Title: Everybody Wants to Rune the World
Author: Mandy M. Roth
Series: Bewitchingly Ever After #2
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Cozy mystery, Paranormal fantasy, Paranormal romance
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2019

Everybody Wants to Rune the World is a great little cozy mystery and paranormal romance. Sigmund and Virginia are an entertaining couple that keep avoiding the obvious. But, they are also a simple read and a great diversion when you’re needing something happy and easy to read. I tend to love Roth’s writing for just this reason – there is enough action that I want to see what high jinx are going to happen next. But not so much that I get angsty and can’t put the book down.

I love that this story actually starts 16 months earlier, when Sigmund actually realises that Virginia is his fated mate. But is then filled with so much self doubt that he refuses to act on it. It gives constant entertainment to the town of Bewitching, and makes the two act like, well, absolute fools. Particularly Sigmund, he’s a big, scary kraken shifter who is scared to talk to the woman that he loves. Which of course just confuses the heck out of Virginia, and makes the townsfolk laugh at the shenanigans. Constantly and with much mirth.

Once Petey finally gets involved with Sigmund’s inability to actually make a move, I love that Virginia is able to just dive right in with both feet. Rather than continuing to hesitate (as she has done for the previous 16 months), she chooses to embrace the marriage that Petey officiated and start to chase the poor, ignorant shifter. Sometimes men just need a bit of a shove, and her confidence in doing this made me laugh out loud. The fact that it quickly gets rid of the potential love triangle emotional entanglement just made it all that much better.

I must admit, I did guess who the villain of the story was and the one who was starting to hunt Virginia. I mean, he’s effectively set up as the anti-Sig way too well. And, it makes so much more sense and fun to have any potential barriers to their future relationship nipped in the bud. I also love that, in dealing with the villain and threat to Virginia, Sigmund is able to finally embrace his kraken side and regain confidence in himself and his newfound abilities.

All in all, Everybody Wants to Rune the World is an incredibly cute and fun read that I will probably open up again. It was a great journey and fun diversion, and I’m hoping that Roth revisits the world of Bewitching again and again. There is just something fun and super chaotic about the whole town that is irreplaceable and unforgettably joyful.

Image source: Mandy Roth

Title: Don’t Stop Bewitching
Author: Mandy M. Roth
Series: Bewitchingly Ever After #1
Rating Out of 5: 4.5 (Amazing, but not quite perfect)
My Bookshelves: Cozy mystery, Paranormal fantasy, Paranormal romance
Pace: Slow
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2018

Curt was such a fun character in Once Hunted, Twice Shy, he was a great best friend to Hugh and a lovely side character. Plus, since I’ve read both of the Everlasting and Bewitchingly series out of order, I also wanted to know how Missi’s family were all cursed. Thus, Don’t Stop Bewitching was a fantastic adventure to go on that filled in some of the gaps. And then, you know, there’s the fact that we get to revisit Sig and get hints at his own happily ever after. All wonderful little adventures in this very cute cozy mystery story.

Missi is a fantastic counterpoint to Curt’s up-tight, buttoned ways. She’s gorgeous and I love that she’s quite happily her own soul. In a world where conformity is sometimes safer, she’s not succumbing to anyone’s expectations or rules. It’s always nice to read about female characters like this – those that march to the beat of their own drum. And, ultimately find their own happily ever after (in whatever form that may take) being just who they are and who they want to be.

The majority of this story isn’t actually based on the romance of the two lead characters. Rather, it follows the calamities that lead them to each other. These had me giggling out loud throughout. They are just misfortunate and filled with the trademark humour that I’m loving in these cozy mystery series. It also tells the story of just how the curse is formed, and leads into the next few books in this series. The perfect set up form multiple points of view.

This novel is filled with the typical joyful chaos that I love to read in Roth’s writing. I loved all of the characters and everything about this story. And I can’t wait to read the next one in my TBR!

Image source: Mandy Roth