michellehogmire

A creative work of romantic fantasy, Bared Magic by Sara R. Cleveland deftly straddles the two genres, which will be satisfying to both sets of readers. Wynne, a woman with a coveted magical talent, flees from her pursuers and lands in the arms of Callum, a handsome werebear, in this delightfully whimsical and romantic retelling of the Goldilocks story. With a charming mixture of sweet tension and suspense, the couple learns about each other while traversing an enchanting fantasy land filled with benevolent witches, malicious lords, and perilous curses. Bared Magic is a “just right” brew of fights and flirtations […]

A laugh-out-loud hilarious guidebook of questions and answers about surviving in a subdivision, Julie Wheaton’s Which House Is Mine Again?: 80 Questions I Never Had ’til I Moved to a Subdivision is a simultaneously tongue-in-cheek and heartfelt memoir about living in cookie-cutter homes. Wheaton covers everything from negotiating with your HOA to writing holiday letters, and discloses the truth behind terms like “pool-sized yard” and “harmonious floor plans.” While obviously a niche subject, even readers who don’t have tract houses will enjoy Wheaton’s hugely comical anecdotes, and those who do will be nodding along at each rapier-sharp observation.

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A highly original YA urban fantasy, The Rise of the Raidin by Susan L. Markloff is an engaging mixture of everyday high school pressures, and the pressure of confronting mythical beasts. Jennifer Monroe may seem like a typical eighteen-year-old, but she’s actually a commanding half-dragon energy wielder in training. When dragons and a cunning villain come to Earth and mount an attack on her high school, Jennifer will uncover the truth about a prophecy that foretells her fate. The story might have one too many characters to keep track of, but the well-choreographed action scenes and snappy dialogue more than […]

A perfect combination of medical drama and romance, Braiding Roses is an endearing novel about a doctor whose life plans are waylaid by a rural job posting in the Australian outback, an original and charming focal point for a romance. After a horrific argument with her boss on day one, Amanda fears the worst, but she’s actually in for a period of crucial personal discovery. Sometimes the characters act too young for their ages, especially given the medical setting, but the book’s delightful charisma and captivating development of both character and plot make this a tender, affecting read.

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Focused on the mind-body connection and how self-love and general life improvements can help with healthy living, Summerlin Conner’s Losing the Weight: Loving Yourself, Living Your Best Life, and Losing the Darn Weight is a funny, relatable guide to working off the pounds. Conner offers advice on breaking out of the diet/binge cycle, the importance of meditation, and the value of discarding a dieting mindset with a balance of good humor and seriousness about the task at hand. While the manual can sometimes seem repetitive, Conner’s practical recommendations about plant-based recipes are an essential resource for readers.

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