Seana Kelly

Terrific story about trust, letting go of the past, and new beginnings. I loved the characters, the emotional angst, and the humor that balanced it out.

Katie spent her summers in Maine with her grandparents. She was full of energy and had the reputation as a hellion, thanks to actions that "seemed like a good idea at the time." When she grew up, the man she married turned out to be a cheating, controlling nightmare. Nothing Katie did was ever right or good enough. He even withheld the news show more of her grandmother's death, so she didn't go to the funeral. Now, she is in the midst of divorcing him, and she sets out for a fresh start in Maine in the house her grandmother left to her. She runs afoul of the police chief, Aiden, on her way into town in a hilarious encounter that has his head spinning.

Aiden grew up in their town but left for college and some time with the Boston police department before returning home. Now, he is the police chief. Aiden was dumped by his fiancée the day before their wedding and is still bitter about it a year later. He is convinced women can't be trusted and refuses to get involved with anyone. The last person he expects to see is Katie, the girl he crushed on as a teenager.

I enjoyed watching the relationship between Katie and Aiden develop. Both have been hurt in the past, so neither wants to admit the attraction. Their interactions are frequently hilarious. Aiden is determined to keep his distance but can't ignore his need to watch over her. Katie's house is a critter-infested mess, and watching her try to deal with it provides some of the funniest moments in the book. Every time they encounter each other, the sparks fly. Katie begins to accept her growing feelings for him, but whenever Aiden gives in to his attraction, his insecurities send him running. His hot-and-cold attitude stirred up Katie's insecurities. Sometimes, I wanted to shake both of them and lock them in a room until they got past their hangups. Matters come to a head when Katie finally has enough of Aiden's waffling and calls him out. He deserved some suffering after realizing what an idiot he'd been, so I was happy to see that Katie didn't give in too quickly. I loved the epilogue.

Supporting characters: I loved Bear, the handyman. He wanted sparks between him and Katie, and they just weren't there. But he turned out to be a good friend. Aiden's grandfather, Conner, was sweet once they got past their initial meeting. I loved his support of Katie. I also enjoyed the relationship between him and Aiden. He won my heart when he helped make Katie's dream come true. And I can't finish the review without mentioning Katie's dog, a Newfoundland named Chaucer. He was a big ol' goofball, and I loved how he was always there when Katie needed him. show less

Powerful writing and a complex storyline made this impossible to put down.

Sam is the owner of The Slaughtered Lamb, a bookstore and bar built into a cliff-face and partially submerged in the sea in San Francisco. Her clientele are paranormals as are her staff. Only werewolves are excluded, and for very good reasons. Reasons which emerge gradually as the story progresses.

There is a good leavening of snark to lighten the darker aspects, and some literary and cultural references which add to show more the fun.

I enjoyed this very much and am looking forward to consuming this entire series with great relish. show less

Seana Kelly’s books are an automatic pre-order for me, both in ebook and audiobook. I love the richly drawn characters and the authenticity of the relationships which have all the flaws and misunderstandings of real life balancing the positives.

There is real growth in this second book in the series as we learn more about the Corey wicches, Arwyn helps the police investigate more murders and faces further attacks from her black wicche cousin.

I really enjoyed this urban fantasy title that is the first of a (currently) four book series. Sam Quinn is a werewolf, bar owner, and book nerd.

Sam was attacked when she was seventeen and brutalized which is when she first became a werewolf. She had recently lost her mother and was spending time with an uncle she didn't know who was also a werewolf.

After the attack, Sam fled to San Francisco where she is the only werewolf. She has gathered a group of friends including vampires, wicche, show more demons, and other supernatural types. Now, though, seven years later, she has suddenly become a magnet for people who want to kill her.

Luckily, Clive who is the head of the local vampire nocturne, has her back. They are building a relationship that is veering toward the romantic as Sam gradually gets over the violence in her past.

I loved Sam. She's a book nerd and Tolkien fan. I loved that Clive turned a ballroom into a library - that Sam compares to the Beasts - in order to please her. I liked the worldbuilding and the fast-paced plot with lots of exciting action. show less