it look like he has a pair of ears? Surely, not a tail? If he is a half-fox spirit, so be it. But why is he so keen to study human emotions, and why does he say each candy has a “dosage”? Patience. Like the center of a gooey caramel, the best things take time to reveal themselves.

MY THOUGHTS

This book has been translated from the Japanese language.
A fantasy book of short stories.
I read this quickly and enjoyed it a lot.
The story revolves around a magical candy store.
The street to get to it is hidden past the hedges and only is available to those who have a true need for it.
Once in this magical otherworldly candy store you will find candy unlike any available anywhere else. This magical candy will help solve your problem, but you absolutely cannot overindulge.
I enjoyed seeing how people who needed help with life’s problems unexpectedly stumbled onto a magical candy store. Though this magical candy helped them at first, they came to realize the help they need came from strength they already had within themselves.
A happy feel-good story that I recommend. I enjoyed reading tuis Asian literature.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you for stopping in.

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The Garden and the Glen: A Fable about Character and the Courage to Be Different 

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6-12 years 108 pages Lenox Street Press March 30, 2020 publication date

ABOUT THE BOOK

NATIONAL INDIES EXCELLENCE AWARD 2020MOM’S CHOICE AWARD RECIPIENT 2020
FOREWORD INDIES BOOK OF THE YEAR FINALIST 2020
The Garden and the Glen is about the magic that finds us when we’re brave enough to be our unique selves.A tiny blue butterfly is chased out of a yellow garden because she does not blend in.
She flees to the nearby forest glen, where she encounters a colorful band of woodland creatures-all of them expelled from the garden for the same reason-being different. The glen provides safety, friendship, and acceptance. However, it’s the garden that holds the blue butterfly’s true destiny.
A Queen, a mystical potion, and the fate of their natural world hang in the balance. The blue butterfly, and what makes her different, holds the key.

Version 1.0.0

MY THOUGHTS

A tiny blue butterfly is chased out of a yellow garden. There are yellow leaves, flowers, animals and butterflies. In and of itself the yellow garden is beautiful but full of sameness.


The blue butterfly is sad and flits away visiting other animals and insects that have had the same experience, being chased out of the yellow garden. These animals are beautiful and come in a rainbow of colors.
In this magical and beautiful garden full of uniqueness he finds acceptance.

Back in the yellow garden the Yellow Queen needs a magical potion for healing and the blue butterfly holds the key to procuring it for her. After being snubbed in the yellow garden should he snub the queen, and the ones sent to bring him back for her magical cure?


Despite his being wrongly treated he is not bitter and happily accepts the queens request for help.
A beautiful story for children showing that just because someone is different that it doesn’t make them bad or strange and to embrace uniqueness and learn from it.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

MEET THE AUTHOR

This book began many years ago as a short bedtime story. Elizabeth Moseley’s then-young daughters loved hearing stories at the end of the day. Elizabeth was happy reading their favorite books, but found her greatest joy in creating original fiction. A lifelong fan of Aesop and mythology, her tales often featured some magic, and always a happy ending. At the urging of her now-grown daughters, she has finally written one down. Elizabeth holds an M.A. in English Literature from Georgetown University.

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historical fiction

His Perfect Bride (Bride Ships: New Voyages Book 3)

284 pages February 18, 2025 publication date

ABOUT THE BOOK

Sage Rhodes is eager to escape Manchester, England, and leave behind the pain of a broken engagement. When she’s offered the job as a lady’s maid to Augusta Lennox, who is traveling to Vancouver Island to visit her brother, Sage happily accepts the position.

Not so long ago, brilliant engineer Jackson Lennox faced a terrible tragedy during the building of a suspension bridge in the Fraser River Valley and becomes a recluse in his fine home in Victoria. When his sister and her beautiful lady’s maid arrive on his doorstep, he’s reluctant to welcome the visitors.

Organized and efficient, Sage starts to bring order not only to Jackson’s home but also to his life. Even though at first they clash, the attraction between the beauty and the beast is undeniable. Still, they do their best to ignore it. But when Augusta goes missing and they’re thrust into a dangerous adventure together, circumstances require them to pretend they’re married.

Will the charade—and their forced proximity—change their hearts…or ruin them both forever?

Forced proximity

Broken past engagement

Beauty and the beast

Different social classes

Reclusive hero

Opposites attract

Fake relationship/marriage

MY THOUGHTS

Having read the other two books in the Bride Ships: New Voyages series I was so excited to read another book in this series. I love that it continues on with characters and situations we’ve met in past books and also introduces us to new characters as well.


The characters are genuine and realistic and it’s well plotted as you could picture these things actually happening.
The descriptions make it easy to visualize the going Ons as they happen.
This is another lovely and exciting book taking place in the Pacific Northwest as we take another trip there.


I enjoyed setting sail once again and personally I couldn’t imagine myself being onboard for such a long trip but sometimes things become of the utmost importance that you don’t think you could possibly have done.
The love story was sweet and moved at a realistic pace. I enjoyed how protective her was of her and how she put such a priority on finding her sister.


A true Beauty and the Beast story as she discovers the true beauty behind the gruff outer appearance. A real winner and I can’t wait to read the next book in the story as it’ll continue this exciting series.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Jody Hedlund is the best-selling author of over fifty books and is the winner of numerous awards. She writes sweet, clean historical romances with plenty of sizzle (but without the spice).

Enjoy your day and thank you for stopping in.

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historical fiction

Cloaked in Beauty: (A Christian Western Historical Romance Fairy Tale Retelling of Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty) (Texas Ever After) 

352 pages Bethany House Publishers December 17, 2024 publication date

ABOUT THE BOOK

Trust no one in the shadows of the piney woods . . .

Letty Hood has spent the last fifteen years of her life hidden away with her grandmother in the backwoods of east Texas to escape the deadly schemes of an uncle who wants her dead. Now, with her twenty-first birthday on the horizon, she is forced to accept the escort of a stranger and return to Houston in secret so she can claim a birthright that will make her one of the wealthiest women in Texas. If she lives long enough to inherit.

Pinkerton agent Philip Carmichael has one duty: get the Radcliffe heiress home alive. Expecting a spoiled girl, Philip is surprised to encounter a woman of rare strength with a kind soul and keen wit. As they journey together, Letty’s resilience wins his admiration, breaking through his hardened cynicism. Yet the threat to her survival grows more menacing with every mile, and Philip fears that keeping Letty out of harm’s way may be just as impossible as keeping her out of his heart.

MY THOUGHTS

Cloaked in Beauty by Karen Witemeyer is the author’s retelling of the Little Red Riding Hood story. I’ll admit I liked her version much better, with the author’s usual laugh out loud humor added her quirky characters and we can’t forget the wolf (Rusty) is it okay to have a wolf as a favorite character and the fairytale like settings the story is magical. From the mansion to going into hiding and the magical forest to roam in with her wolf I was totally captivated.


I think we all need a Philip Carmichael in our lives, a Pinkerton agent he is tasked with finding Letty after she has been in hiding for many years and escorting her home safely. Though he tries not to show it he is captivated by Letty and will do everything in his power to keep her safe.

As the danger unfolds mile after mile with their perilous journey the only one who can keep them safe is letting God take control of this situation.
Will Phillip be free to admit his feelings for Letty or will his formal training keep them apart?


I loved this retelling and greatly look forward to more books in the series.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

MEET THE AUTHOR

For those who love to smile as they read, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. Voted #1 Readers’ Favorite Christian Historical Author in 2023 by Family Fiction Magazine, Karen is a multiple award-winning author and a firm believer in the power of happy endings. She is an avid cross-stitcher, tea drinker, and family board game player who makes her home in Abilene, TX with her heroic husband who vanquishes laundry dragons and dirty dish villains whenever she’s on deadline. Learn more about Karen and her books at http://www.karenwitemeyer.com.

Thank you for stopping in. Peaceful dreams.

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Review of two seasonal children’s books: A Bold Pumpkin Plan and The Not-So-Wicked Witch

32 pages ages 4-8 Capstone Editions publisher August 1, 2024 publication date



ABOUT THE BOOK

A plan to build a unique home takes a timid Hedgehog on an incredible journey of self-discovery. From meeting new friends to conquering countless obstacles, Hedgehog tackles his house plan with a newfound confidence. Best-selling creator Katy Hudson (Too Many Carrots and Mindful Mr. Sloth) combines her stunning, detailed artwork with themes of friendship, problem solving, and self-awareness in this empowering picture book.

MY THOUGHTS

Every year little Hedgehog has a dull plan. It’s as dull as the plain brown leaves he makes his house from. This year timid Hedgehog wants some excitement with a bold pumpkin plan. He makes an elaborate plan to have a beautiful new home this year. While gathering his supplies he meets new friends, overcoming his shyness, solves problems and has self-awareness while gaining self-found confidence. Lovingly illustrated and giving children a lesson that they can do it themselves and gain confidence.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

32 pages 4-7 years Frances Lincoln Children’s Books August 6, 2024 publication date

ABOUT THE BOOK

On the sleepiest of nights, when the air is still and the moon is full, the conditions are just right… for WITCHES TO TAKE FLIGHT!

And among all these terribly wicked, cackling witches, is one… who is actually, surprisingly quite nice!

This little witch doesn’t enjoy being wicked like the others. Not one little bit. She doesn’t like creating mischief, she doesn’t like making a mess and she definitely doesn’t like any naughtiness!

The other witches decide that the littlest witch needs rescuing from all this icky, gooey goodness! It’s time for some lessons in wickedness, and the best way to do that is by making a completely terrible and utterly awful potion…!

Will our little witch leave her kind and gentle ways behind her and join in the wickedness? Or will she persuade her fellow witches that actually, being wicked isn’t all it’s cracked up to be?

This playful take on spooky witches from the award-winning Bethan Stevens takes readers to a magical world of wickedness and kindness. This is the wonderfully funny follow-up to the prize-winning Grumpy Fairies and the fairytale twist A Damsel Not in Distress.

MY THOUGHTS

All witches are mean and not so polite, right? Now hold on just a minute, Halloween night finds a nice little witch who despite the others trying to change her to be like them just wants to be herself. A story about uniqueness and a wonderful lesson in not following the crowd and that it’s okay to be yourself. Super cutely illustrated for the younger crowd.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Enjoy your weekend and thank you for stopping in.

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A Dark and Secret Magic

304 pages Alcove Press publisher Publication dateOctober 8, 2024

ABOUT THE BOOK

A warm, spellbinding tale about a witch and the secrets her coven has been keeping from her, with echoes of the classic Hades and Persephone story, in the tradition of Practical Magic and Witch of Wild Things.

Hecate Goodwin, Kate to her friends, has curated the perfect life as a hedge witch, living in a secluded cottage with only a black cat for company. She spends her days foraging herbs from the Ipswich forest, gardening, and creating tinctures to sell at the apothecary she owns. Most evenings pass without her speaking to another human being, an arrangement she quite prefers.

Kate’s solitude is thrown into disarray when her older sister, Miranda, reaches out and asks her to host their coven’s annual Halloween gathering. The day marks the beginning of the new year for witches and is also Kate’s birthday. The pressure from her coven to make the evening memorable mounts as the event draws near. To complicate things further, a handsome man from Kate’s past turns up at her cottage, asking for sanctuary. It is Kate’s duty as a hedge witch to honor this request, much to her dismay. Matthew Cypher is no ordinary lost soul–he’s a practitioner of forbidden magic who’s tricked Kate once before, and her guard is up.

As she juggles Matthew’s arrival and the preparations for Halloween, Kate comes across an old tome shrouded in dark magic. She is horrified when she realizes the blood-red inscription is written in familiar handwriting: her recently deceased mother’s. Afraid to even touch the dark magic her mother secretly studied, Kate can turn only to Matthew for help. Her idealized memory of her mother begins to distort, and as she and Matthew grow closer, Kate has to reevaluate whom she can really trust.

A Dark and Secret Magic is a celebration of the Halloween season and a love letter to anyone who drinks pumpkin spice in August and carries the spirit of a witch inside their heart all year long.

MY THOUGHTS

A Dark and Secret Magic has such an incredible cover that I was drawn to it straight away and I knew I had to read it because it sounded so interesting.


Taking place in the days leading up to Halloween this is the perfect seasonal read.
Filled with all the Halloween and Fall vibes you want including our main character a hedge witch. She lives in a cozy cottage filled with herbs and her cat’s name is Merlin.

Hecate, our protagonist is always baking, cooking and making a special recipe hot chocolate, I swear I could smell the cinnamon as I read.


This is my first fantasy read and I was captivated by it. Witchy, Halloweeny vibes, black cats, cozy cottage, small town charm, a pumpkin contest I’m all in. Marvelous and I’ll be looking for more like this soon.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Wallis Kinney’s biggest sources of joy in life are science and fairytales. She tries to imbue elements of both into every story she writes. She studied planetary science and molecular biology at the University of Colorado and has a master’s degree in economics from Purdue University. She is president of the Jane Bosart Foundation, her family’s private foundation that focuses on granting high school and college scholarships to underprivileged students. She wrote A Dark and Secret Magic as a gift for her older sister, in honor of all the years they spent celebrating the magical wonder of Halloween together. Wallis lives in Dallas, Texas, with her family. In her free time she enjoys playing Dungeons & Dragons and making videos on YouTube that document her writing process.

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First Line Friday

FIRST LINE FRIDAY

Happy Friday & welcome to First Line Friday hosted at Reading is my Super Power! It’s time to grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line. Today I’m delighted to feature the first line of Fables from Scotland by Samuel Denhartog.

FIRST LINE(S)

Thomas Learmont, the young laird of Ercildourne Castle, was known throughout the land for his charm and wit. He was a man of many talents-skilled with both pen and lute, and blessed with a love for poetry and music, unusual tastes for a man in the thirteenth century.

426 pages Part of series Fable Anthologies Publication date September 13, 2024

Would this make it onto your reading list? Please share the first lines of what you’re reading or the book closest to you.

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Odd Mom Out Promo Post

ABOUT THE BOOK

Odd Mom Out

Life just got life-y…

On the night that Trudy Asp discovers her ex is engaged to the same dental hygienist who’s been picking at her teeth for ten years, her daughter, Madison, suddenly announces that she too is getting married, in Europe.

Frumpy, floundering, and forced to live with her martini-swilling mother, Trudy is swamped by these revelations. And on top of it all, she’ll be wearing the second most scrutinized gown at the wedding.

Having packed on the pounds during the demise of her marriage, the idea of being eyeballed by her ex and his scrawny fiancée Zelda, is truly horrifying. To make matters worse, there’s the paralyzing fear of a transatlantic flight — something Trudy has avoided for decades.

When Zelda offers to stand in for her, Trudy is forced to confront the forces that stole her marriage and threaten to steal her daughter’s wedding too. With three months until the ceremony, Trudy must get to Europe, squeeze herself into a gown, and claim the role she wants more than anything: Mother-of-the-Bride.

Will this Odd Mom Out sink or swim? Or will she drown in a sea of humiliation?

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sandy Day is a recovering chatterbox and writer of riveting slice-of-life poetry, memoir, and fiction. She has authored five books to date, with two in the works. A graduate of Glendon College, she studied creative writing under Michael Ondaatje and bp nichol. A lover of cheese, coffee shops, and illustrations, she lives on the shore of Lake Simcoe in Georgina, Ontario, Canada. You can find and follow her on Substack and sandyday.ca – it rhymes!

Social Media Links –

Substack https://sandydayauthor.substack.com/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/sandeesnaps/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/SandyDayWriter/

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5103092.Sandy_Day

Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/author/sandyday

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